Tire mount

Claim 1

A tire mount on which a tubeless tire may be mounted comprising a first hollow cylindrical rim section having a substantially constant cross section throughout its axial length with its outer diameter substantially equaling the inner diameter of the bead of a tire to be mounted thereon, a bead-engaging flange extending continuously about one end of said rim section and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a ramp element extending continuously about said rim section adjacent said flange, said ramp element at its inner edge in a region spaced axially inwardly on the rim section from said flange having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the rim section and increasing in diameter on progressing toward said flange, a second hollow cylindrical rim section having a substantially constant cross section throughout its axial length with its outer diameter being slightly less than the inner diameter of the first rim section, a bead-engaging flange extending continuously about one end of the second rim section and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a ramp element extending continuously about said rim section adjacent said flange, said ramp element increasing in diameter on progressing toward said flange, said first and second rim sections being disposed concentrically, each rim section extending from its associated bead-engaging flange toward the bead-engaging flange on the other rim section with a portion of the second rim section being overlapped by the first rim section in a region between said flanges and being slidable telescopically within the first rim section, whereby the rim sections may be moved axially relative to each other to place said flanges in various adjusted spaced positions to accommodate tires of varying widths with the rim sections maintained in overlapping relation, an annular groove in the outer surface of said second rim section in the region of overlap, an O-ring seal set in said annular groove and projecting out from said groove for sealing engagement with the inner surface of said first rim section to provide a substantially airtight seal between the rim sections throughout relative axial movement between them, multiple adjustable securing means disposed radially outwardly from the axial center of said rims and adjacent said rim sections for locking said first and second rim sections against relative axial movement outwardly and away from each other with said flanges in a given adjusted position, O-ring seals adjacent the inwardly facing surfaces of said flanges against which seals opposing side beads of a tire mounted on the tire mount may abut to form airtight seals between such side beads and the flanges, and an air inlet valve secured to and projecting radially inwardly of the second rim section in a region adjacent the inner edge of the ramp element on said second rim section.