Abstract: A method and to a system for producing open or closed annular structural components made of light metal and alloys thereof, preferably of magnesium or magnesium alloys, having a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure by means of extrusion, wherein the extruded profile exiting the die of the extrusion press is formed into a helical shape by way of one or more guide tools, and more particularly such that the ends of the helical shape are separated from the extruded strand in the region of the overlap and formed into a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structural component in a shaping device.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a flange and a disc, wherein the disc has a brake band and a drum, said drum having an outer drum surface, said drum being suitable for receiving a bearing inside said drum, said disc being arranged between the bearing and said flange, and wherein the flange comprises an inner ring coupled with the disc and an outer ring able to be coupled with a wheel rim, said flange also comprising an intermediate portion having flange through openings defined by an opening edge, said opening edge comprises a radially most inner edge portion, wherein at least one portion of the outer surface of the drum of the disc is arranged radially outside of the edge portion of the flange opening arranged most radially inside.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a wheel rim and a method for making a wheel rim of the type suited for use on an agricultural or construction vehicle. The new feature of the wheel rim according to the invention is that the central hub plate at the outer periphery includes a number of tabs extending away from the centre of the central hub plate, where the second hub plate at its inner periphery also includes a number of tabs extending towards the centre of the hub plate, where the tabs have a geometric shape such that the tabs fit between each other, where the tabs include holes arranged at the same pitch circle diameter and at right angles to the tabs. In connection with the making of the hub plate, the second hub plate and the central hub plate can be produced from a single piece of suitable material, preferably steel plate, as the mentioned tabs extend over each other when two parts are separated and turned such that the tabs come to lie upon each other.

Abstract: A bicycle rim is basically provided with an outer rim portion and an inner rim portion. The outer rim portion has a ring shape of a first material. The inner rim portion is joined to the outer rim portion. The inner rim portion has a ring shape of a second material with an internal residual stress distribution resulting from the ring shape being formed by spinning of the second material.

Abstract: A rim (5) for a bicycle wheel having a body (20) with a substantially annular extension with a radially outer portion (22) shaped for coupling with a tire is disclosed. The radially outer portion (22) has a hole (39) for an inflation valve. The radially outer portion (22) also includes, at the hole (39) and/or in an area proximal to the hole (39), at least one cross section having a different shape from that at an area distal from the hole, so as to form at least one second surface discontinuity (35) along the annular extension of the radially outer portion (22). The second discontinuity (35) makes it easier to assemble to wheel and allows an optimal coupling to be made between the rim (5), inflation valve, and tire, in the case of a tubeless wheel, and between rim (5), air chamber and tire, in the case of a wheel with an air chamber.

Abstract: A wheel having a recess thereon to offset the weight of a valve stem and/or a tire sensor so that the wheel will be balanced for normal operational use on a vehicle.

Abstract: A wheel having a longitudinal plane normal to an axis of rotation. The wheel has a rim with side surfaces on opposite sides of the longitudinal plane. A hub is concentrically disposed relative to the rim. Two unitary side elements are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal plane and are coupled to the rim and to end portions of the hub. Each of the unitary side elements has an annular sidewall, a flange portion, and a plurality of spokes that do not cross the longitudinal plane and that integrally interconnect the annular sidewall and the flange portion. An end portion of each spoke of the one side element is tied to the end portion of an aligned spoke of the other side element adjacent to the sidewall to restrict the tied end portions from moving away from each other.

Abstract: The invention includes a rim for a cycle wheel, having a U-shaped radial cross section, with two lateral flanges and a bridge connecting the flanges and located so as to be opposite an axis rotation of the wheel. The flanges each define a planar braking surface, adapted to cooperate with a brake pad. The height of at least one braking surface, measured radially, is not constant over the circumference of the rim and has at least one variation in height.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for manufacturing a cycle wheel rim having, in radial cross section, two lateral flanges and a bridge, the rim having an outer surface facing outward of the rim and defined by the bridge and by at least a portion of the flanges. The manufacturing method includes the following: extruding a section; bending the section; assembling the ends of the hoop formed from the section by joining one to the another; drilling holes in the bridge for fastening the spokes; machining the entire outer surface in a radial plane and on at least a portion of the circumference of the rim.

