Abstract: A hubcap for a heavy-duty duty vehicle that includes mounting structure that is formed with and cooperates with a side wall of the hubcap to provide a stiff, rigid structure that enables non-cantilevered connection to a wheel hub. The mounting structure can be a plurality of elongated bosses circumferentially spaced about the side wall that are formed with corresponding elongated bolt openings to enable the non-cantilevered attachment to the wheel hub. The elongated bosses cooperate with the hubcap side wall to provide a stiffened or rigid structure between the elongated bolt openings for increased and more uniform clamping force on a sealing gasket between the hubcap and the wheel hub. The hubcap profile provides clearance for removal of an outboard mounted disc brake rotor in heavy-duty vehicle wheel end assemblies that include such rotor configurations. The hubcap may support simple mounting of a hub odometer.

Abstract: A method for producing a drop centre rim and to a drop centre rim for vehicle wheels of commercial vehicles. The rim has a plurality of zones, which form an inner rim flange and an outer rim flange, an inner steep-tapered bead seat and an outer steep-tapered bead seat and a rim drop centre with a drop centre base, an inner drop centre flank and an outer drop centre flank between the steep-tapered bead seats, wherein one of the zones is provided as a disc attachment region for a wheel disc, and the drop centre rim has at least one partial zone with a reduced wall thickness relative to the other zones. It is envisaged that at least one of the steep-tapered bead seats, preferably both steep-tapered bead seats, has/have a section with a wall thickness reduction of more than 20% relative to the wall thickness in the zone provided as the disc attachment region, wherein the wall thickness reduction is produced during one of the profiling steps.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic wheel includes an outer band, a hub and a plurality of spokes formed from a polyamine material. Each of the plurality of spokes is displaced to create pretension in the radial direction under a design load and the displacement is equal to or greater than the predetermined deflection of the outer band. The plurality of spokes is made from a polyamide material having a conditioned tensile modulus between 600 MPa and 3000 MPa, an equilibrium moisture content of no more than 1.5%, and a fatigue failure resistance that can withstand at least 1 million cycles.

Abstract: A wheel shield includes a central disk having a central wheel hub opening surrounded by annularly spaced stud holes that correspond to a pattern presented by a vehicle. The central disk includes an outwardly open fastening surface such as a channel positioned around an outer diameter of the central disk. The wheel shield includes a radially-compressible ring such as radially extending filaments. The radially-compressible ring has an inner diameter attached in the outwardly open fastening surface of the central disk and sized to engagingly contact an inner diameter of a vehicle wheel rim to restrict movement of brake dust to an exposed outer surface of the vehicle wheel rim while still allowing for the movement of air for cooling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel comprising a hub, a rim and an inflatable tyre, in which the hub is situated around a rotation axle of the wheel, a compressor which is situated substantially inside the hub for compressing outside air, provided with an inlet for taking in air at atmospheric pressure and an outlet for delivering air at an increased pressure; a drive for driving the compressor, in which the drive is movable with respect to the rotation axle, in particular rotatable, more particularly rotatable in a direction opposite to that of the hub; an air reservoir for storing the air at increased pressure, in which the air reservoir is situated inside the rim of the wheel; a connection for connecting the outlet of the compressor to the air reservoir of the inflatable tyre of the wheel.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a wheel assembly (1) comprising a wheel, a deformable chamber (6) containing a transition substance (15) comprising jamming particles and an interstitial gas, and an actuator (14) configured to transform the transition substance (15) between a fluid state in which the deformable chamber (6) can deform into a conformal state as the wheel encounters an obstacle during use, and a rigid state by evacuation of the interstitial gas in which the transition substance is rigidified to maintain the deformable chamber (6) in said conformal state to provide increased purchase on said obstacle.

Abstract: A nipple for spoked wheels of the tubeless type comprises a first and a second shoulder which are formed on a rod with a blind axial hole which is internally threaded at an end of the rod which is distal from the opening of the axial hole and in a zone of the rod which is proximal with respect to the opening, respectively. A first recess for a sealing ring is formed on the rod behind the first shoulder and at least a second recess for a second sealing ring is formed on the rod between the first recess and the second shoulder.

Abstract: Various example embodiments of a non-pneumatic tires are presented. In one embodiment, a non-pneumatic tire is provided, comprising: a tread; a support ring comprising a plurality of support ring elements, each having the same diameter, wherein the plurality of support ring elements are coupled to one another by at least one strap; a hub, wherein the tread, the support ring, and the hub are concentric; a plurality of base elements oriented between the tread and the support ring, wherein each of the base elements extends along the width of one of the support ring elements. Alternatively, each of the base elements may extend from an axially outer edge of a support ring element to the center of an adjacent support ring element.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a bicycle wheel component, comprising the steps of providing a component having at least one braking area that cooperates with a braking body made by molding of composite material having structural fibers in a polymeric material, and post-molding machining of at least one region of the braking area by removing only polymeric material, without removal of the structural fiber, from the entire region so that the structural fiber outcrops at least in part from the polymeric material, and removing the structural fiber and possibly the polymeric material according to at least one groove within the region. A bicycle wheel component having a braking area of composite material, wherein in a region of the braking area, the structural fiber outcrops at least from the polymeric material, and the region comprises a groove through the structural fiber and possibly the polymeric material of the composite material.

