Abstract: A technique for reducing the likelihood of fatigue damage to a wheel rim assembly (11) of the type having an annular wheel rim (13) with a first bead flange (19), a second separable bead flange (15, 21), and a retaining ring (17) disposable within a groove (35) in the wheel rim to secure the separable bead flange to the wheel rim includes forming the retaining ring to have an annular bead (41), a portion of which has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration by shaping the annular bead, in cross-section, as at least two tangentially joined circular segments (43, 45) of unequal radii (27, 29). Contact between the retaining ring and the wheel rim is limited to the arcuate portion as the sole contact region between retaining ring and wheel rim.

Abstract: An omni-directional wheel for an omni-directional vehicle that exhibits constant ride height, low vibration, and reduced maximum ground contact pressure is disclosed. The invention consists of a wheel assembly rotatably connected to the omni-directional vehicle chassis. The wheel assembly includes a hub on which free spinning rollers are rotatably mounted at an angle to the wheel axis. Constant ride height and low vibration operation are accomplished by configuring the rollers with an exterior profile, thickness, material properties and surface grooving to achieve constant deflection of the roller contact surface at all wheel rotation angles.

Abstract: A vehicle axle, for example for a driven; undriven, steering or trailer system, comprises a member (1) formed as a hollow monocoque structure which includes at least one integral location (3, 20, 23) formed in the structure as a low stress area adapted to receive an attachment (24, 31, 34) thereto for use of the axle in a vehicle. The monocoque structure may be rigid, or substantially so, or it may include one or more compliant portions. It distributes throughout the member stresses to which the member is subjected when the axle is use in a vehicle and parts of the structure may be specifically shaped to suit the particular stresses to which they will be subjected when in use. In one embodiment the monocoque structure includes an axle beam part of a hollow lobed cross-section which gives roll compliance without necessarily having to add resilient components. In this embodiment trailing arms (4) are formed as an integral part of the monocoque structure which forms part of a trailing suspension system.

Abstract: A traction assembly for single and dual-wheeled vehicles that is easy to install and suitable for storing in the vehicle when not in use having a plurality of spaced apart traction units interconnected by a connector and locked into place with a securing mechanism. Each traction unit includes a pair of spaced apart traction bars that are interconnected by a spacer member. Preferably, the traction bars are L-shaped angle irons and the spacer member is a V-shaped angle iron connected to two adjacent traction bars. A generally elongated, flexible connecting member interconnects the traction units and allows the assembly to be folded or collapsed. A securing mechanism connects the opposing ends of the traction assembly to secure the assembly around the wheel or wheels.

Abstract: An air pressure regulating system mounted within a wheel and tire assembly. It primarily includes a temperature sensor and a compressor assembly having a compression chamber and valves. Utilizing centrifugal forces from the rotation of a wheel and tire assembly, air may flow into and out of a tire to automatically maintain the pressure inside a tire relatively constant over a given temperature range. When the pressurized air in the compression chamber is greater than the pressurized air in the tire, the pressurized air in compression chamber flows into the tire. When the pressurized air in the tire is greater than the pressurized air in the compression chamber, the pressurized air in the tire flows into the compression chamber. When the pressurized air in the compression chamber is equal to the pressurized air in the tire, it is in equilibrium, and no air flow occurs.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass comprised of at least one carcass ply containing a steel cord(s) arranged at a cord angle of 70-90° with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire and toroidally extending between a pair of bead cores and turned up around the bead core inward or outward in a radial direction to form a turnup portion, wherein a wrap part wrapping on a peripheral face of the bead core therealong is formed in the turnup portion of the carcass ply.

Abstract: Apparatus for tightening chains that are installed on a tire, as well as methods for using such apparatus is disclosed. The chain-tightening apparatus provides a mechanism for uniformly tightening the chains, as well as maintaining a constant uniform tension on the chains when the tire moves. The apparatus attaches to the chains quickly and easily, making the method of tightening such chains simple. The apparatus is quickly and easily removed and is easily and compactly stored.

Abstract: In the operation of a track chain assembly a high degree of wear is normally experienced due to the environment in which a track-type machine must operate. This wear is typically accelerated by foreign matter that is carried by an idler member of the track chain assembly and is permitted to remain on its contact surfaces as they engage the other track chain components. The present invention provides a scraper assembly that defines a plurality of scraping portions that are adapted to carry a scraping insert on an end portion thereof. The scraping inserts are continuously urged into engagement with the contact surfaces of the idler to remove foreign material therefrom before the contact surfaces engage other track chain components.

Abstract: The invention is a vehicle wheel with a removable vehicle wheel ring and vehicle wheel sized and shaped to simulate the look of a bead-lock vehicle wheel. It has the same appearance as an off road bead lock vehicle wheel. This vehicle wheel can be fabricated without modifying an existing wheel and is street legal wheel and capable of mass-production. The wheel is capable of production at a fraction of the cost of an actual bead lock wheel. The wheel can be produced with a matching or contrasting color for the simulated outer bead lock ring. The simulated outer bead lock ring can have a light reflective surface so that the ring will become much more distinguishable when a light source strikes it. The simulated outer bead lock ring has a far greater ease of interchangeability than a conventional bead lock vehicle wheel.

Abstract: In the present invention, cord protruding portions at each of ends of a crawler body are divided into groups such that each group has a protruding length different from those of other groups. The entire cord protruding portions at one end of the crawler body when seen from a direction perpendicular to a belt surface are disposed so as to present a male configuration, and the entire cord protruding portions at the other end of the crawler body are disposed so as to present a female configuration. The lines each connecting ends of cord protruding portions at the ends of the crawler body can be disposed so as to form a configuration that is one of terraced, tiered, and crenellated when seen from a direction perpendicular to a belt surface. When seen from the direction perpendicular to the belt surface, an overlapping portion of steel cords includes two outlines separated from each other in a longitudinal direction of the belt, and each outline includes a bent line.

Abstract: A hub for use in and as part of a wheel support assembly adapted to bolt to the end plate of an axle of a vehicle for supporting a tire is disclosed herein along with the wheel support assembly itself. The hub is configured as a plurality of bars which are connected together to form a hub body. This hub body defines a common center point and a contact face. The contact face is where the hub is in contact with the axle end plate when the device is mounted to a vehicle. Each of the bars has on one side a contact surface, and a through hole for receiving an axle lug bolt. The contact surface on each of the bars has a curved shape on its outwardly most extending end, the curvature of which is defined by a radius less than the distance between the common center point of the hub body and the outwardly most extending end of the bars.

Abstract: A guide for a multi-link endless chain of a track-type undercarriage, especially for cranes, has an undercarriage support, at least one drive sprocket wheel provided with chain teeth, possibly an idler, and several track rollers. Each chain link of the endless chain has two guide webs which are symmetric to the center, spaced a certain distance apart, and extend in the travel direction. The webs have engaging surfaces which ride on opposed circumferential flanges on the drive sprocket wheel. A cog connects the two webs below the engaging surfaces and meshes with the chain teeth of the drive sprocket wheel. The guide has two parallel rails oriented in the travel direction of the endless chain, the inside surfaces of the rails coming to rest against the outside surfaces of the associated guide webs when the guide function is occurring.

Abstract: A link for a tire chain including a tread portion and flanking side-wall portions with at least the tread portion including vertically extending links, three or four of which are interconnected by horizontal connectors to form a mesh of a desired shape. The link includes a base portion, a medial portion and a head portion, with at least one traction member of a material that is relatively harder than the material of the link partially embedded in the head portion and partially exposed on the surface of the head portion. The traction member may be in the form of tungsten carbide buttons or plates secured in holes in the head portion of the link or may be in the form of a plurality of particles consolidated in a cemented compact or steel matrix that is secured to the head portion of the link, either by being cast or formed on the head portion or by being provided on a body that is weldable to the head portion.

Abstract: A supporting device for a front wheel of a stroller includes a locking member, a supporting member and a control member. The locking member is received in two aligned cylindrical parts of the supporting member, and has two protruding parts at upper portions of two resilient upright poles thereof; the protruding parts face a gap between the aligned cylindrical parts. The control member is pivoted to the supporting member, and has a locating part facing the gap of the supporting member. The supporting device is separably connected to a support tube of the stroller frame with the cylindrical parts being passed around the tube and the poles being passed into the tube; the protruding parts stick out through opposing lateral holes of the tube into the gap to prevent the tube and the supporting device from separating from each other.

Abstract: A spoked wheel includes a wheel hub, an annular wheel rim, and a plurality of spoke units which are connected between the wheel hub and the wheel rim. The wheel hub has left and right surrounding mounts with left and right sets of first anchored loci. The wheel rim has left and right annular wall portions opposite to each other in an axial direction and formed with left and right sets of second anchored loci. The spoke units are received and retained via the first and second sets of anchored loci. The spoke units do not include bent portions for fastening to increase the strength thereof.

Abstract: The toroidal wheel is a self-supporting framework of connected torsion elements, which is not supported by any spokes, hub, or wheel disk. The toroidal wheel rotates in direct contact with the underlying surface on and against which it is operated, and may be operated in a mount/drive. The object of the toroidal wheel is to provide conventional wheel function and ancillary uses, such as gears and other rotating devices, plus additional uses precluded or made impractical by the central hub of the conventional wheel.

Abstract: A tire assembly (200) having runflat capability comprises a tire (202) mounted to a rim (203) to provide a tire cavity (204) defined by a carcass circumferential inner surface (246), two sidewall inner surfaces (248A,248B) and the rim. The tire assembly (200) is characterized by having a platform (206) disposed circumferentially around the rim within the tire cavity and one or more hoops (208A-208C) disposed within the tire cavity (204) between the platform (206) and the carcass circumferential inner surface (246) so that under normal inflation the one or more hoops do not contact either the carcass circumferential inner surface (246) or the sidewall inner surfaces (248A,248B), but below a first runflat inflation pressure, the one or more hoops (208A-208C) contact and support the carcass circumferential inner surface (246).

Abstract: A drive sprocket for an endless chain on a track-type undercarriage includes a toothed wheel having a plurality of circumferential teeth extending from a root circle. A pair of mounting rings fixed to opposite axial sides of the wheel support a respective pair of rotating rings by means of bearings, each rotating ring forming a tread having a diameter which is small than the diameter of the root circle. The endless chain has a plurality of links connected end-to-end, each link having a pair of spaced apart guide webs extending in the direction of travel and connected by a cog which engages between two adjacent teeth on the toothed wheel, each guide web being profiled to ride on one of the treads.

Abstract: A unique integrated wheel is disclosed wherein a groove is formed with an angled surface to facilitate the flow of a weld material. A rim extends into the groove and has surfaces which act in conjunction with the surface of the groove to provide proper positioning and a secure connection. In addition, a method of forming the disk is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleat assembly for drive tracks for tracked vehicles, in particular those used for grooming ski slopes. The cleat assembly has a cleat member that includes, in cross section, a U-shaped body as a connection shank and two U-shanks connected with the connection shank via a flex rim that fit together and end opposite to the connection shank by forming an end piece of the cleat member. The flex rim includes a roll bead that is positioned projecting essentially outward from the connecting shank and bent upward toward the end piece.