Abstract:
In this invention ballistic resistant materials are integrated into a wheel for protection of the Tire Bead Bundle, protection of hardware, and protection of hub components. The Tire Bead Bundle can be protected by supplementing the existing rim flange with ballistic resistant material and/or by placing such material between the flange and the bead bundle. Further, for protection of hardware (including Manual Inflation or CTI Valves), ballistic resistant material can be incorporated over or on wheel hardware. Finally, ballistic resistant materials can be incorporated over or on the wheel hub diameter to reduce the risk of damage due to ballistic attacks.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims an invention which was disclosed in a provisional application filed Feb. 16, 2007, Ser. No. 60/901,794, entitled “Integration of a Ballistic Resistant Materials into a Wheel”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Our invention pertains to the integration of ballistic resistant materials and functionality into a wheel. More particularly, this invention describes means for attachment or inclusion of ballistic resistant materials to/in the wheel for protection of the bead bundle of the tire on the wheel, the wheel itself, and vulnerable sections of the vehicle hub, brake, axle, and so forth. 
         [0003]      FIGS. 1 and 2  provide background on the structure of typical wheel and tire assemblies. More specifically,  FIG. 1  shows a section of a one-piece wheel assembly  1 , while  FIG. 2  shows a section of a two-piece wheel assembly  16 . 
         [0004]    The one-piece wheel assembly  1  of  FIG. 1  includes a wheel  2  with tire  3 . Parts of wheel include a rim portion  4  and a disc portion  5 . The rim portion  4  of the wheel  2  consists of a drop center area  6 , flanges  7  and a valve  8 . The disc portion  5  of the wheel  2  consists of mounting holes  9  and a hub bore area  10 . Parts of a tire  3  include the tire beads  11 , the bead bundle  12 , the sidewall  13 , and the tread area  14 . The tire  3  and rim portion  4  form a chamber  15  that contains a pressured fluid (usually air). 
         [0005]    The two-piece wheel assembly  16  of  FIG. 2  includes a two-piece wheel  17 , a tire  3 , and a central tire inflation (CTI) valve  18  attached to a two-piece wheel  17 . A two-piece wheel  17  consists of an inner rim  19  and an outer rim  20  connected using a stud  21  and nut  22 . The tire beads  11  may be secured against the rim flange(s)  7  using a beadlock insert (not shown). The CTI valve  18  uses an airway  23  from the hub (not shown) to the CTI valve  18  and an airway  24  from the CTI valve to the tire cavity. These internal passageways  23  and  24  are patented under U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,383 and European Patent EP 1 262 340 A2. The insert of the wheel, in addition to locking the tire beads  11  against the rim flange(s)  7 , may also provide runflat capability when the air chamber  15  is not inflated. The tire  3  may or may not provide limited runflat capability through other methods such as stiff sidewalls. 
         [0006]    However, whether a one-piece wheel assembly  1  of the type illustrated in  FIG. 1  or a two-piece wheel assembly  16  of the type illustrated in  FIG. 2 , there is currently no explicit protection in place for ballistic attacks. Wheels are typically made of structural steel or aluminum that, by themselves, provide little to no ballistic resistance. Projectiles can rupture the tire, the rim, the hub, or a combination thereof. To the extent that covers are used on existing wheels, their primary purpose is to protect wheel components (i.e. lug nuts, valves, hub components) from impact damage incurred during vehicle operation. These covers do not provide any protection against ballistic attack. 
         [0007]    Thus, although many components of military and security vehicles are protected through various up-armoring technologies, the wheel/tire assembly remains one of the more vulnerable areas to ballistic attack. A rupture of the tire bead bundle can result in complete air loss and possible dislodging of the tire beads from the rim flange. The effects of this failure inhibit the vehicle from moving and possibly escaping life-threatening environments. 
         [0008]    This problem of ballistic attack on a wheel/tire assembly is partially solved through the use of a runflat/beadlock insert. By locking the tire beads in place (beadlock/runflat) and providing the tire support, the vehicle is still mobile for a period of time even if air is evacuated from the tire cavity. However, one disadvantage of this method is that no protection is provided for a ballistic attack that damages or destroys the tire bead bundle. If the integrity of the bead bundle is compromised, the beadlock function diminishes and the tire may become dislodged from the wheel rim. If this happens, even runflat/beadlock inserts will not serve to delay the inevitable. 
