Wheel Disc Having Spoke Formation Patents (Class 301/64.101)
  • Patent number: 7104611
    Abstract: Wheel disc, comprising a radially outer circular assembling part, a radially inner fixing and centering part with a bearing region comprising a given number of fixing apertures and ending radially inwardly with a centering vent, and arms connecting the inner and outer parts, each arm being disposed substantially opposite to one of the fixing apertures and the radially inner free edges of the radially outer circular part defining with the lateral free edges of the arms perforations, in which, in order to reinforce each arm mechanically, a pocket is housed, set back axially inwards relative to the outer face of the disc and in which a yoke connects each arm to the centering vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Denis Alff, Wolfgang Kruchten
  • Patent number: 7059685
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fabricated spoked vehicle wheel. According to the invention, the fabricated vehicle wheel includes a conventional full wheel rim and a unique wheel disc joined to the wheel rim and defining a wheel axis. The wheel disc includes an inner wheel mounting pad, an outer annular rim connecting flange and a plurality of radial spokes connecting the inner wheel mounting pad to the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange extends in an axial direction and defines a side edge surface extending between each pair of adjacent spokes. A plurality of windows are formed in the wheel disc. Each of the windows has a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange and the side edge surface are configured such that the window extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Kermelk, Gunter Stelzer, Karl Rode, Alan Coleman, Thomas E. Heck
  • Patent number: 7018000
    Abstract: Wheel disc, including a radially outer circular mounting part, a radially inner fixing and centering part with a bearing region comprising a specified number of fixing apertures and ending radially inwardly with a centering aperture, and spokes connecting the inner and outer parts. Each spoke is disposed substantially circumferentially between two adjacent fixing apertures and the radially inner free edges of the radially outer circular part defining perforations with the free lateral edges of the spokes. In order to mechanically reinforce each spoke, the central region of each spoke is deformed in order to house a swelling receding axially outwardly relative to the lateral regions of the spokes, including a yoke opening into the centering aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Denis Alff, Wolfgang Kruchten
  • Patent number: 6913323
    Abstract: A wheel for a motor vehicle has a wheel hub connected with a wheel rim by spokes. In order to create a wheel for a motor vehicle which has low weight and high stability, spokes arranged between the wheel hub and the rim are constructed such that, in first areas connected with the wheel hub, the spokes have solid cross-sections and, in second areas connected with the rim, the spokes have V-shaped cross-sections. Transitions between the two areas are progressive; that is, along a longitudinal course of each spoke from the wheel hub toward the rim, the cross-section of a spoke is changed from an initially solid cross-section, which preferably has an elliptical construction, to a triangular cross-section, which then further changes to a V-shaped cross-section while forming a groove arranged in its center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ranjit Bhambra
  • Publication number: 20050067882
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel rim, in particular a spoked wheel rim for motor vehicles consisting of sheet-steel. Said rim is assembled from various parts: an inner screw-on flange (1b), a central rim ring (1a) and an external rim well (3, 4, 5). The rim ring (1a) and the screw-on flange (1b) form an inner bearing shell (1) for the main bearing load of the wheel rim. Said bearing shell (1) is covered by an external design shell (2) consisting of sheet-steel, forming a hollow chamber (7). Said design shell is connected in a fixed manner to the screw-on flange (1b) and the rim flange (3) and is configured to support an auxiliary bearing load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Klaus Bluemel, Jens Stach
  • Publication number: 20050017571
    Abstract: A full face fabricated vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and a wheel disc joined together by a suitable method. The wheel rim defines an axis and includes an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inboard tire bead seat, an axially extending well, and an outboard tire bead seat. The outboard tire bead seat terminates at an endmost surface. The wheel disc includes a generally centrally located wheel mounting surface, a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, an outer annular portion and a plurality of decorative openings formed therein between each pair of spokes. Each of the spokes includes an inner end, and outer end, a rear wall, and a pair of opposed side walls. The inner end of the spokes is connected to the wheel mounting surface and the outer end of the spokes connected to the outer annular portion. The outer annular portion defines a continuous annular ring which defines an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Patrick McCorry, Miguel Garcia
  • Patent number: 6837549
