Wheel for vehicle

Abstract

A wheel for a vehicle is disclosed. A wheel for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed invention comprises a wheel rim on which a tire is mounted and a wheel disc connected to the wheel rim, and may include: i) an air inlet installed on the wheel rim and connected to the interior of the tire through the outer circumferential surface of the wheel rim; and ii) at least one resonator having a resonance space connected to a branch hole branched from the air inlet, coupled to the air inlet, and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the wheel rim.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a wheel for a vehicle, and more specifically, to a wheel for a vehicle capable of reducing road noise generated during the operation of a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicle fuel efficiency and noise issues have recently become major points of consumer complaint. As consumer standards rise, there is a growing trend to prefer vehicles that are more comfortable and quiet inside.

[0003] Road noise in a vehicle can be broadly divided into resonance, booming, and rumble, and among these, resonance is one of the noises that enters the cabin through the ground, tires, wheels, chassis parts, cross members, etc.

[0004] Since such road noise causes severe discomfort to drivers as vibrations received from the road surface during driving are transmitted to the tires, suspension, and body, methods to reduce it are continuously being researched.

[0005] Accordingly, the rigidity of the chassis transmission system is increased, or dynamic dampers or sound-absorbing materials are applied. However, these improvement methods are not fundamental solutions to the source of road noise ingress, but rather passive measures to minimize the transmission of road noise from the vehicle body into the cabin. Furthermore, the use of separate components causes problems such as increased vehicle weight and higher costs.

[0006] The matters described in this background technology section are written to enhance understanding of the background of the invention and may include matters that are not prior art already known to those skilled in the art to which this technology belongs. The problem to be solved

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a vehicle wheel capable of effectively reducing road noise caused by various factors during vehicle operation by applying a Helmholtz resonator. means of solving the problem

[0008] A wheel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a wheel rim on which a tire is mounted and a wheel disc connected to the wheel rim, and may include: i) an air inlet installed on the wheel rim and connected to the interior of the tire through the outer circumferential surface of the wheel rim; and ii) at least one resonator having a resonance space connected to a branch hole branched from the air inlet, coupled to the air inlet, and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the wheel rim.

[0009] In addition, in the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the resonator may form a coupling hole coupled to the air inlet.

[0010] In addition, the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a sealing unit that is coupled to the air inlet and seals the branch hole and the resonance space in the coupling hole formed in the resonator to couple the air inlet.

[0011] In addition, in the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing unit may include a reinforcing ring made of metal material that has a connecting hole connecting the branch hole and the resonance space, is coupled to the coupling hole, and is fastened to the air inlet in a nut-like manner.

[0012] In addition, in the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing unit may include a rubber O-ring installed on the inner circumference of the reinforcing ring and fitted into the air inlet.

[0013] In addition, in the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the air inlet may include an air inlet housing that forms an air inlet passage connected to the branch hole and penetrates the outer and inner surfaces of the wheel rim and is fixed to the wheel rim, an air inlet body installed in the inlet housing that has an air inlet hole connecting the inside of the tire and the air inlet passage, a valve body installed in the inlet housing that opens and closes the air inlet passage, and a cap coupled to the inlet housing.

[0014] In addition, in the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, a female screw thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the reinforcing ring, and a male screw thread that engages with the female screw thread can be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the injection port housing.

[0015] In addition, in the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the resonator may be made of a plastic material and may be provided in an arc shape forming the resonance space inside.

[0016] In addition, in the vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the resonator may be fixed to the inner circumference of the wheel rim through an adhesive sheet. Effects of the invention

[0017] Embodiments of the present invention can effectively reduce road noise caused by various factors during vehicle operation and reduce man-hours associated with the attachment and detachment of resonators.

[0018] Furthermore, other effects that can be obtained or predicted by the embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention. That is, various effects predicted according to the embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed within the detailed description to be set forth below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0019] These drawings are for reference to explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, the technical concept of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a combined perspective view illustrating a wheel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4 are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a wheel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0021] To clearly explain the present invention, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components throughout the specification.

[0022] The size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are depicted arbitrarily for the convenience of explanation, and thus the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is shown in the drawings; furthermore, the thickness has been enlarged to clearly represent various parts and regions.

