Roger E Swartz

US Patent:

48362611, Jun 6, 1989

Filed:

Mar 27, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/030845

Inventors:

James B. Weeks - Eaton Rapids MI
Roger E. Payne - Okemos MI
Roger E. Swartz - Holt MI

Assignee:

Motor Wheel Corporation - Lansing MI

International Classification:

B60C 724
B60B 2502

US Classification:

152405

Abstract:

A take-apart wheel rim and disc assembly for use in a safety tire and wheel assembly which includes a pneumatic tubeless tire. The wheel includes an inboard rim part, a wheel mounting disc having an outer marginal flange telescoped into and secured to the inboard rim part, the disc flange having an outer surface protruding axially outboard beyond and clear of the inboard rim part. An outboard rim part telescopically received from an axially outboard direction over the disc flange, an O-ring seal disposed between the disc and opposing surfaces of the inboard and outboard rim parts, and a clamp ring for axially clamping the outboard and inboard rim parts together with the O-ring captured in compression between the disc and the opposing surfaces of the rim parts to seal against air leakage. The disc has an air bleed vent structure outboard of the O-ring and normally sealed from the tire cavity by the O-ring. The clamp ring and associated fasteners engage and exert clamping stress on the outboard rim part over a range of relative movement therebetween in the axial direction relative to the inboard rim part which is sufficient to permit loss of sealing pressure at the O-ring prior to loss of clamping engagement to thereby permit air leakage past the O-ring through the air bleed vent structure to atmosphere within the range of relative movement.

US Patent:

49764977, Dec 11, 1990

Filed:

May 17, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/353099

Inventors:

Charles C. Post - Haslett MI
Roger E. Swartz - Holt MI

Assignee:

Motor Wheel Corporation - Lansing MI

International Classification:

B60B 700

US Classification:

301 37R

Abstract:

A composite styled wheel, and method and apparatus for making the same, including a metal wheel mounting disc and a rim secured thereto adapted to receive a tire thereon, and a composite plastic ornamental overlay covering at least part of the outboard face of the disc and/or rim. The overlay includes a molded in-situ body of relatively high density resilient urethane plastic material permanently affixed to said disc and/or rim and a plastic insert having a weight-to-volume ratio much less than that of the body plastic material. At least the major portion of the insert is disposed radially outwardly from the overlay, aperture wheel mounting and the overlay body plastic material covers the insert so as to completely embed the same in the composite overlay to thereby hide the insert from view and assist in securement thereof to the wheel. The overlay body is cast and cured against the wheel metal with the insert pre-secured thereto. Preferably the insert comprises a resilient yieldable annulus circumferentially extending around the overlay in the valley space.

US Patent:

51280850, Jul 7, 1992

Filed:

Aug 8, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/564382

Inventors:

Charles C. Post - Haslett MI
Roger E. Swartz - Holt MI

Assignee:

Motor Wheel Corporation - Lansing MI

International Classification:

B29C 3314
B29C 4120
B29C 5356

US Classification:

264254

Abstract:

A composite style wheel, and method and apparatus for making the same, including a metal wheel mounting disc and a rim secured thereto adapted to receive a tire thereon, and a composite plastic ornamental overlay covering at least part of the outboard face of the disc and/or rim. The overlay includes a molded in-situ body of relatively high density resilient urethane plastic material permanently affixed to the disc and/or rim and a plastic insert having a weight-to-volume ratio much less than that of the body plastic material. At least the major portion of the insert is disposed radially outwardly from the overlay, aperture wheel mounting and the overlay body plastic material covers the insert so as to completely embed the same in the composite overlay to thereby hide the insert from view and assist in securement thereof to the wheel. The overlay body is cast and cured against the wheel metal with the insert pre-secured thereto. Preferably the insert includes a resilient yieldable annulus circumferentially extending around the overlay in the valley space.