Two-part wheel spider with profile spokes

Abstract

A wheel includes a rim having a rim base and a two-part wheel spider. The wheel spider includes two molded parts. The first molded part forms the spokes having an open cross-section and is joined to the second molded part. The spokes of the first molded part are completely or partially closed along the profile length by the second molded part. The wheel spider is preferably integrated in the rim in an interlocking manner. The rim and the two-part wheel spider can consist of metal, but in particular preferably of composite fiber material.

Claims

1. A wheel of a vehicle, the wheel spider comprising: a first molded part forming spokes, each of said spokes having U-shaped open circumferential cross section opened in a first axial direction of the wheel, said spokes being formed for supporting the vehicle, each of said spokes having undercut straps at one radially outer end of said spokes, each of said undercut straps extending in a second axial direction, said second axial direction being opposite to said first axial direction; a second molded part joined to said first molded part and partially closing said U-shaped open circumferential cross section of said first molded part along a radial length of said spokes, said second molded part having a cross section, said second molded part having a U-shaped open circumferential cross section, said cross sections of said first and second molded parts having complementary conical shapes in the axial directions, legs of said U-shaped open circumferential cross section of one of said first and second molded parts being arranged inside said U-shaped open circumferential cross section of the other of said first and second molded part, said legs and said conical shapes being arranged to mesh with each other conically; a rim well connected to said spokes by said undercut straps, said first and second molded parts provide a majority of support between said rim well and an axle of the vehicle.

2. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second molded parts of the wheel spider are connected with one another in a positive-locking manner via axially directed areas of the first molded part and a hub centering.

3. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second molded parts of the wheel spider are connected with one another in substance on surfaces that are in contact with one another or along at least one common connection line.

4. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein the open circumferential cross section of the spokes points in a direction of a vehicle central axis or to a side facing away from the vehicle.

5. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein lateral, axially directed contact surfaces of spoke segments and/or a hub centering are bonding surfaces.

6. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, further comprising spacing segments and a flat load application element wherein a position of the second molded part is carried out via the spacing segments, which are positioned by the flat load application element, which is received by the first molded part.

7. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wheel spider is composed of the first molded part, which is made of fiber composite and the second molded part which is metallic, which acts as a load application element, wherein the second molded part is connected with the first molded part via axially directed areas of spoke segments and a hub centering such that the second molded part and the first molded part are secured against rotation.

8. A wheel in accordance with claim 7, wherein the load application element forms the wheel hub.

9. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said first and second molded parts completely provide all support between said rim well and an axle of the vehicle.

10. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said spokes include lateral, axially directed areas forming the legs of said U-shape open circumferential cross section, said lateral, axially directed areas being bent over in parallel to an inner circumference of said rim wheel and connect to an inner side of said rim well.

11. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein: fully, partially consolidated, or non-consolidated ends of said spokes being textile braided over, or around, said rim well for connection of said spokes to said rim well.

12. A wheel in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said spokes include lateral, axially directed areas forming the legs of said U-shape open circumferential cross section, said lateral, axially directed areas being bent over in parallel to an inner circumference of the rim well and connect to an inner side of the rim well.

13. A wheel of a vehicle, the wheel comprising: a first molded part having a first radial wall with spokes extending radially outward from said first radial wall, each of said spokes having U-shaped open circumferential cross section opened in an axial direction of the wheel, said spokes being formed for supporting the vehicle, a second molded part having a second radial wall, said second molded part joined to said first molded part and partially closing said U-shaped open circumferential cross section of said first molded part along a radial length of said spokes, second molded part being mounted on said first molded part to have said first and second radial walls axially spaced from each other, said radial walls of said first and second molded parts each define a bolt hole for receiving a single bolt element, said bolt holes and the bolt element being adapted to attach the wheel to the vehicle; a rim well connected to said spokes, said first and second molded parts provide a majority of support between said rim well and an axle of the vehicle.

14. A wheel in accordance with claim 13, further comprising: a spacer defining a bolt hole for receiving the bolt element, said spacer being arranged between said radial walls to transfer force from the bolt element from one of said radial walls to the other of said radial walls.

15. A wheel in accordance with claim 13, further comprising: a hub centering extending axially from, and connecting, said radial wall of one of said molded parts to said other of said radial walls, said hub centering being radially spaced inward from said spokes.

