Aircraft wheel construction

Claim 2

An aircraft wheel construction comprising: a hub section assembly adapted to be located about a wheel axle of an aircraft, a bearing assembly located between said hub section assembly and said axle; a tire supporting rim assembly; a flange exteriorly mounted by first means upon said rim adjacent each longitudinal edge of said rim, said first means for permitting axial pivotal movement of each of said flanges relative to said rim caused by lateral loads applied by the tire to said flanges, said flanges adapted to laterally restrain an inflatable tire; a first disc connected between said rim and said hub section, a second disc connected between said rim and said hub section, said first and second discs connected by second means to said rim, said second means for permitting pivotal movement of said first and second discs relative to said rim, third means for fixedly connecting together said first and second discs, said first and second discs connected by fourth means to said hub section, said fourth means for permitting pivotal movement of said discs relative to said hub section.

Claim 3

The aircraft wheel construction as defined in claim 1 wherein: said first means comprises an annular shoulder formed adjacent each longitudinal edge of said rim, each of said flanges having an annular rounded protrusion, said annular rounded protrusion of a said flange to cooperate against a said shoulder whereby each of said flanges is capable of pivotal movement in the axial direction with each of said annular rounded protrusions acting as the fulcrum against a said annular shoulder.

Claim 4

The aircraft wheel construction as defined in claim 1 wherein: said first means includes an annular shoulder formed upon said rim adjacent each longitudinal end of said rim, an annular recess formed within each of said flanges, a ring having a cirCular cross-section adapted to be located within said annular recess and in contact with a said annular shoulder.

Claim 5

The aircraft wheel construction as defined in claim 2 wherein: each of said flanges having an outer lateral surface and an inner lateral surface, the inflatable tire adapted to come into abutting contact with said inner lateral surfaces, the radial inner surface of said flange interconnecting said laterally inner and outer surfaces of said flange, said annular round protrusion of each of said flanges is formed upon said radially inner surface and located directly adjacent said laterally outer surface of said flange.

Claim 6

The aircraft wheel construction as defined in claim 2 wherein: each of said flanges having an outer lateral surface and an inner lateral surface, the inflatable tire adapted to come into abutting contact with said inner lateral surfaces, the radial inner surface of said flange interconnecting said laterally inner and outer surfaces of said flange, said annular round protrusion of each of said flanges is formed upon said radial inner surface and located direcly adjacent said laterally inner surface of said flange.

Claim 7

The aircraft wheel construction as defined in claim 1 wherein: said first means includes an annular shoulder formed upon said rim adjacent each longitudinal end of said rim, an annular recess formed within each of said flanges, a ring formed of a plurality of spherical balls adapted to be located within said annular recess and in contact with a said annular shoulder.

Claim 8

An aircraft wheel construction comprising: a hub section assembly adapted to be located about a wheel axle of an aircraft, a bearing assembly located between said hub section assembly and said axle; a tire supporting rim assembly; a flange exteriorly mounted by first means upon said rim adjacent each longitudinal edge of said rim, said first means for permitting axial pivotal movement of each of said flanges relative to said rim caused by lateral loads applied by the tire to said flanges, said flanges adapted to laterally restrain an inflatable tire; a first disc connected between said rim and said hub section, a second disc connected between said rim and said hub section, said first and second discs connected by second means to said rim, said second means for permitting pivotal movement of said first and second discs relative to said rim, third means for fixedly connecting together said first and second discs, said first and second discs connected by fourth means to said hub section, said fourth means for permitting pivotal movement of said discs relative to said hub section, and said hub section assembly is formed into two separate longitudinal sections interconnected together so that one section is capable of slight deflection relative to the other, said rim being constructed of two separate elements interconnected together so that one element is capable of a small amount of deflection relative to the other said element.

Claim 9

An aircraft wheel construction comprising: a hub section assembly adapted to be located about a wheel axle of an aircraft, a bearing assembly located between said hub section assembly and said axle; a tire supporting rim assembly; a flange exteriorly mounted by first means upon said rim adjacent each longitudinal edge of said rim, said first means for permitting axial pivotal movement of each of said flanges relative to said rim caused by lateral loads applied by the tire to said flanges, said flanges adapted to laterally restrain an inflatable tire; a first disc connected between said rim and said hub section, a second disc connected between said rim and said hub section, said first and second discs connected by second means to said rim, said second means for permitting pivotal movement of said first and second discs relative to said rim, third means for fixedly connecting together said first and second discs, said first and second discs connected by fourth means to said hub section, said fourth means for permitting pivotal movement of said discs relative to said hub section, and said hub section assembly is formed into two separate longitudinal sections interconnected together so that one section is capable of slight deflection relative to the other, said rim being constructed of two separate elements interconnected together so that one element is capable of a small amount of deflection relative to the other said element.

Claim 10

An aircraft wheel construction comprising: a hub section assembly adapted to be located about a wheel axle of an aircraft, a bearing assembly located between said hub section assembly and said axle; a tire supporting rim assembly; a flange exteriorly mounted by first means upon said rim adjacent each longitudinal edge of said rim, said first means for permitting axial pivotal movement of each of said flanges relative to said rim caused by lateral loads applied by the tire to said flanges, said flanges adapted to laterally restrain an inflatable tire; a first disc connected between said rim and said hub section, a second disc connected between said rim and said hub section, said first and second discs connected by second means to said rim, said second means for permitting pivotal movement of said first and second discs relative to said rim, third means for fixedly connecting together said first and second discs, said first and second discs connected by fourth means to said hub section, said fourth means for permitting pivotal movement of said discs relative to said hub section, and said second means includes an annular recess formed within each of said discs, a pair of annular shoulders formed interiorly of said rim in a closely spaced apart manner, a member having a circular cross section located within each of said annular recesses with a said circular cross-section member being in contact with a said annular shoulder.

Claim 11

An aircraft wheel construction comprising: a hub section assembly adapted to be located about a wheel axle of an aircraft, a bearing assembly located between said hub section assembly and said axle; a tire supporting rim assembly; a flange exteriorly mounted by first means upon said rim adjacent each longitudinal edge of said rim, said first means for permitting axial pivotal movement of each of said flanges relative to said rim caused by lateral loads applied by the tire to said flanges, said flanges adapted to laterally restrain an inflatable tire; a first disc connected between said rim and said hub section, a second disc connected between said rim and said hub section, said first and second discs connected by second means to said rim, said second means for permitting pivotal movement of said first and second discs relative to said rim, third means for fixedly connecting together said first and second discs, said first and second discs connected by fourth means to said hub section, said fourth means for permitting pivotal movement of said discs relative to said hub section, and said second means includes an annular recess formed within each of said discs, a pair of annular shoulders formed interiorly of said rim in a closely spaced apart manner, a member having a circular cross section located within each of said annular recesses with a said circular cross-section member being in contact with a said annular shoulder.