CN-114901488-B - Wheel assembly, locking ring for a wheel assembly, handle engageable with a locking ring, and related methods

Abstract

A locking ring system may include one or more locking ring sections configured to at least partially define an annular locking ring, and one or more coupler plates configured to couple a first ring section end of a first locking ring section to a second ring section end of the first locking ring section or to a ring section end of the second locking ring section. The one or more coupler plates may be configured to be received in the ring recess of the one or more lock ring sections. One or more coupler plates may be coupled to one or more ring segment ends by fasteners and may be configured to slide relative to the ring recess when the fasteners are released such that a locking ring formed by one or more locking ring segments may be installed on or removed from the wheel assembly. The handle may be used to assist in maintaining separation of the locking ring segments during handling and to assist in handling the locking ring during removal of the locking ring from the wheel assembly and installation of the locking ring on the wheel assembly.

Inventors

• L A Hensell

Assignees

• 奥特车轮工程公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20201030

Priority Date

20191031

Claims (18)

1. 1. A locking ring system comprising: A lock ring section configured to at least partially define an annular lock ring and define a curved longitudinal axis extending along a length of the lock ring section between a first ring section end and a second ring section end, the lock ring section defining a ring cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the ring cross-section comprising: An outer ring surface; An inner ring surface opposite the outer ring surface, the inner ring surface defining a ring recess; a first ring sidewall; a second ring sidewall opposite the first ring sidewall, wherein the ring recess is substantially enclosed within the ring outer surface, the first ring sidewall, and the second ring sidewall; Wherein the lock ring section comprises: a first annular ring defined adjacent to the first ring segment end and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface; a second annular ring defined adjacent to the second ring segment end and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface, and A coupler plate configured to be received in the ring recess of the lock ring section and couple the first ring section end to one of the second ring section end or a ring section end of a second lock ring section, the coupler plate comprising: a panel outer surface; a panel inner surface opposite the panel outer surface; A first plate side wall, and A second plate sidewall opposite the first plate sidewall, Wherein the coupler plate defines a coupler slot extending between one of: The first plate side wall and the second plate side wall, or The plate outer surface and the plate inner surface.
2. 2. The locking ring system of claim 1, wherein the ring recess is defined between the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall.
3. 3. The locking ring system of claim 1, wherein the ring recess is substantially closed such that at least a portion of the length of the locking ring section is substantially tubular.
4. 4. The locking ring system of claim 1, further comprising: a third annular ring defined adjacent to the first annular ring and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface, and A fourth annular ring defined adjacent the second annular ring end and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface.
5. 5. The locking ring system of claim 1, wherein the coupler plate defines a coupler longitudinal axis extending along a length of the coupler plate between a first coupler end and a second coupler end, and wherein the coupler longitudinal axis is curved.
6. 6. The locking ring system of claim 1, wherein the coupler plate received in the ring recess is encapsulated by the locking ring section, at least one fastener secures the locking ring section to the coupler plate, and a head of the at least one fastener does not protrude above the ring outer surface.
7. 7. The locking ring system of claim 1, wherein the coupler slot is configured and positioned such that the locking ring can be removed from a rim base without separating the coupler plate from the first ring segment end.
8. 8. The locking ring system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of: a first coupler bore extending perpendicular to the first coupler slot and configured to receive a first fastener and extending between one of: The first plate side wall and the second plate side wall, or The outer and inner plate surfaces, or A second coupler bore extending perpendicular to the second coupler slot and configured to receive a second fastener and extending between one of: The first plate side wall and the second plate side wall, or The plate outer surface and the plate inner surface, Wherein the first and second coupler holes are positioned such that with fasteners in each of the first and second coupler holes, the first and second ring segment ends remain sufficiently separated from each other to remove the locking ring from the rim base without separating the coupler plate from the first and second ring segment ends.
9. 9. The locking ring system of claim 1, further comprising: a detachable handle configured to engage the coupler plate between the first ring section end and one of the second ring section end or a ring section end of a second lock ring section, the handle comprising: a handle body extending between a first end and a second end; a first engagement fixture adjacent the first end; a second engagement fixture adjacent the second end, and A gripping portion coupled to the handle body and configured to facilitate gripping of the handle.
10. 10. The locking ring system of claim 9, wherein the first engagement fixture comprises a first slot defining a first open end facing in a first direction and the second engagement fixture comprises a second slot defining a second open end facing in a second direction, and wherein the first and second directions are opposite one another.
11. 11. The locking ring system of claim 9, wherein the first end defines a first stop portion and the second end defines a second stop portion, and wherein the first and second stop portions are configured to substantially maintain a spacing between opposing ring segment ends.
12. 12. The locking ring system of claim 9, further comprising a pin coupled to the handle body and configured to engage an aperture in a coupler configured to couple opposing ring segment ends to one another.
13. 13. A lock ring section configured to at least partially form an annular lock ring, the lock ring section defining: a curved longitudinal axis extending along a length of the lock ring section between a first ring section end and a second ring section end, and A ring cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the ring cross-section comprising: An outer ring surface; An inner ring surface opposite the outer ring surface, the inner ring surface defining a ring recess configured to at least partially receive a coupler plate; a first ring sidewall; a second ring sidewall opposite the first ring sidewall, wherein the ring recess is substantially enclosed within the ring outer surface, the first ring sidewall, and the second ring sidewall; Wherein the lock ring section comprises: a first annular ring defined adjacent to the first ring segment end and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface; a second annular ring defined adjacent to the second ring segment end and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface.
14. 14. The lock ring section of claim 13, wherein the ring recess is defined between the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall.
15. 15. The lock ring section of claim 13, wherein the ring recess is substantially closed such that at least a portion of the length of the ring section is substantially tubular.
16. 16. The lock ring section of claim 13, further comprising: a third annular ring defined adjacent to the first annular ring and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface, and A fourth annular ring defined adjacent the second annular ring end and extending between one of: the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or The ring outer surface and the ring inner surface.
17. 17. A method for separating opposite ring segment ends from each other, the method comprising: releasing a first fastener coupling a first end of a coupler plate to a first opposing ring segment end, the opposing ring segment end having an annular cross-section comprising: An outer ring surface; An inner ring surface opposite the outer ring surface, the inner ring surface defining a ring recess configured to at least partially receive a coupler plate; a first ring sidewall; a second ring sidewall opposite the first ring sidewall, wherein the ring recess is substantially enclosed within the ring outer surface, the first ring sidewall, and the second ring sidewall; sliding the first end of the coupler plate within the ring recess relative to the first opposing ring segment end, thereby separating the first opposing ring segment end from the second opposing ring segment end, and A handle including a handle body is engaged with the coupler plate such that the handle maintains separation of the first opposing ring segment end from the second opposing ring segment end.
18. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: releasing a second fastener coupling a second end of the coupler plate to the second opposing ring segment end, and Sliding the second end of the coupler plate within the ring recess relative to the second opposing ring segment end, thereby increasing separation of the first opposing ring segment end from the second opposing ring segment end.

