COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WHEEL MADE OF ALUMINIUM AND STEEL FOR TUBED AND TUBELESS TYRES
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to commercial vehicle wheels  particularly relates to aluminum wheel. More particularly  it relates to aluminum wheel assembly includes integral wheel made of aluminum and locking ring made of steel for tube and tubeless tyre application.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0002] A wheel is made up of tire  rim and a centre member  known as a disc or spider. The rim supports the tire and the disc connects the vehicle with the wheel. The rims are metallic rounded bodies made to fix tire about it with provision for lock ring to hold the tyre in position.
[0003] Generally tires are of two types  namely tube-type tires and tubeless type tires. There are commonly two types of rims  namely the single piece rim and multi-piece rim. A single piece rim is a continuous one-piece assembly which is commonly used in tubeless type tires. A multi-piece rim is commonly used in tube-type tires  wherein the wheel assembly consisting of a rim base with fixed flange   a disc (integral or separate)  a lockring ring assembly (one or More parts).
[0004] Conventionally  rims for tube-type wheels are made of steel owing to their simple construction  and the steel wheels are very popular. They can easily absorb shocks and protect the vehicle’s body from deformations  which is very important for driving safety. However  conventional steel wheels are heavy in construction  tend to corrode over time and are prone to bending. The heat dissipation property of steel is inferior compared to that of aluminum which reflects in the performance of the Tyres.
[0005] Modern tubeless type wheels are made of forged aluminum; these aluminum wheels have gained preference by customers over the steel wheels  because of their light weight  external appearance  corrosion resistance  less maintenance and better heat dissipation capabilities and increased tyre life Aluminum weighs about a third of what steel weighs. Since aluminum is lighter than steel it provides the wheel with less rotational mass  meaning less energy is necessary to accelerate the wheel. The fuel efficiency is improved by up to 8 % when aluminum wheels are used instead of steel wheels.
[0006] In view of foregoing  the present inventors have recognized a need to develop a wheel made of aluminum for tube-type tires and to exploit the above mentioned advantages of aluminum.
[0007] However  the use of aluminum material for lock ring has certain disadvantages. There always exists a problem of wear due to the constant friction  sliding  rolling and other movements with the wheel rim. And also lock rings made out of aluminum has lower stiffness and this can create a problem of deformation and/or elongation.
[0008] Therefore  there is a need to develop aluminum wheels which include wheel rim and disc made of aluminum for tubed/tubeless tire  which can overcome the above cited problems. Further  there is a need to prevent wear of the aluminum wheel rim especially at the contact region where the friction takes place between the rim base and the lock ring.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A main object of the present invention is to provide a commercial vehicle wheel assembly made up of aluminum and steel for tube and tubeless type tyres.
[00010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a light weight wheel assembly for tube/tubeless-type tire.
[00011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an aluminum wheel assembly for tube/tubeless tire thereby increasing fuel mileage up to 8%
[00012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel includes an integral wheel made of aluminum  and a removable lock ring made of steel.
[00013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wear resistant coating applied over a contact region located in-between the lock ring and rim gutter.
[00014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wear resistant coating having hardness greater than that of lock ring material.
[00015] The other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated for illustration of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00016] In view of the foregoing  an embodiment herein provides a wheel for commercial vehicles includes a rim base with fixed flange which with integral disc  a lock ring [also called as split side ring]  wherein a wear-resistant coating is applied in the contact region between the lock ring and wheel rim base  wherein the lock ring may be continuous or split type.
[00017] According to an embodiment  an aluminum wheel for tubed/tubeless tyre commercial vehicles includes a rim base with integral disc made of alloy of aluminum  and a lock ring made of steel  wherein a wear-resistant coating is applied in the contact region between the lock ring and wheel rim base  wherein the hardness of wear-resistance coating is greater than that of lock ring material.
