Segmented wheel clamp

A wheel rim clamping device is disclosed which has a plurality of pressure applying surfaces for clamping a concentric wheel rim to an axle hub assembly so as not to deform the rim and to improve the load transfer between the rim and hub. The clamping device, in one embodiment, includes an arcuately shaped main body portion and a plurality of alternatively offset, bent over, pressure applying surfaces along the outer longitudinal edge portion of the main body. The pressure applying surfaces grip both sides of an inwardly directed rim locator ring which extends around the interior periphery of the rim. Drive lug recesses are formed between the pressure applying surfaces to accept rim drive lugs which are spaced along the rim locator. The pressure applying surfaces and rim drive lugs lock the rim in place. The inner longitudinal edge portion of the main body includes downwardly extending and radially spaced apart depending leg portions which are mounted to the central axle hub assembly. The transverse end portions of the main body include semi-circular recesses, and the opposed semi-circular recesses on the end portions of a pair of side by side clamping devices form a mounting opening for an adjusting bolt. The adjusting bolt provides for both adjustability between the clamping devices and a more uniform clamping force against the rim by forcing the ends of adjacent clamping devices outwardly against the rim. A plurality of the clamping devices are mounted around the rim locator end-to-end thereby forming a substantially continuous annular mounting ring assembly between the hub and concentric wheel rim. In a second preferred embodiment, each of the pressure applying surfaces is arcuately shaped with a generally rectangular perimeter to provide more gripping area against the complementary arcuate sides of the rim locator.