US20080303337A1
Active / In Force
US
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Mechanical fastener for polyurethane wheels
Assignee: Stellana US Inc
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Filing: 2007-06-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2027-06-05
Abstract
Abstract Wheels including one or more retention elements for affixing a polyurethane tire to a hub of the wheel are disclosed. The polyurethane tires of the wheels disclosed are manufactured separate from the hub and affixed to the hub via the retention elements thereby enabling additional manufacturing processes for the polyurethane tires and reuse of the hub portion of the wheels. Such manufacturing processes also allow for more complex polyurethane tire design and combinations of polymers to produce composite wheels allowing for increased comfort and durability. The wheels are particular suitability for use with industrial vehicles, such as lift trucks.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Michael Krantz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B23/00; B60B23/06; B60B23/08; B60C; B60C7/00; B60C7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
1 . A wheel for supporting an industrial vehicle, comprising: a tire at least partially formed of polyurethane, the tire having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and a hub, including: an annular portion having an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the tire; and a retention element configured to releasably attach to the hub thereby releasably retaining the tire about the annular portion of the hub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
1 . A wheel for supporting an industrial vehicle, comprising: a tire at least partially formed of polyurethane, the tire having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and a hub, including: an annular portion having an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the tire; and a retention element configured to releasably attach to the hub thereby releasably retaining the tire about the annular portion of the hub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
2 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the retention element is configured to removably attach to a side of the hub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
3 . A wheel according to claim 2 , wherein the retention element includes a plate defining an outer diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
4 . A wheel according to claim 3 , wherein the outer diameter of the plate is larger than the inner diameter of the tire such that an outer portion of the plate extends over a portion of a sidewall of the tire when the plate is affixed to the side of the hub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
5 . A wheel according to claim 3 , further comprising a second plate, wherein the plates are configured to removably attach to opposite sides of the hub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
6 . A wheel according to claim 5 , further comprising a bolt, wherein each plate includes a hole through which the bolt is configured to extend.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
7 . A wheel according to claim 3 , wherein the plate is defined by an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the plate is about equal to an inner diameter of the tire but the plate extends beyond a key extending from an inner surface of the tire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
8 . A wheel according to claim 2 , wherein the hub includes an integral plate extending from the annular portion at least as far as the outer diameter of the hub.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
9 . A wheel according to claim 1 , further comprising a surface on the tire corresponding to a surface on the hub, wherein the corresponding surfaces of the tire and hub are configured to oppose relative motion between the tire and the hub.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
10 . A wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the corresponding surfaces include: a key disposed on an inner surface of the tire; and a slot in the hub, the slot having a shape that is substantially shaped as the negative of the shape of the key to interlock with the key when the tire is received about the annular portion of the hub.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
11 . A wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the corresponding surfaces include a non-uniform outer surface about the annular portion of the hub.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
12 . A wheel according to claim 11 , wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes serrations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
13 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the tire is substantially devoid of rubber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
14 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the tire is a solid tire consisting of polyurethane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
15 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the tire is a composite tire that includes multiple polyurethanes or, a combination of a polyurethane and at least one other polymer, wherein at least two polymers have different resilience properties.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
16 . A wheel according to claim 15 , wherein the tire includes a first polymer adjacent to a second polymer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
17 . A wheel according to claim 16 , wherein the first polymer is radially adjacent to the second polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
18 . A wheel according to claim 17 , wherein the first polymer includes rubber and the second polymer includes a polyurethane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
19 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel is substantially free of an adhesive layer between the hub and tire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
20 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel is configured to support the industrial vehicle weighting at least about 400 pounds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
21 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel is configured to support the industrial vehicle weighting at least about 2000 pounds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
22 . A wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel further includes holes sized and arranged to receive lugs for attaching the wheel to an axle of the vehicle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
