Abstract:
A multi-piece wheel assembly is provided to allow use for extreme duty agricultural equipment of a low profile side wall tire that has less internal volume and thus requires less foam fill and cost to flat-proof the tire. In various non-limiting aspects, the wheel assembly is a multi-piece wheel assembly, preferably a two-piece wheel, allowing the mounting of a low profile tire, in particular a low profile extreme duty agricultural implement tire, to the wheel assembly.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure concerns wheels for rough terrain vehicles. More particularly, this disclosure concerns a multi-piece wheel rim for extreme duty agricultural equipment, such as heavy duty rotary cutters. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Rotary cutters are an example of extreme duty agricultural equipment. They are typically PTO-driven and connected to a tractor via a drawbar. They are normally used to mow medians, ditches, and right-of-ways along public roads as well as waterways in agricultural fields. These mowers operate in a harsh environment. Trash and debris frequently puncture and/or destroy ordinary pneumatic tires. 
         [0003]    To address this issue, many manufacturers utilize used aircraft tires. Aircraft tires are designed for high load capacity and small size, so they contain a high number of plies (for example, 16-20 plies). This high ply count also works to offer a large degree of puncture resistance. When these tires are installed on rotary cutters, many customers choose to additionally fill the tires with foam to create non-pneumatic tires that are free from flats. 
         [0004]    The aircraft tire, however, has several drawbacks, including:
       a) Relatively high cost;   b) the additional cost in foam-filling to be flat-free; and   c) a limited supply of used aircraft tires having a growing demand and a shrinking supply.       
 
         [0008]    Conventional tires in this size also have significant drawbacks. The inner cavity inside the tire and rim is typically large and requires a large volume of foam to fill to flat proof the tire. This adds unnecessary weight and cost. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present disclosure addresses the problems associated with extreme duty agricultural implements, such as heavy duty rotary cutters. In particular, the present design provides a multi-piece wheel rim assembly that permits use of conventional tires on extreme duty agricultural implements while minimizing the inner volume and foam required for filling the tires. Low profile tires are particularly difficult, if not impossible, to mount on a conventional wheel due to the high stiffness required for their sidewalls. The typical way to overcome such difficulty is to include a drop center in the rim base of the conventional wheel to aid in mounting a low profile tire to the wheel. Such a drop center adds to the internal volume, thus again adding undesired weight and cost to foam fill the tire. 
         [0010]    In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a multi-piece wheel rim designed to allow use of a low profile side wall tire that has less internal volume and thus requires less foam fill and cost to flat proof the tire. In various non-limiting aspects, the wheel rim is a multi-piece wheel assembly, preferably a two-piece wheel, allowing the mounting of a low profile tire, in particular a low profile extreme duty agricultural implement tire, to the wheel. 
         [0011]    One-piece wheels require a well, or the aforementioned drop center (a recess in the center portion of the rim base of the wheel) feature in the rim base to allow the tire bead on one half of the tire to sit in to allow the opposed bead on the other half of the tire clearance over the rim flange during installation. This well adds to the internal volume of the tire. Two-piece wheels are usually symmetrical halves (inner and outer) that are fastened together and do not require any special features for tire mounting. Elimination of the well reduces the internal volume. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, a wheel assembly is provided comprising: an outer section and an inner section, each section having a generally circular face, the face including a wheel hole configured to receive a stub on an axel hub, a first plurality of holes disposed radially outwardly from the wheel hole configured to receive a lug for securing the wheel assembly to an axel hub, a first flange outwardly disposed from a periphery of the face, the first flange forming a wheel rim base, a second plurality of holes radially disposed in the face each to receive a fastener for fastening the outer and inner sections together, and a rim flange formed in a distal peripheral edge of the first flange opposite the face of the section, wherein the first flange of each section is disposed from a periphery of its respective face such that when the outer section and the inner section are fastened together the first flanges are positioned opposite each other and are disposed outwardly from each other, and wherein the outer and inner rim bases of each section are devoid of a well or drop center. 
