CN217574736U

CN217574736U - Wheel for a pneumatic tyre on a vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN217574736U
Application number: CN201990001477.8U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 劳伦斯·伦纳德·杰森
Original assignee: Lao LunsiLunnadeJiesen
Current assignee: Lao LunsiLunnadeJiesen
Priority date: 2019-12-10
Filing date: 2019-12-10
Publication date: 2022-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-10
Also published as: JP3240018U; WO2021113895A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a pneumatic tire's wheel for on vehicle, this wheel include the wheel rim, and it has well portion, bead seat and bead holding flange, and the bead holding flange keeps away from the wheel axis from corresponding bead seat and extends. One said bead-holding flange comprises a first portion extending substantially radially from the respective bead seat to a second portion which, in an axial section through the wheel, is curved away from an imaginary plane passing through the well and perpendicular to the wheel axis. The third portion extends from the second portion and at a greater angle to the wheel axis than adjacent parts of the second portion, and the fourth portion extends from a radially outer portion of the third portion and further from the wheel axis than the second portion. The fourth portion is arcuately curved in an axial cross-section through the wheel away from the imaginary plane through the well. The fourth portion provides a radially outwardly facing ground engaging surface that is at least about 6/8 inch larger in diameter than the other bead retaining flange.

Description

Wheel for a pneumatic tyre on a vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wheel for a pneumatic tyre on a vehicle, such as an automobile.

Background

A typical wheel for a pneumatic tire has a rim provided with a well extending circumferentially around the wheel, the well-defining parts of the rim axially providing bead seats to support the beads of a pneumatic tire fitted to the wheel, and further providing bead-retaining flanges extending away from the wheel axis from the respective said bead seats.

In some wheel structures, one or both of the bead seats are formed with raised ribs that serve to retain the tire bead on the bead seat even when the tire is deflated. These wheel rim structures are commonly referred to as "safety rims".

When a vehicle having such known wheels fitted with pneumatic tires is in motion, a loss of steering control is often experienced if the tires, especially on the front or steered wheels, become deflated. Such loss of control may occur suddenly due to a tire puncture, or may occur gradually if the tire pressure is gradually reduced due to a puncture. When the tires lose pressure, the vehicle may tend to lean to the side of the vehicle where the puncture occurs, such that the wheel carrying the tire that has been punctured also leans in the same way, greatly affecting the steering geometry of the vehicle, reducing steering control, and allowing only minimal, if any, use of the braking system to stop the vehicle.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The preferred embodiments provide an improved wheel structure that substantially avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wheel for a pneumatic tyre on a vehicle, comprising a rim having a well, a bead seat and bead retaining flanges extending from respective ones of said bead seat away from a wheel axis, one of said bead retaining flanges comprising: a first portion extending substantially radially from the respective bead seat to a second portion that is curved away from an imaginary plane passing through the well and perpendicular to the wheel axis in an axial cross-section through the wheel; a third portion extending from the second portion and at a greater angle relative to the wheel axis than an adjacent part of the second portion; and a fourth portion extending from a radially outer portion of the third portion and disposed further from the wheel axis than the second portion, the fourth portion being arcuately curved away from the imaginary plane through the well in an axial cross-section through the wheel, the fourth portion providing a radially outwardly facing ground engaging surface that is at least about 6/8 inches larger in diameter than the other bead retaining flange.

As is known in the art, the wheel rim is preferably made as an integral unit and roll formed. Alternatively, the wheel may be cast and machined as is also known in the art.

In one form of carrying out the invention, the first part of the one bead-retaining flange extends substantially radially outwards from the respective bead seat, and the second, third and fourth parts are integral with the first part.

In another form of carrying out the invention, the first and second portions of the bead-retaining flange are provided by a wheel body portion, and the third and fourth portions of the bead-retaining flange are provided by a member releasably secured to the wheel body portion.

The members providing the third and fourth portions of the one bead-holding flange may be fixed to the wheel body portion by bolts or the like.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a known wheel having a pneumatic tire thereon in a deflated condition;

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view of a wheel embodying the present invention having a pneumatic tire inflated thereon;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the wheel after the tire is deflated;

FIG. 4 is a partial axial cross-sectional view of another wheel embodying the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial axial cross-sectional view of a variation of the wheel shown in FIG. 4, showing a smaller wheel than that shown in FIG. 4, but on a larger scale; and

fig. 6 is a partial axial cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

With reference to the accompanying drawings, fig. 1 shows the result of a burst or puncture of a tyre 5 on a known wheel 4, this wheel 4 comprising a rim inside which is fixed a circular radially extending wheel disc 18, this rim providing an inner and an outer bead seat and an inner and an outer bead retention flange respectively extending away from the wheel axis from the respective said seats, and wherein both the inner and the outer bead retention flanges have the same outer diameter. When the tyre 5 is deflated, the vehicle supported by the wheel 4 tilts, resulting in an increase in the camber angle of the wheel carrying the deflated tyre. Thus, the weight of the vehicle is carried on the outer bead-holding flange 6.