Abstract: A method for producing a fabricated vehicle wheel comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rim blank; (b) providing a first tooling fixture for subjecting the rim blank to a preforming operation wherein the cylindrical shape is reshaped to produce a rim preform; (c) providing a second tooling fixture defining a sealed internal chamber and having a tooling member having a predetermined inner surface contour, the sealed internal chamber in fluid communication with a source of high pressurize hydraulic fluid; (d) positioning the rim preform in the internal chamber with an outer surface thereof adjacent the inner surface contour of the tooling member; (e) supplying the high pressure hydraulic fluid to the internal chamber whereby the rim preform is pressed against the adjacent inner surface contour of the tooling member so as to produce a wheel rim having a contour which matches that of the inner surface contour of the tooling member; (f) removing the wheel rim from the second tooling fixture; and (g) securing th

Abstract: A composite material wheel rim structure includes an inner rim surface and a rigid inner lining material encased by the inner rim surface to form an integrated composite structure capable of sustaining the drilling of spaced threaded holes of desired orientations and diameters for threaded engagement with corresponding attachment caps of wheel spokes so that the tightness of each spoke may be varied by the depth. The cap is threaded into the threaded hole.

Abstract: A wheel structure for use in an engine-powered vehicle having an inner rim, an outer rim, an inner, partially truncated, cone-shaped element, a hub and a closing portion. The outer rim is sealingly attached to the inner rim, while the inner cone-shaped element is oriented with an opening at its truncated vertex end closer to the inner rim than its base and is then attached around the perimeter of its base to the perimeter of the outer rim. A closing portion with an opening at its center is provided which is attached at its perimeter to the perimeter of the inner cone-shaped element. The hub is connected on one side to the truncated vertex end of the inner cone and on the other side to the opening at the center of the closing portion.

Abstract: A bicycle rim is basically provided with an outer rim portion and an inner rim portion. The outer rim portion has a ring shape of a first material. The inner rim portion is joined to the outer rim portion. The inner rim portion has a ring shape of a second material with an internal residual stress distribution resulting from the ring shape being formed by spinning of the second material.

Abstract: A system for permanently securing wheel cladding to a wheel having a rim with a rim flange is provided. An annular affixment ring includes an outer periphery which seats within an undercut formed in the rim flange. A plurality of arcuate flanges extend from the inner face of the cladding and abut the inner periphery of the ring to maintain the outer periphery of the ring within the undercut. The ring includes axial apertures and the inner face of the cladding includes retention tabs having enlarged fluked ends which extend into the apertures to anchor the cladding to the ring. The ring can be constructed of one piece or formed of interfitting arcuate segments which are interlocked in end to end relationship.

Abstract: A wheel rim having an axis of rotation, the rim including a first element in the form of a section of a solid of revolution about the axis, made in a single unitary piece from composite material and including a first end and a second end distinct from one another. The first element is made by pultrusion and constitutes, between the first end and the second end, a section of a solid of revolution having an angular arc greater than 350°, the composite material of the first element includes fibers embedded in a thermosetting matrix, the fibers constituting at least 50% of the weight of the first element.

Abstract: A composite rim for a bicycle wheel generally includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion and first and second sidewalls. The second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions. The rim includes at least one through-hole and a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement at the through-hole. The tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls form a toroid.

Abstract: Disclosed is automatic visual inspection equipment of a tire in which eccentricity of a rim-assembled tire is prevented by preventing the tire from being deformed by the load of an upper rim. An upper rim is previously pulled up to the side of a main shaft by an upper rim pull-up mechanism, which is fixed to the side of a main shaft. The lower rim is elevated up to the upper rim to fix the upper rim to the tire, and the rim-assembled tire is fixed to the main shaft. Only the upper rim pull-up mechanism is lowered and visual inspection of the tire is performed by rotating the main shaft. A positioning means is provided and includes a positioning pin and a positioning hole provided between the upper surface of an upper rim connector and the lower end surface of the upper rim fixing portion of the main shaft.

