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US 4,823,854 AGranted
Safety tire and rim combination with safety insert
AssigneeMotor Wheel Corporation
InventorsRoger E. Payne, J. Bruce Weeks
Life of this patent
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AssigneeMotor Wheel Corporation
InventorsRoger E. Payne, J. Bruce Weeks
Estimating the term…
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. The insert tread extends radially outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance to have a clearance with the interior surface of the tire under normal running conditions. The sheet metal annulus is axially compressed by the engagement of the tire bead toes with the channel toes so that the channel is stressed in direct opposition to stresses imposed on the same when the tire and rim combination is operated without inflation pressure in the tire chamber.
In a safety tire and wheel assembly comprising a vehicle wheel including a take-apart wheel rim having axially spaced bead flanges and a rim base, a tire of standard radial or bias construction having axially spaced bead toes and a circumferential tire tread, and safety runflat insert means comprising base-beadlock means extending circumferentially around said rim within an air chamber surrounded by said tire and rim and having axially spaced side edges clamping said bead toes against said bead flanges, the improvement wherein said insert means comprises an annulus constructed of relatively thin sheet metal of generally channel shape in radial cross section open at its radially inner periphery between said side edges and having a relatively high aspect ratio, said annulus having a generally central bight portion extending generally axially and bounded by radially in-turned leg portions, said leg portions diverging relative to one another radially inwardly towards said tire bead toes at an angle of about at least 50.degree. relative to the axis of said wheel and terminating in toe portions extending generally radially inwardly relative to said leg portions, the outer surfaces of said toe portions bearing generally flat against the interior surfaces of said tire toe beads such that said annulus is pre-stressed by deflection of said toe portions towards one another axially of said wheel such that said channel is stressed in direct opposition to stresses imposed on said channel when side tire is operated to run on said rim without inflation pressure in said air chamber, and an elastomeric tread bonded to the outer surface of said central bight portion, said tread comprising a substantially complete annulus bonded to at least said bight portion of said annulus and extending radially outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance to have a clearance with the interior surface of the tire under normal running conditions, said tire tread having a circumferential center groove therein defined by two laterally spaced circumferentially extending radially outwardly protruding leg portions, said annulus comprising a pair of semi-circular members having interengageable mating ends releasably interconnected at said mating ends to form a complete annulus.
A safety runflat insert for use in a tire and wheel assembly having a take-apart multi-piece wheel rim with axially spaced bead flanges and a rim base and a tire of standard radial or bias construction having axially spaced bead toes for mounting on the rim and a circumferential tire tread, said safety runflat insert comprising base-beadlock means adapted to extend circumferentially around said rim within an air chamber surrounded by said tire and rim and having axially spaced side edges for clamping said bead toes against said bead flanges, said insert comprising an annulus constructed of relatively thin sheet metal of generally channel shape in radial cross section open at its radially inner periphery between said side edges and having a relatively high aspect ratio, said annulus having a generally central bight portion extending generally axially and bounded by radially in-turned leg portions, said leg portions diverging relative to one another radially inwardly towards said tire bead toes at an acute angle relative to the axis of said wheel and terminating in toe portions extending generally radially inwardly relative to said leg portions, the outer surfaces of said toe portions bearing generally flat against the interior surfaces of said tire toe beads, the free state width axially of said insert between said toe portions being greater than the width axially of the tire bead interior surfaces when in assembly with the rim and said insert such that said annulus is pre-stressed by deflection of said toe portions towards one another axially of said wheel such that said channel is stressed in direct opposition to stresses imposed on said channel when side tire is operated to run on said rim without inflation pressure in said air chamber.
The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said tire tread has a circumferential center groove therein defined by two laterally spaced circumferentially extending radially outwardly protruding leg portions, said annulus comprising a pair of semi-circular members having interengageable mating ends releasably interconnected at said mating ends to form a complete annulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.