WHEEL HUB

Abstract

An wheel hub made from cast material, in particular for commercial vehicles, comprising a wheel hub body, wherein the wheel hub body consists of the axially successive sections of an outer extension section, a neck section and preferably a brake disc section, further comprising a wheel flange, wherein the wheel flange is formed integrally on the wheel hub body, preferably in the region between the outer extension section and the neck section, and a through hole, wherein the through hole extends axially through the entire wheel hub body, wherein the outer extension section has an inner sleeve and a reinforcing skeleton, wherein the reinforcing skeleton and the inner sleeve are arranged coaxially, and the reinforcing skeleton surrounds the inner sleeve.

Claims

1. An wheel hub (1) made from cast material comprising a wheel hub body (11), wherein the wheel hub body (11) consists of the axially successive sections of an outer extension section (4), a neck section (3) and preferably a brake disc section (5), further comprising a wheel flange (2), wherein the wheel flange (2) is formed integrally on the wheel hub body (11), preferably in the region between the outer extension section (4) and the neck section (3), and a through hole (9), wherein the through hole extends axially through the entire wheel hub body (11), wherein the outer extension section (4) has an inner sleeve (7) and a reinforcing skeleton (8), wherein the reinforcing skeleton (8) and the inner sleeve (7) are arranged coaxially, and the reinforcing skeleton (8) surrounds the inner sleeve (7).

2. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing skeleton (8) is formed integrally on the outer circumference of the inner sleeve (7) in the axially outer region (12) of the outer extension section (4) and on the outside (13) of the wheel flange (2).

3. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing skeleton (8) has integrally formed portions (15) on the outer circumference of the inner sleeve (7), in the axially outer region (12) of the outer extension section (4), wherein a plurality of integrally formed portions (15) is arranged along the outer circumference of the inner sleeve (7), preferably in a regular pattern.

4. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing skeleton (8) has ribs (16), wherein the ribs (16) extend out of the integrally formed portions (15) as far as the outside (13) of the wheel flange (2).

5. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 4, wherein the ribs (16) widen in the direction of the outside (13) of the wheel flange (2) and merge to form a continuous ring (17), wherein the continuous ring (17) is formed integrally on the outside (13) of the wheel flange (2).

6. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing skeleton (8) extends conically from the axially outer region (12) on the outer circumference of the inner sleeve (7) to the outside (13) of the wheel flange (2).

7. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 8, wherein the conical profile of the reinforcing skeleton (8) extends in a continuous manner to the inner sleeve (7).

8. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wheel flange (2) is formed integrally on the wheel hub body (11) by means of webs (19), wherein passages (18) are formed between the webs (19) along the circumference of the wheel hub body (11).

9. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ribs (16) of the reinforcing skeleton (8) are unsupported between the integrally formed portions (15) and the continuous ring (17).

10. The wheel hub (1) according to claim 1, wherein a channel (24) is formed between the outer surface (26) of the inner sleeve (7) and the inner surface (25) of the reinforcing skeleton (8) or inner surfaces of the ribs (16).

Description

DRAWINGS

[0023] An illustrative embodiment of the invention is described by means of the figures, although the invention is not restricted only to the illustrative embodiment. Of the figures:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a wheel hub according to the invention, wherein the wheel hub face oriented towards the outside of the vehicle faces forwards,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a wheel hub according to the invention, wherein the face oriented towards the inside of the vehicle faces forwards,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a two-dimensional view of a longitudinal section through a wheel hub according to the invention, wherein the section runs between two ribs,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of a longitudinal section through a wheel hub according to the invention, wherein the section runs between two ribs,

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a two-dimensional view of a longitudinal section through a wheel hub according to the invention, wherein the section runs along a rib, and

