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US 6,041,838 AGranted

Hydraulic or pneumatic wheel for a light-weight vehicle and method of using same

OwnerSabah Naser Al-Sabahinventor

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Abstract

A wheel for a light-weight vehicle and associated methods are provided wherein the wheel has a relatively light-weight, has structural strength, and provides shock absorbing capabilities. A wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention preferably includes an annular-shaped wheel rim adapted to have a tire mounted thereto and an annular-shaped wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from the wheel rim and adapted to be rotatably mounted to a frame of a light-weight vehicle. A non-circular shaped hub plate member has a medial portion thereof connected to the wheel hub and has other portions extending outwardly therefrom toward the wheel rim. The other portions include a plurality of plate member tips each formed along a radial axis extending outwardly from the wheel hub toward the wheel rim. A plurality of spokes is positioned in a spaced-apart relation to each other. Each of the plurality of spokes has a first end connected to the wheel rim and a second end connected to one of the plurality of plate member tips of the hub plate member in an offset position from the respective radial axis thereof. Each of the plurality of spokes includes a pressurized cylinder. The pressurized cylinder preferably has a housing, a piston movable within the housing, and a piston rod connected to the piston and extending outwardly therefrom.

Claims36

Dependent claims

Claim 1A wheel for a light-weight vehicle · 186 words4 dependent Claim 6A wheel for a light-weight vehicle · 275 words2 dependent Claim 9A wheel for a light-weight vehicle · 185 words5 dependent Claim 15A wheel for a light-weight vehicle · 249 words3 dependent Claim 19A wheel for a light-weight vehicle · 172 words7 dependent Claim 27A wheel for a light-weight vehicle · 264 words5 dependent Claim 33A method of absorbing shock received by a wheel of a light-weight vehicle · 130 words2 dependent Claim 36A method of absorbing shock received by a wheel of a light-weight vehicle · 168 wordsNo dependents

A wheel for a light-weight vehicle, the wheel comprising:

an annular-shaped wheel rim adapted to have a tire mounted thereto;
an annular-shaped wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from said rim and adapted to be rotatably mounted to a frame of a light-weight vehicle;
a hub plate member having a substantially triangular configuration, having a medial portion thereof connected to said wheel hub, and having other portions extending outwardly therefrom toward said wheel rim, said other portions including a plurality of plate member tips each formed along a radial axis extending outwardly from said wheel hub;
and
a plurality of spokes positioned in a spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said plurality of spokes having a first end connected to said rim and a second end connected to one of the plurality of plate member tips of said hub plate member in an offset position from the respective radial axis thereof, each of said plurality of spokes comprising a pressurized cylinder, said pressurized cylinder including a housing, a piston movable within said housing, and a piston rod connected to said piston and extending outwardly therefrom.

2 more elements

A wheel for a light-weight vehicle, the wheel comprising:

an annular-shaped wheel rim adapted to have a tire mounted thereto;
an annular-shaped wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from said rim and adapted to be rotatably mounted to a frame of a light-weight vehicle;
a substantially triangular shaped hub plate member having a medial portion thereof connected to said wheel hub and having other portions extending outwardly therefrom toward said wheel rim, said other portions including a plurality of plate member tips each formed along a radial axis extending outwardly from said wheel hub, said hub plate member also having peripheral recessed portions extending between each of the plurality of plate member tips and being recessed from an axis also extending between the plurality of plate member tips and extending inwardly toward said wheel hub;
and
a plurality of spokes positioned in a spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said plurality of spokes having a first end connected to said rim and a second end connected to one of the plurality of plate member tips of said hub plate member in an offset position from the respective radial axis thereof, each of said plurality of spokes comprising a pressurized cylinder, said pressurized cylinder including a cylindrical housing, a piston movable within said cylindrical housing, and a piston rod connected to said piston and extending outwardly therefrom, a proximal end of the housing of each of the plurality of pressurized cylinders being connected to said wheel rim and a distal end of the piston rod of each of the plurality of pressurized cylinders being connected to the plate member tips of said hub plate member.

2 more elements

A wheel for a light-weight vehicle, the wheel comprising:

an annular-shaped wheel rim adapted to have a tire mounted thereto;
an annular-shaped wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from said rim and adapted to be rotatably mounted to a frame of a light-weight vehicle;
a substantially rectangular hub plate member having a medial portion thereof connected to said wheel hub and having other portions extending outwardly therefrom toward said wheel rim, said other portions including a plurality of plate member tips each formed along a radial axis extending outwardly from said wheel hub;
and
a plurality of spokes positioned in a spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said plurality of spokes having a first end connected to said rim and a second end connected to one of the plurality of plate member tips of said hub plate member in a coaxial alignment with the respective radial axis thereof, each of said plurality of spokes comprising a pressurized cylinder, said pressurized cylinder including a cylindrical housing, a piston movable within said cylindrical housing, and a piston rod connected to said piston and extending outwardly therefrom.

