Angled Nonconcave Road Tubeless Rim Flange Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Road tubeless tires face a higher likelihood of blowing off their rims due to higher inflation pressures compared to mountain bike tires, necessitating a more secure and easy-to-use rim design for road bicycles.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a rim with a circumferential tire mounting surface featuring angled, nonconcave tire seating surfaces and undercut recesses between the seating surfaces and the outer face, which securely engage the tire beads and maintain a proper seal, allowing for easier mounting and higher pressure tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If higher inflation pressure is used in road tubeless tires, then traction and performance are improved, but the likelihood of tires blowing off rims increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rim profile is segmented into distinct functional zones: a bead seat region for initial tire positioning, an angled seating surface for secure engagement, and an undercut retention region for preventing blowoff. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally under high inflation pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rim features curved and angled surfaces rather than flat planes. The angled seating surface and undercut geometry create a contoured profile that mechanically interlocks with the tire bead, providing secure retention through geometric constraint rather than relying solely on friction or air pressure.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional rim profiles are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but tire mounting and retention at high pressure is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rim profile is pre-configured with an angled seating surface that guides the tire bead into proper position during mounting. This preliminary geometric arrangement facilitates easy tire installation and ensures correct bead seating before inflation, eliminating the need for complex mounting procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The rim profile parameters (angles, radii, depths) are optimized to balance manufacturing feasibility with performance requirements. The angled seating surface and undercut geometry can be produced using conventional rim manufacturing processes while delivering superior tire retention characteristics.
3Weight of moving object
If conventional rim designs are used, then weight is reduced, but tire retention security at road pressures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rim profile incorporates localized geometric features (angled surfaces, undercuts) only in the critical tire engagement zones, while maintaining minimal overall rim thickness and weight. This local optimization provides enhanced retention precisely where needed without adding unnecessary weight to the entire rim structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Road tubeless rims may include a pair of circumferential flanges having inner tire seating surfaces that are nonconcave and angled toward the centerline. Tubeless tires mounted to the illustrative rims may achieve improved sealing performance due to an increased seating area of the rims. A shape and angle of the flanges may shape the tire to achieve an aerodynamic wheel profile.