EP1569807A1

EP1569807A1 - Bicycle wheel

Info

Publication number: EP1569807A1
Application number: EP03813319A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Armando Levi Silva
Original assignee: Metal Rgicas do Eixo SA
Current assignee: Metal Rgicas do Eixo SA
Priority date: 2002-12-13
Filing date: 2003-12-12
Publication date: 2005-09-07
Also published as: AU2003303056A1; WO2004054818A1; PT102883B; PT102883A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheel for a bicycle or other similar vehicles, which comprises a rim connected to a hub (2) by means of a set of spokes (1) that converge in pairs on two flanges (4, 5), one on either side of the hub (2), connected coaxially to said hub, characterised in that in each of the consecutive pairs of spokes (1), the first one is connected to the flange on the left-hand side (4), the second to the flange on the right-hand side (5), the third to the flange on the right-hand side (5) and the fourth to the flange on the left-hand side (4), this arrangement making it possible to balance the tension that in each pair of spokes is exerted between the rim (3) and the hub (2). It enables any type of rim with paired holes to be correctly balanced by means of the tightening of the spokes, thereby increasing the robustness of the wheel and reducing the effort required when functioning.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"BICYCLE WHEEL"

The present invention relates to a wheel for a bicycle or other similar vehicles, which comprises a rim connected to a hub by means of a set of spokes that converge in pairs on two flanges, one on either side of the hub. It is characterised in that in each of the consecutive pairs of spokes, the first one is connected to the flange on the left- hand side, the second to the flange on the right-hand side, the third to the flange on the right-hand side and the fourth to the flange on the left-hand side, this arrangement making it possible to balance the tension in each pair of spokes exerted between the rim and the hub.

Background to the invention

Traditionally, bicycle wheels have a rim that is connected to the hub by means of spokes . According to the conventional arrangement of the spokes, they are generally equidistant from each other.

Various bicycle wheels are known with different spoke arrangements. The main objective of some of them is to obtain the best balancing possible between the rim and the hub of the wheel .

Of the known documents, we would cite patent application WO 02/053395 and the patents FR 2 640 203 and US 478 394. Although they do not have as their fundamental objective the balancing of the wheels, they are nevertheless the patents that are most similar to this invention with regard to the connection of the spokes between the rims and the hubs of the wheels.

Document WO 02/053395 relates to a bicycle wheel, particularly for racing and mountain bicycles, comprising a rim that is coaxially connected to a hub by means of a set of spokes which converge on a pair of flanges that are coaxial to the hub, the flanges having coupling projections distributed in the peripheral zone of the flanges and containing tangential coupling holes, with one end of the spokes fitting into the holes and the other end connected to tips designed to couple with the rim.

Document FR 2 640 203 relates to a device for fixing spokes on to the hub of a bicycle wheel or wheel of similar vehicles, characterised in that the flanges, particularly of the hub, are arranged so that after each of the pairs of spokes are fixed, the spokes of a same pair are arranged in two diametrically opposite directions so as to exert on the hub two opposite tension forces the result of which is zero or substantially zero.

Patent US 478 394 relates to a bicycle wheel characterised by the combination of a hub with a set of independent projections forming part of the hub and projecting radially therefrom, each of the said projections having flat holes with spokes inserted in said holes and arranged tangentially to the hub, said spokes having at each of their inside ends heads that rest against the side wall of the projections, the outer ends of the spokes being fixed to the wheel rim, substantially as previously described. It is further characterised in that it includes a metal hub consisting of a central part B and of terminal flanges, two sets of independent projections distributed circumferentially on each flange, forming part of the respective flange and projecting radially therefrom, each of the projections being one of a set of projections arranged alternately on one side of the circumferential line of the sets of adjacent projections, each one of the projections having flat holes and spokes arranged tangentially to the hub, inserted in said holes and having at or near to their inside ends heads that rest against the side wall of the projections, substantially as previously described.

As mentioned above, the documents cited do not have as their fundamental objective a new arrangement for the spokes. In fact, all of the abovementioned documents claim the fixing of the spokes to hub flanges using special means fitted in the flanges themselves or elements that project therefrom at the ends of the spokes .

The only feature shared with the subject matter of this invention is the fact that the spokes are arranged in pairs, instead of the traditional solution according to which the spokes are not arranged in pairs .

The arrangements of the spokes in the prior art do not, however, facilitate the balancing of the wheels by means of the tightening of the spokes, nor do they guarantee greater robustness or reduced effort when functioning.

Summary of the invention

This invention relates essentially to a new bicycle wheel where the spokes are arranged in pairs between the rim and the hub, the spokes of each pair of spokes being fixed alternately, one to one of the flanges and the other to the flange on the other side of the hub.

