Abstract: A pressure receiving surface (8) having a diameter gradually decreasing in an axially inward direction is formed at an outer end portion of a pin (1), whereas a pressing portion (7) is formed at a circumferential edge of an opening of a pin insertion hole (5) of a link (2). A retaining ring (3) is formed with a friction surface (9) to be press-contacted to the pressure receiving surface (8) when a force is applied from the pressing portion (7) upon development of a relative movement in a disengaging direction. The retaining ring (3) and the pressure receiving surface (8) share a greater area of contact than in the prior art, providing sufficient friction. This makes possible to provide a fastening structure of the link and the pin of a crawler belt which can be assembled by simple operation at a low cost, without requiring a high machining accuracy, and thus can be manufactured at a low cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel hub having a cylindrical main body and a radial flange, with radial ribs extending between the outboard side of the radial flange and the outboard end of the main body.

Abstract: A stud stabilizing, positioning and force distributing member for mounting a stud on the outer face of an endless track which includes a plurality of integrally formed traction lugs that extend outwardly beyond the outer track base. The force distributing member includes a hollow enclosure wall, defining an inwardly opening cavity, having a terminal rim which lies in a predetermined plane for abutting the outer face of the track portion between the traction lugs. The enclosure wall includes an aperture there-through which mounts a traction stud at a rearwardly forwardly inclined angle, relative to the direction of track travel and relative to a line perpendicular to the plane, to dispose the stud on the underside of the lower run of the track at a forwardly outwardly inclined angle relative to the vertical line when the track is not under load and a vertical position when the track is under load to drive a snowmobile.

Abstract: An improved vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing the same includes a disc, a first wheel cover and a second wheel cover. The disc defines an outboard facing wheel surface and includes an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The outboard tire bead seat retaining flange includes an inner surface having a circumferential, radially outwardly facing groove formed therein. The first wheel cover is secured to the disc and covers at least a portion of the outboard facing wheel surface. The second wheel cover is secured to the disc and covers at least the entire portion of the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The second wheel cover includes an inner portion which extends into the groove when the second wheel cover is secured to the disc. When the first wheel cover and the second wheel cover are secured to the disc, the first wheel cover and the second wheel cover do not interfere with the attachment of a balance weight to the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the disc.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a hub, a drum, and disc wheels that are mounted together for rotation about a common axis. The hub has a cylindrical body with a hub mounting flange that extends out radially from the body. The body defines an exterior surface having a common drum and wheel pilot. The drum has a drum mounting flange with a peripheral edge that is aligned relative to the drum and wheel pilot. The disc wheels each have wheel mounting flanges with a peripheral edges aligned relative to the drum and wheel pilot. Thus, the drum and wheels are mounted on a common pilot surface formed on the hub. The single pilot significantly reduces the occurrence of drum misalignment and possible drum fracture.

Abstract: A track tensioning system for a tracked vehicle having left and right tracks includes a biasing system for simultaneously providing track tensioning to both tracks by biasing each track through a track-tensioning arc. The biasing system may include a linear force-generating system for generating a track-tensioning force. The linear force-generating system may for example be a spring or a piston and cylinder assembly. The biasing system may also include a pivoting rocker arm assembly for transmitting the track-tensioning force from the linear force-generating system to the tracks.

Abstract: An apparatus that mounts on a rim of a vehicle wheel on which a tire may be mounted. The apparatus includes a high pressure reservoir for receiving and storing compressed air from an outside source, a first mechanical valve that permits compressed air from an outside source to be directed into and stored in the high pressure reservoir, a second mechanical valve that directs air from the high pressure reservoir into the air chamber of a tire, a third mechanical valve that releases air from the air chamber of the tire, and a fourth mechanical valve that releases air from the high pressure reservoir.

Abstract: A cover suitable for use in conjunction with a wheelchair wheel. The cover includes a durable nylon fabric and includes a barrier and a cover portion, the barrier being interposed between an inner surface of the cover portion and the tread and sidewalls of the wheel so that foreign matter present on the wheel does not contaminate or otherwise harm any persons or surfaces with which the covered wheel may come into contact. The cover further includes an outer surface and first and second edges. A plurality of straps attached to the first edge of the cover, and configured to be removably attached to the second edge of the cover, permit the cover to be readily attached to, and detached from, the wheel. Finally, a plurality of lateral seams on the outer surface of the cover facilitate traction when the wheelchair passes over relatively smooth surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing tire chains including a support and a spool rotatably mounted to the support for rotation about a rotational axis. The support is attached to a vehicle. A tire chain is provided having a first end and a second end. The first end is detachably secured to the spool. When the spool rotates in a first direction the tire chain is wound onto the spool. When the spool is rotated in a second direction tire chain is fed from the spool. The second end of the tire chain is secured to a tire. As the tire rotates, tire chain is drawn from the spool and wrapped around the tire.

Abstract: A tire assembly for a wheeled vehicle has a ring-shaped integrally formed outer tire member made of relatively hard and relatively rigid material, and a ring-shaped integrally formed inner tire member. The inner tire member is made of a resilient material that is essentially incompressible but rather easily deformable, and has protuberances and recesses formed in its circumferential surface to allow for both radial compression and lateral expansion of its material, thereby ensuring resilient support of the outer tire member.

Abstract: A retainer retains a wheel cover to the portion of the studs retaining a wheel to the hub of an axle, which extends beyond the lug nuts. The retainer has a metal retainer body with a planar upper and lower surface and a long end. Two arcuate portions are spaced along the long end and the metal body is beveled in the vicinity of the arcuate portions so that the arcuate portions will engage the threaded portions extending beyond the lug nuts for two adjacent studs.