Abstract: A nipple for spoked wheels includes a head and a rod which are coaxial and through which a through-hole extends, a manoeuvring key in the head and an insert of plastics material which is inserted in the hole in order to engage in a screwing manner with friction with a threaded end of a spoke. The hole comprises a threaded portion which extends in the rod and a portion with an increased diameter which constitutes the seat for receiving the insert, the insert being formed with a tubular sleeve inserted in the seat at the side of the head and being blocked there by means of interference or adhesive bonding.

Abstract: A tire inflator/bleed system allows tire pressure to be adjusted using controls in a vehicle and while in motion. The inflator system includes a disk portion which rotates with a wheel, and a ring portion rotatably attached to the disk. The disk may be a spacer between the wheel and a vehicle hub, be part of the wheel, or be part of the hub. The ring portion receives air from an air supply/bleeder and is in fluid communication with the disk portion to provide the air to or from the disk portion. The disk portion is in fluid communication with a tire interior to add or remove air from the tire.

Abstract: A wheel hub has a tubular body having a rotational axis and at least one spoke attachment part protruding radially outward from the tubular body. The spoke attachment part includes a cavity, a first spoke attachment hole, a first spoke head contact surface, a second spoke attachment hole, and a second spoke head contact surface. The cavity includes a spoke insertion opening that opens from the spoke attachment part in an axially outward direction parallel to the rotational axis. The first spoke attachment hole extends from the cavity in a first direction. The first spoke head contact surface is located adjacent the first spoke attachment hole. The second spoke attachment hole extends from the cavity in a second direction. The second spoke head contact surface is located adjacent the second spoke attachment hole.

Abstract: A heat shield assembly is disclosed. In various embodiments, the heat shield assembly defines a first circumferential side and a second circumferential side and an inboard end and an outboard end and includes a first layer defining a first surface of the heat shield assembly and having a first tab member disposed proximate the inboard end at the first circumferential side and a second tab member disposed proximate the outboard end at the first circumferential side; and a second layer defining a second surface of the heat shield assembly and having one or more first crimped portions extending along the first circumferential side and configured to engage the first tab member and the second tab member.

Abstract: A bushing for a track assembly includes a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface. The outer surface includes at least one flat portion. The bushing also includes at least one white iron member. The at least one white iron member includes a flat inner surface, and the flat inner surface of the at least one white iron member is fixed to the flat portion of the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.

Abstract: A tread pattern for a vehicle track, such as an endless track for earth-moving equipment, comprises a plurality of blocks. Each block includes two lateral traction portions extending in substantially opposite directions. The two lateral traction portions are longitudinally aligned and each define a pair of walls defining a plurality of steps. In some examples, each lateral traction portion may define an L-shape. For example, the lateral traction portions of each block may define a protrusion to define the “L” shape, and, in some examples, the protrusions may extend in opposite longitudinal directions. In some examples, the lateral traction portions of each block may be the same shape, where one lateral traction portion may be oriented at about 180 degrees relative to the other lateral traction portion.

Abstract: A cartridge pin assembly in a track chain assembly includes a sleeve bearing having a flared end.

Abstract: A retainer plate configured to retain a center pin for an equalizer bar comprises a first face and a second face opposite the first face; a first support arm having a first reduced contact portion; a second support arm having a second reduced contact portion; and a neck portion between the first support arm and the second support arm. The retainer plate can be symmetrical about a center vertical axis in an end view thereof, and the first support arm, the second support arm, and the neck portion can define a central concave recess configured to receive the center pin via an opening into the central concave recess defined between the first support arm and the second support arm. The first support arm can have a first set of openings through a thickness of the retainer plate and configured to receive respective fasteners therethrough, and the second support arm can have a second set of openings through the thickness of the retainer plate and configured to receive respective fasteners therethrough.

Abstract: A sprocket damping assembly for a sprocket wheel of a track-type work machine may include an annular damping ring having an annular retention device. The damping ring may include a ring body section having a ring body section radial thickness, and a retention groove section integrally formed at an outboard side of the ring body section. The retention groove section may have a retention groove section axial width and a retention groove section radial thickness. The retention device may have a retention device axial width that is less than or equal to the retention groove section axial width. The retention device is disposed on the retention groove section when the damping ring is disposed on a sprocket drum outer surface of the sprocket wheel to retain the sprocket damping assembly. The retention groove section radial thickness may be less than the ring body section radial thickness.

Abstract: A machine system includes a roller frame and a roller assembly mounted to the roller frame. The roller assembly includes first and second clamping collars positioned upon a roller shaft and each including a lower and an upper collar section. Fasteners clamp the lower and upper collar sections to the roller shaft to form static seals. The clamping collars may be formed with splitlines to enable the clamping collars to deform so as to simulate interference fits with the roller shaft.

Abstract: A bushing for a track assembly, according to one or more embodiments, includes: a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface; and at least one white iron member fixed to the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.