Wheel with suspension system

Abstract

A wheel with a suspension system being connectable to a vehicle, like a wheel chair. The wheel includes a hub and a rim rotatable about the axle of the hub. Between the hub and the rim, a number of support members is located. The support members are adapted to retain the distance when stressed up to a threshold value and recoverly alter the distanced when stressed over this threshold value. Exemplary support members are spring elements, damping strokes by compression if the support member is compressed or elongated. The spring elements may be preloaded.

1 . A wheel with suspension system being connectable to a vehicle, the wheel comprising:
 a hub ( 38 ,  736 )   a rim ( 34 ,  710 ) and   a suspension system with at least one support member ( 40 ,  740 ) positioned between said hub ( 38 ,  736 ) and said rim ( 34 ,  710 ) thereby providing a normally fixed distance therebetween;   wherein said support member ( 40 ,  740 ) is adapted to retain said distance when stressed up to a threshold value and to recoverably alter said distance when stressed over said threshold value,   characterized in that   said at least one support member ( 40 ,  740 ) comprising a spring element ( 50 ,  750 ), configured to compress from a nominal length, if the support member ( 40 ,  740 ) compresses and if the support member ( 40 ,  740 ) elongates.   
     
     
         2 . A wheel according to  claim 1 , whereby the spring element ( 50 , 750 ) is preloaded in its nominal length. 
     
     
         3 . A wheel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the support member ( 40 ,  740 ) comprises a damping element, whereby the damping element is preferably integrated into the spring element ( 50 , 750 ). 
     
     
         4 . A wheel according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the support member ( 40 ,  740 ) comprises two longitudinal elements ( 52 ,  54 ) being slidably connected to each other. 
     
     
         5 . A wheel according to  claim 4 , characterized in that one of the longitudinal elements ( 52 ,  54 ) is at least partly located inside the other of the longitudinal elements ( 52 ,  54 ). 
     
     
         6 . A wheel according to  claim 5 , characterized in that both end portions of the spring element ( 50 ) are connected to at least one of the two longitudinal elements ( 52 ,  54 ). 
     
     
         7 . A wheel according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the damping element ( 750 ) surrounds the outer longitudinal element ( 745 ). 
     
     
         8 . A wheel according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the damping element ( 50 ) is located inside the inner longitudinal element ( 52 ). 
     
     
         9 . A wheel according to one of  claim 3 , characterized in that the damping element is a spring ( 750 ) and/or a fluidic damper ( 50 ). 
     
     
         10 . A wheel according to one of  claim 8 , characterized in that the damper element ( 50 ) is connected, preferably slidably coupled, to the inner and/or outer longitudinal element ( 52 ,  54 ) by use of particularly pin-like tracked sliding elements ( 62 ). 
     
     
         11 . A wheel according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the tracked sliding elements ( 62 ) are passing through longitudinal slits ( 64 ,  66 ), particularly located in the inner and/or outer longitudinal element ( 52 ,  54 ). 
     
     
         12 . A wheel according to one of  claim 1 , characterized in that the support members ( 40 ,  740 ) are connected to the hub ( 38 ,  736 ) in a non-radial manner to wheel center. 
     
     
         13 . A wheel according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the hub ( 38 ,  736 ) comprises particularly radially arranged arms ( 48 ,  734 ), whereby the support members ( 40 ,  740 ) are connected to the outer end portions of the arms ( 48 ,  734 ). 
     
     
         14 . A wheel according to one of  claim 1 , characterized in that the support members ( 40 ,  740 ) are pivotally connected to the hub ( 38 ,  736 ) and/or the rim ( 34 ,  710 ). 
     
     
         15 . A wheel according to one of  claim 13 , characterized in that each end portion of the arms ( 334 ) having particularly two protrusions, is connectable to supporting members ( 740 ). 
     
     
         16 . A wheel according to  claim 15 , characterized in that two supporting members ( 740 ) being connected with end portions of different arms ( 734 ) form a pair of supporting members ( 740 ) being located symmetrically to a radial line between the axle ( 738 ) of the hub ( 736 ) and the rim ( 710 ). 
     
     
         17 . A wheel according to one of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle is a sel propelled vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . A wheel according to one of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle is a wheelchair. 
     
     
         19 . A wheel according to one of  claim 1 , wherein said hub comprising at least one of: an axle, a caster housing, and a bearing inner ring. 
     
     
         20 . A wheel according to one of  claim 1 , wherein said rim comprising at least one of: a tire, a wheel rim, a hub shell, a fork, and a bearing outer ring.