EXTERNAL VALVE POSITIONING FOR DROP CENTER WHEELS

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to commercial vehicle wheel  more particularly  to a wheel includes a rim  a disc  and a valve  wherein the valve positioned in such a way to have larger clearance between valve and drum/caliper.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0002] A wheel is made up of a rim and center member  known as a disc or spider. The rim supports the tire and the spider (disc) connects the vehicle with the rim.
[0003] Wheels are usually of two types  namely the drop center and the semi-drop center. Drop center wheels are used on all cars  buses and trucks  which use tubeless tires; semi-drop center wheels are multi piece wheels used on vehicles with tubed tires.
[0004] Conventionally  in a vehicle  a tire is mounted onto a wheel and inflated to recommended pressure. In tubeless wheels  valve stem is fitted to the rim to inflate the tire. A valve stem is a self-contained valve which opens to admit the air into the chamber and is automatically closed and kept sealed by the pressure in the chamber to prevent the air from escaping.
[0005] In wheels of utility vehicles  the valve hole lies in the bottom or in the flank of the groove of the rim. The valves of these wheels are such that the stem of the valve runs alongside the interior wall of the rim and extends to the outside of the vehicle  passing through the opening in the wheel disc.
[0006] One problem encountered with the above arrangement of the stem valve such that the maintenance of valve stems. Valve stems rotate with the wheel of the vehicle. They are positioned between the rim and the axle where the braking components are housed. Often when the vehicle runs  foreign particles  stones  pebbles  penetrate the cavities between the rim  hub and the braking components. These particles might accumulate between the rim and the disc brake and rotate along with the wheel motion and can accumulate and jam the cavity between the valve stem (moving) and the brake mounting (stationary). In worst case scenarios  the result of the jamming of the foreign bodies between the moving valve stem and the stationary brake mounting may result in breakage of the stem valve or damage the rim or the brake mounting parts. This in turn would result in accidents due to sudden break failure.
[0007] Attempts have been made in the prior art to address the above problem  such as providing the valve stem outside the spider. This may give more clearance between rim and brake drum. Also  if the space between the two parts is increased then situations of valve stem damage due to caliper-brake fouling friction would be eliminated.
[0008] In the prior art EP0701911  a hump is provided between rim shoulder and cylindrical transition of a rim in a wheel in order to avoid load strain on valve stem. However  the hump is made an obstacle during mounting and unmounting of a tire on the rim since an outer bead of the tire must pass over the hump in order to reach its position on an outer seat of the rim. Further the hump can cause unbalanced rotations to the wheel.
[0009] In another prior art  US6450226 disposes a ledger instead of the hump on the valve hole region of the rim. Yet another prior art DE 102009056628 provides an interconnecting ring is disposed directly at a inner edge of a rim shoulder of the rim.
[00010] Though the above prior art may overcome the difficulties of the hump design of valve positioning in the rim  the ledger design or intermediate ring design of valve positioning may increase the processing time  additional components and manufacturing cost of the wheel.
[00011] Therefore  there is a need in the art to have a valve assembly in the rim of the wheel which can lead to an increased space between the valve stem and the drum which in turn not only results in pave the way for accommodating the larger brake drum without any hindrance  but also overcome the problem associated with the prior arts.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[00012] A main object of the invention is to provide a drop center wheel with larger clearance between valve and drum/caliper.
[00013] Another object of the invention is to provide an external valve in the drop center wheel.
[00014] Still another object of the invention is to provide a wheel comprising a rim  a disc  and a valve  wherein the valve is positioned at outer bead seat of the rim.
[00015] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valve hole positioning at the outer bead seat and adjacent to the connecting region of rim and dis  wherein the valve is positioned at the valve hole.
[00016] Another object of the invention is to provide a valve positioning at the outer bead seat and adjacent to the connecting region of rim and disc.
[00017] Another object of the invention to provide a wheel having substantial space for accommodating the larger brake drum without any hindrance.
[00018] Another object of the invention is to eliminate the hump  ledger and/or intermediate ring in the rim.
[00019] 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
[00020] In view of the foregoing  an embodiment herein provides a commercial vehicle wheel comprises of a rim  and a disc  wherein the rim includes an outer flange  an inner flange  an outer bead seat  an inner bead seat  a connecting region for connecting the rim and disc  a circumferential mounting groove connected between the connecting region and inner bead seat  wherein a valve hole is provided in the straight outer bead seat for positioning a valve  wherein the valve stem is externally projecting outside the disc  thereby results in pave the way for achieving larger clearance between the valve and drum/calliper.
[00021] According to an embodiment  the rim and disc are joined together to form said connecting region  characterized in that the valve hole is provided adjacent to the connecting region to accommodate the valve. Further  the valve is positioned in the valve hole securely at predetermined angle.
[00022] According to an embodiment  the valve hole is provided at a predetermined angle to keep the valve in a straight line. In another embodiment  the valve hole is provided at predetermined angle to keep the valve at an inclined angle towards upper side for easy access by the user.
[00023] 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
[00024] 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.
[00025] Fig 1 illustrates an axial section of a wheel  wherein a valve is positioned at outer bead seat of the wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[00026] Fig 2 illustrates an axial section of a wheel  wherein a valve is positioned at outer beat seat of the wheel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[00027] 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.
