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 operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include a disk coupled to the inner rim and defining a closeable gap with adjacent interior portions of the outer rim to define a mechanical stop to limit relative movement of the inner rim and outer rim.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. Gas springs may be operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a sensor configured to sense the relative movement between the inner and outer rims.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. Gas springs may be operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a sensor configured to sense the relative movement between the inner and outer rims.

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 operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include an outer ring coupled to the outer rim and defining a closeable gap with adjacent interior portions of the inner rim to define a mechanical stop to limit relative movement of the inner rim and outer rim.

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 operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include an outer ring coupled to the outer rim and an inner ring coupled to the inner rim and defining a closeable gap with adjacent portions of the outer ring to define a mechanical stop to limit relative movement of the inner rim and outer rim.

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 operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include an outer ring coupled to the outer rim and an inner ring coupled to the inner rim and defining a closeable gap with adjacent portions of the outer ring to define a mechanical stop to limit relative movement of the inner rim and outer rim.

A wheel for vehicles, in particular with electric or hybrid propulsor, is provided that is apt to recover at least a part of the energy which is required in order to deform the tire of the wheel during its rotation and to transfer the energy, recovered in this manner, from the wheel to the vehicle on which the wheel is mounted, so that this energy, recovered, is used to generate the electrical energy intended to feed the devices installed on the vehicle, such as in particular the respective electric propulsor.

A wheel for vehicles, in particular with electric or hybrid propulsor, is provided that is apt to recover at least a part of the energy which is required in order to deform the tire of the wheel during its rotation and to transfer the energy, recovered in this manner, from the wheel to the vehicle on which the wheel is mounted, so that this energy, recovered, is used to generate the electrical energy intended to feed the devices installed on the vehicle, such as in particular the respective electric propulsor.

The invention is embodied in a tire having retractable studs. A driver can activate the studs for driving in icy and/or snowy conditions without manual replacement of all-weather tires to snow or studded tires as well as the installation of snow chains.

The invention can be incorporated in an airless tire vehicle's traction control system and anti-lock brake system (ABS), which the traction control system can activate the retractable studs to add traction on one or more wheels. In addition, this invention provides a better thermal dissipation for airless tires.

An expandable and retractable wheel assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a hub structure having a circular periphery and a rim expandable in circumference from a retracted circular position to one or more expanded circular positions. The rim engages and is supported by the circular periphery of the hub structure when in the retracted position. A plurality of linear actuators is attached to and supported by the hub structure. Each linear actuator includes a piston rod and a drive system for moving the piston rod from a retracted position to one or more extended positions, wherein a distal end of the piston rod engages and moves the rim when the piston rod is extended and also supports the rim in the one or more expanded rim positions.