Mismatch side rim and lock ring interface angles for lock ring wheel
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsBradley J. Baden, Katrina Lynn King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for use in a wheel assembly. In this regard a wheel assembly may comprise a wheel base with a center axis, a side rim disposed about a circumference of the wheel base, wherein the side rim includes a frustoconical radially inward surface, and a lock ring comprising a single unitary member. The lock ring may secure the side rim onto the wheel base, the lock ring preventing the side rim from sliding axially with respect to the wheel base, wherein a frustoconical radially outward surface of the lock ring comprises a first angle with respect to the frustoconical radially inward surface of the side rim.
Claims18
A lock ring wheel assembly comprising:
- a wheel base, having a center axis;
- a side rim disposed about a circumference of the wheel base, wherein the side rim includes a radially inward frustoconical surface configured to engage a lock ring;
- and
- the lock ring comprising a single unitary member that secures the side rim onto the wheel base, the lock ring preventing the side rim from moving axially with respect to the wheel base, wherein a radially outward frustoconical surface of the lock ring forms a first angle with respect to the radially inward frustoconical surface of the side rim, the radially outward frustoconical surface configured to engage the radially inward frustoconical surface, wherein the first angle is between 0.5° and 2°,
- wherein the radially outward frustoconical surface is substantially linear;
- wherein the first angle creates a gap between the radially outward frustoconical surface of the lock ring and the radially inward frustoconical surface of the side rim, the gap originating at a line of contact and increasing in width along an axially outboard direction.
A method for assembling a wheel assembly, the method comprising:
- placing a wheel base inside a tire, the wheel base having an air seal seat;
- placing a side rim around the wheel base so that the air seal seat is exposed;
- placing an air seal around the wheel base and inside the air seal seat;
- inserting a lock ring comprising a single unitary member inside a cavity defined between the wheel base and the side rim, such that a radially outward frustoconical surface of the lock ring forms an angle of between 0.5° and 2° with respect to a radially inward frustoconical surface of the side rim, the radially outward surface being substantially linear;
- creating a gap beginning at a line of contact between the radially outward frustoconical surface of the lock ring and the radially inward frustoconical surface of the side rim that increases in radial dimension along an axially outboard direction;
- and inflating the tire;
- and
- inflating the tire.
A wheel assembly comprising:
- a wheel base;
- a side rim disposed about a circumference of the wheel base;
- a cavity disposed between the wheel base and the side rim, the cavity comprising a top surface;
- and
- a lock ring, disposed within the cavity, wherein the top surface and a radially outward frustoconical surface of the lock ring comprise and angle of about between 0.5° and 2°, the radially outward frustoconical surface being substantially linear, a gap beginning at a line of contact between the radially outward frustoconical surface of the lock ring and a radially inward frustoconical surface of the side rim wherein said gap increases in radial dimension along an axially outboard direction, wherein the lock ring is configured to contact the side rim via the concentrated line of contact, wherein the lock ring comprises a single unitary member, wherein the lock ring is configured to contact the side rim via a concentrated line of contact, wherein the lock ring comprises a single unitary member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.