Presented are hybrid metal and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wheels for vehicle wheel assemblies, methods for making/using such wheels, and motor vehicles equipped with such wheels. A wheel for a motor vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel face with multiple spokes that are circumferentially spaced about and project radially outward from a central hub. The central hub rotatably attaches to the vehicle's body, e.g., via a corner module. The wheel face is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from an FRP material. A wheel barrel, which circumscribes the wheel face, includes an annular rim that mounts thereon an inflatable tire. The wheel barrel is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from a metallic material. Multiple overmold through holes and/or inset tabs are circumferentially spaced about the annular rim. The FRP material extends through and/or surrounds the overmold through holes/inset tabs and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel.

Presented are hybrid metal and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wheels for vehicle wheel assemblies, methods for making/using such wheels, and motor vehicles equipped with such wheels. A wheel for a motor vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel face with multiple spokes that are circumferentially spaced about and project radially outward from a central hub. The central hub rotatably attaches to the vehicle's body, e.g., via a corner module. The wheel face is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from an FRP material. A wheel barrel, which circumscribes the wheel face, includes an annular rim that mounts thereon an inflatable tire. The wheel barrel is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from a metallic material. Multiple overmold through holes and/or inset tabs are circumferentially spaced about the annular rim. The FRP material extends through and/or surrounds the overmold through holes/inset tabs and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel.

A wheel disc including a bolt hole for bolt fastening, includes a first region extending to have a predetermined width in a circumferential direction of the bolt hole and a second region, other than the first region, wherein the first region has an average tensile strength lower than that of the second region.

A composite wheel assembly and method of fabricating the same is provided. The wheel assembly includes a composite wheel rim, a wheel center, and a plurality of attachment fasteners for attaching the wheel center to the wheel rim. The wheel rim includes a plurality of attachment inserts that are configured to selectively engage with respective attachment fasteners. Each attachment insert is encapsulated by a plurality of composite layers of the wheel rim or is otherwise secured to the wheel rim. The attachment inserts extend from and/or are positioned within a drop well region of the wheel rim. The method of fabricating the wheel assembly includes forming first and second preforms and positioning the same onto a mold assembly. The method further includes positioning the attachment inserts between the first and second preforms such that the attachment inserts are secured therebetween.

A process for manufacturing a light-alloy hybrid wheel, implements the following separate operation phases: making a flange with an internal profile capable of constituting a tire bead seat; making a rim with, on one side, an outer profile capable of constituting a tire bead seat and, on the other side, a circular flank for assembly with a part of the flange; and assembling the flange with the rim, at the seat of said flange and the circular flank of the rim. The rim is made according to the following consecutive operations: an operation of manufacturing a circular flank; then an operation of expanding said circular flank to the size of the final rim in a single step; then an operation of cold or hot flospinning of said circular flank so as to obtain the rim in the final shape and profile thereof, comprising a shoulder only on the side that will not be welded to the flange.

A combined wheel includes spokes, steel bushings, a rim, a metal frame, a brake disc and pins. In use, the steel bushings are installed in grooves of the spokes; the spokes are placed so that the clamping grooves are matched with the connecting blocks; the pins are installed into holes of the spokes and the connecting blocks; the metal frame is matched with the backs of the spokes; the screws I connect the metal frame, the connecting blocks and the spokes together and are matched with the steel bushings; and the brake disc is connected to the metal frame by screws II. In the combined wheel, the radial force and the axial force generated in the running process of the wheel can be counteracted on the spokes; and the brake disc brakes from the inside, thereby increasing the brake radius and reducing the clamping force required when braking.

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 automobile hub with a hollow rim includes a wheel disc and the rim with at least one hollow cavity, in which the rim includes at least two mutually nested rings and an axial end cap at the same ends of the at least two rings, and the hollow cavity consists of the rings and the axial end cap. The outer side of one end of the wheel disc includes axial rim mounting grooves, and the rim is inserted into the rim mounting grooves and fixed to the wheel disc through the end without the axial end cap. By employing the automobile hub with the hollow rim, the hub assembling method, and the automobile having the hub, the weight of the hub can be further reduced, and the hub has sufficient strength.

The invention relates to a wheel, especially for motor vehicles, comprising a wheel rim and a wheel disc, the wheel rim having a rim base made of fiber composite material. The invention is characterized in that the wheel disc (3, 11, 20, 29, 40) can be indirectly connected to the wheel rim (1), in particular the rim base (2), by means of a connecting element (5, 14, 22, 31, 35, 42) which is designed and associated with the rim base (2) in such a way that the connected wheel disc (3, 11, 20, 29, 40) is not in contact with the rim base (2).

The present invention provides a new style or design for a steel wheel 200 in passenger vehicle with improvement in performance and aesthetics. In the new design of the steel wheel 200, a vent-hole outer region 214 is folded 206 inwardly to form two ends, wherein one end is welded to an outboard bead seat 212 of the steel wheel rim and the other end welded to a portion of an outboard flange portion 204. The inward folding 206 of the vent hole outer region 214 increases the vent-hole 205 area and thereby improves better air flow and cooling of a brake drum. The passenger vehicle steel wheel 200 design enables for spot welding throughout the circumference of the rim-disc contact surface for better contact and higher load/moment transfer. Further, the passenger vehicle steel wheel 200 may utilize an existing rim without any special machining or modification.