A method for manufacturing a vehicle wheel includes: a casting process of manufacturing the wheel in a one-piece body having a forming end and a temporary flange protruding at inner and outer sides of the wheel, respectively, wherein the one-piece body further includes a resonance chamber forming groove; a primary shape machining process of forming a stepped part at an outer circumferential side of the resonance chamber forming groove; a flow forming process of bending the forming end to be seated on the stepped part; a friction stir welding process of integrally bonding a portion where the forming end and the stepped part are in close contact with each other; a fine machining process of removing the temporary flange;

and a sound-absorbing hole machining process of forming a sound-absorbing hole for communicating between the resonance chamber and an interior space of a tire in the forming end.

An aluminum alloy wheel for a vehicle is provided, which includes: a wheel central portion, a rim portion, and a plurality of radial elements, wherein the aluminum alloy wheel is processed by centrifugal casting and forging to form a central portion with a morphology exhibiting a grain size variation with decreasing gradient in a lateral direction from an inner side of the wheel central portion to an outer side thereof.

A method and a plant for the production of a rim for a wheel of a vehicle. At first and by means of an additive manufacturing process, a temporary rim is manufactured, which is provided with a central hub, with a raw ring arranged around the central hub and with a series of spokes, which are radially arranged and connect the raw ring to the central hub; subsequently, the temporary rim is subjected to a flow-forming process, which deforms the raw ring determining an axial lengthening thereof, which transforms the raw ring into a channel having the desired final shape.

A method and a plant for the production of a rim for a wheel of a vehicle. At first and by means of an additive manufacturing process, a temporary rim is manufactured, which is provided with a central hub, with a raw ring arranged around the central hub and with a series of spokes, which are radially arranged and connect the raw ring to the central hub; subsequently, the temporary rim is subjected to a flow-forming process, which deforms the raw ring determining an axial lengthening thereof, which transforms the raw ring into a channel having the desired final shape.

A rim for a wheel of a vehicle and having: a central hub; a peripheral ring, on which a tyre can be fitted; and a series of spokes, which are arranged radially and connect the peripheral ring to the central hub. Each spoke has three initial branches, which are distinct and separate from one another, originate from different portions of the central hub and, at a given distance from the central hub, join one another so as to form one single central branch, which ends in the peripheral ring.

A wheel assembly includes a wheel having an axle, and a constant force mechanism coupled to the wheel. The constant force mechanism includes a horizontal support, a horizontal carriage associated with the horizontal support, a vertical support oriented perpendicular with respect to the horizontal support, a vertical carriage associated with the vertical support, and a rigid arm that is pivotally coupled with the horizontal carriage, the vertical carriage, and the axle. The rigid arm is coupled with the vertical carriage at a point intermediate where the rigid arm is coupled with the horizontal carriage and the axle. The horizontal carriage is capable of being urged along the horizontal support, and the vertical carriage is capable of being urged along the vertical support.

A universal axle-hub assembly is provided for an off-road vehicle. The universal axle-hub assembly comprises a wheel hub that receives a constant velocity (CV) axle snout into an opening extending through an axle support of the wheel hub. An outboard-most portion of the opening is a splined portion that engages with similar splines disposed on an outboard-most portion of the CV axle snout. An inboard-most portion of the opening is a smooth portion that receives a smooth portion of the CV axle snout. The axle support extends through an entirety of the width of a bearing that supports the wheel hub, such that the bearing supports the smooth portion of the CV axle snout and substantially eliminates shear forces acting on the splined portion of the CV axle snout. A bearing carrier supports the bearing and may be fastened onto a trailing arm or a spindle of the off-road vehicle.

A universal axle-hub assembly is provided for an off-road vehicle. The universal axle-hub assembly comprises a wheel hub that receives a constant velocity (CV) axle snout into an opening extending through an axle support of the wheel hub. An outboard-most portion of the opening is a splined portion that engages with similar splines disposed on an outboard-most portion of the CV axle snout. An inboard-most portion of the opening is a smooth portion that receives a smooth portion of the CV axle snout. The axle support extends through an entirety of the width of a bearing that supports the wheel hub, such that the bearing supports the smooth portion of the CV axle snout and substantially eliminates shear forces acting on the splined portion of the CV axle snout. A bearing carrier supports the bearing and may be fastened onto a trailing arm or a spindle of the off-road vehicle.

A wheel for a vehicle comprises a rim to support a tire and a wheel disc connected to the rim and configured to engage an axle hub of a vehicle. The wheel disc comprises one or more spokes extending outwardly from a center section of the wheel disc to the rim, each spoke being formed by a substantially planar curbside spoke member and a substantially planar inside spoke member, The curbside and inside spoke members are oriented transversely to each other and to a portion of the center section lying between the curbside and inside spoke members to define a triangle. A plane of the triangle is substantially parallel to a center axis of symmetry of the disc.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.