Edge lugged tire carrying rim and wheels

Tire carrying rims seated and locked on vehicle wheels by fastening assemblies. A wheel has spoke members with dimensioned felloe surfaces for mating engagement with a radially inclined surface on a rim base edge portion and for coaction with a series of clamp lugs having radially inwardly directed leg portions and being integrally secured to a radially directed axially outer rim base surface. Rims may be dual mounted in mating, seating or full surface engagement with coacting felloe surfaces of the rim and wheel by full tightening of the fastening assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a combination of dual inner and outer tire 
carrying rims mounted on a vehicle wheel without using a separating means 
such as an annular spacer. 
The inner spoke members of a dual wheel have a felloe comprising or having 
thereon a conical outwardly facing surface tapering toward a radially 
directed axially facing surface. 
The outer spoke members of a dual wheel have a felloe comprising or having 
thereon a segment of a radially directed axially facing surface which 
extends inwardly between radially outer dual axially oriented surfaces 
defining segments of a cylindrical outwardly facing surface. 
A rim, whether mounted as an inner dual or outer dual, may be of an 
identical and, therefore, interchangeable construction. The rims have a 
rim base edge portion with a radially inclined surface defining an annular 
conical inwardly facing surface intersecting a radially inner surface 
intersecting an axially outer surface and a plurality of clamp lugs 
integrally secured to the axially outer surface. Each clamp lug has a 
radially inwardly directed leg portion defining a segment of an axially 
facing surface. 
The accurate mounting of tire carrying rims on the felloe, felly or 
load-bearing portion of a wheel has long been a problem in the art. 
Vehicle operators and industry regulations seek longer tire life and 
complete safety in operation, even under the most severe of vehicle 
operating conditions. The tire manufacturers are endeavoring to provide 
tires which have optimum performance characteristics, including lateral 
and radial balance. Consequently, it is being required that this art 
provide elements, the wheels, the rims, and fastening assemblies therefor, 
which do not deteriorate, hinder or impair the projected performance 
characteristics of the tires. 
Heretofore, the spoked wheel structure of a tire-rimwheel assembly has been 
regarded primarily as a load carrying element attached to an axle of the 
vehicle and carrying the rim. The periphery of the wheel had felly 
surfaces to pilot or guide the rim into approximate mounting position. 
Thereafter, fastening assemblies were torqued down or tightened in such a 
manner that the tire carrying rim would not come loose from the wheel 
during use. If done correctly, as by an expert and conscientious mechanic, 
the prior art rim mounting techniques would not deteriorate, hinder or 
impair the performance characteristics of the tires. However, 
environmental or extrinsic factors such as warpage, deformation or damage 
to the rim and spacer or wear of the fastening assemblies could lead to 
relative displacement or non-alignment of the assembly components during 
fastening, creating conditions of what are now commonly referred to as 
excessive lateral (axial) or radial runout, or an imbalance of the 
tire-rim-wheel assembly during vehicle operation. 
The concepts of the invention provide wheel spoke members with proportioned 
or dimensioned felloe surfaces for mating, seating or full surface 
engagement with coacting surfaces on the rim base edge portion and clamp 
lug leg portions by full tightening of the fastening assemblies. 
An edge lugged rim and fastening assemblies therefor according to the 
invention, when used with wheels adapted thereto, positively controls and 
reduces lateral (axial) and radial runout, resists rim warpage or 
deformation, restricts or locks out the possibility of rim rotation 
relative to the wheel and provides better balance for the tire-rim-wheel 
assembly during vehicle operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of dual 
tire carrying rims seated and locked by fastening assemblies on a vehicle 
wheel. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide rims having a rim base 
edge portion with a radially inclined surface defining an annular conical 
inwardly facing surface intersecting a radially inner surface intersecting 
an axially outer surface and a plurality of clamp lugs integrally secured 
to the axially outer surface, each clamp lug having a radially inwardly 
directed leg portion defining a segment of an axially facing surface, 
which are mounted on the spoke members of a wheel having coacting felloe 
surfaces by the full tightening of fastening assemblies. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a combination of dual 
tire carrying rims seated and locked by fastening assemblies on a vehicle 
wheel which positively controls and reduces lateral (axial) and radial 
runout, resists rim warpage or deformation, restricts rim rotation 
relative to the wheel and provides better balance for the tire-rim-wheel 
assembly during operation. 
