GB2246746A

GB2246746A - Wheel rim assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2246746A
Application number: GB9017595A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Roy Crowe
Original assignee: GKN Sankey Ltd
Current assignee: Sankey Holding Ltd
Priority date: 1990-08-10
Filing date: 1990-08-10
Publication date: 1992-02-12
Also published as: GB9017595D0; DE4125963A1

Abstract

A wheel rim assembly 10 for a heavy duty wheel comprises a rim base 12 defining a flange 22 and a bead seat surface 24, a bead seat member 14 defining a further flange 30 and a further bead seat surface 32, and a locking ring 16 serving to retain the member 14 on the base 12. The bead seat surfaces 24, 32 extend at least 101 mm axially and the flanges 22, 32 extend at least 49.2 mm radially beyond the bead seat surfaces. The portion of the rim base defining a gutter for the locking ring and/or the portion of the rim base defining the first-mentioned flange and bead seat surface may be welded to the remainder of the rim base. <IMAGE>

Description

1 WHEEL RIM ASSEMBLY This invention is concerned with a wheel rim assembly

suitable for use in a heavy duty wheel, e.g. for earth mover vehicles.

Rim assemblies for earth mover vehicles are produced to one of a number of standard profiles. These standard profiles are designed to support various types of tyre. Thus, for a particular vehicle, a particular type of tyre is specified and the appropriate standard profile is selected. The standard profiles provide a particular cross-sectional shape and specify dimensions for, inter alia, the heights of the flanges which retain the tyre on the rim and the axial extent of the bead seat surfaces on which the beads of the tyre seat. Where the standards call for flange heights below about 43mm, the axial extent of the bead seat surface is about 60mm and such rim assemblies have normally been made as a three-piece construction. However, for larger flange heights for which the standards specify bead seat surfaces extending about 10Omm, it has been considered necessary to use a five-piece construction.

In a three-piece construction, a first piece is formed by a rim base, which is generally annular, defines a first flange and an adjacent generally-annular bead seat surface and also defines an annular locking ring-retaining gutter. A second piece is formed by a bead seat member which is generally in the form of a sleeve which defines a second flange and an adjacent bead seat surface. The bead seat member is slipped on to the rim base and is retained on the rim base by a locking ring, which is the third piece of the construction. The 2 locking ring engages the gutter in the rim base to retain the locking ring on the rim base.

A five-piece construction comprises a rim base, two flange members, a bead seat member and a locking ring. The rim base is generally annular and has an upturned edge projecting radially beyond the remainder of the rim base. A first of the flange members is generally in the form of a sleeve which-is received on the rim base and seats against the upturned edge thereof. The first flange member defines a radially projecting flange arranged to retain a tyre on the rim assembly. Adjacent to the flange defined by the first flange member, the rim base defines a first generally annular bead seat surface on which a bead of the tyre can seat. The bead seat member is also generally in the form of a sleeve which is received on the rim base. The bead seat member defines a second generally annular bead seat surface on which the other bead of the tyre can seat. The bead seat member also has an upturned edge. The second flange member is generally in the form of a sleeve which is received on the bead seat member and seats against its upturned edge. The second flange member defines a radially projecting flange arranged to cooperate with the flange of the first flange member in retaining the tyre. The locking ring engages an annular gutter defined by the rim base and the bead seat member so that the bead seat member is retained on the rim base.

A three-piece construction as described above is usually cheaper than a five-piece construction but has hitherto only been utilised for flange heights below about 43mm, with bead seat surface extending about 60mm, and for larger flange heights with bead seat surfaces i 1 1 i i i i 3 extending about 10Omm, five-piece constructions have invariably been utilised.

It is an object of the present invention to enable cheaper rim assemblies to be produced by utilising a three-piece construction where hitherto a five-piece construction has been used.

The invention provides a wheel rim assembly suitable for use in a heavy duty wheel, the rim assembly defining two opposed tyre-retaining annular flanges and two annular bead seat surfaces between the flanges, the rim assembly comprising a rim base which is generally annular and defines a first of said flanges and adjacent thereto a first of said bead seat surfaces, the first bead seat surface extending at least 101mm axially and the first flange projecting at least 49.2mm radially beyond the first bead seat surface, the rim base also defining an annular locking ring-retaining gutter, the rim assembly also comprising a bead seat member which is generally in the form of a sleeve received on the rim base and defines a second of said flanges and adjacent thereto a second of said bead seat surfaces, the second bead seat surface extending at least 101mm axially and the second flange projecting at least 49.2mm radially beyond the second bead seat surface, the rim assembly also comprising a locking ring engageable with the bead seat member and the gutter to retain the bead seat member on the rim base.

