Patents Examined by Emily G Castonguay
  • Patent number: 11331950
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire comprises: a band part including an inner band and an outer band, the outer band being separated from the inner band by a predetermined distance to surround the inner band; and a spoke part provided to extend in a circumferential direction of the tire between the inner band and the outer band, the spoke part including one or more holes when viewed in the circumferential direction and one or more holes when viewed in an axial direction of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Kumho Tire Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Soon Wook Hwang, Kee Woon Kim, Chui Woo Kwark, Chang Jung Park
  • Patent number: 11325416
    Abstract: A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a lightweight annular fiber-reinforced barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface configured to support a tire thereon. A lightweight metal central hub assembly is fixed to the barrel. The metal central hub assembly includes a central hub portion and plurality of support spokes extending outwardly from the metal central hub portion. A wheel cladding contrasting in at least one of material type, color, texture and surface finish to an outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly is fixed to the outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Lacks Wheel Trim Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Garry Van Houten, Gerald Nuiver
  • Patent number: 11312433
    Abstract: A track hinge joint includes a first track link, a second track link, a track pin disposed in a bore of the first track link, an inner bushing that is disposed in a bore of the second track link and that is rotatable relative to the track pin, an outer bushing that is disposed about the inner bushing that is rotatable relative to the inner bushing and that includes an outer bushing end face, and a first fluid seal assembly contacting the outer bushing end face and the second track link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Bernard Weisbruch
  • Patent number: 11298988
    Abstract: A rotary joint assembly for a tire inflation system for a vehicle includes a stationary portion defining a first fluid passage. The stationary portion includes a support portion and having a first annular sealing face. The first fluid passage ending in the first annular sealing face. The assembly also includes at least one bearing and a rotatable portion rotatably mounted on the support portion by way of the at least one bearing. The rotatable portion defines a second fluid passage and has a second annular sealing face, the second fluid passage ending in the second annular sealing face. The rotatable portion defines an axis of rotation of the rotatable portion and a radial direction oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The at least one bearing supporting an inner face of the rotatable portion, wherein the inner face of the rotatable portion faces toward the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Bonora, Daniele Tonini
  • Patent number: 11292300
    Abstract: A wheel hub assembly having a non-rotating outer bearing flange and an inner bearing flange disposed at least partially concentrically within the outer bearing flange. At least one rolling element is disposed radially between the outer bearing flange and the inner bearing flange. A port is disposed in the outer bearing flange, and a first conduit is disposed through the outer bearing flange in fluid communication with the fluid port. A second conduit is disposed through the inner bearing flange, wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with the first conduit. A rotating spindle is disposed at least partially through the inner bearing flange, and the spindle is coupled for rotation with the inner bearing flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Lucas A. Balistreri, Jason M. Sidders
  • Patent number: 11267282
    Abstract: An annular wheel-trim 1 for a wheel 2 that has a floating tyre seat 2, comprising rim lateral parts 251, each rim lateral part comprising a tyre seat 253 extended axially outwards by a flange 254, comprises fixing elements able to provide removable attachment to the flange 254.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Daniel Walser
  • Patent number: 11260692
    Abstract: A portal-axle of bogies for light rail vehicles, such as for example trams or light rail metros with street running, is described, the light rail vehicles being characterized by a floor, i.e. a walking surface, lowered with respect to the rails. The portal-axle comprises two shoulders equipped with spindles for mounting wheels and with a central portion for structurally connecting the shoulders. Unlike conventional solutions, the central portion is not made by casting or forging, but advantageously is simply defined by at least two bars coupled thereto during the assembly. The bars are easily available on the market at low cost, have lower weight with respect to a traditional forged/cast component and allow modularity and versatility in dimensioning the portal-axle to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: LUCCHINI RS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Fenaroli, Steven Cervello, Riccardo Gallo, Stefano Cantini
  • Patent number: 11254161
