Aircraft wheel rim with removable flange

Abstract

Aircraft wheel rim in two parts, one of them a main part (1) comprising a hub (2), a disc (4) extending between the hub and an annular external portion (3) intended to accept a tire and shaped to have a flange (5) at one of its ends. The other end is shaped to accept the second part, a removable part (10) forming a flange (12) which removable part is attached to the annular external portion after the tire has been fitted. The rim has a structure for preventing the removable flange from rotating relative to the rim. The structure comprises at least one link (20) having ends, the centers of which define an axis which extends in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rim while at the same time extending obliquely to make an angle () with respect to a radial direction, one of the ends being coupled to the main part and the other of its ends being coupled to the removable part.

Claims

1. An aircraft wheel rim having an axis of rotation that defines a radial direction extending therefrom and comprising: a main part (1) and an auxiliary removable part (10), said main part comprising a hub (2), a disc (4) extending between the hub and an annular external portion (3) intended to accept a tyre, said annular external portion being shaped to have a first flange (5) at a first end thereof and a second flange (12) at a second end thereof, said second end being shaped to accept said auxiliary removable part (10), said removable part being attached to the annular external portion after the tyre has been fitted, and rotation-prevention link-based structure for preventing the removable flange from rotating relative to the rim, wherein the rotation-prevention link-based structure comprises at least one longitudinally-shaped link (20) having a first distal end coupled to the main part and a second distal end coupled to the auxiliary removable part, the first and second distal ends of the link having centres which define a longitudinal axis which extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rim while at the same time extending obliquely to make an angle () with respect to the radial direction.

2. The aircraft wheel rim according to claim 1, in which the main part and the removable auxiliary part comprise reservations (7,14) in which there are formed orifices (8,15) suited to accepting fasteners (9,16) for securing the distal ends of the link.

3. The aircraft wheel rim according to claim 1, comprising at least two longitudinally-shaped links (20) arranged to be at opposite angles with respect to radial directions.

4. The aircraft wheel rim according to claim 3, in which the two longitudinally-shaped links (20) are mounted in diametrically opposite regions of the rim.

5. The aircraft wheel rim according to claim 1, in which the at least one longitudinally-shaped link (20) is cut from flat metal bar stock.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood in the light of the description which follows of some particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, among which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view in section of a rim with removable flange according to a first particular embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rim of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded detailed view of the rim of FIG. 2;

(5) FIGS. 4 to 7 are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(6) With reference to FIG. 1, the invention applies to rims comprising a main part 1 which comprises a hub 2 suited to accepting the rolling bearings (not depicted) that guide rotation about an axis of rotation X, and an external annular portion 3 connected to the hub 2 by a disc 4. One of the axial ends of the external annular portion 3 is shaped into a flange 5 while the other end is shaped as a centring surface 6 for centring a removable auxiliary part 10 of annular overall shape which has a centring surface 11 and an end shaped as a flange 12. In this instance, the centring surfaces 6 and 11 have symmetry of revolution. In a way known per se, the removable auxiliary part 10 is attached to the main part 1 after a tyre has been fitted on the external annular portion 3, as depicted. A ring 13 is then interposed between the main part 1 and the removable auxiliary part 10 in order to join these two parts together axially.

(7) According to the invention, and as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main part 1 comprises reservations 7 in each of which an orifice 8 has been formed in an axial direction. Likewise, the removable flange 10 comprises reservations 14 in each of which an orifice 15 has been formed in an axial direction. The adjacent orifices 7, 14 accept fasteners 9 and 16 for fastening the ends of a link 20. In this instance, each of the links 20 has been cut from flat metal bar stock.

(8) The axis defined by the centres of the ends of the link 20 extends in this instance substantially in a plane P perpendicular to the axis X, and in a direction making a non-zero angle with respect to a radial direction. For preference, the angle is comprised between 45 and 90 degrees. Laid out in this way, each link 20 acts as an impediment to rotation of the removable flange 10 on the main part 11 and is perfectly visible from the outside, so that its presence can be checked more easily.

(9) The rim here is equipped with two links 20 mounted in diametrically opposite regions, and making opposite angles with radial directions.

(10) FIGS. 4 to 7 show alternative forms of embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 4, the rim is fitted with just one link 20. In FIG. 5, the rim is fitted with three links 20 uniformly distributed and all making the same angle with respect to radical directions. In FIG. 6, the rim comprises two links 20 which converge via their ends connected to the removable auxiliary part 10, being associated with a fastener in common. In FIG. 7, the pattern involving two convergent links from FIG. 6 has been repeated three times.

(11) The invention is not restricted to that which has just been described but on the contrary encompasses any alternative form that falls within the scope defined by the claims.