Integral tire and disc brake assembly for scooter utility vehicle

• US 6,213,561 B1
• Filed: 09/19/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patmont Motor Werks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Patmont Motor Werks, Inc.
• Inventors: Witthaus, Charles Allison
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Long Bao
• Application Number:
  US08/933,823
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 152/323, 152/324, 188/24.12, 188/71.1, 280/11.2, 280/87.021, 280/87.041, 180/180, 180/181, 301/6.1
• US Class Current: 301/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/06 Wheels with compression spokes wheels of high resiliency B60B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/204 by moulding, e.g. injection moulding, i.e. casting of plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/32 Plastic compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 5/02 made of synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners

Abstract

A small utility vehicle, such as a motorized scooter, has an attached vehicle supporting wheel. This wheel includes a solid rubber or plastic tire removeably mounted to a central hub. The tire when mounted to the hub rolls on the ground at a peripheral ground contact surface and defines on opposite sidewall surfaces with the solid mass of the tire there between. Each sidewall surface has periodically spaced grooves. A vehicle attached brake of the compression caliper type having two flat opposing brake shoe surfaces bears on the tire sidewalls to effect braking. During braking, one flat opposing brake shoe surface of the compression caliper bears on one sidewall surface and the remaining flat opposing brake shoe surface of the compression caliper bears on the remaining sidewall surface squeezing the solid mass of the tire there between. When the caliper is closed, friction between each sidewall and flat opposing brake shoe surface effects braking, with the result that the wheel tire serendipitous serves as the brake disc. The grooves at the sidewall surfaces on the wheel tire serve to wipe water and debris from the interface of the sidewall surfaces and compression brake shoe surfaces of the caliper brake to maintain constant friction.

Claims

1. A wheel and integral disc brake assembly for a small utility vehicle comprising:

an axle mounted to the vehicle for supporting the vehicle from the wheel as the wheel rolls over a supporting surface;

a rotating central hub rotated on the axle at a center and having a sidewall for receiving a tire on a periphery of the hub;

a tire removably mounted to the rotating central hub, the tire when mounted to the rotating central hub at the periphery having a peripheral ground contact surface and defines on opposite sides thereof two sidewall surfaces with a solid mass of tire there between;

each sidewall surface having periodically spaced grooves disposed on the sidewall surfaces; and

a vehicle attached brake having compression calipers with two flat opposing brake shoe surfaces for bearing on the two sidewall surfaces to effect braking, one flat opposing brake shoe surface of the compression calipers bearing on one sidewall surface and a remaining flat opposing brake shoe surface of the compression calipers bearing on a remaining sidewall surface whereby when the compression calipers are closed, the periodically spaced grooves at the sidewall surfaces on the tire serve to wipe water and debris from interfaces of the sidewall surfaces and compression brake shoe surfaces of the compression calipers to maintain constant braking friction;

wherein the grooves on the tire are slanted with respect to a radial taken through the axle of the wheel to expel debris from an interface between the tire sidewalls and the compression calipers; and

wherein the periodically spaced grooves are slanted opposite to rotation of the rotating central hub.

2. A wheel and integral disc brake assembly for a small utility vehicle comprising:

an axle mounted to the vehicle for supporting the vehicle from the wheel as the wheel rolls over a supporting surface;

a rotating central hub rotated in the axle and having a tire on a periphery of the hub;

a tire mounted to the rotating central hub, the tire having two sidewall surfaces with a ground engaging surface there between;

each sidewall surface having periodically spaced grooves; and

a brake having compression calipers with two flat brake shoe surfaces for contacting the two sidewall surfaces to effect braking;

wherein the periodically spaced grooves are slanted with respect to a radial taken through the axle of the wheel to expel debris from an interface between the tire sidewalls and the compression calipers; and

wherein the periodically spaced grooves are slanted opposite to rotation of the rotating central hub.

3. A wheel and integral disc brake assembly for a small utility vehicle comprising:

an axle mounted to the vehicle for supporting the vehicle from the wheel as the wheel rolls over a supporting surface;

a rotating central hub rotated in the axle and having a tire on a periphery of the hub;

a tire mounted to the rotating central hub, the tire having two sidewall surfaces with a ground engaging surface there between;

each sidewall surface having periodically spaced grooves slanted opposite to rotation of the rotating central hub;

a brake having compression calipers with two flat brake shoe surfaces for contacting the two sidewall surfaces to effect braking.