Interior Clamps Patents (Class 152/399)
  • Patent number: 8978726
    Abstract: Flat-running device for fitting to a tubeless mounted assembly for a motor vehicle and a mounted assembly incorporating same is provided. The device is configured for a wheel rim (in several parts includes an annular supporting structure of the casing designed to be mounted around the rim and divided into sectors in an arc of a circle that are articulated together by connection members, and members for locking the beads against these edges which are designed to connect the annular supporting structure to these beads. The connection members including two spindles extending in the axial direction and respectively attached in two adjacent sectors and connected together by an articulation extending in the circumferential direction of the device, the articulation having a rigid lug with two through-holes or else a flexible link with two loops, the or the link being articulated on these spindles by these two holes or loops, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Arnaud Detout, Florence Ratet, Olivier Marsaly
  • Publication number: 20140182759
    Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a wheel base and a side rim disposed about the wheel base. A recess is formed on an inside surface of the side rim. A cavity is disposed between the wheel base and the side rim. An air seal is disposed between the wheel base and the side rim. A locking mechanism secures the side rim in position around the wheel base. The locking mechanism is configured to prevent the air seal from disengaging with the inside surface and allowing air to exit the wheel assembly between the wheel base and the side rim when the locking mechanism is properly installed. The locking mechanism is also configured to permit the air seal to disengage the inside surface and allow air to exit the wheel assembly between the wheel base and the side rim when the locking mechanism is not properly installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Lee Phillis, Rick Brown, Scottie Whittle, Andrew Slanker
  • Publication number: 20140158265
    Abstract: A method of coupling a tire to a wheel is disclosed. A bead of the tire is placed against a side rim that is movable with respect to the wheel base. The side rim is moved along the axis of the wheel base and against the tire bead to couple the tire to the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Slanker, Scottie Gene Whittle
  • Patent number: 8151846
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle wheel system having an inner wheel half, an outer wheel half, a centering element, and a sleeve which are concentrically aligned with each other, where the centering element has a first bead lock for securing a first bead of a tire and where the sleeve has a second bead lock for securing a second bead of the tire, to enable a vehicle to continue to operate with a flat or deflated tire. For a heavier, military vehicle wheel system, a varied centering element is used in conjunction with segmented inner tire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Center Line Wheel Corporation
    Inventor: Ray W. Lipper
  • Publication number: 20100147428
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle wheel system having an inner wheel half, an outer wheel half, a centering element, and a sleeve which are concentrically aligned with each other, where the centering element has a first bead lock for securing a first bead of a tire and where the sleeve has a second bead lock for securing a second bead of the tire, to enable a vehicle to continue to operate with a flat or deflated tire. For a heavier, military vehicle wheel system, a varied centering element is used in conjunction with segmented inner tire system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Ray W. Lipper
  • Patent number: 6926052
    Abstract: A vehicle tire is constructed to include a main tire member, the main tire member having two inward lips, and two annular supplementary tire members respectively fastened to the inward lips of the main tire member and adapted to support the main tire member in shape when damaged accidentally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Shut Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6401773
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Woon Je Cho
  • Patent number: 5390718
    Abstract: An arrangement for retaining a tire on a vehicle wheel. The arrangement has a device for locking a tire against the wheel rim and pressing the tire beads against the rim flanges and rim seats. The device for locking the tire includes a plurality of clamping jaws disposed in spaced-apart relation to one another about the rim. Each jaw is rotatable about a clamping bolt. The rim of the wheel is provided, on its bottom, with fixing lugs. The jaws, when in an operative position, are applied against the fixing lugs to prevent the jaws from rotating about their clamping bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Trelleborg Tyre AB
    Inventor: Carl-Gustav Victor
  • Patent number: 5355923
