Abstract: An air deflection ring that is configured to be attached to a wheel of a motor vehicle that includes a barrel including a cylindrical inner surface and an opposing cylindrical outer surface, a plurality of spokes that are each separated by an opening and attach the barrel to a center of the wheel. The air deflection ring includes a cylindrical mounting ring that is configured to be fixed to the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel, and an air deflection flange that extends radially inwardly toward the center of the wheel from the cylindrical mounting ring. The cylindrical mounting ring is configured to be fixed to the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel at a location positioned immediately adjacent to the plurality of spokes, and the air deflection flange is configured to direct a flow of air away from the openings during rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: In a pneumatic tire mountable on a 5°-tapered rim, a bottom of a bead core is inclined from 0°-5° in a direction in which the bottom diverges toward an outer side in a radial direction as the bottom extends from an inner side in the width direction toward an outer side in the width direction. Each bead portion includes a base, a toe, and a heel. The base is inclined from 8°-12° in a direction in which the bead base portion diverges toward the outer side in the radial direction as the base extends from the inner side toward the outer side in the width direction. The heel has a radius of curvature from 25-30 mm. A rim cushion rubber has a modulus at 100% elongation within a range from 5.0-8.0 MPa. The toe has a displacement between before and after mounting on the rim from 9.0-13.5 mm.

Abstract: A laser welder alignment system includes a laser welder, a camera associated with the laser welder configured to capture images of a loaded product within the laser welder, and a controller in communicative association with the laser welder and the camera. The controller receives visualization data from the camera and, based on the visualization data, forms and sends positioning instructions to the laser welder instructing the laser welder so as to position the loaded product at a proper weld start. The laser welder alignment system also verifies proper positioning of the loaded product within the laser welder, and verifies proper rotation of the loaded component by determining whether the rotating product has a wobble that exceeds a pre-defined wobble tolerance.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cycle wheel rim having, in radial cross section, two lateral sidewalls 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 sidewalls. The manufacturing method includes 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 rim for a bicycle having a rim body including a rim well and a rim base and rim flanks connecting the rim base and the rim well wherein the rim flanks and the rim base consist of a fibrous composite material. A minimum wall thickness of the rim flanks is thinner in one radial region than in another radial region. The rim body is bulbous in cross-section. A maximum height from the rim base to the rim well is less than 1.5 times and in particular less than 1.2 times the maximum width.

Abstract: A rim for a bicycle has a lower bridge with infra-spoke zones of lower thickness than the thickness of the spoke attachment zones. The increase in thickness from the infra-spoke zones to the spoke attachment zones and the reduction in thickness between the spoke attachment zones and the infra-spoke zones have a sharp corner.

Abstract: A composite carbon fiber wheel rim of a tubular type comprises a friction-resisting rim body having an inner and outer circumferential periphery, and an inner rim body being disposed along the inner circumferential periphery of the friction-resisting rim body. A method for making such a wheel rim comprises forming a friction-resisting rim body, mounting inner rim body to the friction-resisting rim body, and making the friction-resisting rim body and the inner rim bodies as an integral piece. A composite carbon fiber wheel rim of a clincher type further comprises an outer rim disposed along the outer circumferential periphery. Accordingly, the outer rim is mounted to the friction-resisting rim body while mounting the inner rim.

Abstract: Bicycle wheel rims with internally reinforced spoke seats are disclosed along with methods for producing them. The rims are produced from a rim blank with at least one circumferentially extending spoke attachment region that has a relatively uniform given thickness. Access holes are formed in an upper web of the rim blank and tooling is positioned above and below the spoke attachment region to form a reinforced spoke seat and a spoke hole therein. Material that is upset and moved from the location of the spoke hole is displaced into an annular region where it reinforces the spoke hole. Material in the vicinity of the spoke hole can be displaced towards the inside of the rim and material can be removed from the undisplaced portions of the spoke region leaving a reinforced area around the spoke hole.

Abstract: A rim for a bicycle has a lower bridge with infra-spoke zones of lower thickness than the thickness of the spoke attachment zones. The increase in thickness from the infra-spoke zones to the spoke attachment zones and the reduction in thickness between the spoke attachment zones and the infra-spoke zones have a sharp corner.

Abstract: A rim for a bicycle has a lower bridge with infra-spoke zones of lower thickness than the thickness of the spoke attachment zones. The increase in thickness from the infra-spoke zones to the spoke attachment zones and the reduction in thickness between the spoke attachment zones and the infra-spoke zones have a sharp corner.