[0023] Furthermore, in the detailed description below, the designation of components as "1st," "2nd," etc., is intended to distinguish them due to their identical nature, and is not strictly limited to that order in the description below.

[0024] Throughout the specification, when a part is described as including a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a combined perspective view illustrating a wheel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle wheel (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided as a tire / wheel assembly connected to the axle of a vehicle. This wheel (100) basically includes a wheel rim (1) and a wheel disc (3).

[0027] In the above, the wheel rim (1) is a part on which a tire (5) (see FIG. 4 below) is mounted, and forms an inner surface (A) and an outer surface (B), and forms a rim flange (7) that is coupled with the tire (5) on both edge portions.

[0028] The wheel disc (3) includes a wheel hub (4) that is coupled to an axle at the inner center of the wheel rim (1), and a plurality of spokes (6) that radially connect the wheel hub (4) and the rim flange (7).

[0029] Here, the wheel disc (3) forms an opening (8) of an area set between the spokes (6), and the spokes (6) are provided in a shape in which the width gradually decreases from the rim flange (7) side to the wheel hub (4) side.

[0030] Since the basic configuration of the wheel rim (1) and wheel disc (3) is a known technology widely known in the industry, a more detailed description of the configuration is omitted in this specification.

[0031] A vehicle wheel (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention is structured to effectively reduce road noise caused by various factors during vehicle operation.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are cross-sectional views illustrating a vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the vehicle wheel (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention is basically configured to include an air inlet (10), a resonator (50), and a sealing unit (70), and is described as follows according to the configuration.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air inlet (10) is an air injection module for injecting air into the interior of a tire (5) that is coupled through a rim flange (7) to the outer circumferential surface (B) of a wheel rim (1).

[0035] The above air inlet (10) is installed on the wheel rim (1) and is connected to the inside of the tire (5) through the outer surface (B) of the wheel rim (1).

[0036] The above air inlet (10) is installed by penetrating the wheel rim (1) from the outer circumferential surface (B) of the wheel rim (1) toward the inner circumferential surface (A), and it is obvious that the part for injecting air is located on the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1).

[0037] This air inlet (10) is installed in a mounting hole (H) formed in a wheel rim (1) and includes an inlet housing (11), an air inlet body (13), a valve body (15), and a cap (17).

[0038] The above injection port housing (11) penetrates the outer circumferential surface (B) and the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1) and is fixed to the wheel rim (1). For example, the injection port housing (11) can be fixed by screwing into the mounting hole (H) of the wheel rim (1).

[0039] The above-mentioned inlet housing (11) forms an air injection passage (19) as an internal hollow. Furthermore, the above-mentioned inlet housing (11) forms at least one branch hole (21) connected to the air injection passage (19).

[0040] The above air injection body (13) is installed on one side of the injection port housing (11) to be connected to the air injection passage (19). The above air injection body (13) forms an air injection hole (23) that connects the inside of the tire (5) to the air injection passage (19).

[0041] The above valve body (15) is a valve body for selectively opening and closing the air injection passage (19) of the injection port housing (11), and is installed on the other side of the injection port housing (11).

[0042] Here, the valve body (15) is installed on the other side of the injection port housing (11) on the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1), is elastically supported by a valve spring not shown in the drawing, and can open and close the air injection passage (19).

[0043] And, the above cap (17) covers the valve body (15) and is coupled to the injection port housing (11) in a cap nut type on the inner circumferential surface (A) side of the wheel rim (1).

[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, the resonator (50) is a Helmholtz resonator and is intended to absorb road noise of a set frequency range introduced from the road surface through the tire (5), etc., when the vehicle is driven.

[0045] The above resonator (50) is coupled with the air inlet (10) and is fixed to the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1). The above resonator (50) is provided in an arc (band) shape corresponding to the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1).

[0046] For example, the above resonators (50) are arranged in two symmetrically on the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1) with the wheel hub (4) in between. The reason for arranging the above resonators (50) in two symmetrically on the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1) in this way is to prevent them from affecting the wheel balance.

[0047] The above resonator (50) is made of a plastic material and forms a resonance space (51) inside. The above resonator (50) also forms a coupling hole (53) that is coupled to the inlet housing (11) of the air inlet (10).