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional view of a longitudinal section through a wheel hub according to the invention, wherein the section runs along a rib.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the wheel hub 1 according to the invention in three dimensions. In FIG. 1, the wheel hub 1 is oriented as though looking at the wheel of a vehicle from the outside. In FIG. 2, the inward-oriented side of the wheel hub faces forwards. The wheel hub 1 according to the invention is produced from cast material and is preferably used for commercial vehicles. The outer face 20 has holes 22, which are made in the face 20 only after the casting process, as are the through holes 23 for attaching a rim.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the wheel hub 1 according to the invention in longitudinal section, wherein the section runs between two ribs 16 of the reinforcing skeleton 8, this being easily visible in FIG. 4. The wheel hub 1 according to the invention comprises a wheel hub body 11, wherein this can be divided into sections, even if the wheel hub 1 is an integrally cast part. The wheel hub body 11 has an outer extension section 4, which is oriented in the direction of the outside of the vehicle. Adjoining this is the neck section 3, which is preferably followed by the brake disc section 5. Of course, the wheel hub body 11 can also be constructed differently, and this should be matched to the vehicle.

[0032] The brake disc (not shown) is attached to the brake section 5 by means of the brake receptacle 6, although other versions of attachment are also conceivable. The through hole 9 passes through the entire wheel hub 1 or wheel hub body 11. In the embodiment shown, the through hole 9 has wheel bearing receptacles 10 to accommodate the bearings therein and to support the wheel hub 1 on the vehicle axle.

[0033] Of course, other embodiments are also conceivable, especially since the wheel hub 1 according to the invention can be used for driven and for non-driven axles.

[0034] The wheel flange 2 for attaching the wheel is arranged in the region between the outer extension section 4 and the neck section 3, wherein the wheel flange 2 is formed integrally on the wheel hub body 11 via webs 19, passages 18 thereby being formed between the webs 19, this being easily visible in FIGS. 5 and 6 since, there, the longitudinal section passes through a rib 16 of the reinforcing skeleton 8. In the embodiment shown, the wheel flange 2 is of corrugated design at the outer circumference in order to save weight here too. Of course, other outer contours, e.g. a simple circular shape, are also possible.

[0035] The outer extension section 4 adjoins the neck section 3. This section 4 has an inner sleeve 7, which is surrounded by the concentrically and coaxially extending reinforcing skeleton 8. This means that integrally formed portions 15 of the reinforcing skeleton 8 are formed integrally on the outer axial region 12 of the inner sleeve 7, from which portions the ribs 16 of the reinforcing skeleton 8 extend. The reinforcing skeleton 8 has a conical profile and extends as far as the outside of the wheel flange 13. The ribs 16 of the reinforcing skeleton 8 widen at the circumference until they merge ahead of the outside of the wheel flange 13 to form a continuous ring 17, wherein the widening of the rib 16 does not have to take place in a constant manner; on the contrary, the ribs 16 can merge more or less abruptly just ahead of the continuous ring 17, as can be seen from the figures. By virtue of the fact that the ribs 16 are arranged only on the integrally formed portions 15, which are preferably arranged in a regular pattern on the circumference of the inner sleeve 7, and are attached via the continuous ring 17, which is formed integrally on the outside of the wheel flange 13, and otherwise are unsupported, a channel 24 is formed between the outer surface 26 of the inner sleeve 7 and the inside 25 of the ribs 16 or of the reinforcing skeleton 8, wherein the channel 24 runs all the way around between the reinforcing skeleton 8 and the inner sleeve 7. The channel 24, together with the passages 18 in the wheel flange 5, allows good heat dissipation by a possible air flow.

[0036] By means of the reinforcing skeleton 8, it is now ensured that tilting of the wheel flange 2 relative to the axis or wheel hub body 11 extending perpendicularly thereto is made impossible, even under high loads, since the reinforcing skeleton 8 forms a reinforcement in this region and nevertheless allows a lightweight version of the wheel hub 1. As a result, it is possible to dispense with thick walls for the wheel bearing body 11, especially in the outer extension section 4.