AU2011201195A1 - A Wheel Adaptor - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Adaptawheel Pty Ltd Actual Inventor Darryl Bentley Address for service is: WRAYS Ground Floor, 56 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005 Attorney code: WR Invention Title; A Wheel Adaptor The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- -2 A Wheel Adaptor Field of the Invention The present invention relates to vehicle wheels and a particular application of the invention relates to the wheels of heavy duty vehicles such as earthmoving 5 vehicles. Background Art The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part 10 of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. In the field of automotive transport and earth moving the most common ground engagement means for a vehicle comprises a wheel rim and tyre assembly wherein a tyre is fitted to a rim and/or a wheel assembly which is in turn fitted to a wheel hub. In some applications, particularly in heavy haulage and off-road 15 applications, there can be an advantage to use a wheel assembly having dual rims and tyres where advantages such as increased load capacity, increased stability and reduced road wear can be enjoyed. However, where an existing vehicle is provided with a single wheel rim and tyre assembly supported on each hub, it can be difficult to upgrade the vehicle by modifying the vehicle to take dual 20 wheels at each hub and conversion from a hub supporting a single wheel to a hub supporting a dual wheel can be costly and such conversions are not readily available or reversible. In addition it is established practice that the specification of the vehicle including such factors as unladen mass and intended payload mass determines the size 25 and type of wheel rim and tyre assembly that must be fitted to the vehicle. Specification of the vehicle and the size and type of wheel rim and tyre assembly -3 are usually the parameters in determining the hub size. This can cause difficulties if the supply of a particular style of tyre is delayed or discontinued or where altered performance characteristicsof the vehicle are desirable. It is the object of the present invention to address at least some of the above 5 problems. Disclosure of the Invention Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word 'comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of 10 any other integer or group of integers. Accordingly, the present invention resides in a wheel adaptor having a hub engagement means which is dimensioned and arranged to cooperate with the existing hub mounting arrangement to enable the adaptor to be fixed to and supported from an existing hub, and an annular support fixed to the hub 15 engagement means to be concentric with the hub. In use, the annular support is adapted for supporting at least one rim and/or at least one wheel assembly adapted to support a tyre. According to a preferred feature of the invention the annular support is substantially cylindrical. 20 According to a preferred feature of the invention the hub engagement means comprises a flange provided on the inner radial face of the annular support. According to a preferred feature of the invention the annular support is provided with at least one locating means that cooperates with a complimentary aspect of the at least one rim and/or at least one wheel assembly to locate the at least one 25 rim and/or at least one wheel assembly in the desired position along the length of the annular support.

-4 According to a preferred feature of the invention there is provided a retaining means that retains the at least one rim and/or at least one wheel assembly in the desired position on the annular support. According to a preferred feature the locating means comprises at least one flange 5 extending radially outward from the annular support. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the retaining means comprises angularly spaced threaded studs fixed to the locating means and cooperating with corresponding nuts to retain the wheel assembly in position on the wheel adaptor. According to a preferred feature of the invention the inner flange is adapted to 10 accommodate a valve. According to an alternative embodiment, the inner flange is continuous. According to a further alternative embodiment the inner flange is discontinuous and comprises a circular array of tab-like elements. According to a fourth embodiment, the locating means comprises a section of the annular support provided with an increasing radius that cooperates with a 15 corresponding and inverse section provided on the rim or wheel assembly. According to this embodiment, the hub engagement means comprises an angularly spaced array of threaded studs that are fixed to the annular support and are each provided with a cleat comprising a member having a hole that is dimensioned to fit over the threaded stud provided there-though, the cleat having 20 a first portion adapted to engage a portion of the hub and a second portion adapted to engage the wheel adaptor. According to this embodiment, the retaining means comprises a threaded stud fixed to the annular support and being provided with a cleat comprising a member having a hole that is dimensioned to fit over the threaded stud provided there 25 though, the cleat having a first portion adapted to engage a portion of a rim or wheel assembly and a second portion adapted to engage a wedge band.

