Resilient tires and wheels – Tires – resilient – Wheel securing means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-21
2003-10-14
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Resilient tires and wheels
Tires, resilient
Wheel securing means
C152S410000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06631747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a rim or assembly of elements forming a rim for the mounting and travel of a tire without an independent inner tube, that is to say, a “tubeless” tire, which is intended more particularly for mounting on heavy vehicles.
If we consider the rims of rolling assemblies which are currently used, we can distinguish mainly between drop-center rims, having frustoconical seats which are inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the assembly by an angle of 5° or 15°, and flat-based or practically flat-based rims having seats inclined at 0° or at 5° relative to the axis of rotation.
So-called drop-center rims comprise a mounting groove, the diameter of which is significantly less than the nominal diameter of the rim. This internal diameter of the rim is considered by users to be too small because it does not make it possible to select, for example, brake drums of dimensions suitable for effective braking of vehicles which are becoming ever more powerful relative to their weight.
Because of this, said rims are commonly used for mounting and travel, for example, of passenger-car and/or heavy-vehicle tires, but far less often, and sometimes not at all, for other types of vehicles, such as, for example, site machinery and construction machinery.
For mounting a “tubeless” tire, a flat-based rim requires the presence of at least one removable lateral ring, a locking ring and a gasket, and obviously the rim base provided with a fixed flange on the side opposite the side from which the parts are removable. Therefore at least three parts are required. In the majority of cases, the number of parts necessary is greater than three, and may sometimes be as many as six parts for large dimensions of tires. With the exception of the rubber gaskets, the parts of a rim are metal, and consequently heavy, bulky and difficult to handle. As a result, the fitting and removal of tires of large and very large dimensions are difficult, long operations. The positioning and/or removal of a wheel fitted with such a tire requires immobilization of the vehicle or machinery for a not inconsiderable period. Furthermore, the metal parts used, namely the conical rings, the flanges and the locking rings, are frequently subject to localized, partial wear, with or without oxidation and rusting, and this damage, during later use, results not only in defective mounting with loss of pressure, but also the creation of concentration of stresses which may result in breakage of parts. Moreover, as is known, the vulcanized rubber gaskets require great care in positioning; furthermore, they are subject to natural oxidation and poor storage conditions, hence the appearance of numerous cracks; thus, in many cases, the conditions are such that said gaskets do not satisfactorily fulfil the function for which they were intended.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the above disadvantages, to use the smallest possible number of parts and to ensure better connection of the rolling assembly to the wheel over time, the invention proposes a novel assembly for mounting a tire without independent inner tube, comprising at least two conical metal rings intended to receive the tire beads, said two metal rings being positioned and locked on the hub of the vehicle by means of two circular lateral locking rings, each being composed of a vulcanized rubber mix reinforced by and coating a reinforcement ring which is circumferentially elastic and radially resistant to compression, and being placed in a recess in the hub.
“Circumferentially elastic reinforcement ring” is to be understood to mean an element, the circumferential development of which is liable to be elongated by at least 3% under a force of at most 50 daN, and which returns to its initial state when the force is removed.
“Reinforcement ring radially resistant to compression” is to be understood to mean a ring, the maximum radial dimension of the cross-section, that is to say, the greatest radial distance between two points of the contour of said section which are located on a line perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rim, of which is reduced by at most 2% under force.
“Conical mounting ring” is to be understood to mean a ring having radially to the outside a seat, the generatrix of which forms a certain angle with the direction of the axis of rotation, but also a ring, the seat of which has a generatrix which forms a zero angle with said axis.
“Vulcanized rubber mix” or “vulcanized rubber composition” is to be understood to mean a mix of elastomer(s), reinforcing fillers and well-known additives which are vulcanized at a certain temperature. Preferably, the coating mix of the reinforcement ring will have a secant modulus of elasticity at a relative elongation of 10% of at least 6 MPa.
A circular rubber ring reinforced by a circular reinforcement ring, said ring being circumferentially elastic and radially resistant to compression, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,033. Said rubber ring, in the cited patent, is used as an adapter, that is to say, a means having a meridian section adapted so as to be able to mount tire beads having a given configuration on rims intended to receive beads of a different configuration. The ring thus used is a bead mounting ring with, in particular, a radially outer wall of meridian profile identical to the standardized profiles, when it is a tire which meets the current standards which is being mounted. The invention uses such a reinforced rubber ring in an adapted form, not as an adapter or mounting ring, but as a locking ring, the mounting rings, within the scope of the invention, being of metal and not of rubber.
A locking ring according to the invention is considered as having at least two walls: one radially inner wall and one radially outer wall, said two walls possibly being joined by lateral walls virtually perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation. The radially inner wall is of a shape which is similar to the shape or profile of the recesses or grooves formed on the hub of the machine in order to receive said rings. Said recesses, when viewed in meridian section, may be of any shape, but preferably have a meridian section, the surface of which is virtually triangular with a base on the generatrix of the hub and with two sides forming acute angles which may be between 10° and 45° with the direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the two sides being joined opposite said base by a rounded apex, in order to minimize the concentrations of stresses and the risk of cracking due to fatigue. The virtual height of said triangle, lowered by the rounded apex on said base, is preferably between 10 and 45 mm. The radially inner wall of the locking ring, in meridian section, has a profile identical to the inner profile of the virtual triangle above.
The meridian section of the reinforcement ring of the locking ring, in its radially inner part, may be of any shape insofar as a major part of the maximum radial dimension of its meridian section lies within the triangular section of the recess formed in the hub. “Major part” is to be understood to mean a radial distance equal to at least 25% of the maximum radial dimension of the section of the reinforcement ring. Said radially inner part of the reinforcement ring may have two preferred shapes: elliptical (the circle being considered as an ellipse) and polygonal with at least two sides substantially parallel to the two sides of the triangular section of the recess of the hub, which permits correct positioning of the elastic locking ring and allows said positioning to be maintained despite the forces or stresses which arise upon inflation, loading and travel of the tire.
As for the meridian section in the radially outer part of the locking ring, it may also be elliptical in shape, but will preferably be composed of at least one frustoconical part, the generatrix of which forms an angle which may be between 15° and 35° with the direction of the axis of rotation. Said frustoconical part, upon mounting of the tire, will come to be oppo
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Michelin & Recherche et Technique S.A.
Morano S. Joseph
Nguyen Long Bao
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