GB2080212A

GB2080212A - Vehicle wheels

Info

Publication number: GB2080212A
Application number: GB8023537A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Laird Group Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Group Ltd
Priority date: 1980-07-18
Filing date: 1980-07-18
Publication date: 1982-02-03

Abstract

A vehicle wheel, in particular for a heavy duty vehicle, is provided with twin rims 12, 13. The wheel can have a single centre 11, or two centres each supporting a respective rim. In the latter case, the twin rims have flanges which are bolted or welded together, and one of the centres may be thicker than the other. The twin rims can be cast, e.g. in aluminium or aluminium alloy, integrally with the centre as in the Fig. 1 construction or can be extruded integrally with each other and subsequently secured to a single centre. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle wheels This invention relates to vehicle wheels, in particular for commercial or heavy duty vehicles.

It is conventional practice on commercial vehicles for those wheels which carry the greatest load to be twinned, i.e. two wheels fitted together back-to-back and bolted to the wheel hub. In such a situation, it is essential that the tyres on the twinned wheels should not touch one another since otherwise the tyres will destroy one another. To achieve the necessary separation of the tyres, it is necessary for the wheel centre to be only slightly inset in relation to the rim; in other words the nave of the wheel centre, which contains the bolt holes, must be well spaced from the centre plane of the rim. This has the disadvantage that the load on the wheel rim results in a heavy strain on the flange of the wheel centre which in turn must be sufficiently thick or suitably reinforced to withstand this strain.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle wheel having thereon twin rims.

The twin rims can be bolted together or formed integrally with each other threreby diminishing the strain on the flanges of the wheel centre or centres.

The wheel can have a single centre supporting the twin rims or two centres each of which supports a respective wheel rim. In the latter case the twin rims will be bolted or otherwise secured together in the vicinity of the rims to reduce the strain on the flanges of the wheel centres on which the rims are supported.

A number of embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part section through a vehicle wheel in which twin rims have been cast integrally with a single wheel centre; Figure 2 is a part section through a vehicle wheel in which two wheel centres each supporting a separate wheel rim are secured together in the vicinity of the wheel rims; and Figure 3 is a part section through a modification of the wheel of Fig. 2.

The vehicle wheel shown in Fig. 1 comprises a single centre 11 which has been cast integrally with first and second wheel rims 12, 13, the wheel centre having oppositely directed flanges 14, 15, on which the respective wheel rims are supported. Since the wheel rims are formed integrally with one another, the wheel flanges are relieved of much of the strain which they would have carried if the two rims had been separate from each other.

In the vehicle wheel of Fig. 2, individual wheel centres 20, 21 are cast integrally with, or otherwise secured to, flanges 24, 25. The respective flanges 24, 25 carry wheel rims 22, 23 which are secured together by bolts 26 at spaced positions around their periphery.

Although the two wheel centres and wheel rims can be identical to each other, there is an advantage in making one wheel centre in substantially thicker material than the other.

The thicker wheel centre will then carry the major part of the load rather than the load being carried equally by two identical but weaker wheel centres. Moreover, other samples of this thicker wheel centre and its integral rim can be used alone as front wheels for the vehicle, thereby reducing the number of different castings needed to provide the wheels for any one vehicle.

In the modified embodiment of Fig. 3, the two wheel rims 32, 33, are shown secured together by bolts 36 which pass through radially inwardly directed flanges 34a, 35a on the wheel rims. These bolts can be fitted by forming access openings suitably located in the rims 32, 33 or in the wheel centre flanges 30, 31.

In either of the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3, the rims could be welded together instead of being bolted.

As a further alternative, the twin rims could be formed from a single extrusion, or several extrusions bolted or welded together and thereafter bolted or welded to a single centre or twin centres.

The invention is particularly applicable to the production of cast aluminium or aluminium alloy wheels, but is also applicable to the production of extruded or forged aluminium alloy wheels, or to rolled or forged steel wheels.

If the wheel is cast, webs can readily be formed to bridge between the flanges of the wheel centre, and these webs will add strength to the flanges.

1. A vehicle wheel having thereon twin rims.

2. A vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the twin rims are supported on a single wheel centre.

3. A vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein each rim is supported on a respective wheel centre, the two wheel centres being secured together by means other than the means which secure the wheel to a wheel hub.