-5 According to a preferred feature of the invention the support has an axial extent and is adapted to support at least two rims and/or wheel assemblies in side by side relationship. According to a preferred feature of the invention the wheel rims are separable 5 from the support. The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description. Brief Description of the Drawings The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a partial cross-section elevation of a wheel and lyre assembly which is 10 supported from a hub and itself supports a tyre in the conventional manner; Figure 2 is a partial cross-section elevation of a wheel accommodating an adaptor according to the first embodiment which is supported from a hub and itself supports a single wheel and tyre assembly; Figure 3 is a partial cross-section elevation of a wheel accommodating an adaptor 15 according to the second embodiment which is supported from a hub and itself supports a pair of wheel and tyre assemblies; Figure 4 is an end perspective view of a wheel hub; Figure 5 is a side perspective view of a wheel adaptor according to the second embodiment; 20 Figure 6 is side perspective view of a wheel adaptor similar to the embodiment of Figure 5, but having a uniform innermost flange. The wheel adaptor is mounted to a wheel hub in this view; -6 Figure 7 is a side perspective view of a wheel adaptor similar to the embodiment of Figure 6, but having a single notch in the otherwise uniform innermost flange; Figure 8 is a side perspective view of a wheel adaptor mounted to a wheel hub and having a first wheel and tyre assembly mounted thereto; 5 Figure 9 is a side perspective view of an assembly comprising a wheel hub, a wheel adaptor and two wheel and tyre assemblies mounted thereto; Figure 10 is an end view of a wheel adaptor showing a supported wheel assembly according to an alternative embodiment that is in turn supported from a wheel hub; 10 Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel adaptor of Figure 10; and Figure 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wheel adaptor of Figures 10 and 11. Figure 13 is a side perspective view of a wheel adaptor similar to the embodiment of Figure 10, but showing a pair of wheel assemblies mounted thereto; 15 Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments Each of the embodiments relate to an adaptor which can be fixed to an existing wheel hub to enable a tyre of differing dimensions to be supported from the wheel hub and/or to enable two or more tyres to be supported from the hub. 20 Figure 1 shows a conventional arrangement of fastening a wheel and tyre assembly to a hub. In this drawing the hub 13 is mounted to a vehicle (not shown) and supports a wheel and tyre assembly 15. The hub 13 is provided with a hub flange 17 that is intended, in use, to cooperate with the wheel flange 33 of a -7 wheel rim assembly 25 that supports the tyre 15. To support the wheel rim assembly 25 the hub flange 17 is provided with a set of angularly spaced studs 19 which are receivable in a set of correspondingly positioned holes in the wheel rim assembly 25. The studs 19 are each associated with a suitable nut 23 which 5 cooperate with the studs 19 to clampingly retain the wheel rim assembly 25 on to the hub 13. The first embodiment as shown at Figure 2 comprises an adapter 11 which is mounted to the hub 13 of a vehicle (not shown) and which supports a wheel and tyre assembly 15 which is of differing dimensions to the wheel and tyre assembly 10 normally intended to be supported from the hub 13. The adapter 11 is intended for use in situations where it is desired to use tyres which have differing dimensions on the vehicle because the original tyres are unavailable or are not economically viable to use and/or where the existing tyres cannot fulfil the loading and/or traction requirements demanded of the vehicle . 15 In this embodiment the wheel rim assembly is replaced by an adaptor 11 which is formed with an inner flange 21 which has a set of angularly spaced apertures (not shown) which are located such that they are engagable with the studs 19 of the hub flange 17 whereby the adaptor 11 can be fixedly supported from the hub 13. In addition the adaptor 11 comprises an annulus 27 which is fixed to the outer 20 perimeter of the inner flange 21. The adaptor 11 further comprises an outer flange 29 which is fixed to the outer perimeter of the annulus 27 and which is adapted to be able to support a wheel and tyre assembly 15 in the conventional manner. The outer flange 29 is provided with angularly spaced second studs 31 that are located and dimensioned to cooperate with corresponding apertures in 25 the wheel and tyre assembly 15 and corresponding second nuts to retain the wheel and tyre assembly 15 to the adaptor 11. The wheel and tyre assembly 15 has a mounting diameter and may have an outer diameter and/or width which differs from the original wheel and tyre assembly which was intended to be supported from the hub 13.

