Company Filing History:
7 out of 7 
2 out of 832,718 Years Active: 2009-2019
Title: Innovations by Zheng-Dong Ma in Airless Vehicle Wheel Technology
Introduction
Zheng-Dong Ma is an accomplished inventor based in Ann Arbor, MI (US). He holds a total of 9 patents that showcase his innovative contributions to vehicle wheel design and assembly. His work focuses on creating ultralight, airless wheels that enhance vehicle performance and maintenance.
Latest Patents
One of Zheng-Dong Ma's latest patents is for ultralightweight airless ATV wheels based upon negative Poisson ratio (NPR) auxetic structures. This invention discloses improvements in the design and assembly of vehicle wheels, specifically ultralight, airless wheels that can be mounted on a rim to receive a tire. The design includes one or more flexible ring-shaped tendons that are placed over the rim, with a stuffer component positioned over the tendons. The wheel is then placed over the stuffer, and a cover is bolted onto the rim to secure the stuffer and tendons in place. This innovative approach allows for easier installation and maintenance, as all components are installed from the outside toward the vehicle. The invention is adaptable for all-terrain vehicles and can accommodate various wheel diameters, such as 7 inches or 14 inches.
Another significant patent involves airless and runflat tire structures, components, and assembly techniques. This auxetic wheel design features a line that defines an axis of rotation, surrounded by concentric rings of unit cells, each constructed with a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure. The outermost ring is designed to enhance rolling terrain contact, increasing stiffness in the localized region of loading as the wheel rotates. A layer of material may be placed between the concentric rings, with preferred embodiments featuring nested-V shapes. A cover may also be provided over the outermost ring, forming a tire that may or may not be inflated.
Career Highlights
Zheng-Dong Ma has worked with Mkp Structural Design Associates, Inc., where he contributed his expertise in structural design and innovation. His work has significantly impacted the field of vehicle wheel technology, leading to advancements that improve performance and user experience.
Collaborations
Zheng-Dong Ma has collaborated with notable individuals in his field, including Yuanyuan Liu and Xiaoming Liu. These collaborations have fostered innovation and development in the technologies he has pioneered.
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