117 words
23 . A vehicle comprising: a frame; a fork tower mounted on the frame; at least one fork coupled to the fork tower for vertical movement of the at least one fork; two front wheels according to claim 1 coupled to the frame adjacent the front of the frame to support the front of the frame, two rear wheels according to claim 1 pivotally coupled to the frame adjacent the rear of the frame to support the rear of the frame; a motor supported by the frame, the motor coupled to at least one of the wheels to provide a drive force; steering means connected to the frame for pivoting the rear wheels to steer the vehicle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
126 words
24 . A wheel configured to support a lift truck, comprising: a tire at least partially formed of polyurethane and configured to support at least about 1000 pounds, the tire having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; a hub including: an annular portion having an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the tire; and means for releasably mounting the tire to the hub when the tire is received about an outer surface of the hub; and a surface on the tire corresponding to a surface on the hub, wherein the corresponding surfaces of the tire and the hub are configured to oppose relative motion between the tire and the hub when the wheel is in use in conjunction with the lift truck.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
126 words
24 . A wheel configured to support a lift truck, comprising: a tire at least partially formed of polyurethane and configured to support at least about 1000 pounds, the tire having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; a hub including: an annular portion having an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the tire; and means for releasably mounting the tire to the hub when the tire is received about an outer surface of the hub; and a surface on the tire corresponding to a surface on the hub, wherein the corresponding surfaces of the tire and the hub are configured to oppose relative motion between the tire and the hub when the wheel is in use in conjunction with the lift truck.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
25 . A wheel according to claim 24 , wherein the surface on the hub includes serrations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
26 . A wheel according to claim 24 , wherein the surface on the hub includes a slot and the surface on the tire includes a key, wherein the key is configured to interlock with the slot.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
27 . A method for manufacturing a wheel, comprising: molding a tire at least partially formed of polyurethane, the tire having an outer diameter and an inner diameter; providing a hub including: an annular portion having an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the tire; and mounting the tire about the annular portion of the hub, wherein the act of mounting the tire to the hub is performed after the act of molding the tire.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
78 words
27 . A method for manufacturing a wheel, comprising: molding a tire at least partially formed of polyurethane, the tire having an outer diameter and an inner diameter; providing a hub including: an annular portion having an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the tire; and mounting the tire about the annular portion of the hub, wherein the act of mounting the tire to the hub is performed after the act of molding the tire.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
28 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the act of mounting the tire about annular portion of the hub includes releasably attaching a retention element to a side of the hub.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
29 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the act of molding the tire includes an injection molding process.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
30 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the tire is molded in a mold that does not include the hub.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
31 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the act of molding the tire includes molding multiple polyurethanes, or a combination of a polyurethane and at least one other polymer
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
32 . A method according to claim 31 , wherein at least two polymers have a different resiliency and/or hardness.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
33 . A method according to claim 31 , wherein a first polymer is molded adjacent to a second polymer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
34 . A method according to claim 33 , wherein the first polymer is molded radially inward to the second polymer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
35 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the act of molding the tire includes injection molding a key along an interior surface of the tire.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
36 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the act of molding the tire omits a vulcanization process.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
47 words
37 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the act of mounting the tire about an outer surface of the hub includes interfacing corresponding surfaces of the tire and the hub, wherein the corresponding surfaces interlock or increase static friction between the hub the tire.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
97 words
38 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the act of molding the tire includes a reaction of a diisocyanate and a polyol, wherein the diisocyanate includes a diisocyanate selected from a group of diisocyanates consisting of: toluene diisocyante (TDI); 4,4′-diphenymethane diisocyanate (MDI); p-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI); 3,3′-dimethyl-f4′-biphenyl diisocyante (TODI); 1,5 naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI); and hexamethlyene diisocyante (HDI); and wherein the polyol includes a polyol selected from a group of polyols consisting of: poly ethylene adipate glycol; poly butylene adipate glycol; poly ethylene butylene adipate glycol; poly caprolactones; polypropylene glycol (PPG); and polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG)
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