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US 9,180,732 B2Granted
Non-pneumatic wheel assembly with removable hub
AssigneesCompagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
InventorJames Endicott
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Abstract
A non-pneumatic wheel assembly is provided. More particularly, a non-pneumatic wheel assembly is provided having a removable hub i.e., a hub that may be separated from the remainder of the wheel assembly. The hub may be reused and other portions of the non-pneumatic wheel assembly replaced as needed. In addition, the hub may be constructed from a different material than used for other portions of the non-pneumatic wheel.
Claims5
A non-pneumatic wheel assembly defining axial and radial directions, comprising:
- an outer annular band providing a load bearing surface;
- a plurality of web elements for supporting in tension a load applied to the wheel, said web elements extending axially across and radially inward from said outer annual band;
- a plurality of intersections integrally formed by the joining of adjacent pairs of said plurality of web elements along their radially innermost portion;
- a hub centrally located within said outer annular band and removably connected to said plurality of web elements;
- a plurality of cylinders of unitary construction oriented longitudinally along the axial direction, each cylinder formed integrally with a radially innermost portion of one of said plurality of intersections;
- and
- a plurality of pins projecting along the axial direction from said hub, each of said pins removably received into said plurality of cylinders.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.