Two piece rim and tire connected assembly

A two-piece rim and tire assembly. The tire is held to the rim by fasteners extending through flanges integral with the tire main body and then into the rim. Further, the outer edges of the rim clinchably mount the tire main body thereto. A flexible overhanging portion extends outwardly of the tire main body minimizing dirt and mud accumulation on the tire and rim. A bearing is held within the rim by a ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of tires and wheel/tire assemblies.

Description of the Prior Art

A variety of wheel rim/tire assemblies are provided for use in different environments with different surfaces supporting the wheel rim/tire assembly. Separate problems exist in the case of such assemblies for supporting a tractor, trailer or other type of vehicle driven across rough ground, such as found in an agricultural environment. In many cases, the rim and tire have a relatively large diameter allowing for possible relative movement between the rim and tire as the wheel encounters variations in the terrain including ridges and rocks. It is the custom to provide a rim having outer circumferentially extending and mutually facing rim edges that clinch tightly on the opposite sides of the tire providing a unified assembly. Disclosed herein is a means of attaching the tire to the rim by means of tabs or flanges integrally connected to the tire and then fastened directly to the wheel rim thereby limiting relative motion between the tire and rim. Further, and in particular in an agricultural environment, the tire and rim may accumulate mud from the field as the wheel is driven across the field. The tire disclosed herein includes a circumferentially extending portion that extends outwardly from the main body of the tire and rim with the portion being flexible thereby shaking off the mud as the wheel is rotated. An additional problem occurs when removing the bearing provided in the wheel hub mounted to the vehicle axle. As the result, the tire in many cases must be removed from the rim with the rim then being disassembled to allow for the removal of the bearing. The assembly disclosed herein has a bearing that may be removed from the wheel without requiring either the removal of the tire from the rim or the disassembly of the rim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On embodiment of the present invention is a wheel assembly that is mountable to a vehicle. A first wheel disc has a first circular rim with a first outer portion and a first hub with a first central opening. A second wheel disc has a second circular rim with a second outer portion and a second hub and a second central opening. First fasteners extend from the first hub to the second hub securing the first wheel disc to the second wheel disc and forming a wheel rim so the first central opening is aligned with the second central opening with a central rotational axis. A tire with a main body is attached to the wheel rim and clinched between the first outer portion and the second outer portion of the first wheel disc and the second wheel disc facing each other. Second fasteners attach the tire to the wheel rim.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a wheel rim for mounting a tire to a vehicle. A first wheel disc has a first circular rim and a first hub with a first central opening. A second wheel disc has a second circular rim and a second hub and a second central opening. Fastening means are connected to the first hub and to the second hub securing the first wheel disc to the second wheel disc together forming a wheel rim so the first central opening is aligned with the second central opening defining a central rotational axis of the wheel rim. Fasteners extend through the tire and the wheel rim to secure the tire to the wheel rim; and wherein the first wheel disc is secured to the second wheel disc and defines a tire receiving clinching space therebetween.

Yet a further embodiment of the present invention is a tire for mounting to a wheel rim in turn mountable to an axle of a vehicle. The tire main body surrounds the wheel rim with the main body including an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface with a first exterior side surface and a second exterior side surface extending between the inwardly facing surface the outwardly facing surface. The main body includes a plurality of flanges projecting inwardly with the flanges fixedly connectable to the wheel rim limiting relative motion between the tire and the wheel rim.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tire that will minimize the accumulation of dirt and mud thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wheel rim and tire assembly that provides a fixed connection between the tire and rim minimizing relative motion therebetween to prevent the tire from rolling off the wheel rim while allowing the tire to be flexible relative to the wheel rim shaking off any dirt thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wheel rim/tire combination having a centrally located bearing that is easily removable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tire having tabs attaching the tire to the rim with the tire having a flexible outer portion cooperatively allowing and creating flexibility in the tire that will shake mud and dirt from the wheel.

Related object and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in particular to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of wheel30is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. A front view of the assembly which is the side of the assembly facing outward is shown inFIG. 1whereas the inwardly facing side facing the vehicle upon which the assembly is mounted is shown inFIG. 2. Many variations of tires are available and can be used in the instant combination. For example, the tire may or may not be inflated and typically will be hard or soft depending upon whether the user, such as a farmer has soft or hard ground. The tire31(FIG. 4) includes a plurality of tabs or flanges35integrally attached to the main body36of the tire. Flanges35extends radially inward and are attached to the wheel rim32(FIG. 2).

Referring now more particularly toFIGS. 6-9, a first wheel disc33will now be described it being understood that an identical description applies to the second wheel disc34with the exception that disc34includes a recess for receiving a snap ring adjacent the wheel bearing whereas disc33has a shoulder to receive the bearing as will be described later in the specification. Disc33has a first circular continuous rim38joined to a central hub39by radially extending spokes40. The opposite ends of the spokes are integrally joined to circular rim38and hub39. Hole41extends centrally through hub39and defines the axis42(FIG. 10) of rotation of the wheel. The continuous outer portions38of each wheel disc33and34are indented forming shoulders43(FIGS. 7 and 10) to receive a reduced portion44of the main body of tire31.

Fastener holes extend through hub39and the outer portion38of wheel disc33to receive fasteners securing wheel disc33and34together as well as securing the radially inwardly extending flanges35to the wheel rim. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, hub39includes three holes45extending therethrough to receive fasteners for securing the hub to the adjacent hub of wheel disc34. In addition, the outer portion38of disc33includes six holes46to receive fasteners extending through disc33and then through the tire flanges with the fasteners then extending through the outer portion of disc34.

A plurality of tire flange receiving areas or recesses47(FIG. 7) are formed on the inwardly facing side of the outer portion of disc33with each recess47being aligned with a corresponding fastener hole46. In addition, pegs48are mounted to the inwardly facing side of disc33and project towards and into disc34.

In the embodiment in the drawings, a total of three fastener holes45are shown in hub39and six fastener holes46are shown on the outer portion of the disc it being understood that the number of fastener holes can be varied and is included in the present invention. Further, three pegs48are shown mounted to the inwardly facing side of disc33to project into complimentary sized holes in the mutually facing side of disc34which includes three additional pegs that extend from disc34and into disc33. Thus, a total of six pegs lock the first wheel disc33and the second wheel disc34together with recesses47being spaced between pegs48and peg holes46. In an embodiment shown inFIG. 7, either a peg48or a peg hole46is provided between adjacent recesses47of disc33and disc34.

Tire31(FIG. 4) is mountable to the wheel rim composed of wheel disc33and34secured together. Tire31includes a main body50with an outwardly facing tread surface51for directly engaging the ground or other surface upon which the tire moves. Further, main body50has an inwardly facing surface52in contact with the wheel rim. Tabs or flanges35are an integral part of main body31and project radially inward towards the rotational axis42. Each flange53includes a hole53through which a fastener extends to connect the tire directly to the opposing wheel disc33and34. A first exterior side surface54(FIG. 10) and a second exterior side surface55extend between the inwardly facing tire surface52and the outwardly facing tire surface51. The tire may be hollow or solid depending upon the particular application. Flange35projects inwardly from surface52.

The wheel rim is assembled by placing the interior surfaces56of disc33and57of disc34together so that the outer portion38of disc33and the outer portion68of disc34face outwardly thereby forming the wheel rim. The tire31is mounted to the wheel rim by extending the flanges35into the aligned recesses47(FIG. 7) of adjacent wheel discs33and34. Thus, the recesses47of disc33must be aligned and positioned immediately across from the recesses47of wheel disc34. Fasteners60(FIG. 10) are then extended into recesses47. For example, the shank of fastener60(FIG. 10) is first extended through the hole46of wheel disc34with the shank then passing through flange35of the tire and then exiting the flange passing through the aligned hole46of disc33wherein a fastening nut69is threaded onto the shank of the bolt with the head of the bolt being located in recess47of disc34. In this manner, all of the inwardly extending flanges35of the tire are extended into the mutually facing recesses47(FIG. 3) and then secured therein by the fasteners60.

Agricultural tires are customarily mounted to their wheel rims by fitting the main body of the tire between the circumferentially extending mutually facing rims which are then tightened together to clinch the tire main body therebetween. Thus, as shown inFIG. 10, the circumferentially and outer extending edge portions61of the wheel discs are mutually opposed forming shoulders43in contact with the inwardly projecting portion62of the tire main body. As fasteners60are tightened, the mutually facing shoulders43of wheel discs33and34are moved towards each other thereby clinching and holding the inwardly projecting portion62of the tire therebetween. Securing flanges35directly to the wheel rim via fasteners60adds further stability to the wheel rim/tire assembly limiting relative motion between the wheel rim and the tire. Flange35is therefore sandwiched between the disc33and34once the flanges are inserted into the recesses47and secured thereto.

Fasteners70(FIG. 10) are extended through the mutually facing holes45of disc33and34securing the two discs together and forming the wheel rim. For example, the shank of fasteners70is extended into hole45of disc34and then into the aligned hole45of disc33being secured thereto by a conventional fastening nut with the head of the bolt being located within the recess provided in disc34.

The main body50of tire31has an overhanging flexible portion71that extends outwardly of the remaining portion of the entire main body. Further, the overhanging portion can extend outwardly of the wheel rim. The overhanging portion71is integral with the tire main body and has a thickness72considerably less than the thickness of the remaining portion of the tire. Overhanging portion71extends continuously around the circumference of the tire and is sufficiently flexible so that when impacted by an external object, such as a rock or raised ground portion will bend inwardly and then outwardly thereby shaking off the dirt or mud accumulating on the tire. In this manner, the tire as well as the rim are kept relatively free of dirt and mud accumulating thereon. Overhanging portion71jets outwardly from the side wall55of the tire and can be positioned either on the tire portion facing away from the vehicle or the tire portion facing towards the vehicle. Likewise, overhanging portions can be provided so as to jet out from both surfaces54and55. In addition, overhanging portion71may be manually moved by an operator contacting portion71by hand or with another object or with a particular object fastened to the vehicle.

The attachment of the tire to the rim by fasteners or bolts60(FIG. 10) extending through the flanges, also referred to as tabs35, and into the rim prevent the tire from rolling off the rim as is the case in certain cases with the prior tire/rim combinations. Further, the attachment of the tabs to the rim via the fasteners allow for movement of the tire relative to the rim resulting in the dirt/mud to be shaken off the tire and rim. The attaching of the tire to the rim by fasteners not only allows for flexibility but also provides a secure manner of mounting the tire to the rim.

A conventional bearing75(FIG. 1) is located within the mutually facing holes41(FIG. 6) of wheel discs33and34. The bearing facilitates the rotational motion of the wheel along axis42(FIG. 10) relative to the vehicle. A variety of methods are utilized to mount the wheel to a vehicle, such as by extending a fastening bolt through the central opening of the bearing to the vehicle axle. In order to replace the bearing in the prior devices, it is necessary to remove the tire from the rim. I have therefore devised a bearing that is held in place by means of a C-clamp or snap ring76. Ring76(FIG. 10) is located at opening41of disc34and has an outer edge portion77that rides within a groove78formed on the interior surface79of hub39of disc34. Groove78extends continuously around longitudinal axis42allowing the opposite ends of the ring to be moved together thereby decreasing the diameter of the ring with the ring then being slipped into groove78with the opposite ends of the C-shaped ring then being released thereby snapping the ring into the groove. The ring76abuts the end of the ring thereby limiting the movement of the bearing in one direction along the longitudinal axis42. In order to exchange the bearing, the ring is removed from the hub, the bearing is replaced by a new bearing and the ring is then reinstalled into the groove78.

Disc33is not provided with a groove78. Instead, a shoulder88is provided in the hub39of disc33that is located against the end of the bearing limiting longitudinal movement of the bearing along axis42.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. For example, the term ‘vehicle’ as used herein both in the specification and claims includes both a self-propelled vehicle as well as a vehicle that is not self-propelled that is pulled or pushed by another vehicle. Most seeders used in the agriculture industry are typically located behind and pulled by tractors. The present invention includes the inventions disclosed herein as used with various types of vehicles including seeders.