These and other objects of the invention, as well as the advantages 
thereof, will be apparent in view of the detailed description of the 
various embodiments thereof as set forth below. 
In general, an improved dual wheel according to the invention has a 
plurality of inner and outer spoke members. Each of the inner spoke 
members has a felloe comprising a radially inclined outer surface defining 
a segment of a conical outwardly facing surface tapering toward an 
adjacent radially directed surface extending inwardly and defining a 
segment of an axially facing surface oriented substantially perpendicular 
to the rotational axis of said wheel and providing a mounting location for 
an axially projecting component of a fastening assembly or means. Each of 
the outer spoke members has a felloe comprising a radially directed 
surface oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotational 
axis of the wheel and providing a mounting location for an axially 
projecting component of a fastening assembly. The outer wheel felloes may 
also have radially outer spaced-apart axially projecting wing portions 
providing outwardly facing dual axially oriented surfaces extending 
transversely of a radially directed wheel felloe surface. 
In general, a tire carrying rim according to the invention has a rim base 
edge portion with a radially inclined axially inner surface defining an 
annular conical inwardly facing surface intersecting a radially inner 
surface intersecting an axially outer surface. A plurality of clamp lugs 
are integrally secured to the axially outer surface. Each clamp lug has a 
radially inwardly directed leg portion defining a segment of an axially 
facing surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis 
of the rim and having a bore therethrough for receiving an axially 
projecting component of a fastening assembly. 
In general, each fastening assembly for mounting an inner dual rim will 
comprise a threaded fastener having a rotatable element for bearing 
engagement against the leg portion of each clamp lug. 
In general, each fastening assembly for mounting an outer dual rim will 
have a threaded fastener and a clamp element and a rotatable element 
supported thereon. The rotatable element is for bearing engagement against 
the clamp element. Each clamp element will have a radially outer portion 
with a radially inclined surface for mating engagement with a radially 
inclined surface on the rim base edge portion and lateral wing portions 
for mating engagement with outwardly facing felloe surfaces. A clamp 
element may also have an axially inwardly directed member for mating 
engagement with the leg portion of a clamp lug. 
According to the invention, an outer dual tire carrying rim is seated on, 
and thereafter locked on, a wheel by initial and final tightening of 
fastening assemblies. During initial tightening of the fastening 
assemblies toward the clamp lug leg portions, the radially inclined rim 
base edge portion surface will seat in concentric radial registry with the 
radially inclined surfaces on the radially outer clamp element portions. 
The lateral wing clamp element portions are also in mating engagement with 
outwardly facing dual axially oriented wheel felloe surfaces. Final 
tightening of the fastening assemblies will lock the rim on the wheel, in 
axial and radial alignment and registry relative to the rotational axis of 
rim and wheel, by the full surface engagement of the clamp lug leg 
portions with radially directed wheel felloe surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
A wheel for use with a tire carrying rim according to the invention is 
referred to generally by the numeral 20 or 120. A tire carrying rim 
according to the invention is referred to generally by the numeral 21. The 
fastening assemblies which are tightened for seating and locking of a rim 
21 are referred to generally by the numeral 22 or 122. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a wheel 20 for mounting a tire carrying rim 21 has a 
plurality of spaced-apart spoke members 23 extending radially from a 
conventional hub area (not shown) adapted for attachment of the wheel to a 
vehicle axle (not shown). The outer spoke members are more specifically 
indicated by 23(O). 
Each spoke member 23 terminates in a felloe, felly or load-bearing portion 
referred to generally by the numeral 25. The outer felloes are more 
specifically indicated by 25(O). 
