Wheel Component for a Motor Vehicle, and Method for Operating Such a Wheel Component

Abstract

A wheel component for a motor vehicle includes a rim base, a wheel hub, a rim disc, and an aero ring. The aero ring rests on the rim base in a circumferential direction and forms a circular ring starting from the rim base radially in a direction of the wheel hub. The rim disc is displaceable in a direction of an axis of rotation of the wheel component relative to the wheel hub between an open state and a closed state. The rim disc rests with an outer end face against an inner front surface of the aero ring in a sealing manner in the closed state of the rim disc. There is larger flow cross-section through the wheel component with the rim disc in the open state than in the closed state.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A wheel component (1) for a motor vehicle (19), comprising: a rim base (11); a wheel hub (5); a rim disc (3); and an aero ring (9), wherein the aero ring (9) rests on the rim base (11) in a circumferential direction and forms a circular ring starting from the rim base (11) radially in a direction of the wheel hub (5); wherein the rim disc (3) is displaceable in a direction of an axis of rotation (7) of the wheel component (1) relative to the wheel hub (5) between an open state and a closed state by a rim disc displacement device (6); wherein the rim disc rests with an outer end face against an inner front surface of the aero ring (9) in a sealing manner in the closed state of the rim disc (3); wherein there is larger flow cross-section through the wheel component (1) with the rim disc (3) in the open state than in the closed state.

12. The wheel component (1) according to claim 11, wherein the wheel component (1) is a rim.

13. The wheel component (1) according to claim 11, wherein the rim disc (3) is non-rotatably connected to the wheel hub (5).

14. The wheel component (1) according to claim 11, wherein the rim disc (3) and the aero ring (9) consist of a same material.

15. A method for operating the wheel component (1) according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: displacing the rim disc (3) between the open state and the closed state depending on at least one parameter.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter is a rotational speed of the wheel component (1) and/or a number of activations of a brake system within a pre-determined period of time and/or a brake disc temperature and/or an input of a driver of the motor vehicle (19).

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter is a rotational speed of the wheel component (1), wherein the rim disc (3) is displaced into the open state or remains in the open state when the rotational speed of the wheel component (1) is less than a pre-determined first limit rotational speed, and wherein the rim disc (3) is displaced into the closed state or remains in the closed state when the rotational speed of the wheel component (1) is greater than or equal to a pre-determined second limit rotational speed.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter is a number of activations of a brake system, wherein the rim disc (3) is displaced into the open state or remains in the open state when the number of activations of a brake system within a pre-determined period of time is greater than a pre-determined first limit number of activations, and wherein the rim disc (3) is displaced into the closed state or remains in the closed state when the number of activations of the brake system within the pre-determined period of time is less than or equal to a pre-determined second limit number of activations.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter is a brake disc temperature, wherein the rim disc (3) is displaced into the open state or remains in the open state when the brake disc temperature is greater than a pre-determined first limit temperature, and wherein the rim disc (3) is displaced into the closed state or remains in the closed state when the brake disc temperature is less than or equal to a pre-determined second limit temperature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b show a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a wheel component in a side view wherein a rim disc of the wheel component is in an open state;

[0034] FIG. 1c shows a cross-section through the motor vehicle that has the wheel component;

[0035] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show the wheel component in a side view wherein the rim disc is in a closed state; and

[0036] FIG. 2c shows a cross-section through the motor vehicle that has the wheel component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIGS. 1a-c show a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a wheel component 1, in particular a rim, and a functionality of the wheel component 1, wherein a rim disc 3 of the wheel component 1 is in an open state. The wheel component 1 has a wheel hub 5, a rim disc 3 and a rim disc displacement device 6. The rim disc 3 has the open state and a closed state, in particular depicted in FIGS. 2a-c, wherein the open state enables a better air flow 17 through the wheel component 1 than the closed state. The rim disc displacement device 6 is further equipped to displace the rim disc 3 in the direction of an axis of rotation 7 of the wheel component 1 relative to the wheel hub 5 between the open state and the closed state.

[0038] The rim disc 3 is preferably non-rotatably connected to the wheel hub 5.

[0039] The wheel component 1 preferably has an aero ring 9, wherein the aero ring 9 abuts on a rim base 11 of the wheel component 1 in the circumferential direction. The aero ring 9 is designed flat such that the aero ring 9 forms a ring shape starting from the rim base 11 radially, and in particular orthogonally to the axis of rotation 7, in the direction of the wheel hub 5. The aero ring 9 is or can in particular be connected to the rim base 11. Alternatively or in addition, the aero ring 9 is or can preferably be connected to at least one spoke 13 of the wheel component 1.

