GB2247868A

GB2247868A - Safety wheel and tyre assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2247868A
Application number: GB9020148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Max Lorenz Camillo Neill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-14
Filing date: 1990-09-14
Publication date: 1992-03-18
Also published as: GB9020148D0

Abstract

A safety wheel and tyre assembly comprises a dual chambered tyre and a wheel formed in two sections X, Y. The sections of the wheel can be separated thus allowing inner tubes to be introduced or replaced in one or both air chambers of the wheel separately. Air pressure within the air chambers can be checked or changed via two valves VA,VB found on the external rim of the wheel whilst the assembly is still complete. In the event of loss of pressure in one of the air chambers A, B, the pressure in the other chamber allows the wheel and tyre assembly to continue to be used. <IMAGE>

Description

Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel This invention relates to a "Dualmax Safetech" Safety Wheel.

Most road going vehicles have pneumatic tyres which are mounted on a metal or composite hub collectively known as a wheel. They are used widely, from motorbikes to family saloon cars to heavy goods vehicles. These tyres are however subject to punctures due to the nature of their use. Even with modern manufacturing techniques and quality materials, tyres are still subject to untimely punctures and this can endanger the occupants of the vehicle and other road users.

When a vehicle has a puncture , as well as the obvious danger to all concerned there is the added inconvenience having to stop the vehicle to change the punctured tyre.

According to the present invention there is provided a "Dualmax Safetech" Safety Wheel comprising a rubber compound pneumatic tyre which houses two air chambers therein, the hub of the wheel consisting of two hub sections, a means of releasably securing and sealing the tyre to the hub, a means of releasably securing and sealing the two hub sections together and a means by which air can be passed into or out of the individual air chambers from the external face of the hub through two separate valves.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with references to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the cross sectional relationship between the car brake drum, hub section and the tyre.

Figure 2 shows the tyre/hub seal.

Figure 3 shows the hub sections separating.

Figure 4 shows the external face of the wheel hub.

Referring to the drawings a tyre has been adapted to house two adjacent air chambers A and B, separated by a rubber wall. This rubber wall, which shall be referred to as the "central tyre wall" (1) is part of the tyre and runs along the entire circumference similar in direction and length to the external walls 5A,5B, at 90 degree angles to the tyre tread and equidistant from the external tyre walls 5A, 5B.

The tyre is fitted onto a metal or composite hub and to prevent air loss, is sealed along its entire circumference at three lateral points. Two of these points of contact are situated where the external tyre beads 4A, 4B come into contact with the external rims of the hub 3A,3B. The third point of tyre/hub contact is where the bead (6) of the central tyre wall (1) meets the internal wheel rim of the hub. This point shall be referred to as the central hub point (2), being equidistant from the external rims of the hub 3A,3B, running through its entire circumference.

In order to separate the tyre from the hub, the whole wheel is first removed from the brake drum or disc assembly by undoing bolts B1,B2,B3, and B4 thus allowing the wheel to be freed.

The next stage of separation involves removing the air, if any; the air from chamber A escaping through valve VA and the air from chamber B escaping through valve VB. The external tyre bead 4B can now be separated from the external hub rim 3B. The air from chamber A and chamber B could be removed from one side of the wheel as there are two separate holes drilled through the hub section Y to accomodate valves VA and VB.

Next, hub sections X and Y are separated by undoing the four clamping bolts N1,N2,N3, and N4. Hub section X is then removed from the rest of the assembly and in doing so, external tyre bead 4A is separated from the external hub rim 3A. The tyre remains joined to the hub section Y only where the bead (6) of the central tyre wall (1) meets the central hub point (2).

The last tyre/hub point of contact is easily separated thus allowing the puncture to be repaired.

To put the tyre and hub back together and refit the completed assembly back onto the vehicle the steps described above are carried out in reverse sequence.

A further point of note is seal S, made from a rubber compound or similar material, found on hub section X. This seal runs the entire circumference of the hub section X and allows an air tight seal to be made when inside faces IFX and IFY are bolted back together. It is thus perceived that the tyre housing chambers A and B could be tubeless.

Claims

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1. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel comprising a rubber compound pneumatic tyre which houses two air chambers therein, the hub of the wheel consisting of two hub sections, a means of releasably securing and sealing the tyre to the hub, a means of releasably securing and sealing the two hub sect ions together and a means by which air can be passed into and out of the individual air chambers from the external face of the hub through two separate valves.

2. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are provided two separate and similar air chambers within a single tyre.

3. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there are provided two hub sections which are connected by bolts or similar connecting devices so enabling the two hub sections to be releasably secured.

4. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the two hub sect ions can be separated to facilitate the change or addition of an inner tube into one or both of the air chambers therein.

5. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein one of the hub sections contains a seal providing a means of making an airtight seal between the two hub sections

6. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second of the two hub sections is provided with two separate holes in order to enable air to be passed into and out of the two separate air chambers independantly by means of valves or other similar devices which can be fitted into the holes thereof.

7. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in any preceeding claims wherein the tyre incorporates a central membrane as a part thereof thus enabling two separate air chambers to be created as the tyre is sealed onto the rim of the two connected hub sections.

8. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim 7 wherein there are provided means of making a sealed and/or sealable contact between the tyre and the hub where they meet.

9. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel substantially as described herein with reference to figures I to IY of the accompanying drawings.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS.

1. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel comprising a rubber compound pneumatic tyre which houses two air chambers therein, the hub of the wheel consisting of two hub sections, a means of releasably securing and sealing the tyre to the hub, a means of releasably securing and sealing the two hub sections together and a means by which air can be passed into and out of the individual air chambers from the external face of the hub through two separate valves.

2. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim one wherein there are provided two separate and similar air chambers within a single tyre.

3. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim one or claim two wherein there are provided two hub sections which are connected by bolts or similar connecting devices so enabling the two hub sections to be releasably secured.

4. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim three wherein the two hub sections can be separated to facilitate the change or addition of an inner tube into one or both of the air chambers therein.

5. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim three or claim four where in one of the hub sections contains a seal providing a means of making an airtight seal between the two hub sections.

6. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim five wherein the second of the two hub sections is provided with two separate holes in order to enable air to be passed into and out of the two separate air chambers independantly by means of valves or other similar devices which can be fitted into the holes thereof.

7. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim six wherein the two holes through one of the hub sections can accommodate valves or similar devices, thus allowing air to be passed through both valves into or out of either chamber, from only one side of the wheel hub.

CLAIMS 8. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in any preceeding claims wherein the tyre incorporates a central membrane as a part thereof thus enabling two separate air chambers to be created as the tyre is sealed onto the rim of two connected hub sections.

9. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel as claimed in claim eight wherein there are provided means of making a sealed and/or sealable contact between the tyre and the hub where they meet.

10. A Dualmax Safetech Safety Wheel substantially as described herein with reference to figures to of the accompanying drawings.