GB2078637A - Safety bands for vehicle road wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

Adjacent ends of a pair of arcuate members (1), (2), forming a safety band for fitting to a vehicle wheel rim to prevent tyre beads entering the rim well, are joined by a connection means comprising a pair of connectors (4) (5) secured together by a bolt (6) and a bar nut (7). Each connector has a box-like body which extends through a slot (11) in the associated arcuate member, the body being provided with a tongue which abuts the inner surface of the arcuate member and a shoe which overlies the outer surface of the arcuate member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety bands for vehicle road wheels This invention relates to safety bands for vehicle road wheels. Such a safety band is mounted on a wheel rim, after the tyre has been fitted, so as to fill the rim well. If the tyre should then deflate when the vehicle is moving, the safety band prevents the tyre bead entering the wall and so keeps the deflated tyre on the rim.

Present safety bands are in the form of two substantially semi-circular arcuate elements called rails which are connected end-to-end. At one joint a link element is employed and at the other joint a draw bolt is used to tighten the two rails onto the rim surface.

The present invention provides a method of joining the rail ends.

In accordance with the invention, a connection means for joining the adjacent ends of the two rails of a vehicle wheel safety band comprises a pair of connectors, each connector having a boxshaped body extending from a shoe to project through a slot in a respective one of the rails adjacent an end thereof with the shoe abutting the outer peripheral surface of the rail, a tongue on the body extending parallel to the shoe and spaced therefrom to abut the inner surface of the rail, a locking bolt passing through aligned holes in both bodies with a head abutting a surface of one of the bodies and a nut located within the other body to receive the bolt shank and having an exterior shape to prevent rotation thereof by engagement with the interior of the other body when the bolt is rotated.

The invention also includes a safety band for a vehicle road wheel comprising two rails which are joined at their adjacent ends by the said connection means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an elevation of two rail ends of a wheel safety band joined by connecting means according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows an elevation of a connector.

Referring to Fig. 1, the ends of two arcuate flanged rails 1, 2 are secured together by connecting means 3 which comprises two similar connectors 4, 5 a draw bolt 6, and a bar nut 7.

As best seen in Fig. 2, each connector has a box-shaped body or cage 8 extending from a shoe 9 and provided on one side with a tongue 10 parallel to and spaced from the shoe.

Slots 11 are cut in the rails near their ends of sufficient size to accommodate the body and tongue, and to make the connection between the rails, the connectors are mounted on the rails by passing the bodies and tongue through the slots from the outer side with the tongue nearer the rail ends, and then sliding the connectors towards the rail ends so that at each connector the shoe lies on the rail peripheral surface and the tongue hooks over the slot end to abut the inside surface of the rail. The nut 7 is then installed in one cage. As shown in Fig. 1, the nut fills the interior of the cage and in consequence is unable to rotate. The bolt 6 is then passed through aligned holes in the cages and through the nut. As the bolt is tightened the rail ends are drawn together to clamp the band onto the wheel rim.

Preferably both the end joints of the rails are made by similar connecting means so that the clamping force exerted when the bolts are tightened can be evenly distributed between the rail ends.

1. A connection means for joining the adjacent ends of the two rails of a vehicle wheel safety band comprising a pair of connectors, each connector having a box-shaped body extending from a shoe to project through a slot in a respective one of the rails adjacent an end thereof with the shoe abutting the outer peripheral surface of the rail, a tongue on the body extending parallel to the shoe and spaced therefrom to abut the inner surface of the rail a locking bolt passing through aligned holes in both bodies with a head abutting a surface of one of the bodies and a nut located within the other body to receive the bolt shank and having an exterior shape to prevent rotation thereof by engagement with the interior of the other body when the bolt is rotated.

2. A safety band for a vehicle road wheel comprising two rails which are joined at their adjacent ends for a connection means according to Claim 1.

3. A connection means for joining the adjacent ends of the two rails of a vehicle wheel safety band constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 1 and with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

4. A safety band for a vehicle road wheel constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Safety bands for vehicle road wheels This invention relates to safety bands for vehicle road wheels. Such a safety band is mounted on a wheel rim, after the tyre has been fitted, so as to fill the rim well. If the tyre should then deflate when the vehicle is moving, the safety band prevents the tyre bead entering the wall and so keeps the deflated tyre on the rim. Present safety bands are in the form of two substantially semi-circular arcuate elements called rails which are connected end-to-end. At one joint a link element is employed and at the other joint a draw bolt is used to tighten the two rails onto the rim surface. The present invention provides a method of joining the rail ends. In accordance with the invention, a connection means for joining the adjacent ends of the two rails of a vehicle wheel safety band comprises a pair of connectors, each connector having a boxshaped body extending from a shoe to project through a slot in a respective one of the rails adjacent an end thereof with the shoe abutting the outer peripheral surface of the rail, a tongue on the body extending parallel to the shoe and spaced therefrom to abut the inner surface of the rail, a locking bolt passing through aligned holes in both bodies with a head abutting a surface of one of the bodies and a nut located within the other body to receive the bolt shank and having an exterior shape to prevent rotation thereof by engagement with the interior of the other body when the bolt is rotated. The invention also includes a safety band for a vehicle road wheel comprising two rails which are joined at their adjacent ends by the said connection means. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an elevation of two rail ends of a wheel safety band joined by connecting means according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows an elevation of a connector. Referring to Fig. 1, the ends of two arcuate flanged rails 1, 2 are secured together by connecting means 3 which comprises two similar connectors 4, 5 a draw bolt 6, and a bar nut 7. As best seen in Fig. 2, each connector has a box-shaped body or cage 8 extending from a shoe 9 and provided on one side with a tongue 10 parallel to and spaced from the shoe. Slots 11 are cut in the rails near their ends of sufficient size to accommodate the body and tongue, and to make the connection between the rails, the connectors are mounted on the rails by passing the bodies and tongue through the slots from the outer side with the tongue nearer the rail ends, and then sliding the connectors towards the rail ends so that at each connector the shoe lies on the rail peripheral surface and the tongue hooks over the slot end to abut the inside surface of the rail. The nut 7 is then installed in one cage. As shown in Fig. 1, the nut fills the interior of the cage and in consequence is unable to rotate. The bolt 6 is then passed through aligned holes in the cages and through the nut. As the bolt is tightened the rail ends are drawn together to clamp the band onto the wheel rim. Preferably both the end joints of the rails are made by similar connecting means so that the clamping force exerted when the bolts are tightened can be evenly distributed between the rail ends. CLAIMS

1. A connection means for joining the adjacent ends of the two rails of a vehicle wheel safety band comprising a pair of connectors, each connector having a box-shaped body extending from a shoe to project through a slot in a respective one of the rails adjacent an end thereof with the shoe abutting the outer peripheral surface of the rail, a tongue on the body extending parallel to the shoe and spaced therefrom to abut the inner surface of the rail a locking bolt passing through aligned holes in both bodies with a head abutting a surface of one of the bodies and a nut located within the other body to receive the bolt shank and having an exterior shape to prevent rotation thereof by engagement with the interior of the other body when the bolt is rotated.

2. A safety band for a vehicle road wheel comprising two rails which are joined at their adjacent ends for a connection means according to Claim 1.

3. A connection means for joining the adjacent ends of the two rails of a vehicle wheel safety band constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 1 and with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

4. A safety band for a vehicle road wheel constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.