    Abstract: A locking insert device for a tire chamber adapted to be fitted to a vehicle wheel provided with a tubeless tire mounted on a well or drop center rim, the device being designed to oppose the coming off of the beads of the tire from the rim in the event of a puncture of said tire, said device comprising a strip of rigid material shaped as a ring that is split parallel to the axis of the rim equipped therewith with an abutment member for a bead on one at least of its circumferential borders, the ring having a cross-section that correspond at least in part to the shape of the rim against which it is pressed and held stationary by fastening devices rendered operative after the ring has been placed on the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Bernard Boni, Bruno Pelletier
  • Patent number: 5000240
    Abstract: A device (20) for retaining the beads of a tire against the flanges of a rim. The bead retainer device (20) is a non rubber and non metallic ring structure of a composite material. The bead retainer device (20) is capable of being manually deformable in the axial direction. The bead retainer device is also capable of being manually deformable in the circumferential direction such as to be collapsible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Paul W. Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4989657
    Abstract: A two-piece modular automotive wheel includes a rear section having a relatively thick center portion and a thinner rim portion. The rear section is produced by a spin forging process to achieve the desired thickness at various locations. A registration surface is machined in the center portion. A front rim section is secured to the rear section at the registration surface. A locking ring, which may also be spun forged, may be secured to the front rim section to lock the bead of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Center Line Tool Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Ray W. Lipper
  • Patent number: 4823854
    Abstract: A runflat safety insert and safety tire and wheel assembly which include a take-apart multi-piece wheel rim and safety inserts extending circumferentially around the rim to clamp the tire bead toes against the rim bead flanges. The insert is a sheet metal annulus of generally channel shape in radial cross section open at its radially inner periphery between its side edges. The annular has a central bight portion extending generally axially and bounded by radially in-turned leg portions. The leg portions diverge relative to one another radially inwardly towards the tire bead toes and terminates in toe portions bearing generally flat against the interior surfaces of the tire toe beads. An elastomeric tread is bonded to the outer surface of the central bight portion. The annulus is made up of a pair of semi-circular members having interengageable mating ends releasably interconnected to form a complete annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Motor Wheel Corporation
    Inventors: Roger E. Payne, J. Bruce Weeks
  • Patent number: 4776377
    Abstract: A device for locking the beads of a tire against flanges of a multi-piece rim comprises two main parts. The first part having an approximately cylindrical shape is formed essentially of a flexible material. It is strapped by a second part which is nonextensible radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin
    Inventors: Pierre Susini, Philippe Bouchereau
  • Patent number: 4577668
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a one-piece rim and being provided for a pneumatic belted tire. The seats for the tire beads are located on the radially inner surface of the rim. In order to assure trouble-free emergency operation of the tire in the event of damage or a defect, on the rim and/or on the tire, structures are provided which, at least in the region of the support surface of the tire, effect a disengagement of the tire beads from the rim seats during a loss of air pressure, and which prevent an only periodic return of the tire beads to the seats while driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Continental Gummi-Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Seitz, Henner Pieper, Udo Frerichs, Heinz-Dieter Rach
  • Patent number: 4440209
    Abstract: A split tire arrangement (10) for use with a closed torus tire (14), includes a first and second rim halves (11,12) each respectively having a first tapered diameter (23) and a second smaller tapered diameter (24) located on an inner side (21) of the split halves adjacent the first tapered diameter. A split band (13) is located on the second tapered diameter (24) and has a radially outwardly extending center portion (38) to locate the closed torus tire (14) relative to the split band (13) with the edges (34,36) of the split band terminating under the roll hoops (16,17) of the closed torus tire (14). This provides an arrangement for mounting the closed torus tire (14) to the split rim arrangement (10) without requiring the high forces of rubber sliding on metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert J. Grob
  • Patent number: 4184531
    Abstract: Improved assembly for removably securing an inflatable tire about a vehicle wheel includes a latching ring disposed in a circumferential receiving groove in the bead seat of the wheel adjacent the inner face of the tire bead. The latching ring includes a portion protruding above the bead seat for retaining the tire in place and a portion shearable by a force applied to the outwardly facing surface of the tire bead in excess of the force encountered during rotation of the vehicle wheel, whereby the tire may be removed without damage upon shearing of the shearable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Inventor: Richard F. Honigsbaum
