Abstract: A wheel assembly is provided. The wheel assembly includes a rim configured to receive a tire of an off-road vehicle. The wheel assembly also includes a flange member slidably received on the rim. The flange member has a flange portion with a terminal end defining a first axial extent of the flange member. The wheel assembly also includes a locking ring radially and axially interposed between the rim and flange member. The wheel assembly also includes a locking arrangement mounted between the rim and the flange member which has a second axial extent. The second axial extent is substantially axially adjacent to the first axial extent.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a first annular component, a second annular component configured to be separable from the first annular component and mechanically connected to and aligned with the first annular component about an axis of rotation of the wheel, and a plate. In some examples, when the first and second annular components are mechanically connected, the first and second annular components are configured to receive a tire and define a recess along an annular surface of the first and second annular components, the recess being configured to receive the plate. In addition, in some examples, when the plate is received in the recess, the plate inhibits relative rotation between the first annular component and the second annular component about the axis of rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke includes a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface, wherein the first surface may have the shape of a truncated sphere. The force-distributing body has a threaded spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface.

Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating and distributing energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a rim includes an inner flange and an outer flange that extend around a periphery of the rim, a rim wall that extends around the periphery of the rim and that extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, a drop-well portion that is positioned between the rim wall and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, where the rim wall comprises an increased thickness region that is positioned proximate to the drop-well portion, and where a maximum thickness of the increased thickness region is greater than a maximum thickness of the rim wall positioned outside of the increased thickness region, and at least one spoke extending radially inward from the drop-well portion.

Abstract: The application discloses a wheel assembly comprising a wheel comprising a main body, a substantially cylindrical wall, a front hub face comprising a central portion connecting a hub to an outer rim, wherein the front hub face comprises a socket for receiving a removable weight, wherein the socket or the weight is configured with a stop for preventing the weight from dislodging from the socket; a back face comprising a back central portion connecting the hub to the back outer rim; and the wheel assembly comprising at least one fastener for securing the weigh in the socket on the main body of the wheel.

Abstract: A multi-piece safety wheel includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, interlocking bosses and tabs on the inner rim portion and outer rim portion. In the event of improper disassembly of the wheel with an inflated tire mounted thereon, any failure of the wheel assembly fasteners will result in the outer rim portion separating from the inner rim portion a sufficient distance to vent air pressure from within the tire, at which point the interlocking bosses and tabs resist further movement of the outer rim portion. The outer rim portion is thereby resisted from becoming a potentially dangerous projectile. A method of safely deflating the tire upon improper disassembly of the multi-piece safety wheel is also provided.

Abstract: A wheel assembly comprises a tire supported by an underlying wheel. The tire has inner and outer surfaces, first and second side surfaces, and first and second recesses. Cables are in the tire proximate the inner surface. The wheel has inner and outer flanges, and an outer surface. The outer surface of the wheel receives the inner surface of the tire. The outer surface of the outer flange has lesser and greater diameter portions extending from respective sides. The lesser diameter portion covers at least 60 percent of the width of the outer surface. The greater diameter portion, defines a side flange, integral with the outer flange. A second side flange is removably mounted to the outer flange. The side flanges comprise side-facing abutment surfaces which interface with side-facing surfaces on the tire. The difference between the lesser and greater diameters is greater than radial stretch capability of the tire.

Abstract: A tire has a buttress system which maintains flexible cushioning to support a load on the tire, even after a puncture in the tire. The tire has a tire body with an inner rim attached to a wheel rim with a clamping piece. The buttress system is provided within the tire body and has an upper rib adjacent to the inner side of the tread portion of the tire body and a lower rib attached to the wheel rim. The upper rib is positioned across from the lower rib and is supported by the lower rib when there is a puncture in the tire. A clamping system clamps a doubly acute bead on the inner rim of the tire body to a cupped part of the wheel rim using the clamping piece. A saddle is provided to raise up the anchoring portion of the lower rib of the buttress system.

Abstract: A light metal rim ring for vehicle wheels made of an aluminum alloy with at least one multicavitied hollow profile (1) which has a reinforced, in particular a solid portion (2) for the attachment of a wheel disc (3) or spokes. In the method for constructing this rim ring, the multicavitied hollow profile is first extruded and subsequently the extremities are fixed to one another. The use of such a hollow profile enables to construct lighter rim rings. The extremities are preferably connected to one another by means of a diffusion soldering process or an electron beam or a laser beam welding process which permit small wall thicknesses and large differences in wall thickness.

