GB2117331A

GB2117331A - A band device for retaining a tubeless tyre on a wheel rim

Info

Publication number: GB2117331A
Application number: GB8305614A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard John Savage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-01
Filing date: 1983-03-01
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: GB2117331B; GB8305614D0

Abstract

A band device (2), for covering the well of a wheel rim to retain a tubeless tyre on the rim in the event that the tyre should become deflated, comprises a first band portion (4) which is part circular for substantially its entire length, a second band portion (6) which is part circular for substantially its entire length and which is substantially the same size as the first band portion, a link portion (8) which is for joining the portions (4), (6) together at one end, and fastener means (10) for joining the portions (4, 6) together at their other ends whereby the device is retainable in position around a base of a wheel rim, the link portion being an I-shaped link portion, and the band portions (4, 6) having apertures (e.g. of T-shape) for receiving cross members (40, 42) of the link portion. Slots (24, 26) in the band portions (4, 6) enable the fastener means (10) to be fitted after the portions (4, 6) and link portion (8) have been positioned around the rim. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A band device for retaining a tubeless tyre on a wheel rim This invention relates to a band device for retaining a tubeless tyre on a wheel rim in the event that the tyre should become deflated. This invention also relates to a wheel rim having the band device and to a complete wheel comprising the band device, the wheel rim and a tubeless tyre.

Band devices for retaining a tyre on a wheel rim in the event that it should become deflated are known. The band devices are effective to enable the tyre to remain on the wheel rim for a predetermined period after loss of air pressure from a tyre on the wheel rim.

One known band device is described and illustrated in my British Patent Application No.

20821 29A. In my Patent Application No.

20821 29A, a band device is described in which first and second band portions are connected at one end by a link portion and at their other ends by fastener means. If the fastener means is not correctly tightened during assembly, it may be that the link portion will become loose, for example if a vehicle having the band device is travelling at high speed. When the tyre on each wheel has a tube, the tube is effective to help hold the link portion in position in the event that it should become loose. With a tubeless tyre there is nothing to help hold the link portion in position and it may become dislodged if it works loose.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a band device which is for use with tubeless tyres and which has a link portion which has a good resistance to becoming dislodged if it becomes loose. It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a band device in which the link portion is easily made and fitted.

Accordingly, this invention provides a band device for retaining a tubeless tyre on a wheel rim in the event that the tyre should become deflated, which band device comprises a first band portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length, a second band portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length and which is substantially the same size as the first band portion, a link portion which is for joining the first and second band portions together at one end, and fastener means for joining the first and second band portions together at their other ends whereby the band portions and the link portion are retainable in position around a base of a wheel rim, the link portion being an I-shaped link portion, and the first and second band portions being apertured for receiving cross members of the link portion.

As stated, the band device of the present invention is intended for use with tubeless tyres. If the fastener means should not be tightened sufficiently, the link portion will become loose during use but it will be difficult for the link portion to become dislodged because the cross members will be seated in apertures in the ends of the first and second band portions. It is most unlikely that the fastener means will be so loosely tightened that the link portion will be able to move sufficiently far to come out of the apertured ends of the first and second band portions.

Because of its I-shape, the link portion is easily manufactured, for example by turning on a lathe. It has also been found that the link portion is easy to fit in position.

The band device will in use normally close the well that exists in the wheel rim and that is utilised for mounting and dismounting a tyre on the wheel rim. Preferably, the link portion connects to the side of the first and second band portions that are adjacent the base of the wheel rim.

The link portion is advantageously formed by screwing a pair of cross members one on each threaded end of a bar.

The apertures in the ends of the first and second portions for receiving the cross members of the link portion are preferably T-shaped.

Preferably, both ends of each of the first and second band portions are provided with reinforcement means whereby the band portions can be made lighter than they would need to be made without the reinforcement means.

The reinforcement means may be a box section reinforcement means.

