US 5,660,653 A · Run-flat support for pneumatic tired wheel

Abstract

A support device for a pneumatic tired wheel for supporting the tire in a deflated or run-flat condition includes circular segment support members, each having a transverse cylindrical web and opposed radially inwardly projecting flange portions. The support member segments are interconnected by linkages which provide for radially extending and retracting the segments so that the support device may be mounted on a fixed or one-piece wheel having a rim portion with a diameter less than the opposed tire bead support flanges and with or without removing a tire entirely from the wheel. Threaded bolts are mounted on the wheel rim and extend radially outwardly into engagement with a link member of each of the linkages to cause the linkages to radially extend or retract the support segments. The segment webs are crowned to aid in centering the tire on the support device during operation thereof and tire gripping surfaces may be formed on the segment webs to minimize lateral or circumferential slippage of the tire relative to the support device.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A device for supporting a pneumatic tire on a wheel in an under-inflated, deflated or run-flat condition, said support device comprising:

a plurality of support members adapted to be supported on a wheel in engagement therewith, each support member having a peripheral support surface for engagement with an inner wall of a pneumatic tire during run-flat operation;
linkage means interconnecting said support members for movement with respect to each other;
and,
means attachable to the wheel and coupled to said linkage means for moving the support members from a first position in which the support members are separated from the wheel to a second position in which the support members are disposed in engagement with the wheel.

1 more element

A support device for a pneumatic tired wheel for supporting a pneumatic tire in a deflated, run-flat condition, said wheel including spaced apart tire bead engaging flanges and a center rim portion disposed between said flanges and said tire including opposed generally circular beads engageable with support surfaces formed by said flanges, said support device being adapted to be mounted on said wheel without demounting said tire completely from said wheel, said support device comprising:

a plurality of support members interconnected by means for moving said support members relative to each other to a radially extended position with respect to a central axis of said wheel to provide for mounting said support device on said wheel by moving said support device over one of said flanges and into a position generally adjacent to and substantially surrounding said center rim portion, said means for moving said support members being operable to move said support members into forcible engagement with said center rim portion of said wheel for supporting said tire in a run-flat condition;
the support members including substantially semi-circular segments and the means interconnecting the support members including a linkage for permitting the segments to move to a radially extended position for positioning the support device over one of the wheel flanges and adjacent to the center rim portion and to a radially retracted position in which the support members are disposed in engagement with the center rim portion;
and,
a threaded bolt disposed on said wheel and being coupled to the linkage for effecting movement of the support members to the radially extended position and to the radially retracted position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Run-flat support for pneumatic tired wheel

Life of this patent

Run-flat support for pneumatic tired wheel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13