A vehicle wheel includes two annular rim members, at least one annular flange member disposed between the two rim members, a securing member that secures relative positional relationship between adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, a plurality of body springs that each connects adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, and a plurality of linking springs linked to the plurality of body springs so as to restrict relative displacement between the plurality of body springs. At least part of each body spring in a width direction of the vehicle wheel protrudes further to an outer side in a radial direction of the vehicle wheel than the rim members and the flange member, and the plurality of body springs is provided at intervals over an entire circumferential direction of the vehicle wheel.

A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension. The tire can comprise a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and a web having a plurality of web elements. The tire can further comprise a layer or layers fabric material acting as a bonding agent to bond tire components together.

A locomotion assembly is provided, suitable to be used in a vehicle. The locomotion assembly comprises a frustum-conical structure comprising at least one flexible member having a frustum-conical surface extending between its relatively narrow and wide ends along a frustum-conical axis, the frustum-conical member being reversibly deformable from its biased rounded shape corresponding to a frustum-conical shape in which its side elevation is circular into a deformed frustum-conical shape in which its side elevation is non-circular. The frustum-conical structure may serve for supporting at least one surface-engaging member convertible between a round wheel-like configuration, in which its side elevation is substantially circular, and a deformed configuration, in which its side elevation is non-circular and in which a larger portion of the surface-engaging member is in contact with a movement surface.

A locomotion assembly is provided, suitable to be used in a vehicle. The locomotion assembly comprises a frustum-conical structure comprising at least one flexible member having a frustum-conical surface extending between its relatively narrow and wide ends along a frustum-conical axis, the frustum-conical member being reversibly deformable from its biased rounded shape corresponding to a frustum-conical shape in which its side elevation is circular into a deformed frustum-conical shape in which its side elevation is non-circular. The frustum-conical structure may serve for supporting at least one surface-engaging member convertible between a round wheel-like configuration, in which its side elevation is substantially circular, and a deformed configuration, in which its side elevation is non-circular and in which a larger portion of the surface-engaging member is in contact with a movement surface.

A non-pneumatic tire is disclosed where a resilient wheel is mounted on a rim and the wheel has an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of flexible webs interconnected between the inner and outer rings. The flexible webs define openings in through the resilient wheel. The stiffness of the inner wheel at a position adjacent to the inner face is different than the stiffness of the inner wheel at a position adjacent to the outer face. This stiffness difference can be accomplished by providing inflated membranes in at least some of the openings or by molding the wheel with an asymmetric parting line. In addition, the wheels could be dynamically controlled by providing magnetically actuable membranes in some of the openings.

A non-pneumatic tire is disclosed where a resilient wheel is mounted on a rim and the wheel has an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of flexible webs interconnected between the inner and outer rings. The flexible webs define openings in through the resilient wheel. The stiffness of the inner wheel at a position adjacent to the inner face is different than the stiffness of the inner wheel at a position adjacent to the outer face. This stiffness difference can be accomplished by providing inflated membranes in at least some of the openings or by molding the wheel with an asymmetric parting line. In addition, the wheels could be dynamically controlled by providing magnetically actuable membranes in some of the openings.

A roller device includes a shaft, a bushing, a roller shell, a retainer, and a seal. The roller shell is fitted over the outer circumference of the bushing. The retainer is fixed detachably to an end of the bushing, and fitted in an end of the roller shell on a radially outer side. The seal is disposed on the outer circumference of the shaft so as to seal a gap between the shaft and the bushing. The seal includes a first seal member attached to the bushing and a second seal member attached to the shaft. The first seal member is rotatable relative to the second seal member. The second seal member has an outer circumferential end disposed on an inner side with respect to an inner circumferential end of the retainer.

A threaded connection body (20) is welded to the outer surface of the wall (10) of a pipe, seachest or other flooded cavity (4) within the hull of a ship or floating off-shore installation. A sealed cutting apparatus (50) is mounted via a valve unit (30) on the connection body and a cutter extended through the open valve (34) to form an opening (18) in the wall (10). After retracting the cutter and closing the valve (34), the cutting apparatus is replaced by a sealed inspection unit (70) having a camera (71) which is extended through the valve and the opening to inspect the cavity (4). After retracting the camera and closing the valve, the inspection unit is replaced by a plug deployment unit (100) which is used to advance a plug (120) through the open valve and screw it into the connection body (20). The valve unit (30) can then be removed and replaced with a cap (90) so that the plug and the cap provide a double seal to the connection body.

A threaded connection body (20) is welded to the outer surface of the wall (10) of a pipe, seachest or other flooded cavity (4) within the hull of a ship or floating off-shore installation. A sealed cutting apparatus (50) is mounted via a valve unit (30) on the connection body and a cutter extended through the open valve (34) to form an opening (18) in the wall (10). After retracting the cutter and closing the valve (34), the cutting apparatus is replaced by a sealed inspection unit (70) having a camera (71) which is extended through the valve and the opening to inspect the cavity (4). After retracting the camera and closing the valve, the inspection unit is replaced by a plug deployment unit (100) which is used to advance a plug (120) through the open valve and screw it into the connection body (20). The valve unit (30) can then be removed and replaced with a cap (90) so that the plug and the cap provide a double seal to the connection body.

Disclosed herein is a deformable wheel with non-pneumatic load bearing intended to equip a vehicle for driving in extreme conditions such as those encountered on the Moon and on Mars, comprising a hub, a laminated strip comprising a plurality of ferrules assembled with the interposition of interposition layers, and a plurality of metal cables connecting the hub to the laminated strip, the laminated strip being covered with at least one thermal insulation coating made of at least one material having a thermal conductivity of less than 0.2 Wm.sup.1K.sup.1, and the wheel further comprising means for heating the interposition layers of the laminated strip.