GB2512079A

GB2512079A - Methods of producing a temporary tyre-replacement strip and temporary tyre-replacement strips

Info

Publication number: GB2512079A
Application number: GB1305039.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Mark Comber; Adrian Paul Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-19
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2014-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-19
Also published as: GB2512079B; GB2515373B; GB201305039D0; GB201404695D0; GB2515373A

Abstract

A temporary tyre-replacement strip comprising a number of elongate blocks which are held together by one or more straps; the strip being of sufficient length to cover the circumference of a wheel rim; said blocks being a parallelepiped with cut-outs at their extremities in order to fit across a wheel rim; wherein an excess of said flexible strap is provided between at least one pair of said blocks; whereby said strap is taut between neighbouring blocks other than for said at least one pair of said blocks prior to assembly onto a wheel rim.

Description

Methods of producing a temporary tyre-replacernent strip and temporary tyre replacement strips

Field of the Invention

The invention reLates to methods of producing a temporary tyre-repLacement strip and temporary tyre-replacement strips.

Background to the Invention

In order to transport Large vehicLes cost-effectively in Limited size containers, it has been found to be advantageous to remove the vehicle's tyre and to repLace these temporariLy with minimal height wheeLs sufficient to withstand the so calLed "roLl on roLL off" process.

ReLativeLy Low cost materiaLs have been seLected for this task since the repLacement tyres are destined soLeLy for this one use. Prior art sacrificiaL wheeL have been soLd by the appLicant for a number of years and take the form of a succession of wooden bLocks heLd together by pLastics straps which are heLd firmly onto the circumference of a wheeL rim.

Due to the simpLicity of the materiaLs used and the reLativeLy chaLLenging aLbeit temporary function of the replacement strips, there has been a need to improve the methods of manufacture of these strips in order to faciLitate accurate and rapid assembLy of these.

There has aLso been a need to improve the strips themseLves to allow these to be more reLiabLy secured onto the wheel rims.

Summary of the Invention

In a first broad independent aspect, the invention provides a method of producing a temporary tyre-rep[acement strip comprising the steps of: cutting wood into a number of equaLLy shaped eLongate Mocks; cutting a recess into the upper section of each end of said bLocks; spacing a succession of said bLocks from one another by placing said bLocks in discrete bLock receiving stations; said bLock receiving stations being formed between fixed transverse bLocks of a supporting frame; and attaching one or more straps of fLexibLe materiaL across a succession of bLocks.

This method is particuLarLy advantageous since it aLLows the strips to be produced with increased veLocity and repeatabiLity.

In a subsidiary aspect, whiLst in said supporting frame, said strap is substantiaLLy taut between neighbouring bLocks other than for at [east one pair of bLocks where an excess amount of strap materiaL is provided. This aLLows the operator to overcome the fLuctuations in the inherent fLexibiLity of the straps in order to ensure that when the strip is assembLed onto the rim it is retained onto the rim without the risk of sLackening off which wouLd then render the task of roLLing ON and OFF a container or a ship very chaLLenging if not impossibLe.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the method comprises the steps of reLeasing one or more of said transverse bLocks in order to vary the spacing between at Least two neighbouring bLocks of said strip. Contrary to conventionaL thinking, the spacing between the various bLocks may advantageousLy be varied in order to improve the fit of a particuLar seLection of strap and bLock onto a wheeL rim.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the method further comprises the steps of pLacing the bLocks into a pLatform for hoLding a succession of bLocks side by side; cLamping said bLocks together; and routing said recess. This provides for an accurate succession of cuts in order to faciLitate eventuaL accurate fitting of the strip on the wheeL rim.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the method further comprises the steps of placing said strip around the circumference of a wheel rim and drawing said strip tightly against said rim by employing a sash clamp. This is particularly advantageous in order to allow the operator to gauge the tightness of the attachment of the strip onto the wheel rim.

In a further subsidiary aspect, during the supporting frame step, the method further comprises the step of increasing the tightness of the strap between adjacent blocks by increasing the depth to which the head of a securing nail is inserted into a block of said strip.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the method further comprises the step of adding more nails in the first and East block of the strip than used for securing the strap to other blocks. This configuration is particularly advantageous in terms of selectively strengthening the attachment of the blocks to the straps for the blocks against which the sash clamp would act.

