A process for manufacturing a light-alloy hybrid wheel, implements the following separate operation phases: making a flange with an internal profile capable of constituting a tire bead seat; making a rim with, on one side, an outer profile capable of constituting a tire bead seat and, on the other side, a circular flank for assembly with a part of the flange; and assembling the flange with the rim, at the seat of said flange and the circular flank of the rim. The rim is made according to the following consecutive operations: an operation of manufacturing a circular flank; then an operation of expanding said circular flank to the size of the final rim in a single step; then an operation of cold or hot flospinning of said circular flank so as to obtain the rim in the final shape and profile thereof, comprising a shoulder only on the side that will not be welded to the flange.

The present disclosure provides a process for manufacturing a light-alloy hybrid wheel comprising the following separate operation phases: obtaining a front flange with an internal profile including a tire bead seat; obtaining a rim with an annular profile including a tire bead seat at a first end and a circular flank for assembly with a part of the flange at a second end; and assembling the flange and the rim to form a wheel. The annular profiles of the flange and the rim form exterior and interior sides of the wheel. Assembling the flange and the rim comprises welding the flank of the rim and the flange together by a single friction stir weld using a pin such that the weld is exposed at the exterior and interior sides of the wheel.

Presented are hybrid metal and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wheels for vehicle wheel assemblies, methods for making/using such wheels, and motor vehicles equipped with such wheels. A wheel for a motor vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel face with multiple spokes that are circumferentially spaced about and project radially outward from a central hub. The central hub rotatably attaches to the vehicle's body, e.g., via a corner module. The wheel face is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from an FRP material. A wheel barrel, which circumscribes the wheel face, includes an annular rim that mounts thereon an inflatable tire. The wheel barrel is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from a metallic material. Multiple overmold through holes and/or inset tabs are circumferentially spaced about the annular rim. The FRP material extends through and/or surrounds the overmold through holes/inset tabs and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel.

Presented are hybrid metal and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wheels for vehicle wheel assemblies, methods for making/using such wheels, and motor vehicles equipped with such wheels. A wheel for a motor vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel face with multiple spokes that are circumferentially spaced about and project radially outward from a central hub. The central hub rotatably attaches to the vehicle's body, e.g., via a corner module. The wheel face is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from an FRP material. A wheel barrel, which circumscribes the wheel face, includes an annular rim that mounts thereon an inflatable tire. The wheel barrel is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from a metallic material. Multiple overmold through holes and/or inset tabs are circumferentially spaced about the annular rim. The FRP material extends through and/or surrounds the overmold through holes/inset tabs and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel.

A wheel disc includes a hub located centrally within the wheel disc and defining a wheel axis. The wheel disc further includes an outer circumferential edge and a transition portion radially extending between the hub and the outer circumferential edge. The transition portion has a front surface and a rear surface such that the front surface has a relatively smooth profile and the rear surface has a plurality of concentric ring-shaped curvatures formed therein, thereby providing the transition portion with a variable thickness between the front and rear surfaces.

A lightweight wheel is provided, which includes a flange, a plurality of titanium alloy spokes and a carbon fiber rim, herein the flange is positioned at a middle part of the carbon fiber rim, the plurality of titanium alloy spokes are connected between the flange and the carbon fiber rim, and the plurality of titanium alloy spokes are uniformly distributed in pairs along the circumference; and one end of each of the titanium alloy spokes combined in pairs is fixed on the flange in a centralized mode, and another end is fixed separately at the carbon fiber rim, making the titanium alloy spokes combined in pairs a fan shape. An automobile is also provided.

A wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a face portion and a rim portion. The face portion is formed from an alloy and defines a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly between a central portion and a proximal bead element. The rim portion is formed of a composite material that defines an annular wall extending between the proximal bead element and a distal bead element. The face portion defines a mating member that is disposed in mating engagement with a rim seat defined by the rim portion. The mating member and the rim seat define a receptor for receiving a pin with said pin including shear resistors oriented to counteract shear forces F between said face portion and the rim portion.

A process for manufacturing a light-alloy hybrid wheel, implements the following separate operation phases: making a flange with an internal profile capable of constituting a tire bead seat; making a rim with, on one side, an outer profile capable of constituting a tire bead seat and, on the other side, a circular flank for assembly with a part of the flange; and assembling the flange with the rim, at the seat of said flange and the circular flank of the rim. The rim is made according to the following consecutive operations: an operation of manufacturing a circular flank; then an operation of expanding said circular flank to the size of the final rim in a single step; then an operation of cold or hot flospinning of said circular flank so as to obtain the rim in the final shape and profile thereof, comprising a shoulder only on the side that will not be welded to the flange.

A lightweight wheel is provided, which includes a flange, a plurality of titanium alloy spokes and a carbon fiber rim, herein the flange is positioned at a middle part of the carbon fiber rim, the plurality of titanium alloy spokes are connected between the flange and the carbon fiber rim, and the plurality of titanium alloy spokes are uniformly distributed in pairs along the circumference; and one end of each of the titanium alloy spokes combined in pairs is fixed on the flange in a centralized mode, and another end is fixed separately at the carbon fiber rim, making the titanium alloy spokes combined in pairs a fan shape. An automobile is also provided.

An articulated shaft includes a hollow shaft and a joint formed by a first outer ring element and a first inner ring element in the interior of the first outer ring element which joint is configured to transmit a torque from the hollow shaft to an axle connected to the inner ring element. The outer ring element is formed one-piece with the hollow shaft and/or the inner ring element is formed one-piece with the axle.