[0040] The rim disc 3 and the aero ring 9 preferably have the same material, the rim disc 3 and the aero ring 9 in particular consist of the same material. Alternatively or in addition, the rim disc 3 and the rim base 11 preferably have the same material, the rim disc 3 and the rim base 11 in particular consist of the same material. Alternatively or in addition, the rim disc 3 and the at least one spoke 13 preferably have the same material, the rim disc 3 and the at least one spoke 13 in particular consist of the same material. Alternatively or in addition, the rim disc 3 and the wheel hub 5 preferably have the same material, the rim disc 3 and the wheel hub 5 in particular consist of the same material.

[0041] FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b show the wheel component 1 in a side view in the open state. In these views, a spacing 15 between the aero ring 9 and the rim disc 3 can clearly be seen, which is present in the open state and enables the air flow 17 through the wheel component 1.

[0042] FIG. 1c shows a cross-section through the motor vehicle 19 that has the wheel component 1. The motor vehicle 19 moves in a direction of travel 21, and is thus exposed to an airstream 23. The rim disc 3 is in the open state, whereby the air flow 17 through the wheel component 1 is enabled. A part of the airstream 23 is directed to a brake disc 27 as cold air 25. The cold air 25 cools the brake discs 27, taking in heat in the process, and is then directed away as warm air 29 by means of the air flow 17 through the wheel component 1, in particular directed away from the motor vehicle 19.

[0043] FIGS. 2a-c show a schematic depiction of the exemplary embodiment of a wheel component 1, in particular a rim, and the functionality of the wheel component 1 if the rim disc 3 is in a closed state.

[0044] Identical elements and elements having identical functions are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures, such that reference is respectively made in this respect to the previous description.

[0045] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show the wheel component 1 in a side view in the closed state. In these views, it can be clearly seen that the rim disc 3 abuts on an inner circumferential surface of the aero ring 9 with an outer circumferential surface in a sealing manner, whereby almost no air flow 17 is enabled through the wheel component 1.

[0046] FIG. 2c shows a cross-section through the motor vehicle 19 that has the wheel component 1. The motor vehicle 19 moves in a direction of travel 21, and is thus exposed to the airstream 23. The rim disc 3 is in the closed state. In the closed state, the rim disc preferably abuts on the aero ring 9 in a sealing manner, whereby almost no air flow 17 is enabled through the wheel component 1. Although air circulation 31 arises behind the brake discs 27, no air can be directed away through the wheel component, and thus almost no cooling of the brake disc 27 is possible.

[0047] A comparison of FIGS. 1a-c with FIGS. 2a-c shows that a better air flow 17 through the wheel component 1 is enabled in the open state than in the closed state.

[0048] The rim disc 3 is displaced in the direction of the axis of rotation 7 relative to the wheel hub 5 of the wheel component 1 between the open state, in particular depicted in FIGS. 1a-c, and the closed state, in particular depicted in FIGS. 2a-c, depending on at least one parameter, wherein the open state enables a better air flow 17 through the wheel component 1 than the closed state.

[0049] The at least one parameter is preferably selected from a group consisting of a rotational speed of the wheel component 1, a number of activations of a brake system within a pre-determined period of time, a brake disc temperature and an input of a driver of the motor vehicle 19.

[0050] The rim disc 3 is displaced into the open state or remains in the open state if the rotational speed is less than a pre-determined first limit rotational speed. The rim disc 3 is further displaced into the closed state or remains in the closed state if the rotational speed is greater than or equal to a pre-determined second limit rotational speed.

[0051] Alternatively or in addition, the rim disc 3 is displaced into the open state or remains in the open state if the number of activations of the brake system within the pre-determined period of time is greater than a pre-determined first limit number of activations. The rim disc 3 is additionally displaced into the closed state or remains in the closed state if the number of activations of the brake system within the pre-determined period of time is less than or equal to a pre-determined second limit number of activations.

[0052] Alternatively or in addition, the rim disc 3 is preferably displaced into the open state or remains in the open state if the brake disc temperature is greater than a pre-determined first limit temperature. The rim disc 3 is additionally displaced into the closed state or remains in the closed state if the brake disc temperature is less than or equal to a pre-determined second limit temperature.