FR3085307A1 - AUTOMOTIVE ALUMINUM VEHICLE WHEEL WITH AT LEAST ONE STIFFENER INSERT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an aluminum motor vehicle wheel (1), the wheel (1) having an internal hub (2) and an external peripheral rim (3) forming a tire rim, spokes extending between the hub (2 ) internal and the periphery (3) external peripheral. At least one stiffener insert (6) is positioned between two adjacent spokes, being at least secured to the internal hub (2) or to an element (8) connected to the internal hub (2) by at least one securing means (9), said at least one stiffener insert (6) extending from the inner hub (2) towards the outer peripheral periphery (3) by decreasing in section by approaching radially the external peripheral periphery (3). Application in the field of motor vehicles.

Description

ALUMINUM MOTOR VEHICLE WHEEL WITH AT LEAST ONE STIFFENER INSERT The present invention relates to an aluminum motor vehicle wheel with at least one stiffener insert. In known manner, the wheel has an internal hub and an external peripheral periphery forming a tire rim, spokes extending between the internal hub and the external peripheral periphery.

Nowadays, on motor vehicles, there are three types of wheel family, each wheel family having advantages and disadvantages. The first family of wheels includes sheet metal wheels with the advantages of their price and lightness and the disadvantages of very little freedom to create style, hence the need to add to them a style covering, of the hubcap type.

The second family of wheels includes cast aluminum wheels, with the advantage of great freedom in style and the disadvantages of mass and high price. The second family of wheels also includes forged aluminum wheels, with the advantages of great freedom of style and greater lightness than a foundry wheel and the disadvantages of mass and high price.

The second family of wheels also includes structural aluminum wheels with the advantages of lightness and price and the disadvantages of a lack of style with the need to add a dressing of style and mechanical performance just as necessary.

The third family of wheels includes wheels made of composite materials with the advantages of great lightness and great performance and as disadvantages an exorbitant price and a composite material which may prove to be fragile.

Today the type of wheels that seems most relevant, given the increase in wheel diameter over the years, is a structural aluminum wheel with stylish trim.

This type of structural aluminum wheel makes it possible to combine a contained mass, guaranteeing a reduction in unsprung masses with an attractive style, while keeping an acceptable price compared to a composite wheel. However, this type of wheel has mechanical performance often just at the limit of the specifications of the manufacturers. An improvement in these mechanical performances is achieved only at the expense of a reduced mass.

EP-A1-1 980 419 describes hubcaps positioned between the spokes of a wheel. Attachment zones allow the hubcap to be attached. It is therefore known to position an insert as a hubcap as an additional spoke. However, this requires positioning an additional spoke as a hubcap which may not be suitable for an insert exerting local reinforcement of an aluminum wheel.

Therefore, the problem underlying the invention is for an aluminum wheel to strengthen its stiffening by simple and effective means, not requiring redesign of the wheel.

To achieve this objective, an aluminum motor vehicle wheel is provided according to the invention, the wheel having an internal hub and an external peripheral periphery forming a tire rim, spokes extending between the internal hub and the external peripheral periphery, characterized in that at least one stiffening insert is positioned between two adjacent spokes being at least secured to the internal hub or to an element connected to the internal hub by at least one fixing means, said at least one stiffening insert extending from the inner hub to the outer peripheral periphery, decreasing in section by approaching radially the external peripheral periphery.

What is understood by securing means is a removable or non-removable material securing element and not a layer of glue or a weld. This joining element is independent of the insert by not forming an integral part of the insert and is added during the joining of the insert by penetrating locally into the insert for its joining.

The technical effect is to obtain an aluminum wheel reinforced by at least one stiffener insert positioned against the wheel, which thus minimizes the weight gain of the wheel. The problem with aluminum wheels, especially structural aluminum wheels, was their lack of mechanical strength, which hampered their use, although these aluminum wheels had significant advantages in terms of lightness and price. The presence of at least one stiffening insert increases the price of the wheel and their weight only slightly.