         [0009]    The purpose of this invention is, therefore, to protect the tire bead bundle and components of a wheel assembly and/or vehicle from ballistic damage. Ballistic damage is any damage sustained by the wheel/tire assembly from projectiles including, but not limited to, rifle fire, explosives, and explosive shrapnel. This protection is focused on, but not limited to, the bead bundle of the tire on the wheel, central tire inflation (CTI) valve on or in the wheel, the wheel itself, and vulnerable sections of the vehicle hub, brake, axle, etc. within the envelope of the wheel. This disclosure does not seek to patent the specific materials or coatings, or combination thereof, used to implement this invention, but instead the methodology and embodiments to integrate this concept onto/into a wheel. 
         [0010]    The purposes of our invention are primarily fulfilled by integration of ballistic resistant materials into a wheel for protection of the Tire Bead Bundle, protection of hardware, and protection of hub components. First, the Tire Bead Bundle is protected by supplementing the existing rim flange with ballistic resistant material, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of damage to the Tire Bead Bundle. Second, although covers already exist to prevent dislodging of hardware (valves, for example) on the wheel rim or disc during vehicle operation, such covers still leave these components vulnerable to ballistic attack. Thus, for protection of hardware (including Manual Inflation or CTI Valves), we incorporate a ballistic resistant material over or on wheel hardware to reduce risk of damage due to ballistic attacks. Third, although covers already exist to prevent rock, brush or curb damage to wheel and hub components protruding from the wheel face during vehicle operation, they still leave said components vulnerable to ballistic attack. Thus, here we also incorporate a ballistic resistant material over or on the wheel hub diameter to reduce the risk of damage due to ballistic attacks. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a prior art one-piece wheel assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  provides a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a prior art two-piece wheel assembly with externally mounted CTI valve and quick release valve. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  provides a cross-sectional view of a portion of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a ballistic resistant material affixed to its rim flange. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  provides a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a ballistic resistant material in the form of a ring affixed to its wheel flange. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  provides a cross-sectional view of a portion of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a modified rim flange partially wrapping around ballistic resistant material. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  provides a cross-sectional view of a portion of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a modified rim flange partially wrapping around ballistic resistant material. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  provides a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a ballistic resistant material in the form of a split ring partially inside its modified rim flange. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  provides a cross-sectional view of a portion of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, ballistic resistant material inside a modified rim flange. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  provides a cross-sectional view of a portion of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a ballistic resistant fabric interlaced in a rubber material and placed between the bead and the wheel. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  provides a cross-sectional view of a portion of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a rim flange made from ballistic resistant material. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  provides a cross-sectional view of a portion of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a ballistic resistant plate mounted to the disc area of the wheel. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  provides a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a two-piece wheel assembly which includes, in accordance with the teachings of our invention, a cover for a CTI Valve formed from a ballistic resistant material. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    A first mode of implementing of our invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which shows ballistic resistant material  25  affixed to a standard rim flange  7  such that the bead bundle  12  is better protected from ballistic damage. Ballistic resistant materials are defined as materials, coatings, composites or combinations thereof that are capable of slowing, stopping, fragmenting or deflecting projectiles in motion. This includes, but is not limited to, ballistic grade steel, reactive armor, titanium, composites, spring steels, fibers and fabrics, ceramics, and coatings. (Further and more detailed information on ballistic resistant materials and their normal applications can be acquired from numerous military and industry sources such as, e.g.,  The AMPTIAC Quarterly , Vol. 8, Number 4 (2004), published by the Advanced Materials and Processes Technology Information Analysis Center (AMPTIAC)). 
         [0024]    The material  25  can be affixed to the flange  7  using adhesives, mechanical fasteners, clips, pressure, or other means. The form of the ballistic resistant material  25  can be either continuous or in multiple sections to cover the desired area of protection. Thus,  FIG. 4  provides an example of ballistic resistant material  25  in the form of a continuous ring  26  affixed to the wheel flange  7  using threaded fasteners  27 . 
