Lock for wheel rim and assemblies, systems, and methods thereof
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsPrasanth K. Garapati, Jacques Elloye
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel rim assembly and components, systems, and methods thereof can have a rim base with at least one slot at an outer end portion thereof, a bead seat band radially outward of the outer end portion of the rim base, and at least one lock provided in the at least one slot. The bead seat band may be in direct contact with the outer end portion of the rim base. The lock can have a first portion that is provided in the slot of the rim base and a second portion that is outside of the slot. The second portion may be adjacent to the bead seat band. The wheel rim assembly may be free of or without a lock ring at the outer end portion of the rim base.
Claims18
A multi-component wheel rim for a tire of a construction or manufacturing vehicle, the multi-component wheel rim comprising:
- a rim base having an inner end portion, an outer end portion opposite the inner end portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner end portion and the outer end portion in a direction of a central longitudinal axis of the multi-component wheel rim, a plurality of slots extending entirely through the outer end portion of the rim base, the slots being spaced apart from each other around a circumference of the rim base;
- a pair of side rings, a first side ring of the pair of side rings circumscribing the outer end portion of the rim base and a second side ring of the pair of side rings circumscribing the inner end portion of the rim base;
- a bead seat band circumscribing the outer end portion of the rim base and being circumscribed by the first side ring such that a portion of the bead seat band is between and in direct contact with the first side ring and the outer end portion of the rim base;
- and
- a plurality of locks respectively provided in the plurality of slots of the outer end portion of the rim base, each of the locks being elongate with a base and a first projection, the first projection extending from a first side of the base and into the slot of the rim base, and the base being outside of the slot of the rim base,
- wherein each of the locks has a pair of opposing inward sloping sidewalls, including an inner inward sloping sidewall and an outer inward sloping sidewall, the inner inward sloping sidewall directly interfacing with the bead seat band.
A method regarding a multi-component wheel rim comprising:
- providing a rim base of the multi-component wheel rim, the rim base having an inner end portion, an outer end portion opposite the inner end portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner end portion and the outer end portion, a plurality of slots extending through the outer end portion of the rim base, the slots being spaced apart from each other around a circumference of the rim base;
- providing a bead seat band of the multi-component wheel rim, the bead seat band being adapted to, when assembled, circumscribe the outer end portion of the rim base such that a portion of the bead seat band is in direct contact with the outer end portion of the rim base;
- and
- providing a plurality of locks respectively provided in the plurality of slots of the outer end portion of the rim base, each of the locks having a base and a first projection, the first projection extending from a first side of the base and being adapted to extend into the slot of the rim base when assembled,
- wherein the multi-component wheel rim is without a lock ring when assembled.
A wheel rim assembly comprising:
- a rim base having at least one slot at an outer end portion thereof;
- a bead seat band radially outward of and in direct contact with the outer end portion of the rim base;
- and
- at least one lock respectively provided in the at least one slot,
- wherein each said at least one lock has a first portion that is provided in the at least slot of the rim base and a second portion that is outside of the slot and adjacent to the bead seat band, and
- wherein the wheel rim assembly is free of a lock ring at the outer end portion of the rim base between the rim base and the bead seat band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.