  • Patent number: 4175606
    Abstract: An assembly for mounting tubeless tires on tube type rims. The assembly includes a pair of cooperating annuluses that define respective seating surfaces each of which are adapted for receiving one of the companion beads of the tire. One of the annuluses is telescoped onto the rim and positioned adjacent the rim flange integrally formed with the rim proximate one of its axial end portions. A locking annulus secured to the opposite axial end portion of the rim is adapted for receiving the companion bead and can be readily secured to or removed from the rim for purposes of mounting or demounting the tubeless tire without forcing the beads over a flared flange. The locking annulus may be mounted on a variety of conventional tube type rims while maintaining the bead seating surface at a predetermined spaced location from the rim wall. A suitable pneumatic inner tube inserted in the tire serves to prevent air from escaping the confines of the tubeless tire which may have damaged sealing properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Clifford E. Bailey
    Inventor: Clifford E. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4169496
    Abstract: The drawings illustrate a tire and wheel arrangement wherein the wheel rim is formed to include radially outwardly diverging walls having annular "run-flat" shoulders formed on the outer periphery thereof. Inwardly directed walls with arcuate shaped inner end portions extending generally toward one another are formed on the shoulders. The tire is formed to include inverted bead portions which mount and seal around the respective inner end portions, accommodating the positioning of the run-flat shoulders within the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Roy S. Cataldo
  • Patent number: 4163466
    Abstract: A safety support for mounting on a split rim inside a tire chamber to resiliently support the tread portion of the tire in the deflated condition and maintain the bead portions of the tire in separated positions. The support is in the form of an annular ring of resilient material having a base with a relatively wide radially inner surface for seating on the rim and separating the bead portions. A flange extends radially inward from the radially inner surface of the base for gripping by the rim sections to seal the space within the tire and retain the ring on the rim. The radially outer portion of the support has a diameter less than the diameter of the tread portion of the tire in the deflated condition and greater than the diameter of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1979
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: George T. Watts
  • Patent number: 4151870
    Abstract: A wheel with a rim having a drop center well and a retainer member for a tubeless pneumatic tire. In use the bead of the inflated tire is prevented from moving inwardly off the bear seat and into the drop center well of the rim by the retainer member which is fixed to the rim axially inwardly of and adjacent a bead of the tire. If during mounting and inflation of the tire a bead thereof becomes caught on the retainer, a gas bleed passage through the retainer prevents the tire from being inflated while the bead is caught thereon, thereby preventing damage to the bead of the tire and minimizing the risk of personal injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: George T. Watts
  • Patent number: 4059138
    Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire having a run-flat capability and a hub adapted for use with such a tire are disclosed. The tire includes a carcass, a tread overlying the crown region of the carcass, sidewalls overlying the lateral portions of the carcass, the sidewalls terminating in respective beads at their radially inwardmost ends and merging into the tread at their radially outwardmost ends and an annulus of elastomeric material positioned between the inner surfaces of the beads for maintaining the beads in firm contact with the hub. Each of the sidewalls has an annular groove formed therein between its inwardmost and outwardmost ends for establishing the flexure zone of the tire and thereby controlling the folding point of the tire upon its deflation. The hub includes a rigid annulus, a first annular flange extending from one side of the annulus and permanently attached thereto and the second annular flange extending from the other side of the annulus, the second flange being removably attached to the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: Uniroyal, S.A.
    Inventors: Henri J. Mirtain, Andre M. Devienne
  • Patent number: 4031940
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is adapted for combination with an internally situated device, such as an emergency support member. The tire has at least one specially constructed bead portion which includes a conventional bead core or member and an additional bead member spaced axially inwardly therefrom. In the space between the two bead members is formed an anchoring channel contoured to tightly receive an anchoring means provided on the device to be situated internally of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Bartley, Robert F. Jones