Description:FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to classic wired spoked wheels having a steel flanged rim design.

A rim design for a wire-spoked wheel to receive an inflatable tubeless or tubed tire is provided with radially extending flange(s) from the centre of the rim protruding inwardly towards the hub. Spokes are assembled through and the spoke head located in axial holes arranged circumferentially around the flange. Each spoke being configured to bend adjacent to the flange connection inwardly towards the hub where the inner ends of the spokes, formed with an external thread, are each connected to an intermediate element inserted through and locating the hub. The flange form being designed to enable manufacture from sheet materials, particularly rolled from steel, with application of an annular member within the flange portion, used to control the flange thickness in addition to material bending and improve formability of the flange as well as strength and durability of the wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some of the prior art as known is detailed below :-

A1 - US9290042B2 - Spoke Wheel (DID angles hole through flange)

A spoke receiving hole extends through a flange formed on a rim so as to incline by a predetermined angle in a radial direction with respect to a line perpendicular to a wheel center plane. A head of a spoke seats on a seating surface provided on one side surface of the spoke receiving hole in contact at a region I on the side closer to a rim body, and a head straight portion of the spoke contacts with an edge portion K of an opening on the side distant from the rim body to which a hole portion directly opens on the side opposite from the seating surface of the spoke receiving hole.

A2 - US6425641B1 - Spoked cycle wheel (Easton bicycle flanged rim)

A multi-part lightweight easily extruded or molded wheel rim and wheel particularly for cycling with joined flanges which extend radially inwardly toward the center of the rim and wheel provides strength not found in conventional channel shaped rims. The radially extending flanges are provided with apertures for receiving bent ends of spokes for assembling the rim and a hub to form a wheel which receives an inflatable tubeless or tube tire which need not be dismounted from the rim when repairing or replacing spokes.

A3 - US9290042B2 - Spoke Wheel (for single sided swing arm)

A spoke receiving hole extends through a flange formed on a rim so as to incline by a predetermined angle in a radial direction with respect to a line perpendicular to a wheel center plane. A head of a spoke seats on a seating surface provided on one side surface of the spoke receiving hole in contact at a region I on the side closer to a rim body, and a head straight portion of the spoke contacts with an edge portion K of an opening on the side distant from the rim body to which a hole portion directly opens on the side opposite from the seating surface of the spoke receiving hole.

A4 - WO2019161957 - Spoked wheel for tubeless tyres (BMW alternative, not flanged rim)

A spoked wheel for tubeless tyres is provided, with a hub and a rim, wherein a rim inner side is provided with spoke holders, which protrude inwards in a manner distributed in the circumferential direction and each have a recess, and with a plurality of spokes which extend between the hub and the spoke holders, wherein inner ends of first spokes are connected to the hub in a region on the left of a hub centre plane and inner ends of second spokes are connected to the hub in a region on the right next to the hub centre plane. In addition, outer ends of the spokes are each connected to an intermediate element which is inserted in a form-fitting manner into the recess of an associated spoke holder, wherein the intermediate elements each have a receiving recess for receiving an outer end portion of a spoke. The intermediate elements furthermore each have a substantially T-shaped cross section.

A5 - JP4357637B2 - Spoke wheels for tubeless tires (spokes to rim outer ‘Adventure’ Style)

Hence inspite of spoke wheels with tubeless tires are known in abundance as each of these have certain suffering and not wholly advantageous for performance or maintenance.

The present invention relates to wheels, particularly wheels for motorcycles fitted with a tubeless tire, although the disclosure is also suitable to use with an inner tube and on other types of wheel application. More specifically the invention relates to the rim design suitable for manufacture from steel with a radial flange protruding toward the rim with apertures to anchor the head of spokes which are secured at the hub to construct the wheel.

A motorcycle wheel consists of a bearing carrying hub, where spokes connect the hub to the rim which provides a channel to mount a pneumatic tire. Cast or forged methods can be used to manufacture wheels with integrated spokes between the hub and rim, generally with this method the number of spokes is relatively low. Wire-spoked wheels have a significantly greater number of spokes which typically have a head formed on one end and an external tread formed on the other; further, nipples with internal threads are used to generate tension in the spokes between hub and rim. Different hub and rim designs use many alternate patterns of spoke arrangement and cater for spokes to be assembled with the thread and nipple portion either at the inner hub interface or at the outer rim attachment.

Traditionally rim designs had radial apertures in the well of the rim profile arranged around the circumference, often with dimple forms in the rim to cater for the attachment of spokes at an angle to the radial direction, with the nipple adjuster device located at the rim. These designs require initial assembly and spoke replacement to be carried out without a tire fitted to the rim and use an inner tube to inflate the tire or require rim sealing methods to realise the benefits of tubeless tires.