[0048] The above-mentioned coupling hole (53) penetrates both sides of the resonator (50) and is connected to the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50), and the above-mentioned resonance space (51) is connected to the branch hole (21) of the injection port housing (11) through the coupling hole (53).

[0049] Such a resonator (50) can be fixed to the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1) via a double-sided adhesive sheet (55), and furthermore, is provided to be detachably attached to the air inlet (10).

[0050] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing unit (70) is intended to seal the branch hole (21) of the injector housing (11) and the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50) that are connected to each other at the coupling hole (53) of the resonator (50), and to reinforce the rigidity of the coupling part between the air injector (10) and the resonator (50).

[0051] The sealing unit (70) is coupled to the air inlet (10) and placed in the coupling hole (53) of the resonator (50). In an embodiment of the present invention, this sealing unit (70) includes a reinforcing ring (71) and an O-ring (73).

[0052] The reinforcing ring (71) seals the inlet housing (11) of the air inlet (10) and the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50) at the coupling hole (53) of the resonator (50), and at the same time functions to reinforce the rigidity of the coupling part between the air inlet (10) and the resonator (50).

[0053] The reinforcing ring (71) is made of a metal material and is provided in a ring shape. The reinforcing ring (71) forms a connecting hole (75) that connects the branch hole (21) of the injection port housing (11) and the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50).

[0054] These reinforcing rings (71) are joined to the inner circumference of the coupling hole (53) of the resonator (50), for example, by bonding, and can be fastened to the outer circumference of the injection port housing (11) by nut.

[0055] To this end, a female screw thread (77) is formed on the inner surface of the reinforcing ring (71), and a male screw thread (25) that engages with the female screw thread (77) is formed on the outer surface of the injection port housing (11).

[0056] And, the above O-ring (73) is for sealing the inlet housing (11) of the air inlet (10) and the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50) in the coupling hole (53) of the resonator (50), and is installed on the inner circumference of the reinforcing ring (71) and fitted onto the outer circumference of the inlet housing (11) of the air inlet (10).

[0057] Here, the O-ring (73) is made of rubber material and is installed on the inner circumference of the reinforcing ring (71) with the connecting hole (75) of the reinforcing ring (71) in between, as two of them.

[0058] Hereinafter, the assembly process and operating effects of a vehicle wheel (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings disclosed above.

[0059] First, when replacing the tire (5), if the resonator (50) is mounted on the wheel rim (1) or only the resonator (50) is replaced, the air inlet (10) is separated from the wheel rim (1).

[0060] In this state, an embodiment of the present invention provides a resonator (50), wherein a double-sided adhesive sheet (55) is attached to one side and a reinforcing ring (71) of a sealing unit (70) is attached to the inner circumference of a coupling hole (53).

[0061] At this time, a pair of O-rings (73) are connected to the inner surface of the reinforcing ring (71) with a connecting hole (75) in between. The connecting hole (75) is connected to the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50).

[0062] Then, in an embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing ring (71) hole of the resonator (50) is aligned with the mounting hole (H) of the wheel rim (1), and the resonator (50) is attached to the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1) through a double-sided adhesive sheet (55).

[0063] Next, in an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet housing (11) of the air inlet (10) is screw-coupled to the mounting hole (H) on the outer circumference surface (B) of the wheel rim (1).

[0064] At this time, the injection port housing (11) is screwed onto the female thread (77) of the reinforcing ring (71) through the male thread (25). Then, the branch hole (21) of the injection port housing (11) is connected to the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50) through the connection hole (75) of the reinforcing ring (71).

[0065] In this process, the O-ring (73) is compressed by the outer surface of the injection port housing (11) to seal the space between the outer surface of the injection port housing (11) and the inner surface of the reinforcing ring (71), and between the outer surface of the injection port housing (11) and the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50).

[0066] In the above, the reinforcing ring (71) seals the inlet housing (11) and the resonance space (51), and at the same time reinforces the rigidity of the joint between the air inlet (10) and the resonator (50).

[0067] Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, the resonator (50) can be easily mounted on the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1) through the process described above.

[0068] Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, the resonator (50) is fixed to the inner circumferential surface (A) of the wheel rim (1) and simultaneously connected to the air inlet (10), and a tire (5) is connected to the rim flange (7) of the wheel rim (1), and air is injected into the interior of the tire (5) through the air inlet (10).

