US 4,068,698 AGranted

Vehicle wheel having radially movable impact absorbing rims

AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.

InventorRoger L. Boggs

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A vehicle wheel has rims that are radially movable relative to the hub in response to forces acting on the rim. The rim is biased by resilient material to return to its normal position in response to removal of the force on the rim.

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Claims11

Dependent claims

Wheel apparatus, comprising:

a hub;
a movable rim connected to said hub;
a flange extending inwardly from the rim in a direction toward the hub, said flange having first and second opposed sides;
first and second floating plates each having first and second sides and being positioned on a respective side of said rim flange, said first sides being positioned closer to said rim flange than said second sides;
first and second biasing means each having first and second sides and being positioned on the second side of a respective floating plate with the biasing means second side being directed outwardly therefrom;
means for maintaining the first and second biasing means at preselected relative locations, said maintaining means including first and second load plates each positioned on the second side of the respective biasing means and an element movably attached to said plates, said element being adjustable for controllably exerting compression forces of a preselected magnitude on the biasing means in the installed position;
and
means for compressing the biasing means in response to movement of portions of the rim radially toward and from the hub.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

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Claims11

Dependent claims

Wheel apparatus, comprising:

a hub;
a movable rim connected to said hub;
a flange extending inwardly from the rim in a direction toward the hub, said flange having first and second opposed sides;
first and second floating plates each having first and second sides and being positioned on a respective side of said rim flange, said first sides being positioned closer to said rim flange than said second sides;
first and second biasing means each having first and second sides and being positioned on the second side of a respective floating plate with the biasing means second side being directed outwardly therefrom;
means for maintaining the first and second biasing means at preselected relative locations, said maintaining means including first and second load plates each positioned on the second side of the respective biasing means and an element movably attached to said plates, said element being adjustable for controllably exerting compression forces of a preselected magnitude on the biasing means in the installed position;
and
means for compressing the biasing means in response to movement of portions of the rim radially toward and from the hub.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,185 words

Summary60 words

#During operation of a vehicle, for example a crawler-type vehicle, the continuous tread sometimes impacts the supporting and drive wheels with forces sufficient to generate undesirable wear and noise. This invention therefore resides in apparatus for cushioning forces acting on the wheel rim by providing for controlled radial movement of the rim in response to forces subjected onto the rim.

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a portion of a work vehicle having the apparatus of this invention;

#FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic partial sectional view of a portion of one embodiment of the wheel of this invention;

#FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic partial sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of this invention;

Detailed description1,021 words

#Referring to FIG. 1, a crawler-type work vehicle 10, such as a crawler tractor, has continuous treads 11 that are driven by a sprocket wheel 12 and supported by a plurality of other wheels 13, as is known in the art. This invention can be used on any of the wheels but reference will hereafter be made only to the sprocket wheel 12 for purposes of brevity.

#Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the wheel 12 has a hub 14 connected to a rim 15, portions of which are controllably radially movable in directions toward and from the hub 14 in response to forces "F" acting thereupon.

#A flange 16 extends inwardly from the rim 15 in a direction toward the hub 14. The flange 16 has first and second opposed sides 17,18 and can be either a continuous flange as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or can be a plurality of separate flanges as shown by broken lines in FIG. 5.

Abstract

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Claims11

Abstract

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Description1,185 words

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Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description1,185 words