16. A wheel in accordance with claim 13, further comprising: a hub centering extending axially from, and connecting, said radial wall of one of said molded parts to said other of said radial walls, said hub centering being radially spaced inward from said spokes and said bolt holes, said hub centering forming a bonding surface for said first and second molded parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a wheel;

(3) FIG. 2a is a view with details of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 2c is a perspective view of an alternative of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 4a is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing a version of the connection surfaces;

(8) FIG. 4b is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing another version of the connection surfaces;

(9) FIG. 4c is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing another version of the connection surfaces;

(10) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing spacing segments received by a load application element;

(11) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a wheel;

(12) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

(13) FIG. 8a is a cross sectional view showing textile braided structure of the rim well of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

(14) FIG. 8b is a cross sectional view showing another textile braided structure of the rim well of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

(15) FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

(16) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a wheel;

(17) FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

(18) FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a metallic load application element of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

(19) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a wheel with a detail XI;

(20) FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

(21) FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 13; and

(22) FIG. 16 is a cross sectional of the embodiment of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(23) Exemplary Embodiment 1 According to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 (a-c), FIG. 3, FIG. 4 (a-c), FIG. 5:

(24) In the first exemplary embodiment, the wheel spider is composed of two separate molded parts (2, 3), which form the spoke segments as well as the wheel hub. The spoke segments of the first molded part (2) are characterized on the vehicle side by an open cross section. Detail I shows the cross section of a spoke, the one in the area in which the molded part 2 does not close the opening in the U-shaped cross section of the first molded part (2). It can be recognized in detail II how this opening is covered in another area by the second molded part (3), which meshes with same in a positive-locking manner and likewise has a U-shaped cross section.The spokes are integrated axially and radially by means of a positive-locking connection (FIG. 3) in the textile structure of the rim well (1). The undercut is formed by the lateral, axially directed areas (4) of the spoke cross section, which are folded over toward the central axis of the spoke under the drop base connection and thus guarantee a flat connection (5). The connection surface or the wheel hub of the wheel spider is embodied by a second molded part (3), as a result of which the cross section of the spokes is completely closed (FIG. 2a, detail II). The second molded part may be designed here such that the open spoke cross section is partially (FIG. 2a) or completely closed in the radial direction to below the drop base of the rim (FIG. 2b). Furthermore, the spoke ends of the second molded part may be designed such that a closed cavity protected from media is generated between the two molded parts (FIG. 2c). The number of spoke segments can be selected as desired.

(25) The two molded parts (2, 3) are connected with one another in a positive-locking manner via the axially directed areas of the spoke profiles and the hub centering (6), as a result of which a possible bonding surface is formed. The connection surfaces of the two molded parts may be directed in relation to one another axially (FIG. 4a), conically (FIG. 4b) and/or by means of a snap-in connection (FIG. 4c) to center the two molded parts. In addition, the two molded parts are aligned in relation to one another via spacing segments (7), which are received by a flatly connected load application element (8), which is additionally used to absorb the wheel bolt elements, and thus accurately position the second molded part (3).

(26) Exemplary Embodiment 2 According to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 (a-b), FIG. 9:

(27) The wheel spider likewise consists of two fiber composite molded parts in this exemplary embodiment. The open cross section of the spokes is located now on the side facing away from the vehicle, so that the connection of the spoke segments to the rim well can take place over a large area. Furthermore, the spokes are connected with the drop base of the rim well by an undercut positive-locking connection, and the undercut straps of the spoke segments (5) can be integrated on or in the textile braided structure of the rim well (FIGS. 8a, 8b). This molded part (2) assumes at the same time the function of the wheel hub connection surface of the wheel. The second molded part (3) is positioned by means of corresponding spacing segments and thus closes the open cross section of the spoke segment completely.

(28) The two molded parts (2, 3) are connected with one another in a positive-locking manner via the borders of the spoke profiles and the hub centering (6), as a result of which a possible bonding surface is formed.

(29) Exemplary Embodiment 3 According to FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12:

(30) This exemplary embodiment differs from the preceding ones in that the wheel spider is composed of a metallic load application element (9) and a molded part made of fiber composite (2). The molded part with the spoke segments and with the wheel hub connection surface is connected, as was described in the exemplary embodiment 2, with the rim well. The metallic load application element (9) is characterized by a circumferential wave contour, as a result of which the element used to receive the wheel bolt elements is integrated between the axially directed areas of the spoke segments and the hub centering of the molded part such that it is secured against rotation (FIG. 12). The contact surfaces may be used for an additional bonded connection here.

(31) Exemplary Embodiment 4 According to FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16:

(32) This exemplary embodiment differs from exemplary embodiment 1 in that the two molded parts are joined together with a profile cross section, preferably U-profiles, which are open on the vehicle side (FIG. 13). The joint zone (10) thus formed may be used as a bonding surface. Furthermore, the joint zone (10) may be designed such that the connection of the two molded parts is embodied by means of a butt joint (FIG. 14) or overlapping connection (FIG. 15). The undercut, positive-locking connection between the first molded part and the rim well may be performed now by means of the securing hump of the rim well (hump) (FIG. 16).

(33) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.