With the application of the present invention, such aluminum wheels have improved mechanical performance as well as increased acoustic properties while only increasing the mass negligibly. It is possible to give the insert or the stiffening inserts an embellishing function or to coat them with an embellishing insert, which is an additional advantage, this embellishing insert being able to be a polyamide style insert.

The stiffening inserts can be attached to the wheel by screwing or riveting. It should be borne in mind that, for example in the case of an electric motor vehicle, the acoustic requirements concerning rolling noises and acoustics in general are more important than on a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and therefore very favorable to the use of such wheels.

In the context of the present invention, it is possible to create a wheel common to the two versions either with electric or thermal propulsion or with both propellants combined with the installation of stiffening inserts on the wheels mounted on vehicles electric cars as well as on thermal or hybrid motor vehicles.

These optimized stiffening inserts, in particular with regard to an optimized stiffness ratio with respect to the mass, these stiffening inserts which may be made of aluminum or composite, have a small impact on the mass of the wheel and make it possible to fully comply with the specifications. mechanical and acoustic wheel.

The stiffener insert or each stiffener insert can be positioned inside the openings of the aluminum wheel. The insert or each stiffening insert can be adjusted and screwed to the wheel to guarantee and / or increase the stiffness of the wheel, thus optimizing the acoustics.

The fact of using a material securing means independent of the insert makes it possible to make the insert or each insert removable relative to the wheel either by breaking the securing means when it is not removable or either by detaching a removable securing means of the insert, which is an easier operation than detaching a glued or welded insert. It follows that a defective insert can be more easily removed than if it were glued or welded, which is very advantageous.

Advantageously, said at least one stiffening insert is predominantly planar in shape on an external face turned towards the outside of the wheel and of rounded shape on an internal face opposite the external face and turned towards the inside of the wheel. , said at least one stiffening insert being of aluminum or of composite material. The flat shape is aerodynamic. On the other hand, the internal face is rounded by entering the wheel to increase the weight of the stiffening insert and increase its stiffening effect.

Advantageously, the external face of said at least one stiffening insert is triangular. This corresponds substantially to the cut-out between two spokes of the wheel.

Advantageously, said at least one stiffening insert has a foot widening relative to an insert body, the foot resting on the internal hub or the element connected to the internal hub and being traversed by the securing means under form of screw or rivet penetrating into the internal hub or the element connected to the internal hub.

This is advantageously the first means of securing the insert, the internal element being a base of the spokes common to all the spokes and surrounding the internal hub.

Advantageously, said at least one stiffening insert ends in a tip-shaped end at the outer peripheral periphery.

Advantageously, the tip-shaped end of said at least one stiffening insert carries a lug extending substantially perpendicularly to the rest of the insert, the lug fitting against an inner portion of the outer peripheral periphery by marrying the shape of the inner portion of the outer peripheral periphery and carrying a passage for a fastening element with the portion of the outer peripheral periphery. This represents the second attachment point of the stiffener insert.

Advantageously, the lug penetrates more than a quarter of a depth in the radial direction of the wheel.

Advantageously, the wheel carries several stiffening inserts, each stiffening insert being housed between a pair of two adjacent spokes each two pairs of adjacent spokes. Putting a stiffener insert every second pair of two adjacent spokes is sufficient and performed symmetrically to distribute the stiffening evenly over the entire wheel.

Each two pairs of adjacent spokes means that each spoke is associated with only one insert, which may also be common to a spoke placed before in the direction of rotation of the wheel, but that, in this case, each spoke is not associated with an insert placed between it and a spoke placed afterwards in the direction of rotation of the wheel.

Advantageously, the spokes are curved relative to a radial direction to the wheel, being of two different widths, a spoke with a larger width being adjacent to a spoke with a smaller width. This, although not limiting, is frequent for structural aluminum wheels.

Advantageously, the spokes are connected to a common base surrounding the internal hub. This contributes to the reinforcement of the wheel by the present of the base common to all the spokes, the common base being able to be the element connected to the previously mentioned hub.

Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with regard to the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a front view of an aluminum wheel according to the present invention with stiffening inserts secured to the wheel by added fixing means,

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of a set of stiffening inserts forming part of a wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the stiffening inserts being shown separately and without the wheel,

- Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of a stiffening insert forming part of a wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2, the stiffening insert being shown enlarged with respect to a stiffening insert illustrated in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a view in radial section of a wheel according to the present invention with a stiffening insert,

- Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a front view of a wheel portion according to the present invention showing a stiffening insert between two wheel spokes.

It should be borne in mind that the figures are given by way of examples and are not limitative of the invention. They constitute schematic representations of principle intended to facilitate the understanding of the invention and are not necessarily at the scale of practical applications. In particular, the dimensions of the various elements illustrated are not representative of reality.

In what follows, reference is made to all the figures taken in combination. When reference is made to one or more specific figures, these figures are to be taken in combination with the other figures for the recognition of the designated numerical references.

In the figures, a single insert as well as only one of their constituent parts, a single radius of large width and a single radius of small width are referenced, but what is stated for each element or each part referenced is valid for all other elements or parts of the same type.

Referring to all the figures, the present invention relates to a wheel 1 of an aluminum motor vehicle, advantageously a wheel 1 of structural aluminum. The wheel 1 has an inner hub 2 and an outer peripheral periphery 3 forming a tire rim, spokes 4, 5 extending between the internal hub 2 and the outer peripheral periphery 3.

According to the present invention, at least one stiffener insert 6, preferably several 6 stiffener inserts are positioned in an openwork between two adjacent spokes 4, 5 being at least secured to the internal hub 2 or to an element 8 connected to the hub 2 internal by at least one securing means 9.

The securing means 9 is a material element independent of the insert 6 such as a rivet, a screw or a threaded rod and is not a layer of glue or welds, in particular by points or cord. The securing means 9 is advantageously removable to allow disassembly of the associated insert 6.

The stiffener insert 6 may be visible from the outside or hidden by an insert of the hubcap type. Its main function is to strengthen the wheel 1 in aluminum.

In this configuration, the stiffener insert or the 6 stiffener inserts may extend from the inner hub 2 to the periphery 3 of the external device by decreasing in section by approaching radially the periphery 3 of the external device. As will be described more fully below, it is possible that each stiffener insert 6 is also secured to the periphery 3 of the external device.

The stiffener insert or the 6 stiffener inserts can be predominantly planar on an external face 6a facing outwards from the wheel 1. By cons, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the stiffener insert or 6 stiffener inserts can be rounded in shape on an internal face 6b opposite the external face 6a and turned towards the inside of the wheel 1. The stiffener insert or the 6 stiffener inserts can be made of aluminum or of composite material, their material being selected to present a strong stiffening effect for a moderate weight with a stiffening ratio obtained on high weight.

As can be seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, the outer face 6a of the stiffener insert 6 or the stiffener inserts 6 may be triangular, which corresponds substantially to the shape of the perforation, the spokes 4, 5 not extending in a radial direction of the wheel 1 but being curved. The vertices of the triangle are advantageously rounded.

As can be seen in particular in Figure 3, the stiffening insert or the 6 stiffening inserts may have a foot 7 widening towards the inside of the wheel 1 relative to the rest of the stiffening insert 6 forming mainly an insert body.

The foot 7 can rest on the internal hub 2 or an element 8 connected to the internal hub 2, in particular a common base 8 from which all the spokes 4, 5 leave around the periphery 3 external device.

The foot 7 can be crossed by the securing means 9 in the form of a screw or a rivet penetrating into the internal hub 2 or the element 8 connected to the internal hub 2. A release of material in the foot 7 can provide easier access to a passage recess 7a of the securing means 9 in the foot 7.

At its other end facing the periphery 3 external device, the stiffener insert 6 or each stiffener insert 6 may terminate in a tip 6c in the form of a point, advantageously rounded, at the periphery 3 external device.

As can be seen in Figures 2 to 4, the tip-shaped end 6c of the stiffener insert 6 or of each stiffener insert 6 can carry a lug 10 extending substantially perpendicularly to the rest of the insert 6.

This lug 10 can be inserted against an inner portion of the periphery 3 external device by matching the shape of the inner portion of the periphery 3 external device. This lug 10 can carry a passage 10a for a fastening element 11 with the portion of the periphery 3 external peripheral, advantageously a screw or a rivet.

