Drainable vehicle wheel and vehicle incorporating same
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorMasayuki Fujita
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drainable vehicle wheel having a hub, a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub and a rim having tips ends of the spokes connected thereto. Each of the plurality of spokes has a hollow portion and a plurality of water-discharge hole formed therein. The hub has an outer hollow portion formed by a plurality of walls, and one the walls has a drain hole formed therein. The outer hollow portion of the hub is fluidly connected to a hollow portion formed in each of the spokes. A wall of the tip end portion of each of spokes is thickened or reinforced to increase stiffness of the spokes.
Claims20
A vehicle wheel comprising:
- a hub for receiving an axle of a vehicle;
- a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from the hub, each of said plurality of spokes having a hollow portion with a water-discharge hole formed therein;
- and
- a rim connected to an outer tip end of each of the plurality of spokes, said rim supporting a tire thereon;
- wherein said water-discharge hole is formed in a tip end portion of each of the spokes so as to allow water which enters said hollow portion of each of the spokes to be drained off;
- and
- wherein a portion of a wall of the tip end portion of each of the spokes is thickened in an area thereof adjacent the water-discharge hole.
A motorcycle comprising a pair of wheels;
- each of said wheels having:
- a hub;
- at least three spokes extending radially from the hub, each of said spokes having a hollow portion and a water-discharge hole formed therein;
- said hollow portion formed longitudinally in each of said spokes;
- and
- a rim connected to a tip end of each of the spokes, said rim supporting a tire thereon,
- wherein said water-discharge hole is formed at a tip end portion of each of the spokes so as to allow water which enters said hollow portion of each of the spokes to be drained off;
- and
- wherein a wall of the tip end portion of each of the spokes is reinforced.
In combination, a vehicle and a drainable vehicle wheel, comprising;
- a wheel axle;
- a pair of support brackets, each supporting an end portion of the wheel axle;
- a hub receiving said wheel axle;
- a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub;
- each of said plurality of spokes having a hollow portion and a water-discharge hole formed therein;
- said hollow portion formed longitudinally and being fluidly connected with said water-discharge hole formed in a tip end portion of each of the spokes;
- a rim connected to a tip end of each of the plurality of spokes;
- said hub having an outer peripheral hollow portion formed by joining an outer peripheral wall with a pair of side walls having a first wall and a second wall;
- said first wall having a drain hole formed therein;
- said outer peripheral hollow portion being fluidly connected with said hollow portion of at least one of said spokes;
- and
- a brake disc disposed adjacent to said first wall such that a wide passage is formed therebetween;
- wherein water from the outer peripheral hollow portion is drained through at least one of said drain hole formed in the first wall and the water-discharge hole formed in the tip end portion of each of said spokes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.