Wheel of a Vehicle

Abstract

A wheel of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, has a rim, a hub portion, and at least two spokes connecting the hub portion to the rim. At least two adjoining spokes are connected to each other by at least one connecting web which is arranged in a space between the spokes, is not attached to the rim and the hub portion, and extends at least approximately in the circumferential direction of the wheel.

Claims

1. A wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a rim; a hub section; at least two spokes which connect the hub section to the rim; at least one web connecting two adjacent ones of the at least two spokes, wherein the at least one web is arranged in a spoke intermediate space, is detached from the rim and the hub section, and runs at least approximately in a circumferential direction of the wheel; and a predominantly flat covering element configured to cover the at least one spoke intermediate space between the adjacent spokes.

2. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the web and the at least two spokes are a common component.

3. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the web is connected to the at least two spokes in a non-positive locking, positively locking and/or integrally joined manner.

4. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one web supports the at least two spokes against one another.

5. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein an inner side of the at least one web has cooling fins which are oriented in a radial direction of the wheel.

6. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one web is connected to at least one covering element in a non-positive locking, positively locking and/or integrally joined manner.

7. The wheel according to claim 6, wherein the covering element and the web are connected to one another by way of a screw connection.

8. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one web comprises at least one receptacle device for receiving the covering element.

9. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one covering element comprises a receptacle device for receiving at least one web.

10. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one covering element is produced at least partially from a plastic.

11. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the web is a spring ring which has a reinforcing action and/or supports the at least two adjoining spokes against one another and extends over the circumference on that side of the spokes which faces the vehicle.

12. The wheel according to claim 11, wherein the at least one covering element is held on the wheel in a non-positive manner by the spring ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows one exemplary embodiment of a part of a wheel according to the invention in a three-dimensional view of the wheel from the outside.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a wheel according to the invention in a view of the wheel from the inside.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows by way of example a wheel according to the invention in a three-dimensional view, which wheel is configured at least partially with covering elements.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through a web and a covering element which is fastened to the latter, in a three-dimensional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a detail of a vehicle wheel which has a rim 1, a hub section 2 and three spokes 3 which connect the hub section 2 to the rim 1. Here, the vehicle wheel is shown from the front view or from the side which can be seen from the outside in a side view of the vehicle in the installed state. Here, a web 4 connects the respective mutually adjoining spokes 3. The web 4 runs at least approximately in the circumferential direction of the wheel or runs in the direction of a tangent line to a circle (of a defined diameter) of the wheel. Moreover, the web 4 is detached from the rim 1, that is to say is not connected directly to the rim 1, but rather is connected merely to the spokes 3.

[0034] In this specific example, the web(s) 4 form a common component with the spokes 3, which component was manufactured in a common production process, in particular a casting or forging method. FIG. 2 shows a detailed illustration in this regard, in which an entire wheel is shown in a rear view or from the side which points in the direction of the vehicle in the installed state of the wheel. Here, in particular, the common component which comprises both the spokes 3 and webs 4 which connect them can be seen.

[0035] Here, the webs 4 (from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) are arranged in each case in such a way that they support the respectively adjoining spokes 3 against one another and thus serve as a reinforcing element and also as a vibration damper. Depending on the requirements with regard to strength and vibration damping, the web 4 (as can be seen in FIG. 1) can be configured either to be flatter and with more material on its edge regions 4.1, or can comprise slimmer edge regions 4.2 and can be configured with a more reduced weight as a result.

[0036] It is provided, furthermore, that at least one spoke intermediate space 5 is covered at least partially by a predominantly flat covering element 6. A covering element 6 of this type is indicated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, but can be seen more clearly in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the entire wheel from FIG. 1 in a three-dimensional view. The covering element 6 or the covering elements 6 between the spokes 3, that is to say in the spoke intermediate spaces 5, serves/serve, in particular, for the aerodynamic optimization and therefore the reduction of air resistances and the fuel consumption of the vehicle.

[0037] The covering elements 6 are fastened to the webs 4 by way of screw connections 7. In this way, in addition to reinforcing and vibration damping, the webs 4 also serve as fastening elements for the covering elements 6.

[0038] Here, the covering element 6 can be attached by way of one or more screw connections 7, depending on the required strength of the connection to the web 4. Here, in the connected state, the covering element 6 covers the web 4 in such a way that, in the installed state of the wheel, the web 4 can no longer be seen in an (outer) side view of the vehicle.

[0039] This has the advantage, in particular, that the covering elements do not have to come into contact with the rim 1, the spokes 3 or the hub section 2, and therefore no forces are dissipated or absorbed via the covering element 6, and the covering element 6 is subjected to lower loads as a result of a certain amount of play. The covering element 6 can thus be configured from a light, low-weight material, such as a plastic or a metal-plastic layer assembly.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a detailed sectional view S (cf. FIG. 3) through the rim 1, the attachment or the connection of the covering element 6 to the web 4 being shown, in particular. Here, a receptacle 4.3 or a through bore for leading through a fastening element, for example a screw 7, is provided in the web 4, whereas the covering element comprises a bushing 6.1 for receiving the screw 7. Here, the bushing 6.1 has already been attached to the covering element 6 in the manufacturing process, for example in an injection molding process.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0041] 1 Rim [0042] 2 Hub section [0043] 3 Spoke [0044] 4 Web [0045] 4.1 Edge region of the web [0046] 4.2 Edge region of the web [0047] 4.3 Receptacle [0048] 5 Spoke intermediate space [0049] 6 Covering element [0050] 6.1 Bushing [0051] 7 Screw connection [0052] S Section

[0053] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof