Abstract: A road wheel for a track-laying vehicle which comprises a metal disc wheel including a wheel mounting disc, a rim extending axially from the periphery of the disc and a strengthening flange projecting radially inwardly from the disc-remote edge of the rim. An overlay body of foamed elastomeric material is molded onto the disc wheel to fill the area between the disc, rim and flange, and thereby prevent accumulation of mud in this area. The outboard surface of the overlay body is pitched axially from the disc to the rim to self-clean as the wheel is rotating. A solid rubber tire is carried externally of the rim.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacture of brake drums, particularly tri-metallic drums of the type comprising a preformed brake liner, a mounting disc, and an aluminum shell cast around and joining the liner and disc into a rigid structure. The apparatus includes a mandrel with a plurality of springs for internally resiliently engaging the brake liner and locating the same in accurate position. The mounting disc is likewise accurately positioned on a mold surface, and the mold is closed to form a cavity for casting of the shell coaxially with the liner and disc.

Abstract: The tire mounting tool for use in mounting a large, heavy off-highway pneumatic tire onto a dual-flanged single piece drop center wheel rim of the type having at each rim flange a re-entrant lip protruding radially inwardly toward the axis of the rim. The tool has a main frame adapted to be placed upon one side of the wheel rim when the rim is resting horizontally. The frame is longer than the inside diameter of the rim flange lip and slidably rests thereupon, and also slidably grips the rim lip and is bodily rotatable about the wheel axis. A pair of arms each are pivoted at their inboard ends to the main frame at a common pivot point for pivotal counter-rotational movement on opposite sides of the main frame about a pivot axis parallel to the rim axis. A pair of tire-bead-engaging shoes are carried one on each of the outboard ends of the arms. A pair of hydraulic rams are interconnected one between each of the arms and the main frame for counter-rotating the arms.

Abstract: An improved wheel assembly for a track assembly of a crawler-type vehicle, and method of making the same, comprising a dual wheel set wherein each wheel of the set has a wheel disc with a central bolt circle portion, an intermediate generally conical portion extending outwardly from the central portion and an axially extending peripheral flange portion. A rim is mounted on said disc flange and preferably a rubber tire carried on the outer surface of the rim. The disc is a standard-type spun tapered truck wheel disc of current standard specification having an outwardly narrowing tapered cross-section. The rim comprises a cylindrical center section and a pair of inwardly extending, preferably slightly divergent peripheral edge flanges, and the rim is preferably secured to the disc peripheral flange by a circumferentially continuous weld at or near the axial center of the rim.

Abstract: A wire spoke vehicle wheel and method of assembly wherein the wheel rim comprises separate rim segments permanently joined to each other preferably in a friction welding operation. The outboard rim segment includes at least a first portion which cooperates with the inboard rim segment to function as an outboard rim bead retaining flange, and a second portion which extends radially inwardly therefrom. A hub, which includes openings for mounting to a vehicle axle spindle, is centrally mounted within the rim by a circumferential array of wire spokes extending between the hub and the inwardly extending portion of the second rim segment.

Abstract: A composite ornamental vehicle wheel assembly comprising a steel wheel having an overlay molded thereon along the axially outboard surface of the wheel disc and the radially inboard surface of the rim. A plurality of wire spoke elements are mounted in paired axially spaced circumferential arrays between nipples threaded into the overlay adjacent the wheel rim and support pockets formed in the overlay radially inwardly of the rim. Annular retaining elements are mounted to the overlay structure and capture the inner ends of the various spoke elements in assembly.

Abstract: In a wheel mounting arrangement which comprises a wheel-attachment spindle rotatably carried by roller bearings within a bearing hub and clamped thereto by a nut received on a threaded end of a spindle shaft, a locking device for preventing removal of the nut from the spindle shaft and consequent detachment of the spindle and spindle-attached wheel from the bearing hub and vehicle. The device comprises a locking snap ring received in a circumferential groove in the threaded spindle end so as to block removal of the nut. In accordance with a particular and critical feature of the invention, the groove and locking ring are axially spaced from the opposing surface of the nut in assembly and in normal operation so that the ring cooperates with the nut opposing surface to permit limited loosening of the nut.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite vehicle wheel, and a method and apparatus for construction thereof. The wheel comprises a disc portion having reinforcing fibers in substantially random orientation disposed predominantly in planes perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a rim portion having directional first reinforcing fibers substantially parallel to each other and oriented circumferentially of or substantially parallel to the wheel axis, or both, and second reinforcing fibers which are substantially randomly oriented circumferentially of the wheel axis. The method includes formation of separate rim and disc charges from sheet molding plastic resin compound and compression molding of the charges to form an integral composite rim and disc structure of essentially homogeneous resin reinforced by the fibers.

Abstract: A bearing, hub and carrier assembly for use in a driven steering wheel wherein the drive shaft-engaging spindle on the wheel-mounting hub is locked against axial movement with respect to the spindle-surrounding wheel bearings by a one-piece retaining wire disposed in radially aligned circumferential grooves in the hub spindle and the inner race of the inboard wheel bearing.

Abstract: A method of punching a wheel for a pneumatic tire and wheel assembly manufactured with mounting holes offset from the geometric center to locate the low point of the first harmonic of radial runout adjacent a given angular location, such as the valve hole, so that, when a tire is mounted thereon with the high point of the first harmonic of radial force variation aligned with the valve hole, the respective harmonics cancel each other to provide a tire and wheel assembly with enhanced rotational characteristics. In an apparatus for forming the wheel mounting holes by axially reciprocating a piercing tool against a wheel disc while the bead seats are clamped between wheel locating jaws, axially opposed jaw pairs are centered on an axis offset from the axis of reciprocation such that the centerline of the mounting holes is correspondingly eccentrically offset from the average bead seat axis.

Abstract: A safety tire and wheel assembly for pneumatic tires which includes a safety insert having an inner portion extending around the wheel rim base for clamping the tire bead toes against the opposing rim flanges and an outer portion projecting radially into the tire cavity. A band of resilient material such as rubber is carried by a circumferential array of bearing elements in a depression formed on the outer surface of the core outer portion for supporting the tire tread with respect to the wheel rim upon loss of tire inflation pressure. The wheel includes a two-piece rim comprising a first rim portion welded to a wheel disc and a demountable rim portion mounted by the circumferential array of clamps to the fixed rim portion. A sealing ring is disposed between the rim portions for sealing the tire cavity for tubeless operation.

Abstract: An improved tapered wheel disc and method of making the same which includes the steps of spin-forming a radially outwardly-tapering concave disc from a section of blanked stock and piercing hand holes in the spun-tapered disc, the improvement comprising the step of placing the disc surface area around each hand hole in compression by embossing the disc from a direction internally of disc concavity to form a region surrounding each hand hole which is offset outwardly of disc concavity.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite vehicle wheel, and a method and apparatus for construction thereof. The wheel comprises a disc portion having reinforcing fibers in substantially random orientation disposed predominantly in planes perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a rim portion having directional first reinforcing fibers substantially parallel to each other and oriented circumferentially of or substantially parallel to the wheel axis, or both, and second reinforcing fibers which are substantially randomly oriented circumferentially of the wheel axis. The method includes formation of separate rim and disc charges from sheet molding plastic resin compound and compression molding of the charges to form an integral composite rim and disc structure of essentially homogeneous resin reinforced by the fibers.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite vehicle wheel, and a method and apparatus for construction thereof. The wheel comprises a disc portion having reinforcing fibers in substantially random orientation disposed predominantly in planes perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a rim portion having directional first reinforcing fibers substantially parallel to each other and oriented circumferentially of or substantially parallel to the wheel axis, or both, and second reinforcing fibers which are substantially randomly oriented circumferentially of the wheel axis. The method includes formation of separate rim and disc charges from sheet molding plastic resin compound and compression molding of the charges to form an integral composite rim and disc structure of essentially homogeneous resin reinforced by the fibers.

Abstract: A wheel disc and method of manufacture wherein disc blanks are punched from a continuous length of strip material in an enchelonned nested pattern so as to minimize stock scrap and wastage. The disc blanks are substantially flat and have a peripheral edge defined by a series of concentric convex crowns separated from each other by concave recesses. The disc blanks are each formed to a final cross sectional configuration which optimizes the relationship of disc strength to weight. The disc is welded into a drop center wheel rim to provide a wheel assembly for pneumatic tubeless tires.