Abstract: The present invention relates to a protector shield for at least one sidewall of a motor vehicle tire, and to a wheel assembly for a motor vehicle incorporating this protector shield. The invention particularly but non exclusively concerns the fire protection against flames and/or said flammable substances, such as oil or Molotov cocktails, as well as a high solvent and/or acid resistance, especially in hostile environments. A protector shield of the invention is in a form of a curved ring designed to be mounted on a wheel rim receiving said tire and, according to the invention, the shield includes a fire protection part which defines an outer convex face of said shield and which comprises a cross-linked rubber composition which particularly exhibits flame retardant and heat resistance properties for imparting to said tire an improved fire protection against flames and/or flammable substances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protector shield for at least one sidewall of a motor vehicle tire, and to a wheel assembly for a motor vehicle incorporating this protector shield. The invention particularly but non exclusively concerns the fire protection against flames and/or said flammable substances, such as oil or Molotov cocktails, as well as a high solvent and/or acid resistance, especially in hostile environments. A protector shield of the invention is in a form of a curved ring designed to be mounted on a wheel rim receiving said tire and, according to the invention, the shield includes a fire protection part which defines an outer convex face of said shield and which comprises a cross-linked rubber composition which particularly exhibits flame retardant and heat resistance properties for imparting to said tire an improved fire protection against flames and/or flammable substances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protector shield for at least one sidewall of a motor vehicle tire, and to a wheel assembly for a motor vehicle incorporating this protector shield. The invention particularly but non exclusively concerns the fire protection against flames and/or said flammable substances, such as oil or Molotov cocktails, as well as a high solvent and/or acid resistance, especially in hostile environments. A protector shield of the invention is in a form of a curved ring designed to be mounted on a wheel rim receiving said tire and, according to the invention, the shield includes a fire protection part which defines an outer convex face of said shield and which comprises a cross-linked rubber composition which particularly exhibits flame retardant and heat resistance properties for imparting to said tire an improved fire protection against flames and/or flammable substances.

Abstract: The invention provides an insert for supporting a pneumatic tire which is intended to support substantially the entire internal face of the pneumatic tire and has a radially internal face intended to sit atop a wheel rim that accepts the pneumatic tire, has at least one cavity designed to be inflated by a valve of the wheel which valve is independent of the insert, via inflation gas conveying means opening onto said radially internal face and into said at least one cavity and discharge means for discharging the gas from this cavity, said at least one cavity and these conveying and discharge means being formed in and/or on the insert, the inflatable cavity being formed by an internal volume within the heart of the insert or alternatively by a concave external surface of the insert.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method of coating a vehicle wheel to increase wear resistance which, in its preferred embodiment, includes the steps of providing a vehicle wheel and applying a wear resistant coating between/intermediate a primer and a topcoat. The wear resistant coating is applied to at least the tire bead flange of the vehicle wheel but may be applied to any area of the wheel. It is advantageously comprised of a MIL-P-53022B Type II lead and chromate free, corrosion inhibiting epoxy primer with an addition of 3% polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and is formulated in such a manner so as to allow “wet on wet” application over a cured MIL-P-53084 primer. This application method improves adhesion through surface to surface covalent reaction between the polymerization of polyurethane top coat and the polymerization of intermediate epoxy polyamide wear resistant coating.

Abstract: In this invention ballistic resistant materials are integrated into a wheel for protection of the Tire Bead Bundle, protection of hardware, and protection of hub components. The Tire Bead Bundle can be protected by supplementing the existing rim flange with ballistic resistant material and/or by placing such material between the flange and the bead bundle. Further, for protection of hardware (including Manual Inflation or CTI Valves), ballistic resistant material can be incorporated over or on wheel hardware. Finally, ballistic resistant materials can be incorporated over or on the wheel hub diameter to reduce the risk of damage due to ballistic attacks.

Abstract: The invention provides an insert for supporting a pneumatic tire which is intended to support substantially the entire internal face of the pneumatic tire and has a radially internal face intended to sit atop a wheel rim that accepts the pneumatic tire, has at least one cavity designed to be inflated by a valve of the wheel which valve is independent of the insert, via inflation gas conveying means opening onto said radially internal face and into said at least one cavity and discharge means for discharging the gas from this cavity, said at least one cavity and these conveying and discharge means being formed in and/or on the insert, the inflatable cavity being formed by an internal volume within the heart of the insert or alternatively by a concave external surface of the insert.

