# US 2016/0221284 A1 · Method of Manufacturing a Wheel with a Tyre and a Wheel with a Tyre > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0221284 A1 - Document ID: US20160221284A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/021,586 - Filed: 2014-09-12 - Published: 2016-08-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-13 - Assignees: Capak Ltd. - Applicants: Capak Ltd - Inventors: Michael Andrews; Paul Andrews - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160221284A1 ## CPC - B29D 30/02: Solid tyres {; Moulds therefor} - B60B 5/02: made of synthetic material - B60C 7/14: using springs - B60C 7/24: characterised by means for securing tyres on rim or wheel body - B29C 45/0046: {Details relating to the filling pattern or flow paths or flow characteristics of moulding material in the mould cavity} - B29C 45/1459: {Coating annular articles} - B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29K 2105/0058: {Liquid or visquous} - B60C 7/146: {extending substantially radially, e.g. like spokes} - B60C 2001/0091: {Compositions of non-inflatable or solid tyres} - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract A method of manufacture of a wheel with a tyre 2 in which the tyre 4 is formed directly on the wheel in which the wheel has a conduit which runs between its hub and rim, and a mould is placed over the wheel in order to form a cavity between an inner surface of the mould and the wheel's rim. Liquid materials to form the tyre 4 are injected into the cavity via the conduit and the wheel spun to distribute the materials throughout the cavity, which materials solidify to form the tyre 4 attached to the wheel. The method includes the step of placing a hub cap 6 over a face of the wheel prior to placing the mould and sealing the hub cap 6 to the wheel during the moulding process. The invention also relates to a wheel manufactured according to said method. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 A method of manufacturing a wheel and a tyre comprising the steps of providing a wheel and moulding a tyre to the wheel, placing a mould over the wheel such that a cavity is formed between an inner surface of the mould and a rim of the wheel, for receiving material to form the tyre, wherein the wheel is provided with an inlet which is fluidly connected by a conduit to an outlet in the rim of the wheel, and a material to form the tyre is injected into the inlet, and wherein a hub cap is provided and the method includes the additional steps of covering a face of the wheel with the hub cap prior to the step of placing the mould, and sealing the hub cap to the wheel during the moulding process. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A method according to claim 22, wherein a hub cap is placed on each face of the wheel prior to the step of moulding. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A method according to claim 22, wherein the hub cap extends to at least partially cover the rim. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) A method according to claim 22, wherein the hub cap has a plurality of apertures and the method includes the step of aligning the apertures with the outlet to fluidly connect the apertures with the outlet. ### Claim 26 A method of manufacturing a wheel and a tyre comprising the steps of providing a wheel and moulding a tyre to the wheel, placing a mould over the wheel such that a cavity is formed between an inner surface of the mould and a rim of the wheel, for receiving material to form the tyre, wherein the wheel is provided with an inlet which is fluidly connected by a conduit to an outlet in the rim of the wheel, and a material to form the tyre is injected into the inlet, and wherein a hub cap is provided and the method includes the additional steps of covering a face of the wheel with the hub cap prior to the step of placing the mould, and sealing the hub cap to the wheel during the moulding process, wherein the hub cap has a plurality of apertures and the method includes the step of aligning the apertures with the outlet to fluidly connect the apertures with the outlet, and wherein the rim has a first open channel and the outlet opens into the first open channel, the step of placing the hub cap further including the step of covering the first open channel with the hub cap whilst aligning the apertures of the hub cap with the first open channel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26, wherein a second open channel is provided in the rim which is fluidly connected to the first open channel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26, wherein a second open channel is provided in the rim which is fluidly connected to the first open channel, and wherein the first and second open channels open to opposite faces of the wheel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26, wherein the rim compromises two spaced concentric bands interconnected by a web between the bands, which bands extend around the circumference of the wheel, wherein the open channel is provided in at least one of the bands, the step of placing the hub cap further includes the step of sealing the web between the bands with the hub cap. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26, wherein the first open channel is in the innermost band and the method includes the step of introducing material to form the tyre into the inlet, flowing the material through the conduit into the open channel, flowing the material through the apertures into the mould's cavity and allowing the tyre to form in the cavity. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26, wherein the first open channel is in the innermost band, and wherein a second open channel is provided in the innermost band which is fluidly connected to the first open channel, and the method further includes the step of introducing material to form the tyre into the inlet, flowing the material through the conduit into the first open channel, flowing material from the first open channel to the second open channel and flowing the material through the hub cap apertures into the cavity and allowing the tyre to form in the cavity. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26 wherein the mould is placed over the wheel and extends substantially around the circumference of the wheel encapsulating the rim, the cavity defining the shape of the tyre to be moulded about the rim, wherein the material to form the tyre is introduced into the mould in a liquid form and allowed to solidify in the mould, conduit, channel and apertures to form a tyre and anchor the formed tyre to the wheel. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) A method according to claim 22, wherein the wheel comprises a hub and the inlet is located at the hub, the wheel being provided with a plurality of said inlets and outlets, the outlets being distributed around the rim of the wheel and each inlet being fluidly connected by a respective conduit to a respective outlet, wherein a pipe is fluidly connected to the hub and the material to form the tyre is injected into at least one inlet through the pipe, the method further including the step of rotating the wheel during the injection process. ### Claim 34 (depends on 22) A method according to claim 22, wherein the conduit is open and the step of placing the hub cap includes the step of sealing the conduit with the hub cap. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) A wheel with tyre according to claim 26, wherein a hub cap is placed on each face of the wheel prior to the step of moulding, each hub cap extending to at least partially cover the rim, and each hub cap having a plurality of said apertures and the method includes the step of aligning the apertures with the outlet to fluidly connect the apertures with the outlet. ### Claim 36 A wheel with tyre wherein the wheel has a rim and opposite faces, and the tyre is moulded about the rim by placing a mould over the wheel such that a cavity is formed between an inner surface of the mould and the rim of the wheel, the wheel for this purpose having an inlet which is fluidly connected by a conduit to an outlet in the rim, whereby material to form the tyre is injected into the inlet, the wheel with tyre further having a hub cap sealed to a face of the wheel by the moulded tyre during the moulding of the tyre, and wherein the tyre has a substantially hollow interior. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A wheel with tyre according to claim 36, wherein the hollow interior comprises a flexible web. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) A wheel with tyre according to claim 36, wherein the hollow interior comprises a flexible web which comprises two concentric, spaced bands extending around the wheel with the web extending between the bands. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) A wheel with tyre according to claim 36, wherein the hollow interior comprises a flexible web which comprises two concentric spaced bands extending around the wheel and with the web extending between the bands, and wherein the hub cap seals the web completely between the bands. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) A wheel with tyre according to claim 36, wherein a hub cap is sealed on each face of the wheel. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) A wheel with tyre according to claim 36, wherein the wheel has a hub, and the hub cap has a hub cap aperture and means to seal about the hub.