IL42121A - Wheel rim - Google Patents

Claims (1)

1. ■c Vhat we claim is:-1. A wheel rim for receiving a tubeless pneumatic tyre with lnextersible beads, having a tyre bend retainer flange at each axial side of the rim and a base, the base of the rim having bead seats, the bead seats being respectively adjacent the said flanges, the bead seats being adapted to receive and seat beads of a tubeless tyre to support loads transmitted between the beads and rim during use, the base of the rim having a well disposed axially between the bead seats and having side walls and a well base, the side walls extending radially inwardly of the base of the rim towards the well base, the well being circumferentially continuous around the rim and tyre bead during fitting of a around the rim, and means for positively retaining the obstructor inextensibly at the well to occupy at least the radially outer portion thereof, the obstructor when so retained being for denying the tyre beads access to any substantial circumferential length of the well irrespective of the presence, position or condition of inflation of any tyre on the rim. 2o A wheel rim according- to claim 1, wherein the bead seats are frusto-conical, radially outwardly flaring, portions of the base, the obstructor being spaced away from each flange by at least an axial distance equal to the - t 3« A wheel rim according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the obstructor comprises a band„ the means for positively retaining the obstructor being coupling means engageable with juxtaposed ends of the band. 4. A wheel rim according to claim 3 wherein the band has circumferentially spaced ends and is disposed at a radially outer part of the well, the coupling means including a tangentially disposed tightenable screw- the said screw acting between the spaced ends of the band to exert circumferential tension on the band. 13. A wheel rim according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the band abuts against each side wall of the well at the mouth of the well. 6. A wheel rim according to claim 1 wherein the obstructor substantially fully occupies the well. 7· A wheel rim according to any one of the preceding claims whsein the well is adjacent one of the bead seats and spaced from the other, the rim having at least one radially outward projection extending circumferentially around the base of the rim immediately adjacent that side o. the well which is nearer the adjacent bead seat and axially between the bead seat and the well, to hinder lateral travel of a tyre bead. 8, A wheel rim according to. any one of the preceding claims wherein the rim is apertureless except for a valve aperture in the circumferentially continuous well, and 9. Wheel rims substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 10. A wheel assembly including a wheel structure having a central hub portion and a wheel rim as claimed in claim 1 wherein the well is nearer to one flange than -to the other, •and a tubeless tyre having bead portions seated against the flanges respectively, the obstructor being positively retained in position in the rim and occupying at least the radially outer portion of the well around substantially the whole circumference of the well so as to deny the tyre beads access to any substantial circumferential length of the well. lie Λ wheel assembly according to claim 10 wherein the axial distance between the said one flange and the well is at least substantially equal to the axial thickness of the sole of the bead. 12, Λ wheel assembly according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein .the axial width of the well is only slightly reats* than the axial width of each bead portion of the tyre. 13. A wheel assembly according to claim 10 or claim 11 or claLm 12 wherein the obstructor fully occupies the well. lAo Wheel* assemblies according to claim 10 substantially as herein described with reference' to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 15. A method of assembling a wheel and tubeless pneumatic 42 \ 2i accommodate the beads of the tyre successively as they are passed over a flange of the rim onto the rim, then moving the beads axially clear of the well, placing said well obstructor at the well, securing the obstructor positively and inextensibly at the well, passing one bead of the tyre substantially completely past the obstructor to seat it on its bead seat and inflating the tyre. 16, A method according to claim 15 wherein the obstructor comprises a band and the method includes ju taposing coupling adjacent' ends of the band and engaging/means to them to lock the obstructor in its position at the well. 17» A method according to claim .16 which includes . applying circumferential tension. to the band by rotating, a screw-threaded said coupling means about an axis directed tangontially of the wheel. 18. A method according to claim 15, claim 16 or claim 17 which includes inflating the tyre by initially seating the bead of the tyre which passed over the obstructor against the corresponding bead seat and passing air into the tyre from the well through a gap in the obstructor. 19 o A method according to claim 15 substantially as herein described and exemplified v/ith reference to the accompanying drawings o