Case Study
Profi-fit Wheel Offers Durability
and Easier Tyre Fitting
GKN’s innovative Profi-fit wheel is proving to be the perfect solution for low pressure agricultural tyre applications around the world.
Designed by a global team of GKN Wheels’ engineers, the
wheel combines durability with reduced weight and easier
tyre fitting, bringing benefits for both original equipment
manufacturers and end users.
Low pressure tyres are extensively used in agricultural
applications in order to minimise the risk of soil compaction.
However, these tyres typically have stiffer walls, making them
more difficult to fit.
GKN developed Profi-fit specifically to address this problem.
Detailed research using Finite Element Analysis and acquisition
of stress data by use of strain gauged wheels enabled the
company to develop a more structurally efficient rim profile.
Highlights
• Innovative design solution
• Enhanced durability
• Reduced weight
• Easier tyre fitting
• Easier inflation of low pressure tyres
• More sustainable wheel design
This has a rolled over flange which improves rim strength
and minimises the risk of tyre damage during installation.
It also has a specially angled section, more than double the
TRA/ETRTO minimum of 150, which greatly improves ease
of tyre bead seating during inflation and allows tyres to be
fitted using pressures below 2 bar.
Incorporation of a unique ‘double bump’ radius design at a
critical point where traditional rims are susceptible to ultimate
fatigue failure reduces stress, whilst maintaining strength
and performance.
The lower weight reduces vehicle ground pressure and
contributes to savings in fuel consumption and carbon
emissions.
Among those manufacturers seeing major benefits is
CLAAS, which now uses Profi-fit across its
LEXION and TUCANO combine, JAGUAR self-propelled
forage harvester and XERION special tractor ranges.
CLAAS now fits Profi-fit wheels to its LEXION combine.
Continue reading...
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Profi-fit: Product features and benefits
New profile
Rolled
over flange
improves rim
strength and
initial fitting of
tyre. Improves
performance
with low
pressure tyres.
Standard DW
Angle more than
doubled from TRA/
ETRTO minimum
of 15°. This greatly
improves ease of tyre
bead seating during
inflation.
Ultimate fatigue failure normally
occurs in these radii. This determines
minimum rim thickness. The changes to
the rim profile reduce the stresses here.
Double ‘bump’ reduces
stress and allows rim
gauge to be reduced with
no loss of performance.
4.7 mm thick
5.2 mm thick
Testimonial
“Technically advanced agricultural machinery requires
increasingly sophisticated components. The Profi-fit wheel’s
efficient use of material saves weight and cost while at
the same time optimizing tyre mounting. These features
contribute to lower production expenditure and long term
performance and so also add to sales appeal.”
Gregor Dopheide, CLAAS Selbstfahrende
Erntemaschinen GmbH
Profi-fit has a rolled over flange which improves strength
and minimises the risk of tyre damage.
GKN Wheels Headquarters, PO Box 85,
Hadley Castle Works, Telford TF1 6TG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1952 244321
Web: www.gknlandsystems.com
GKN Wheels is a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of wheels for off-highway applications, including agricultural,
construction, industrial and mining machinery industries. The company has five manufacturing locations and two major test.
It has key manufacturing bases in China, Denmark, Italy, the UK and the USA. It is part of the GKN Land Systems Division of GKN
PLC and operates within the division’s High Performance Structures business. Land Systems is a global organization with over
5,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of more than £699 million. It is one of four divisions within GKN plc, the others
being Aerospace, Driveline and Powder Metallurgy.
GKN plc is a global engineering business serving the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. It has operations in more
than 30 countries, around 40,000 employees in subsidiaries and joint ventures and had sales of £5.4 billion in the year ended 31
December 2010. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
www.gkn.com
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