Wheel and tire assembly with adjustable spacer system

• US 9,266,506 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lindsay Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lindsay Corporation
• Inventors: Korus, Thomas J., Pfrenger, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHARLESTON, JEAN W
• Application Number:
  US13/455,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20130284328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 152/5, 152/7, 152/40, 152 43- 46, 152/379.3, 152/396, 152/399, 152/402
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 15/04 with resiliently-mounted spade lugs
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 25/02 Segmented rims, e.g. with segments arranged in sections; Connecting equipment, e.g. hinges; Insertable flange rings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/113 Production or maintenance time
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/311 Rigidity or stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/313 Resiliency
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 9/00 Wheels of high resiliency , e.g. with conical interacting pressure-surfaces resilient wheels comprising rail-engaging elements B60B17/0027
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/08 for agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/10 characterised by means for increasing resiliency
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/24 characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/04 Supplying air for tyre inflation arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles B60C23/00; tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00 ; pumps actuated by muscle power F04B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49492 Land wheel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part

Abstract

A wheel assembly is disclosed, the wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and an airless tire mounted on the wheel. A portion of the tire is separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure. A spacer is interposed between the wheel and the portion of the tire separated radially from the wheel by a space and is configured to limit the inward flexing of the tire. The spacer may be permanently affixed to the wheel assembly or may be removably attached to the wheel assembly. The spacer may be adjustable between a first size and a second size.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly comprising:

a rigid wheel;

an airless tire mounted on the wheel, a portion of the tire being separated radially from the wheel by a space and configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure, the tire including a traction lug extending radially outwardly from an outer side of the tire; and

a spacer interposed between the wheel and the portion of the tire separated radially from the wheel by a space, the spacer being configured to limit the inward flexing of the tire and being in radial alignment with the with the traction lug such that the traction lug moves inwardly with the portion of the tire configured to flex inwardly.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, the spacer being a solid component integrally formed with the tire.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 1, the spacer being removably secured to the wheel.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 1, the spacer presenting an elongated shape and positioned transversely on the wheel assembly.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 1, the spacer being rigid.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 1, the spacer being flexible.

7. The wheel assembly of claim 1, the spacer being adjustably inflatable between a first size and a second size, wherein the spacer allows the tire to flex inwardly a first amount when the spacer is the first size and allows the tire to flex inwardly a second amount when the spacer is the second size.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of additional spacers, each of the additional spacers interposed between the wheel and additional portions of the tire separated radially from the wheel by additional spaces, each of the additional spacers configured to regulate the inward flexing of the tire, each of the spacer and the additional spacers being adjustably inflatable between a first size and a second size.

9. The wheel assembly of claim 8, each of the spacers being individually adjustable between the first size and the second size independently of the other spacers.

10. The wheel assembly of claim 8, each of the spacers being in fluid communication with the other spacers such that all of the spacers are adjusted between the first size and the second size together as a single unit.

11. A wheel assembly comprising:

a rigid wheel including an outer rim wall, the wheel including a plurality of mounting elements extending radially outwardly from the rim wall, the mounting elements presenting an elongated shape and positioned transversely on the rim wall;

an airless cylindrical flexible tire mounted on the rim wall and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated from the rim wall by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the rim wall when subject to ground engaging pressure, the tire being a single solid piece of material of unitary construction presenting a transversely flat outer side;

a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from an outer side of the tire, the traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and located between the mounting elements such that the traction lugs move inwardly with the portions of the tire configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure; and

a spacer component with a plurality of expandable sections, each of the expandable sections interposed between the rim wall and one of the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements, each of the expandable sections configured to limit the amount of inward flex of the tire.

12. The wheel assembly of claim 11, the expandable sections being inflatable and deflatable between a first size and a second size.

13. The wheel assembly of claim 12, the expandable sections being in fluid communication such that all of the expandable sections are inflated and deflated jointly.

14. The wheel assembly of claim 12, the first size being smaller than the second size and corresponding to a completely deflated state of the spacer component, the tire being configured for normal operation when each of the expandable sections is completely deflated.

15. A wheel assembly comprising:

a rigid wheel;

an airless tire mounted on the wheel, a portion of the tire being separated radially from the wheel by a space and configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure; and

a spacer interposed between the wheel and the portion of the tire separated radially from the wheel by a space, the spacer being configured to limit the inward flexing of the tire and being adjustably inflatable between a first size and a second size, wherein the spacer allows the tire to flex inwardly a first amount when the spacer is the first size and allows the tire to flex inwardly a second amount when the spacer is the second size.

16. The wheel assembly of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of additional spacers, each of the additional spacers interposed between the wheel and additional portions of the tire separated radially from the wheel by additional spaces, each of the additional spacers being configured to regulate the inward flexing of the tire, each of the additional spacers being adjustably inflatable between a first size and a second size.

17. The wheel assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the spacer and the additional spacers are individually adjustable between the first size and the second size independently of the other spacers.

18. The wheel assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the spacer and the additional spacers are in fluid communication with the other spacers such that all of the spacers are adjusted between the first size and the second size together as a single unit.