         [0025]    The mode of implementation addressed in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is further developed in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  show two designs for modified rim flanges  28  with extensions that partially wrap around (and hold/brace/contain) the ballistic resistant material  25 . As the foregoing makes clear, ballistic resistant material  25  can be partially or fully enclosed by the rim flange  28 . Once again, the form of ballistic resistant material  25  partially or fully enclosed by the flange  28  can be either continuous, split, or in multiple sections. The material  25  can be retained in the flange  28  using adhesives, mechanical fasteners, clips, pressure, or other means.  FIG. 7  shows the ballistic resistant material  25  in the form of a split ring  29 , partially inside the flange  28  of the wheel  17 . Here the method of assembly is facilitated by provision of protrusions  30  on the split ring  29  sections that serve to facilitate insertion into the modified rim flange  28  and connection of the split ring  29  sections. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show a somewhat different mode for implementing our invention—placement of the ballistic resistant material between the bead and rim/flange.  FIG. 8 , for example, shows the ballistic resistant material  25  inside a modified rim flange  31  (on the tire side of the rim flange).  FIG. 9 , provides another example, illustrating a ballistic resistant fabric  32  interlaced in, e.g., a rubber material  33  between the bead and rim/flange. Here, the nature of the ballistic resistant fabric helps to provide ballistic resistance, while the rubber or other “sealing” material helps to assure an air-tight seal. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  also show different modes of implementing our invention.  FIG. 10  shows a rim flange  34  that is itself made itself of ballistic resistant material  25 .  FIG. 11  shows a ballistic resistant material  25  mounted to the disc area  5  of the wheel  17  in the form of a plate  35  such that it provides protection to the tire bead  12 , wheel  17 , CTI valve  18 , fill valve  8 , wheel hardware  21  and  22 , hub components (not shown), air hoses (not shown), any other critical component or a combination thereof. The ballistic resistant material  25  can be affixed to the disc  5  using adhesives, mechanical fasteners, clips, pressure, or other means. This method of protection can be applied in sections to cover specific areas or plate  35  can be a continuous part encompassing the entire circumference of the area requiring protection (as illustrated). Finally,  FIG. 12  shows a complete cover  36  formed from a ballistic resistant material used for covering and protecting a component that is part of, or attached to, the wheel such as CTI Valve  18 . 
         [0028]    Once attached to or integrated in the wheel assembly, the ballistic protection will stop, slow, fragment and/or deflect a projectile traveling toward the wheel assembly. This provides a means of reducing or eliminating ballistic damage to critical parts of the wheel/tire/hub assembly including, but not limited to, the tire bead bundle, wheel hardware (including CTI valves, manual valves, hoses, and fasteners), and hub/axle components. 
         [0029]    However, numerous variations are possible without deviating from and/or exceeding the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, as shown in some of the figures throughout this document, this invention can be utilized in many different wheel configurations, including but not limited to:
       a. Rim profiles: Standard, meaning Tire &amp; Rim Association (TRA), European Type &amp; Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO), etc. and non-standard rim profiles can be used with the invention.   b. Wheel Material: This invention can be utilized on wheels of any material or material combination including, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, titanium, composites, etc.   c. Multi-piece Rims: The application of this invention extends to use on both single-piece and multi-piece rims.   d. Areas of Protection: This invention can be implemented to protect from ballistic attack both the flange area and disc area of the wheel either independently or simultaneously.   e. Rim Flanges: This invention can be implemented on either or both rim flanges or wheel halves.       
 
         [0035]    Finally, the following parts list for the drawing figures may be found to be of assistance in understanding more fully the concepts of our invention:
         1  1-Piece Wheel Assembly     2  1-Piece Wheel     3  Tire     4  Rim Portion of a Wheel     5  Disc Portion of a Wheel     6  Drop Center Area of a Rim     7  Rim Flange Portion of a Rim     8  Fill Valve     9  Mounting Holes of a Wheel     10  Hub Bore Area of a Wheel     11  Tire Bead     12  Tire Bead Bundle     13  Tire Sidewall     14  Tire Tread     15  Chamber     16  2-Piece Wheel Assembly     17  2-Piece Wheel     18  CTI Valve     19  Inner Rim     20  Outer Rim     21  Stud     22  Nut     23  Hub-Side CTI Airway     24  Tire-Side CTI Airway     25  Ballistic Resistant Material     26  Ballistic Resistant Material in the form of a Ring     27  Ring Fasteners     28  Modified Rim Flange Profile ( FIGS. 5 and 6 )     29  Ballistic Resistant Material in the form of Split Ring     30  Split Ring Protrusion     31  Modified Rim Flange ( FIG. 8 )     32  Ballistic Resistant Fabric     33  Rubber Lining     34  Modified Rim Flange ( FIG. 9 )     35  Ballistic Resistant Material in the form of a Plate     36  Ballistic Resistant CTI Valve Cover       
 
         [0072]    Thus, as the foregoing makes clear, our invention generally comprehends all systems where ballistic resistant materials and functionality are integrated into or provided over a wheel. In addition, as the foregoing should also make clear, numerous variations can be made without exceeding the inventive concept. Moreover, various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made, by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the claims that follow.