In the known wheel structure shown in fig. 1, the wheel disc 18 is arranged such that a vertical line passing through a point in the contact area of the tyre 5 with the road surface 11, which point is the centre of the force exerted by the tyre on the road surface, is as close as possible to the wheel pivot member (e.g. the king pin 7). However, when the tyre 5 deflates and the vehicle weight shifts to the outer rim 6 of the vertical line, which passes through the centre of the force exerted by the wheel on the road, is substantially spaced from the wheel pivot, creating considerable stress on the wheel suspension components, resulting in excessive leverage on the steering linkage.

Fig. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the invention in which the wheel 8 comprises a rim and a circular radially extending wheel disc 18 secured within the rim, the rim having a well 12, inboard and outboard bead seats supporting inboard and outboard rims of the pneumatic tire 5 and inboard and outboard bead retaining flanges 6 extending away from the wheel axis from the inboard and outboard bead seats respectively. The flange 10 and the flange 6 naturally extend around the entire circumference of the wheel, the flange 6 extending substantially radially from its bead seat and turning its radially outer edge away from the well to provide the bead.

The flange 10 includes: a first portion for engagement with a respective tire bead, extending substantially radially outwardly from the inboard bead seat; a second portion extending from the first portion and the flange being curved away from an imaginary plane passing through the well and perpendicular to the wheel axis in an axial cross-section through the wheel; a third portion extending from the second portion and wherein the bead-holding flange extends at a greater angle relative to the wheel axis than the abutment part of the second portion; and a fourth portion formed by rolling up the free edge of the flange in a manner similar to that of the flange 6, in a manner similar to that of the flange 10, the fourth portion thus being disposed further from the wheel axis than the second portion, and being arcuately curved, in axial cross-section, away from the said imaginary plane passing through the well and perpendicular to the wheel axis to provide a radially outwardly facing ground engaging surface 14 of greater diameter than the flange 6.

It should be understood that the wheel rim is integrally formed. The parts providing the well 12 and the inboard and outboard bead seats, the first, second, third and fourth portions of the flange 6 and the flange 10 are all integral with one another.

The third portion 9 of the flange 10 and the fourth portion extending therefrom are spaced from the inflated tyre 5.

As shown in fig. 3, if the tyre 5 becomes deflated, the weight of the vehicle is supported via the surface 14 by a fourth portion extending from the portion 9 of the flange 10. Thus, the wheel 8 does not lean to any significant extent, and the vehicle is supported at a point inboard of the wheel pivot 7, so that no additional stress or leverage is exerted on the wheel suspension and steering linkage. Thus, the vehicle can be steered normally without losing control, and further, the vehicle brake can be used to stop the vehicle.

With reference to fig. 4, a further embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein the inner bead-holding flange is in fact a composite structure, the radially inner part being provided by the wheel body portion and the radially outer part being provided by a member 21 releasably secured to the wheel body portion.

The wheel body portion has substantially the same form as the known wheel of figure 1 and includes a rim 22 within which is secured a circular radially extending wheel disc 24. The member 21 has the form of a plate which fits inwardly towards one side of the vehicle against the body portion of the wheel when the wheel is fitted to the vehicle, the plate being formed such that its surface closer to the body portion of the wheel fits snugly against the opposite surface provided by the wheel disc 24, half of the radially inner surface of the part of the rim which defines the bottom of the well in the rim, and the outer side of the part of the rim provides the inner side of the well and the inner side bead seat.

The removable plate 21 is preferably secured to the wheel body portion by means of an inboard bead seat.

The removable plate 21 is preferably secured to the wheel body portion by means of a plurality of bolts passing through the wheel disc 24 and the part of the plate 21 that engages the wheel disc 24.

The part 23 of the inner bead retaining flange corresponding in shape to the outer bead retaining flange comprises a first portion extending substantially radially outwardly from the inner bead seat and a second portion in the form of an outwardly turned lip part which in axial section is curved away from an imaginary plane passing through the well and perpendicular to the wheel axis and which bears on the outer circumferential flange provided by the plate 21, the last-mentioned part of the flange extending outwardly beyond said outwardly turned lip part constituting a third portion of the inner bead retaining flange and extending outwardly to a fourth portion which in axial section is curved arcuately away from said imaginary plane passing through the well perpendicular to the wheel axis so as to provide, as mentioned before, a radially outwardly facing ground engaging surface providing the outer periphery of the inner bead retaining flange and having a larger diameter than the outer bead retaining flange.

