Wheel for a Vehicle

Abstract

A wheel of a vehicle has a rim, a hub portion and at least two spokes connecting the hub portion to the rim. At least one spoke intermediate space between the spokes is at least partially covered by a single-piece cover element. A wing portion of the cover element is deformed axially away from the wheel when heat is supplied. The cover element is connected directly to the wheel, and the single-piece cover element is formed from a single material.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a rim; a hub portion; at least two spokes which connect the hub portion to the rim; a covering element by which at least one spoke gap between the spokes is covered at least partially by the covering element, wherein the covering element is a single-piece having a wing portion that deforms axially away from the wheel when heat is supplied, the covering element is connected directly to the wheel, and the single-piece covering element is configured from a single composite material.

15. The wheel according to claim 14, wherein the covering element is configured from a fiber composite plastic with a matrix material and fibers which are embedded in the matrix material, and the covering element is formed from a laminate having a plurality of individual layers which are layered on one another.

16. The wheel according to claim 15, wherein the covering element has at least one uppermost individual layer, in the case of which the fibers are arranged such that an upper symmetrical laminate structure is configured as viewed with regard to a center plane of the individual layer.

17. The wheel according to claim 16, wherein the upper laminate structure is formed by way of a plurality of unidirectional individual layers which are layered on one another, and has a symmetrical layer structure as viewed with regard to a center plane of the upper laminate structure.

18. The wheel according to claim 16, wherein the upper laminate structure is formed by way of at least one multidirectional individual layer, and has a symmetrical layer structure as viewed with regard to a center plane of the upper laminate structure.

19. The wheel according to claim 14, wherein the wing portion is formed from a cut part of the covering element.

20. The wheel according to claim 16, wherein the wing portion has an asymmetrical layer structure as viewed with regard to a center plane of the wing portion, and the layer structure of the wing portion is formed by way of the upper laminate structure and at least one additional lower individual layer, the fibers of which are oriented at least approximately in the radial direction of the wheel as viewed in the installed state of the covering element.

21. The wheel according to claim 14, wherein the covering element in each case comprises, at least on edge regions which adjoin the spokes, a limb which projects at least approximately in an axial direction of the wheel from the covering element and is of flexible configuration.

22. The wheel according to claim 21, wherein the limb has an undercut on an edge, which undercut when installed is hooked into a spoke edge which faces the vehicle.

23. The wheel according to claim 22, wherein the undercut comprises a latching lug for latching into a spoke edge.

24. The wheel according to claim 23, wherein the undercut and/or the latching lug is coated with a plastic material.

25. A method for producing a covering element for a wheel of a vehicle, which covering element comprises a single-piece configuration having a wing portion that deforms axially away from the wheel when heat is supplied, the covering element being configured from a single composite material, the method comprising the steps of: flat laying at least one lower individual layer at a selected position into a lower mold half of a pressing apparatus; flat laying at least one individual layer of an upper laminate structure into the lower mold half of the pressing apparatus, the at least one lower individual layer being covered; closing an upper mold half and subsequently extending a first slide, which corresponds to a shape of the wing portion of the covering element, out of the lower mold half in the direction of the upper mold half, the laminate being cut open along the edge of the first slide, wherein the wing portion is formed, and at least one part of the wing portion being deformed in the direction of the upper mold half by way of the first slide; retracting, into the mold, two lateral slides, which extend in a perpendicular direction with respect to the first slide in each case on one side of the laminate, wherein the limbs and the undercut of the covering element are formed; joining the individual layers to form a laminate by way of a resin under influence of heat and pressure; moving back the lateral slides and opening the upper mold half and subsequent removal of the fiber composite covering element.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of: forming a bevel on an undercut of the fiber composite covering element, which bevel forms a latching lug.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a part of a wheel for a vehicle, in which a covering element is arranged, by way of example in a three-dimensional view from the outside of the wheel.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic cross section through the covering element from FIG. 1.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows the covering element in a mold of a pressing apparatus in a cross-sectional illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] A part of a wheel 10 for a vehicle can be seen in a three-dimensional view of the wheel exterior in FIG. 1. Here, the wheel 10 comprises a rim 19, a hub section 20, and a plurality of spokes 12 which connect the hub section 20 to the rim 19. A covering element 1 is arranged in a spoke gap 13 between the spokes 12. Here, the covering element 1 is configured from a fiber composite plastic, and has a wing portion 3 which can be deformed into a folded-open state in the case of the influence of heat. Here, FIG. 1 shows the wing portion 3 in an open state. Furthermore, the wheel portion, in which the covering element 1 is arranged, is shown in a cut-away view (or cross-sectional view in the axial direction of the wheel) for improved illustrative purposes.

[0071] In order to attach the covering element 1 to the wheel 10, the covering element 1 comprises two limbs 6 which run in the axial direction A of the wheel in the direction of the wheel interior and bear flatly against the spoke faces 9 of two spokes 12. Furthermore, the limbs 6 have an undercut 7 for attaching or for hooking the limbs 6 into a spoke edge 11 of the wheel 10.

[0072] In order to attach the covering element 1 to the spokes 12 of a wheel 10 for a vehicle, it is provided that the limbs 6 bear in each case against a surface of the spokes 12 which runs in the axial direction of the wheel, and clamp the covering element 1 into the spoke gap 13 in an analogous manner to a spring function. Here, the limbs 6 are of elastic configuration due to the material, in such a way that they can carry out a spring function of this type.

