A shaped preform component (200A) for a spoke portion (108A) of a composite wheel (100), the shaped preform (200A) comprising: an elongate body (215) configured to be located in a spoke (108) of a composite wheel (100), wherein the shaped preform component (200A) is formed from a cured composite fibre material having a compressibility of <2% volumetric under moulding conditions of 50 bar hydrostatic pressure and a temperature of 60 to 150 C., and wherein the density of the cured composite fibre material is selected to form a counterbalance mass for a mass addition (300) to the composite wheel (100).

The invention relates to a composite wheel (200) including a hub (202), a rim (204) and a connection structure (206) connecting the hub (202) to the rim (204). The hub (202) has front (208) and rear (209) faces and is formed with one or more mounting formations (216) for, in use, receiving a fastener to mount the hub (202) to a mounting surface of a vehicle. Each mounting formation (216) includes a fastening region (218) recessed into the front face (208) of the hub (202) and includes a fastener aperture (212) defining a passage between the fastening region (218) and the rear face (209) of the hub. Each mounting formation (216) also includes a front-to-fastener ply (224) extending between a front region of the hub and the fastening region (218) for, in use, transferring load between the front region of the hub (202) and the fastening region (218).

A non-metallic rim for a wheel which may be used for motorised vehicles. The rim has a barrel, a first flange, a second flange, a first bead seat, a second beat seat and a primary structural component. The primary structural component extends into at least the first flange and the barrel, and the primary structural component is capable of bearing the majority of the radial and/or lateral load that is borne by the rim during usage. Additionally, the rim has at least a portion of the first bead seat spaced apart from the primary structural component and/or has a protective insert in between the outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component.

A non-metallic rim for a wheel which may be used for motorised vehicles. The rim has a barrel, a first flange, a second flange, a first bead seat, a second beat seat and a primary structural component. The primary structural component extends into at least the first flange and the barrel, and the primary structural component is capable of bearing the majority of the radial and/or lateral load that is borne by the rim during usage. Additionally, the rim has at least a portion of the first bead seat spaced apart from the primary structural component and/or has a protective insert in between the outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component.

A shaped preform component (200A) for a spoke portion (108A) of a composite wheel (100), the shaped preform (200A) comprising: an elongate body (215) configured to be located in a spoke (108) of a composite wheel (100), wherein the shaped preform component (200A) is formed from a cured composite fibre material having a compressibility of <2% volumetric under moulding conditions of 50 bar hydrostatic pressure and a temperature of 60 to 150 C., and wherein the density of the cured composite fibre material is selected to form a counterbalance mass for a mass addition (300) to the composite wheel (100).

A vehicle wheel spoke connection, including: a rim; a hub; a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub with a first portion connected to the rim, a second portion opposed to said first portion and connected to the hub, a span portion between the rim and the hub, and an applied tensile load along the span portion; a bracing element including the rim and/or hub. The spoke has a longitudinal axis and is composed of reinforcement fibers in a matrix. The external surface of the spoke includes a pre-formed configured surface comprising a multiplicity of laterally outwardly projecting engagement surfaces that are longitudinally spaced. The spoke is connected to the bracing element by a longitudinal engagement comprising a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced overlie engagements associated with the spoke engagement surfaces. The longitudinal engagement supports the tensile load.

Disclosed are a composite rim of a vehicle wheel and a method of manufacturing the same, which is reduced in weight through the use of a continuous fiber composite. The rim of a vehicle wheel may be formed by stacking composite sheets, each prepared by impregnating fibers with a resin to form a sheet. The composite sheets may be stacked in multiple layers such that end portions of the respective composite sheets may contact each other in a circumferential direction of the wheel, and discontinuous interfaces, formed at the contacting end portions of the respective composite sheets along an axial direction of the wheel, may not be aligned with each other.

A wheel (1) includes a rim (2) and a wheel center (3) made from a fiber reinforced composite material. The wheel center (3) includes a tubular middle section (6) having a center opening (7) extending in the direction of a wheel axis (19) and having a first and a second end (8, 9). A hub (5) includes a first flange ring (10) and a second flange ring (11). At least one of the flange rings (10, 11) and the tubular middle section (6) are interconnected to each other by a form fit interconnection (12, 13).

A method for producing a product including a composite fiber part and a second part, wherein the second part includes a carrier part, wherein the carrier part is a replica of a press tool configured to be heated and to apply a pressure, the method including applying, in a non-cured state, the composite fiber part on the carrier part, arranging the carrier part including the composite fiber part on the press tool, curing the composite fiber part on the carrier part, and removing the product from the press tool, wherein after removal from the press tool the composite fiber part and the carrier part constitutes together at least a part of the finished product. Also disclosed is a composite fiber product including a composite fiber part and a second part.

The invention is directed to wheel (1) comprising a rim (2) and a wheel center (3). The wheel center (3) comprises and insert (10) which at least comprises a front pad (11) and a rear pad (12) which are a distance apart with respect to each other and which are at least partially embedded in a composite material (6).