US3790217A

US3790217A - Clamp lugs and carrier ring for a rim and wheel assembly

Info

Publication number: US3790217A
Application number: US00267435A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Deregnaucourt
Original assignee: Dayton Steel Foundry Co
Current assignee: Dayton Steel Foundry Co
Priority date: 1972-06-29
Filing date: 1972-06-29
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05

Abstract

A rim and wheel assembly including a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs on an annular, full-circle, carrier ring to cooperatively engage the mounting flange of a rim. The wheel has means thereon for positive retention of the clamp lugs. The clamp means are supported by fastening elements extending axially through the wheel. The fastening elements carry fastening means which draw the clamp means toward the clamp lugs to seat the rim flange. The carrier ring has means thereon so that the clamp lugs may be rotated onto the positive retention means without removal of the fastening means from the fastening elements. The carrier ring may also have stop means thereon so that the clamp lugs will not be rotated off the positive retention means should the fastening means become loose or untightened during operation.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 DeRegnaucourt Feb. 5, 1974 [75] Inventor: Robert A. DeRegnaucourt,

Centerville, Ohio [73] Assignee: The Dayton Steel Foundry Company, Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: June 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 267,435

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 252,411, May 11,

[52] US. Cl. 301/12 R, 301/13 SM, 301/20 [51] Int. Cl B601) 23/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..30l/1 11 R,

301/13 SM, 18, 19, 20, 36 R 6/1952 Switzerland 301/13 R 5/1934 France 301/12 R Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson Assistant Examiner-Reinhard J. Eisenzopf Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mack D. Cook, 11

[ ABSTRACT A rim and wheel assembly including a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs on an annular, full-circle, carrier ring to cooperatively engage the mounting flange of a rim. The wheel has means thereon for positive retention of the clamp lugs. The clamp means are supported by fastening elements extending axially through the wheel. The fasteni ng elements carry faster iggg eans which draw the clamp ma'ris toward the clamp lugs to seat the riin flange. The carrier ring has means thereon so that the clamp lugs may be rotated onto the positive retention means without removal of the fastening means from the fastening elements. The carrier ring may also have stop means thereon so that the clamp lugs will not be rotated off the positive retention means should the fastening means become loose or untightened during operation.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED 4 SHEU 1 [IF 3 PATENTH] FEB 51874 SHEET 2 OF 3 CLAMP LUGS AND CARRIER RING FOR A RIM AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of the inventors joint application with William D. Walther, Ser.

No. 252,411, filed May 11, 1972, and has as its subject 1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a rim and wheel assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to an improve ment for the rim and wheel assembly of co-pending application Ser. No. 252,411 filed May 11, 1972, whereby a tire carrying rim is mounted on a wheel, such as the front wheel, of a motor vehicle, such as a truck.

The rim and wheel assembly of co-pending application, Ser. No. 252,411, filed May 11, 1972, includes a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs to cooperatively engage the mounting flange of a rim. The whell has means thereon for positive retention of the clamp lugs. The clamp means are supported by fastening elements extending axially through the wheel. The fastening elements carry fastening means which draw the clamp means toward the clamp lugs to seat the rim flange. In one embodiment, the rim and wheel assembly of said co-pending application has a series of clamp lugs projecting radially inwardly from an annular or full-circle carrier ring.

When demounting a tire carrying rim, it has been found that removal of the fastening means by the mechanic will sometimes result in the fastening elements being displaced, mutilated, deformed or even lost. It has also been found that the fastening means will sometimes become loose or untightened during operation so that the clamp lugs will be rotated off the positive retention means on the wheel.

The improvements provided by the present invention are intended to provide a carrier ring such that the clamp lugs may be rotated onto the positive retention means without removal of the fastening means from the fastening elements. The carrier ring may also have a stop means so that the clamp lugs will not be rotated off the positive retention means should the fastening means become loose or untightened during operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide an improved rim and wheel assembly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rim and wheel assembly having components which will assure lateral alignment and minimize radial runout of the rim when mounted on the wheel.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide improvements for the rim and wheel assembly disclosed in the inventors priorjoint application with William D. Walther, Ser. No. 252,411, filed May 11, 1972.

These and other objects of the invention, and the advantages thereof, will be apparent in view of the De scription of various Embodiments as set forth below.

