Device for motor vehicle running flat and method for mounting

• US 6,286,574 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelletier, Bruno, Carpentier, Eric, Lelievre, Alain, Michelot, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US09/331,192
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 152/381.5, 152/381.6, 152/384, 152/400, 152/516, 152/520
• US Class Current: 152/381.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/04 utilising additional non-inflatable supports which become load-supporting in emergency
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/06 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2017/068 comprising springs, e.g. helical springs

Abstract

A run-flat device for a motor vehicle, the device being designed to be fitted clamped on a standard rim having lateral flanges for holding the beads of a tire, wherein the device is constituted by at least two coaxial annular pieces engaged one on the other, the radially-inner piece being of relatively rigid material and forming an open ring around the rim, the radially-outer piece being based on an elastically deformable material and comprising a one-piece continuous surrounding the radially-inner annular piece and having an inside diameter that is substantially equal to or greater than the outside diameter of a lateral flange of the rim.

Claims

1. A run-flat device for a motor vehicle, the vehicle including a rim having lateral flanges for holding beads of a tire, said device comprising:

a radially-inner annular piece being of relatively rigid material and adapted to form a non-continuous ring around the rim;

an intermediate annular piece that is non-continuous, made of relatively rigid material, and fitted on said radially-inner annular piece; and

a substantially inextensible radially-outer annular piece that is continuous and that is fitted on said intermediate annular piece, said radially-outer annular piece having an inside diameter that is substantially equal to or greater than an outside diameter of a lateral flange of the rim.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said inside diameter of said radially-outer piece that is slightly smaller than an outside diameter of said radially-inner annular piece and is engaged by force thereon.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radially-outer piece includes a substantially inextensible annular means embedded in a material constituting said radially-outer piece.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two coaxial annular pieces have contact surfaces that are frustoconical, at least in part.

5. A device according to claim 1, further comprising axial holding means for holding said radially-outer piece axially on said radially-inner piece.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said axial holding means comprise an annular element forming a wedge between said radially-inner piece and said radially-outer piece and held in position between said two pieces by fixing means.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said fixing means comprise bolts adapted to be parallel to an axis of the rim and engaged in corresponding holes in said annular element and said radially-inner piece.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said bolts are screwed into nuts received in said holes of said radially-inner piece.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein said annular element has a threaded cylindrical inner surface and is screwed on a corresponding threaded cylindrical bearing surface of said radially-inner piece.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein said annular element is held in position on said radially-inner piece by a split washer received in a groove in a peripheral surface of said radially-inner piece.

11. A device according to claim 5, wherein said axial holding means comprise circumferential grooves and ribs formed in contact surfaces between said radially-inner piece and said radially-outer piece.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate annular piece is engaged coaxially between said radially-inner piece and said radially-outer piece.

13. A device according to claim 12, further comprising axial holding means for holding said radially-inner piece relative to intermediate annular piece, said axial holding means comprising circumferential grooves and ribs formed in contact surfaces between said radially-inner piece and said intermediate annular piece.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein said radially-inner piece and said intermediate piece are made of rigid plastics material, and said radially-outer piece is made of rubber or elastomer.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein:

said radially-inner piece is non-continuous and said intermediate annular piece is non-continuous, said radially-inner piece and said intermediate annular piece being made of relatively rigid material and being fitted one on the other;

said radially-outer piece being substantially inextensible and continuous, and said radially-outer piece being fitted on said intermediate annular piece; and

said intermediate annular piece having an outer peripheral surface formed with a circumferential groove configured to receive said radially-outer piece, said groove being of substantially U-shaped cross-section.

16. A device according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate annular piece has a radially-outer peripheral surface that is substantially parallel to an axis of said intermediate annular piece.

17. A device according to claim 12, wherein a distance between ends of said intermediate annular piece when said intermediate annular piece is in a free state is not less than a difference between an outer peripheral dimension of said intermediate annular piece when it is in the free state, and an inner peripheral dimension of said radially-outer piece.

18. A device according to claim 12, wherein said radially-inner piece and said intermediate annular piece are disposed angularly relative to each other in such a manner that respective openings of said radially-inner piece and said intermediate annular piece are diametrically opposite, and an inflation valve fitted to the rim passes through said opening in said radially-inner piece.

19. A device according to claim 12, wherein an inner peripheral surface of said intermediate annular piece has a projection or rib configured to be received in an opening of said radially-inner piece to prevent said intermediate annular piece from rotating on said radially-inner piece.

20. A device according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate annular piece has a wall having an annular projection forming a bearing surface.

21. A device according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate annular piece has a bottom of a channel formed in a radially-outer peripheral surface for receiving said radially-outer piece that is corrugated.

22. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radially-inner piece and said intermediate annular piece have contact surfaces that are frustoconical, at least in part.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein said radially-inner piece and said intermediate annular piece have contact surfaces that are substantially frustoconical, having an angle at an apex of 30°

to 50°

.

24. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radially-inner piece is formed of at least two circularly-arcuate curved portions adapted to be placed end to end around the rim.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein said portions of said radially-inner piece are adapted to be held on the rim by an O-ring received in a groove in an outer surface of said portions.

26. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a layer of rubber adapted to be interposed between the rim and said radially-inner piece.

27. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radially-outer piece has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

28. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radially-outer piece comprises inextensible elements embedded in a rubber material.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein said radially-outer piece comprises two layers of rubbers of different hardnesses.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radially-inner piece and said intermediate annular piece have contact surfaces that are substantially frustoconical, having an angle at an apex of 30°

to 50°

.

31. A device according to claim 30, wherein said contact surfaces are formed so that one has at least one circumferential groove and the other has at least one circumferential rib of complementary shape and configured to engage in said groove, said groove and said rib being of asymmetrical cross-section so as to have a rounded or sloping outer side.