Abstract: A rim protector for a wheel of a vehicle, the rim protector (10) being of the form of a generally circular annulus having an axis (1) defining radial and axial directions, the rim protector comprising a tail portion (32), sized to fit in use between the wheel (3) and a tyre (2) fitted to the wheel, and a head portion (31), the head portion (31) being wider than the tail portion, the tail portion extending away from the head portion, in which, when the rim protector (10) is fitted to a wheel (3) such that the tail portion is held between the wheel (3) and the tyre (2) and the head portion (32) abuts a rim of the wheel (4), the head portion (31) overlaps the rim (4) and extends further radially over the rim (4) than it does over the tyre (2).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-piece rim which does not need much labor for supporting, and does not increase the number of components to be managed and the number of needed tasks. The present invention constructs a lock ring (40) to be fitted in the groove (11a) of a gutter band (11), which ring is divided in a plurality of portions (41, 42) being coupled at each end (41a, 42a) thereof by a flexible coupling member (43) . Alternatively, a lock ring (140) is formed into a substantially C-shape being manufactured by cutting a part of a circular ring, and comprises a first portion (141) wherein a length of a chord at the cut portion is substantially equal to the diametral of a hub, and a second portion (142) having a shape corresponding to the cut portion of a circular ring in the first portion.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle including an outer rim and an inner rim, in which the outer rim is comprised of a disk section formed by embossing a first portion having a certain thickness and a rim section formed by drawing a second portion having a smaller thickness than the first portion so as to make a periphery of the disk section; and the inner rim is comprised of superimposed portions formed by drawing and to be superimposed on prescribed positions of the disk section of the outer rim. Flange sections of the outer and inner rims are respectively inwardly curled so as to form a double-layered structure. The outer and inner rims are integrated by welding with the superimposed portions set at the prescribed positions of the disk section.

Abstract: A valve stem installation system (10) includes a conveyor (24) for moving wheel rims (14). A detector (50) is comparable with the conveyor (24) to detect size of the wheel rim (14) and a location of an aperture (12) of the wheel rim (14) to receive various valve stems (16, 18). Two robots (110, 112) are adaptable for matably moving the valve stem (16, 18) to the wheel rim (14). A controller (60) is operably communicated with the robots (110, 112) and the detector (50) for receiving a signal from the detector (50) as the detector (50) identifies configuration of the wheel rim (14) and then transmitting the signal to the robots (110, 112) thereby directing the robots (110, 112) to selectively engage the valve stem (16, 18) to be inserted into the aperture (12).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a wheel cover and a vehicle wheel including such a wheel cover. The method for producing the vehicle wheel cover comprises the steps of: (a) providing a tooling fixture including at least a first tooling member and a second tooling member; (b) providing a wheel cover having at least a preformed outer end; (c) positioning the wheel cover onto the tooling fixture wherein the wheel cover is supported on the first tooling member and spaced apart from the second tooling member; (d) actuating the tooling fixture whereby the second tooling member is operative to engage and reshape the outer end of the wheel cover to produce a desired outer end shape; and (e) removing the wheel cover from the tooling fixture.

Abstract: A valve stem installation system (10) includes a conveyor (24) for moving wheel rims (14). A detector (50) is cooperable with the conveyor (24) to detect size of the wheel rim (14) and a location of an aperture (12) of the wheel rim (14) to receive various valve stems (16, 18). Two robots (110, 112) are adaptable for matably moving the valve stem (16, 18) to the wheel rim (14). A controller (60) is operably communicated with the robots (110, 112) and the detector (50) for receiving a signal from the detector (50) as the detector (50) identifies configuration of the wheel rim (14) and then transmitting the signal to the robots (110, 112) thereby directing the robots (110, 112) to selectively engage the valve stem (16, 18) to be inserted into the aperture (12).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a rim ring for a tire rim, in particular for a wired-on tire rim, with the following steps: providing an outer rim profile made of hardened composite fibrous material, providing a plastic shaping element, providing at least one top layer made of composite fibrous material, inserting the plastic shaping element radially within the outer rim profile, and positioning the top layer relative to the plastic shaping element and to the outer rim profile such that at least part of the top layer extends from the plastic shaping element onto the outside of the outer rim profile. The present invention further relates to a method for fastening spokes made of composite fibrous material to a rim ring. Finally, the present invention also relates to a rim ring, a wired-on tire rim and a bicycle with wired-on tire rims.

Abstract: A valve stem installation system includes a robotic arm for moving a valve stem insertion device around the lip of wheel. The system also includes a pair of valve stem aperture sensors positioned on the robotic arm adjacent the valve stem insertion device and moveable around the lip of the wheel. The sensors can be positioned on opposite sides of the valve stem insertion device. When the first sensor locates the valve stem aperture, movement of the robotic can be slowed. When the second sensor locates the valve stem aperture, movement of the robotic arm can be stopped. The conveyor unit can include an identification station to sense the configuration of the wheel. A controller can select the appropriate valve stem to insert in the valve stem aperture in response to the sensed configuration of the wheel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced method and apparatus for locating a valve stem aperture in a wheel. The invention includes a locating station having an overhead camera to scan the wheel. The scanned image of the wheel is received by a controller and is divided into radial zones. The controller locates the radial zone that defines the valve stem aperture from the scanned image of the wheel. The wheel then moves along an assembly line to a stemming station. A robot is positioned at the stemming station. The robot supports a valve stem insertion tool and a valve stem aperture locating sensor. When the wheel reaches the stemming station, the robot moves the valve stem insertion tool and the valve stem aperture locating sensor to the radial zone that defines the valve stem aperture. The robot moves the valve stem aperture locating sensor along the radial zone that defines the valve stem aperture and locates the valve stem aperture.