Abstract: A take-apart wheel rim and disc assembly for use in a safety tire and wheel assembly which includes a pneumatic tubeless tire. The wheel includes an inboard rim part, a wheel mounting disc having an outer marginal flange telescoped into and secured to the inboard rim part, the disc flange having an outer surface protruding axially outboard beyond and clear of the inboard rim part. An outboard rim part telescopically received from an axially outboard direction over the disc flange, an O-ring seal disposed between the disc and opposing surfaces of the inboard and outboard rim parts, and a clamp ring for axially clamping the outboard and inboard rim parts together with the O-ring captured in compression between the disc and the opposing surfaces of the rim parts to seal against air leakage. The disc has an air bleed vent structure outboard of the O-ring and normally sealed from the tire cavity by the O-ring.

Abstract: A filler ring, made of rubber or synthetic material, for a vehicle wheel and pneumatic tire assembly where the beads of the tire are mounted on the radially inner periphery of a wheel rim next to essentially radially inwardly extending rim flanges. The filler ring covers a space located axially inwardly of a rim flange. The filler ring includes at least two planes of circumferential hollow chambers, with the planes of hollow chambers being superimposed on one another in a radial direction, and with at least two hollow chambers, which are successively arranged in an axial direction, being provided in each of the planes of such hollow chambers.

Abstract: A three-piece wheel for vehicle tires for providing a greater positive offset comprising a wheel center, an inner rim and an outer rim wherein the rims are secured at their radially directed bases to a disk mount on the wheel center by a plurality of threaded fastening members. The inner rim defines an elongate curved tire support portion terminating at one end in an inner rim flange and at the other end in a radially directed base. The outer rim is generally T-shaped defining an outer rim flange portion for securing the tire in combination with the inner rim flange on the inner rim, a tire support portion extending over a portion of the inner rim for supporting the tire in combination with the inner rim and a radial base portion disposed inwardly of said tire support portion for supporting said tire support portion and for use insecuring the outer rim to the inner rim and wheel center.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and a mounting system therefor, having constructional features designed to provide optimized operational characteristics. The tire has a low aspect ratio .lambda. and a low height ratio .theta. conforming substantially to the relations .lambda.=0.236/.theta. and 0.32<.theta.<0.39. The mounting system includes a vehicle axleborne drum and a pair of ring members adapted to be securely fastened to the drum, each ring member defining a bead seat, a bead restraining flange and a sidewall-supporting extension, and the ring members being adhered to the tire at the beads and the lower sidewalls. A layer of a suitable sealant at the juncture between each ring member and the drum renders the joints airtight.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel, especially for a truck. The wheel has a rigid rim on which can be mounted a pneumatic tire of rubber or rubber-like material. The carcass of the tire is anchored in the tire beads by being looped around pull-resistant bead cores. The tire beads are disposed on the radially inner periphery of the rim ring. In order to make it particularly easy to mount the tire, the rim seating surfaces for each tire bead extend essentially horizontally in the transverse direction, and extend to the edge of the rim ring. A clamping ring is disposed radially inwardly of the tire bead, with that side of the clamping ring which rests against the bead extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of the wheel. The bead core has a cross-sectional shape which includes sides which extend essentially parallel to the clamping ring and parallel to the rim seating surface.

Abstract: A covering ring for a vehicle wheel. The bead seating surfaces of a tire are mounted on the radially inner periphery of the rim. In order to prevent dirt and/or water from entering the space between the tire bead and the rim well, the covering ring has a width which covers the space between the tire bead, that portion of the rim which extends axially outwardly from the rim well, and the rim well. Also provision is made that the radially inner surface of the covering ring, when viewed in the transverse direction, extends horizontally or is laterally inclined toward the outside. Also provision is made that the radially inner diameter of the covering ring at no point of the space, which is to be covered, be greater than the radially inner diameter of the mounted tire in the bead region.

Abstract: Multi-piece wheel and rim construction primarily for use with over the road vehicles of the truck and bus types, wherein the parts used to position the rim and tire combinations which avail of a removable lock ring seated in a gutter in the rim are formed to not only removably position the rim and tire assemblies on wheels, but also provide a safety factor by the provision of clamp and stop members having portions which extend into the path which would be followed by accidental displacement of the lock ring during inflation or in travel use.