Preferably, the first and second band portions are slotted adjacent their said other ends, the slots enabling the fastener means to be inserted in position on the first and second band portions when the first and second band portions are in position around the base of the wheel rim. With some of the known band devices, it has been necessary to have at least part of the fastener means in position on a band portion before assembly of the band portion around the base of a wheel rim. Sometimes an operator will forget to do this and sometimes it is just not convenient to have the fastener means in position when fixing the band portion. This problem is obviated in the embodiment of the present invention wherein the slots enable the fastener means to be inserted after the first and second band portions have been iocated in position around the base of the wheel rim.The fastener means may bridge the part of the wheel rim containing the valve assembly or it may be positioned elsewhere around the wheel rim.

The fastener means may comprise a screw threaded bolt, a screw threaded bar nut, a bar washer, and an anti-slip split spring washer, the anti-slip split spring washer being positioned between the bar washer and the head of the bolt.

Such fastener means are easily passed through appropriately shaped slots in the first and second band portions and the screw threaded bolt can then be screwed into the screw threaded bar nut using an appropriate tool such for example as a Tbar socket head tightening tool.

The band device may include a plurality of box section legs secured to the side of the first and second band portions adjacent the base of the wheel rim.

If desired, the first and second band portions and the link portion may be made of stainless steel, but the entire band device can be made of other material. Usually, the fastener means and the box sections (when present) will be made of the same material as the first and second band portions and the link portion. It is obviously desirable that the entire band device does not rust within the wheel/tyre assembly.

As indicated above, the present invention also provides a wheel rim when provided with the band device.

Also as indicated above, the present invention also provides a complete wheel including the band device, the rim and a tubeless tyre.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a band device; and Figure 2 shows in more detail a part of the band device, Figure 2 being taken from the other side as viewed in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a band device 2 for retaining a tubeless tyre (not shown) on a wheel rim (not shown) in the event that the tyre should become deflated. The band device 2 comprises a first band portion 4 which is part circular for substantially its entire length as illustrated. The band device 2 also comprises a second band portion 6 which is also part circular for substantially its entire length and which is substantially the same size as the first band portion 2. An I- shaped link portion 8 is effective to join the first and second band portions 4, 6 respectively together at their illustrated ends.

The band device 2 is further provided with fastener means 10 for joining the first and second band portions 4, 6 respectively together at their other ends as illustrated. The band portions 4, 6 and the link portion 8 can then be retainined in position around a wheel rim to block the well of the wheel rim. The fastener means 10 comprises a threaded bolt 12, a threaded bar nut 14, a bar washer 1 6 and an anti-slip split spring washer 1 7.

The end 1 8 of the first band portion 4 is provided with a box section reinforcement means 1 8a and the bar washer 1 6 seats in the reinforcement means 1 8a. Similarly, the end 20 of the band part 6 is provided with a box section reinforcement means 20a and the bar nut 14 sits in the box section reinforcement means 20a. The bar washer 16 and the bar nut 14 thus cannot turn so that the bolt 12 can be screwed into the bar nut 14, for example by using a T-bar tool (not shown) having a socket head for fitting over the head 22 of the bolt 12.

It will be seen that the first and second band portions 4, 6 are substantially identical and they are both provided with a cross shaped aperture 24, 26 respectively. These cross shaped apertures are of such a shape that the fastener means 10 can be inserted in position when the band portions 4,6 are in position around a wheel rim. More specifically, the bolt 12 fits in position by passing through the aligned slot parts 28, 30, the bar washer 1 6 fits in position by passing through the slot part 32, and the bar nut 14 fits in position by passing through the slot part 34.

The ends 36, 38 of the band portions 4, 6 respectively are provided with box section reinforcement means 36a, 38a. The cross member ends 40, 42 of the link portion 8 fit in the reinforcement means 36a, 38a and the ends 40, 42 thus cooperate as shown so that the link portion 8 is effective to hold together the band portions 4, 6. The link portion 8 is easy to fit and, as inidicated in Figure 2, the ends 40, 42 seat in the reinforcement means 36a, 38a by passing through T-shaped slots formed in the ends 36, 38 of the band portions 4, 6. In Figure 2, an T-shaped slot 46 is shown. The end 40 will clearly not easily work back sufficiently far to escape through the cross part 46a of the slot 46 as a result of careless fitting or as a result of unusual vibration during use.The fastener means 10 would have to be extraordinarily slack for this to happen and far slacker than should normally happen even with a careless fitter. The reinforcement means 1 8a, 20a, 36a, 38a reinforce the bend ends 1 8b, 20b, 36b, 38b of the band portions 4, 6. Without the reinforcement means, the bent ends could be deformed by the nut 14, washer 16 and the ends 40, 42. The reinforcement means thus enable the band portions 4, 6 to be made of thinner material than they could otherwise be made without the reinforcement means, and this in turn gives cost savings in material and greater ease of handling since the band portions 4, 6 are lighter to hold and reduce unsprung weight penalties.