4. A vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, wherein the twin rims are formed integrally with each other.

5. A vehicle wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the twin rims are secured together by bolts or by welding located on or adjacent the rims.

6. A vehicle wheel according to claim 2, wherein said wheel has been formed by cast

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicle wheels This invention relates to vehicle wheels, in particular for commercial or heavy duty vehicles. It is conventional practice on commercial vehicles for those wheels which carry the greatest load to be twinned, i.e. two wheels fitted together back-to-back and bolted to the wheel hub. In such a situation, it is essential that the tyres on the twinned wheels should not touch one another since otherwise the tyres will destroy one another. To achieve the necessary separation of the tyres, it is necessary for the wheel centre to be only slightly inset in relation to the rim; in other words the nave of the wheel centre, which contains the bolt holes, must be well spaced from the centre plane of the rim. This has the disadvantage that the load on the wheel rim results in a heavy strain on the flange of the wheel centre which in turn must be sufficiently thick or suitably reinforced to withstand this strain. According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle wheel having thereon twin rims. The twin rims can be bolted together or formed integrally with each other threreby diminishing the strain on the flanges of the wheel centre or centres. The wheel can have a single centre supporting the twin rims or two centres each of which supports a respective wheel rim. In the latter case the twin rims will be bolted or otherwise secured together in the vicinity of the rims to reduce the strain on the flanges of the wheel centres on which the rims are supported. A number of embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part section through a vehicle wheel in which twin rims have been cast integrally with a single wheel centre; Figure 2 is a part section through a vehicle wheel in which two wheel centres each supporting a separate wheel rim are secured together in the vicinity of the wheel rims; and Figure 3 is a part section through a modification of the wheel of Fig. 2. The vehicle wheel shown in Fig. 1 comprises a single centre 11 which has been cast integrally with first and second wheel rims 12, 13, the wheel centre having oppositely directed flanges 14, 15, on which the respective wheel rims are supported. Since the wheel rims are formed integrally with one another, the wheel flanges are relieved of much of the strain which they would have carried if the two rims had been separate from each other. In the vehicle wheel of Fig. 2, individual wheel centres 20, 21 are cast integrally with, or otherwise secured to, flanges 24, 25. The respective flanges 24, 25 carry wheel rims 22, 23 which are secured together by bolts 26 at spaced positions around their periphery. Although the two wheel centres and wheel rims can be identical to each other, there is an advantage in making one wheel centre in substantially thicker material than the other. The thicker wheel centre will then carry the major part of the load rather than the load being carried equally by two identical but weaker wheel centres. Moreover, other samples of this thicker wheel centre and its integral rim can be used alone as front wheels for the vehicle, thereby reducing the number of different castings needed to provide the wheels for any one vehicle. In the modified embodiment of Fig. 3, the two wheel rims 32, 33, are shown secured together by bolts 36 which pass through radially inwardly directed flanges 34a, 35a on the wheel rims. These bolts can be fitted by forming access openings suitably located in the rims 32, 33 or in the wheel centre flanges 30, 31. In either of the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3, the rims could be welded together instead of being bolted. As a further alternative, the twin rims could be formed from a single extrusion, or several extrusions bolted or welded together and thereafter bolted or welded to a single centre or twin centres. The invention is particularly applicable to the production of cast aluminium or aluminium alloy wheels, but is also applicable to the production of extruded or forged aluminium alloy wheels, or to rolled or forged steel wheels. If the wheel is cast, webs can readily be formed to bridge between the flanges of the wheel centre, and these webs will add strength to the flanges. CLAIMS

1. A vehicle wheel having thereon twin rims.

6. A vehicle wheel according to claim 2, wherein said wheel has been formed by cast ing, and said single wheel centre has oppositely-directed peripheral flanges which are reinforced by webs extending between the flanges.

7. A vehicle wheel according to claim 3, wherein one wheel centre is formed of material which is generally of a thickness greater than that of the other wheel centre.

8. A vehicle wheel according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein the wheel has been cast in aluminium or aluminium alloy.

9. A vehicle wheel having twin rims which have been extruded in aluminium or aluminium alloy.

10. A vehicle wheel substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.