Cycle wheel and manufacturing method thereof
A cycle wheel having a rim adapted to receive a tire. The wheel is equipped with a fairing attached on the rim. The fairing is at least partially made from a material having a density less than 120 kg/m 3 and a compression set at 25% compression of less than 14%. The material can be an expanded polypropylene foam, for example.
1. A cycle wheel comprising:
a rim;
the rim having a structure designed to receive a tire;
a fairing affixed to the rim opposite the structure of the rim designed to receive the tire;
the fairing being at least partially made from a material having a density less than 120 kg/m 3 ; and
the material at least partially forming a fairing outer surface.
2. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the material at least partially forming the fairing has a compression set, at 25% compression, of less than 14%.
3. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the material has a modulus of elasticity greater than 5 MPa.
4. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the material has an elongation at breakage greater than 10%.
5. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the material has a tensile strength greater than 500 kPa.
6. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the material has a strength, at 25% compression, greater than 150 kPa.
7. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the material is an expanded polypropylene foam.
8. A cycle wheel according to claim 7 , wherein:
the polypropylene is of the polypropylene copolymer type.
9. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
with no mechanical stress, an outer surface of the fairing, engaged with a bridge of the rim in an assembled configuration, has a diameter greater than a diameter of the bridge.
10. A cycle wheel according to claim 9 , wherein:
the diameter of the outer surface of the fairing is about 1.0 mm greater than the diameter of the bridge.
11. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fairing is comprised of two portions assembled to one another, at least partially made from a material having a density less than 120 kg/m 3 and a compression set, at 25% compression, of less than 14%.
12. A cycle wheel according to claim 11 , wherein:
the two portions of the fairing have different densities.
13. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fairing comprises internal recesses.
14. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fairing comprises holes designed for passage of the spokes of the wheel, the holes having been made by hot-stamping or by drilling.
15. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fairing is designed for removal via elastic strain.
16. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fairing comprises at least one structural reinforcement.
17. A method for manufacturing the cycle wheel of claim 1 , the method comprising:
manufacturing the rim and the fairing separately;
assembling the fairing with the rim by elastically straining the fairing.
18. A cycle wheel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fairing has an outer surface made at least almost entirely from the material having a density less than 120 kg/m 3 .
19. A cycle wheel:
the fairing comprises circumferentially spaced-apart internal recesses alternating with circumferentially spaced apart regions of the material having a density less than 120 kg/m 3 .
20. A cycle wheel comprising:
a rim;
the rim having a structure designed to receive a tire;
a fairing affixed to the rim opposite the structure of the rim designed to receive the tire;
the fairing being at least partially made from a material having a density less than 120 kg/m 3 ; and
the material of the fairing that has a density less than 120 kg/m 3 extending continuously around an entire circumference of the fairing.
21. A cycle wheel according to claim 20 , wherein:
the material of the fairing extends transversely through an entire width of the fairing between opposite outer side surfaces of the fairing.
22. A cycle wheel according to claim 20 , wherein:
the fairing includes opposite side surfaces of the material of the fairing;
the material of the fairing extends transversely through an entire width of the material of the fairing between the opposite side surfaces of the material.