A road wheel for a vehicle includes a central portion and a rim portion. The central portion defines a wheel axis and is formed from a first material. The central portion includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from a lug member defined by the central portion. Each of the spokes is interconnected to a link disposed at a distal end of the spokes. The rim portion is formed from a second material and defines a tubular wall being coaxial with the wheel axis. The rim portion including an interlock configured to receive the link for interconnecting the central portion with the rim portion.

A non-pneumatic wheel having a thermoplastic wheel hub includes a center hub for attachment to a wheel bearing of a vehicle. The center hub has a central shaft aperture extending axially therethough and a plurality of lug apertures spaced radially from and circumferentially about the central shaft aperture. The thermoplastic wheel hub also includes a plurality of ribs extending radially outwardly from the center hub. The thermoplastic wheel hub further includes a cylindrical tire mount connected to the ribs and extending axially in substantially a cylinder for mounting a non-pneumatic tire thereon.

A thermoplastic wheel hub (10) includes a center hub (26) for attachment to a wheel bearing (20) of a vehicle. The center hub (26) has a central shaft aperture (28) extending axially therethough and a plurality of lug apertures (30) spaced radially from and circumferentially about the central shaft aperture (28). The thermoplastic wheel hub (10) also includes a plurality of ribs (40) extending radially outwardly from the center hub (26). The thermoplastic wheel hub (10) further includes a cylindrical tire mount (46) connected to the ribs and extending axially in substantially a plane for mounting a non-pneumatic tire (12) thereon.

Herein is described a non-metallic rim for a wheel, the rim comprising: a barrel having first and second flanges extending radially outward from opposing edges of the barrel, and the barrel comprising a first bead seat and a second bead seat arranged axially inwardly, respectively, of the first and second flanges, wherein a primary structural component extends at least through the first flange and the barrel, the primary structural component being capable of bearing the majority of the radial and/or lateral load that, in use, would be borne by the rim a protective insert is disposed between an outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component and/or at least a portion of the first bead seat is spaced apart from the primary structural component and the primary structural component, bead seat and, if present, the protective insert are bound by a polymer matrix.

A variable thickness rim structure made of carbon fiber composite includes an outer ply block, that is paved as an outer side of the rim structure; an upper ply block, that is paved as an upper part of an inner side of the rim structure; a lower ply block, that is paved as a lower part of the inner side of the rim structure; a filling ply block, that is paved among the outer ply block, the upper ply block, and the lower ply block, where a first end of the upper ply block and a first end of the lower ply block extend inwards to form an annular connecting flange; a second end of the upper ply block extends upwards and a second end of the lower ply block extends downwards to form a rim ring together with the outer ply block.

An adapter for a rolling assembly comprising a tire having two beads (B), a rim (J) with two rim seats (7), said adapter connecting one of the beads and the rim. The adapter has an axially inner end (10) comprising inner reinforcer element (16), and an axially outer end (15) comprising outer reinforcer element (15), respectively mounted on a rim seat (7). Body (11) connects said outer end (9) to said inner end (10). Main reinforcement connects said outer reinforcer (15), and said inner reinforcer (16), a substantially cylindrical adapter seat (18) receiving one of said beads (B), an adapter bearing face (21) substantially contained in a plane perpendicular to the rion otataxis. The reinforcer element (15) of the axially outer end (9) is entirely situated axially outside the bearing face (21), and in that the body (11) comprises, opposite the adapter seat (7), an annular seat reinforcer (19).

Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for producing complex components using a reinforced thermoplastic material. The complex components can include contoured or curved outer surfaces, and in some cases define a cavity. In certain examples, one or more thermoplastic materials are arranged to form a wheel component, such as that adapted to define a rim of the bicycle. Thermal bonding can be used to join multiple reinforced thermoplastic materials to one another in order to form a cavity of the wheel component or other complex shape. In certain examples, a portion of a tooling assembly can be pressurized to maintain a shape of the cavity during thermal bonding and cooling. This can remove the need for a sacrificial bladder or other structure that would maintain the shape of the cavity, allowing for a seamless final component, optionally absent indicia of bladder exit or other seams.

A two-piece wheel may have a first section and a second section. The wheel has areas of varying diameter across its width, and the first second and the second section are joined at the area of the wheel with the smallest diameter. The first section can be a spoke section with spokes extending from the central hub and the second section can be a barrel section.

A two-piece wheel may have a first section and a second section. The wheel has areas of varying diameter across its width, and the first second and the second section are joined at the area of the wheel with the smallest diameter. The first section can be a spoke section with spokes extending from the central hub and the second section can be a barrel section.