Patent ID: 6669312
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A wheel assembly for use in an endless track drive system, said wheel assembly comprising:(a) a tire comprising a tire body comprising elastomeric material, said tire body further comprising (i) a tire exterior, said tire exterior comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, first and second respective side surfaces extending generally from the outer surface toward the inner surface, and first and second recesses in the exterior of said tire body between the inner surface and respective ones of the side surfaces, the first and second recesses each defining a side-facing recess surface thereof; and (ii) a plurality of cables proximate the inner surface of said tire body, embedded in and surrounded by said elastomeric material; (b) a wheel comprising (i) an inner flange defining a central opening for mounting said wheel to an axle for rotation of said wheel on such axle, (ii) an outer flange having first and second opposing sides, and an outer surface corresponding to an outer surface of said wheel, the outer surface of said wheel receiving the inner surface of said tire thereon at a wheel-tire interface, the inner surface of said tire and the outer surface of said wheel being cooperatively sized and configured such that said tire can be mounted on said wheel with a snug fit, the outer surface of said outer flange comprising a first lesser diameter portion extending from the first side of said wheel toward the second opposing side, said lesser diameter portion having a first lesser diameter, the outer surface of said wheel further comprising a second greater diameter portion, comprising a first side flange at the second side of, and integral with, said outer flange of said wheel, said first side flange extending outwardly of the minimum diameter portion of the outer surface of said outer flange, and comprising a first abutment surface facing toward a center of the outer surface and abutting the side-facing recess surface of the first recess in the exterior of said tire, and (iii) a web connecting said inner flange to said outer flange said web being integral with said outer flange such that said web, said outer flange, and said side flange comprise a unitary structure; and (c) as a separate and distinct element, a second side flange disposed against the first side of said outer flange and comprising a second abutment surface facing toward the center of the outer surface of the outer flange, said second side flange being removably mounted to said outer flange of said wheel, the second abutment surface abutting the side-facing recess surface of the second recess in the exterior of said tire, the lesser diameter portion of the outer surface of said outer flange having a relatively greater first width between a center line, extending through and centered along said web perpendicular to said lesser diameter portion, and a first side of the lesser diameter portion, which is disposed toward the first side of said outer flange, and a relatively lesser second width between the center line and a second side of the lesser diameter portion of the outer surface, which is disposed toward the second side of said outer flange.