Abstract: A run-flat support body for run-flat vehicle wheels. The support body is typically embodied as a shell-shaped, metallic annular body having an undulated supporting annular surface. A simple, effective method for producing one such annular body, according to which a rectangular blank which is cut out of a strip of sheet metal is bent along the longitudinal side to form a ring and the open ends of the ring are interconnected by a material connection. The annular blank thus produced is provided with the desired profile according to the pressure-rolling method, is provided with connecting elements, and cut open between the same.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a support body for pneumatic run-flat tires, which can make the structures of a mold and a vulcanizer simpler. A metallic support portion has three parts including a center portion and outside portions of both sides. A rubber leg portion is vulcanized and formed so as to be integrated to the outside portion. The center portion and the outside portions are coupled by welding or the like. A mold to form and vulcanize the leg portion can therefore be made smaller. Moreover, since the left and right leg portions can be vulcanized and formed by a single mold, the structure of the mold is simpler.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a three piece aluminum wheel assembly comprising the steps of providing a pair of circular blanks made of a heat treatable alloy to be formed into preforms of a general shape. The preforms are subjected to a quenching step in an unconstrained condition to allow for natural thermal deformation during the quenching operation. The as quenched preforms are then subjected to a first forming operation using spin forming to remove the effects of the thermal deformation in the preform, followed by a second forming step using spin forming to shape the component to its desired final shape. The components are then exposed to precipitation heating and finishing to yield the final product.

Abstract: A rim (10) is produced by a production process including a step (A) of bending a workpiece (11) to bring end faces of the workpiece into contact with each other, a step (B) of forming a circular cylinder body (12) by joining the end faces brought to be in contact with each other, a step (C) of inspecting a joint portion (13) of the circular cylinder body (12), a step (D) of forming a drop portion (16), subsiding toward the inner peripheral wall (15) side, in an outer peripheral wall (14) of the circular cylinder body (12), a by bending both end portions of the circular cylinder body (12), a step (F) of forming hump portions (20) by pressing the circular cylinder body (12) from the inner peripheral wall (15) side to raise the outer peripheral wall (14), and a step (G) for forming a valve hole (22) and water drain holes (24) in the drop portion (16) and the curl portions (18). The rim (10) and a disk (102) that is separately produced are welded to form a wheel (122).

Abstract: A feed wheel includes a hub and a discontinuous tread removably fitted about the hub. At leading and trailing ends of the discontinuous tread are mateable non-planar female and male surfaces which interfit with one another and tend to interlock the tread ends together. The tread has locking lugs formed under leading and trailing ends and an intermediate segment of the tread which fit into holes configured and located in the hub complimentarily to the locking lugs. The holes and locking lugs are oriented relative to one another so as to enable the tread to be retained about the hub with the tread ends interlocked together during operation of the feed wheel.

Abstract: A rim material having a non-uniform thickness, a rim manufactured from the rim material, and a method for manufacturing the rim from the rim material. The rim material includes a first material portion which forms an axially curved portion of the rim after the rim material is formed to the rim and a second material portion which forms an intermediate portion between adjacent axially curved portions after the rim material is formed to the rim. The first material portion has a thick parallel-surface portion including opposite surfaces parallel to each other. The parallel-surface portion has a width greater than a maximum amount of an axial dislocation of the parallel-surface portion expected to occur when the parallel-surface portion is formed to a corresponding curved portion. The second material portion has a thickness varying portion. The thickness varying portion includes a surface having a configuration defined by a line including a straight line and/or a slightly curved line.

Abstract: A method of securing a tire-based unit (24) of a tire condition sensing system (12) to a rim (60) and an associated apparatus (62) are provided. The method comprising the steps of: position a mounting bracket (124) on the rim (60); positioning a punch (140) against the mounting bracket (124) so that a portion of the mounting bracket (124) is interposed between the punch (140) and the rim (60); pressing the punch (140) against the mounting bracket (124) so as to deep draw portions of the mounting bracket (124) and the rim (60); and attaching the tire-based unit (24) to the mounting bracket (124). The deep drawn portion of the mounting bracket (124) becomes fixed within the deep drawn portion of the rim (60).

