VEHICLE WHEEL SPOKE CONNECTION

摘要

A vehicle wheel comprising a rim, a hub, and a plurality of spokes extending with a span portion between the rim hub. The rim and/or hub constitutes a bracing element. A connecting element is connected to the bracing element and includes an external surface, an internal cavity. A spoke has a longitudinal axis and an external spoke surface that that overlaps the internal cavity in an overlap region, and a pre-formed lateral spoke surface. The connecting element is crimped to create a crimped joinder with the spoke such that the connector surface is pressed and plastically deformed to displace the internal cavity toward the spoke surface in the overlap region to cause a lateral connector surface to laterally overlap the lateral spoke surface to create an overlie engagement and/or to increase a lateral overlap between a lateral connector surface and the lateral spoke surface in an overlie engagement. The overlie engagement supports spoke tensile load.

主权项

1. A vehicle wheel, comprising:
a peripheral wheel rim; a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange; a plurality of spokes extending between said rim and said hub with a first portion connected to said rim, a second portion opposed to said first portion and connected to said hub, and a span portion between said rim and said hub; a bracing element including at least a portion of one of said rim and hub; a connecting element connected to said bracing element; wherein at least one spoke of said plurality of spokes has a longitudinal axis, an external spoke surface, and a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said span portion; wherein said connecting element includes an external connector surface and an internal cavity with an internal connector surface adjacent said spoke; wherein said spoke overlaps said internal cavity along said longitudinal axis in an overlap region; wherein said spoke includes a pre-formed lateral spoke surface extending laterally outwardly relative to said longitudinal axis; wherein said connecting element is crimped to create a crimped joinder between said connecting element and said spoke, whereby at least a portion of said external connector surface is pressed to plastically deform said connecting element and to displace at least a portion of said internal connector surface in a direction laterally proximal to said external spoke surface in said overlap region such that at least one of (i) said displacement causes a laterally extending lateral connector surface of said connecting element to laterally overlap said lateral spoke surface to create an overlie engagement at an engagement interface therebetween and (ii) said displacement serves to increase a lateral overlap between a laterally extending lateral connector surface of said connecting element and said lateral spoke surface in an overlie engagement at an engagement interface therebetween; wherein said overlie engagement supports said tensile load at said engagement interface; wherein said spoke extends between said engagement interface and the opposing one of said first portion and said second portion thereof.