Rim for a Wheel
AssigneeDymag Group Limited
InventorsMarcus Walls-Bruck, Michael John Wilson, Christopher Shelley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-metallic rim for a wheel which may be used for motorised vehicles. The rim has a barrel, a first flange, a second flange, a first bead seat, a second beat seat and a primary structural component. The primary structural component extends into at least the first flange and the barrel, and the primary structural component is capable of bearing the majority of the radial and/or lateral load that is borne by the rim during usage. Additionally, the rim has at least a portion of the first bead seat spaced apart from the primary structural component and/or has a protective insert in between the outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component.
Claims20
A non-metallic rim for a wheel suitable for a motorised 4-wheeled vehicle or a motorised 2-wheeled vehicle, the rim comprising:
- a barrel;
- a first flange and a second flange, each extending radially outward from opposing edges of the barrel;
- a first bead seat and a second bead seat, each arranged axially inwardly, respectively, of the first and second flanges;
- a primary structural component configured to extend through at least the first flange and the barrel, and being capable of bearing a majority of at least one load borne by the rim during normal usage selected from the group consisting of:
- radial load, lateral load, and combinations thereof, wherein the primary structural component and the bead seats are bound by a polymer matrix;
- and
- at least one of:
- (i) a protective insert configured to be disposed between an axial outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component, the protective insert comprising a non-carbon-fibre material that acts to absorb and/or deflect and/or dissipate energy from a load or impact applied axially and/or radially to the rim;
- and
- (ii) at least a portion of the first bead seat is spaced apart from the primary structural component,
- wherein the rim comprises an outer layer also bound by the polymer matrix, wherein the outer layer forms at least part of at least one of:
- the bead seat and a covering on the protective insert.
A wheel suitable for a motorised 4-wheeled vehicle or a motorised 2-wheeled vehicle comprising:
- center member;
- and
- a rim, the rim comprising:
- a barrel;
- a first flange and a second flange, each extending radially outward from opposing edges of the barrel;
- a first bead seat and a second bead seat, each arranged axially inwardly, respectively, of the first and second flanges;
- a primary structural component configured to extend through at least the first flange and the barrel, and being capable of bearing a majority of at least one load borne by the rim during normal usage selected from the group consisting of:
- radial load, lateral load, and combinations thereof;
- and
- at least one of:
- (i) a protective insert configured to be disposed between an axial outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component, the protective insert comprising a non-carbon-fibre material that acts to absorb and/or deflect and/or dissipate energy from a load or impact applied axially and/or radially to the rimand:
- (ii) at least a portion of the first bead seat is spaced apart from the primary structural component;
- and
- the primary structural component and the bead seats are bound by a polymer matrix,
- wherein the rim comprises an outer layer also bound by the polymer matrix, wherein the outer layer forms at least part of at least one of:
- the bead seat and a covering on the protective insert.
A method for making a non-metallic rim for a wheel suitable for a motorised 4-wheeled vehicle or a motorised 2-wheeled vehicle, the method comprising:
- assembling a primary structural component with a first bead seat, a second bead seat and, optionally, a protective insert;
- and
- binding the primary structural component, bead seats and, if present, a protective insert together in a polymer matrix to form a rim comprising a barrel, a first flange and a second flange, each flange extending radially outward from opposing edges of the barrel, wherein the first bead seat and the second bead seat are each arranged axially inwardly, respectively, of the first and second flanges;
- wherein the primary structural component extends through at least the first flange and the barrel, and being capable of bearing a majority of at least one load borne by the rim during normal usage selected from the group consisting of:
- radial load, lateral load, and combinations thereof;
- and at least one of:
- (i) the protective insert is disposed between an axial outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component, the protective insert comprising a non-carbon-fibre material that acts to absorb and/or deflect and/or dissipate energy from a load or impact applied axially and/or radially to the rim;
- and
- (ii) at least a portion of the first bead seat is spaced apart from the primary structural component,
- wherein the rim comprises an outer layer also bound by the polymer matrix, wherein the outer layer forms at least part of at least one of:
- the bead seat and a covering on the protective insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.