Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a hub for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of first friction plates each engaging a first surface of one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, a plurality of second friction plates each engaging a second surface of the one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, the second surface being radially opposite the first surface, and a plurality of radial cable members each connecting the hub to the tire assembly such that each radial cable member extends radially away from the hub, bends circumferentially adjacent a corresponding second friction plate, bends radially outward and back circumferentially adjacent a corresponding first friction plate, and radially inward to a first point of intersection with the same radial cable member.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for a remote vehicle comprises a wheel structure comprising a plurality of spokes interconnecting a rim and a hub. The spokes comprise at least one slit extending therethrough radially inward from the rim to the hub. The assembly also comprises a flipper structure comprising an arm, a plurality of legs, and an attachment base. The plurality of legs and the attachment base comprise a four-bar linkage. The assembly further comprises an insert comprising a bore with a flat surface that tapers outward from a top portion to a bottom portion of the insert. The insert being configured to couple the flipper structure to the wheel structure via an axle on the remote vehicle and prevent backlash between the axle and the flipper structure. The flipper structure being configured to transmit axial forces to the wheel structure. The wheel structure being configured to absorb radial and axial forces.

Abstract: In a non-pneumatic tire (1), a plurality of connecting members (13) that connects a mounting body (11) and an annular body (12) are provided along a tire-circumferential direction. The annular body is split into a plurality of split bodies (12a) along the tire-circumferential direction. A resilient member (16) that is extended along the tire-circumferential direction and connects the plurality of split bodies in the tire-circumferential direction is provided in the annular body. This non-pneumatic tire (1) secures satisfactory ride quality, maneuverability and durability by suppressing increase in weight, hardness and rolling resistance, ensures uniform contact-pressure distribution, and prevents the occurrence of a puncture.

Abstract: A plurality of connection members 13 connecting an installation disk 11 to a ring-shaped body 12 are formed, in a side view of the non-pneumatic tire, to be axisymmetrical about an imaginary line connecting the respective first ends 21a and 22a of first connection plates 21 and second connection plates 22 to an axial line O and extending in a tire-radial direction. The connection members 13 are arranged in a tire-circumferential direction such that the first connection plates 21 are arranged at a first tire-widthwise position in the tire-circumferential direction and that the second connection plates 22 are arranged at a second tire-widthwise position in the tire-circumferential direction. According to the invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in the weight, hardness, and rolling resistance to secure satisfactory ride qualities and handling qualities, and it is possible to prevent a blowout from occurring.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic wheel assembly (10) which has an outer rim assembly (26), an inner vehicle hub connection member (11), a compartment located between the outer rim assembly (26) and the inner hub connection member (11) which has a plurality of spring elements (21, 22) wherein at least some of the spring elements (21, 22) are attached to the outer rim assembly (26) and/or the inner hub connection member (11) characterised in that the spring elements (21, 22) are oriented in opposed or counteracting orientations.

Abstract: A wheel including an annular hub and a plurality of curved spokes extending radially outward from the hub. Each spoke has an inner base adjacent the hub and an outer tip opposite the base. The wheel further includes an annular rim concentric with the hub and connected to the spokes adjacent their tips.

Abstract: A resilient wheel structure having a rim and a hub interconnected by spokes, wherein the rim is sufficiently stiff to distribute a load to all of the spokes, and wherein the wheel is able to absorb loads in both the radial and axial directions. The rim comprises an inner and outer rim portion supported by ribs, that are located co-radially with curved spokes that allow tension and compression. The wheel structure being optimally used on a mobile robot.

Abstract: A wheel assembly is disclosed having a circular rim that lies in and defines a plane of rotation, a pair of opposed hubs spaced outwardly from the plane of rotation along an axis of rotation of the wheel, the axis of rotation bisecting the plane of rotation at the center of a circle defined by the rim within the plane, and a plurality of spring members arranged in laterally-opposed sets, each of which spring members radiates in an outwardly expanding, generally conical and helical manner from a point of attachment on the rim to a point of attachment on one of the hubs, thereby imparting to the wheel the ability to withstand improved vertical and/or horizontal displacements while providing advantageous self-centering and recentering abilities when the wheel rim is displaced from the rotative plane or from its normally centered relation to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A ground-engaging wheel for a vehicle comprises a hub rotatable about a wheel axis, an inextensible wheel rim encircling and spaced from the hub, and a plurality of similar circumferentially spaced spoke assemblies connected between the hub and wheel rim. Each spoke assembly comprises a rigid inner spoke element connected to the hub and an outer leaf-spring element connected to the rim. The spoke elements are connected together by a pivot to permit relative angular movement between them, and the leaf-springs are pre-stressed so as resiliently to retain the elements in a datum position against the rim. When the wheel is not subjected to an external load, other than the weight of the vehicle to which it is fitted, the spoke elements remain in the datum position and the wheel acts as a conventional rigid wheel.