    Abstract: A light alloy wheel for a vehicle comprising a disc portion comprising a hub portion and a design portion and a rim portion, the design portion having as-die-cast spoke portions having a taper angle of less than 5.0°. This wheel can be produced by using a casting apparatus comprising a die assembly comprising at least a stationary lower die and a movable upper die, a movable platen to which the upper die is fixed, a first cylinder and at least three synchronous second cylinders mounted onto a frame of the apparatus for moving the movable platen; driving the first cylinder to slowly reduce the clamping force of the lower die and the upper die; synchronously driving the second cylinders to elevate the movable platen in parallel from a position at which the lower die and the upper die are clamped to a position at which the wheel would not impinge on the lower die even if the movable platen were slanted; and then further elevating the movable platen by the first cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Ito, Minoru Kanai, Masanobu Taniguchi, Kenji Usui
  • Publication number: 20040227392
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fabricated vehicle wheel. According to one embodiment of the invention, the fabricated vehicle wheel includes a wheel rim having a plurality of holes formed therein; a wheel disc having a central mounting surface and a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, each of the spokes having at least one hole formed therein; at least one rim to disc interface area provided along each of the spokes wherein some portion of a surface of the rim and some portion of a surface of the spoke contact one another; an adhesive deposited in at least some portion of the rim to disc interface area; and at least one fastener extending through the holes of the rim and the spokes to secure the rim and disc together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Alan Coleman, Thomas E. Heck, Todd Duffield, Michael Miller, Robert Raymond
  • Publication number: 20040160114
    Abstract: A wheel comprising a wheel blank and at least one design element, wherein the at least one design element is a separate part attached to the wheel blank. The wheel may further comprise an outer peripheral portion, an inner hub portion and an intermediate portion bridging the other peripheral portion and the inner hub portion. Additionally, the design element may be made from aluminum, may be a different color than the wheel blank and may have a different finish than the wheel blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Steven L. Seidner
  • Patent number: 6773077
    Abstract: The present invention provides a motorcycle wheel that includes a rim, a hub, and a spoke. The rim is adapted to receive a motorcycle tire and the hub is adapted to receive and support a motorcycle axle. The spoke extends between the rim and the hub. The spoke includes first and second walls that are separated by a distance. The first and second walls are substantially entirely unconnected to each other between the hub and the rim. The spokes are all connected to the hub substantially centered about a central plane and connected to the rim on one side of the central plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Buell Motorcycle Company
    Inventors: Erik F. Buell, Vance C. Strader, Abraham Askenazi, Julian A. Galgoczy
  • Patent number: 6758533
    Abstract: In a wheel for a motor vehicle, the existing hollow spaces are filled with residual cores. These cores are made of a metallic foam or are of shell-shaped bodies or shell-shaped bodies filled with metallic foam. The cores are arranged in closed and open hollow spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Frank Hummel, Jens Stach
  • Patent number: 6754957
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Coleman, Robert Raymond
  • Patent number: 6726292
    Abstract: A two piece fiber reinforced composite wheel includes a molded inner rim portion defining an outboard engagement surface and a molded outer rim portion defining an inboard engagement surface. The inner and outer rim portions are conformed so as to interlock together and are adhesively bonded. The inner and outer rim portions engage forming a plurality of spoke sections having substantially box shaped cross sections. The spoke sections are further connected with fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Del C Schroeder, John G Argeropoulos, Jeremy A Panasiewicz, David J Hunter, David G Speth, Suresh Nagesh
  • Patent number: 6679562
    Abstract: Described is a bicycle wheel (10) wherein the metal rim (12) is formed by a hollow-chambered rim (22) with an external flange (28) and an internal flange (26), by which a peripherally extending hollow rim chamber (35) is defined. The external flange (28) is provided with holes (34). The distal ends (38) of the spokes are integrally connected through the holes (34) in the external flange (28) to a spoke anchoring body (45) which extends peripherally in the hollow rim chamber (35) and which comprises the injection molding material of the spoke body (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignees: Gubesch GmbH, Schurmann Fahrradteile GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Werner Gubesch, Walter Goldbecker
  • Patent number: 6655748
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fabricated vehicle wheel. According to one embodiment of the invention, the vehicle wheel includes a wheel rim having a plurality of holes formed therein; a wheel disc having a central mounting surface and a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, each of the spokes having at least two holes formed therein; at least one rim to disc interface area provided along each of the spokes wherein some portion of a surface of the rim and some portion of a surface of the spoke contact one another; and a fastener extending through each of the at least two holes of each of the spokes and through an associated at least two holes of the plurality of holes of the rim to secure the rim and disc together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Coleman, Thomas E. Heck, Todd Duffield
