Back to results
US 2018/0001698 A1Published application
Method of manufacturing a lightweight wheel with high strength flexible spokes
AssigneeSpinergy Inc.
InventorMartin Connolly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a lightweight wheel with high strength flexible spokes of the present invention, includes providing a rim and hub, and a plurality of lightweight, flexible and resilient spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The wheel includes a nipple within the rim that receives the high strength spoke and allows for flexibility in adapting the spoke to wheels having differing shapes and sizes.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a lightweight wheel, comprising:
- providing a rim having a plurality of spoke holes formed at a spoke hole angle, wherein said plurality of spokes holes are evenly distributed between a left side and a right side of said rim;
- providing a hub comprising a left flange having an inner surface and an outer surface on a left side of said hub and a right flange having an inner surface and an outer surface on a right side of said hub, said left flange having a plurality of anchor holes formed at an anchor hole angle equal to said spoke hole angle, wherein said plurality of anchor holes are evenly distributed between said inner surface and said outer surface of said left flange, said right flange having a plurality of anchor holes formed at an anchor hole angle equal to said spoke hole angle, wherein said plurality of anchor holes are evenly distributed between said inner surface and said outer surface of said right flange, and said anchor holes on said left flange of said left side of said hub corresponds to said spokes holes on said left side of said rim and said anchor holes on said right flange of said right side of said hub corresponds to said spokes holes on said right side of said rim;
- providing a plurality of high strength flexible spokes having a central axis, each of said high strength flexible spokes comprising a flexible spoke shaft having non-rigid fibers encased in a non-rigid jacket having a first end wedge and a second end wedge, an anchor having a tapered bore receiving said first end wedge, and a tube having a tapered bore receiving said second end wedge, wherein said first end wedge and said second end wedge consist of said non-rigid fibers and an epoxy;
- providing a nipple housed within said spoke hole of said rim;
- and
- attaching each of said plurality of high strength flexible spokes between said hub and said rim in a straight line, wherein said anchor is affixed to said anchor hole and said tube is affixed to said nipple, thereby mechanically fastening said hub to said rim.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing a lightweight wheel, comprising:
- providing an outer circular rim defining a plane and constructed of high strength, low weight material formed with a plurality of spoke holes spaced about the circumference of the rim, said spoke holes formed at a spoke hole angle, wherein said plurality of spoke holes are evenly distributed between a left side and a right side of said rim;
- providing an inner cylindrical hub mountable on an axle for concentric rotation with said rim about the axis of said axle, said hub comprising a left flange having an inner surface and an outer surface on a left side of said hub and a right flange having an inner surface and an outer surface on a right side of said hub, said left flange formed with a plurality of anchor holes formed at an anchor hole angle equal to said spoke hole angle, wherein said plurality of anchor holes are evenly distributed between said inner surface and said outer surface of said left flange, said right flange having a plurality of anchor holes formed at an anchor hole angle equal to said spoke hole angle, wherein said plurality of anchor holes are evenly distributed between said inner surface and said outer surface of said right flange, said anchor holes on said left flange of said left side of said hub corresponds to said spokes holes on said left side of said rim and said anchor holes on said right flange of said right side of said hub corresponds to said spokes holes on said right side of said rim;
- providing a plurality of flexible, non-rigid spokes, each of said non-rigid spoke having a longitudinal axis, extending substantially radially outward from said hub to said rim in a straight line, said non-rigid spokes further comprising a flexible spoke shaft having non-rigid fibers encased in a non-rigid jacket having a first end wedge and a second end wedge, an anchor having a tapered bore receiving said first end wedge, and a tube having a tapered bore receiving said second end wedge, wherein said first end wedge and said second end wedge consist of said non-right fiber and an epoxy;
- and
- connecting each of said non-rigid spokes between said anchor attached to said anchor hole of said hub and a nipple positioned within said spoke hole of said rim in a straight line, wherein each said nipple extends through said spoke hole in said rim and each said spoke tube is threadably received within said nipple.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.