Filler ring for holding a tire in an annular chamber in the wheel rim face is divided at a point around the circumference and the free ends have corresponding profiles which engage with each other

摘要

The circumferential filler ring(12) sits between the radially inner wall of the annular chamber and the tire bead area and is divided at one point around its length. The ring is made of elastic material which bends in the radial and/or axial directions allowing the end faces at the dividing point to be separated or rejoined. A profiling of the opposing end faces(32,33) in a plane perpendicular to the ring circumference interlocks both ends of the ring together when on the rim. Independent claims are made for: a) a tubeless tire and a one piece rim with circumferential annular chambers in the axially outer faces. Each chamber has radially inner and outer walls, an axially inner wall and an axially outer wall comprising a radially inward facing rim lip an annular opening. A claimed filler ring is mounted in the chamber between the radially inner wall and tire bead which is inserted through the annular opening in the axially outer wall; b) a process for manufacturing the filler ring in which a continuous length of profiled filler ring material with a profiled end(33) is cut with a correspondingly shaped cut(32) at a length(l) corresponding to the ring circumference and the cut length formed into a ring(12).