US 4,369,826 AGranted

Multi-piece wheel structure

AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.

InventorVergil P. Hendrickson

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Abstract

A multi-piece wheel structure (16) permits inflation of a tire (10) mounted thereon only when components constituting the wheel structure (16) are locked together. The wheel structure (16) includes an annular rim base (18) having an indentation (36), a restraining flange (22) arranged about the rim base (18) prevent axial movement of the tire (10) mounted on the rim base (18), a locking ring (24) insertable in the indentation (36) between the restraining flange (22) and the rim base (18) on one axial side of the restraining flange (22), a conduit structure (44,46) which extends through the rim base (18), a groove (53) in the rim base (18) intersecting the indentation (36), at least one biasing hole (52) in the rim base (18) connecting the conduit structure (44,46) and the groove (53), and a sealing ring (26) located in the groove (53) in sealing engagement with the rim base (18) only when the locking ring (24) is completely disposed in the indentation (36) in engagement with the locking ring (24).

Claims5

Dependent claims

A wheel structure (16) for a tire (10) comprising:

an annular rim base (18) disposed about a longitudinal axis (19) and having an inner periphery (28) and an outer periphery (30), said outer periphery (30) including a tire mounting surface (32) and a locking surface (34), said locking surface (34) bounding a locking indentation (36) and being disposed radially nearer said longitudinal axis (19) than said mounting surface (32), said rim base (18) having an annular groove (53) which intersects said locking surface (34);
an annular restraining flange (22) disposed about said rim base (18);
a locking ring (24) which is receivable in said locking indentation (36) and is engageable with said locking surface (34) and said restraining flange (22) to prevent axial movement of said restraining flange (22) in a first direction (B);
means (44,46) for providing fluid communication between the atmosphere and a tire's interior (10a) when a tire (10) is mounted on said tire mounting surface (32);
means (52) for fluidly connecting said groove (53) and said fluid communication means (44,46);
and
means (26) for obstructing fluid communication through said groove (53) when said locking ring (24) is in engagement with said locking surface (34).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.