  • Patent number: 6629736
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fabricated vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Coleman, Thomas E. Heck, Michael Miller, Robert Raymond
  • Patent number: 6626503
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fabricated vehicle wheel. According to one embodiment of the invention, the fabricated vehicle wheel includes a wheel rim having a plurality of holes formed therein; a wheel disc having a central mounting surface and a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, each of the spokes having at least one hole formed therein; at least one rim to disc interface area provided along each of the spokes wherein some portion of a surface of the rim and some portion of a surface of the spoke contact one another; an adhesive deposited in at least some portion of the rim to disc interface area; and at least one fastener extending through the holes of the rim and the spokes to secure the rim and disc together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Coleman, Thomas E. Heck
  • Publication number: 20030178887
    Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a stamped disk portion with integrally formed spokes attached to a ring portion extending about the entire circumference of the wheel is welded on a front side to a rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Paulo Celso de A. Sereno
  • Publication number: 20030155805
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel rim equipped with rim flanges that show no deformation or damage even though a reduction in weight is achieved. The wheel is equipped with rim flanges 3 consisting of a double structure in which the end portions across the rim part 2 of width of the rim are folded back to the inside and caused to contact the non-folded portions 3B in a state in which there is no gap. The abovementioned folded portions 3A and non-folded portions 3B have respective thicknesses that are greater than the thickness D1 of the rim part, and curved parts 3C that are smoothly continuous with the surfaces of the non-folded portions 3B are provided on the free end portions of the folded portions 3A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Work Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6497459
    Abstract: A multi-part vehicle wheel includes a rim spider and a rim which are mutually connected by screwing devices. For connection by way of the screwing devices, the rim spider has ring surfaces which are placed flush on the rim. So that precise positioning of the metal foam core can take place, this metal foam core has core marks or needle cushions. For sealing off the hollow space of the spoke of the rim spider, which is filled with metal foam, a sealing strip or a sealing ring is arranged between the rim and the rim spider and is held in a clamped-in manner when the wheel parts are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Hummel, Jens Stach
  • Patent number: 6464302
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the structural improvement of a wheel, and more particularly to an assembled wheel structure that has excellent resilience and no need to fill in air as well as is free of air leakage and easy to be disassembled. The present invention is constructed by a wheel body and a tire, wherein the wheel body is further constructed by a wheel shell and a matching wheel cover, while the tire, made of resilient materials (e.g., plastic, PU, etc.), inside accommodates a resilient inner tire to provide double-layered resiliency. There are several position pads on both sides of the inner circumference of the tire and the position pads 421, 431 on two sides are alternated with each other. A hole 422, 432 is formed on each position pad 421, 431 to allow the position rods to set in place and form a complete wheel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: Chuan-Hai Huang
  • Publication number: 20010035675
    Abstract: The rim spider of a two-piece wheel for a motor vehicle is provided with hollow spokes in which a metal foam core is arranged and remains. The rim spider is connected with a rim by way of weld ring surfaces which are friction welded. The metal foam core is provided in a special manner with a partial core which is supported on a top core of a casting die tool so as to provide positioned bearing in the casting die tool. By way of slides, which are arranged in a distributed manner on a circumference of the rim spider, an influence on heating and cooling behavior, during and after casting, is exercised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Jens Stach
  • Publication number: 20010033104
    Abstract: A multi-part vehicle wheel includes a rim spider and a rim which are mutually connected by screwing devices. For connection by way of the screwing devices, the rim spider has ring surfaces which are placed flush on the rim. So that precise positioning of the metal foam core can take place, this metal foam core has core marks or needle cushions. For sealing off the hollow space of the spoke of the rim spider, which is filled with metal foam, a sealing strip or a sealing ring is arranged between the rim and the rim spider and is held in a clamped-in manner when the wheel parts are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Frank Hummel, Jens Stach