Abstract: A two-piece rail wheel assembly is disclosed herein that allows a tire to be replaced without requiring disassembly of the rail vehicle or removal of components directly attached to the axle. In various embodiments, the rail wheel assembly comprises a center wheel hub attached to an axle of a railway vehicle and a tire configured to engage the rail. The center wheel hub and the tire may be bolted together via a stepped (or recessed) interface. When used with in-board bearing configurations, this rail wheel assembly does not require using a press machine, detaching the truck assembly from the rail car, or detaching the wheelset from the truck. When used with out-board bearing configurations, this rail wheel assembly eliminates the need to use a press machine or remove any other components of the wheelset from the axle.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a wheel assembly for a vehicle that includes a wheel, an axle that fits into the center of the wheel creating an interface between the wheel and the axle, and a plurality of pins that are pressed into a plurality of holes at the interface of the wheel and the axle. The pins may lock the wheel to the axle and carry a dynamic load and a static load of the vehicle. Additionally, the wheel assembly may include a bearing and a bearing end cap that applies a force to the bearing by pushing against the wheel with a plurality of screws that are threaded into the end of the axle through the bearing end cap. The force may be generated on the bearing end cap by tightening the screws with the force transferred through the wheel to load the bearing.