In a second broad independent aspect, a temporary tyre-replacement strip comprises a number of elongate blocks which are held together by one or more straps; the strip being of sufficient length to cover the circumference of a wheel rim; said blocks being a parallelepiped with cut-outs at their extremities in order to fit across a wheel rim; wherein an excess of said flexible strap is provided between at least one pair of said blocks; whereby said strap is taut between neighbouring blocks other than for said at least one pair of said blocks prior to assembly onto a wheel rim. This configuration is particularly advantageous in coping with variations in the inherent flexibility of the material of the strap.

Preferably said method includes the step of inserting an additional block of material, such as wood, between at least one pair of elongate blocks, and between said pieces of flexible material in order to facilitate the movement of a vehicle up an incline. This provides a vehicle with a sacrificial wheel which will facilitate movement up an incline.

Preferably said flexible materiat is a webbed textile material. This provides the sacrificial wheel with a robust but flexible material which may adjust to the differing circumferences of wheel rims whilst withstanding the force applied to the sacrificial wheel.

PreferabLy said eLongate blocks are 320mm in Length. This provides a sacrificiaL wheeL with eLongate members which extend past the outermost edges of the wheel rim of the vehicle.

PreferabLy said squared recesses are cut 25mm into said eLongate bLocks. This aLlows the upper section of the elongate members to fit within the outermost edges of the wheel rim.

Preferably said sacrificial wheel has 21 eLongate blocks or members, sufficient to fit a wheel rim with a 520mm circumference. This preferable configuration allows a standard sacrificial wheel to be produced for vehicLes with a wheel rim circumference of 520mm.

Preferably said flexibLe materiat is fixed to said elongate blocks or members using 32mm nails. This provides the advantage of secureLy fastening, with the use of a naiL gun, the flexibLe material to the elongate members in a time-efficient manner.

Preferably at least two naiLs are used to attach said flexible material to said elongate members, with more than two nails used at each end piece of the strip. This provides the advantage of effectively securing the flexible material to the elongate members.

Preferably a sash clamp is used to bring the two end pieces of the single strip together before fixing. This ensures that the sacrificial wheeL is pLaced around the wheel rim of a vehicle in a tight manner before it is fixed.

Preferably said strip incorporates an additional support member between a number of said eLongate bLocks in order to faciLitate the movement of a vehicle up an incLine. This provides a vehicle with a sacrificial wheel which will facilitate movement up an incline.

Preferably said flexibLe materiat is of a webbed textile material. This provides the sacrificial wheel with a robust but flexible material which may adjust to the differing circumferences of wheeL rims whilst withstanding the force applied to the sacrificial wheeL.

Preferably said sacrificial wheel has 21 elongate members, sufficient to fit a rim with a 520mm circumference. This configuration allows a standard sacrificial wheel to be produced for vehicLes with a wheeL rim circumference of 520mm.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows in perspective view the tabLe which is employed to hoLd the blocks of wood for the routing process.

Figure 2 shows in perspective view the step of cutting a squared recess into the upper section of each end of said elongate blocks.

Figure 3 shows in perspective view the step of attaching a number of pieces of fLexible material across each elongate block to form a strip.

Figure 4 shows a side perspective view of the dip of excess flexible material between a pair of eLongate blocks.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a number of dips of excess flexible materiaL between a number of pairs of elongate blocks.

Figure 6 shows a strip before it is fixed onto the wheeL rim.

Figure 7 shows a strip once it has been fixed onto the wheel rim.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a number of eLongate parallelepiped blocks such as bLock 1, preferabLy made of soft wood, that are cut to equal size. Each member is rectangular in cross-section with preferably a height of 88 mm (approx. 3.5 inches) and a width of 50 mm (approx. 2 inches). The height is advantageously seLected within the range of 80 and 90 mm. A tyre-replacement strip is preferabLy constructed using 21 elongate blocks that are preferably 320mm in length. However, a different number of elongate blocks may be used for smaLler or Larger wheel rims, as weLl as varying lengths. Other than soft wood, a number of different materials may be used, however those materials used must be strong enough to withstand the load of the vehicle but soft enough in order to temporarily dampen the load when used for driving a vehicle onto and off from a container and/or a ship. The soft wood aLso aLLows a tight grip of the strip onto the wheeL rim without any significant scratching or damage to the wheeL rim arising in use.