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 reinforced annular bicycle rim is provided that includes a tire attachment portion and a spoke attachment portion fixedly coupled with the tire attachment portion to form an annular hollow area. A plurality of separate reinforcement members are fixedly coupled to an exterior surface of the spoke attachment portion to effectively increase the thickness of the rim at circumferentially spaced locations. Each of the reinforcement members is located exteriorly of the hollow area. Openings extend through the reinforcement members and the spoke attachment portion to couple spokes to the rim. A method of making such a rim is also provided. Preferably, the reinforcement members are welded or brazed to the spoke attachment portion, and then the openings are formed in the spoke attachment portion and the reinforcement members.

Abstract: A wheel rim includes two annular sidewalls and a main connecting wall. The main connecting wall has two ends connected respectively and fixedly to radial inner ends of the sidewalls, and opposite radially inner and outer surfaces. The radially inner surface faces the hub, and has two axial surface portions and a middle surface portion that are preferably concaved toward the tire. The radially outer surface has two axial surface portions and a middle portion. The axial surface portions of the radially inner and outer surfaces define two force-bearing areas having a plurality of mounting holes. The middle surface portions of the radially inner and outer surfaces define a weight-reducing area having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the force-bearing areas. The force-bearing areas and the weight-reducing area are arched.

Abstract: A motor vehicle sheet-steel wheel rim (30, 50), including axially, from the inner side to the outer side, an inner hook (4), an inner seat (5), a connecting zone (7), a mounting groove (9), a hump (11), an outer seat (5) and an outer hook (13), the rim being intended to be joined to a wheel disc (2) under the mounting groove (9), wherein with the rim having a given thickness E in mm at the mounting groove (9), the connecting zone (7) includes a zone (Z5, Z?4) of thickness E1 in mm such that: E/3+0.5 mm?E124 E/3 mm; and E1?0.7 mm.

Abstract: A method of making a rim of sheet metal for a vehicle wheel, in which: a rectangular geometric shape is cut out of a blank of sheet metal; the blank is bent to obtain a cylindrical hoop; the two free edges of the hoop are welded together; at least one cylindrical flow spinning operation is performed to obtain a profile of given thickness of the hoop, zones of constant thickness being adjacent to zones of variable thickness; a cut is made perpendicular to the axis of the hoop out of at least one lateral edge of the hoop; the hoop is profiled to obtain the rim; and the size of the said rim is set.

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 tire wheel comprising a disk and a rim for mounting a pneumatic tire joined to the peripheral edge of the disk. The rim has left and right cylindrical bead seats with a hump which protrudes thereon, and left and right annular rim flanges joined to and extending wheel-radially outwardly from the outer side edges of the bead seats. A ring-like thick element extending along the circumferential direction of the wheel is provided on a portion of the bead seat located between the hump and rim flange of the rim located on the inner side of a vehicle when attached thereto.

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.

Abstract: A two-piece-wise built-up light-alloy wheel with a rather big diameter for automobiles and two-wheeled vehicles, being aimed to be made as lightweight and have an improved ornamental appearance, comprising: a rim (2) having outer and inner rim portions integrally formed with each other; a center disk (1) built-up with the integral rim (2); fastener bolts fastening the rim with the center disk; and a plurality of thick-wall portions (9) bulging from and integrally formed with the outer rim portion as bulging toward center of the wheel, as to form screw holes for the fastener bolts. Thickness of the rim (2) is substantially same except for the thick-wall portions, throughout from a bead seat (6) on the outer rim portion through a well part (8).

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: A bicycle wheel rim can be worn down by rim brakes, leading to serious accidents. The present invention relates to a novel bicycle rim that provides direct and clear indication to a rider when a braking surface on the rim has been worn off. The novel bicycle rim comprises a base portion, two lateral flanks forming an outer braking surface, and a longitudinal hole. The braking surface has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the braking surface has a thickness that is designed to be worn off down to the longitudinal hole so as to form a visible slit, while the second portion, situated radially outwards with respect to the first portion, has a thickness such as to prevent deformations of the second portion when the first portion is worn off down to the longitudinal hole.

Abstract: A bicycle rim including an annular shaped element whose cross-section includes a box shape demarcated by an upper bridge and a lower portion having a lower bridge and side walls, the lower bridge or the side walls having holes distributed evenly and provided for the connection of the spokes, the holes and their immediate vicinity defining boring zones. The thickness of the walls constituted by the lower bridge and the side walls has a nominal value in the boring zones and a lower value than the nominal value in the intermediate zones located between two adjacent boring zones, and the thickness of this wall varies progressively from the nominal value to the lower value to the nominal value.