Wheel mounting assembly

Abstract

A wheel assembly includes: (a) a hub adapted to be mounted for rotation about an axis and defining a housing for enclosing a gear set, the hub having a generally cylindrical outer surface; (b) a ring surrounding the outer surface of the hub; and (c) a generally cylindrical rim surrounding at least a portion of the hub, the rim adapted to carry a tire and having a radially inwardly extending mounting flange. The mounting flange is fastened to the ring.

1 . A wheel assembly, comprising:
 (a) a hub adapted to be mounted for rotation about an axis and defining a housing for enclosing a gear set, the hub having a generally cylindrical outer surface;   (b) a ring surrounding the outer surface of the hub; and   (c) a generally cylindrical rim surrounding at least a portion of the hub, the rim adapted to carry a tire and having a radially inwardly extending mounting flange, the mounting flange being fastened to the ring.   
   
   
       2 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1  further including a sleeve adapter surrounding the hub, the sleeve adapter having an inner flange fastened to the ring, and an outer flange fastened to a distal end of the hub, such that the mounting flange is clamped between the sleeve adapter and the ring. 
   
   
       3 . The wheel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the sleeve adapter is generally cylindrical, the inner flange extends radially outward from the sleeve adapter, and the outer flange extends radially inward from the sleeve adapter. 
   
   
       4 . The wheel assembly of  claim 2  wherein a distal end of the hub is closed by an end plate. 
   
   
       5 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the ring is fastened to the hub with at least one fastener oriented in a generally radial direction; and   (b) the mounting flange of the rim is fastened to the ring with at least one fastener oriented in a generally axial direction.   
   
   
       6 . The wheel assembly of  claim 5  wherein one of the ring and the outer surface of the hub includes a spline which engages a complementary keyway in the other of the ring and the hub. 
   
   
       7 . A wheel assembly, comprising:
 (a) a hub adapted to be mounted for rotation about an axis, the hub defining a housing for enclosing a gear set and having an inboard end and an outboard end carrying respective inboard and outboard flanges, where at least the outboard flange is segmented;   (b) a generally cylindrical first rim surrounding at least a portion of the hub, the first rim being adapted to carry a tire and having a radially inwardly extending mounting flange; and   (c) wherein the mounting flange of the first rim is segmented in a complementary relationship to the outboard flange and is fastened to the inboard flange.   
   
   
       8 . The wheel assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a generally cylindrical second rim surrounding at least a portion of the hub, the second rim being adapted to carry a tire and having a mounting flange extending radially inward therefrom; wherein the mounting flange of the second rim is fastened to the outboard flange. 
   
   
       9 . The wheel assembly of  claim 8  wherein all of the flanges of the hub and the first and second rims are segmented. 
   
   
       10 . The wheel assembly of  claim 7  wherein individual segments of the outboard flange and the mounting flange of the first rim are axially offset from each other. 
   
   
       11 . A wheel assembly, comprising:
 (a) a hub adapted to be mounted for rotation about an axis and defining a housing for enclosing a gear set, the hub having a generally cylindrical outer surface;   (b) a generally cylindrical first rim surrounding the hub and at least a portion of the hub, the first rim being adapted to carry a tire and having a first mounting flange extending axially therefrom; and   (c) wherein the first rim is fastened to the hub with at least one fastener extending through the first mounting flange and oriented in a generally radial direction.   
   
   
       12 . The wheel assembly of  claim 11  further comprising:
 (a) a generally cylindrical second rim surrounding at least a portion of the hub, the second rim being adapted to carry a tire and having a second mounting flange extending axially therefrom;   (b) wherein the second rim is secured to the hub with at least one fastener extending through the second mounting flange and oriented in a generally radial direction; and   (c) wherein the first and second rims are oriented such that the first and second mounting flanges are adjacent to each other.   
   
   
       13 . A wheel assembly, comprising:
 (a) a hub adapted to be mounted for rotation about an axis, the hub having a generally cylindrical outer surface;   (b) a hollow annular transmission housing carried by and extending axially away from the hub, the transmission housing including:
 (i) an inboard section having a first inner diameter; 
 (ii) an outboard section having a second inner diameter substantially greater than the first inner diameter; and 
 (iii) a transition section interconnecting the inboard and outboard sections; 
   (c) an annular adapter ring fastened to the hub and the transmission housing by a first mechanical connection;   (d) a generally cylindrical rim surrounding the transmission housing and at least a portion of the hub, the rim being adapted to carry a tire and having a radially inwardly extending mounting flange which is fastened to the adapter ring by a second mechanical connection;   (e) wherein an annular space is defined between the rim and the transmission housing such that the mechanical connections are physically accessible from an outboard end of the transmission housing.   
   
   
       14 . The wheel assembly of  claim 13  wherein the adapter ring is fastened to the hub and the transmission housing by at least one threaded fastener. 
   
   
       15 . The wheel assembly of  claim 13  wherein the rim is fastened to the hub and the adapter ring by at least one threaded fastener.