Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a hub portion attached to a vehicle, a substantially cylindrical rim portion, and a plurality of spoke portions connected to the rim portion and the hub portion. The plurality of the spoke portions have a window portion that penetrates in a wheel axial direction. An inclined surface is provided on a wheel back side of each of the spoke portions such that the inclined surface inclines toward a wheel front side from a center in a wheel circumferential direction toward the window portion. The inclined surface is provided at a portion including one end portion or both end portions in the wheel circumferential direction.
Abstract: A multi-piece wheel, which is assembled with multiple pieces of pre-made structural members, including an outer wheel ring, a central hub and multiple spokes. The outer wheel ring is comprised of a circular wall for affixing a tire on its inner surface and connecting spokes on its outer surface. The spokes are the wheel intermediate members which at their respective first and second end are connected to the respective outer wheel ring and the central hub. The central hub is a circular structure including a central bore and front circular arcuate surface, wherein multiple pockets are placed on the front surface for connecting the spoke second ends to the central hub. Various structural variations of the central hub and spokes regarding their connection are also disclosed, which results in various embodiments of the present invention.
Abstract: My invention is the Tubular Spoked Wheel, designed to appear like an old fashioned wooden wheel but with many advantages. For instance, it is not affected by wet and dry weather and it is readily adaptable to lug bolt mounting. It can be adapted to almost any application such as: automobile, motorcycle, bicycles, and different materials such as welded steel construction, or a one piece aluminum casting machined.
Abstract: The spoked wheel apparatus is symmetrical, is reversible, employs spokes that are threaded on both ends, and is capable of supporting a tubeless tire, without air leaking from the tire. A hub assembly for the wheel apparatus includes two sides, and each side includes a plurality of alternately crossing spokes that are connected between the hub assembly and a wheel rim portion. Each hub side includes an interchangeable and reversible drive dowel assembly capable of receiving a drive sprocket or disc brake. For a hub side, some spokes are connected between outer portions of the hub side to the wheel rim portion, and some spokes are connected between inner portions of the hub side to the wheel rim portion. Alternating pairs of inner and outer spokes come into interference contact midway between the hub assembly and the wheel rim portion, whereby strengthening and stabilizing effects are provided between the interfering spokes.
Abstract: A wheel hub with a tubular body having at its ends a pair of flanges, each of which is provided with a plurality of holes for anchorage of L-shaped portions of respective spokes. At least one of the flanges is made of fiber-reinforced plastic material, and the holes of the aforesaid flange are associated to respective bushings made of metal material, which, in use, are set between the L-shaped portion of each spoke and the inner wall of the respective hole.
Abstract: A bicycle wheel includes a hub and a plurality of mounting seats arranged around the hub and pivoted to the hub for pivoting about axes parallel to an axis of the hub. A plurality of spokes have outer ends mounted on a wheel rim, and inner ends mounted on the mounting seats for mounting the wheel rim on the hub.
Abstract: An aerodynamic wheel, suitable for bicycles, which includes a central hub, a rim and a plurality of spoke members extending between the rim and the central hub, each spoke includes a leading edge and two trailing edges with air deflecting walls extending between each trailing edge and the leading edge. A cross sectional profile of each spoke about mid way between each end resembles a “V” with a centrally located trailing edge cavity positioned between the air deflecting walls and behind the leading edge. The wheel and spokes are installed for rotation with the leading edge of each spoke forward so that as the wheel rotates the leading edge, air deflecting walls and centrally located trailing edge cavity create a drafting effect for the following spoke leading edge thereby reducing aerodynamic drag and effort required for rotating the wheel. The wheel may be designed with at least three spokes while the hub, rim and spokes may be manufactured as a single component or as separate components.
Abstract: A method of making a wheel support assembly adapted to bolt to an axle of a vehicle for supporting a tire is disclosed herein along with the assembly itself. In accordance with this method, an outer annular rim having an outer annular surface configured to support a tire is provided along with at least one integral piece of sheet metal. The sheet metal is stamp formed into a plurality of spoke arrangements, each of which includes (i) at least two elongated spokes respectively including inner ends and outer ends and (ii) a cross-bar connecting together the inner ends of the spokes and configured to bolt to the axle for connecting the inner ends of the spokes to the axle, whereby to serve as part of a hub of the wheel support assembly. The outer ends of the spokes are connected to the rim. In one embodiment disclosed herein, each spoke arrangement is formed from its own separate and distinct piece of sheet metal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 1998
Date of Patent:
March 28, 2000
Assignee:
Kuhl Wheels, LLC
Inventors:
Frank A Fitz, Craig T. Gadd, Wayne K. Higashi
Abstract: An inner rigid pulley core is formed from a plurality of plate members extending radially from a centrally disposed shaft; or a predetermined axis of rotation at which the plate members meet and are connected together in the absence of a shaft. A cylindrical pulley shell is secured to the free ends of the plate members to form with the rigid pulley core a pulley with a face which in total acts as a beam (composite type). In one of the embodiments, where the radial plates are secured to each other, about the predetermined axis of rotation, the axial ends of the plates are extended near the axis of rotation on each end of the pulley to form ears about which an annular ring is secured to form shaft ends to facilitate mounting of the pulley. In another embodiment (where the plates are secured together about the axis of rotation) a cast end bell with stub shaft ends is secured to the pulley core and shell to facilitate mounting of the pulley.
Abstract: A spoked wheel and method for assembling the same in which formed sheet metal spokes are disposed between the rim and hub and are attached to each by portions on the spoke which are bent over and crimped on the side portions of the rim and the hub bushing. The ends of the rim are held together by one of the spokes, which is crimped over the junction of the rim ends, thus requiring no riveting or welding of the rim ends. A semi-pneumatic tire is mounted on the rim and assists in holding the crimped portions of the spoke in place on the rim. The wheel bearings are press fitted into the hub bushing and secure the crimped ends of the spokes in place on the hub. In the method of making the spoked wheel, the rim is bent into an annular shape and the rim ends are brought into close proximity. One spoke is secured to the rim at the junction point of the rim ends and holds the ends in that position.
Abstract: The wheel comprises a hub having a periphery provided with peripherally spaced, radially projecting lugs. An integral wheel body comprises a central ring which surrounds the hub and is secured to the lugs, and spokes radiating from the ring. The hub and ring define air flow passages disposed radially between the hub and ring.
Abstract: Articulated railway service wheel with structurally distinct rim, web, and hub. A toroidal rim is interconnected to the hub by a rod-like web defining individual spring units which respond in tension and compression to vertical and lateral loading. The spring web units are seated in rim and hub socket means which prevent relative rotational movement. A unitary hub-axle is also provided.