[0073] A bevel or a latching lug 8 is likewise provided on the edges of the limbs 6 for latching and therefore for fixing the covering element 1 on the spoke edges 11 of a wheel 10.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a covering element 1 in a diagrammatic view. Here, in particular, the laminate structure of the covering element 1 is to be indicated. Here, the covering element 1 is formed by way of a continuous upper laminate structure 2. Here, the upper laminate structure 2 is formed from individual layers which are layered on one another and are connected to one another by way of a resin. Here, the fibers of the individual layers are oriented in such a way that the upper laminate structure 2 which is mirror-inverted within itself therefore experiences merely a size change but no dimensional change (in particular, no bending) in the case of a temperature change. Here, the upper laminate structure does not necessarily have to have isotropic properties (that is to say, identical strength characteristic values, coefficients of thermal expansion, etc. in all directions). A composite material can increase or decrease in size to a differing extent in various directions virtually without distortion at a temperature. In the case of the use of carbon fibers, in particular, the length change is very small in the fiber direction, and is comparatively great transversely with respect to the fiber direction, with the result that the properties here are determined by the matrix. The primarily used matrix systems are plastics which, as is known, have a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion. The layering of the lower laminate layer of the wing element consists primarily of a unidirectional construction (UD), in the case of which the fibers run in the radial direction. This leads to the coefficient of thermal expansion being much higher in the circumferential direction (in the viewing direction of the axial line, this is at 90 with respect to the radial direction) than that of the upper laminate layer. In the case of heating, this leads to the desired bending open of the wing portion. The size of the bend can be changed by way of the material selection of the laminate thickness, the fiber volume content and the fiber direction.

[0075] The wing portion 3 of the covering element 1 can likewise be seen in FIG. 2. Here, in particular, the cut 4 through the covering element 1 can be seen, which cut 4 has been made in the covering element 1 during the production process and forms the wing portion 3.

[0076] Furthermore, it is provided that, in contrast to the rest of the covering element 1, the wing portion 3 comprises two laminates with greatly different coefficients of thermal expansion in the circumferential direction of the installed covering element. To this end, in addition to the upper laminate structure 2, the wing portion 3 is provided with a lower laminate structure 5 which, as it were, locally thickens the wing portion 3 and is configured in terms of its fiber orientation in such a way that, in the case of the input of heat, the wing portion 3 folds open into the depicted position or is deformed into the depicted open position.

[0077] Here, said lower laminate structure is preferably situated in the installed state on a side of the covering element, which side faces the wheel interior, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0078] Here, the lower laminate structure 5 is formed primarily from a plurality of individual layers of unidirectional fiber layers.

[0079] Here, the individual layers or the fibers of the individual layers of the lower laminate structure 5 are arranged with respect to those of the upper laminate structure 2 in such a way that the wing portion 3 has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion in the circumferential direction toward the wheel interior than the upper layer structure 2. A laminate structure of this type of the wing portion 3 then has properties with regard to the thermal expansion which are such that, in the case of the input of heat, the wing portion 3 is deformed in a defined direction.

[0080] In order that the wing portion 3 folds open in the axial direction away from the wheel in the installed state of the covering element 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the fibers of the lower laminate structure 5 are oriented at least approximately in the radial direction of the wheel. In the case of the supply of heat, the lower laminate structure 5 expands at least approximately in the circumferential direction of the wheel. The upper laminate structure 2 which is arranged on the outer side as viewed in the installed state of the covering element 1 expands to a comparatively small extent, and therefore counteracts the expansion of the lower laminate structure 5 with a resistance. The wing portion 3 is then deformed axially away in the direction of the wheel outer side.

[0081] As can be seen in FIG. 1, in particular, the lower laminate structure 5 is arranged here on the covering element 1 in such a way that it is oriented in the direction of the wheel interior.

[0082] FIG. 3 shows the covering element 1 in an exemplary mold of a wet pressing system in a cross-sectional view. Here, the laminate structure of the covering element 1 can be seen, which laminate structure is pressed in between an upper and lower mold half 14, 15.

[0083] Here, a first slide 16 is extended from the lower mold half 15 vertically in the direction of the upper mold half 14. Here, said first slide 16 brings about the cut of the wing portion 3 of the covering element 1 and the folded-open shape of the wing portion 3.

[0084] Two horizontal slides 17, 18 can likewise be seen which shape the two limbs 6 of the covering element 1 during the wet pressing method.

[0085] List of Designations:

[0086] 1 Covering element

[0087] 2 Upper layer structure

[0088] 3 Wing portion

[0089] 4 Cut

[0090] 5 Lower layer structure

[0091] 6 Limb

[0092] 7 Undercut

[0093] 8 Latching lug

[0094] 9 Spoke face

[0095] 10 Wheel

[0096] 11 Spoke edge

[0097] 12 Spoke

[0098] 13 Spoke gap

[0099] 14 Upper mold half

[0100] 15 Lower mold half

[0101] 16 Slide

[0102] 17 Horizontal slide

[0103] 18 Horizontal slide

[0104] 19 Rim

[0105] 20 Hub portion

[0106] A Axial direction