Description

Wheel assembly, locking ring for a wheel assembly, handle engageable with a locking ring, and related methods Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional application 62/928,915 filed on date 31 of 10.2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a wheel assembly, a locking ring for a wheel assembly, a handle engageable with the locking ring, and related methods. Background Some wheel assemblies for vehicles include a retaining ring for helping retain the tire on the wheel assembly. For example, a wheel assembly for mounting a particularly large tire may include a retaining ring to help retain the tire on the wheel assembly. However, it has been found that at least some of such retaining rings are difficult to remove. Furthermore, some such retaining rings may be relatively large, heavy, and may be cumbersome for personal handling, for example, during removal from or installation onto the wheel assembly. The wheel assemblies, locking rings, handles, and/or related methods described herein may be directed to addressing one or more of these possible drawbacks. Disclosure of Invention According to a first aspect, a locking ring system may include a locking ring section configured to at least partially define an annular locking ring and define a curved longitudinal axis extending along a length of the locking ring section between a first ring section end and a second ring section end. The lock ring section may define a ring cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the ring cross-section may include a ring outer surface and an inner ring inner surface opposite the ring outer surface. One of the inner or outer ring surfaces may define a ring recess configured to at least partially receive the coupler plate. The ring cross-section may also define a first ring sidewall and a second ring sidewall opposite the first ring sidewall. The lock ring section may include a first ring aperture defined adjacent the first ring section end and extending between one of (1) a first ring sidewall and a second ring sidewall, or (2) a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface. The lock ring section may also include a second ring aperture defined adjacent the second ring section end and extending between one of (1) the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or (2) the ring outer surface and the ring inner surface. The locking ring system may also include a coupler plate configured to couple the first ring segment end to one of the second ring segment end or the ring segment end of the second locking ring segment. The coupler plate may include a plate outer surface, a plate inner surface opposite the plate outer surface, a first plate sidewall, and a second plate sidewall opposite the first plate sidewall. The coupler plate may define a coupler slot extending between one of (1) the first plate sidewall and the second plate sidewall, or (2) the plate outer surface and the plate inner surface. The coupler plate may be configured to be received in a ring recess of the lock ring section. According to another aspect, the lock ring section may be configured to at least partially form an annular lock ring. The lock ring section may define a curved longitudinal axis extending along a length of the lock ring section between the first ring section end and the second ring section end. The lock ring section may also define a ring cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The ring cross-section may include a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface opposite the ring outer surface. One of the inner or outer ring surfaces may define a ring recess configured to at least partially receive the coupler plate. The ring cross-section may also include a first ring sidewall and a second ring sidewall opposite the first ring sidewall. The lock ring section may include a first ring bore defined adjacent the first ring section end and extending between one of (1) a first ring sidewall and a second ring sidewall, or (2) a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface. The lock ring section may also include a second ring aperture defined adjacent the second ring section end and extending between one of (1) the first ring sidewall and the second ring sidewall, or (2) the ring outer surface and the ring inner surface. According to another aspect, the coupler plate may be configured to connect the first ring section end of the lock ring section to one of the second ring section end of the lock ring section or the ring section end of the second lock ring section. The coupler plate may include a plate outer surface, a plate inner surface opposite the plate outer surface, a first plate sidewall, and a second plate sidewall opposite the first plate sidewall. The coupler plate may define a coupler slot extending between one of (1) the first plate sidewall and the second plate sidewall, or (2) the