Devices and methods for connecting a spoke to a hub

• US 10,308,065 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superpedestrian IPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: Superpedestrian, Inc.
• Inventors: Biderman, Assaf, Barber, Eric, Roy, Robert Paul, Weinstein, Jeffrey Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US14/951,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20160075175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 301 59, 301 61, 301104, 29894341, 29894343
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• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/048 Power-assistance activated by pushing on hand rim or on handlebar
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/0276 the spoke being crooked in the middle and having double length
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/042 Attaching spokes to hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2320/10 Assembling; disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/045 Arrangement in a wheel, e.g. a spare wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/00 Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel roller-skate driving mechanisms A63C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 : Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/50 : Structural details of electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 : Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/463 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 : Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 : Current
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 : by display
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0038 : relating to sensors
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 : using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 : characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 : Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 : Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 : Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/00 : Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 : for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 : automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 : Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
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• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 : Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 : Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/13 : Bicycles; Tricycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/84 : Wheelchairs
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• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/1884 : Avoiding stall or over-speed of the engine
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• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/004 : in wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 : with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 : Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/80 : Accessories, e.g. power sources; Arrangements thereof
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• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/006 : actuating opto-electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 : Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 : Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 : Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
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• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 : with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 : using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 : Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 : operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 : involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 : with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 : where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 : where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 : where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 : where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
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• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/08 : Arrangements for controlling the speed or torque of a single motor H02P6/10, H02P6/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 : Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A spoke for a wheel can include a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween, the first end and the second end extend at an acute angle with respect to each other, the attachment section including a non-circular portion in cross-section.

Claims

1. A spoke for a wheel, comprising:

a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween, the first end and the second end extend at an acute angle with respect to each other, the attachment section including a non-circular portion in cross-section shaped to be captured beneath and secured by an overhang of an attachment pocket formed on an exterior side surface on the wheel, wherein the non-circular portion is receivable within the attachment pocket along a first direction, and is locked within the attachment pocket in response to a movement of the spoke different than the first direction.

2. The spoke as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-circular portion includes a flat section.

3. The spoke as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-circular portion includes a triangular section.

4. The spoke as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-circular portion includes a wedge section.

5. The spoke as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-circular portion includes a flat section that defines a plane that does not contain the first end and the second end.

6. The spoke as recited in claim 1, wherein the acute angle of the spoke is between 20 degrees and 60 degrees.

7. The spoke as recited in claim 1, wherein the acute angle of the spoke is 40 degrees.

8. A wheel, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a wheel hub having a first and second side; and

a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub, each of the plurality of wheel spokes has a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween including a non-circular portion in cross-section, the first end and the second end extend at an acute angle with respect to each other and attach to the wheel rim, the attachment section attached to an attachment pocket in the wheel hub such that the attachment section is captured beneath and secured by an overhang of the attachment pocket due to the non-circular portion, wherein, for each wheel spoke, the non-circular portion is receivable within the attachment pocket along a first direction, and is locked within the attachment pocket in response to a movement of the wheel spoke different than the first direction.

9. The wheel as recited in claim 8, wherein the movement of the wheel spoke different than the first direction includes a second direction different than the first direction.

10. The wheel as recited in claim 8, wherein the movement of the wheel spoke different than the first direction includes a rotation.

11. The wheel as recited in claim 8, wherein each attachment pocket is shaped to retain and secure the attachment section of a wheel spoke.

12. The wheel as recited in claim 11, wherein the attachment pocket has a shape that is one of:

a curved shape and an angled shape.

13. The wheel as recited in claim 8, wherein the acute angle of the plurality of wheel spokes ranges between 20 degrees and 60 degrees.

14. The wheel as recited in claim 8, wherein the acute angle of the plurality of wheel spokes is 40 degrees.

15. The wheel as recited in claim 8, wherein the wheel is an electrically motorized wheel to convert a non-motorized wheeled vehicle to an electrically motorized wheeled vehicle.

16. A method of assembling a spoke wheel comprising:

inserting an attachment section of a wheel spoke into an attachment pocket in a wheel hub via an aperture of the attachment pocket, the wheel spoke including a first end, a second end, and the attachment section therebetween, wherein the attachment section includes a non-circular portion in cross-section and the first end and the second end extend at an acute angle with respect to each other; and

rotating the wheel spoke such that a widest cross section of the non-circular portion of the wheel spoke is wider than the aperture of the attachment pocket to lock the attachment section into the attachment pocket.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising securing the first end and the second end of the wheel spoke to a rim.

18. A spoke for a wheel, comprising:

a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween, the first end and the second end extend at an acute angle with respect to each other, the attachment section including a non-circular portion in cross-section shaped to be captured beneath and secured by an overhang of an attachment pocket formed on an exterior side surface on the wheel, wherein the non-circular portion is receivable within the attachment pocket in a first position, and is locked within the attachment pocket in response to a movement of the spoke to a position different than the first position.

19. A wheel, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a wheel hub having a first and second side; and

a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub, each of the plurality of wheel spokes has a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween including a non-circular portion in cross-section, the first end and the second end extend at an acute angle with respect to each other and attach to the wheel rim, the attachment section attached to an attachment pocket in the wheel hub such that the attachment section is captured beneath and secured by an overhang of the attachment pocket due to the non-circular portion, wherein, for each wheel spoke, the non-circular portion is receivable within the attachment pocket in a first position, and is locked within the attachment pocket in response to a movement of the wheel spoke to a position different than the first position.