Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite vehicle wheel, and a method and apparatus for construction thereof. The wheel comprises a disc portion having reinforcing fibers in substantially random orientation disposed predominantly in planes perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a rim portion having directional first reinforcing fibers substantially parallel to each other and oriented circumferentially of or substantially parallel to the wheel axis, or both, and second reinforcing fibers which are substantially randomly oriented circumferentially of the wheel axis. The method includes formation of separate rim and disc charges from sheet molding plastic resin compound and compression molding of the charges to form an integral composite rim and disc structure of essentially homogeneous resin reinforced by the fibers.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing vehicle wheels having a rim which is wreath-shaped in cross section surrounding a cast wheel body is such that at least one die wall delimits the mold to be filled with cast metal. The prefabricated rim is laid between facing surfaces of a die plate and a center plate with the result that the die faces and the rim form the outer contours of the wheel body when the mold space between the die faces and rim is filled with molten metal which is introduced into the mold space under pressure. The rim itself is held by a clamping ring and can be removed in two pieces from the die assembly. A device for spraying a cooling medium onto the rim is provided on or in the clamping ring. The rim features on its inner face a central strut which is T-shaped in cross section, and on both sides of the actual struts are side struts which are inclined outwards. The free ends of the side struts are displaced by the surface of the die plates.

Abstract: A cast vehicle wheel composed of relatively light section throughout and having an imperforate annular disc between the hub (2) and rim (3). A tire bead seating surface (8) at one side of the rim (3) is formed by a substantially cylindrical wall section (10) which is integral with the adjacent tire retaining wall (6) and extends inwardly across and adjacent cylindrical surface of the rim (3). The bead seating wall (10) is spaced radially outwards from that rim surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced webs (17) are provided in that space (14) between the rim (3) and the bead seating wall (10). The exposed end (18) of each web (17) slopes to facilitate movement of a tire bead onto the seating wall (10).

Abstract: A one-piece, cast vehicle wheel rim for tubeless tires comprises a rim portion and a supporting ring extending from the rim portion. The rim portion has a drop center portion between first and second side walls. The support ring mounts the rim on a disc and has a recess between its end areas. A valve hole is formed in the first side wall of the rim portion adjacent the recess for mounting a valve such that the valve extends into the recess. Radially extending ribs can connect a shoulder of the rim portion to the end areas of the support ring on opposite sides of the valve hole. The ribs can be angularly oriented toward each other in a radially outward direction and can be spaced from the valve hole by a distance between about 15 mm and about 30 mm. When used in combination with another rim to form dual wheels, a coupling on the support ring attaches the rims. The coupling and recess permit the valve to be exposed for ready access.

Abstract: A wheel center comprises a cylindrical rim and a coaxial hub. Two sets of V-shaped spokes connect the rim and hub, a set of relatively axially outwardly disposed spokes being alternated with a set of relatively axially inwardly placed spokes. A triangularly-shaped, dihedral rib is inlet into each of the spokes, these ribs having an arcuate base connected with the rim and an apex disposed radially inwardly from the rim spaced apart from the hub to define a central stabilizing spoke panel.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel rim has a tire-engaging rim portion with two conical portions, one of which lies radially outwardly of a support ring having a conical surface for mounting the rim on a spider or the like. The outer ends of the conical portions terminate at tips and a drop center lies between the conical portions. A radial crosspiece extends from the support ring to about the center of the conical portion outside the support ring. The rim is cast in a mold having two mold halves and an annular core member defining the outer rim surface.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel comprises two circular wheel halves, each having a portion of a rim, approximately one-half of the circumference of a safety tread and means for attaching the tread portion to the rim portion. The parts of the tread interface with each other on a bias so they can be brought together and separated by relative movement having a component transverse to the central axis of the wheel.

Abstract: A cast, one-piece vehicle wheel is made such that the wheel pan with hand-holes passing through it is fastened to the rim such that the intermediate parts of the pan abut on the shoulder, which is formed on the side adjacent the offset wheel pan, and the shoulder extends by lobes in the direction of the drop-center. In the areas of the rim corresponding to hand-holes 10, the shoulders extends over inclined elements into the drop-center.

Abstract: A wheel outer body portion interfits a rim outboard hump, and insert structure on that outer body portion attaches to the rim proximate a rim annular wall between the hump and a rim well portion.

Abstract: A wheel outer body portion interfits a rim outboard hump, and insert structure on that outer body portion attaches to the rim proximate a rim annular wall between the hump and a rim well portion. Wheel brake structure is bounded by the rim, the wheel body in part axially offset from the brake structure.

Abstract: A light-weight vehicle wheel is formed, according to the invention, by shaping a profiled pressed or stamped sheet or band composed of a malleable aluminum alloy (AlMgSl or AlZn4.5Mgl) into the rim or felly, the wheel disk being cast from a casting alloy such as GK(GD)--AlSi12 or GK-AlSi7Mg.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a molded wheel and brake assembly. The molded wheel has a housing or hub with an axial bore therein with a first diameter and a smaller second diameter. The surface of the second diameter is finished in order to establish concentricity between that portion of the axial bore and the peripheral surface of the wheel. A cylindrical member is machined to establish a guide section separated from a knurled section by a relieved section on the peripheral surface thereof between a first end and a second end. The first end is positioned in the first diameter of the axial bore and a force applied to move the cylindrical member in the axial bore. The guide surface engages the second diameter to align the knurled section in the axial bore. On further movement of the cylindrical member, the knurled section broaches the hub to thereafter prevent rotative movement between a brake assembly located in the cylindrical member and the housing or hub.

