Astronics Corporation

Rodgard Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Mason C Winfield, Jr

A rigid, metal strap has a hook formed on one end and a handle on the other. The hook is disposed to be inserted between a tire rim and a surrounding, tubeless tire, only one sidewall of which (the inboard side) has been mounted on the rim. The inner, terminal end of the hook is engaged with and retains the bead on the inboard side of the tire against the circumferential flange formed on one side of the rim. An adjustable clamp on the strap is releasably clamped to the opposite side of the rim to secure the strap to the rim and therefore to hold the inboard tire bead against movement. A turnbuckle is pivotally mounted at one end on the strap adjacent its handle and has a hook on its opposite end engageable with the outboard bead of the tire, so that by adjusting the turnbuckle the outboard side of the tire can be spread away from the rim.

Tool for spreading tire sidewalls

Nearly circular, generally C-shaped beadlocks, which are made from a generally rigid plastic material, are slightly flexible so that they can be inserted within a tubeless tire and snugly around the annular central section of a supporting tire rim of either the split rim or drop center variety. The confronting ends of the C-shaped beadlocks are secured together by releasable clips, which function to prevent the ends of the beadlock from separating during use at high speeds or at low speeds in run flat operation. At least certain embodiments of the beadlocks have a plurality of spaced ribs projecting from each side thereof to engage and retain the beads of a tire against dislodgment of a rim.

Beadlock for tubeless tires

Beadlock for inflatable tires

The liner includes a generally C-shaped, flexible band of bearing material disposed to be placed around the drop center of a tire rim. Two, complimentary, generally semi-circular members made from a polyester elastomer are then mounted as a ring coaxially around the outside of the band with the inner peripheral surfaces thereof slidably seated in a circumferential groove that is formed in the outer periphery of the band. The confronting ends of the members are releasably secured together by a pair of rigid links, each of which is releasably and pivotally mounted at one end in a recess in one end of a member, and has its opposite end connected to a rotatable eccentric that is mounted in the confronting end of the other member. When the associated eccentric is rotated, it causes the attached link to be reciprocated further into, or out of, the end of the associated member, thereby causing the link selectively to shift confronting ends of the members toward or away from each other. In one embodiment the C-shaped band is a one-piece element, while in another a layer of metal (for example galvanized steel) is mounted in the outer groove of the band to be interposed between the band and the ring members.

Safety liner for tires

An extensible polished rod protector having alternating inner and outer diameter portions defining adjacent convolutions, and annular retainer members in the form of radial, reinforcing support plates within the outer diameter portions for preventing radially inward collapsing thereof upon extension of the protector and also preventing contact between the inner diameter portions and the polished rod. The polished rod passes through a liquid receiving container having means for trapping oil accummulated therein while permitting the egress of water therefrom. A floating rod wiper assembly in the container maintains wiping engagement with the reciprocating rod while accommodating lateral shifting and wobbling thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Orchard Park, NY, United States of America

Mason C Winfield, Jr