A nipple for spoked wheels includes a head and a rod which are coaxial and through which a through-hole extends, a manoeuvring key in the head and an insert of plastics material which is inserted in the hole in order to engage in a screwing manner with friction with a threaded end of a spoke. The hole comprises a threaded portion which extends in the rod and a portion with an increased diameter which constitutes the seat for receiving the insert, the insert being formed with a tubular sleeve inserted in the seat at the side of the head and being blocked there by means of interference or adhesive bonding.

A rear axle system keeps rear wheels turning on the same axis when they are fixedly attached to the axles. One embodiment of the present invention fixedly attaches an axle to each rear wheel. Each of the axles extend through a self aligning, pillow block bearing to almost the center of the vehicle. The bearings are mounted to the outer portion of the frame on each side and there is a tube that encases the two axles. The inner diameter of the tube is large enough to allow the two axles to turn with respect to each other but small enough to keep the two axles turning on the same axis. When the vehicle is traveling in a straight line, the tube is turning with the axles. When the vehicle is turning, there is little difference in speed and no requirement for bearings between the axles and the rigid tube.

A hybrid connection element, in particular a bearing outer element of a wheel bearing, includes a core part made of steel and a reinforcement part made of plastic. The reinforcement part at least partially encases the core part. The core part includes a hollow cylindrical bearing unit extending in an axial direction and a flange extending in a radial direction. The reinforcement part includes at least one reinforcement rib which transmits force between the bearing unit and the flange of the core part.

Low-friction sealing assembly for a vehicle wheel-hub unit inserted inside an annular interspace defined between a flanged rotating element and a stationary element, coaxial with each other, of the wheel-hub unit to protect at least one ring of revolving bodies arranged between the stationary element and the rotating element, and having a first annular screen and a second annular screen during use integral with the rotating element and with the stationary element; and an annular seal having lips that extend axially and radially projecting from the first screen towards the second screen inside an annular chamber defined by the first and second screens; the sealing assembly being a multi-stage sealing assembly provided with a first inner collecting stage designed to collect and expel some of the contaminants.

A sealing device for wheel hubs connected to constant-velocity joints including a first sealing assembly arranged between inner and outer rings of the wheel hub, and a second sealing assembly mounted on the inner ring and straddling the wheel hub and an outer ring of the constant-velocity joint. The first sealing assembly has a signal generating element having an annular insert mounted externally on a shield facing the constant-velocity joint and extending axially projecting above part of an annular step formed, on the same side as the constant-velocity joint, on a radially outer side surface of the inner ring, in a position immediately adjacent to the sleeve portion of the first shield. The second sealing assembly includes a tubular support keyed onto the inner ring by its first end on the outside edge folded in the manner of an L and shaped to engage inside the annular insert.

A method for providing motor vehicle wheels made of composite material based on carbon fiber includes the steps of, dividing each wheel into a plurality of portions having small dimensions; providing a a first portion with the terminal edges designed to mate with corresponding edges of a respective second portion; mating the portions, arranging them subsequently within a respective mold whose shape and dimensions are conjugate with respect to those of the wheel to be manufactured; and bringing the mold and its contents to a predefined temperature. The method further includes injecting into the mold a resin in the liquid state, the resin being injected at high pressure and high temperature, forming the matrix of the composite that constitutes the wheel; maintaining the pressure and temperature of the mold within predefined ranges for a time interval that is required for the at least partial cross-linking of the resin; and extracting the wheel from the mold.

A road wheel for a vehicle includes a face portion and a rim portion. The face portion is formed from a metallic alloy and defines a central portion plurality of spokes extending between the central portion and a proximal bead element. The rim portion is formed from a composite material and defines an annular wall circumscribing a wheel axis extending to a distal bead element from said face portion. The proximal bead element is defined by the metallic alloy and the distal bead element is defined by the composite. The face portion and the rim portion are interconnected in interlocking engagement.

A hub or wheel assembly includes a retaining element, biasing element, and hand-maneuverable release mechanism. The housing includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle and a pin sleeve including a first end in fluid communication with the axle bore, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end. The retaining element is within the conduit and is configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle. The biasing element is within the conduit and is configured to bias the retaining element towards the axle bore. The hand-maneuverable release mechanism is configured to displace the retaining element away from the axle bore.

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 rim for a bicycle includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion, a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall. A brake track is located on the first and second sidewalls including a plurality of grooves formed therein. Each of the plurality of grooves has a radially innermost point and a radially outermost point, wherein the radially outermost point is circumferentially aft of the radially innermost point relative to a forward circumferential travel direction of the rim.