A wheel assembly that provides a simulated center lock wheel look that also enables exchanging of ornamental face plates with a center hub attachment device that will allow car enthusiasts to easily change the look of their automotive wheels while maintaining a center lock wheel appearance. The assembly includes three components: a base wheel, a plurality of ornamental face plates, and a center hub attachment extending from one of either the hub or the ornamental face plate.

The present invention relates to a plurality of airfoil rim wings, and/or fan-like blades which may be flat or take the form of airfoil wings in a preferred embodiment are attached to an automobile's wheel rims for the extraction of air pressure buildup within the wheel wells during forward movement to improve overall performance, styling and brake cooling. The airfoil rim wings, and/or fan-like blades may either be adhered to a wheel surface or individually or collectively fastened to wheels' hub using open-ended lug nuts, and securing lug bolts. Further, the airfoil rim wings, and/or fan-like blades may be arranged to specific concavity and angel of attack using twistable beveled washers on both sides of the airfoil rim wings, and/or fan-like blades.

A fiber-composite ventilation flap for a vehicle is made of a laminate formed by at least two individual tiers. At least one of the individual tiers has respective unidirectionally oriented fibers, and wherein the at least two individual tiers are arranged in the laminate in such a way that the fibers thereof are oriented at least predominantly differently to one another. The fibers of the at least two individual tiers are oriented differently to one another in such a way that at least one region of the fiber-composite ventilation flap curves about a predefined primary axis under the influence of heat and is thereby in an open state.

An axle cooling system for a vehicle that has a first axle hydraulic circuit that passes through a first axle assembly, a second axle hydraulic circuit that passes through a second axle assembly, a first pump that circulates axle oil through the first axle hydraulic circuit, a second pump that circulates axle oil through the second axle hydraulic circuit, a first temperature sensor that monitors a first axle temperature of the first axle assembly, and a second temperature sensor that monitors a second axle temperature of the second axle assembly. The first pump and the second pump are independently controlled from one another to circulate axle oil through the corresponding first or second axle hydraulic circuit.

A vehicle wheel has spokes, on which cover elements are provided for a space between the spokes. The cover elements deform according to the temperature in such a way that, at higher temperatures, a passage of air through a region of the space between the spokes is possible, which is covered by the cover element at lower temperatures. In this way, the cover elements do not entirely cover the respective spaces between the spokes, and a rigid cap element is provided per intermediate space in addition to a cover element deforming according to the temperature. Alternatively, two cover elements are provided in each space between the spokes, next to one another in the circumferential direction of the wheel, wherein in the deformed state, one of the cover elements is curved outwards and the other cover element is curved inwards towards the vehicle.

A cover for a rim of a wheel of a vehicle. The cover, with fastening of the cover on the rim, can be arranged in at least partially overlap with a through opening of the rim delimited in the circumferential direction of the rim by respective spokes of the rim, whereby the through opening can be at least partially covered by the cover. The cover is directionally formed and has at least two slats, which delimit at least one channel arranged between the slats, through which air can flow in the installed position of the cover diagonally to a plane extending perpendicularly to the axial direction of the rim. The slats at least partially mutually overlap with respect to the installed position of the cover in the circumferential direction of the rim and along the axial direction of the rim.

A combined wheel includes spokes, steel bushings, a rim, a brake pad, pins and a backing ring. The spokes are placed in respective empty slots between adjacent connecting blocks, and clamping grooves therein are matched with the connecting blocks. The pins are installed into holes of the spokes and the connecting blocks. A left end face of a backing ring is matched with the back of the spokes. A plurality of screws connect the backing ring, the connecting blocks and the spokes and are fitted into the steel bushings. The brake pad is fixed to two pluralities of bosses by a second plurality of screws. In use of the combined wheel, both radial force and axial force generated in the running of the wheel can be counteracted on the spokes. The annular brake pad is installed on the inner wall of the rim, thereby increasing the brake radius.

An arrangement of wheels for a bi-directional vehicle may decrease the drag coefficient for the vehicle regardless of a direction of travel of the vehicle. A pair of wheels, each wheel of the pair having a configuration of fins to promote a desired aerodynamic effect, when located at a leading end of the vehicle promotes airflow laterally outboard of the vehicle body. In contrast, the same pair of wheels, when located at a trailing end of the vehicle promotes airflow laterally inboard of the vehicle body.

A wheel assembly that provides a simulated center lock wheel look that also enables exchanging of ornamental face plates with a center hub attachment device that will allow car enthusiasts to easily change the look of their automotive wheels while maintaining a center lock wheel appearance. The assembly includes three components: a base wheel, a plurality of ornamental face plates, and a center hub attachment extending from one of either the hub or the ornamental face plate.

A retainer for a segmented annular heat shield of a wheel includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. Both the first end and the second end are configured to be coupled to at least one of the wheel and a torque bar. Further, the body includes opposing longitudinal sides configured to respectively engage and secure a respective heat shield segment of the segmented annular heat shield. Also, the retainer includes a cover coupled to and extending over at least the body, with an air gap being defined between the body and the cover.