The link portion 8 is easily made by providing a bar 48, threading its ends as shown in Figure 2 and then screwing the ends 40, 42 over the threaded ends of the bar 48. The bar 48 can be quite short in length and when the ends 40, 42 are tightly screwed in place or otherwise held, the link portion 8 is quite rigid.

As is shown in Figure 1 ,the band portions 4, 6 are provided with box section legs 44. The legs 44 sit inside the well in a rim and enable the band portions 4, 6 to sit flush at the top of the well in the rim.

If the band portions 4, 6 are made of metal, then the box section legs 44 can be welded into position. Advantageously, all the illustrated parts of the band device 2 are coated with a suitable rust retardent material if made of steel. This coating prevents the various parts of the band device 2 from rusting when the band device 2 is subjected to the action of a damp or corrosive atmosphere within the tyre. As an alternative to using zinc coated mild steel, stainless steel or some other non-rusting metallic or non-metallic material may be employed. Because the band device 2 can be made lighter than hitherto when the reinforcement means are used, various parts of the band device 2 may be made of plastics materials.

It is envisaged that the band device 2 will enable a vehicle to run on a completely deflated tyre at 30 miles per hour for up to ten miles. The band device 2 will be effective to hold the tyre on the rim.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the shape of the slots 24, 26, 46 can be altered. Also, the reinforcement means 18a, 20a, 36a 38a can be made longer than shown. An additional advantage of the reinforcement means is that they increase friction between the band device 2 and the wheel rim and so reduce the possibility of the entire band device 2 moving around the wheel rim as a result of careless fitment or under abnormal braking or driving conditions. If desired, the legs 44 can be reversed in position. This can be advantageous where the well of the wheel is shallow, or where the wheel rim is made of a relatively soft alloy material and the legs 44 may have a tendency to dig into the wheel rim.

Claims

1. A band device for retaining a tubeless tyre on a wheel rim in the event that the tyre should become deflated, which band device comprises a first band portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length, a second band portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length and which is substantially the same size as the first band portion, a link portion which is for joining the first and second band portions together at one end, and fastener means for joining the first and second band portions together at their other ends whereby the band portions and the link portion are retainable in position around a base of a wheel rim, the link portion being an Ishaped link portion, and the first and second band portions being apertured for receiving cross members of the link portion.

2. A band device according to claim 1 in which the link portion connects to the side of the first and second band portions that are adjacent the base of the wheel rim.

3. A band device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which link portion is formed by screwing a pair of cross members one on each threaded end of a bar.

4. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the apertures in the ends of the first and second band portions for receiving the cross members of the link portion are T-shaped.

5. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims in which both ends of each of the first and second band portions are provided with reinforcement means whereby the band portions can be made lighter than they would need to be made without the reinforcement means.

6. A band device according to claim 5 in which each reinforcement means may be a box section reinforcement means.

7. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second band portions are slotted adjacent their said other ends, the slots enabiing the fastener means to be inserted in position on the first and second band portions when the first and second band portions are in position around the base of the wheel rim.

8. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fastener means comprises a screw threaded bolt, a screw threaded bar nut, a bar washer and an anti-slip split spring washer, the anti-slip split spring washer being positioned between the bar washer and the head of the bolt.

9. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims including a plurality of box section legs secured to the side of the first and second band portions adjacent the base of the wheel rim.

1 0. A band device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A wheel rim when provided with a band device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

12. A complete wheel comprising a tubeless tyre and a wheel rim as claimed in claim 11.