US 2004/0163255 A1 · Lightweight bicycle wheel rim and method for producing it

Abstract

A deep V-section aero rim for a tensioned spoke wheel and a method for producing it are disclosed. The rim is produced by extruding an alloy to produce a rim profile, rolling the extrusion, cutting the rolled extrusion to length, joining the free ends to produce a rim blank and mechanically reducing the thickness of the rim side walls a substantial amount. In one embodiment, each of the side walls, after extrusion, has a thickness that is sufficient to withstand buckling of the side walls during rolling. After rolling and cutting the extrusion to length, its ends are joined and each side wall, namely, the portion between the rim floor and the braking surface, is thinned, preferably by mechanical abrasion, until each side wall is so thin that an extrusion having side walls of that thickness could not be rolled without side wall buckling. In another embodiment, flanges on the outside of the side walls prevent buckling during rolling and the flanges are removed after rolling.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method for producing a rim for a bicycle wheel, said method comprising the steps of

producing a linear extrusion having side walls that are thick enough to withstand rolling of the extrusion into a rim shape without buckling,
rolling the extrusion, cutting the extrusion and connecting the free ends of the extrusion to produce a rim blank, and
removing material from the side walls of the rim blank to produce a rim having side walls that are so thin that an extrusion having side walls as thin as the side walls of the rim could not be rolled to produce a rim blank without buckling of the side walls.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lightweight bicycle wheel rim and method for producing it

Life of this patent

Lightweight bicycle wheel rim and method for producing it

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5