Abstract: A wheel for mounting tubeless tires in which the bead of the tire is sealed and clamped on one or both sides of the wheel. The bead is sealed and clamped by a bead locking ring having a peripheral lip on an axially parallel surface of revolution, terminating in an annulus which mates with a similar surface of revolution formed on one or both ends of the wheel having a matching annulus to which the ring is securely bolted. The annulus on the wheel is provided with a plurality of blind threaded inserts for receiving bolts which pass through the ring, securely clamping the bead between a peripheral lip on the wheel and the lip on the bead locking ring. The locking ring is formed so that the mutual surfaces of revolution on the locking ring and the wheel respectively provide lightweight, reinforced stiffening of the locking ring (i.e. in-plane strength), preventing bending and warping when bolted to the wheel.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a three piece wheel for vehicle tires comprising a disc and dual inner and outer rim and wherein the inner rim and the outer rim are at their radially directed bases secured by a fastening means to a disc mount connected to a hub through a plurality of spike members and the inner rim has an inwardly and axially curved portion formed integrally with the radially directed base thereof, characterized in that an annular V-shaped groove is defined between the inner and outer rims and is filled with a sealing material.

Abstract: A wheel for a low air pressure tire suitable for use in agricultural machines such as a binder and comprising a rim portion including a pair of bead seats and a disc portion made integral with the rim portion. Each of the bead seats is provided at its inside with a ridge. The bead portions of the tire are engaged with the bead seats and firmly secured between a fixed flange formed at the outside of one of the bead seats and the ridge on the one hand and between a flange ring engaged with an annular groove and provided along its periphery with a slit and the ridge on the other hand.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and wheel construction having a tire annularly disposed around the wheel and engaged therewith to form an air space for pressurized air. The tire is formed by a pair of undeformable side wall portions each having inner edges including beads of the tire and engaged with the wheel, a deformable side wall portion connected to each outer edge of the undeformable side wall portions, a restricted pliable wall portion connected each to outer edges of the deformable side wall portions and a belt portion connected between the outer edges of the restricted pliable wall portions. A tread carrying portion is connected to and around the outer surface of the belt portion and includes side projections extending axially outwardly of the belt portion with a cavity defined between each of the side projections and each of the restricted pliable wall portions respectively.

Abstract: An improved tire and wheel for road vehicles, the tire being either of tubeless or inflatable tube arrangement and of the radial and belted type and includes flexurally deformable tire side walls. The improvement comprises side wall restraining annular members for localizing a side wall flexural deformation to an annular portion of the sidewall to provide a material decrease of the tire flattening amplitude under load. The tire tread may include apex-shaped extensions on either side thereof which are integral with the belt and tread containing perimetrical portions of the tire carcass to laterally widen the road/tire contact interface area and structure for improving the load carrying and handling characteristic of the tire.

Abstract: The beads of a pneumatic tire having sidewalls of a cross-sectional shape, wherein upon inflation the midline thereof between the tread reinforcement and bead is convex with respect to the interior of the tire, are gripped by a rim having an annular channel generally elliptically shaped in cross-section and having its open side directed radially outwardly with respect to the axis of the wheel and inwardly directed annular flanges only partially closing the open side of the channel.

Abstract: A split rim assembly, the one-half of the rim being furnished with both bead seating portions, one of said bead seating portions extending substantially parallel to the rim axis and merging into a ramp which is engageable by the toe of the bead of an associated tire to seal the tire/rim cavity. The diameters of the bead seating portions may be the same or alternatively the diameter of the outboard bead seating portion may be less than the diameter of the inboard bead seating portion.

Abstract: A self-propelled vibratory compactor has a one-piece frame supported at one end by a steel roller drum and at the other end by a yoke-mounted, single, high-flotation pneumatic rubber tire. An engine on the frame drives hydraulic pumps which supply fluid to a hydraulic vibrator motor which drives an eccentric shaft within the roller drum, a hydraulic wheel motor which drives the pneumatic tire, and a hydraulic power steering system for turning the yoke. The yoke spindle mounts a rotary seal which transmits fluid between a pump on the frame and the wheel motor on the yoke. A special clamp-type drive wheel assembly mounted the pneumatic tire to resist slippage of the tire on the wheel assembly.