-8 The adaptor of the first embodiment provides a means of mounting, to the hub of a vehicle, a wheel and tyre assembly which is more economic to use compared to the wheel and tyre assembly which was intended to be supported from the hub or has differing load and/or traction capacities. 5 The second and preferred embodiment as shown at Figure 3 comprises an adaptor which is similar to the first embodiment with the exception that the adaptor supports a pair of wheel and tyre assemblies 15a and 15b in side by side relationship. In the case of the second embodiment the adaptor 11 comprises an intermediate annulus 27 which is of a tubular configuration and supports the inner 10 flange 21 at its inner face. Each end of the annulus 27 supports respective first and second outer flanges 29a and 29b each of which support a set of angularly spaced second studs 31. Each outer flange 29 supports a wheel and tyre assembly 15a or 15b from a corresponding inner flange 33a or 33b provided on each wheel and tyre assembly where the second inner flange is formed with a set 15 of apertures located to correspond to the positions of the second studs 31 on the outer flanges 29a and 29b. At least the second inner flange 33a of the axially innermost wheel and tyre assembly 15a and the axially outermost outer flange 29b at the axially outer end of the adaptor 11 is formed to be discontinuous so that they take the form of a circular array of tabs which are provided with the 20 apertures for studs as required. The discontinuous nature of the flanges enables the innermost tyre rim to be removed from the support after initially removing the outermost tyre rim from the support. The second embodiment enables a pair of wheel rims to be mounted to the hub of an existing vehicle which was previously associated with a single wheel and tyre 25 assembly. Figure 4 shows a conventional wheel hub 13 having a hub flange 17 provided with studs 19 at angular intervals. The first and second embodiments above are configured to be received upon a wheel hub of this type.

-9 At Figure 5 the adaptor 11 of the second embodiment is shown. In this embodiment both of the outer flanges 29a and 29b take the form of a circular array of tabs which are provided with studs that in cooperation with corresponding nuts (not shown) retain a pair of wheel and tyre assemblies thereto. 5 Figure 6 shows an adaptor 11 similar to that of Figure 5 such that the same numbers are used to identify corresponding components. This adaptor 11 is shown in place on a hub 13. In this embodiment the axially innermost flange 29a has a substantially uniform radius. Preferably, the innermost flange 29a is provided with means for accommodating a valve or valve stem from the affixed 10 wheel assembly 15a. The valve or valve stem can be accommodated by a suitably dimensioned aperture (not shown) or by providing a cut-out or scallop 35 in the outer flange 29, as shown in Figure 7. Figure 8 shows a conventional hub 13 having fitted in place of the intended wheel a wheel adaptor 11. The wheel adaptor 11 is further fitted with a first wheel and 15 tyre assembly 15a. Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8, but additionally shows a second wheel 15b supported from the adaptor 11. Figures 10 through 13 show the present invention adapted for use in relation to demountable style wheel assemblies. 20 In this embodiment, the adaptor 11 is provided with a section of reduced internal radius 49 adjacent a portion wherein the radius is decreasing 51. The reduced internal radius 49 of the adaptor 11 is less than the maximum external radius 41 of the hub 13. The portion of the adaptor 11 having the decreasing radius 51 engages the hub 13 at a corresponding hub portion having increasing radius 43. 25 The adaptor 11 is retained on the hub 13 by studs 19 that are affixed to the hub 13 and that cooperate with corresponding nuts 23 and hub cleats 45. The hub cleats 45 have two elongate sections that are substantially right-angled, the first -10 section at its distil end engaging the surface of the hub 13 and the second section being provided with a hole there-through to accommodate the stud 19 and having a portion on the inner surface adapted to engage the wheel adaptor 11. The wheel and tyre assembly 15 is retained on the adaptor in similar fashion. In 5 the embodiment shown, a first wheel assembly 15a has a portion of reduced internal radius 71a proximate one side of the wheel assembly 15a and adjacent a portion of decreasing internal radius 73a. The reduced internal radius 71a of the wheel assembly 15a is less than the maximum external radius 63 of the adaptor 11. A portion of the adaptor 11 has an increasing external radius 65 adjacent a 10 portion having a maximum external radius 63. The portion of the adaptor 11 having increasing external radius 65 engages the portion of the wheel assembly 15a having decreasing internal radius 73. An annular spacer 59 is provided having an internal radius dimensioned to accommodate, and in use, being positioned over the adaptor 11 adjacent the wheel assembly 15a. Further, the 15 annular spacer 59 is positioned against the face of the wheel assembly 15a nearest the portion of the wheel assembly 15a having decreased internal radius 71a. The annular spacer 59 is cylindrical and when assembled shares a common axis with hub 13 and wheel assembly 15. Adjacent the annular spacer 59 at the opposite end to the first wheel assembly 15a is a second wheel assembly 15b. 20 The second wheel assembly 15b in this embodiment is configured as per the first wheel 15a in that it has a portion of reduced internal radius 71b adjacent to a portion of decreasing internal radius 73b. A mounting ring 61 in the form of a second annular spacer is provided that also has a substantially uniform internal radius dimensioned to accommodate the 25 adaptor 11. The mounting ring 61 is cylindrical and has at a first end a taper 67 of decreasing radius from the outer perimeter to the inner perimeter. The tapered end 67 of the mounting ring 61 is dimensioned and configured to engage the portion of the wheel assembly of decreasing radius 73b. The second end of the mounting ring 61 is substantially perpendicular to the mounting ring's axis.