         [0013]    Each section of the wheel assembly can have an inner surface, the inner surface of each section having an outwardly disposed radius forming an annular groove therein at a location at or near the periphery of the face of the section, the annular groove of each section positioned such that when the outer and inner sections are fastened together with the inner surface of the face of the outer section and the inner surface of the face of the inner section in contact with each other the annular grooves are opposite each other and outwardly disposed in opposite directions forming a cavity configured to receive an O-ring. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, a method of forming a wheel assembly is provided, the wheel assembly including a multi-piece wheel and a pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel assembly, comprising the steps of:
   a) providing a wheel, the wheel including an outer section and an inner section, each section having a generally circular face, the face including a wheel hole configured to receive a stub on an axel hub, a first plurality of holes disposed radially outwardly from the wheel hole configured to receive a lug for securing the wheel to an axel hub, a first flange outwardly disposed from a periphery of the face, the first flange forming a wheel rim base, a second plurality of holes radially disposed in the face each to receive a fastener for fastening the outer and inner sections together, and a rim flange formed in a distal peripheral edge of the first flange opposite the face of the section, wherein the first flange of each section is disposed from a periphery of its respective face such that when the outer section and the inner section are fastened together the first flanges are positioned opposite each other and are disposed outwardly from each other, and wherein each section has an inner surface, the inner surface of each section having an outwardly disposed radius forming an annular groove therein at a location at or near the periphery of the face of the section, the annular groove of each section positioned such that when the outer and inner sections are fastened together with the inner surface of the face of the outer section and the inner surface of the face of the inner section in contact with each other the annular grooves are opposite each other and outwardly disposed in opposite directions forming a cavity; b) providing a pneumatic tire, the pneumatic tire having opposed first and second sides and a hole centrally disposed in each side; c) placing the outer and inner sections of the wheel on the opposed first and second sides of the tire and pressing the outer section into the center hole of the first side of the tire and pressing the inner section into the center hole of the second side of the tire such that an edge of the first side of the tire comes into contact with the rim base of the outer section and an opposed edge of the second side of the tire comes into contact with the rim base of the inner section and such that ultimately the edge of the first side of the tire is urged into contact with the rim flange of the outer section and the edge of the second side of the tire is urged into contact with the rim flange of the inner section of the tire; d) positioning an O-ring within the cavity to be secured within the cavity; and e) securing the outer and inner sections together. The rim bases of each section can be devoid of a well or drop center.   
 
         [0016]    In any one or more aspects, the method can further include the steps of pressuring the tire after the outer and inner sections have been secured together to stretch the tire, and then filling the tire with foam. The tire can be stretched to its final profile before filling the tire with foam. 
         [0017]    In any one or more aspects of either the wheel assembly or the method, or both, each rim base can be generally planar, thereby eliminating a well or drop center in the rim bases. Each rim base can be formed to its respective face at an angle of about 90° to about 95° in relation to the respective face. Each section of the wheel can have an inner surface and the face of the outer section includes a first pattern and the face of the inner section includes a second pattern, and wherein at least a portion of either the first pattern or the second pattern is configured to nest within at least a portion of the other of the first pattern or the second pattern when the outer and inner sections are fastened together with the inner surface of the face of the outer section and the inner surface of the face of the inner section in contact with each other. 
         [0018]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure for the present wheel will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts a side perspective view of a non-limiting embodiment of the present tire shown from the outside side of the wheel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2A  depicts a side elevational view of the outside side of the wheel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 2B  is a side elevational view of the wheel of  FIG. 1 , taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 2C  is a detail of a section of the wheel of  FIG. 2B . 