Abstract: A molded plastic wheel and brake assembly for a bicycle or other vehicle, which aids in isolating a bicycle frame from shocks encountered by the wheel and in isolating the plastic material of the wheel from extreme heating by the brake assembly. The wheel includes a hollow cylindrical hub and five spoke ribs extending radially from the outside of the hub to the rim. Tabs for holding the brake assembly, are formed on the inside of the hollow hub, with each tab located halfway between a pair of spoke ribs, so that the hub portion connecting a pair of ribs acts as a resilient beam to help absorb shock. The brake assembly includes a metal cylinder with lugs at its ends that mount on the tabs of the wheel, to provide an elongated heat path for the transmission of heat to the wheel and to provide an air space between the lugs for dissipating heat.

Abstract: A lightweight motorcycle wheel and method of making the same comprising a die cast alumnium alloy hub and spoke unit around which an extruded aluminum alloy drop center rim is shrinkfitted and bonded by high strength thermosetting resin adhesive between coaxial cylindrical walls of said rim and unit.

Abstract: A light-alloy vehicle wheel comprises a nave, a wheel disc with ventilation apertures, two opposed tire bead seats and a well lying between the bead seats. A plurality of external, equally-spaced webs extends between the outer face of the wheel disc and one of the tire bead seats on its outer face and a corresponding plurality of internal fillets lie between adjacent ventilation apertures. Each fillet has an inwardly-directed face preferably of convex cross-section such that the corners of the cross-section defining the adjacent ventilation apertures are closer to the neutral axis of the local cross-section of the wheel disc, than the convex face of the fillet.

Abstract: A land vehicle such as a motorcycle has front and rear wheels which support the frame of the vehicle. The front and rear wheels are of substantially the same diameter and each include a hub, spokes, and a rim. The spokes of the rear wheel are substantially identical with the spokes of the front wheel and the spokes of each wheel are uniformly distributed about the axis thereof. However, the rear wheel has a number of spokes which is greater than the number of spokes of the front wheel.

Abstract: Wheel rims of moldable material for a tire having a base with a bead seat on each side extended by a flange are improved and strengthened against longitudinal tension stresses by having only in the base a tension-resistant embedded reinforcement solely formed by reinforcing elements arranged parallel to the circumferential direction of the rim.

Abstract: A cast spoke-wheel for motorcycles, with a brake hub connected with a wheel hub by way of an end wall; spokes or spokes with webs reinforcing the same in the axial direction are arranged extending over the end wall whereby air feed devices for ventilating the brake hub are arranged between the spokes or between the webs within the area of the end wall.

Abstract: In casting an annular rim member for use in a vehicle wheel for mounting a pneumatic tire, a mold cavity is formed so that the casting has at least one of a radial overdimension or a radial underdimension and its outer surface which faces the tire has an unsegmented annular area. After the casting is solidified and removed from the mold, it is plastically deformed by radially directed cold forming or working to remove the radial overdimension or underdimension. A modular cast iron is used for the casting to provide a ductile structure whose yield point is exceeded in carrying out the plastic deformation.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly and method and apparatus for making the assembly in which an outer tire rim and wheel center are fabricated into a secure one-piece unit. Secure attachment and restraint of the two components into one unit are accomplished through a dimpling process in which both components are nested together at a plurality of points through stamping. While very applicable to a steel rim or steel center wheel construction, the invention is adapted for use on several metallic wheel constructions to avoid pneumatic leakage associated with riveting or problems arising from welding of the two components. A fixture and hydraulically operated tool construction utilizes male and female tooling to accomplish the dimpling process in which regions of the wheel rim and center are deformed by force to nest together.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacture of an inflatable tire supporting rim and spider apparatus wherein portions of the rim is cold worked into depressions formed in the spider, thereby forming an integral unit.

Abstract: A lightweight composite motorcycle wheel construction characterized in that it comprises a wheel unit casting including concentric outer and inner rim and sleeve portions integrally connected together by angularly spaced spokes; and a hub unit casting having an interference fit within the bore of the sleeve portion thus to frictionally retain the hub and wheel units together against relative angular and axial movement while the bearing receiving bore in the hub unit is located and held coaxially of said rim portion, the wheel and hub units additionally being welded together to prevent relative angular and axial movement despite application of torque and axial loads exceeding the frictional resistance of the interference fit.

Abstract: A lightweight composite motorcycle wheel construction characterized in that it comprises a wheel unit casting including concentric outer and inner rim and sleeve portions integrally connected together by angularly spaced spokes; and a hub unit casting having an interference fit within the bore of the sleeve portion thus to frictionally retain the hub and wheel units together against relative angular and axial movement while the bearing receiving bore in the hub unit is located and held coaxially of said rim portion, the wheel and hub units additionally being welded together to prevent relative angular and axial movement despite application of torque and axial loads exceeding the frictional resistance of the interference fit.