Each wheel felloe 25 has a predetermined mounting location indicated 
generally at 26 for the axially projecting component of a fastening 
assembly 22. As shown, the axially projecting component of a fastening 
assembly 22 is an elongated stud 27 having an inner end with peripheral 
threads 28 for mating engagement with bore threads 29. Alternatively, the 
studs 27 may be attached to the felloe portions 25 as by a conventional 
arc stud or capacitor-discharge welds. 
A wheel 20 has a felloe portion 25(O) with spaced-apart axially projecting 
wing portions 33 providing outwardly facing dual axially oriented surfaces 
34 extending transversely of a radially directed surface 35. Each surface 
35 defines a segment of an axially facing surface and extends inwardly 
between the axially oriented surfaces 34 substantially perpendicular to 
the rotational axis of a wheel 20 and has a mounting location 26 for the 
elongated stud 27 of a fastening assembly 22. 
A tire carrying rim 21 has a fixed bead flange (not shown) and a removable 
bead flange 36 for seating the beads (not shown) of a tire in a 
conventional manner. As shown in FIG. 1 the removable bead flange 36 may 
have a transversely split lock ring 37. In all embodiments of a rim 21, 
the removable bead flange 36 is carried by an annular rim base edge 
portion 38. 
The rim base edge portion 38 has a radially inclined axially inner surface 
39 defining an annular conical inwardly facing surface. A surface 39 
intersects an axially oriented radially inner surface 40 which intersects 
a radially directed axially outer surface 41. 
A rim base edge portion 38 has securely attached or connected thereto, as 
by a weld 44, clamp lugs referred to generally by the numeral 45. The 
radially inwardly directed leg portion 46 of each clamp lug 45 defines the 
plane of a substantially continuous axially facing surface oriented 
substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of a rim 21 and has a 
bore 47 for receiving the axially projecting component 27 or 127 of a 
fastening assembly 22 or 122. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a clamp lug 45 having in cross section a generally 
rectangular shape is secured, as by a weld 44, to a conforming rim surface 
41. As shown, the clamp lug leg portion 46 is locked against the surface 
35 on a felloe portion 25 or 25(O) by a fastening assembly comprising an 
elongated stud 27, a clamp element 64 and a rotatable nut 53. A clamp 
element 64 has a bore 65 for receiving the stud 27. A clamp element 64 
also has lateral wing portions 66 providing downwardly facing dual axially 
oriented surfaces 67 for seating on conforming wheel felloe surfaces 34. A 
clamp element 64 also preferably has an axially inwardly directed lower 
leg portion 68 for mating engagement against a clamp lug leg portion 46. 
The radially outer portion of a clamp element 64 has a radially inclined 
surface 69 intersecting an axially oriented surface 70 for mating 
engagement with conforming rim base edge portion surfaces 39 and 40. 
Referring to FIG. 3, a clamp lug 45 may be used on a rim 21 having a 
radially inwardly projecting flange 75 carrying a rim base edge portion 
78. The base portion 78 has a radially inclined axially inner surface 79 
defining a conical inwardly facing surface. A surface 79 intersects an 
axially oriented radially inner surface 80 which intersects a radially 
directed axially outer surface 81. The conical inwardly facing surface 79 
may conform to and be seated on a conforming surface of a felloe portion 
25(I) or 25. Alternatively, the conical rim surface 79 may conform to and 
be seated on a radially inclined surface on a stud supported clamp element 
of a fastening assembly 22. A clamp lug 45 having an axially oriented 
surface 50 intersecting a radially directed surface 51 is securely 
attached to the conforming surfaces 80 and 81 on the rim base portion 78, 
as by welds 44. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, tire carrying rims 21 may be dual mounted on a 
vehicle wheel referred to generally by the numeral 120 using fastening 
assemblies referred to generally by the numeral 122. 
A wheel 120 has a plurality of spoke members 123 extending radially from a 
conventional hub area (not shown) adapted for attachment of a wheel 120 to 
a vehicle axle (not shown). 
