Wheel support assembly and method

• Main Authors: GADD; CRAIG T, HIGASHI; WAYNE K, FITZ; FRANK A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.03.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; CASTORS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE WHEELS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A method of making a wheel support assembly adapted to bolt to an axle of a vehicle for supporting a tire is disclosed herein along with the assembly itself. In accordance with this method, an outer annular rim having an outer annular surface configured to support a tire is provided along with at least one integral piece of sheet metal. The sheet metal is stamp formed into a plurality of spoke arrangements, each of which includes (i) at least two elongated spokes respectively including inner ends and outer ends and (ii) a cross-bar connecting together the inner ends of the spokes and configured to bolt to the axle for connecting the inner ends of the spokes to the axle, whereby to serve as part of a hub of the wheel support assembly. The outer ends of the spokes are connected to the rim. In one embodiment disclosed herein, each spoke arrangement is formed from its own separate and distinct piece of sheet metal. In a second embodiment, all of the spoke arrangements are stamp formed from a single piece of sheet metal.