WO1979000425A1

WO1979000425A1 - Tire sidewall protector for multi-piece rim wheels

Info

Publication number: WO1979000425A1
Application number: PCT/US1978/000127
Authority: WO
Inventors: R Shiffler; J Reisel
Original assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 1977-12-23
Filing date: 1978-10-25
Publication date: 1979-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-23
Also published as: FR2412425A1

Abstract

Sidewall protection for use with split rim wheel constructions. The life of tires used on off-the-road type vehicles is often considerably reduced due to damage to their sidewalls by rocks. The present invention provides a tire sidewall protector wherein the wheel can be disassembled without removing the sidewall protection therefrom. The split rim wheel on which the protector is mounted includes a rim (10), a bead seat band (12), tire bead engaging flanges (14, 16), and a split retaining ring (28). The protector comprises an elastomeric ring (34) secured to the axially outer flange (16) on its axially outer side and radially outwardly of the split retaining ring (28). The elastomeric ring (34) has an inner diameter greater than the diameter of the retaining ring (28) and an outer diameter substantially greater than the rim (10) and less than that of a tire (22) received by the rim (10).

Description

Tire Sidewall Protector for Multi-Piece Rim Wheels

Technical Field This invention relates to split rim wheel constructions and, more specifically, to tire side¬ wall protectors for use with such wheel constructions.

Background Art

Many off-the-road vehicles operate in ex- tremely hostile, terrains and where such vehicles are wheeled, tire life is of considerable concern. This is particularly true where the vehicle is a large work performing vehicle such as a wheel loader. The tires used on such vehicles frequently are many feet in di- ameter and cost many thousand dollars a piece. And, while frequently the treads of such tires adequately resist cutting and abrasion by rocks or the like, the sidewalls thereof do not. Consequently, the life of such tires may be considerably shortened due to sidewall failure caused by cuts or abrasions imposed by the hostile working environment.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a tire sidewall protector for use in wheels of the so-called "split rim" type including first and second rim halves, one of which is adapted to be con¬ centrically disposed about the other. Each rim half has a radially outwardly directed rim flange for en¬ gaging and retaining a corresponding bead on a beaded tire and a split retaining ring is removably secured to the innermost rim half and engages the outermost rim half on the axially outer side thereof. An -2-

elastomeric ring is secured to the radially outer rim half rim flange on its axially outer side at a locatio radially outwardly of the split retaining ring. The elastomeric ring has an inner diameter greater than the diameter of the retaining ring and an outer di¬ ameter substantially greater than that of the rim halves and less than that of a tire adapted to be received on the rim halves.

As a consequence of the foregoing constructio the wheel may be disassembled without removing the tire sidewall protector therefrom.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a split rim wheel construction embodying a tire side¬ wall protector taken approximately along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevation of the split rim wheel construction.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

An exemplary embodiment of a split rim wheel construction is illustrated in the drawings and is seen to include first and second rim halves such as a rim 10 and a bead seat band 12. The band 12 is adapted to be concentrically disposed about the rim 10 in a conventional fashion. Each of the rim halves 10 and 12 retains a radially outwardly directed flange 14 and 16, respectively, for engaging and re¬ taining a corresponding bead 18 and 20 on a beaded tire 22. As seen in Fig. 2, a web structure 24 is mounted on the interior of the rim 10 and together therewith defines a wheel which may be mounted on a vehicle in a conventional fashion. The axial end of _athe rim 10 remote from the flange 14 includes a radially outwardly opening, per¬ ipheral groove 26 which removably receives a resilient, split retaining ring 28. The retaining ring 28 ex- tends sufficiently out of the groove 26 so as to abut the axially outer side of the band 12 to hold the same in place.

In the construction illustrated, the band 12 is defined by a tapered ring section 30 having a short, radially outwardly directed flange 32 and the rim flange 16 is defined by a separate element retained by the flange 32 in a removable fashion. However, it is to be understood that in some constructions, it may be desirable to form the two elements integrally. An 0- ring seal 33 is located at the interface of the rim halves 10 and 12 to seal the same when the tire 22 is of the tubeless variety.

The tire sidewall protector of the invention is in the form of a ring 34 formed of elastomer. In the usual case, it will have a thickness of about one inch, an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the retaining ring 28 and an outer diameter substan¬ tially greater than the outer diameter of the rim halves 10 and 12 and somewhat less than the outer diameter of the tire 22.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the ring 34 may be formed of a plurality of segments 36, each of the seg¬ ments 36 shown in Fig. 2 having an arcuate extent of about 90°. However, it is to be understood that other arcuate extents could be used.

The ring 34 is secured to the split rim con¬ struction by a plurality of spacers in the form of blocks 38 which are secured as by welding to the axially outer side of the rim flange 16 radially outwardly of the flange 32 and the retaining ring 28. The spacers 38 extend axially from the flange 16 sufficiently so that the ring 34 will be in close adjacency to the sidewall 40 of the tire 22, but not in abutment therewith. The ring 34 is secured to the spacers 38 by bolts 42. In an embodiment such as that illustrated where the segments 36 have an extent of 90°, four of the spacers 38 on 90° centers are utilized. The spacers 38 further have a circumferential extent such that each can receive two of the bolts 42, as illus¬ trated in Fig. 2, one bolt for each pair passing through adjacent ends of adjacent ones of the segments 36. Thus, the spacers 38 also serve to secure the segments defining the ring 34 together.

At the radially outer extremity of the ring 34, straps 46 and bolts 48 are utilized to secure the segments together.

In the typical case, the wheel will be secured to a vehicle with the band 12 being remote from the vehicle frame so that the sidewall protector will pre¬ vent rocks or the like from cutting the axially outer sidewall 40. It will also be observed that due to the relationship of the inner diameter of the ring 34 and the location of the spacer 38 radially outwardly of the locking ring 28, the wheel can be serviced with¬ out removing the sidewall protector from the rim construction.

Specifically, it is only necessary to force ring 28 out of its groove 26, usually after exerting an axially inwardly directed force on the band 12, where¬ upon the band 12 may be removed from the rim 10 thereby freeing the tire 22 for axial removal from the rim 10. Replacement is had by reversing the above sequence and, in both events, it will be appreciated that there is sufficient spacing between both the inner diameter of the sidewall protector and the spacers and the lock ring 28 to allow easy removal

O WIP or installation thereof. Consequently, a split or multi-piece rim wheel construction made according to the invention not only provides a considerable measure of protection for sidewalls of expensive tires, but also permits easy servicing of the same without requiring prior removal of the protector.

Claims

Clai s

1. In a split rim wheel construction in¬ cluding first and second rim halves 10, 12, one 12 adapted to be concentrically disposed about the other 10 and each having a radially outwardly di¬ rected rim flange 14, 17 for engaging and retaining a corresponding bead on a beaded tire, and a split retaining ring 28 removably secured to said other rim half and engaging said one rim half on the axially outer side thereof, the improvement comprising an elastomeric ring 34 secured to said one rim half rim flange axially outer side radially outwardly of said split retaining ring, said elastomeric ring having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said retaining ring and an outer diameter substantially greater than that of said rim halves and less than that of a tire adapted to be received on said rim halves Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

2. The split rim wheel construction of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric ring is secured to said axially outer side by generally axially extending spacers 38.

3. The split rim wheel construction of claim 2 wherein said elastomeric ring is segmented 36 and said spacers also secure the ring segments together.