In general, a rim and wheel assembly according to the invention has clamping elements including a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs projecting radially inwardly of an annular carrier ring. The wheel has a peripheral portion with means thereon for positive retention of the clamp lugs. The clamp means are supported by fastening elements extending axially through bores in the wheel. The fastening elements carry fastening means which draw the clamp means toward the clamp lugs to seat the rim flange. The carrier ring has means thereon so that the clamp lugs may be positioned as to the fastening elements and rotated onto the positive retention means without removal of the fastening means. The carrier ring may also have stop means so that the clamp lugs will not be rotated off the positive retention means should the fastening means come loose or untightened during operation.

As disclosed herein, the clamp lugs may be attached, as by welding, to the carrier ring, and the carrier ring and the clamp lugs may have several forms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an axially outer plan view of a left front rim and wheel assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a carrier ring and clamp lug accordingto the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a rim and wheel assembly, taken substantially as indicated on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an axially inner plan view of a rim and wheel assembly, taken substantially as indicated on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another form of carrier ring and clamp lug according to the invention; 1

FIG. 6 is a radially outer view taken substantially as indicated on line 6-6 of FIG. 5; 1

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating still another form of carrier ring and clamp lug according to the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating still another form of carrier ring and clamp lug according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As best shown in FIG. 3, a rim and wheel assembly using the clamp lug carrier ring accoridng to the invention, is referred to generally by the numeral 20. The single rim is referred to generally by the numeral 21. The wheel is referred to generally by the numeral 23. The series of axially inner clamp means is referred to generally by the numeral 24. The fastening elements are referred to generally by the numeral 25. The series of axially outer clamp lugs projecting radially inwardly from the carrier ring are referred to generally by the numeral 226. The positive retention means for the clamp lugs 226 are referred to generally by the numeral 27. The fastening means for the fastening elements 25 are referred to generally by the numeral 28. The annular carrying ring for the clamp lugs 226 is referred to generally by the numeral 227.

The rim 21 may be a conventional flat base rim having a fixed bead flange and a removable bead flange (not shown). As shown, the mounting flange of the rim' 2] has an axially inner holding surface 31, preferably inclined at an angle of 28 from the rotational axis of the rim. The holding surface 31 intersects and merges into a radially inner seating surface 32, preferably axially oriented substantially horizontal or parallel to the rotational axis of the rim. The seating surface 32 intersects and merges into an axially outer gutter or positioning surface 33, preferably radially oriented substantially vertical or perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rim. The

rim mounting surfaces

31,32 and 33 depict a conventional form of a mounting flange for a rim which may be assembled on a wheel according to the invention. The angularity of these surfaces could be varied somewhat in relation to the rotational axis of the rim while still utilizing the subject matter of the inven tion.

The wheel 23 may be either a cast spoked wheel or a disc wheel, formed by stamping or forging. As shown, the wheel 23 is a spoked wheel having a conventional hub area 35. Any desired number of spokes 36, preferably five or six, extend radially of the hub area 35.

The peripheral portion of each spoke 36 has a boss surface 37 for seating a radially oriented surface on a carrier ring 227, as described in further detail below.

The positive retention means 27 for the clamp lugs 226 on the peripheral portion of a wheel 23 may be formed, as shown, by the boss surface 37 radially oriented substantially vertically or perpendicular to the rotational axis of the wheel, an intersecting surface 38 axially oriented substantially horizontal or parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel, an intersecting surface 39 inclined radially inwardly and axially outwardly in relation to the rotational axis of the wheel, and an intersecting concave surface 40 axially oriented substantially horizontal or parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel. The clamp lug retention surfaces 37, 38, 39 and 40 define one form of a positive retention means 27. The angularity of these surfaces could be varied somewhat in relation to the rotational axis of the wheel.

An axially oriented bore 41, for loosely receiving the shank of the fastening elements in the form of support bolts 25 for the clamp means 24, extends through the peripheral portion of a wheel 23 radially inwardly of the surface 40. The outer end of a bore 41 opens onto a boss surface 37. As shown, the inner end of a bore 41 opens into an open area 42, provided by a means for positioning a clamp means 24 while engaging a rim flange surface 31.

