GB2158785A

GB2158785A - A band device for retaining a tubeless tyre on a wheel rim

Info

Publication number: GB2158785A
Application number: GB8509944A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard John Savage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-15
Filing date: 1985-04-18
Publication date: 1985-11-20
Also published as: GB8509944D0; GB2158785B; GB8412349D0; JPS60255508A

Abstract

A band device (2) for retaining a tubeless tyre on a wheel 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 (4), a link portion (8) which is part circular for substantially its entire length and which is for joining the first and second band portions together at one end, and fastener means (10) 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 (8) having a lug (46) which is provided with an aperture for receiving a valve assembly (50) for the tyre, the link portion being separable from the first and the second band portions, and the lug being such that the valve assembly (50) is lockable in position on the lug (46) whereby in use of the band device the link portion (8) and the valve assembly (50) are lockable in position on the wheel 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 the tyre 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 for a tyre on the wheel rim.

One known band device is described and claimed in my UK Patent No: 2082129B. The band device illustrated in my patent is suitable for use with tubeless tyres and tubed tyres.

With tubeless tyres, it is desirable to ensure that the known band devices are fitted carefully and that the material from which the wheel rim and its tyre band device are made are the same or are at least compatible, through a wide range of temperature and load conditions. With careless fitting and/or incompatible materials, there is a possibility that the tyre band device will try and move in a circular direction around the wheel rim. The tyre band device may also have a tendency to move as stated during repeated hard breaking of vehicles travelling at speed.

In addition to the above problems, there is the further problem that sometimes vehicles are completely or particularly immobilised by persons attacking the known snap-in rubber valves that are fitted to the vehicle wheels. It is possible to wrench these valves out of the wheel rim and to thus cause the vehicle tyre to deflate. This can be clearly inconvenient and a vehicle can be totally immobilised if it is not fitted with a tyre band device, the tyre band device at least enabling a certain amount of driving of the vehicle with the tyre in its deflated condition.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a band device which obviates or reduces all of the above mentioned problems.

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 substan tialiy the same size as the first band portion, a link portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length and 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 having a lug which is provided with an aperture for receiving a valve assembly for the tyre, the link portion being separable from the first and second band portions, and the lug being such that the valve assembly is lockable in position on the lug whereby in use of the band device the link portion and the valve assembly are lockable in position 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 advantageously hooks to the first and second band portions. Thus, the link portion may be seated on the floor of the well.

Preferably, the various hooked parts on the first and second band portions and the link portion are so dimensioned and angled that the inwardly directed pressure of a tyre bead serves to bind the first and second portions and the link portion tighter around the base of the wheel rim with increasing pressure.

The lug is preferably integrally formed with the link portion. Usually, the aperture in the lug will be a circular aperture.

Preferably, the first and second band portions are slotted adjacent one end, 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. The 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 located in position around the base of the wheel rim.The fastener means may also be used with any position of the wall in a wheel rim.

The fastener means may comprise a screw threaded bolt, a screw threaded bar nut, and a bar washer. 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 T-bar socket head tightening tool.

The band device may be such that it includes the valve assembly. The valve assembly is preferably a metal valve assembly but other materials may be employed.

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.

When the band device of the present invention forms part of a complete wheel with rim and tyre, the tyre is advantageously provided with a chemical sealant. The chemical sealant is inside the tyre and if the tyre becomes punctured then the sealant moves to the puncture and seals the puncture as the sealant comes into contact with the air. Obviously, if the puncture is too large, then the sealant will not work.

The sealants which are known and presently em ployed are invariably corrosive and, if the first and the second band portions and the link portion are made of steel, then the steel should be coated with an anti-rust material. The steel may be coated with zinc. If desired, the first and second band portions and the link portion may be made of stainless steel.

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 when exposed to the chemical sealant.

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; Figure 2 shows the link portion of the band device; and Figure 3 is a section through the link portion and illustrates clearly the valve assembly.