Wheel designs with closed rim profiles for tubeless tires are available which connect the spokes to; formed features in the rim, flange(s) or through the outer edge of the rim. These rims are generally manufactured from aluminium extrusions or forgings and as such are unsuitable for the economic requirements of a mass market cost sensitive product, particularly for regions with limited aluminium availability and processing capacity.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the invention is to provide a durable motorcycle rim that is suitable for tubeless inflatable tires without any secondary sealing devices, which is possible to manufacture using steel and can accept a high quality corrosion resistant surface protection.

 
PRIOR ART

One solution to the tubeless tyre problem on a steel wheel achieves a closed rim profile, without drilling for spoke attachment, by providing a flange protruding radially inward, see Fig. 1. This design is the subject of patent US 4266417A where it is formed from a continuous sheet material profile, and is also presented as a “Divided Rim for Miscellaneous Applications” in the European Tyre & Rim Technical Organisation - Standards Manual.

Figure 1-A - A rim design; wherein the rim profile has a central flange in protruding radially inward providing a closed rim profile to the outer (upper in image) tyre cavity portion.

Figure -1-B - Rim design presented in patent US 4266417A.

Figure -1-C - Rim design in the European Tyre & Rim Technical Organisation – Standards Manual.

DRAWINGS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 2-A - A wheel design according to the invention; wherein the rim and hub are connected with numerous spokes with the spoke head anchored through the flange.

Figure 2-B - A section through the spoke to flange interface of the proposed wheel design according to the invention.

Figure 3 - A rim design according to the invention; wherein the rim profile and flange is constructed from 1 continuous sheet with a annular disc between the flange portions

Figure 4 - A rim design according to the invention; wherein the rim profile and flange is constructed from 1 continuous sheet with a annular wire between the flange portions

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wire-spoked wheel solution to the previously described issues relating to the use of tubeless tires using a sheet metal derived rim with a closed inner profile to the tire cavity and an inward flange for spoke connection.

The disclosed motorcycle wheel design comprises a central hub and tire receiving rim connected with numerous wire-spokes. The proposed rim has radially extending flange(s) from its centre protruding inwardly towards the hub. The inner end of each spoke having an external threaded portion to connect with nipples which have internal threads located through holes in the hub, spoke tension and wheel from are generated by tightening the nipples. The spokes extend from the hub in a general radial direction to a circumference offset from the imaginary central plane of the wheel adjacent to the rim flange where the outer ends have a bend to protrude along the axial direction across the centre plane of the wheel. The spoke ends expand at an inclination angle to a head form of larger diameter and thus anchor through locating holes countersunk to one side and distributed around the circumference of the rim flange.

The disclosed rim constructed from sheet material is provided with a flange to get around the convention of piercing in the well of the rim profile, to provide a closed channel for the tire cavity. The flange is produced with adjacent portions of the rim material formed symmetrically about the centreline of the rim from the well of the rim profile protruding radially inwards. The rim profile maybe joined and sealed between the said flange portions by use of a circumferential weld.

The disclosure specifically relates to the introduction of an annular device used between the adjacent portions of the flange form. The annular device enables control of the minimum bend radius at the innermost region of the flange where the material is fully folded and can control the width across the flange faces. The annular device proposed can take the form of a disc extending in the radial direction between the flange portions and maybe continuous or segmented. Alternatively said device can be of wire construction, creating a bead at the innermost area of the flange.

Control of radius of curvature of the fold about the rim centre plane improves the manufacturing process to produce a continuous inner surface to the rim without splitting, tearing or other undesirable effects of sheet metal forming operations. Additionally, this provides a continuous surface of tangent form without sharp edges or gaps around the visible area of the rim to accept a durable corrosion protection coating and improve the ability to polish this region of the rim for an aesthetic finish. The annular device proposed between the 2 portions of the flange member further maintains separation of the flange faces and thus improves the strength and durability of the wheel. This provides capability to modify the stiffness of the flange and the interface depth for the spoke head form without increasing the thickness of material across the full rim profile. The annular device is introduced during the final forming stages of the rim profile before the flange faces are closed together. In the case of the disc form the outermost edge of the disc is welded as part of the closing and sealing operation between the two flange faces.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a process for producing an integral and unitary steel flanged wheel rim which is made of a single steel band, and passing said steel band longitudinally and successively through a series of shaping rolls and therein sequentially plastically deforming said steel band to form a longitudinal wheel rim blank having a cross-sectional configuration including a rim body, a pair of spaced and parallel hollow ears extending outwardly from a first side of said rim body at opposite lateral edges thereof, each said hollow ear including a laterally outer leg portion and a laterally inner leg portion, a pair of beads, each said bead extending laterally inwardly from a laterally inward portion of a respective said inner leg portion of a respective said hollow ear, a recess formed in said rim body laterally centrally thereof between laterally inner ends of said beads, said recess opening at said first side of said rim body and convexly extending from an opposite second side of said rim body, and a flange extending from said second side of said rim body at said convexly extending recess, said flange having a pair of leg portions, said process comprising providing an annular means inwardly into the recess formed in the said rim body, and it is characterized in the arrangement of insertion of annular means into the recess of rim body.

