United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 4,694,873
Gerloff et al. [45] Date of Patent: Sep. 22, 1987
U. S. Patent Sep. 22,1987 Sheet 1 of3 4,694,873
U. S. Patent Sep. 22,1987 Sheet 2 of3 4,694,873
U. S. Patent Sep. 22,1987 Sheet 3 of3 4,694,873
[54] VEHICLE WHEEL WITH RUN-FLAT SUPPORT
[75] Inventors: Klaus Gerloff, Isernhagen; Dieter
Ehlert, Gehrden; Klaus von der Wall,
Wolpinghausen, all of Fed. Rep. of
Germany
Continental Gummi-Werke
Aktiengesellschaft, Hanover, Fed.
Rep. of Germany
Appl. No.: 818,536
Filed: Jan. 10, 1986
Foreign Application Priority Data
Jan. 15, 1985 [DE] Fed. Rep. of Germany 3501116
[51] Int. CI.* B60C 17/04; B60B 21/12
[52] U.S. CI 152/380; 152/DIG. 20
[58] Field of Search 152/516, 520, 521, DIG. 20,
152/158, 380
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,040,645 5/1936 Dickinson 152/521 X
4,173,243 11/1979 Wilde et al 152/520 X
4,258,767 3/1981 Wilde 152/520 X
4,327,791 5/1982 Strader 152/158
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 58-185305 10/1983 Japan 152/520
Primary Examiner—David A. Scherbel
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Becker & Becker, Inc.
[57] ABSTRACT
A vehicle wheel on which can be mounted a pneumatic tire, with the wheel being suitable for use during emergency operation of the tire. The tire is essentially made of rubber or rubber-like synthetic material, and has a carcass which is anchored in beads of the tire by being looped around bead cores. The inside of the tire is provided with an air-impermeable layer. The tire can also be reinforced with a belt. The wheel is provided with a rigid rim, including a rim ring, and with an emergencyoperation element upon which the inner surface of the tire is supported during emergency operation of the latter. The emergency-operation element can be formed by the rim ring itself, or by a separate support element secured to the rim. In order to guarantee that emergency operation can be undertaken over a longer period of time without damaging the inner surface of the tire, at least one friction strip is disposed on the radially outer side of the emergency-operation element. This friction strip extends further radially outwardly than do any parts of the rim and emergency-operation element, so that during emergency operation of the tire, the latter is supported by the friction strip. Each friction strip is rotatably supported on the emergency-operation element.
15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures
