Mechanical fastener for polyurethane wheels
AssigneeStellana U.S. Inc.
InventorGregory Michael Krantz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Wheels including one or more retention elements for affixing a polyurethane tire to a hub of the wheel are disclosed. The polyurethane tires of the wheels disclosed are manufactured separate from the hub and affixed to the hub via the retention elements thereby enabling additional manufacturing processes for the polyurethane tires and reuse of the hub portion of the wheels. Such manufacturing processes also allow for more complex polyurethane tire design and combinations of polymers to produce composite wheels allowing for increased comfort and durability. The wheels are particular suitability for use with industrial vehicles, such as lift trucks.
Claims19
A wheel for supporting an industrial vehicle, comprising:
- an annular tire formed of polyurethane, the tire having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, the inner surface including axially-parallel keys, the keys having a consistent width extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the wheel and not extending to an outer-tire-edge;
- and
- a hub engaging the inner surface, including:
- an annular portion having axially-parallel slots, the slots substantially shaped as the negative of the shape of the keys to facilitate interaction with the keys when the tire is received about the annular portion of the hub;
- and
- a retention element configured to removably attach to the hub thereby retaining the tire about the annular portion of the hub, the retention element including a first plate and a second plate, each plate being configured to removably attach to opposite sides of the hub and extend over a portion of a tire sidewall when affixed to the sides of the hub;
- wherein the tire and hub arc secured together through interaction of the keys and the slots.
A wheel configured to support a lift truck, comprising:
- a tire at least partially formed of polyurethane and configured to support at least about 1000 pounds the tire having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, the inner surface including axially-parallel keys, the keys having a consistent width extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the wheel and not extending to an outer-tire-edge;
- a hub engaging the inner surface and including:
- an annular portion having axially-parallel slots, the slots substantially shaped as the negative of the shape of the key to facilitate interaction with the key when the tire is received about the annular portion of the hub;
- and
- a retention element configured to removably attach to the hub thereby removably retaining the tire about the annular portion of the hub, the retention element including a first plate and a second plate, each plate being configured to removably attach to opposite sides of the hub and extend over a portion of a tire sidewall when affixed to the sides of the hub;
- and
- a surface on the tire corresponding to a surface on the hub, wherein the corresponding surfaces of the tire and the hub are configured to oppose relative motion between the tire and the hub when the wheel is in use in conjunction with the lift truck.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.