A wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and a flexible tire. The rigid wheel includes a radially outer rim wall, a plurality of mounting elements, and a plurality of inflatable spacers between the mounting elements. The flexible tire may be mounted on the mounting elements of the rigid wheel such that portions of the flexible tire between the mounting elements are separated from the outer rim wall by spaces between the mounting elements and are configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure. The inflatable spacers limit the amount of inward flex of the inwardly flexible portions of the flexible tire.

A wheel assembly including a rigid wheel having a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

A wheel assembly including a rigid wheel having a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

A wheel assembly is disclosed, the wheel assembly including a rigid wheel including a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

A tire rim structure including an annular inner ring (2) provided on the inner ring of a tire body (1) and a circular outer ring (3) provided on the outside of the tire body (1), fixedly connected to the annular inner ring (2), and formed by stamping. The annular inner ring (2) includes an annular inner ring body (21) formed by extrusion, an annular left ring (22) provided at one side of the annular inner ring body (21) and formed by extrusion, and an annular right ring (23) provided at the other side of the annular inner ring body (21), connected to the circular outer ring (3), and formed by extrusion. A shaft hole (31) is provided at the middle part of the circular outer ring (3). By breaking down a tire rim into the annular inner ring body (21), the left ring (22), the right ring (23), and the outer ring (3) connected to the right ring, each of the components composing the tire rim can be processed and formed via extrusion or stamping processes, this provides increased consistency compared with an existing tire rim that is integrally processed and formed via a casting process, thus allowing for increased structural strength and simplified manufacturing process.

Vehicle rim for mounting of a tire, comprising: an axially central part (20) comprising a disc; two lateral parts (31, 32), at least one of the lateral parts being separate from the axially central part, each of the lateral parts having a rim seat to receive a bead of a tire, the axially central part and the two lateral parts being made from a rigid matrix; an intermediate part (41, 42) that forms the only mechanical link between the axially central part and each lateral part that is separate from the axially central part, this intermediate part being made of a flexible matrix, the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the flexible matrix being greater than and equal to 50 MPa and less than or equal to 400 MPa; wherein the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the rigid matrix is greater than or equal to 5 GPa.

Vehicle rim for the mounting of a tire, comprising: an axially central part (20) comprising a disc; two lateral parts (31, 32), at least one of the lateral parts being separate from the axially central part, each of the lateral parts having a rim seat receiving a bead of a tire, the axially central part and the two lateral parts being made from a rigid matrix reinforced by a plurality of reinforcement elements; an intermediate part (41, 42) linking the axially central part and each lateral part separate therefrom, this intermediate part being made of a flexible matrix reinforced by a reinforcement, wherein 1 MPa the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the flexible matrix 100 MPa, the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the reinforcement elements is 5 GPa; wherein the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the rigid matrix is 5 GPa.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The outer rim may include outer rim segments each hingeably coupled in end-to-end relation to an adjacent outer rim segment to define the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner and outer rims, and tread members each carried by a respective one of outer rim segments.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The outer rim may include outer rim segments each hingeably coupled in end-to-end relation to an adjacent outer rim segment to define the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner and outer rims, and tread members each carried by a respective one of outer rim segments.

This disclosure relates to an adjustable width wheel rim, or more particularly, an assemblable, adjustable-width rim for mounting tires on motor vehicles. The adjustable width wheel rim may include a central tubular drum with two lateral sections delimited by a central section with two annular stop edges. Each lateral section is configured to axially receive a double-walled C-shaped insert up to a stop. Each insert includes a thread on the outer wall and a thread on the inner wall, allowing it to be screwed onto double-walled C-shaped tire mounting rings with a closed-end, defining an outer wall with an internal thread and an inner wall with an internal thread. These tire mounting rings and inserts include axial through-holes at their closed ends, designed to axially receive bolts that penetrate through axial holes in the annular edge of the central tubular drum to secure the entire assembly.