Wheel assembly including a solid tire
First Claim
1. A wheel assembly having resistance to the effects of abrasion and capable of providing a controlled radial deflection under load, comprising:
- a solid tire comprising an abrasion resistant, resilient rubber composition having a predefined range of shore hardness, said solid tire having a generally semicircular cross section;
a rim on which the solid tire is mounted, said rim including means for mounting the tire on a circumferential surface of the rim and a pair of lips formed around peripheral edges of the rim, extending radially beyond said circumferential surface, facing sides of the lips abutting against opposite sides of the solid tire and gripping it firmly when it is mounted on the rim to prevent it slipping about the rim under a tractional load;
said rim further including a plurality of spaced apart depressions formed around said circumferential surface, between said pair of lips, into which the solid tire is deflected under radial load, the volume of each depression and the shore hardness of the resilient rubber compostion together controlling the extent of radial deflection of the solid tire under load, so that the radial deflection is within predefined limits.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel assembly incorporating a solid tire having a controlled deflection under load. A wheel assembly (20,200) includes a solid tire (22,202) mounted on a rim (24,204). The rim includes a plurality of axial grooves (68), radial grooves (60), or "U" shaped slots (216), which engage the sides and inner circumferential surface of the solid tire to prevent its slipping around the rim when applying a tractional force. In addition, the outer circumference of the rim includes ridges (50) or radial projections (224) between which are disposed depressions into which the solid tire may deform when subjected to a radial load. The volume provided in the depressions around the outer circumference of the rim and the shore hardness of the composition from which the solid tire is made determine the extent of radial deflection of the solid tire as a function of load so that it is within a required range.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly having resistance to the effects of abrasion and capable of providing a controlled radial deflection under load, comprising:
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a solid tire comprising an abrasion resistant, resilient rubber composition having a predefined range of shore hardness, said solid tire having a generally semicircular cross section; a rim on which the solid tire is mounted, said rim including means for mounting the tire on a circumferential surface of the rim and a pair of lips formed around peripheral edges of the rim, extending radially beyond said circumferential surface, facing sides of the lips abutting against opposite sides of the solid tire and gripping it firmly when it is mounted on the rim to prevent it slipping about the rim under a tractional load;
said rim further including a plurality of spaced apart depressions formed around said circumferential surface, between said pair of lips, into which the solid tire is deflected under radial load, the volume of each depression and the shore hardness of the resilient rubber compostion together controlling the extent of radial deflection of the solid tire under load, so that the radial deflection is within predefined limits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wheel assembly having a controlled range of radial deflection under load and resistance to abrasion, comprising:
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a solid tire having a cross-sectional shape defined by an outwardly curving surface adjoining two sides, and a radially inner surface, said solid tire comprising a wear-resistant composition of predefined elasticity and shore hardness; and rim means for mounting the solid tire on an axle, including gripping means for gripping the sides of the solid tire to prevent its circumferential slippage under traction, and means that include a plurality of depressions disposed between the solid tire and rim means, for controlling displacement of the solid tire as it deflects radially under a load so that the radial deflection of the solid tire as a function of the load is within predefined limits. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification