Wheel Rim

Abstract

In a wheel rim including fiber reinforced composite material and preferably having lateral rim sidewalls that may include rings.

1 . A method for producing a wheel rim out of fiber reinforced composite, comprising:
 forming at least two rim pieces using a mold, each having an interior side, wherein the at least two rim pieces can be combined to form a rim body having a rim well, the rim well being formed by fiber reinforced composite material and comprising two lateral rim sidewalls, wherein the two lateral rim sidewalls are each formed by a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the two lateral rim sidewalls each include an annular ring located therein, wherein the annular rings comprises carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP);   positioning at least a portion of an annular ring in each of the at least two rim pieces along a circumference thereof proximate a portion of the at least two rim pieces that forms a lateral rim sidewall;   curing the at least two rim pieces;   removing the at least two rim pieces from the mold and connecting the at least two rim pieces along their interior sides which are each aligned generally parallel to a radial plane of the wheel rim.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming further comprises each of the two lateral rim sidewalls include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well which forms a rim flange adapted to extend generally toward a central radial plane of the rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring located generally circumferentially along the wheel rim and adapted to increase the strength and rigidity of the rim flange and thereby the wheel rim, the generally annular ring is configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of curing further comprises the two lateral sidewalls each include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the generally annular ring is enclosed by fiber reinforced composite material which also encloses the corresponding lateral rim sidewall, the generally annular ring and associated rim flange are configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein subsequent to the removal of the at least two rim pieces from the mold, cutouts are introduced onto the interior side of the at least two rim pieces, the cutouts are formed by means of material removal, whereby in the circumferential direction, several cutouts are introduced, each separated by a material partition wall. 
     
     
         5 . A method for producing a wheel rim, comprising:
 forming a wheel rim blank as a single piece in a mold, wherein the rim blank has a rim well, the rim well being formed by fiber reinforced composite material and comprising two lateral rim sidewalls, wherein the two lateral rim sidewalls are each formed by a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the two lateral rim sidewalls each include an annular ring located therein, wherein the annular rings comprises carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP);   allowing the wheel rim to cure; and   subsequent to the curing of the fiber material and the removal of the wheel rim blank out of the mold, an interior rim flange is formed by the removal of material from the wheel rim blank.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of forming further comprises each of the two lateral rim sidewalls include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well which forms a rim flange adapted to extend generally toward a central radial plane of the rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring located generally circumferentially along the wheel rim and adapted to increase the strength and rigidity of the rim flange and thereby the wheel rim, the generally annular ring is configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of curing further comprises the two lateral sidewalls each include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the generally annular ring is enclosed by fiber reinforced composite material which also encloses the corresponding lateral rim sidewall, the generally annular ring and associated rim flange are configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire. 
     
     
         8 . A method for producing a wheel rim, comprising:
 molding a wheel rim blank as a single piece in a multi-part negative mold with at least two mold core pieces provided in the area of the rim well and the rim sidewalls, wherein the wheel rim blank forms a rim body having a rim well, the rim well being formed by fiber reinforced composite material and comprising two lateral rim sidewalls, wherein the two lateral rim sidewalls are each formed by a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the two lateral rim sidewalls each include an annular ring located therein, wherein the annular rings comprises carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP);   subsequent to the curing of the fiber material and the removal of the wheel rim blank out of the multi-part negative mold, an interior rim flange is formed by the removal of material from the wheel rim blank.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of forming further comprises each of the two lateral rim sidewalls include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well which forms a rim flange adapted to extend generally toward a central radial plane of the rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring located generally circumferentially along the wheel rim and adapted to increase the strength and rigidity of the rim flange and thereby the wheel rim, the generally annular ring is configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of curing further comprises the two lateral sidewalls each include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the generally annular ring is enclosed by fiber reinforced composite material which also encloses the corresponding lateral rim sidewall, the generally annular ring and associated rim flange are configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a wheel rim, comprising:
 a wheel rim blank is molded as a single piece in a mold with a mold core piece provided in the area of a rim well and rim sidewalls, each mold core piece consists of two lateral partial cores for the molding of the rim sidewalls as rim flanges, as well as at least one central partial core mounted between the lateral partial cores, wherein the wheel rim blank forms a rim body having a rim well, the rim well being formed by fiber reinforced composite material and comprising two lateral rim sidewalls, wherein the two lateral rim sidewalls are each formed by a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the two lateral rim sidewalls each include an annular ring located therein, wherein the annular rings comprises carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP);   subsequent to the curing of the fiber materials the mold core pieces are removed by the removal of the central partial core followed by the removal of the lateral partial cores out of the form and the form is opened for the removal of the wheel rim.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein a bladder is incorporated in the fiber material in one of the area of the rim body of the wheel rim and in each of the rim pieces, the bladder being inflated for the formation of a cavity in the rim body prior to the curing of the fiber material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming further comprises each of the two lateral rim sidewalls include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well which forms a rim flange adapted to extend generally toward a central radial plane of the rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring located generally circumferentially along the wheel rim and adapted to increase the strength and rigidity of the rim flange and thereby the wheel rim, the generally annular ring is configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of curing further comprises the two lateral sidewalls each include an end configured to be distal from an associated rim well, the rim flange comprising a generally annular ring generally located circumferentially along the rim body, the generally annular ring is enclosed by fiber reinforced composite material which also encloses the corresponding lateral rim sidewall, the generally annular ring and associated rim flange are configured to create an undercut area between the rim flange and the rim sidewall adapted to engage a clincher tire.