As shown, the clamp means 24 may be provided by a series ofindividual elements as described in detail below. In this embodiment, the clamp means 24 are positioned by sliding contact with sets of parallel surfaces 43 axially oriented substantially horizontal or parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel, on the radially outer side of the wheel peripheral portions defining the open or slotted area 42 and on opposite sides of a support bolt 25.

The clamp means 24 may be a series of one-piece solid elements. The bolt portion 25 thereof, threaded as at 46 for engagement with a fastening means 28 in the form of a nut, extends through a wheel bore 41 to join with a wedge portion 47. The radially outer face of a wedge portion 47 has a conical surface 48 for matingly engaging a correspondingly inclined rim flange mounting surface 31. The radially inner face ofa wedge portion 47, on opposite sides of the juncture point with the bolt portion 25, has axially oriented surfaces 49 for slidingly engaging the surfaces 43 on the wheel when the fastening means 28 are tightened.

While not shown in the drawings, the clamp means 24 could be made in the form of a full-circle or ring member carrying a series of support bolts 25 for insertion through a series of wheel bores 41 and a series of rim flange engaging surfaces 48. This alternative form for the clamp means 24 could be utilized without departing from the subject matter of the invention.

A carrier ring 227 has a radially inwardly projecting clamp lug 226 for each support bolt 25.

A carrier ring 227 has a radially inwardly directed circumferentially continuous web or body portion 251. In the forms depicted in FIGS. 1-7, the carrier rings 227 also have an axially directed flange 252 for mounting of the clamp lugs 226.

The ring web portion 251 has an axially inner surface 253 to slidably engage a boss surface 37 on the wheel 23. The web portion 251 also has thereon or therethrough a series of arcuate slots 254 formed on a radius concentric with the wheel bores 41. Each slot 254 terminates in an enlarged diameter bore or keyhole portion 255 so that the carrier ring 227 may be fitted over the fastening nuts 28 when the nuts are merely loosened and not removed. The slots 254 and the bore portions 255 provide means so that the clamp lugs 226 may be rotated onto the positive retention means 27, as shown by the chain lines in FIG. 1, without removal of the fastening nuts 28 from the support bolts 25.

When the carrier ring 227 is used for a rim and left front wheel assembly 20, as shown in FIG. 1, the slots 254 extend left-to-right to the bore portions 255. This is a safety feature so that braking of the vehicle will cause the ring 227 to remain in the assembled condition even if the fastening nuts 28 have become loosened. If desired, a carrier ring 227 for use on a rim and right front wheel assembly 20 could have the slots 254 directed right-to-left to the bore portions 255.

Alternatively or additionally to the opening direction of the slots 254, a carrier ring may also have the safety feature of a stop means 256 thereon so that the clamp lugs 226 will not by rotated off the positive retention means 27 should the fastening nuts become loose or untightened. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stop means 256 may one or more axial projections, stamped as at 257 from the web portion 251, radially inwardly of a slot 254. An axial projections 256 is positioned so as to contact a fastening nut 28 in the event of a slight rotation of the carrier ring 227.

The clamp lugs 226 preferably have four working surfaces thereon. Each clamp lug 226 may have an inclined surface 259 for sliding and mating engagement with a wheel surface 39, a convex surface 260 for sliding and seating engagement on a wheel surface 40, an axially oriented surface 262 for seating the rim flange surface 32, and a radially oriented surface 263 for positioning the rim flange surface 33. As described below, the form of clamp lug 226 shown in FIG. 7 has only the

surfaces

259, 260 and 262, with the equivalent of surface 263 being on the flange 252 of the carrier ring 227.

Referring to the form of carrier ring 227 shown in FIG. 3, the axially directed flange 252 may be arcuately shaped providing two surfaces, a radially inner surface 265 and an axially inner surface 266, for attachment by welding of the clamp lugs 226.

Referring to Fig. 5, the carrier ring 227 may have a flange portion 252 terminating in a radially oriented surface 267 for attachment by welding of the clamp lugs 226.

Referring to FIG. 7, the carrier ring may have a flange portion 252 with a radially oriented surface 268 for positioning the rim flange surface 33. The clamp lugs 226 are attached by welding to an axially oriented surface 269.