In a rim assembly according to the invention, a three-piece construction is utilised thereby reducing the complexity and cost.

The rim base may be formed in one piece by a rolling operation or the portion of the rim base which defines 4 the gutter may be formed separately and welded to the remainder of the rim base, e.g. by one or more circumferential butt welds. This method of construction is advantageous since greater thickness is required in the region of the gutter than in the remainder of the rim base.

The portion of the rim base which defines the first flange and the first bead seat surface may also be formed separately and welded to the remainder of the rim base, e.g. by one or more circumferential fillet welds.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of two illustrative embodiments of the invention.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through a first illustrative wheel rim assembly; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a rim base of a second illustrative wheel rim assembly.

The first illustrative wheel rim assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 is suitable for use in a heavy duty wheel for an earth mover vehicle. The assembly 10 comprises a rim base 12, a bead seat member 14, and a locking ring 16:

The rim base 12 is generally annular and is arranged to receive a tyre on its outer circumferential surface 18 whereas its inner circumferential surface 20 is connectable to a hub (not shown) by connecting means (not shown) such as a disc welded to the surface 20 and bolted to the hub. The rim base 12 defines a first flange 22 of 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1.4 1 1 the assembly 10 and adjacent thereto a first bead seat surface 24 of the assembly 10. The surface 24 extends 101mm generally axially of the assembly 10 (from right to left viewing Figure 1). The surface 24 is actually inclined at about 5 degrees to the axial direction of the rim assembly 10. The flange 22 projects 50.8mm radially beyond the surface 24 (upwardly viewing Figure 1). The rim base 12 also defines an annular locking ring-retaining gutter 26 which comprises two annular grooves formed in a thickened portion of the base 12 at the opposite end of the base 12 from the flange 22.

The thickened portion of the base 12 defining the gutter 26 is formed by rolling separately from the remainder of the base 12, which is also formed by rolling, and is welded thereto by two circumferential butt welds 28.

The bead seat member 14 is formed by rolling and is generally in the form of a sleeve received on the rim base 12. The member 14 defines a second flange 30 of the assembly 10 and adjacent thereto a second bead seat surface 32 of the assembly 10 which is inclined at about 5 degrees to the axial direction of the rim assembly 10. The surface 32 extends 101mm axially and the flange 30 projects 50.8mm radially beyond the surface 32.

The locking ring 16 engages the bead seat member 14 and the gutter 26 to retain the member 14 on the base 12.

Thus, the rim assembly 10 defines two opposed tyre-retaining annular flanges 22 and 30 and two annular bead seat surfaces 24 and 32 between the flanges. In the use of a wheel of which the assembly 10 forms part, a tyre is positioned on the base 12 so that one of the 1 6 beads of the tyre seats on the surface 24, the member 14 is then slid on to the base 12 so that the other bead of the tyre seats against the surface 32 and the locking ring 16 is applied to retain the member 14 on the base 12.

The second illustrative rim assembly is identical to the assembly 10 except as far as the construction of its rim base is concerned.- This rim base is shown in Figure 2 and given the reference numeral 40. Parts of the base 40 which are the same as those of the base 10 are given the same reference numerals.

The base 40 differs from the base 10 in that the portion thereof which defines the flange 32 and the surface 24 is formed separately by rolling and welded to the remainder of the base 40 by circumferential fillet welds 42 although butt welding could be used in this context.

i i 1 1 1 i i I 1 i i 7

Claims

1. A wheel rim assembly suitable for use in a heavy duty wheel, the rim assembly defining two opposed tyre-retaining annular flanges and two annular bead seat surfaces between the flanges, the rim assembly comprising a rim base which is generally annular and defines a first of said flanges and adjacent thereto a first of said bead seat surfaces, the first bead seat surface extending at least 101mm axially and the first flange projecting at least 49.2mm radially beyond the first bead seat surface, the rim base also defining an annular locking ring-retaining gutter, the rim assembly also comprising a bead seat member which is generally in the form of a sleeve received on the rim base and defines a second of said flanges and adjacent thereto a second of said bead seat surfaces, the second bead seat surface extending at least 101mm axially and the second flange projecting at least 49.2mm radially beyond the second bead seat surface, the rim assembly also comprising a locking ring engageable with the bead seat member and the gutter to retain the bead seat member on the rim base.

2. A wheel rim assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the portion of the rim base which defines the gutter is welded to the remainder of the rim base.

3. A wheel rim assembly according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the portion of the rim base which defines the first flange and the first bead seat surface is welded to the remainder of the rim base.

A wheel rim assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1992 at The Patent Office. Concept House. Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 111H. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. CwWelinfach. Cross Keys, Newport, NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Marv Cray. Kent.