It should be noted that the peripheral flange provided by the plate 21 is offset from the imaginary plane with respect to the part of the inner bead-holding flange provided by the wheel body portion.

Referring to figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown a modification of the wheel of figure 4 which differs from the wheel of figure 4 in that a circumferential groove is formed on the side of the plate 21 which engages the opposite surface of the wheel body portion to receive a seal, such as an O-ring. The provision of the seal facilitates separation of the parts after their long-term assembly.

It can also be seen from fig. 5 that the peripheral flange provided by the plate 21 does not closely follow the configuration of the first portion provided by the component 23 and forming the radially inner part of the bead-holding flange, but engages only against the outer edge 26 of said second portion provided by the component 23.

The diameter of the radially outwardly facing ground engaging surface at the outer periphery of the plate 21 is at least 6/8 inch greater than the outer edge 26 of the bead retaining flange 23 (i.e., a 3/8 inch lip on either side of the wheel). Typically, the diameter of the radially outwardly facing ground engaging surface at the outer periphery of the plate 21 is less than 2 inches greater than the outer edge 26 of the bead retaining flange 23 (i.e., a 1 inch lip on either side of the wheel).

A further embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 6 is similar to the embodiment of fig. 4 and differs only in the form of member 36 which replaces member 21 in fig. 4.

Thus, the embodiment of fig. 6 includes a wheel rim 30 having inboard 32 and outboard 31 flange structures, the inboard 32 and outboard 31 flange structures extending on either side of a wheel well 33, respectively, and further including a wheel disc 35.

The member 36 includes: a flat, radially extending inner center piece secured to the wheel disc 35; a skirt 37 which flares frustoconical outwardly from the centre part in a direction away from the wheel disc 35; and a peripheral flange 34 corresponding to the plate 21, which extends radially outwardly beyond and is engaged by the outwardly turned peripheral lip of the flange formation 32 in the same manner as in the embodiment of figure 4, the flange 34 again being turned outwardly at its periphery to provide a radially outwardly convex ground engaging surface.

In use, if the tyre on the wheel becomes deflated during use of the wheel on a vehicle, the weight of the vehicle is supported on the outer edge of the flange 34. Thus, the wheel does not tilt to any appreciable extent due to deflation of the tire, and the vehicle is supported at a point that is generally inboard of the pivot point of the wheel, so that the wheel suspension and steering linkage are not subjected to significant additional stress or leverage. Thus, the vehicle can be steered normally without losing control and further the vehicle brakes can be used to stop the vehicle without danger.

Furthermore, the wheel structure described with reference to fig. 2 to 6 does not lead to any increase in the difficulty of tyre replacement compared to known wheels.

Claims

1. A wheel for a pneumatic tire on a vehicle, the wheel comprising a rim having a well, bead seats and bead retaining flanges extending from the respective bead seats away from a wheel axis, one of the bead retaining flanges comprising: a first portion extending substantially radially from a respective bead seat to a second portion that curves away from an imaginary plane passing through the well and perpendicular to the wheel axis in an axial cross-section through the wheel; a third portion extending from the second portion and at a greater angle relative to the wheel axis than an adjacent part of the second portion; and a fourth portion extending from a radially outer portion of the third portion and disposed farther from the wheel axis than the second portion, the fourth portion being arcuately curved away from the imaginary plane through the well in an axial cross-section through the wheel, the fourth portion providing a radially outwardly facing ground engaging surface that is at least about 6/8 inches larger in diameter than the other bead retaining flange.

2. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein said third and fourth portions of said one bead-holding flange are integrally formed with said first and second portions.

3. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein said first and second portions of said bead-holding flange are provided by a wheel body portion, and wherein said third and fourth portions of said bead-holding flange are provided by a member releasably secured to said wheel body portion, wherein said third portion is inclined with respect to said imaginary plane in an axial cross-section through said wheel so as to extend outwardly from said second portion away from said plane.

4. A wheel according to claim 3, wherein said member releasably secured to said wheel body portion is fixedly mounted against a surface of said wheel body portion on a side of the wheel body portion facing away from the direction of said other bead retaining flange, wherein a side of said member engaging said surface of said wheel body portion is in close conformity with said surface of said wheel body portion, and an annular groove is formed around said member on the last-mentioned side of said member so as to define a corresponding annular cavity between said wheel body portion and said member.

5. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the radially-outward facing ground-engaging surface is less than about 2 inches greater than the other bead retaining flange.

6. A wheel for a pneumatic tire on a vehicle, said wheel comprising a rim having a well, bead seats and bead retaining flanges extending from respective said bead seats away from a wheel axis, one said bead retaining flange comprising:

a radially outward facing surface having a diameter at least about 6/8 inch greater than another bead retention flange, or

A lip extending at least about 3/8 inch.