A drive wheel for a motor vehicle may include at least one sleeve-type wheel rim and an external-rotor motor that includes a rotor. The sleeve-type wheel rim may be connected directly and in a torque-coupled manner to the rotor using a releasable connection.

A transient heating burner including at least two burner elements each including a distribution nozzle configured to flow a first fluid and an annular nozzle surrounding the distribution nozzle and configured to flow a second fluid, the burner also including a controller programmed to independently control the flow of the first fluid to each distribution nozzle such that at least one of the distribution nozzles is active and at least one of the distribution nozzles is passive, wherein flow in an active distribution nozzle is greater than an average flow to the distribution nozzles and flow in a passive distribution nozzle is less than the average flow to the distribution nozzles, wherein the first fluid contains a reactant that is one of fuel and oxidant and the second fluid contains a reactant that is the other of fuel and oxidant.

The present invention provides a bicycle rim assembly adapted to be coupled to a hub to create a bicycle wheel. The rim assembly includes a rim and a cover coupled to the rim. The rim defines a central plane and comprises an annular inner wall and an annular outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a cavity. The rim further includes annular projections spaced laterally relative to the central plane and extending substantially radially outwardly from the outer annular wall. The cover includes sidewalls disposed on lateral sides of the rim adjacent the projections, each sidewall including a lateral inner portion having a lateral thickness. The cover further includes an annular ring portion interconnecting the sidewalls, the annular ring portion including a radial thickness less than the lateral thickness of the lateral inner portion of the sidewalls. Preferably, the rim comprises a metallic material and the cover comprises a non-metallic material. For example, the rim can comprise aluminum or an epoxy matrix composite, and the cover can comprises a polymeric material, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. In addition, a radial thickness of the entire cover is preferably substantially less than a radial thickness of the entire rim.

In one embodiment, the projections include a laterally inwardly facing surface, a laterally outwardly facing surface, and a radially outwardly facing surface. In this embodiment, the cover engages at least a portion of each of the laterally inwardly facing surface, the laterally outwardly facing surface, and the radially outwardly facing surface. Preferably, each annular projection has a smoothly radiused radially outwardly facing surface, and each laterally outwardly facing surface that lies in a radial plane substantially parallel to the central plane.

A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls may extend radially inward of the radially outer tire-engaging portion. The rim includes a radially inner portion having at least one asymmetric protrusion.

A vehicle rim having outboard and inboard bead seats and an annular well flank connected to the outboard bead seat and extending radially inwardly and towards the inboard side of the rim. A transition portion is defined between the well flank and the inboard bead seat. The transition portion has a circumferential corrugated profile having a circumferentially concave-shaped outboard groove connected to the well flank at a first tangency point, and wherein the outboard groove defines the inner-most radial dimension of the rim. The transition portion further includes a circumferentially convex-shaped ridge directly connected to the outboard groove at a second tangency point, and a circumferentially concave-shaped inboard groove directly connected to the ridge at a third tangency point, and wherein the inboard groove is connected to the inboard bead seat at a fourth tangency point.

A vehicle rim including outboard and inboard bead seats and an annular well flank connected to the outboard bead seat and extending radially inwardly and towards the inboard side of the rim. A well base is connected to the well flank, wherein the well base defines a flat profile, and wherein the well base defines the inner-most radial dimension of the rim. A transition portion is defined between the well flank and the inboard bead seat. The transition portion has a circumferential corrugated profile having a circumferentially concave-shaped outboard groove connected to the well base at a first tangency point, a circumferentially convex-shaped ridge directly connected to the outboard groove at a second tangency point, and a circumferentially concave-shaped inboard groove directly connected to the ridge at a third tangency point. The inboard groove is connected to the inboard bead seat at a fourth tangency point.

The invention is directed to a vehicle wheel (1) comprising a fiber reinforced polymer rim (2) for receiving a tire at its radially outer side (3). The rim (2) comprises an outer rim flange (4), an outer rim seat (5), a frusto-conical plane (6) inclined at an angle a relative to the rotational axis (7) of the wheel of between 1 and 90 Q, an inner rim seat (8) and an inner rim flange (9). A wheel hub (10) is connected to the rim (2) via a metal support element (11). The support element (11) is connected with the rim (2) through at least one connecting element (12) which extends through a radially elongated opening (13) in the frusto conical plane (6) of the rim (2) and is received in the support element (11). The support element (11) may alternatively be connected with the rim (2) through at least three connecting elements (12) which extend through radially elongated openings (13) in the support element (11).

A vehicle wheel having a rim part to which a tire is mounted and a vehicle body attachment part which is attached to a vehicle body, in which the rim part has, on an inner circumferential surface thereof, a plurality of fins each having a heat dissipation surface, and in which the fins are arranged periodically along a circumferential direction.

A wheel rim that includes a peripheral structure for receiving a tire, and a central structure for coupling with a hub of the vehicle. The peripheral structure includes, for each side of the wheel rim, a peripheral flange, a connecting wall on which the bead of the tire rests, and a connecting part. The peripheral structure includes a central well. The connecting part includes a first curved region which joins the central well, and a second curved region between the first curved region and the connecting wall. The second curved region has a convex profile from the side of the wheel rim with the tire, and includes a first curved surface joined to the connecting wall with a first radius of curvature, and a second curved surface between the first curved surface and the first curved region, with a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature.

A bicycle includes a frame, a seat, and at least one wheel rim. The rim includes a main body, and a first flange and a second flange extending from the main body for supporting a tire. A ratio of a first flange width to a flange spacing is at least 0.14. A ratio of an inner corner radius to the first flange width is preferably at most 0.5. A ratio of the first flange width to a first flange height is at least 0.75. The main body includes a cavity having a radial projection that is spaced from a radial projection of the first flange projection by a gap that is at least 10% of the first flange width. The main body further includes a nose section and a first sidewall connecting the nose section to the first flange, wherein the first sidewall includes a first concave outer surface.