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US 2010/0078987 A1Published application
Tensegrity wheel
OwnerTimothy Lubeckiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spoked wheel is described that uses flexible spokes having a termination on each end that couple with a rim using nipples. The flexible spokes are supported mid-span by a hub flange cradle that transfers torque from the hub to the rim via two sub-spokes. The hub flange cradle determines whether a sub-spoke is tangential or radial. A plurality of spokes may be used on each side of the wheel. Spoke tensegrity couples the hub to the rim.
Claims19
A tensegrity wheel comprising:
- a rim having a predefined number n of apertures along an inner circumference, each for receiving a nipple;
- a predefined number s of flexible spokes, where
- s
- =
- n
- 2
- ,
- each spoke a cable of predetermined length with a termination permanently affixed to each end of the cable for coupling with a nipple;
- a rotatable wheel hub comprising:
- a hub body;
- a left side hub flange and a right side hub flange, both flanges separated by a predefined axial distance along the hub body and each flange extending outward from the hub body as a radial, hollow conical shape having an inner and outer surface, each flange's inner and outer surface defined by an associated right side flange camber angle α and left side flange camber angle β;
- and
- a predetermined number c of cradles, where
- c
- =
- n
- 2
- ,
- each having a predefined groove profile, curve, and length located on the inner and/or outer surfaces of the left side flange and the right side flange, configured to receive a spoke cable;
- and
- for each spoke s, a spoke cable section C supported by one hub flange cradle.
18 more elements
A flexible spoke comprising:
- a cable having a predetermined length;
- and
- a termination permanently affixed to each end of the cable.
A rotatable wheel hub comprising:
- a hub body;
- and
- a left side hub flange and a right side hub flange, both flanges separated by a predefined axial distance along the hub body and each flange extending outward from the hub body as a radial, hollow conical shape having an inner and outer surface, each flange's inner and outer surface defined by an associated right side flange camber angle α and left side flange camber angle β.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.