Abstract: The present invention provides wheel manufacturing method comprising a pressing step in which a primary molded product having a cylindrical shape with a bottom in which a flange part that extends to the outside is disposed on the open side end part is manufactured, a working step in which a secondary molded product is obtained by cutting away the bottom part of the abovementioned primary molded product, and a spinning step in which, the secondary worked product is fit over and fastened to a rotating jig, a rim flange molding roller is pressed against the end part of the flange part while the secondary worked product is rotated together with the rotating jig, so that the flange part is gradually molded into the shape of a rim flange part, and the flange part is subsequently subjected to an angular adjustment to an appropriate angle to mold a rim flange part.

Abstract: Pneumatic tires adapted to use on bicycles have a number of criteria that need to be evaluated. For high performance bicycle riding, such as in mountain bike races, it is advantageous to optimize performance. Standard tires with tubes have ease of repair in the replacement of a punctured tube, have the ability to maintain pressure for long periods, and do not require special adaptation of the rim for sealing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a three piece aluminum wheel assembly comprising the steps of providing a pair of circular blanks made of a heat treatable alloy to be formed into preforms of a general shape. The preforms are subjected to a quenching step in an unconstrained condition to allow for natural thermal deformation during the quenching operation. The as quenched preforms are then subjected to a first forming operation using spin forming to remove the effects of the thermal deformation in the preform, followed by a second forming step using spin forming to shape the component to its desired final shape. The components are then exposed to precipitation heating and finishing to yield the final product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel rim made from a light alloy, such as an aluminium-based alloy, comprising a front face (10) and a tyre tread (20) which are welded together. The inventive method of producing the wheel rim (J) comprises the following steps: moulding of the front face (10) with a light alloy; provision of a weldable alloy strip with structural hardening; curving of said strip to produce a generally cylindrical shape; welding of the ends in relation to the curved strip with fusion of the strip material; forming of the strip by necking and/or spinning in order to form the tyre tread (20); and welding of the front face and the tyre tread to one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a run-flat support body for run-flat vehicle wheels. Said support body is typically embodied as a shell-shaped, metallic annular body (3) having an undulated supporting annular surface. The invention relates to a simple, effective method for producing one such annular body (3), according to which a rectangular blank (6) which is cut out of a strip of sheet metal is bent along the longitudinal side to form a ring and the open ends of the ring are interconnected by a material connection. The annular blank (7) thus produced is provided with the desired profile according to the pressure-rolling method, is provided with connecting elements (9), and cut open between the same.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wheel rim for a motor vehicle comprises the steps of a strip of aluminum alloy sheet material having a predetermined cross-section suitable for forming into a wheel rim by extrusion molding, pressing the strip step-by-step lengthwise by an upper mold and a lower mold having complimentary profiles for causing the strip to have predetermined profiles as a hoop with a formed gap between the both ends, welding the gap to form an unfinished wheel rim, and annealing, shaping, heat treating, and polishing the unfinished wheel rim to form a finished wheel rim.

Abstract: A two-piece tire rim is prepared from a molded, one-piece wheel casting which is generally cup-shaped in configuration. The casting, which is open at one end and closed at its opposite end, has an inner annular recess formed coaxially in the inner surface of its closed end, and has formed coaxially in its outer peripheral surface an external annular recess radially spaced from, and in axial registry with an internal annular recess. The casting is separated into two separate sections by cutting through the casting in a circular path extending from the external annular recess to the internal annular recess, thereby producing a generally annular shaped inner rim section, and a generally disc-shaped outer rim section. The two rim sections are then machined to final form, and are secured together to form the desired two-piece tire rim.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wheel rim for a two-piece vehicle wheel assembly. The method includes the step of providing a one-piece alloy wheel form defining an integrally-formed annular rim blank and a rigidifying flange. The rim blank includes first and second edge portions. At least one of the first and second edge portions of the rim blank is shaped. After the shaping step, the one-piece wheel form is cut to separate the shaped wheel rim from the rigidifying flange.

Abstract: The invention relates to the method for manufacturing a rim for a spoke wheel, especially a cycle rim. At least one bridge of the rim is bored with a plurality of through holes with a flow drilling bit operating in the direction of the other bridge, so as to create a backflow chimney at the level of each opening of the upper bridge, whose length is greater than the thickness of the bridge. The rim is equipped with inserts provided to receive the spoke nipples. The inserts are either embedded in the chimney openings, or screwed.