[0069] In the above-described process, in an embodiment of the present invention, the cap (17) of the air inlet (10) is opened, and the air injection passage (19) of the inlet housing (11) is opened through the valve body (15). Then, when air is introduced into the air injection passage (19), air can be injected into the tire (5) through the air injection hole (23) of the air injection body (13).

[0070] At this time, the air injected into the air injection passage (19) flows into the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50) through the branch hole (21) of the injection housing (11) and the connecting hole (75) of the reinforcing ring (71).

[0071] As explained above, in an embodiment of the present invention, a resonator (50) having a Helmholtz resonator structure having a resonance space (51) connected to the inside of the tire (5) through an air inlet (10) is mounted on the inner circumference (A) of the wheel rim (1).

[0072] Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, when road noise from the road surface is introduced into the resonance space (51) of the resonator (50) through the air inlet (10) during vehicle operation, a phase shift for a specific frequency occurs in the resonance space (51), and consequently, the road noise can be extinguished within the resonance space (51). Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, road noise caused by various factors during vehicle operation can be effectively reduced.

[0073] Meanwhile, when replacing the resonator (50) mounted on the wheel rim (1) as described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the resonator (50) can be easily removed from the wheel rim (1) by performing the series of processes described above in reverse order.

[0074] Thus, in the embodiment of the present invention, mounting and replacing the resonator (50) on the wheel rim (1) is easy, and as a result, the man-hour for attaching and detaching the resonator (50) can be drastically reduced.

[0075] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the claims, the detailed description of the invention, and the attached drawings, and it is obvious that such modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0076] 1: Wheel rim 3: Wheel disc 4: Wheel hub 5: Tire 6: Spoke 7: Rim flange 8: Opening 10: Air inlet 11: Inlet housing 13: Air inflation body 15: Valve body 17: Cap 19: Air injection passage 21: Branch hole 23: Air injection hole 25: Male thread 50: Resonator 51: Resonance space 53: Bonding hole 55: Adhesive sheet 70: Sealing unit 71: Reinforcement ring 73: O-ring 75: Connection hole 77: Female screw thread A: Inner circumference B: Outer perimeter H: Mounting hole 100: Vehicle wheels

Claims

Claim 1 A vehicle wheel comprising a wheel rim on which a tire is mounted and a wheel disc connected to the wheel rim, the vehicle wheel comprising: an air inlet installed on the wheel rim and connected to the interior of the tire through the outer circumferential surface of the wheel rim; at least one resonator having a resonance space connected to a branch hole branched from the air inlet, coupled to the air inlet, and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the wheel rim; and a sealing unit coupled to the air inlet and sealing the branch hole and the resonance space in a coupling hole formed in the resonator to couple the air inlet. Claim 2 In claim 1, the resonator is a vehicle wheel that forms a coupling hole coupled to the air inlet. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the sealing unit has a connecting hole connecting the branch hole and the resonance space, and includes a reinforcing ring made of metal material that is coupled to the coupling hole and fastened to the air inlet in a nut-like manner. Claim 5 In claim 4, the sealing unit comprises a rubber O-ring installed on the inner circumference of the reinforcing ring and fitted into the air inlet, for a vehicle wheel. Claim 6 A vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet comprises: an inlet housing that forms an air injection passage connected to the branch hole and penetrates the outer and inner surfaces of the wheel rim and is fixed to the wheel rim; an air injection body installed in the inlet housing that has an air injection hole connecting the inside of the tire to the air injection passage; a valve body installed in the inlet housing that opens and closes the air injection passage; and a cap coupled to the inlet housing. Claim 7 A vehicle wheel according to claim 4, wherein the air inlet includes an inlet housing that is fixed to the wheel rim by penetrating the outer and inner surfaces of the wheel rim, the inner surface of the reinforcing ring has female screw threads formed thereon, and the outer surface of the inlet housing has male screw threads that engage with the female screw threads. Claim 8 In claim 1, the resonator is made of a plastic material and is provided in an arc shape forming the resonance space inside a vehicle wheel. Claim 9 In claim 8, the resonator is a vehicle wheel fixed to the inner circumference of the wheel rim through an adhesive sheet.

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