2 more elements

A wheel for a light-weight vehicle, the wheel comprising:

an annular-shaped wheel rim adapted to have a tire mounted thereto;
an annular-shaped wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from said rim and adapted to be rotatably mounted to a frame of a light-weight vehicle;
a non-circular shaped hub plate member having a medial portion thereof connected to said wheel hub and having other portions extending outwardly therefrom toward said wheel rim, said other portions including a plurality of plate member tips having truncated end portions and arcuate sides, each plate member tip formed along a radial axis extending outwardly from said wheel hub, said medial portion of said non-circular shaped hub plate member having a substantially circular shape, and said hub plate member further having a plurality of triangular-shaped openings each formed in said hub plate member between said circular-shaped medial portion and a respective one of said plurality of plate member tips to thereby enhance the aerodynamics thereof;
and
a plurality of spokes positioned in a spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said plurality of spokes having a first end connected to said rim and a second end connected to one of the plurality of plate member tips of said hub plate member in a coaxial alignment with the respective radial axis thereof, each of said plurality of spokes comprising a pressurized cylinder, said pressurized cylinder including a housing, a piston movable within said housing, and a piston rod connected to said piston and extending outwardly therefrom.

2 more elements

A wheel for a light-weight vehicle, the wheel comprising:

an annular-shaped wheel rim adapted to have a tire mounted thereto;
an annular-shaped wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from said rim and adapted to be rotatably mounted to a frame of a light-weight vehicle;
a hub plate member having a medial portion thereof connected to said wheel hub and having other portions extending outwardly therefrom toward said wheel rim;
a plurality of spokes positioned in a spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said plurality of spokes extending along a radial axis of the wheel and having a first end connected to said rim and a second end connected to said hub plate member, each of said plurality of spokes comprising a substantially flat spoke plate member;
and
a plurality of pressurized cylinders connected to and extending between said spoke plate members, each of said plurality of pressurized cylinders including a cylindrical housing, a piston movable within said cylindrical housing, and a piston rod connected to said piston and extending outwardly therefrom.

3 more elements

A wheel for a light-weight vehicle, the wheel comprising:

an annular-shaped wheel rim adapted to have a tire mounted thereto;
an annular-shaped wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from said rim and adapted to be rotatably mounted to a frame of a light-weight vehicle;
a circular-shaped hub plate member having a medial portion thereof connected to said wheel hub and having other portions extending outwardly therefrom toward said wheel rim, said circular-shaped hub plate member also having a predetermined plurality of openings extending therethrough;
a plurality of spokes positioned in a spaced-apart relation to each other, the number of said plurality of spokes respectively corresponding to the number of said plurality of opening in said hub plate member, each of said plurality of spokes extending along a radial axis of the wheel and having a first end connected to said rim and a second end connected to said hub plate member, each of said plurality of spokes comprising a substantially flat spoke plate member, each of said spoke plate members including a spoke plate base portion having a proximal end thereof connected to said wheel rim and a spoke plate extension portion having a proximal end integrally formed with a distal end of said spoke plate base portion and having a distal end connected to said hub plate member;
and
a plurality of pressurized cylinders connected to and extending between said spoke plate members, each of said plurality of pressurized cylinders including a cylindrical housing, a piston movable within said cylindrical housing, and a piston rod connected to said piston and extending outwardly therefrom.

3 more elements

A method of absorbing shock received by a wheel of a light-weight vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a wheel which includes a wheel rim, a wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart the rim, a substantially triangular hub plate member connected to the hub, and a plurality of spokes each connected to and extending between the rim and the hub plate member along a respective offset spoke axis, each of the plurality of spokes including a pressurized cylinder having at least a housing and a piston movable with the housing;
rotatably mounting the wheel to a frame of a light weight vehicle;
and
operably moving the piston of a pressurized cylinder connected to the hub plate member in an offset position so as to absorb shock received by the wheel rim.

1 more element

A method of absorbing shock received by a wheel of a light-weight vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a wheel which includes a wheel rim, a wheel hub positioned inwardly and spaced-apart from the rim, a substantially triangular hub plate member connected to the hub, said hub plate member further having a plurality of substantially semi-circular openings, a plurality of substantially triangular spoke plate members each connected to and extending between the rim and the hub plate member along a radial spoke axis and having a bulbous extension at a base thereof connected to the rim, and a corresponding plurality of pressurized cylinder each connected to and extending between a pair of the plurality of spokes and each having at least a housing and a piston movable with the housing;
rotatably mounting the wheel to a frame of a light weight vehicle;
and
operably moving the piston of a pressurized cylinder connected to one of the plurality of spokes so as to absorb shock received by the wheel rim.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/893,082Filed 15 Jul 1997
Granted: 28 Mar 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

B60B 9/28
Comprising resilient spokes: with telescopic action
B60B
Vehicle wheels

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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