Vehicle wheel rim

Abstract

A vehicle wheel rim for use on a motor vehicle, having a wheel rim well (1, 29), having an inner wheel rim flange (7, 30) and having an outer wheel rim flange, wherein the wheel rim well (1, 29) is delimited at its axial end regions by in each case one of the wheel rim flanges (7, 30), wherein the wheel rim flanges (7, 30) are formed by a radially encircling wall, said walls extending in each case at a predefinable angle (5, 27) with respect to the wheel rim well (1, 29).

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel rim for use on a motor vehicle, having a wheel rim well, an inner wheel rim flange and an outer wheel rim flange, wherein the wheel rim well is delimited at its axial end regions by in each case one of the wheel rim flanges, wherein the wheel rim flanges are formed by a radially encircling wall, said walls extending in each case at a predefinable angle with respect to the wheel rim well, wherein the vehicle wheel rim comprises a C-shaped pocket, wherein the C-shaped pocket is formed at least in part from constituent parts of the wheel rim flange and of the wheel rim well, wherein, in the region situated adjacent to the inner wheel rim flange, the wheel rim well has a thickened portion of material, which is arranged on the surface of the wheel rim well which faces away from the central axis of the wheel rim, and wherein the region of the wheel rim well between the inner wheel rim flange and the thickened portion of material forms a receiving region for a flank of a tire.

2. The vehicle wheel rim as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wheel rim flange is formed by an upper section, which extends away from the central axis of the wheel rim, starting from the wheel rim well, and by a lower section, which extends in the direction of the central axis, starting from the wheel rim well.

3. The vehicle wheel rim as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower section of the inner wheel rim flange is formed by a substantially rectilinear continuation of the upper section, wherein the lower section has a subsection angled in the direction of the center of the wheel rim well.

4. The vehicle wheel rim as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angled subsection of the lower section of the inner wheel rim flange extends substantially parallel to the wheel rim well and forms the C-shaped pocket with the wheel rim well.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in detail below by means of an illustrative embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a section, parallel to the central axis of the wheel rim, through an inner wheel rim flange,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a section, parallel to the central axis of the wheel rim, of an alternative embodiment of an inner wheel rim flange, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows another section, parallel to the central axis of the wheel rim, to illustrate the principle of action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a section through the center plane of a wheel rim, along the central axis. It shows a detail view, being the section through a wheel rim well 1 having a wheel rim flange 7 arranged laterally on the wheel rim well 1.

(6) The wheel rim well 1 extends further to the right beyond the subsection illustrated in FIG. 1. Adjoining the figure shown at the bottom is a wheel disk, which can be rotated about the central axis (likewise not shown) of the wheel rim, which extends in the plane of the drawing. The wheel rim is formed essentially from the wheel rim well 1 and the wheel disk.

(7) The wheel rim well 1 consists essentially of an axial extent, which is formed by a wall. Laterally adjoining an end region of said wheel rim well 1 is the wheel rim flange 7. The wheel rim flange 7 shown in FIG. 1 forms the inner wheel rim flange of the wheel rim. Here, the term the inner wheel rim flange refers to the wheel rim flange which is arranged on the side of the wheel rim which faces the vehicle.

(8) The wheel rim flange 7 shown in FIG. 1 is formed essentially from two sections 6, 8. The upper section 6 of the wheel rim flange 7 projects at a predefinable angle 5 from the wheel rim well 1. The upper section 6 extends from the surface 2 which represents the surface of the wheel rim well 1 which faces away from the central axis of the wheel rim. The predefinable angle 5 between the wheel rim well 1 and the upper section 6 of the wheel rim flange 7 is somewhat greater than 90 in FIG. 1 and corresponds approximately to an angle of 100.

(9) In alternative embodiments, the angle 5 can also assume different values but it is advantageously above 90 in order to ensure the action according to the invention of the wheel rim flange. The angle 5 should be chosen according to the respective demand on the wheel rim flange 7.

(10) A thickened portion of material 3 is arranged on the surface 2 of the wheel rim well 1 adjacent to the upper section of the wheel rim flange 7. Together with the upper section 6, this thickened portion of material 3 forms a receiving region 4. This receiving region 4 serves subsequently to receive a flank of a tire.

(11) Here, the thickened portion of material 3 contributes in particular to securing the flank of the tire against slipping to the right toward the center of the wheel rim well 1. This safeguard against slipping sideways has the effect that a tire can absorb higher lateral forces on its flanks without slipping out of its predetermined position.

(12) The upper section 6 of the wheel rim flange 7 serves for the lateral fixing of a tire flank which can be introduced into the receiving region 4. In particular, the upper section 6 prevents the tire flank from slipping sideways off the wheel rim.

(13) Starting from the wheel rim well 1, the wheel rim flange 7 is furthermore continued downward by section 8. Section 8 extends substantially as a rectilinear continuation of the upper section 6. In alternative embodiments, however, it is entirely conceivable to arrange section 8 at an angle with respect to section 6.