Referring to FIG. 8, the carrier ring 227 has no axially directed flange portion and the clamp lugs 266 have an axially outwardly directed stem or mounting portion 271 attached by welding to radially outer portions of the web surface 253.

When utilizing the rim and wheel assembly according to the invention, the clamp means are positioned with the support bolts projecting outwardly through the wheel bores. The rim (carrying a tire) is fitted over the wheel until the rim flange mounting surface contacts the clamp means. It is not necessary to completely remove the fastening means, when in the form of nuts on the threaded bolt portions, when changing a tire. Thereafter, the carrier ring is fitted over the support bolts and the clamp lugs are rotated on the positive retention means between the fastening nuts and the wheel boss surfaces.

Installation of the carrier ring and clamp lugs will tend to arc or cam the rim flange into a proper radial position. The rim will be centered radially at the beginning or entry portion of the clamp lug seating surfaces. Thereafter, tightening of the nuts will draw the positively guided clamp means axially outwardly to precisely and accurately seat the rim flange between the clamp means and the clamp lugs. 7 What is claimed is:

l. A rim and wheel assembly with clamping elements including a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs projecting radially inwardly of an annular carrier ring,

said wheel having a peripheral portion with means thereon for positive retention of said clamp lugs, said clamp means being supported by fastening elements extending axially through bores in the wheel and carrying fastening means thereon which draw said clamp means toward said clamp lugs to seat rim flange surfaces,

said carrier ring having means (254 and 255) thereon so that said clamp lugs may be positioned as to said fastening elements and rotated onto said positive retention means without removal'of said fastening means from said fastening elements,

said carrier ring further having stop means (256) so that said clamp lugs will not be rotated off said positive retention means should said fastening means become loose or untightened during operation. 2. A rim and wheel assembly with clamping elements including a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs projecting radially inwardly of an annular carrier ring,

said wheel having a peripheral portion with means thereon for positive retention of said clamp lugs,

said clamp means being supported by fastening ele ments extending axially through bores in the wheel and carrying fastening means thereon which draw said clamp means toward said clamp lugs to seat said rim flange surfaces,

said carrier ring having a radially inwardly directed circumferentially continuous web protion (251), a series of arcuate slots (254) formed on a radius concentric with said wheel bores, each said slot terminating in an enlarged diameter bore portion (255), each said slot and said slot bore portion providing means so that said clamp lugs may be rotated onto the said positive retention means without removal of said fastening means from said fastening elements,

said web portion of the carrier ring further having one or more axial projections (257) radially inwardly of said slot, said axial projections being positioned so as to contact the fastening means in the event of a slight rotation of said carrier ring when said fastening means are on said fastening elements.

Claims

1. A rim and wheel assembly with clamping elements including a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs projecting radially inwardly of an annular carrier ring, said wheel having a peripheral portion with means thereon for positive retention of said clamp lugs, said clamp means being supported by fastening elements extending axially through bores in the wheel and carrying fastening means thereon which draw said clamp means toward said clamp lugs to seat rim flange surfaces, said carrier ring having means (254 and 255) thereon so that said clamp lugs may be positioned as to said fastening elements and rotated onto said positive retention means without removal of said fastening means from said fastening elements, said carrier ring further having stop means (256) so that said clamp lugs will not be rotated off said positive retention means should said fastening means become loose or untightened during operation.

2. A rim and wheel assembly with clamping elements including a series of axially inner clamp means and a series of axially outer clamp lugs projecting radially inwardly of an annular carrier ring, said wheel having a peripheral portion with means thereon for positive retention of said clamp lugs, said clamp means being supported by fastening elements extending axially through bores in the wheel and carrying fastening means thereon which draw said clamp means toward said clamp lugs to seat said rim flange surfaces, said carrier ring having a radially inwardly directed circumferentially continuous web protion (251), a series of arcuate slots (254) formed on a radius concentric with said wheel bores, each said slot terminating in an enlarged diameter bore portion (255), each said slot and said slot bore portion providing means so that said clamp lugs may be rotated onto the said positive retention means without removal of said fastening means from said fastening elements, said web portion of the carrier ring further having one or more axial projections (257) radially inwardly of said slot, said axial projections being positioned so as to contact the fastening means in the event of a slight rotation of said carrier ring when said fastening means are on said fastening elements.