Automobile wheel

Claim 2

In a wheel for automotive vehicles an improved spider assembly comprising a hub, an intermediate section extending radially from said hub, said intermediate section comprising an inner cellular reinforcing structure formed of thin metallic sheets arranged to define a plurality of thin-walled open cells sandwiched in an outer metallic skin, and an outer rim-supporting ring extending radially from said intermediate section.

Claim 3

The spider assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hub, said outer metallic skin, and said rim-supporting ring are formed in two annular sections having their axially innner faces bonded together, said thin-walled cells being sandwiched in said metallic skin and bonded thereto.

Claim 4

The spider assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intermediate section is bonded to said hub and has a plurality of radially extending spokes, the radially outer periphery of each of said spokes being bonded to the radially inner periphery of said ring.

Claim 5

The spider assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outer metallic skin of each of said spokes extends radially beyond the inner cellular material, and said ring is provided at its radially inner face with a plurality of inwardly extending lugs circumferentially positioned to coincide with said spokes, the outer metallic skin of each of said spokes fitting over one of said lugs and having its radially outer periphery bonded to the radially inner periphery of said ring adjacent said lug, the radially inner periphery of each of said lugs being bonded to the radially outer periphery of the inner cellular material of each of said spokes.

Claim 6

The spider assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rim-supporting ring has an axially extending bore and a radially inwardly extending bore intersecting said axially extending bore, and further comprising a valve in said axially extending bore whereby air may be forced through said valve and out of said radial bore to inflate a tire mounted on said wheel.

Claim 7

The spider assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cells of said reinforcing structure extend in a direction parallel to the axis of the spider assembly.

Claim 8

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising a first rim member, a second rim member axially spaced from said first rim member, each of said rim members terminatinG at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, a radially extending ring interposed between said flange portions, said ring having at its radially inner periphery axially extending flanges that seat on the radially inner edges of said flange portions, means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions, an intermediate section including a plurality of spokes, the radially outer periphery of each of said spokes being connected to the radially inner face of said ring, said intermediate section including an inner reinforcing structure formed of thin metallic sheets arranged to define a plurality of thin-walled open cells, and a central hub connected to said intermediate section for mounting said wheel.

Claim 9

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising a first rim member, a second rim member axially spaced from said first rim member, each of said rim members terminatinG at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, a radially extending ring interposed between said flange portions, said ring having at its radially inner periphery axially extending flanges that seat on the radially inner edges of said flange portions, means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions, an intermediate section including a plurality of spokes, the radially outer periphery of each of said spokes being connected to the radially inner face of said ring, said intermediate section including an inner reinforcing structure formed of thin metallic sheets arranged to define a plurality of thin-walled open cells, and a central hub connected to said intermediate section for mounting said wheel.

Claim 10

The wheel as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second rim section is wider than said first rim section.

Claim 11

The wheel as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a first passage through one of said flange portions, a second passage extending axially into said ring, said first passage and said second passage being substantially aligned, a third passage in said ring extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery of said ring and intersecting said second passage and a valve extending through said first passage and into said second passage, whereby air may be forced through said valve and out of said third passage to thereby inflate a tire seated on said first and second rim members.

Claim 12

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising a hub for mounting said wheel, an intermediate section bonded to said hub and extending radially therefrom, said intermediate section including a plurality of spokes, said intermediate section comprising an inner cellular filler of metallic material covered by an outer metallic skin, the outer metallic skin of each of said spokes extending radially beyond the inner cellular material of the spoke, an outer rim-supporting ring having at its radially inner periphery axially extending flanges and radially inwardly extending lugs, said lugs being circumferentially positioned to coincide with said spokes, the outer metallic skin of each of said spokes fitting over a circumferentially corresponding one of said lugs and having its radially outer periphery bonded to the radially inner periphery of said ring adjacent said lug, the radially inner periphery of said lugs being bonded to the radially outer periphery of the inner cellular material of said spokes, a first rim member, a second rim member, each of said rim members terminating at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, said flange portions abutting axially opposite sides of said ring and having their radially innner edges seated on said axially extending flanges of said ring, means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions, a first passage through one of said flange portions, a second passage extending axially into said ring, said first passage and said second passage being substantially aligned, a third passage in said ring extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery of said ring and intersecting said second passage, and a valve extending through said first passage and into said second passage whereby air may be forced through said valve and out of said third passage to inflate a tire seated on said first and second rim members.