Abstract: This is an apparatus and system for integration of Central Tire Inflation (CTI) valve functionality directly into a wheel. The CTI valve may be attached to the wheel or integrated into the wheel. In addition, the CTI valve may have a valve body or the valve components can be installed directly into the wheel. An air passageway between the vehicle air source and the CTI valve and/or an air passageway from the CTI valve to the tire cavity can also be employed.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method of coating a vehicle wheel to increase wear resistance which, in its preferred embodiment, includes the steps of providing a vehicle wheel and applying a wear resistant coating between/intermediate a primer and a topcoat. The wear resistant coating is applied to at least the tire bead flange of the vehicle wheel but may be applied to any area of the wheel. It is advantageously comprised of a MIL-P-53022B Type II lead and chromate free, corrosion inhibiting epoxy primer with an addition of 3% polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and is formulated in such a manner so as to allow “wet on wet” application over a cured MIL-P-53084 primer. This application method improves adhesion through surface to surface covalent reaction between the polymerization of polyurethane top coat and the polymerization of intermediate epoxy polyamide wear resistant coating.

Abstract: This is an apparatus and system for integration of Central Tire Inflation (CTI) valve functionality directly into a wheel. The CTI valve may be attached to the wheel or integrated into the wheel. In addition, the CTI valve may have a valve body or the valve components can be installed directly into the wheel. An air passageway between the vehicle air source and the CTI valve and/or an air passageway from the CTI valve to the tire cavity can also be employed.

Abstract: In this invention ballistic resistant materials are integrated into a wheel for protection of the Tire Bead Bundle, protection of hardware, and protection of hub components. The Tire Bead Bundle can be protected by supplementing the existing rim flange with ballistic resistant material and/or by placing such material between the flange and the bead bundle. Further, for protection of hardware (including Manual Inflation or CTI Valves), ballistic resistant material can be incorporated over or on wheel hardware. Finally, ballistic resistant materials can be incorporated over or on the wheel hub diameter to reduce the risk of damage due to ballistic attacks.

Abstract: In this invention a tire protection attachment system utilizes adherent materials or mechanical attachments to the wheel rim to hold a covering of protective material adjacent the sidewall of a tubeless tire mounted on a circular wheel rim. The mechanical attachments are made to the outwardly flaring circumferential flange section adjacent the sidewall and/or to the transverse wall section of the wheel rim. Attachments to the flange section are characterized by the use of a clamping ring, a specially designed clip, and/or a circumferential retaining device with a variable circumference.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protector shield for at least one sidewall of a motor vehicle tire, and to a wheel assembly for a motor vehicle incorporating this protector shield. The invention particularly but non exclusively concerns the fire protection against flames and/or said flammable substances, such as oil or Molotov cocktails, as well as a high solvent and/or acid resistance, especially in hostile environments. A protector shield of the invention is in a form of a curved ring designed to be mounted on a wheel rim receiving said tire and, according to the invention, the shield includes a fire protection part which defines an outer convex face of said shield and which comprises a cross-linked rubber composition which particularly exhibits flame retardant and heat resistance properties for imparting to said tire an improved fire protection against flames and/or flammable substances.

Abstract: This is an apparatus and system for integration of Central Tire Inflation (CTI) valve functionality directly into a wheel. The CTI valve may be attached to the wheel or integrated into the wheel. In addition, the CTI valve may have a valve body or the valve components can be installed directly into the wheel. An air passageway between the vehicle air source and the CTI valve and/or an air passageway from the CTI valve to the tire cavity can also be employed.

Abstract: An automotive wheel rim has intermediate its ends a wall extending transversely of the axis of said rim and having formed therein a first air duct opening at one end on the outer periphery of the rim for communication with the interior of a tire mounted thereon, and at its opposite end on the outboard side of the wall. A second duct formed within the wall opens at one end on the outboard side of the wall and at its opposite end on the inboard side of the wall for connection to a tire inflation system. A tire inflation control valve is secured to the outboard side of the wall and has therein a pair of air inlet/outlet ducts sealingly secured in communication with the ends of the first and second ducts where they open on the outboard side of the wall.

Abstract: A device enabling a motor vehicle to run on a flat tire, the device comprising a running ring made of elastomer and mounted tightly on the rim of the wheel inside the tire, the running ring being largely overdimensioned in radial height, in width or axial dimension, and in mass, and its radially-projecting annular portion is offset towards the inside of the vehicle to form protection for the occupants of the vehicle against the explosion of a mine triggered by passage of the wheel.

Abstract: A device for running on a flat tire, the device being formed by a split ring or by two half-rings that are connected together end to end and clamped onto the rim of a wheel, the half-rings being made of a polyamide that is reinforced with long glass fibers and it has a T-shaped section with an outer peripheral surface that forms a tread when running on a flat tire.

Abstract: A tire locking device installed inside the cover of a tire mounted on a wheel rim and exerting pressure on the beads of the cover, urged against the flanges of the rim, includes a metal strip shaped as a cylindrical ring which is split parallel to its generator lines, is provided on both circumferential edges with extrusions made of an elastomer type material. The extrusions are split level with the split in the metal strip, and a means for connecting the edges of the strip with the intrusions form an annular lock of total width which is greater than the nominal spacing between the inside faces of the beads of the cover in which the device is mounted.