[00028] As mentioned earlier  there is a need to develop a wheel having substantial clearance between valve and brake drum/calliper without any hindrance and also overcoming problem associated with the prior art. The embodiments herein achieve this by providing a valve passing through a valve hole  wherein the valve hole is positioned in the region of straight outer bead seat of a wheel  particularly adjacent to the joining portion of rim and disc.
[00029] Now referring to Fig.1  an axial section of a wheel 100 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The commercial vehicle wheel 100 comprises of a rim 101  a disc 102  wherein the rim 101 includes an outer flange 103  an inner flange 104  an outer bead seat 105  an inner bead seat 106  a connecting region 107 for connecting the rim 101 and disc 102  a circumferential mounting groove 108 connected between the connecting region 107 and inner bead seat 106  wherein a valve hole 109 is provided in the straight outer bead seat 105 for positioning a valve 110  wherein the valve 110 stem is externally projecting outside the disc 102.
[00030] According to an embodiment  the outer bead seat 105 and inner beat seat 106 are provided to install/fix the tire on the rim of wheel. In an embodiment  the tire can be a tubeless type tire or tube type tire based on the requirement. The distance between the outer bead seat 105 and inner beat seat 106 are kept constant or variable according to conventional method. The angle of straight outer bead seat 105 can be kept at predetermined range  according to an embodiment.
[00031] According to an embodiment  the rim 101 and the disc 102 are connected through a connecting part 111 at the connecting region 107 with the help of any known welding process. The welding process is performed suitably to withstand the strength at the connecting part 111.
[00032] According to an embodiment  one end of the circumferential mounting groove 111 is connected to the connecting region 107  and another end of the circumferential mounting groove 111 is connected to the inner bead seat. Further  the diameter of the circumferential mounting groove 111 can be selected from a predetermined range to prevent the stress on the wheel.
[00033] In an embodiment  the valve hole 109 is positioned at the straight outer bead seat 105 and externally projected outside the disc 102. In an embodiment  the diameter of the valve hole 109 can be kept constant. In another embodiment  the diameter of the valve hole 109 can be varied from a predetermined limit to accommodate various size of valve 110. Therefore  the valve hole 109 can be configured to accommodate the valve 110 in a desired diameter.
[00034] In an embodiment  the diameter of valve 110 stem can be varied based on the diameter of the valve hole 109. Further  the angle of valve 110 positioning with the valve hole 109 can be configured to keep the valve externally and projected outwards from the disc 102. Furthermore  the valve 110 stem can be straight line or can be provided at an inclined angle towards upper side for easy access by the user.
[00035] According to an embodiment  the valve hole 109 is positioned closely adjacent to the connecting region 107 and straight outer bead seat 105. Further  the valve 111 is positioned in the straight outer bead seat 105 without the need of hump  ledger and/or intermediate ring in the rim 101.
[00036] Now referring to Fig.2  an axial section of a wheel 100 is illustrated in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly  the valve 111 is positioned in the outer bead seat 105 at an inclined angle  wherein the outer bead 105a profile is varied only at the valve position region as shown dotted in Fig. 2
[00037] The main advantage of the present invention is that it solves a problem of valve getting damaged by the drum/caliper crown fouling.
[00038] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a wheel having substantial clearance between valve and brake drum/calliper without any hindrance.
[00039] Yet another advantage of the present invention to provide the external valve projected outside the disc and without the need of hump  ledger and/or intermediate ring in the rim  therefore the manufacturing process becomes simpler and thus can reduce the wheel manufacturing cost.
[00040] 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. A commercial vehicle wheel comprising of
a rim 101  and a disc 102  wherein the rim 101 includes an outer flange 103  an inner flange 104  an outer bead seat 105  an inner bead seat 106  a connecting region 107 for connecting the rim 101 and disc 102  a circumferential mounting groove 108 connected between the connecting region 107 and inner bead seat 106  wherein a valve hole 109 is provided in the straight outer bead seat 105 for positioning a valve 110  wherein said valve 110 stem is externally projecting outside the disc 102.
2. The commercial vehicle wheel of claim 1  wherein said rim 101 and said disc 102 are joined together to form said connecting region 107  characterized in that the said valve hole 109 is provided adjacent to the connecting region 107 to accommodate said valve 110.
3. The commercial vehicle wheel of claim 1  wherein said valve 110 is positioned in said valve hole 109 securely at predetermined angle.
4. The commercial vehicle wheel of claim 1  wherein said valve hole 109 is provided at a predetermined angle to keep said valve 110 in a straight line.
5. The commercial vehicle wheel of claim 1  wherein said valve hole 109 is provided at a predetermined angle to keep said valve 110 at an inclined angle towards upper side for easy access by the user.
6. The commercial vehicle wheel of claim 1  wherein said valve 111 is positioned at an inclined angle at outer bead seat 105a.

ABSTRACT
In view of the foregoing  an embodiment herein provides a commercial vehicle wheel comprises of a rim 101  and a disc 102  wherein the rim 101 includes an outer flange 103  an inner flange 104  an outer bead seat 105  an inner bead seat 106  a connecting region 107 for connecting the rim 101 and disc 102  a circumferential mounting groove 108 connected between the connecting region 107 and inner bead seat 106  wherein a valve hole 109 is provided in the outer bead seat 105 for positioning a valve 110  wherein the valve 110 stem is externally projecting outside the disc 102  thereby results in pave the way for achieving larger clearance between the valve and drum/calliper.