In another aspect, the invention is an integral and unitary steel flanged wheel rim, said flanged wheel rim has an annular means inserted into the recess of the said rim body, flanged wheel rim characterized in the arrangement of annular means insertion into the recess of rim body.

In another aspect, the annular device is an annular disc in the arrangement.

In another aspect the annular device is an annular wire in the arrangement.

In another aspect the integral and unitary steel flanged wheel rim, the annular device is an annular disc in the wheel.

In another aspect the said flanged wheel rim as claimed in claim 2, wherein annular device is an annular wire in the wheel.

Novel elements of the invention :

A rim design for wire-spoked wheels to receive an inflatable tubeless or tubed tire where an enclosed cavity is formed between the tire and the rim profile. Spoke connection is provided through radially extending flange(s) from the centre of the rim protruding inwardly towards the hub. The flange form being designed to enable manufacture from sheet materials, particularly rolled from steel but applicable to other materials and processes with an annular device between the flange faces.

A rim design wherein the annular device is a disc form with a rectangular cross section.

A rim design wherein the annular device is of wire form with a circular cross section.

A rim design wherein the annular ring has a rectangular cross section and is formed from multiple segment pieces.

A rim design wherein the outer edge of the annular ring is included in the circumferential welding around the centre of the wheel between the flange portions.

BENEFITS OF THE INVENTION

Enabling tubeless tire fitment offers its own benefits relating to puncture occurrence and management and provides greater choice with increased availability of tubeless products from tire manufacturers and distributors.

Existing designs are formed using aluminium extrusions or forgings. The use of rolled steel forms both increases the wheel's durability and reduces the economic impact of using tubeless wheels on a wheel design. Particularly in certain economic markets and regions.

The flanged design increases the stiffness of the wheel rim for improved durability and performance of both the wheel and tire. Existing flanged wheel designs are limited by the material thickness to form the width and radius of curvature at the innermost edge of the flange. The presented invention enables increased width of flange and increase of flange radius independently of the rim profile material thickness. This provides improved; material processing, strength and durability, and part finishing.

The invention has been described as detailed above but various embodiments and variations are possible beyond the preferred embodiments disclosed in this document. All such variations and modifications as obvious to the skilled person is within the scope of this invention.
, Claims:WE CLAIM :

1. A process for producing an integral and unitary steel flanged wheel rim which is made of a single steel band, and passing said steel band longitudinally and successively through a series of shaping rolls and therein sequentially plastically deforming said steel band to form a longitudinal wheel rim blank having a cross-sectional configuration including a rim body, a pair of spaced and parallel hollow ears extending outwardly from a first side of said rim body at opposite lateral edges thereof, each said hollow ear including a laterally outer leg portion and a laterally inner leg portion, a pair of beads, each said bead extending laterally inwardly from a laterally inward portion of a respective said inner leg portion of a respective said hollow ear, a recess formed in said rim body laterally centrally thereof between laterally inner ends of said beads, said recess opening at said first side of said rim body and convexly extending from an opposite second side of said rim body, and a flange extending from said second side of said rim body at said convexly extending recess, said flange having a pair of leg portions, said process comprising

providing an annular means inwardly into the recess formed in the said rim body,

characterized in the arrangement of insertion of annular means into the recess of rim body.

2. An integral and unitary steel flanged wheel rim, said flanged wheel rim has an annular means inserted into the recess of the said rim body, flanged wheel rim characterized in the arrangement of annular means insertion into the recess of rim body.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein annular device is an annular disc.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein annular device is an annular wire.

5. The integral and unitary steel flanged wheel rim, said flanged wheel rim as claimed in claim 2, wherein annular device is an annular disc.

6. The integral and unitary steel flanged wheel rim, said flanged wheel rim as claimed in claim 2, wherein annular device is an annular wire.