Motor Wheel Corporation

J Bruce Weeks

Roger E Payne

Danny M O'Rourke

Michael R Bernard

A take-apart tire and wheel assembly including a multi-piece wheel rim having axially spaced bead flanges, a rim base, and a pneumatic tubeless tire, preferably adapted to removably receive in its tire inflation chamber a safety runflat insert. The wheel assembly also includes a safety vent for preventing inflation of the tire cavity in the event of improper assembly or disassembly of the safety tire and wheel assembly, including an O-ring seal disposed between opposing portions of rim segments of the wheel assembly, and mounting studs and associated nuts that releasably clamp the rim segments together with the O-ring captured in compression therebetween. The outboard wheel rim segment includes a wheel mounting disc and also a safety inflation valve coupling fixed to the outboard rim segment. The rim segment and coupling each have a through passageway and together define an interior air passage which communicates with the tire cavity. At least one of the through passageways is permanently connected to the rim segment and has a safety control cross sectional configuration adapted to prevent passage therethrough of an air inflation valve provided on an inner tube of sufficient size to fit within said tire cavity and capable when inflated of rendering said wheel and tire assembly normally operable for supporting its normal vehicle load in a run-mode of the vehicle. The safety inflation valve coupling and rim segment are thus operable to prevent insertion of such an inner tube valve through the one passageway permanently rim-connected. The coupling itself may be permanently or removably connected to the rim segment.

Safety tire and take-apart wheel construction

A take-apart tire and wheel assembly including a multi-piece wheel rim having axially spaced bead flanges, a rim base, and a pneumatic tubeless tire, preferably adapted to removably receive in its tire inflation chamber a safety runflat insert. The wheel assembly also includes a safety vent for preventing inflation of the tire cavity in the event of improper assembly or disassembly of the safety tire and wheel assembly, including an O-ring seal disposed in a triangular cavity formed between opposing portions of rim segments of the wheel assembly, and mounting studs and associated nuts that releasably clamp the rim segments together with the O-ring captured in compression therebetween. The outboard wheel rim segment includes a wheel mounting disc and may also have a safety inflation valve coupling fixed to the outboard rim segment. An interior air passage of the coupling communicates with the tire cavity and has a minimum cross sectional dimension which prevents insertion therethrough an air inflation valve provided on an inner tube of sufficient size to fit within said tire cavity and capable when inflated of rendering said wheel and tire assembly normally operable for supporting its normal vehicle load in a run-mode of the vehicle.

A runflat safety insert and safety tire and wheel assembly which include a take-apart multi-piece wheel rim and safety inserts extending circumferentially around the rim to clamp the tire bead toes against the rim bead flanges. The insert is a sheet metal annulus of generally channel shape in radial cross section open at its radially inner periphery between its side edges. The annular has a central bight portion extending generally axially and bounded by radially in-turned leg portions. The leg portions diverge relative to one another radially inwardly towards the tire bead toes and terminates in toe portions bearing generally flat against the interior surfaces of the tire toe beads. An elastomeric tread is bonded to the outer surface of the central bight portion. The annulus is made up of a pair of semi-circular members having interengageable mating ends releasably interconnected to form a complete annulus. The insert tread extends radially outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance to have a clearance with the interior surface of the tire under normal running conditions. The sheet metal annulus is axially compressed by the engagement of the tire bead toes with the channel toes so that the channel is stressed in direct opposition to stresses imposed on the same when the tire and rim combination is operated without inflation pressure in the tire chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Eaton Rapids, MI, United States of America

J Bruce Weeks