Wheel and tire assembly including a collapsible wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9290054-B2
Application number	US-201313969197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2013
Priority date	Aug 16, 2013
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

A wheel assembly includes a collapsible wheel and an airless flexible tire mounted on the wheel. The wheel includes a central portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements attached to the central portion. Each of the mounting elements is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and may be pivotally attached to the central portion of the wheel and configured to pivot between the retracted position and the extended position. The tire may be positioned on the wheel when one or more of the mounting elements is in the retracted position, and the one or more mounting elements are moved to the extended position wherein the mounting elements engage and support the tire.

First claim

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A wheel assembly comprising:
a wheel including—
a central portion, and
a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements attached to the central portion, each of the mounting elements being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and

an airless flexible tire mounted on the wheel and supported by the mounting elements when the mounting elements are in the extended position, the airless flexible tire including a pair of drive lugs positioned to engage opposite sides of one of the mounting elements, the drive lugs extending radially inwardly from the airless flexible tire.

2. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 , each of the mounting elements being configured to pivot between the retracted position and the extended position.

3. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 2 , each of the mounting elements being configured to pivot independently of the other mounting elements.

4. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tire engages the mounting elements when the mounting elements are in the extended position such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated radially from the wheel by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.

5. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 , each of the mounting elements presenting an elongated, transversely oriented outer edge that engages the tire.

6. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 , the tire including a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from the tire.

7. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 , the tire including one or more tension elements secured thereto.

8. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the one or more tension elements are at least partially embedded in the tire.

9. An irrigation system comprising:
a conduit for carrying and dispensing water;
at least one mobile tower for supporting and moving the conduit; and
a plurality of wheel assemblies for supporting the at least one mobile tower, each of the wheel assemblies including—
a wheel with a central portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements attached to the central portion, each of the mounting elements being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and
an airless flexible tire mounted on the wheel and supported by the mounting elements when the mounting elements are in the extended position, the airless flexible tire including a pair of drive lugs positioned to engage opposite sides of one of the mounting elements, the drive lugs extending radially inwardly from the airless flexible tire.

10. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 9 , each of the mounting elements being configured to pivot between the retracted position and the extended position.

11. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 10 , each of the mounting elements being configured to pivot independently of the other mounting elements.

12. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the tire engages the mounting elements when the mounting elements are in the extended position such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated radially from the wheel by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.

13. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 9 , each of the mounting elements presenting an elongated, transversely oriented outer edge that engages the tire.

14. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 9 , the tire including a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from the tire.

15. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 9 , the tire including one or more tension elements secured thereto.

16. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the one or more tension elements are at least partially embedded in the tire.

Assignees

• Lindsay Corp

Inventors

• Pfrenger Jochen
• Korus Thomas J

Classifications

• B60C11/0311

  Patterns comprising tread lugs arranged parallel or oblique to the axis of rotation · CPC title

• B60C25/01

  for removing tyres from or mounting tyres on wheels · CPC title

• A01G25/092

  movable around a pivot centre · CPC title

• B60B23/10

  arranged axially · CPC title

• B60B1/14

  Attaching spokes to rim or hub · CPC title