           [0024]      FIG. 2D  is a detail of another section of the wheel of  FIG. 2B . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the wheel of  FIG. 2B  showing the wheel in an assembled state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Described below are various embodiments of the present systems and methods for a wheel. Although particular embodiments are described, those embodiments are mere exemplary implementations of the system and method. One skilled in the art will recognize other embodiments are possible. All such embodiments are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Moreover, all references cited herein are intended to be and are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure as if fully set forth herein. While the disclosure will now be described in reference to the above drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
         [0027]    Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present wheel design. The wheel  10  includes a multi-piece design. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the wheel includes at least two pieces, an outer section  20  and an inner section  40 . The outer section  20  includes a generally circular recessed outer face  22 . A rim base  24  extends outwardly from the periphery the outer face  22  leading to an outer rim flange  26 . The wheel  10  similarly includes an inner section  40  that has a generally circular inner face  42  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 2B-2D ) from which an inner section rim base  44  extends outwardly from the periphery of the inner face  42  leading to inner rim flange  46 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2A  depicts a front elevational view of the outer section  20  of the wheel. The outer face  22  of the wheel can include an opening or wheel hole  35  having a diameter  35   a  for receiving the stub on an axel hub. A plurality of radially disposed holes  36  can be provided, each for receiving a lug for mounting the wheel  10  onto an extreme duty agricultural implement, for example a heavy duty rotary cutter. The outer face  22  of the outer section  20  can also include a plurality of holes  28   a, b  radially disposed  29  about the periphery of the outer face  22  near the angle formed by the outer rim base  24 . Holes  28   a  are configured for receiving fasteners for fastening outer and inner sections  20 ,  40  together, as described in more detail below. Ten such holes are depicted. Holes  28   b  are configured for drainage. In some aspects the wheel assembly including a tire can be mounted on a cutter or mower that may have wing sections to which the wheel and tire assembly is mounted. These wing sections can be folded up for transport and storage. In such a folded condition, the wheel assemblies mounted to these sections can rest in a largely horizontal position allowing water and debris to collect in the upward facing wheel half or section. The drainage holes  28   b  help prevent premature corrosion and damage to the wheel assembly. Five such drainage holes  28   b  are depicted. One skilled in the art, however, will recognize that the number of such holes  28   a, b  can be more or less than that depicted. Additionally, the radial location of the holes  28   a, b  can be varied. 
         [0029]    Also depicted are an outer pattern  31  and an inner pattern  32  on outer face  22 . The outer pattern  31  can be disposed radially outwardly on the outer face  22  from the inner pattern  32  and from the wheel hole  35 . The outer and inner patterns  31 ,  32  can be optionally included to assist in mating the outer section  20  to the inner section  40  to form the wheel assembly  10 , as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0030]    The inner face  42  of inner section  40  of the wheel  10  can be constructed similarly to the outer face  22  as depicted in  FIG. 2A , with the exception that the surface relief of the optional outer and inner patterns  51 ,  52  of inner face  42  may be reversed in relation to the surface relief of the outer and inner patterns  31 ,  32  of outer face  22  as described below. Thus, for example, inner face  42  can also have a plurality of holes radially disposed about the periphery of the inner face  42  near the angle formed by the inner rim base  44  to match the location of the holes  28  in the outer face  22 . Inner face  42  can also have an opening or wheel hole, complementing the wheel hole  35  of the outer face, for receiving the stub on an axel hub. A plurality of radially disposed holes can also be provided in inner face  42 , each for receiving a lug for mounting the wheel  10  onto the implement. The outer pattern  51  can also be disposed radially outwardly on the inner face  42  from the inner pattern  52  and from the wheel hole. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 2A . As can be seen, the rim bases  24 ,  44  of the outer and inner sections  20 ,  40 , respectively, are devoid of a well or drop center. In various aspects, the portion of each rim base extending inwardly from each respective rim flange  26 ,  46  to the point where they join their respective outer face  22  and inner face  42  (see  FIG. 2D ) is generally planar, thereby eliminating the conventional well or drop center required for mounting a low profile tire. In various aspects, each rim base is formed to their respective face at an angle 25 of about 90° to about 100° in relation to their respective face, an angle of 95° providing for example a slightly upward slope from the face  20 ,  40  extending towards the rim flange  26 ,  46 , as depicted in  FIG. 2B . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 2B and 2C  depict a non-limiting example of how the outer and inner sections  20  and  40  can be mated together to form the wheel  10 . As depicted the outer pattern  31  of the outer section  20  can have a raised surface  33  in relation to outer face  22 . While the outer pattern  51  of the inner face  42  of inner section  40  can have a surface  54  that is recessed in relation to inner face  42 , complementing the raised surface  33  of the outer pattern  31  of the outer face  22 . Thus, when the outer and inner sections  20  and  40  are properly positioned against each other the recessed surface  54  of the inner face  42  can nest within the raised surface  33  of the outer face  22 . An inner pattern  32  for the outer face  22  of outer section  20  may similarly be configured to mate with an inner pattern  52  of the inner face  42  of inner section  40 . As depicted, the inner pattern  32  of the outer face  22  can have a recessed surface  34  in relation to outer face  22  while the inner pattern  52  of the inner face  42  can have a raised surface  53  in relation to inner face  42  to complement and receive the recessed surface  34  of the outer face  22 . Thus, the inner patterns  32 ,  52  of the outer and inner faces  22 ,  42  are reversed in relation to the outer patterns  31 ,  51 . The inner and outer patterns may be formed in the faces of the inner and outer sections by, for example, stamping the patterns into the faces. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that both an outer pattern and an inner pattern need not be provided in the outer and inner faces. One may be provided without the other. Further many different patterns or configurations can be provided for nesting and mating the inner and outer faces  22 ,  42  together. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2D  depicts enlarged sectional view or detail of  FIG. 2B . Illustrated in  FIG. 2D  are outer peripheral cross-sections of the outer section  20  and the inner section  40 , having an outer face  22  and inner face  42 , respectively. Outer face  22  has an outer surface  22   a  and an inner surface  22   b . Similarly inner face  42  has an outer surface  42   a  and an inner surface  42   b . Each face includes 3 radiuses forming a cavity  62 . Outer section  20  includes a first, inner radius  37 , a second, outwardly disposed, radius  38  forming an annular groove in the inner surface  22   b  of the outer face  22 , and a third radius  39  leading to the flange  24  forming the outer rim base  24 . Similarly, inner face  42  includes three opposed complimentary radiuses, a first, inner radius  57 , a second, outwardly disposed, radius  58  forming an annular groove in the inner surface  42   b  of the inner face  42 , and a third radius  59  which then leads to the flange forming the inner rim base  44 . The purpose for the complementary radiuses, in particular the opposed, outwardly disposed second radiuses  38 ,  58 , is to form cavity  62 . Cavity  62  can be configured to receive an O-ring  64  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0034]    As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the outer section  20  and the inner section  40  of the wheel can be assembled by, for example, using a series of screws, nuts and washers  66 ,  67  and  68  to secure the one section to the other section. This also permits securing an O-ring  64  within cavity  62 . The O-ring, can be used to seal, even if temporarily, the inner volume of the wheel and tire for the purpose of foam filling the inside of the tire. 
         [0035]    As an example, to mount and foam fill a low profile extreme duty agricultural implement tire to the wheel  10 , the outer and inner sections  20 ,  40  of the wheel can be placed on opposed sides of the tire and each pressed into the center hole of the tire such that outer and inner beads of the tire come into contact with the outer rim base  24  and inner rim base  44 . As the outer and inner sections  20 ,  40  are pressed into the center hole of the tire the outer and inner beads of the tire are urged into contact with the outer rim flange  26  and inner rim flange  46 , respectively. In the meantime an O-ring  64  can be positioned within the annular cavity  62  to be secured therein. The outer and inner sections  20 ,  40  can then be secured together by, for example, the screws, nuts and washers,  66 ,  67  and  68 . Then to foam fill the tire, the tire can be pressurized for period of time, for example, 24 hours to allow the tire to stretch and set to its final profile. The tire then can be foam filled to flat-proof the tire, for example by introducing the foam fill through the stem hole of the tire. The O-ring can help retain the foam fill within the inner cavity of the tire and also allow the foam to be filled to a predetermined pressure until it cures. 
         [0036]    Ratios, amounts, and other numerical values or data may be expressed in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used for convenience and brevity, and should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. To illustrate, a range of “about 0.1% to about 5%” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited numerical values of about 0.1% to about 5%, but also include individual values (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., 0.5%, 1.1%, 2.2%, 3.3%, and 4.4%) within the indicated range. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of upper or lower limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure .In an embodiment, the term “about” can include traditional rounding according to significant figure of the numerical value. In addition, the phrase “about ‘x’ to ‘y’” includes “about ‘x’ to about ‘y’”. 
         [0037]    As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order logically possible. 
         [0038]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.