Non-pneumatic wheel assembly with removable hub
View Patent ↗A non-pneumatic wheel assembly is provided. More particularly, a non-pneumatic wheel assembly is provided having a removable hub i.e., a hub that may be separated from the remainder of the wheel assembly. The hub may be reused and other portions of the non-pneumatic wheel assembly replaced as needed. In addition, the hub may be constructed from a different material than used for other portions of the non-pneumatic wheel.
1. A non-pneumatic wheel assembly defining axial and radial directions, comprising:
an outer annular band providing a load bearing surface;
a plurality of web elements for supporting in tension a load applied to the wheel, said web elements extending axially across and radially inward from said outer annual band;
a plurality of intersections integrally formed by the joining of adjacent pairs of said plurality of web elements along their radially innermost portion;
a hub centrally located within said outer annular band and removably connected to said plurality of web elements;
a plurality of cylinders of unitary construction oriented longitudinally along the axial direction, each cylinder formed integrally with a radially innermost portion of one of said plurality of intersections; and
a plurality of pins projecting along the axial direction from said hub, each of said pins removably received into said plurality of cylinders.
2. A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of pins each comprise a connecting end, and wherein the non-pneumatic wheel further comprises a retaining ring removably attached to the connecting ends of said plurality of pins.
3. A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as in claim 2 , wherein said plurality of web elements define a width along the axial direction, and wherein said plurality of pins extend axially across the entire width of said plurality of web elements.
4. A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as in claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of cylinders is slidable about a respective said pin.
5. A non-pneumatic wheel assembly as in claim 1 , wherein said outer annular band further comprises a shear band.