Patent ID: 6588861
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A wheel assembly for use in an endless track drive system, said wheel assembly comprising:(a) a wheel comprising (i) a main wheel body having a first center of rotation, an inner flange defining a central opening for mounting said main wheel body to an axle for rotation of said wheel on such axle and about the first center of rotation, an outer flange having first and second opposing sides, a first width of the outer surface between the first and second sides, a first inner surface, and a first outer surface, and a web connecting said inner flange to said outer flange, said outer flange having a first overall width between the first and second opposing sides, and (ii) an auxiliary wheel body having an annular structure defining a second inner surface, a second outer surface, third and fourth opposing sides, and a second width of the outer surface between the third and fourth sides, the auxiliary wheel body being removably mounted to the main wheel body with the third side surface of said auxiliary wheel body disposed against the second side surface of said main wheel body, the combination of the widths of said main wheel body and said auxiliary wheel body defining a third overall width of the outer surface of the wheel, the third overall width being at least about 30 percent greater than the first width, said auxiliary wheel body having a second center of rotation axially aligned with the first center of rotation, the first and second outer surfaces of said main wheel body and said auxiliary wheel body in combination defining an outer surface of said wheel having a generally common outer diameter, a central portion, and opposing ends at the first side of said main wheel body and the fourth side of said auxiliary wheel body,(b) a tire comprising one or more tire bodies, said tire having an exterior, the tire exterior comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and first and second side surfaces extending generally from the outer surface toward the inner surface, said tire further comprising a plurality of cables proximate the inner surface of said tire, embedded in said elastomeric material, the cables in combination being effective to limit radial stretching of said tire, the outer surface of said wheel receiving the inner surface of said tire thereon at a wheel-tire interface,(c) a first side flange at the first side of the main wheel body extending outwardly of the outer surface of said wheel to a distal edge inward of the outer surface of said tire, said first side flange comprising a first abutment surface facing away from the first side surface, and (d) a second side flange at the fourth side of the auxiliary wheel body extending outwardly of the outer surface of said wheel to a distal edge inward of the outer surface of said tire, said second side flange comprising a second abutment surface facing inwardly of the fourth side surface, the first and second abutment surfaces of said first and second side flanges abutting the first and second side-facing surfaces of said tire, thereby to effectively impede transverse movement of the tire off the wheel while the auxiliary wheel body is mounted to the main wheel body while releasing such impediment such that said tire can be removed transversely from said wheel when said auxiliary wheel body is dismounted from said main wheel body, and enabling subsequently sliding a fresh such tire onto the outer surface of said main wheel body followed by again removably mounting said auxiliary wheel body to said main wheel body.