Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel – Tension wheel; e.g. – spoke
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-08
2001-05-29
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
Tension wheel; e.g., spoke
C301S057000, C301S059000, C301S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238008
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to wheels, and more specifically relates to spoke systems for wheels.
2. Background Art
A typical wheel, such as a bicycle wheel, includes a rim, a hub, and a spoke system for keeping the rim stationary relative to the hub. Spoke systems have traditionally been of two main types: compression spoke systems, and tension spoke systems. Some spoke systems use both compression and tension. Compression spoke systems and systems that combine compression or tension and shear typically require weightier spokes than tension spoke systems to prevent buckling of the spokes. Accordingly, tension spoke systems are common because they allow for thinner, and thus lighter, spokes. Such systems have typically used metal rods, such as steel rods, for spokes. Such rods do not have extremely high tensile strengths for their weight, but they are easily connected at their ends to the rim and the hub.
Some have tried to use composites in spoke systems. Some such systems have lacked sufficient durability for effective use in vehicles because the connections to the rim and the hub are not sufficiently durable or strong. Other systems, because of these problems, have included composites in systems that combine compression or tension and shear. Such systems require larger, and thus heavier spokes to prevent buckling.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Accordingly, a need exists for a tension spoke system and a wheel using the same that have sufficient durability and that are lightweight. The present invention provides such a system and wheel.
According to the present invention, a spoke system includes at least three rim pivots, at least three hub pivots, and plural shafts each extending along a substantially linear path between a rim pivot and a corresponding hub pivot, each path being substantially aligned with the center of a rim pivot and a hub pivot. Each shaft includes an integral rim end forming a loop around a rim pivot and an integral hub end forming a loop around a hub pivot. The present invention also includes a tensioning system for tensioning the shafts.
The path of each shaft may be substantially aligned with the center of a rim pivot and a hub pivot so that a tension along the shaft will not produce a moment about the rim pivot or the hub pivot. Because tension in a shaft will not produce such a moment, the shaft will not be subjected to significant bending or shear stresses. Accordingly, the durability and strength of each shaft is increased. This is especially true if the spokes are composite spokes that are strong and durable in tension.
The tensioning system may include plural tensioning mechanisms. Each tensioning mechanism may include a clevis with a base attached to the hub and two arms extending from the base, a reaction pin extending between the two arms, a hub attachment pin extending through a central portion of a vertex, a pusher pad engaging the hub attachment pin, and a tension adjusting screw engaging the reaction pin and biasing the pusher pad so as to bias the hub attachment pin and the vertex, thereby tensioning the continuous spoke. Each tensioning mechanism may be located near the hub so that the polar moment of inertia of the wheel is minimized.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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Forsythe Paul D.
Hoon Douglas M.
Bellinger Jason R.
Morano S. Joseph
Schmeiser Olsen & Watts
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