Referring to the drawings, 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 4which 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 4. A link portion 8 which is part circular for substantially its entire length and which is separable from the first and second band portions 4, 6 is effective to join the first and second band portions 4, 6 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 retained 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 and a bar washer 16. The end 18 of the first band portion 4 is bend back upon itself and the bar washer 16 seats in the recess formed by bending the end back upon itself. Similarly, the end 20 of the band part 6 is bend back upon itself and that bar nut 14 sits in the recess formed by bending the end 20 back upon itself.The bar washer 16 and the bar nut 14thus cannot turn sothatthe bolt 12 can be screwed into the bar nut 14, for example by using aT-bartool (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 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 16 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 bent back upon themselves as shown. Similarly, the ends 40, 42 of the link portion 8 are also bent back upon themselves as shown. The bent back ends 36;40 and 38;42 thus co-operate as shown so that the link portion 8 is effective to hold together the band portions 4,6. The angles of inclination of the bent back parts 36;40 and 38;42 are so chosen that pressure from the tyre rim is effective to press the various parts of the band device 2 more firmly together and not a great deal of overlap is required between the parts 36;40 and 38;42.

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 wheel rim and enable the band portions 4,6 to sit flush at the top ofthe well in the wheel rim.

Advantageously, the link portion 8 sits on the floor of the well.

If the band portions 4, 6 are made of zinc coated metal, then the box section legs 44 can be spot welded into position.

It will be seen that the link portion 8 is provided with an integrally formed lug 46. The lug 46 has a circular aperture 48. This aperture 48 receives a metal valve assembly 50 as shown. The valve assembly 50 has a head 52 for being secured on one side of the lug 46, the valve assembly 50 being fixed in position by a nut 54 and a washer 56. The nut 54 and the washer 56 are shaped as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

All the illustrated parts of the band device 2 may be made of zinc coated steel. Zinc coating prevents the various parts of the band device 2 from rusting when the band device 2 is subjected to the action of a chemical sealant inside the tyre. As an alternative to using zinc coated mild steel, stainless steel may be employed.

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 10 miles. The band device 2 will be effective to hold the tyre on the rim. In the event of a small puncture, then the sealant will operate and the tyre will not in any event deflate.

In use the lug 46 and the valve assembly 50 will act to remove any risk of the band device 2 moving in a circular direction relative to the wheel rim, for example during breaking at speed or if the band device 2 is fitted to a wheel rim which is made of a different material to that of the band device 2 and temperature andíor load conditions tend to try and cause relative movement between the band device 2 and the wheel rim.

The valve assembly 50 can be used as a means of identifying that a vehicle has been fitted with the band device 2. This may be done by having the visible part of the valve assembly 50 made in a special identifying colour or shape, or by providing the visible part of the valve assembly with an identifying mark.

With standard known rubber snap-in valve assemblies, tyres are sometimes deflated by attacking the valve assembly and pulling it out of the wheel rim to deflate the tyre. Such pulling out of the valve assembly is virtually impossible with the design shown in the drawings where the valve assembly 50 is bolted in position.

When the valve assembly 50 is bolted in position, it can advantageously be left in position whilst a deflated tyre is changed and the band portions 4, 6 removed as required to permit the tyre change.

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 link portion 8 is shown attached to the inner surface of the band portions 4,6 so that it can sit on the floor of the well in the wheel rim. It is however possible for the link member 8 to engage the outer surface of the band portions 4,6. Also, the shape of the slots 24,26 can be altered if desired. In use of the band device 2, it may be covered with anti-chafe material in the usual known manner for band devices. Further, the rubber grommet 58, which forms an airtight seal with the inside of the wheel rim, can be of a different shape to that shown.

Further, a locking washer can be employed between the parts 16, 22 shown in Figure 1.

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 part circular for substantially its entire length and which is for joining the first and the second band portions together at one end, and fastener means for joining the first and the 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 having a lug which is provided with an aperture for receiving a valve assembly for the tyre, the link portion being separable from the first and the second band portions, and the lug being such that the valve assembly is lockable in position on the lug whereby in use of the band device the link portion and the valve assembly are lockable in position on the wheel rim.

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

3. A band device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the link portion hooks to the first and the second band portions.

4. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lug is integrally formed with the link portion.

5. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second band portions are slotted adjacent one end, the slots enabling the fastener means to be inserted in position on the first and the second band portions when the first and second band portions are in position around the base of the wheel rim.

6. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fastener means comprise a screw threaded bolt, a screw threaded bar nut, and a bar washer.

7. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims and including the valve assembly.

8. A band device according to any one of the preceding claims and 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.

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

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

11. A complete wheel including a band device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, a wheel rim, and a tubeless tyre.