(14) Section 8 has an angled subsection 9, which extends substantially parallel to the wheel rim well 1. With its angled subsection 9 and the wheel rim well 1, the lower section 8 thus forms a C-shaped pocket 10, which is arranged on the surface 11 of the wheel rim well 1 which faces the central axis of the wheel rim.

(15) The entire embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, of the wheel rim well 1 and of the wheel rim flange 7 is characterized in that all transitions in the shape are formed by radii which are as gentle as possible. The use of sharp edges is very largely avoided in order to avoid introducing disruptive notching effects into the wheel rim well 1 or the wheel rim flange 7, which could have a negative effect on the durability of the entire wheel rim. Moreover, the aim is a thickness of the material which is matched to the occurring loads and is as small as possible in order in this way to produce a wheel rim which is as far as possible optimized in terms of weight.

(16) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a wheel rim well 29. As a departure from FIG. 1, the wheel rim flange 30 is now formed only from sections which are arranged above the wheel rim well 29, on the surface 20 of the wheel rim well 29 which faces away from the central axis.

(17) The wheel rim flange 30 adjoins the wheel rim well 29 laterally. The first section 31 of the wheel rim flange 30 projects upward from the wheel rim well 29. In this arrangement, section 31 is arranged at a predefinable angle 27 with respect to the wheel rim well 29. The lower section 31 is followed by a division of the wheel rim flange 30 into a T-shaped structure, which has a first leg 23 and a second leg 26.

(18) Here, the first leg 23 extends substantially parallel to the wheel rim well 29. The second leg 26 adjoins the lower section 31 of the wheel rim flange 30 at a predefinable angle 25. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the second leg 26 extends approximately at a right angle to the wheel rim well 29.

(19) Adjacent to the second leg 26, the first leg 23 has a thickened portion of material 22. Between this thickened portion of material 22 and the second leg 26, a receiving region 24 is formed, which can subsequently receive the flank of a tire. In this arrangement, the thickened portion of material 22 serves to secure the tire flank against slipping toward the center of the wheel rim. At the same time, the second leg 26 prevents the tire flank from slipping sideways off the wheel rim.

(20) The first leg 23, which extends substantially parallel to the wheel rim well 29, forms a C-shaped pocket between the surface 20 of the wheel rim well 29 that lies on the surface 28 of the wheel rim well 29 which faces away from the central axis and the lower section 31 of the wheel rim flange 30. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this C-shaped pocket 21 is now arranged on the surface 28 of the wheel rim well 29 which faces away from the central axis of the wheel rim.

(21) In the illustrative embodiment in FIG. 2 too, all the transitions have a radius profile which is as gentle as possible. In the illustrative embodiment in FIG. 2 too, the introduction of sharp edges from which a notching effect can emanate is eliminated.

(22) FIG. 3 shows another schematic illustration of a wheel rim flange 42, which is connected laterally to a wheel rim well 48. A receiving region 41 is likewise formed between the wheel rim flange 42 and a thickened portion of material 40 on the surface of the wheel rim well 48 which faces away from the central axis. Here, the wheel rim flange 42 extends at a predefinable angle 43 with respect to the wheel rim well 48 in a first section 51.

(23) Here too, the receiving region 41 serves to receive the flank of a tire.

(24) In the mounted state, i.e. with a wheel fitted on the wheel rim, forces due inter alia to the air filling of the tire and the weight of the vehicle occur at the wheel rim and the tire and hence also at the wheel rim well 48 and the wheel rim flange 42.

(25) Particularly owing to a radial load which acts in this case, a shear center 49 arises to the left of the wheel rim flange 42, below the wheel rim well 48. The position of the shear center 49 gives rise to a moment 50 which acts upward in a clockwise direction from the outside on the wheel rim flange 42. Owing to this moment 50, the wheel rim flange 42 is subject to a force which bends the wheel rim flange 42 to the right toward the center of the wheel rim well 48 and thereby raises it. The acting moment 50 reduces the angle 43 between the wheel rim well 48 and the wheel rim flange 42.

(26) This gives rise to an effect of the wheel rim flange 42 which is equivalent to a C-shaped profile. A C-shaped profile 45 of this kind is illustrated in the lower part of FIG. 3. It consists of a wheel rim flange 44 which extends through a first section 52 from the indicated wheel rim well 46. The C-shaped design gives rise to a pocket 47 which is formed by the wheel rim flange 44 and the wheel rim well 46.

(27) By virtue of the raising of the wheel rim flanges 7, 30, 42 and the resulting effect similar to that of a C profile 45, the seating of the tire in the receiving regions 4, 24, 41 is 5 improved and, in addition to the prevention of slipping off sideways, radial lifting of the tire is also prevented in an effective manner by the wheel rim flange 7, 30, 42.

(28) FIG. 3 serves merely to illustrate the principle of action and does not form an embodiment according to the invention. It serves to illustrate that a shear center positioned as shown in FIG. 3 causes a force to act on the wheel rim flange 7, 30, 42 which has the effect of raising the wheel rim flange 7, 30, 42.