A bicycle rim is made with a plurality of layered, each of which is formed of structural fibres incorporated in a polymeric material. The rim has a radially outer peripheral channel with an upper bridge extending between the wings for holding a tyre. The peripheral channel comprises an inner layered structure, extending between wings and at least one wrapping layered structure, wound on the inner layered structure at least at the end of the wings, the inner layered structure and the wrapping layered structure being included in the plurality of layered structures.

Disclosed are an explosion-proof tire hub, including a hub body and an explosion-proof convex retainer. The hub body includes bent portions configured to mount a vacuum tire, the hub body is provided with a central axis, the explosion-proof convex retainer is fixed on the hub body, the distance between an upper end of the explosion-proof convex retainer and the central axis is L1, the distance between an upper end of the bent portion and the central axis is L2, and L1 is greater than L2. In case of burst or instantaneous pressure loss, because the distance L1 between the upper end of the explosion-proof convex retainer and the central axis is greater than the distance L2 between the upper end of the bent portion and the central axis, the explosion-proof convex retainer reduces the distance between the whole hub and the ground during tire burst and improves safety performance.

An adapter for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation (YY′), the rolling assembly comprising a tyre having two beads, and a rim having two rim bead seats, for each bead, provides the connection between the bead and the rim, the said adapter comprising an axially inner end connected to the rim, an axially outer end comprising an outer reinforcing element and intended to come into contact, via a substantially radial axially inner face, or bearing face, with a bead, a body connecting the axially outer end to the axially inner end so as to form a single piece, comprising at least one main reinforcement providing the connection between the outer reinforcing element and the inner reinforcing element, and comprising a substantially axial adapter seat intended to come into contact with a bead. The outer reinforcing element is completely axially on the outside of the bearing face, and the outer reinforcing element is a substantially annular structure, referred to as a bead wire, of polygonal section, comprising an individual metal wire of diameter D1, the said wire being coated in an elastomer composition and wound contiguously around a support at least three times in an axial direction and at least twice in a radial direction.

An adapter for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation (YY′), the rolling assembly comprising a tyre having two beads, and a rim having two rim bead seats, for each bead, provides the connection between the bead and the rim, the said adapter comprising an axially inner end connected to the rim, an axially outer end comprising an outer reinforcing element and intended to come into contact, via a substantially radial axially inner face, or bearing face, with a bead, a body connecting the axially outer end to the axially inner end so as to form a single piece, comprising at least one main reinforcement providing the connection between the outer reinforcing element and the inner reinforcing element, and comprising a substantially axial adapter seat intended to come into contact with a bead. The outer reinforcing element is completely axially on the outside of the bearing face, and the outer reinforcing element is a substantially annular structure, referred to as a bead wire, of polygonal section, comprising an individual metal wire of diameter D1, the said wire being coated in an elastomer composition and wound contiguously around a support at least three times in an axial direction and at least twice in a radial direction.

An adjustable portal box assembly for selectively mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in either of two positions. The assembly includes a mounting plate mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and a portal box is mountable to the mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for an input shaft, and an output opening for an output shaft. The portal box is mountable to the mounting plate in a first position in which the output shaft is positioned to extend the wheelbase relative to the input shaft, or in a second position in which the output shaft is positioned in vertical alignment with the input shaft.

A bicycle rim assembly includes a rim defining a central plane and comprising annular inner and outer walls. The outer wall includes first and second bead seats separated by a center well. First and second annular projections are spaced laterally from each other relative to the central plane and extend substantially radially outwardly from the outer wall. Each of the annular projections includes a radially outer face and a laterally inner face. Right and left covers are spaced from each other and are preferably coupled to the rim to cover at least a portion of the laterally inner face and the radially outer face of the first and second annular projections, respectively, and also the first and second bead seats, respectively. One or both of the right and left covers can be fiber reinforced. First and second pieces of tape can be overlapped and used to secure the covers to the rim.

A bicycle rim assembly includes a rim defining a central plane and comprising annular inner and outer walls. The outer wall includes first and second bead seats separated by a center well. First and second annular projections are spaced laterally from each other relative to the central plane and extend substantially radially outwardly from the outer wall. Each of the annular projections includes a radially outer face and a laterally inner face. Right and left covers are spaced from each other and are preferably coupled to the rim to cover at least a portion of the laterally inner face and the radially outer face of the first and second annular projections, respectively, and also the first and second bead seats, respectively. One or both of the right and left covers can be fiber reinforced. First and second pieces of tape can be overlapped and used to secure the covers to the rim.

A preform for fabricating a wheel rim and a method of making a preform is provided. The preform includes a main section and at least one secondary section, each section being formed from composite materials, such as triaxially braided composite material that includes fibers oriented in at least three directions. The main section forms at least part of a lateral section of the preform and the secondary section forms at least part of a radial portion of the preform, the radial portion of the preform being generally perpendicular to the lateral section of the preform. The preform is fabricated from a plurality of composite layers, at least some being custom composite layers having a plurality of axial fibers interwoven intermittently with substantially consistent first and second sets of biased fibers. In some embodiments, the preform is initially fabricated in an intermediate configuration prior to being moved to a final configuration.

Assembly of a rim (3) and of a flexible adapter (1), intended to make up, with a tire (2), a rolling assembly, the rim (3) having a mounting well (33) that is extended axially by a boss (34), a substantially frustoconical rim seat (31) and a rim flange (32) that extends the rim seat (31) axially on the outside, with a bearing face of substantially radial orientation, the adapter having an axially inner end (10) intended to rest on the rim seat (31), an axially outer end (11) and a substantially cylindrical body (12) that connects the axially inner end (10) and the axially outer end (11) and is intended to receive, in cooperation with the axially outer end, a tire bead (21), characterized in that the substantially frustoconical rim seat (31) of said rim has an inclination (α) relative to the axis of rotation DD′ of between −2 and +6 degrees, said angle (α) being counted as positive when the virtual vertex S of said substantially frustoconical seat is situated axially on the outside.

Assembly of a rim (3) and of a flexible adapter (1), intended to make up, with a tire (2), a rolling assembly, the rim (3) having a mounting well (33) that is extended axially by a boss (34), a substantially frustoconical rim seat (31) and a rim flange (32) that extends the rim seat (31) axially on the outside, with a bearing face of substantially radial orientation, the adapter having an axially inner end (10) intended to rest on the rim seat (31), an axially outer end (11) and a substantially cylindrical body (12) that connects the axially inner end (10) and the axially outer end (11) and is intended to receive, in cooperation with the axially outer end, a tire bead (21), characterized in that the substantially frustoconical rim seat (31) of said rim has an inclination (α) relative to the axis of rotation DD′ of between −2 and +6 degrees, said angle (α) being counted as positive when the virtual vertex S of said substantially frustoconical seat is situated axially on the outside.