Patent classifications
B60B9/02
WHEEL WITH SUSPENSION SYSTEM
A wheel with a suspension system being connectable to a vehicle, like a wheel chair. The wheel includes a hub and a rim rotatable about the axle of the hub. Between the hub and the rim, a number of support members is located. The support members are adapted to retain the distance when stressed up to a threshold value and recoverly alter the distanced when stressed over this threshold value. Exemplary support members are spring elements, damping strokes by compression if the support member is compressed or elongated. The spring elements may be preloaded.
Non-pneumatic tire
A connecting member (15) includes connecting plates (21, 22) configured to connect an attachment body and a ring-shaped body (13), a plurality of curved sections (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) curved in a tire circumferential direction are formed at the connecting plates (21, 22) in a direction in which the connecting plates (21, 22) extend in a side view of a tire when seen from a tire width direction, and in the plurality of curved sections (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) of one of the connecting plates (21, 22), the thickness of a maximum curved section having largest central angles (d to j) about a center of curvature of the curved section (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) is maximized, and the thickness of a minimum curved section having the smallest central angles (d to j) is minimized.
Wheel assembly including gas springs with associated integral hydraulic dampers and related methods
A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs with associated integral hydraulic dampers coupled between the inner and outer rims to provide a suspension for relative movement between the inner and outer rims. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may include a first cylinder body and a second cylinder body slidable therein, and a first seal defining first and second gas chambers within the first cylinder body. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may also include a shaft extending within the first cylinder body and into the second cylinder body defining a hydraulic fluid chamber, and an enlarged orifice body coupled to the shaft defining a hydraulic damper with the second cylinder body.
Wheel assembly including gas springs with associated integral hydraulic dampers and related methods
A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs with associated integral hydraulic dampers coupled between the inner and outer rims to provide a suspension for relative movement between the inner and outer rims. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may include a first cylinder body and a second cylinder body slidable therein, and a first seal defining first and second gas chambers within the first cylinder body. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may also include a shaft extending within the first cylinder body and into the second cylinder body defining a hydraulic fluid chamber, and an enlarged orifice body coupled to the shaft defining a hydraulic damper with the second cylinder body.
Wheel assembly including hollow piston shaft orifice and related methods
A wheel assembly for a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. Each of the gas springs may include a gas cylinder body, and a gas piston including a hollow piston shaft and an enlarged piston head coupled thereto. The enlarged piston head may be slideably moveable within the gas cylinder body and define first and second gas cylinder chambers on opposing first and second sides of the enlarged piston head. The enlarged piston head may have an orifice therethrough permitting gas flow between the first gas cylinder chamber and the hollow piston shaft.
Wheel assembly including hollow piston shaft orifice and related methods
A wheel assembly for a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. Each of the gas springs may include a gas cylinder body, and a gas piston including a hollow piston shaft and an enlarged piston head coupled thereto. The enlarged piston head may be slideably moveable within the gas cylinder body and define first and second gas cylinder chambers on opposing first and second sides of the enlarged piston head. The enlarged piston head may have an orifice therethrough permitting gas flow between the first gas cylinder chamber and the hollow piston shaft.