- 11 The adaptor 11 is provided at the opposite end to the adaptor portion of greatest internal radius 49 with an array of angularly spaced studs 53. The adaptor studs 53 are affixed to the adaptor 11 and cooperate with corresponding nuts 55 and cleats 57. The cleats 57 are similar to the hub cleats 45 and have two elongate 5 sections that are substantially right-angled, the first section at its distil end engaging the surface of the adaptor 11 and the second section being provided with a hole there-through to accommodate the adaptor stud 53 and having a portion on the inner surface adapted to engage the wheel assembly 15b and thereby retain it on the adaptor 11. 10 While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, and has been herein described in detail in relation to the preferred embodiment of the invention, this is disclosed with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiment illustrated. 15 For example, an alternative embodiment may be achieved by casting the support member, hub flange and wheel engagement flanges as a single unit and obviating the need for welding or otherwise affixing these. Further alternative embodiments could be achieved by pressing or forging the wheel adaptor. In such circumstances the support member may be formed of 20 multiple separate components where each support member component provides at one end a flange or demountable mount for a single wheel and at the other end provides a flange mount for fastening to the hub flange. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the 25 purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims (16)

1. A wheel adaptor having a hub engagement means which is dimensioned and arranged to cooperate with the existing hub mounting arrangement to 5 enable the adaptor to be fixed to and supported from an existing hub, and an annular support fixed to the hub engagement means to be concentric with the hub, wherein in use, the annular support is adapted for supporting at least one rim and/or at least one wheel assembly adapted to support a tyre. 10

2. The wheel adaptor according to claim I wherein the annular support is substantially cylindrical.

3. The wheel adaptor according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the hub engagement means comprises a flange provided on the inner radial face of the annular support. 15

4. The wheel adaptor according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the annular support is provided with at least one locating means that cooperates with a complimentary aspect of the at least one rim and/or at least one wheel assembly to locate the at least one rim and/or at least one wheel assembly in the desired position along the length of the annular support. 20

5. The wheel adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there is provided a retaining means that retains the at least one rim and/or at least one wheel assembly in the desired position on the annular support.

6. The wheel adaptor according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the locating means comprises at least one flange extending radially outward from the annular 25 support. - 13

7. The wheel adaptor according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the retaining means comprises angularly spaced threaded studs fixed to the locating means and cooperating with corresponding nuts to retain the wheel assembly in position on the wheel adaptor. 5

8. The wheel adaptor according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the inner flange is adapted to accommodate a valve.

9. The wheel adaptor according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the inner flange is continuous.

10. The wheel adaptor according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the inner 10 flange is discontinuous and comprises a circular array of tab-like elements.

11.The wheel adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the locating means comprises a section of the annular support provided with an increasing radius that cooperates with a corresponding and inverse section provided on the rim.or wheel assembly. 15

12.The wheel adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hub engagement means comprises an angularly spaced array of threaded studs that are fixed to the annular support and are each provided with a cleat comprising a member having a hole that is dimensioned to fit over the threaded stud provided there-though, the cleat having a first 20 portion adapted to engage a portion of the hub and a second portion adapted to engage the wheel adaptor.

13.The wheel adaptor according to any one of claims 5 to 12 wherein the retaining means comprises a threaded stud fixed to the annular support and being provided with a cleat comprising a member having a hole that is 25 dimensioned to fit over the threaded stud provided there-though, the cleat having a first portion adapted to engage a portion of a rim or wheel assembly and a second portion adapted to engage a wedge band.

- 14 14. The wheel adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support has an axial extent and is adapted to support at least two rims and/or wheel assemblies in side by side relationship.

15.The wheel adaptor according to claim I wherein the wheel rims are 5 separable from the support.

16.A wheel adaptor as substantiallly herein described with reference to the drawings.