Spoke wheel system with paired carbon springs attached to a central hub structure

Abstract

An interlocking, compressible spoke wheel system having a ring of paired spokes. The locking of left and right spokes into pairs provides improved tire displacement under loads. The left and right half wheels formed by sets of left spokes and right spokes. enable a novel mounting system for the wheel rim or tire to attach to the spoke system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel apparatus, comprising:
 a wheel that is configured to be coupled to a vehicle; and   a plurality of pairs of compressible radial spokes, wherein each of the compressible radial spokes comprises:
 a wheel member configured to attach to the wheel; and 
 at least one spring attached to the rim member, wherein the at least one spring is configured to attach to a non-pneumatic tire; 
   wherein the at least one spring of each of the compressible radial spokes in a pair are configured in an opposing manner to provide balance to the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein in the wheel comprises spoke retention slots, and wherein the wheel member of each of the compressible radial spokes is configured to attach to the wheel via the spoke retention slots. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more spoke retention rings configured to attach to the wheel, wherein the one or more spoke retention rings retain the plurality of pairs of compressible radial spokes on the wheel.   
     
     
         4 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more tire retention rings configured to attach to the wheel, wherein the one or more tire retention rings retain the tire on the wheel.   
     
     
         5 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each pair of the plurality of pairs of compressible radial spokes is interlocked. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel member is configured to removably attach to the wheel. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring is configured to removably attach to the non-pneumatic tire. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring comprises at least one leaf spring. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more tire retention rings configured to retain the tire on the wheel; and   one or more spoke retention rings, wherein the one or more spoke retention rings are configured to retain the plurality of pairs of compressible radial spokes and the one or more tire retention rings on the wheel.   
     
     
         10 . The wheel apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of the one or more tire retention rings is further configured as a debris shield, wherein the debris shield is configured to prevent debris from entering into the compressible radial spokes.