Bicycle rim made of composite material with wings having reinforced structure
AssigneeCampagnolo S.r.l.
InventorsMario Meggiolan, Mauri Feltrin, Leonardo Antonio Demelio, Filippo Bove
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Abstract
A bicycle rim is made with a plurality of layered, each of which is formed of structural fibres incorporated in a polymeric material. The rim has a radially outer peripheral channel with an upper bridge extending between the wings for holding a tyre. The peripheral channel comprises an inner layered structure, extending between wings and at least one wrapping layered structure, wound on the inner layered structure at least at the end of the wings, the inner layered structure and the wrapping layered structure being included in the plurality of layered structures.
Claims16
A bicycle rim, made with a plurality of layered structures of composite material, each formed by one or more layers of structural fibres incorporated in a polymeric material,
- wherein the rim comprises a radially outer peripheral channel comprising an upper bridge extending between two opposite wings for holding a tyre,
- wherein the peripheral channel comprises an inner layered structure, extending from one of the wings to the other, and a wrapping layered structure, wound to completely surround a surface of the inner layered structure and remain in contact with the inner layered structure with a wrapping layer initial flap and a wrapping layer final flap of the wrapping layered structure overlapping each other, the inner layered structure and the wrapping layered structure being included in said plurality of layered structures.
A method for making a bicycle rim of composite material based on structural fibres incorporated in a polymeric material, the rim comprising a radially outer peripheral channel comprising an upper bridge extending between two opposite wings for holding a tyre, comprising the following steps:
- a) providing:
- a radial mold shaped according to a profile of the bicycle rim;
- at least one pression element;
- and at least one mold insert for the formation in the mold of end areas adapted for the formation of the wings;
- b) laying a wrapping layered structure of uncured composite material comprising structural fibres incorporated in a polymeric material on a work plane;
- c) laying an inner layered structure of uncured composite material comprising structural fibres incorporated in a polymeric material on the wrapping layered structure, the inner layered structure having a length equal to that of the wrapping layered structure and width less than half the width of the wrapping layered structure;
- d) folding two opposite flaps of the wrapping layered structure in the width direction on the inner layered structure, overlapping them over one another;
- e) arranging the pression element and the wrapping layered structure in the mold, with the inner layered structure included and folded in a C shape, adjacent to the pression element;
- f) positioning the at least one mold insert in the mold, so that the wrapping layered structure with the inner layered structure enclosed reaches the end areas of the mold;
- g) closing the mold and applying a pressure on the wrapping layered structures and inner layered structures with the pression element, so as to make the polymeric material flow and move the structural fibres in the direction of the end areas of the mold, until the entire space between the mold and the at least one mold insert is occupied;
- h) subjecting the mold to a pressure and temperature profile such as to cause the setting of the polymeric material;
- i) opening the mold;
- j) removing the at least one mold insert;
- k) removing the molded bicycle rim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.