ABSTRACT
Description A multipiece truck wheel, referred to here as multipiece rims, consists of a rim base over which a truck tire is mounted, and a wheel center which is bolted onto the axle of the vehicle. The wheel center can be either a disc which is welded or riveted to the wheel base or a spoke center which is bolted to the wheel base. A truck tire is held in place on the wheel base by an interference fit of the tire bead against the flanges of the rim base. It is the flange mechanism that determines the type of rim, multi-or single-piece. Single-piece rims are of the same design as passenger car wheels, a single wheel base over the flanges of which is forced the tire bead, or inner lip of the tire. Multipiece rims consist of a design whereby one flange is in effect removable. Instead of a simple interference fit, the separable flange pieces form an interlocking fit under pressure of the tire inflation. Singlepiece rims take tubeless truck tires, multipiece rims utilize tubes. Truck tires are inflated to a 90-120 psi range, depending on the specific tire. Thus, the flange assembly is placed under 90-120 Ib per square inch pressure which effects a ‘clamping’ force on the interlocking rim parts; this clamping force is approximately 40,000, or 20 tons for a wheel assembly at 90 psi.
