Wheel assembly for an agricultural implement and method of forming same

• US 9,731,562 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Carlstar Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Carlstar Group LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Christopher, McMichen, Kevin, Guske, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US14/525,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 301 5306, 301 5309, 301 64301, 301 64307
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 25/002 Rims split in circumferential direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 25/008 comprising spacer means
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/521 Tire mounting or removal devices therefor B60B2340/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/523 Tire fixation on rim, e.g. fixing axially or circumferentially thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/08 with disc body formed by two or more axially spaced discs comprising rail-engaging elements formed by two or more axially spaced discs B60B17/0013
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/082 especially for light-weight wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/147 using wheel adapters
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 15/0213 the bead being clamped by rings, cables, rim flanges or other parts of the rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/08 for agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/12 using enclosed chambers, e.g. gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/24 characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/22 Agricultural vehicles

Abstract

A wheel assembly for an agricultural implement and method of forming the agricultural wheel assembly includes a tire body, an annular ring, and a hub. The tire body has an inner wall and an outer wall collectively defining an annular pocket therebetween. The inner wall defines a central, axial hole through the tire body and has a circumferential slot extending therethrough. The annular ring is positioned within the circumferential slot and secured to the tire body such that the annular ring projects radially inward through the circumferential slot to the axial hole. As such, the annular ring is configured to operatively engage the hub such that the tire body mounts to the hub.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly for an agricultural implement, comprising:

a tire body having an inner wall and an outer wall collectively defining an annular pocket therebetween, the inner wall defining a central, axial hole through the tire body for receiving a hub;

a circumferential slot extending through the inner wall of the tire body from the annular pocket to the axial hole; and

an annular ring received within the annular pocket and projecting radially inward through the circumferential slot to the axial hole, the annular ring configured to operatively engage the hub such that the tire body mounts to the hub,

wherein the annular ring further comprises a band portion captured within the annular pocket; and

a tab portion having a width that is less than the band portion and projecting radially inward from the band portion, through the circumferential slot, and beyond the inner wall, the tab portion configured to operatively engage the hub, and

wherein the band portion is generally transverse to the tab portion such that a cross-section of the annular ring is generally T-shaped.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the band portion includes an outer circumferential surface configured to support the outer wall of the tire body being compressed toward the inner wall.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the tire body is formed from a first material and the annular ring is formed from a second material that is different from the first material.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the annular ring is defined by a single, unitary ring body.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the annular ring comprises a first ring body and a second ring body, and the second ring body is separable from the first ring body.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the annular ring is configured to be separable from the hub.

7. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a portion of a hub positioned within the axial hole, wherein the annular ring is integrally formed as a unitary piece with the portion of the hub.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the hub includes a first hub body and a second hub body, the first hub body has a first annular lip, the second hub body has a second annular lip, the tire body includes opposing first and second sidewalls, and the first annular lip engages the first sidewall and the second annular lip engages the second sidewall to capture the tire body between the first and second hub bodies.

9. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a hub defining an annular groove, wherein the annular groove captures the annular ring therein.

10. The wheel assembly of claim 9, wherein the hub includes a first hub body connected to a second hub body, and the first and second hub bodies collectively define the annular groove to capture the annular ring therebetween.

11. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the first hub body has a first annular lip, the second hub body has a second annular lip, the tire body includes opposing first and second sidewalls, and the first annular lip engages the first sidewall and the second annular lip engages the second sidewall to capture the tire body between the first and second hub bodies.

12. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein an interior circumferential surface of the cross-section of the annular ring engages an inner surface of the annular pocket of the tire body.

13. A method of forming an agricultural wheel assembly including a tire body, an annular ring, and a hub, the tire body having an inner wall and an outer wall collectively defining an annular pocket therebetween, the inner wall defining a central, axial hole through the tire body and having a circumferential slot extending therethrough from the annular pocket to the axial hole, the method comprising:

positioning the annular ring within the circumferential slot; and

securing the annular ring to the tire body such that the annular ring projects radially inward through the circumferential slot to the axial hole, and such that an inner circumferential surface of the annular ring extends over a portion of an inner surface of the annular pocket of the tire body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the annular ring includes a circumferentially extending band portion and a tab portion projecting radially inward from the band portion, and securing the annular ring further comprises:

inserting the band portion through the circumferential slot;

capturing the band portion within the annular pocket; and

extending the tab portion through the circumferential slot such that the tab portion projects radially inward to the axial hole.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

assembling a first ring body to a second ring body to at least partially define the annular ring.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

positioning the hub within the axial hole; and

mounting the tire body to the hub such that the annular ring is operatively engaged with the hub.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the hub includes an annular groove and mounting the tire body further comprises:

capturing the annular ring within the annular groove.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

connecting a first hub body to a second hub body to assemble the hub and define the annular groove therebetween; and

engaging a first sidewall of the tire body with the first hub body and engaging a second sidewall of the tire body with the second hub body to capture the tire body between the first and second hub bodies.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the annular ring is integrally formed as a unitary piece with at least a portion of the hub and mounting the tire body further comprises:

connecting a first hub body to a second hub body to assemble the hub having the annular ring projecting radially therefrom; and

engaging a first sidewall of the tire body with the first hub body and engaging a second sidewall of the tire body with the second hub body to capture the tire body between the first and second hub bodies.