Abstract: A bearing plate for supporting a portion of a mine roof or similar surface. The bearing plate includes a substantially planar, roof-bearing portion having a roof-bearing surface. Also included is a substantially planar bolt-head bearing surface. The bolt-head bearing surface includes a concentrically located aperture adapted to receive a roof bolt having a bolt head. The bolt-head bearing surface is spaced from the planar roof-bearing portion and is substantially parallel to the roof-bearing surface. A wall extends at an angle from the bolt-head bearing surface about its outer periphery. A reinforcing wall extends radially outward from the distal end of the angled wall and merges with the roof-bearing portion. The reinforcing wall defines a frusto-conical portion, the base of which is conterminous with the roof-bearing portion, and a cylindrical portion, the base of which merges with the distal end of the frusto-conical portion.

Abstract: A bearing plate for supporting a portion of a mine roof or similar surface. The bearing plate includes a substantially planar, roof-bearing portion having a roof-bearing surface. Also included is a substantially planar bolt-head bearing surface. The bolt-head bearing surface includes a concentrically located aperature adapted to receive a roof bolt having a bolt head. The bolt-head bearing surface is spaced from the planar roof-bearing portion and is substantially parallel to the roof-bearing surface. A vertical wall extends from the bolt-head bearing surface about its outer periphery. A reinforcing wall extends radially outward from the distal end of the vertical wall and merges with the roof-bearing portion. The reinforcing wall defines a first frusto-conical portion, the base of which is conterminous with the roof-bearing portion, and a second frusto-conical portion, the base of which merges with the distal end of the first frusto-conical portion.

Abstract: An axle and wheel assembly particularly adapted for railcar usage is disclosed as having a metal-foam construction that is light in weight but of a relatively high strength. The axle includes an elongated hollow steel outer axle member and an elongated hollow steel inner axle member received within the outer axle member with the foam injected therebetween so as to cure and bond to the members and function as a load bearing element therebetween. Adhesion between the axle members and the foam is increased by applying an adhesive to the members prior to the injection of the foam. An intermediate portion of the outer axle member between ends of the axle includes outwardly deformed ribs that increase the cross-sectional area thereof without increasing the weight to enhance the lightweight and high strength characteristics of the axle.

Abstract: Polyurethane foam is used in a three-piece vehicle wheel as a load bearing and load transmitting structural element. The rim of the wheel, an inner wheel disc, and an outer decorative wheel disc are bonded together by the polyurethane foam. The rim includes an interlock lip to interlock the rim with the inner disc and an interlock lip that interlocks the rim with the outer decorative disc. The wheel can be manufactured by placing the rim, inner disc, and outer disc in a die and injecting the polyurethane foam composition into the interconnected volume enclosed and defined by those wheel components. The foam curing process then occurs in situ. Alternatively, the rim, inner disc, and outer disc can be adhesively bonded to a preformed polyurethane foam member. The resultant vehicle wheel, manufactured by either process, is characterized by high strength, light weight, and a decorative appearance.

Abstract: Vehicle wheel components of the disclosure are manufactured by a foam construction wherein structural members are secured to each other to define a cavity that receives foam which adheres to the members so as to cooperate therewith as a load bearing component. The foam construction is utilized in one embodiment to provide a wheel hub that is mounted on a vehicle axle so as to rotatably support a vehicle wheel on the axle. A wheel of a second embodiment includes a disc and rim that are each made with the foam construction. The disc is fixedly mounted on a wheel hub and the rim is detachably secured to the disc so that different rims may be mounted on the disc. A vehicle wheel assembly of a third embodiment is particularly designed for heavy-duty truck or trailer use. This heavy-duty wheel assembly includes a pair of rims having the foam construction and detachably secured to a disc portion of a hub mounted on a vehicle axle.

Abstract: Polyurethane foam is used in a three-piece vehicle wheel as a load bearing and load transmitting structural element. The rim of the wheel, an inner wheel disc, and an outer decorative wheel disc are bonded together by the polyurethane foam. The rim includes an interlock lip to interlock the rim with the inner disc and an interlock lip that interlocks the rim with the outer decorative disc. The wheel can be manufactured by placing the rim, inner disc, and outer disc in a die and injecting the polyurethane foam composition into the interconnected volume enclosed and defined by those wheel components. The foam curing process then occurs in situ. Alternatively, the rim, inner disc, and outer disc can be adhesively bonded to a preformed polyurethane foam member. The resultant vehicle wheel, manufactured by either process, is characterized by high strength, light weight, and a decorative appearance.

Abstract: A wheel manufactured from an elongated section of sheet steel is disclosed together with a method for its manufacture. Five rim retaining flanges are formed in the sheet steel. A rim retaining lip is formed along one edge of each of these five flanges. A reinforcing rib is formed adjacent each side of each rim retaining flange, making a total of ten reinforcing ribs. The sheet steel, formed with flanges and ribs, is coiled into a single closed loop. Ten circumferentially spaced radial vanes are formed in the loop. The five rim retaining flanges interconnect pairs of adjacent vanes at the outer diameter of the resulting wheel. At the inner diameter of the resulting wheel, five hub attachment flanges interconnect pairs of vanes. A threaded hub, fitted with bearing positioning shoulders, is welded and riveted to the five hub attachment flanges to complete the wheel.