This new arrangement intends to guarantee better balancing of the wheel, greater robustness and reduced effort when functioning. Brief description of the drawings

The description given hereunder refers to the drawings attached hereto, which represent non-restrictively the following:

- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the wheel of the invention;

Figure 2 represents a main elevation of the same wheel ;

- Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the wheel hub;

- Figure 4 represents a side elevation of the wheel hub;

- Figure 5 represents a main elevation of the wheel hub;

- Figure 6 represents a side elevation and cross-section along the line B of figure 5 of the wheel hub;

Figures 7 and 8 represent in schematic form the arrangement of the spokes of the document WO 02/053395 and the arrangement of the spokes of this invention respectively.

Detailed description of the invention

As can be seen from the drawings, the bicycle wheel consists of a rim 3 with 24 holes arranged in pairs and the corresponding 24 spokes 1. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, it is possible to apply the concept of this invention with any number of pairs of holes in the rim. The holes in the rim 3 must comply with certain requirements substantiated by the logical term a > b, a being the distance between the spokes of adjacent pairs and b the distance between adjacent spokes of the same pair b.

In turn, the hub 2 (figures 3 to 6) has a pair of flanges 4 and 5, one on each side of the hub, with holes (see figure 6) aligned in a circle between the two flanges.

The said spokes 1 converge in pairs on two flanges 4 and 5, one on each side of the hub 2, connected coaxially to the said hub. In each pair of consecutive spokes 1, the first one is connected to the flange on the left-hand side 4, the second to the flange on the right-hand side 5, the third to the flange on the right-hand side 5 and the fourth to the flange on the left-hand side.

This arrangement of the spokes makes it possible to balance the tension that in each pair of spokes is exerted between the rim 3 and the hub 2'.

In fact, since in a wheel with pairs of holes, we fixed in each pair of holes 6 of the rim 3 one spoke la coming from the left-hand flange 4 and another spoke lb coming from the right-hand flange 5, the balancing of the wheel will be more perfect than ever. As can be seen in figure 1, in a sequence of four holes 7, the origin of the spokes from the hub 2 to the rim 3 is: left-hand flange 9 - right-hand flange 10, right-hand flange 11 - left-hand flange 12.

This arrangement guarantees that ovalisation will always be less in a wheel with this spoke arrangement than with any other arrangement. Furthermore, the fact that each spoke crosses with spokes of adjacent pairs increases the robustness of the wheel.

The alternating arrangement of the spokes can be applied with any type of spokes and with any tightening heads, which should only be appropriate for the force that they will exert, and this arrangement can be applied to a front or a rear wheel . It should also be noted that this arrangement can be applied to any rim profile.

As can be seen in figures 7 and 8, the directions of the forces exerted by the spokes are different in the cases considered. Thus, it can be seen that if a spoke with the arrangement shown in figure 7 breaks, it will be very difficult to recalibrate the wheel manually, as the forces exerted by the spokes are not distributed symmetrically round the wheel. If we consider the first four holes of figures 7 and 8, it can be seen that in the case of figure 7 the first two spokes "pull" the rim to the right and the next two to the left . In the case of figure 8 and according to the invention, it can be seen that in each pair of holes there is one spoke "pulling" to the right and one spoke "pulling" to the left .

In order to calibrate a wheel according to the invention, it is simply necessary to adjust the two spokes of the pair of holes, since each of them is "pulling" in opposite directions. In the case of figure 7, both of the spokes "pull" to the same side, which means that the assembler/adjuster does not know which spoke is exerting the opposite traction.

The invention must be considered as being limited by the following claims.

Claims

1. Wheel for a bicycle or other similar vehicles comprising a rim connected to a hub (2) with an alignment of holes, by means of a set of spokes (1) that converge in pairs on two flanges (4, 5), one on either side of the hub (2), connected coaxially to said hub (2) , characterised in that in each of the consecutive pairs of spokes (1) , the first one is connected to the flange on the left-hand side (4) , the second to the flange on the right-hand side (5) , the third to the flange on the right-hand side (5) and the fourth to the flange on the left-hand side (4) , this arrangement making it possible to balance the tension that in each pair of spokes is exerted between the rim (3) and the hub (2) .

2. Wheel for a bicycle or other similar vehicles, according to claim 1, characterised in that the distance between the spokes of adjacent pairs a is necessarily greater than the distance between adjacent spokes of the same pair b.

3. Wheel for a bicycle or other similar vehicles, according to the previous claims, characterised in that the alternating arrangement of the spokes reduces the effort necessary for the wheel to function and increases its robustness .

4. Wheel for a bicycle or other similar vehicles, according to the previous claims, characterised in that the alternating arrangement of the spokes can be applied to any type of spokes with any tightening heads, which should only be appropriate for the force that they will exert.

5. Wheel for a bicycle or other similar vehicles, according to the previous claims, characterised in that the arrangement of the spokes can be applied to a front or a rear wheel or to any rim profile.