Claim 13

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising a hub for mounting said wheel, an intermediate section bonded to said hub and extending radially therefrom, said intermediate section including a plurality of spokes, said intermediate section comprising an inner cellular filler of metallic material covered by an outer metallic skin, the outer metallic skin of each of said spokes extending radially beyond the inner cellular material of the spoke, an outer rim-supporting ring having at its radially inner periphery axially extending flanges and radially inwardly extending lugs, said lugs being circumferentially positioned to coincide with said spokes, the outer metallic skin of each of said spokes fitting over a circumferentially corresponding one of said lugs and having its radially outer periphery bonded to the radially inner periphery of said ring adjacent said lug, the radially inner periphery of said lugs being bonded to the radially outer periphery of the inner cellular material of said spokes, a first rim member, a second rim member, each of said rim members terminating at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, said flange portions abutting axially opposite sides of said ring and having their radially innner edges seated on said axially extending flanges of said ring, means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions, a first passage through one of said flange portions, a second passage extending axially into said ring, said first passage and said second passage being substantially aligned, a third passage in said ring extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery of said ring and intersecting said second passage, and a valve extending through said first passage and into said second passage whereby air may be forced through said valve and out of said third passage to inflate a tire seated on said first and second rim members.

Claim 14

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising first and second annular sections bonded together at their axially inner faces, each section including a hub portion, an intermediate portion extending radially from said hub portion and including a plurality of spoke portions, and a rim-supporting ring portion encircling the outer periphery of said spoke portions, said ring portion having at its radially inner peripHery a flange extending axially outwardly, an inner cellular filler of metallic material interposed between said annular sections in said intermediate portions and bonded to said intermediate portions, a first rim member and a second rim member, each of said rim members terminating at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, said flange portions abutting axially opposite sides of said ring and having their radially inner edges seated on said axially extending flanges of said ring, means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions, a first passage through one of said flange portions, a second passage extending axially into said ring, said first passage and second passage being substantially aligned, a third passage in said ring extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery of said ring and intersecting said second passage, and a valve extending through said first passage and into said second passage whereby air may be forced through said valve and out of said third passage to inflate a tire seated on said first and second rim members.

Claim 15

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising first and second annular sections bonded together at their axially inner faces, each section including a hub portion, an intermediate portion extending radially from said hub portion and including a plurality of spoke portions, and a rim-supporting ring portion encircling the outer periphery of said spoke portions, said ring portion having at its radially inner peripHery a flange extending axially outwardly, an inner cellular filler of metallic material interposed between said annular sections in said intermediate portions and bonded to said intermediate portions, a first rim member and a second rim member, each of said rim members terminating at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, said flange portions abutting axially opposite sides of said ring and having their radially inner edges seated on said axially extending flanges of said ring, means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions, a first passage through one of said flange portions, a second passage extending axially into said ring, said first passage and second passage being substantially aligned, a third passage in said ring extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery of said ring and intersecting said second passage, and a valve extending through said first passage and into said second passage whereby air may be forced through said valve and out of said third passage to inflate a tire seated on said first and second rim members.

Claim 16

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising first and second integral annular sections bonded together at their axially inner faces, each section including a hub portion, an intermediate portion extending radially from said hub portion and including a plurality of spoke portions, and a rim-supporting ring portion encircling the outer periphery of said spoke portions, said ring portion having at its radially inner periphery a flange extending axially outwardly, a first rim member and a second rim member, each of said rim members terminating at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, said flange portions abutting axially opposite sides of said ring and having their radially inner edges seated on said axially extending flanges of said ring, and means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions.

Claim 17

A wheel for automotive vehicles comprising first and second integral annular sections bonded together at their axially inner faces, each section including a hub portion, an intermediate portion extending radially from said hub portion and including a plurality of spoke portions, and a rim-supporting ring portion encircling the outer periphery of said spoke portions, said ring portion having at its radially inner periphery a flange extending axially outwardly, a first rim member and a second rim member, each of said rim members terminating at its axially outer periphery in a tire-retaining flange and having at its axially inner periphery a flange portion extending radially inwardly, said flange portions abutting axially opposite sides of said ring and having their radially inner edges seated on said axially extending flanges of said ring, and means for joining said ring to said flange portions at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on said flange portions.