Patent ID: 9272572
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: B60B,B60Y,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A wheel assembly comprising: a wheel base; a side rim disposed about a circumference of the wheel base and including an inside surface and a recess formed on the inside surface; an air seal disposed between the wheel base and the inside surface of the side rim, wherein the air seal engages the inside surface of the side rim; and a locking mechanism that secures the side rim onto the wheel base, the locking mechanism preventing the side rim from sliding axially off the wheel base, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to prevent the air seal from disengaging the inside surface and allowing air to exit the wheel assembly between the wheel base and the side rim when the locking mechanism is properly installed, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to permit the side rim to move axially such that the recess formed on the inside surface of the side rim radially aligns with the air seal to allow air to exit the wheel assembly between the wheel base and the side rim when the locking mechanism is not properly installed, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first lock ring and a second lock ring disposed inside a cavity between the wheel base and the side rim, wherein the air seal contacts the inside surface of the side rim while being radially offset with the recess when both the first lock ring and the second lock ring are properly disposed inside the cavity, and wherein the air seal is radially aligned with the recess when only one of the first lock ring and the second lock ring is disposed inside the cavity.