    Abstract: A wheel includes a body (10) having a cylindrical outer circumference; a first ring member (21) provided at one side edge of the body (10) in the form of a protruding ring; a second ring member (22) provided at the other side edge of the body (10) in the form of a protruding ring; a rotation ring (30) located between the first ring member (21) and the second ring member (22) and located out of the body (10) and rotatably coupled thereto; a plurality of pivoting plates (40) coupled to the rotation ring (30) to be pivotal outward and configured to protrude out of the rotation ring (30); a connection member (50) located between the plurality of pivoting plates (40) to connect the first ring member (21) and the second ring member (22) and serve as a stopper for limiting a pivoting range of the pivoting plate (40); a first opening (31) formed at the rotation ring (30) along a rotation direction of the rotation ring (30); a second opening (11) formed at the body (10) at a position corresponding to the first opening
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Inhan Chang
  • Patent number: 11241911
    Abstract: A spindle for a wheel end assembly includes a first end of the spindle receiving the wheel of a vehicle on a first side of the wheel end assembly, and a second end of the spindle defining a flange and receiving the axle of a vehicle is disclosed. The flange includes a socket joint that receives the axle on the second side of the wheel end assembly. Mounting members extend distally from the second side a first distance to secure the spindle to the wheel end assembly via the flange. The socket joint of the spindle extends from the second side of the wheel end assembly a second distance from the second side. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A third distance represents degree of overlap of the axle by a ratio with respect to the outer diameter of the axle ranging from 8% to 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Gagnon Family Trust
    Inventor: Philippe Gagnon
  • Patent number: 11235619
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes: an inner annular portion; an outer annular portion; and a plurality of connecting portions connecting the inner and outer annular portions to each other. The first and second connecting portions are arrayed along a tire circumferential direction. The first and second connecting portions have a plate thickness smaller than a plate width and have a plate thickness direction oriented to the tire circumferential direction. When S is a length in the tire width direction and H is a height in a tire radial direction in the first and second connecting portions, an inclination angle K of a centerline of each plate width w of the first and second connecting portions to the tire width direction in intersecting portions of the first and second connecting portions when viewed from the tire circumferential direction satisfies a relationship of 30×(H/S)0.7?K?75×(H/S)0.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriyuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11207930
    Abstract: A tire pressure control system can include a pneumatic line with a first end in fluid communication with an interior of a tire and a pressure sensing device configured to acquire pressure data within the tire measured from the single pneumatic line. A motion sensing device can be configured to acquire motion data of the tire pressure control system. A microcontroller can receive the pressure data from the pressure sensing device and the motion data from the motion sensing device. A pneumatic solenoid in fluid communication with a second end of the single pneumatic line can be in an initial, closed position. The microcontroller can open the pneumatic solenoid and release fluid from the interior of the tire when the pressure data and motion data meet preset conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Lucius James Jones, III
  • Patent number: 11198323
    Abstract: The coefficient cycling aero foil system is designed to reduce drag and turbulence from a tire and spokes used to support a bicycle wheel. The system is integrated into a rim on a bicycle wheel which allows for increased forward momentum by cutting drag and reducing wheel turbulence that occurs during the rotation of a bicycle wheel. The foils may be strategically placed for optimum aerodynamic wind flow and are precisely angled to force wind past the foil creating increased forward momentum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: COEFFICIENT CYCLING LLC
    Inventor: Donald A. Sheff
  • Patent number: 11186332
    Abstract: Provided are an elastic crawler and a crawler-type travel device in which wheel detachment and edge cut are unlikely to occur even when performing operations inside a large cylindrical structure or on a ground surface that is highly curved. An elastic crawler (1) has a crawler body (2) comprising an endless elastic body depressed by roller wheels having left and right tread surfaces, a plurality of lugs (4) being disposed on the ground-contact surface (7) of the crawler body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tatsuya Norito, Nao Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11186121
    Abstract: A three-layer soft rubber shock absorbing wheel including a hub. An outer surface of the hub is bonded with a hard body, a first layer of tread and a second layer of tread having a hardness lower than that of the first layer of tread. The hard body, the first layer of tread, and the second layer of tread are arranged from inside to outside in sequence. The second layer of tread is bonded in a concave surface portion on an outer surface of the first layer of tread. The first layer of tread and the second layer of tread are both elastic bodies. The hard body is configured to have an I-shaped structure body. The three-layer soft rubber shock absorbing wheel is a wheel body made by bonding three layers of materials with different hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Zhongshan CASCOO metal machinery co., ltd