The eLongate bLocks, such as 1, are then positioned in order for a squared recess, such as 2, to be cut into the upper section of each end of each eLongate bLock 1, shown in Figure?.

PreferabLy, each recess is cut 25mm into the eLongate bLock. WhiLst each recess is cut, the eLongate bLocks 1 sit in a supporting tabLe 3 in order to make sure that each eLongate bLock 1 is of the same size and shape. The supporting tabLe incorporates LateraL guides against which the extremities of 19 and 20 of the bLocks abut. Furthermore, the bLocks are heLd tightLy between a front jaw?? and a rear abutment 21 in order to ensure that the bLocks are positioned and secured in the same pLane. A guide plate is then secured over the upper portions of the bLock. At [east two channeLs are provided in the guide pLate aLong which a router may be used in order to cut-out the squared recesses 2.

Once both of the recess channeLs 2 have been cut, each eLongate bLock 1 is transferred to a second supporting table 4 where they are pLaced with the recesses facing downwards. The eLongate bLocks are placed apart in discrete bLock receiving stations provided between transverse spacing bLocks 23. Transverse spacing bLocks 23 may be provided between adjacent bLocks 12 and 13 as shown in figure 4 in order to space the bLocks at reguLar intervaLs. The transverse spacing bLocks are secured to one or more LongitudinaL beams 24 of the tabLe 4. The transverse spacing bLocks may be reLeasably secured in order to aLLow the spacing to be varied between adjacent bLocks. ReLeasabLe fasteners such as screws may be provided between the transverse spacing bLocks and the tabLe.

A number of pieces of webbed textiLe materiaL, preferably two such as S and 6, are then pLaced paraLLeL to each other along the top of the eLongate bLocks ii as shown in Figure 3.

Webbed textiLe materiaL is used as it provides a strong but fLexibLe means of attaching the eLongate bLocks together. The fLexibiLity of this materiaL aLlows the temporary tyre-repLacement strip to be tightLy fixed to wheeL rims. The materiaL of these strips is aLso sufficientLy strong to withstand the stresses and strains undergone when driving the vehicLe on and off a container for exampLe.

The webbed textiLe materiaL, S and 6, extends across each of the eLongate members 1 with additionaL portions, 7 and 8, extending further than the Last eLongate member 9.

Figure 4 shows a preferred embodiment where an excess of each of the pieces of webbed textile materiaL, 10 and 11, is formed between two of the eLongate bLocks such as 12 and 13. This excess forms a "dip" of materiaL between these members. The excess material provides a means for taking into account the inherent flexibility of material. The dip' of webbed textiLe material alLows for an improved fit of the temporary tyre-reptacement strip. These "dips" of excess webbed textile materiaL are present between at Least one pair of eLongate blocks. However, if more fLexibiLity is required, more of these "dips" may be formed.

Once the pieces of webbed textiLe material, 5 and 6, have been pLaced paralleL to one another aLong the elongate blocks 1, and "dips" 10 and 11 of the material have been formed where necessary, the webbed textile materiaL 5 and 6 is fixed to the eLongate members using nails, such as 14. Shown in Figure 5, this creates a single temporary tyre-replacement strip 15 which may then be placed around a wheel rim in order to create a sacrificial wheel.

In one preferred embodiment, the nails, such as 14, used to fix the webbed textile materiaL and 6 to the elongate members have a depth of 32mm. However, this depth may be aLtered in order to achieve varying flexibility of a sacrificial wheel. ALternatively, the number of nails used may aLso be altered to the same effect. However, at [east two nails are used to secure the webbed textiLe materiaL 5 and 6 to each elongate member, such as 1. In a preferred embodiment, more than two nails, typicalLy four or six, are used for the eLongate blocks such as 1 on each end of the strip 15.

Shown in Figure 6, extra portions 7 and 8 of the webbed textile material extend beyond the last eLongate member 9. These extra portions 7 and 8 are used to fix the two ends of the strip, 9 and 16, the elongate blocks have created once the strip 15 has been pLaced around a wheeL rim.

Once the elongate blocks have been connected to form strip 15, this unit is placed around a wheel rim and the two ends of the strip, 9 and 16, are brought together and clamped.

This is preferabLy done using a sash cLamp. Once the ends have been clamped together, the extra potions of the webbed textile material 7 and 8 can be fixed to the elongate block(s) 16 at the other end of the strip 15, thereby fixing the strip 15 to the wheeL rim; in order to form a sacrificiaL wheeL.

Figure 7 shows the strip 15 fixed to the wheeL rim, forming a sacrificiaL wheeL. The pieces of webbed textile materiaL, 5 and 6, are paraLLeL to one another on the outside surface of the elongate bLocks 1.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of producing a temporary tyre-replacement strip comprising the steps of: * cutting wood into a number of equaLly shaped elongate blocks; * cutting a recess into the upper section of each end of said blocks; * spacing a succession of said blocks from one another by placing said blocks in discrete bLock receiving stations; said block receiving stations being formed between fixed transverse bLocks of a supporting frame; and * attaching one or more straps of flexibLe material across a succession of blocks.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said supporting frame, said strap is substantially taut between neighbouring bLocks other than for at least one pair of blocks where an excess amount of strap material is provided.
3. A method according to any of the preceding cLaims, further comprising the steps of releasing one or more of said transverse blocks in order to vary the spacing between at least two neighbouring blocks of said strip.
4. A method according to any of the preceding cLaims, further comprising the steps of placing the blocks into a platform for holding a succession of blocks side by side: clamping said blocks together; and routing said recess.
5. A method according to either of the preceding cLaims, further comprising the steps of pLacing said strip around the circumference of a wheel rim and drawing said strip tightly against said rim by empLoying a sash clamp.
6. A method according to any of the preceding cLaims, wherein, during the supporting frame step, the method further comprises the step of increasing the tightness of the strap between adjacent blocks by increasing the depth to which the head of a securing nail is inserted into bLock of said strip.
7. A method according to any of the preceding cLaims, further comprising the step of adding more naiLs in the first and Last bLock of the strip than used for securing the strap to other bLocks.
8. A method of producing a temporary tyre-repLacement strip substantiaLLy as hereinbefore described and/or iLLustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.
9. A temporary tyre-repLacement strip comprising a number of eLongate bLocks which are heLd together by one or more straps; the strip being of sufficient Length to cover the circumference of a wheeL rim; said bLocks being a paraLLeLepiped with cut-outs at their extremities in order to fit across a wheeL rim; wherein an excess of said fLexibLe strap is provided between at Least one pair of said bLocks; whereby said strap is taut between neighbouring bLocks other than for said at Least one pair of said bLocks prior to assembLy onto a wheeL rim.
10. A temporary tyre-repLacement strip substantiaLLy as hereinbefore described and/or iLLustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.CLAIMS1. A method of producing a temporary tyrerep(acement strip comprising the steps of: S cuttmg wood nto a number of eqatl shaped elongate borkc, cuthng a recess into the upper section of each end of said blocks; spacing a succession of said blocks from one another by placing said blocks in discrete block receiving stations; said block receiving stations being formed between fixed transverse blocks of a supporting frame; and attaching one or more straps of flexible material across a succession of blocks.2. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said supporting frame, said strap is substantially taut between neighhoudng blocks other than for at least one pair of iS blocks where an excess amount of strap material is provided. CY)o 3. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of releasing one or more of said transverse blocks in order to vary the spacing between at Least two neighbouring blocks of said strip.4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of placing the blocks into a platform for holding a succession of blocks side by side; clamping said blocks together; and routing said recess.5. A method according to either of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of placing said strip around the circumference of a whee rim and drawing said strip t!ghtly against said rim by employing a sash clamp.6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, during the supporting frame step, the method further comprkes the step of increasing the tightness of the strap between adjacent bLocks by increasing the depth to which the head of a securing nail is inserted into block of said strip.7, A method according to any of the preceding thinis, further comprising the step of adding more nails in the first and last block of the strip than used for securing the strap to other blocks.8. A method according to any of the precedhg claims, wherein said method includes the step of inserting an additional block of material, such as wood; between at least one pair of elongate blocks, and between said pieces of flexible material in order to facilitate the movement of a vehicle up an indine.g, A method of producing a temporary tyre-replacement strip substantially as hereinbefore described andlor illustrated n any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/ar figures. C?) aD