Abstract: A tire chain for adding traction to a vehicle tire riding on snow and/or ice. The tire chain includes side members encircling the sides of the tires and cross members that extend across the tread from side member to side member. Securement devices secure the cross members to the side members. The securement devices include a hook shape defining an enclosure and an opening to the enclosure and a biasing member that spans the opening. The securement device is secured to one of the members and is snap locked onto the other member to enable manual removal of a selected one of the cross members for replacement.

Abstract: A tubular axle beam with variable wall thickness for a vehicle is provided including a first beam portion extending longitudinally between first ends and including spaced apart first longitudinal edges. A second beam portion extends longitudinally between second ends and includes spaced apart second longitudinal edges. Weld beads secure the first longitudinal edges to the second longitudinal edges to define a cavity between the beam portions with the first and second ends arranged adjacent to one another. Preferably, the tubular axle beam is constructed by stamping a first blank to form a first half of the beam, and a second blank is stamped to form a second half of the beam. The first and second portions are welded to one another to define a cavity between the portions. In another embodiment of the invention, a tubular axle beam includes a hollow beam extending longitudinally between opposing ends.

Abstract: A wheel cover snap fastens to stylized lug nuts of a wheel using resilient retainers that are integrally fastened to the wheel cover. The stylized lug nuts correspond and axially extend through apertures in the wheel cover when the wheel cover is assembled to the wheel. The retainers are secured to an inboard face of the wheel cover and correspondingly engage the stylized lug nuts to retain the wheel trim assembly to the wheel such that retainers are not visible when the wheel trim assembly is viewed from a direction normal to the outboard face of the wheel cover. The apertures are sized in relation to annular flanges on the lug nuts and to the resilient tabs of the retainers such that the wheel cover and/or annular flanges of the lug nuts conceal the retainers from view, and thereby provide an uninterrupted chrome appearance.

Abstract: The “ICE WHEELS” consists of a wheel assembly, which permits interchange with in-line skate wheels for use on ice that reduces weight and or the rolling resistance on ice while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice. The wheel consists of a lightweight hub, bearing accommodating counterbores and an outer ring containing multiple ice-engaging structures and relief grooves. The ice-engaging structures comprise of an outer circumferential contact means, inner circumferential contact means, a new medial circumferential contact means and multiple support surfaces. A new feature of this invention is the elimination of one or both of the inner circumferential contact means penetration into the ice while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice. This leaves either a flat support surface; a flat support surface with one inner circumferential contact means or two support surfaces with a medial circumferential contact means in between while the wheel is perpendicular to the ice.

Abstract: The endless track is made of a reinforced rubber material with longitudinally spaced and transversely disposed ridges or lugs. It is particularly well-adapted for recreational snowmobiles having a single track. The track is characterized in that the rubber material of the central portion of the body has a hardness of between 75 and 90 duro A while the rubber material of the opposite band portions of the body has a hardness between 55 and 75 duro A. Such track facilitates the steering capabilities of a snowmobile, particularly when the snowmobile is traveling on hard and abrasive surfaces. It also improves the durability of the track.

Abstract: A structure for connecting a rim with a tire. The tire is formed with a central axial through hole. Multiple annularly arranged perforations are formed around the through hole. Each perforation is defined by a close circumference which is separated from the through hole by a separating section, whereby the circumference of the perforation is enclosed and the perforation simply axially passes through the tire. The rim is composed of a seat and a cooperative disc. The seat has insertion members respectively corresponding to the perforations of the tire. The insertion members are inserted into the perforations from one side of the tire, while the disc is mounted on the other side of the tire to connect with the seat.

Abstract: A flanged axle shaft assembly includes a shaft having a tubular wall and an open end, a flange hub having a central opening fitted over the shaft and secured to the open end, and an end wedge secured in the open end and urging the shaft wall into compressive engagement with the flange hub opening to provide for transmission of forces between the shaft and the flange hub. In a preferred method of assembly, the shaft is formed with a flared inner end stop against which the hub flange is mounted about the shaft. Forcing the end wedge into the shaft inner end expands the shaft wall into a characterized, such as splined, surface of the hub central opening to provide a high torque mechanical driving connection. The hub flange and a head of the end wedge are preferably also laser welded to the shaft.

Abstract: A wheel assembly provides a mount for a pneumatic tire having two tire beads. The wheel assembly includes a disk defining a hub receiving center and an outer peripheral edge. The wheel assembly also includes a rim that is fixedly secured to the outer peripheral edge. The rim has first and second tire seat surfaces and a well separating the first and second tire seat surfaces. First and second rim flanges are secured to the first and second tire seat surfaces, respectively, such that each of the first and second rim flanges extend out from each of the first and second tire seat surfaces at an angle less than or equal to thirty degrees. The wheel assembly also includes anti-roll off devices that interact with the tire through the flat rim flanges of the wheel assembly. A run flat device, including an inner rim bonded to an inner tube, which is, in turn, bonded to an interior carcass surface of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spoke nipple for bicycle wheels and similar contrivances comprising a body having a longitudinal axis in which a drill hole is disposed essentially concentrically to said longitudinal axis. A screw thread is provided extending at least over one longitudinal section of said drill hole which is provided for receiving a spoke having a corresponding thread. A quantity of glue is disposed on the spoke nipple and so structured that the glue is activated to function as an agent to secure the thread upon screwing said spoke nipple onto a spoke.