Vehicle wheel spoke connection
US9815321B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/86
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle wheel including a rim, a hub, and a plurality of spokes extending with a span portion between the rim hub. The rim and/or hub constitutes a bracing element. A connecting element is connected to the bracing element and includes an external surface, an internal cavity. A spoke has a longitudinal axis and an external spoke surface that that overlaps the internal cavity in an overlap region, and a pre-formed lateral spoke surface. The connecting element is crimped to create a crimped joinder with the spoke such that the connector surface is pressed and plastically deformed to displace the internal cavity toward the spoke surface in the overlap region to cause a lateral connector surface to laterally overlap the lateral spoke surface to create an overlie engagement and/or to increase a lateral overlap between a lateral connector surface and the lateral spoke surface in an overlie engagement. The overlie engagement supports spoke tensile load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.