Mechanically Fastened Wheel Assembly

A rail wheel assembly for use with a rail vehicle on a rail, the rail wheel assembly comprising:

• a rail wheel;
• an axle with an end that fits into the center of the rail wheel thereby creating an interface between the rail wheel and the axle;
• and
• a plurality of pins that are pressed into a plurality of pre-machined holes at the interface of the rail wheel and the axle, wherein the plurality of pins are geometrically and evenly spaced around the rail wheel, and further wherein the plurality of pins lock the rail wheel to the axle and carry a dynamic load and a static load of the rail vehicle on the rail, wherein a first set of one or more half-circle grooves are machined into an inside diameter of the rail wheel parallel to a centerline axis and a second set of one or more half-circle grooves are machined on an outside diameter of the axle, wherein the first set of grooves and the second set of grooves mate and align to create the plurality of holes.

A wheel assembly for use with a vehicle, the wheel assembly comprising:

• a wheel;
• an axle with an end that fits into the center of the wheel thereby creating an interface between the wheel and the axle;
• a plurality of pins that are pressed into a plurality of pre-machined holes at the interface of the wheel and the axle, wherein the plurality of pins are geometrically and evenly spaced around the wheel and further wherein the plurality of pins lock the wheel to the axle and carry a dynamic load and a static load of the vehicle;
• and
• a bearing and a bearing end cap that applies a force to the bearing by pushing against the wheel, wherein the bearing end cap applies the force to the bearing by a plurality of screws that are threaded into the end of the axle through the bearing end cap, and further wherein the force is generated on the bearing end cap by tightening the screws and the force is transferred through the wheel to load the bearing.