A wheel assembly includes a mounting plate for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of elongate friction members for engaging a tire assembly, a plurality of first angular flanges extending radially outward and circumferentially in a first direction from the mounting plate, and a plurality of second angular flanges extending radially outward and circumferentially in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from the mounting plate. Each elongate friction member is disposed axially between one of the first angular flanges and one of the second angular flanges.

A wheel assembly includes a mounting plate for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of elongate friction members for engaging a tire assembly, a plurality of first angular flanges extending radially outward and circumferentially in a first direction from the mounting plate, and a plurality of second angular flanges extending radially outward and circumferentially in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from the mounting plate. Each elongate friction member is disposed axially between one of the first angular flanges and one of the second angular flanges.

An adapter, for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising a tyre (P) having two beads (B), and a rim (J), provides the connection between one of the beads (B) and the rim (J), the said rim having two rim seats (7), the said adapter having an axially inner end (10) intended to be mounted on the rim seat (7) and comprising an inner reinforcing element (16), the said reinforcing element (16) having a centre C.sub.2, an axially outer end (9) comprising an outer reinforcing element (15), the said reinforcing element (15) having a centre C.sub.1, a body (11) that connects the said outer end (9) to the said inner end (10) so as to form a single piece and comprises at least one main reinforcement that provides the connection between the said outer reinforcer and the said inner reinforcer, and comprises a first end (17A) and a second end (17B), a substantially cylindrical adapter seat (18) intended to receive one of the said beads (B), the said seat (18) being situated at the axially outer end (9) of the said body (11), an adapter bearing face (21) substantially contained in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the said bearing face being situated on the axially inner face of the axially outer end (9), and an overall length L and a length LT measured between the centres C.sub.1 and C.sub.2. The first end (17A) and the second end (17B) of the reinforcement are arranged one upon the other so as to form an overlap.

An adapter, for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising a tyre (P) having two beads (B), and a rim (J), provides the connection between one of the beads (B) and the rim (J), the said rim having two rim seats (7), the said adapter having an axially inner end (10) intended to be mounted on the rim seat (7) and comprising an inner reinforcing element (16), the said reinforcing element (16) having a centre C.sub.2, an axially outer end (9) comprising an outer reinforcing element (15), the said reinforcing element (15) having a centre C.sub.1, a body (11) that connects the said outer end (9) to the said inner end (10) so as to form a single piece and comprises at least one main reinforcement that provides the connection between the said outer reinforcer and the said inner reinforcer, and comprises a first end (17A) and a second end (17B), a substantially cylindrical adapter seat (18) intended to receive one of the said beads (B), the said seat (18) being situated at the axially outer end (9) of the said body (11), an adapter bearing face (21) substantially contained in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the said bearing face being situated on the axially inner face of the axially outer end (9), and an overall length L and a length LT measured between the centres C.sub.1 and C.sub.2. The first end (17A) and the second end (17B) of the reinforcement are arranged one upon the other so as to form an overlap.

A wheel construction including a rim, the rim including: an inner flange (16) and an outer flange (18), a central well (20) positioned between the flanges, a pair of bead seats (22, 24), one being positioned adjacent each flange, each bead seat being connected to the respective flange by a flange connection portion, and being connected to one of a pair of side parts (30, 32), each connected to the central well by a well connecting portion (34, 36), wherein at least one of the side parts includes a convex portion (40, 42) including a convex surface that extends radially beyond the axially inner end of the bead and a curved portion (50, 52), and wherein at least one of the inner flange and the outer flange includes an extended portion (17, 19) which extends radially inwardly to a free end.

A wheel assembly includes a rim having a primary tire bead retention ridge; a plurality of secondary bead retention members; and a plurality of sealing members. The plurality of secondary bead retention members are removably coupleable to receptacles of the rim such that a portion of each secondary bead retention member extends into a pressurized portion of the wheel, is positioned behind a tire bead seat, and extends radially beyond the primary tire bead retention ridge.

A spoke wheel includes a rim for supporting a tire having rim guards, a hub located radially inwardly with respect to the rim, and a plurality of spokes integrally connected with the rim and the hub at outer and inner ends, respectively, and extending radially with respect to the hub; a laterally outer surface of the outer end of each spoke and a laterally outer peripheral edge of the rim are located laterally inwardly with respect to a tip of a laterally outer rim guard; outer ends of main spokes among the spokes are provided with convex portions projecting laterally outwardly and extending in the radial direction, and a lateral position of a laterally outer tip of each convex portion lies in the range between a lateral position of the laterally outer peripheral edge of the rim and a lateral position of the tip of the laterally outer rim guard.

A flexible adapter (1) for a rolling assembly, said rolling assembly comprising a tyre (2) having two beads (21), a rim (3) and two adapters (1) each intended to ensure the joint between one of the beads (21) and the rim (3), said rim (3) having two rim seats (31) each extended axially outwards by a rim flange (32), the rim seat having a diameter D3, the adapter comprising an axially outer end (11) and a body (12) oriented substantially axially and disposed between said axially outer end (11) and said axially inner end (10), said body (12) having a radially outer face (121) and a radially inner face (122), having the intersection between the shoulder (111) of the axially outer end (11) of the adapter (1) and the substantially tapered face of said adapter seat (13) forming a circle of diameter D1, said adapter seat (13) having a substantially tapered face of angle α, in which the difference “d” between the diameters D1 and D3, d=D1−D3, lies between 25.9 mm and 30.4 mm and the angle α is greater than 0.5°.

A flexible adapter (1) for a rolling assembly, said rolling assembly comprising a tyre (2) having two beads (21), a rim (3) and two adapters (1) each intended to ensure the joint between one of the beads (21) and the rim (3), said rim (3) having two rim seats (31) each extended axially outwards by a rim flange (32), the rim seat having a diameter D3, the adapter comprising an axially outer end (11) and a body (12) oriented substantially axially and disposed between said axially outer end (11) and said axially inner end (10), said body (12) having a radially outer face (121) and a radially inner face (122), having the intersection between the shoulder (111) of the axially outer end (11) of the adapter (1) and the substantially tapered face of said adapter seat (13) forming a circle of diameter D1, said adapter seat (13) having a substantially tapered face of angle α, in which the difference “d” between the diameters D1 and D3, d=D1−D3, lies between 25.9 mm and 30.4 mm and the angle α is greater than 0.5°.

A wheel includes a rim having inner and outer flanges. A first end of each flange is positioned axially outwardly relative to the second end. A pair of bead seats are positioned one adjacent each flange, and each has an axially outer end connected to a second end of its flange by a flange connecting portion, and an axially inner end connected to one of a pair of side parts. Each side part is positioned between a central well and one of the inner and outer flanges, and connected to the well by a well connecting portion. The outer end of each bead seat is positioned radially outwardly relative to bead seat inner end. At least one of the flanges includes an extended portion which extends radially inwardly, such that a free end of the extended portion is positioned radially inwardly relative to the first end of the respective flange.