Wheel apparatus for use with vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10710401-B2
Application number	US-201715835011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 7, 2017
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

Wheel apparatus for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a wheel for a vehicle. The wheel has a groove disposed on an annular wall adjacent a drop well and extending away from the drop well. The example apparatus also includes a ring positioned in the groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a wheel for a vehicle, the wheel having a groove disposed on an annular wall adjacent a drop well, the groove extending radially away from the drop well; and
a rigid ring positioned in the groove, the ring to bear stress imparted by a tire coupled to the wheel, the ring defining a first surface to receive a portion of the tire, the ring further defining a curved surface extending from the first surface toward a second surface of the drop well to engage a tire bead of the tire.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring includes a mating surface to be received by a protrusion forming at least part of the groove to couple the ring to the wheel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the mating surface defines an outer surface of the ring facing toward the drop well to engage the protrusion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring is hollow.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the ring includes an opening extending to an inner portion of the ring to enable a fluid to move into or out of the ring.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring is shaped to engage a contour of a surface formed by the groove.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the ring includes a cross-sectional shape that is oblong.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the groove is continuous.

9. An apparatus comprising:
a vehicle having a wheel rotatably coupled thereto, wherein the wheel includes an annular groove facing a drop well of the wheel; and
a rigid ring extending through the annular groove, the ring to bear stress imparted by a tire coupled to the wheel, the ring defining a first surface to receive a portion of the tire, the ring further defining a curved surface extending from the first surface toward a second surface of the drop well to engage a tire bead of the tire.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ring includes a channel to contain a pressurized fluid and an aperture extending to the channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ring includes a plastic material.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a wheel to rotatably couple to a vehicle, the wheel having an annular groove to receive an annular body, wherein the annular groove defines a lip to retain the annular body, the lip having a mating surface oriented in a first direction, the first direction having a first component oriented radially relative to the wheel and a second component oriented axially relative to the wheel; and
the annular body, the annular body defining a first surface to receive a portion of a tire, the annular body further defining a curved surface extending from the first surface toward a second surface of a drop well of the wheel to engage a tire bead of the tire.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the mating surface is to engage a third surface of the annular body.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the annular groove defines a surface shaped to engage a contour of the annular body.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the annular body is to receive the portion of the tire when the annular body is retained in the annular groove.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Buttimer Ryan

Classifications

• B60B21/102 Primary

  the shape of bead seats · CPC title

• B60B17/0017

  with insonorisation means · CPC title

• B60B21/12

  Appurtenances, e.g. lining bands · CPC title

• B60C19/002

  Noise damping elements provided in the tyre structure or attached thereto, e.g. in the tyre interior · CPC title

• B60B21/026 Primary

  the shape of rim well · CPC title