A half shaft connects to the mounting bracket of the wheel in a splined connection. The straight external spline of the half shaft is modified to a helical or involute external spline, in which the helix angle adopted is small. The mounting bracket of the wheel can be longitudinally advanced by hand assembly only part way onto the half shaft. The rest of the longitudinal advancement during assembly occurs by tightening the nut to completely eliminate the fit clearance between the external spline and its corresponding mating arrangement. Various road tests of vehicles verify that, when using the present invention, the nut does not loosen during use of the vehicle. The invention enables the locking force of the nut to be reduced, and assembly and maintenance are convenient.

A removable spindle axle improvement using a cap attached to a rim formed along an inside surface of a torsion arm, wherein the cap seals a threaded fastener. The rim used for attachment can be a groove, collar, or a collared washer. In an alternative embodiment, a first O-ring is positioned along an end of a spindle axle tapered body and a second O-ring groove is positioned along an opposite end of the spindle axle tapered body to hermetically seal an area of the spindle axle therebetween. In a further embodiment, a first O-ring is positioned along one end of a spindle axle socket and a second O-ring is positioned along a second end of the spindle axle socket to hermetically seal an area of the spindle axle therebetween.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

A hub assembly includes a retainer housing, a retaining member, a biasing element, and an occlusion. The retainer housing includes a wheel mounting sleeve and a pin sleeve. The wheel mounting sleeve includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle. The pin sleeve has a first end and a second end. The pin sleeve includes a conduit between the first end and the second end. The first end is in fluid communication with the axle bore. The retaining member and the biasing element are in the conduit. The retaining member is configured to engage a groove in an axle. The biasing element is configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore. The occlusion is proximate to the second end of the pin sleeve. The occlusion is configured to inhibit the retaining member from exiting the conduit at least prior to coupling the hub assembly to a wheel.

A wheel assembly includes a first rim piece for engaging a rotatable axle; and a second rim piece for engaging the rotatable axle. The first rim piece has axially extending curved friction plates for engaging a first side of a spoke structure of a tire. Axially outer ends of the friction plates engage axially extending lugs of the second rim piece to form a single split wheel assembly.

Magnetic wheels, steel-climbing robots, and methods and systems for inspection of steel structures are disclosed, along with variations, alternatives, and modifications. A disclosed magnetic wheel has radially oriented rare-earth magnets disposed in an elastomeric wheel body. The magnets are disposed in circumferential rings about the wheel's axis. Neighboring rings have azimuthally staggered patterns. A steel-climbing robot employing such magnetic wheels is capable of traversing steel structures including obstacles, discontinuities, 90 joints, and rough surfaces.

Embodiments disclosed herein describe systems and methods for a bead lock wheel line in scaled vehicles. The bead lock wheel line may include a wheel center section and a bead lock ring. The bead lock ring may be configured to be overlaid on the wheel center section, wherein screws may be inserted through orifices positioned within the bead lock ring and into orifices positioned on the wheel center section.

A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel may include a wheel rib that is attachable to a rim inner surface of a wheel rim of the vehicle wheel, a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface, and a cover body outer edge having an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the wheel rib and less than an inner diameter of an open end flange of the wheel rim. A cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body has a cover locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the wheel rib to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body and secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel when the wheel rib is attached to the rim inner surface.

An apparatus and method of assembling a radially outer portion of a nonpneumatic wheel onto a hub (100) having a plurality of slots (150) extending along an axis, each of the slots (150) arranged in a frustoconical orientation extending from the first end (632) to the second end (634) such that the distance between the slots is greater at the first end than at the second end.

The present invention relates to a novel design for quick tyre change in rear dual wheel assembly in a heavy transport vehicle. The invention provides a safe design that comprises a two-piece segmented saddle lock ring retained in position by an endless ring. A self-locking taper provided on the inside of endless ring can be pressed against the taper provided on the two-piece segmented saddle lock ring. The endless ring retaining the two-piece segmented saddle lock rings due to wedge action of self-locking taper cannot move from its position until an external force is applied on the endless ring towards the direction of the tyre position. The endless ring acts as a hood over the two-piece segmented saddle lock rings and prevents any loose parts flying off the rim during the tyre burst. Further in this safe design both inboard and outboard rim tyre support components are identical as both rims are of same diameter.