Wheel and tire assembly with adjustable spacer system
AssigneeLindsay Corporation
InventorsThomas J. Korus, Jochen Pfrenger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel assembly is disclosed, the wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and an airless tire mounted on the wheel. A portion of the tire is separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure. A spacer is interposed between the wheel and the portion of the tire separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to limit the inward flexing of the tire. The spacer may be permanently affixed to the wheel assembly or may be removably attached to the wheel assembly. The spacer may be adjustable between a first size and a second size.
Claims10
A method of exchanging spacers in a wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and a flexible tire mounted on the wheel, a plurality of radially separated portions of the tire being separated radially from the wheel by a space and configured to flex radially inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure, the radially separated portions of the tire being positioned annularly between portions of the tire engaged by mounting elements extending radially from the wheel, wherein the mounting elements support the tire against inwardly flexing at the portions of the tire engaged by the mounting elements, the method comprising:
- removing a first spacer from a first position on the wheel assembly, the first position being radially between the wheel and a first one of the radially separated portions of the tire configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel and annularly between a pair of adjacent portions of the tire engaged by the mounting elements of the wheel;
- and
- securing a second spacer in the first position on the wheel assembly, the second spacer configured to allow the first radially separated portion of the tire to flex inwardly a different distance than allowed by the first spacer for changing traction of the tire.
A method of removing spacers in a wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and a flexible tire mounted on the wheel, a plurality of radially separated portions of the tire being separated radially from the wheel by a space and configured to flex radially inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure, the radially separated portions of the tire being positioned annularly between portions of the tire engaged by mounting elements extending radially from the wheel, wherein the mounting elements support the tire against inwardly flexing at the portions of the tire engaged by the mounting elements, the method comprising:
- removing a first spacer from a first position on the wheel assembly, the first position being between the wheel and a first one of the radially separated portions the first portion of the tire configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel and annularly between a pair of adjacent portions of the tire engaged by the mounting elements of the wheel for increasing traction of the tire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.