[00018] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood  however  that the following descriptions  while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof  are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof  and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[00019] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures  the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
[00020] Fig.1 illustrates a cross sectional view of a wheel rim  a disc and a locking ring  according to an embodiment herein;
[00021] Fig. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of an auxiliary configuration of a wheel rim  a disc and a locking ring assembly accompanied by a lock ring  according to an embodiment herein;
[00022] Fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of Fig.1  wherein the wear resistant is being applied in the contact region between the wheel rim base and spring flange  according to an embodiment herein; and
[00023] Fig. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of Fig. 2  wherein the wear resistant material being applied in the contact region between the wheel rim base and safety lock ring  according to an embodiment herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[00024] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly  the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[00025] As mentioned earlier  there is a need to develop a multi piece aluminum wheel for a tube/tubeless type tyre which can overcome the tribulations caused due to the wear. The embodiments herein achieve this by providing a wear-resistant coating over the contact region which is located in-between the wheel rim made out of aluminum and the lock ring made out of steel. Referring now to the drawings  and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4  where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures  there are shown preferred embodiments.
[00026] Now referring to Fig. 1 illustrates a sectional view a wheel rim and locking ring according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wheel assembly for commercial tubed tire vehicles includes a rim base 100  a fixed flange 101 which rests on the wheel rim base 100  a locking ring 102 [which may be continuous or split type]  and a disc 103. According to an embodiment of the present invention  a wear-resistant coating material 104 is applied in the contact region between lock ring 102 and wheel rim base 100.
[00027] The disc 103 is a formed  forged  or cast disc made out of alloy of aluminum. The rim 100 is also made of alloy of aluminum and a locking ring 102 is made of steel  according to an embodiment.
[00028] An enlarged view of Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 3 which clearly illustrates the coating of wear-resistant 104 over the wheel rim base 100. The coating may include metallic/ceramic/cermets/composites materials which has higher hardness than the locking ring material. The coating 104 is applied to the contact region using deposition/electrolytic process.
[00029] The composition of the wear-resistant coating comprises of metallic/ceramic/cermets/composites materials and the thickness of coating is minimum 50 microns. wherein the hardness value of the wear-resistant coating is greater than that of lock ring material.
[00030] The embodiments typically  but not necessarily  include wear-resistant coating over the rim base100. In another embodiment  the wear-resistant coating can be applied on both the parts i.e. on the rim base 100 where locking ring sits and on the locking ring 102 the portion which sits on the rim.
[00031] Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of further configuration of wheel rim and locking ring assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. The wheel comprises of a wheel rim 200  a disc 201 over which a fixed flange 202 is placed on one side and on the other side a lock ring assembly  which consists of a lock ring 204 and loose flange 203. A wear-resistant coating 205 is applied in the contact region of rim base 200 and lock ring 204 as optional.
[00032] Fig. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of part of Fig. 2  showing the wear-resistant coating 205 applied to the rim base 200 which makes contact with the lock ring 204. In another embodiment  the coating 205 can be applied on both parts Rim base 200 and lock ring 204 in the contact region.
[00033] According to the present invention  the integral wheel made out of alloy aluminum for tubed/tubeless tyres has the main advantage due to its light weight  superior external appearance  less maintenance  excellent corrosion resistance  increased tire life and faster heat dissipation capabilities.
[00034] According to the present invention the lock ring which is made out of steel has better strength and elastic properties for the better performance of locking ring assembly.
[00035] Yet another advantage of this invention is that it provides a wear-resistant coating which prevents wear caused due to the friction in-between the mating parts.
[00036] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can  by applying current knowledge  readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept  and  therefore  such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore  while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments  those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

We Claim:
1. An commercial vehicle wheel assembly comprises of
a rim base made of alloy of aluminum;
a disc made of alloy of aluminum; and
a lock ring made of steel; wherein a wear resistant coating applied in the contact region of rim base.
2. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1  wherein said vehicle wheel assembly is configured for tube/tubeless type tyre.
3. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1 further comprises of a fixed flange and a locking ring provided
4. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1  wherein said rim base and disc is made of single piece.
5. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1  wherein said wear resistance coating having hardness greater than that of locking ring material.
6. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1  wherein said wear resistance coating is applied on the base portion of rim base at the contact region.
7. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1  wherein said wear resistance coating is applied on the bottom of locking ring at the contact region.
8. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1  wherein said wear resistance coating is applied on both sides of locking ring and rim base at the contact region.
9. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of claim 1  wherein said wear resistance coating selected from a group comprises of metallic  ceramic  cermets  composites materials.
10. The commercial vehicle wheel assembly of clam 1  wherein minimum thickness of said wear resistance coating is 50 microns.