Each spoke member 123 terminates in a felloe portion referred to generally 
by the numeral 125. The inner felloes are indicated by 125(I) and the 
outer felloes are indicated by 125(O). 
Each felloe portion 125 has a predetermined mounting location indicated 
generally at 126 for the axially projecting component of a fastening means 
or assembly 122. As shown, the axially projecting component attached to 
the felloe portion 125 at a mounting location 126 is an elongated stud 127 
having an inner end with peripheral threads 128 for mating engagement with 
bore threads 129. Alternatively, the studs 127 may be attached to the 
felloe portions 125 at a mounting location 126 as by a conventional arc 
stud or capacitor-discharge welds. 
The wheel felloe portions 125(I) have outwardly facing dual axially 
oriented surfaces 135 extending substantially parallel to the rotational 
axis of the wheel 120. Each surface 135 intersects a radially inclined 
surface 136, extending outwardly away from a surface 135 at a suitable 
angle. A radially directed surface 137 extends inwardly away from and 
between each surface 135, preferably substantially perpendicular to the 
rotational axis of the wheel 120. Each surface 137 has a mounting location 
126 for the axially projecting component 127 of a fastening means 122. 
The wheel felloe portions 125(O) have dual axially oriented surfaces 138 
extending substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel. Each 
surface 138 intersects a radially directed surface 139. A surface 139 is 
oriented transversely to and between the surfaces 138, preferably 
substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the wheel 20. Each 
surface 139 has a mounting location 126 for the axially projecting 
component of a fastening assembly 122. Each wheel felloe portion 125(O) 
has spaced-apart axially projecting wing portions 141 providing for 
outwardly facing dual axially oriented surfaces 138. 
The axially oriented surfaces 135 and 138 on each spoke member 123 have the 
same or identical diameter as measured from the rotational axis of the 
wheel 120. 
A dual rim wheel 120 preferably has ten alternating spoke members 123 with 
an axially spaced-apart and staggered relation to an adjacent spoke 
member. 
The inner and outer spoke members 123 may be interconnected by web members 
143. 
The fastening assemblies 122 for locking the inner rim 21 on the felloe 
portions 25(I), with the rim surface 40 in mating engagement with the 
axially oriented felloe surfaces 135 and the clamp lug leg portions 46 in 
mating or full surface engagement with the radially directed felloe 
surfaces 137, have a rotatable nut 153 carried on the stud 127. 
The fastening assemblies 122 for locking the outer rim 21 on the felloe 
portions 125(O), with the rim surface 40 in mating engagement with the 
axially oriented felloe surfaces 138 and the clamp lug leg portions 46 in 
mating or full surface engagement with the radially directed felloe 
surfaces 139, include an elongated stud 127, a rotatable nut 153 and a 
clamp element 154. A clamp element 154 has a bore 155 for receiving the 
stud 127. Although not shown, a clamp element 154 may also have an axially 
inwardly directed lower leg portion, substantially equivalent to the 
element identified by the numeral 68 on the clamp element 64 as shown in 
FIG. 1, for mating engagement against a clamp lug lower leg portion 46. A 
clamp element 154 will also have lateral wing portions 156 providing for 
downwardly facing dual axially oriented surfaces 157 for seating on 
conforming wheel felloe surfaces 138. The radially outer portion of a 
clamp element has a radially inclined surface 158 for mating engagement 
with a conforming rim surface 39. The clamp element 154 may also have an 
inwardly directed lower leg portion which is axially extended, in the 
manner of a clamp element lower leg portion 68 as shown in FIG. 1, for 
mating engagement against a clamp lug leg portion 46. 
Referring to FIG. 2, a rim 21 may have a clamp lug 45 which is an annular 
or circumferentially continuous element. In this form, a clamp lug would 
have the leg portions 46 with the bores 47 therethrough at spaced 
intervals conforming to the spacing of the spoke members 23.