    Inventor: Weiguo Liu
  • Patent number: 11167587
    Abstract: A wheel and a rim with a weight reduction inner flange are provided. The rim includes an inner flange, a middle portion and an outer flange which are all annular and connected end to end to form an annular rim, in which the inner flange or the outer flange includes multiple groups of edge weight reduction sockets arranged side by side on one side of the inner cavity of a hub, and multiple groups of inner weight reduction sockets arranged side by side are provided inside the edge weight reduction sockets on the rim; a group of edge weight reduction sockets includes a first edge weight reduction socket and a second edge weight reduction socket at the edge of the inner flange or the outer flange, and the first edge weight reduction socket is in the shape of a right-angled triangle having round angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zuo Xu, Zhen Li, Xu Wang, Kaiqing Wang, Yule Zhou, Chuan Cheng, Changhai Li, Tiefeng Hu, Hui Chi
  • Patent number: 11161370
    Abstract: A wheel rim assembly includes a hub with a case and two flanges are formed on two ends of the case. Multiple spoke units are connected between the two flanges of the hub and the inner periphery of the rim. Each spoke unit includes a first connection member and the first end of an X-shaped spoke extends from the first connection member. Each first connection member includes a first recessed area and a second recessed area respectively defined in the outside and the inside thereof. The second recessed area is matched with the flange corresponding thereto. Each first connection member includes an engaging recess and a protrusion. The protrusion of one first connection member is engaged with the engaging recess of the next first connection member. Two covers are respectively connected two ends of the hub. The second end of each spoke is inserted into reception recess of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Great Go Cycles Inc.
    Inventor: Mu-Rong Li
  • Patent number: 11135874
    Abstract: A spacer for coupling a wheel to a rotary output of a vehicle, the spacer including two connectors fixed relative to a respective first and second end of the spacer, the connectors each having a matching first array of fittings to engage a rim of the wheel, whereby to allow wheel gauge adjustment by disconnecting the wheel from a first one of the connectors, sliding the wheel along a body of the spacer and connecting the wheel to a second one the other connectors. The invention also relates to a method of adjusting wheel gauge on the spacer including releasing a wheel from one of the connectors, sliding the wheel along the body of the spacer and attaching the spacer to the other connector. The invention also relates to a spacer for supporting a wheel relative to a rotary output of a vehicle, the spacer being formed of modular sections that are separately attached by fasteners that connect only between adjacent sections to allow for independent addition and removal of sections to vary the length of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: 100% USEFUL PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Martin Hallman
  • Patent number: 11110740
    Abstract: The present application provides a composite wheel, including spokes, a rim and a central disc, one end of each spoke being connected to the central disc and the other end of each spoke being connected to the rim, each spoke includes a spoke skeleton and a spoke shell, and the spoke skeleton is wrapped by the spoke shell; and the spoke shell is made of plastic, rubber, nylon or resin. The technical solution of the present application brings the beneficial technical effects of overcoming the contradiction between the pursuit of the artistic design effect of the wheel and the pursuit of the lightweight of the wheel and meeting the strength requirement of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: CITIC DICASTAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Zuo Xu, Guoyuan Xiong, Wenlin Chen
  • Patent number: 11059326
    Abstract: A rim for a non-pneumatic tire comprises a cylindrical rim wall portion, and a fixing member disposed to be spaced apart from the rim wall portion in a radial direction. The rim wall portion is provided with a fixing protrusion protruding in the radial direction or a fixing groove depressed in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: KUMHO TIRE CO., INC.
    Inventors: Soon Wook Hwang, Kee Woon Kim, Chul Woo Kwark, Gwi Seong Shin, Chang Jung Park
  • Patent number: 10946693
    Abstract: A fastening arrangement for a rim of a wheel on a wheel hub of a wheel carrier of a motor vehicle. The fastening arrangement includes a central screw which, on a fastening portion, has an external thread which engages in an internal thread of a step of the wheel hub. A tensioner produces a force-fitting connection between the wheel hub step and the central screw. A locking arrangement prevents unintentional release of the central screw. The locking arrangement has a carrier member and a blocking member, wherein the blocking member is pretensioned in relation to the carrier member by a locking spring member and is displaceable in the axial direction. The blocking member is arranged captively in the carrier member by a securing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Hans-Uwe Baumann