As is particularly visible in Figure 4, the lug 10 of each stiffener insert 6 can penetrate more than a quarter of a depth in the radial direction of the wheel

1. This increases the mass of the stiffener insert 6 by concealing it in the wheel 1.

As previously mentioned, the wheel 1 can carry several inserts 6 stiffeners, each insert 6 stiffener being housed between a pair of two spokes 4, 5 adjacent each two pairs of spokes 4, 5 adjacent, that is to say that a spoke 4 or 5 is associated with only one stiffener insert 6 located between the spoke 4 or 5 and an adjacent spoke 5 or 4. There may for example be five inserts 6 stiffeners for a wheel 1.

The spokes 4, 5 can be curved relative to a radial direction to the wheel 1, being of two different widths, a spoke with a larger width 4 being adjacent to a spoke with a smaller width 5. This is shown in Figures 1 and 5. There can be five spokes with a larger width 4 and five spokes with a smaller width 5.

The spokes 4, 5 can be curved with respect to a radial direction to the wheel 1, being of two different widths, a spoke with a larger width 4 being adjacent to a spoke with a smaller width 5.

The solution proposed by the present invention finds a particularly judicious application for electric motor vehicles for which the acoustics are important while also being able to be adapted on vehicles with thermal engine. The wheels 1 proposed by the present invention can be shared for electric motor vehicles, with combustion engine and hybrids, hence an increase in the volumes of the wheels 1 produced and a reduction in costs.

The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only by way of examples.

Claims (10)

Claims: 1. Wheel (1) of an aluminum motor vehicle, the wheel (1) having an inner hub (2) and an outer periphery (3) forming a tire rim, spokes (4, 5) extending between the hub (2) internal and the periphery (3) external peripheral, characterized in that at least one stiffener insert (6) is positioned between two adjacent spokes (4, 5) being at least secured to the internal hub (2) or to an element (8) connected to the inner hub (2) by at least one securing means (9), said at least one stiffener insert (6) extending from the inner hub (2) towards the outer peripheral periphery (3) in decreasing in section by approaching radially the outer peripheral periphery (3). 2. Wheel (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one stiffener insert (6) is predominantly planar in shape on an external face (6a) facing outwards from the wheel (1) and is rounded in shape on an internal face (6b) opposite the external face (6a) and turned towards the inside of the wheel (1), said at least one stiffener insert (6) being made of aluminum or of composite material. 3. Wheel (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the outer face (6a) of said at least one stiffener insert (6) is triangular. 4. Wheel (1) according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein said at least one stiffener insert (6) has a foot (7) widening relative to an insert body, the foot (7) resting on the internal hub (2) or the element (8) connected to the internal hub (2) and being traversed by the securing means (9) in the form of a screw or rivet penetrating into the internal hub (2) or the element (8) connected to the internal hub (2). 5. Wheel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one stiffener insert (6) ends in a tip-shaped end (6c) at the periphery (3) external device. 6. Wheel (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the tip-shaped end (6c) of said at least one stiffener insert (6) carries a lug (10) extending substantially perpendicularly to the rest of the insert, the lug (10) being inserted against an inner portion of the outer peripheral periphery (3) by matching the shape of the inner portion of the outer peripheral periphery (3) and carrying a passage (10a) for a fixing element (11) with the portion of the periphery (3) external peripheral. 7. Wheel (1) according to any one of the two preceding claims, in which the lug (10) penetrates more than a quarter of a depth in the radial direction of the wheel 5 (1). 8. Wheel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which carries several inserts (6) stiffeners, each insert (6) stiffener being housed between a pair of two spokes (4, 5) adjacent each two pairs of spokes ( 4, 5) adjacent. 9. Wheel (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the spokes (4, 5) are curved with respect to a radial direction to the wheel (1), being of two different widths, a spoke with greater width ( 4) being adjacent to a narrower radius (5). 10. Wheel (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the spokes (4, 5) are connected to a common base (8) surrounding the hub (2) internal.