Bicycle wheel and relative manufacturing process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9724959-B2
Application number	US-201313919490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2013
Priority date	Jun 15, 2012
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle disc wheel or spoked wheel ( 10 ) is disclosed, comprising a hub ( 12 ), a rim ( 14 ) and at least one disc or spoke-type structural element ( 60 ) integral with the hub ( 12 ) and the rim ( 14 ), wherein said at least one structural element ( 60 ) is pretensioned. A process for manufacturing thereof comprises the sequential steps of providing a hub ( 12 ) and a rim ( 14 ), applying a compression on the rim ( 14 ) towards the hub ( 12 ) elastically deforming it, rendering at least one disc or spoke-type structural element ( 60 ) integral with the hub ( 12 ) and the rim ( 14 ), and removing the compression onto the rim ( 14 ) applied in step a).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Process for manufacturing a bicycle disc wheel or spoked wheel, comprising the sequential steps of:
a) providing a hub and a rim,
b) applying a compression onto the rim towards the hub elastically deforming the rim,
c) rendering at least one disc or spoke-type structural element integral with the hub and the rim, and
d) removing the compression onto the rim applied in step b).

2. Process according to claim 1 , wherein
step b) comprises extending a plurality of tensioning elements between the hub and the rim and tensioning them, and
step d) comprises removing the tensioning elements.

3. Process according to claim 2 , wherein the tensioning elements comprise bicycle spokes.

4. Process according to claim 1 , wherein
step c) comprises inserting a pair of disc or spoke-type structural elements onto the hub from axially opposite ends, and gluing each disc or spoke-type structural elements to the hub and to the rim.

5. Process according to claim 4 , wherein
step b) comprises the step of simulating stress on the rim during the subsequent gluing step.

6. Process according to claim 4 , wherein
step b) comprises the step of simulating stress on the hub during the subsequent gluing step.

7. Process according to claim 4 , wherein
step b) comprises the step of simulating stress on the hub and the rim during the subsequent gluing step.

8. Process according to claim 1 , wherein
step c) comprises press gluing said at least one structural element while it is removably associated with a respective support applicator.

9. A bicycle wheel comprising:
a hub;
a rim; and,
at least one disc-type structural element rendered integral with the hub and the rim, wherein said at least one structural element is pretensioned.

10. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one structural element comprises a pair of disc structural elements, each rendered integral with the hub and the rim.

11. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the hub comprises a plurality of empty spoke attachment seats.

12. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the hub comprises a pair of flanges having facing faces, and a plurality of spoke attachment seats are hollowed out in the facing faces of the flanges.

13. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the hub comprises projecting lugs at the areas of contact with said at least one structural element.

14. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one structural element is made of composite material comprising fibre extending along a plurality of radial directions.

15. The wheel according to claim 9 ,
wherein said at least one structural element is made of composite material comprising fibre extending along a plurality of chord directions.

16. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the rim comprises a plurality of empty spoke attachment seats.

17. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the rim and the hub comprise a plurality of empty spoke attachment seats.

18. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the rim comprises projecting lugs at the areas of contact with said at least one structural element.

19. The wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the hub and the rim comprise projecting lugs at the areas of contact with said at least one structural element.

Assignees

• Campagnolo Srl

Inventors

• Meggiolan Mario

Classifications

• B60B1/043

  Attaching spokes to rim · CPC title

• B60B31/00

  Apparatus or tools for assembling or disassembling wheels · CPC title

• B60B2310/318

  by adhesive bonding, e.g. glueing · CPC title

• B60B1/042

  Attaching spokes to hub · CPC title

• B60B1/003 Primary

  specially adapted for bicycles (B60B1/041 takes precedence) · CPC title