Split rim wheels are totally different from the one piece wheels because they are multi- piece wheels and the tyre is held by a locking ring. They are not used on cars and other light vehicles however, they are found to be used on lorries, forklifts, tractors and other heavy vehicles used in the construction and mining sectors.
While working on split rim wheels, some necessary safety control measures must be followed since this multi piece wheel is a serious hazard as the failure of its function could lead to even death.
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The reason why split rim wheels are a safety hazard is because the failure of such tyres can result in violent separation with an explosion. An explosive release could occur if these wheels fail which results in release of high air pressure and release of component parts from the tyre. The quick release of the explosive force from the wheel could result in serious injuries and even fatalities.
Owners of the trucks, and other heavy equipment with the split rim wheels should be cautious about the tyre assembly of split rim wheels. Machine maintenance personnel must be aware of the safety control measure to avoid or reduce the risk of a serious injury caused from the unsafe Multi piece -split rim wheels.
The following content must be kept in mind while working on split rims for safety purposes:
- Make use of correct set of tools specially made to dismantle the split rim or multi piece rim of the machine.
- Check the multi piece rim, inspect the tyre and wheel assembly to find any damage or incorrect fitting of parts. If any sort of damage or improper fitted parts is visible, then do consider extra safety measures.
- The most important thing to do if any damage is found is to deflate the tyres fully before removal from the vehicle. It is a good practice in such situations to deflate the pneumatic tyres prior to the removal of the wheels from the vehicle so that any risk of explosion could be eliminated.
- Try to avoid the danger of an explosion by standing in the side until the tyre is deflated. Stand to the side and out of the way in case of a sudden disassembly.
