Abstract: Wheel rim assembly (10) is formed in three parts, the cylindrical rim base (20), inner side flange (22) and reinforcing rim (34) all as one part, and the combination bead seat (50), annular outer side flange (52) and reinforcing rim (60) as a second part, and lock ring (76) as the third part. The flanges (22, 52) are unitarily connected to their respective rim base (20) and bead seat (50), both having reinforcing rims (34, 60), respectively, which are located in axial alignment with the cylindrical surfaces of the rim base and bead seat, respectively, lending additional strength to the flanges (22, 52). The sloped lock ring engagement surface (64) of the reinforcing rim 52 opposes a similarly sloped bearing surface (76) of the lock ring (72). The structures are fabricated by a forging process which, though expensive, significantly increases the strength of the structure.

Abstract: In a multi-piece wheel rim assembly for a large industrial vehicle, the side rings (40 and 42) are each coated with a layer of carbon steel (60, 69) to form a convex L-shaped bearing surface (56, 66), and the surfaces of the rim base (20) and bead seat (34) which face the side rings are likewise coated with layers of carbon steel (62, 68) to form a concave L-shaped bearing surface (58 and 68), with the sizes and shapes of the bearing surfaces corresponding to each other. The side rings (40, 42) are able to move circumferentially with respect to the rim base and bead seat with reduced fretting and other deterioration of the facing parts.

Abstract: A reversible wheel weight (25) is used for counterbalancing an industrial vehicle, by attaching the weights directly to the wheel (10) of the vehicle. The wheels of industrial vehicles typically are dish-shaped so that they can be reversed on their mounting hubs so as to spread the wheels farther apart or closer together, as may be required for the working conditions. The reversible wheel weights of this invention are similarly shaped, having a dish-shaped annular weight body (28) defining an inner annular peripheral surface (32) and an outer annular peripheral surface (30) and openings (46, 64 and 76) for access to the lugs of the wheel, but having concave and convex opposed surfaces (34 and 36) for mounting to the convex or concave surfaces (16, 18) of the wheel of the vehicle. In addition, the concave/convex surfaces of the wheel weight correspond in shape so as to be nestable with one another, whereby multiple ones of the wheel weights can be mounted together and attached to the wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: An adjustable rim assembly 10 is provided for the wheel of a tractor or other industrial vehicle for changing the spacing of the opposed wheels of the vehicle. The mounting rail 20 is rigidly connected to the inwardly facing surface 22 of the rim base 12. Mounting rail 20 is formed in an accordion-like shape which forms a series of alternately axially spaced fore and aft planar mounting panels 24, 26, and mounting clamps 40 connect between the surfaces of the mounting panels and the opposed faces of the wheel disc 54. Various spacing of the wheel rim is achieved by changing the faces of the mounting panels 24, 26 to which the mounting clamps are connected.