Wheel and vehicle comprising same

Abstract

A wheel includes a wheel disc including a hub coupled to an axle, a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub, and a rim disposed outside of the spokes, an opening and closing member, and a drive unit. The opening and closing member controls the opening and closing of the opening formed between the spokes, and the driving unit is engaged to the opening and closing member and rotates the opening and closing member around the hub, in which the driving unit includes a pushing portion providing a rotational driving force to the opening and closing member.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2023 - 0180556, filed on December 13, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a wheel and a vehicle including the wheel. Background art

[0004] Generally, the wheels of a vehicle are set to be connected to an axle, and tires in contact with the ground are provided on the wheels. Wheels are important in terms of design, but they also have a significant impact on aerodynamic performance and disc braking performance.

[0005] Meanwhile, in order to improve the fuel efficiency of a vehicle, it is very important to reduce the air resistance acting on a vehicle traveling at high speed. It is well known that the top / bottom shape of a vehicle contributes approximately 65% of the air resistance, the wheels / tires contribute approximately 25% of the air resistance, and the cooling resistance contributes approximately 10% of the air resistance.

[0006] For decades, many global vehicle manufacturers have been researching the top and bottom of vehicles, and various air - resistance improvement technologies have been developed and applied to actual mass production. However, the development of air - resistance improvement technologies for wheels / tires that rotate at a relatively high speed has only recently made full progress.

[0007] A wheel includes a rim and a disc, and as the openings between the spokes of the disc are blocked (i.e., the opening ratio is reduced), the air resistance tends to be improved. However, if the opening ratio is too low, air does not easily pass through, making it difficult to sufficiently cool the heat generated by the brake disc. Therefore, the opening ratio cannot be unconditionally reduced to improve aerodynamics.

[0008] To improve this, a technology has recently been developed that can meet both braking and aerodynamic performance by applying a device that can actively open or close the openings between the spokes.

[0009] However, the devices of the prior art for opening and closing the openings between the spokes may be insufficient in terms of structure and efficiency. In addition, it may be difficult to install a driving device inside a wheel that rotates at high speed, and it may be difficult to stably supply power to the driving device.

[0010] The information included in the background section of the present invention is only intended to increase the understanding of the overall background of the present invention and should not be regarded as an admission or any form of implication that this information constitutes the prior art already known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Summary of the invention

[0011] Aspects of the present invention aim to provide a structure of an opening and closing device that can effectively open or close an opening between spokes with a simple structure.

[0012] The object of the present invention is not limited to the above object, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other objects not mentioned through the following description.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, a wheel includes a hub, an opening and closing member, and a driving unit. The hub includes a hub portion engaged with an axle, a plurality of spokes radially extending from the hub portion, and a rim provided outside the spokes. The opening and closing member controls the opening and closing of an opening formed between the spokes. The driving unit is engaged with the opening and closing member and rotates the opening and closing member around the hub portion. Among them, the driving unit includes a pushing portion that provides a rotational driving force to the opening and closing member.

[0014] The opening and closing member can be driven to rotate around an axis that is the same as the axis of the rotation center of the hub portion.

[0015] The opening and closing member may include a rotating ring and a plurality of rotating vanes. The rotating ring is rotatably mounted on the hub portion. The plurality of rotating vanes radially extend from the rotating ring.

[0016] The hub portion may include a cylindrical rotation guide such that the rotating ring is inserted into the outer diameter of the cylindrical rotation guide.

[0017] At least one of the rotating vanes may include a bent portion formed at an outer end portion in the radial direction of the rotating vane.

[0018] The driving unit may include an elastic member that returns the opening and closing member rotated by the pushing portion to the initial position of the opening and closing member.

[0019] The pushing portion may include a pusher formed of a shape memory alloy. The pusher is coupled to the rotating vane to provide a rotational driving force to the opening and closing member.

[0020] The driving unit may include an elastic member that returns the opening and closing member rotated by the pushing portion to the initial position of the opening and closing member.

[0021] At least one of the rotating vanes may include a rotating rib extending in the radial direction. One end of each of the pushing portion and the elastic member may be connected to any one of the rotating ribs.

[0022] The spoke may include a fixing rib. The other end of the pushing portion and the elastic member is connected to the fixing rib.

[0023] The rotating vane can be set to correspond to the shape of the opening.

[0024] The rotating vane can include an outer peripheral width larger than that of the opening.

[0025] The rotating vane can include a curved portion at its outer end.

[0026] An annular reinforcing ring can be set to connect the outer ends of the rotating vanes.

[0027] A bearing can be set between the rotating ring and the hub.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle includes: a body; and a wheel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is set such that the body can travel.

[0029] By incorporating the accompanying drawings herein and the following specific embodiments used to illustrate certain principles of the present invention, other features and advantages of the method and apparatus of the present invention will become more specifically clear or be elucidated. Figure 1 Description of the Drawings Description of the Drawings

[0030] Figure 1 and Figure 2 are perspective views of a wheel as seen from the outside, exemplarily showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention ([[]] Figure 1 the opening of [[[]] is open, Figure 2 the opening of [[[]] is closed);

[0031] Figure 3 and Figure 4 are perspective views of a wheel as seen from the inside, exemplarily showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention ([[]] Figure 3 the opening of [[[]] is open, Figure 4 the opening of [[[]] is closed);

[0032] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a wheel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 6 and Figure 7 are front views of a wheel as seen from the inside, exemplarily showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention ([[]] Figure 6 the opening of [[[]] is open, Figure 7 the opening of [[[]] is closed);

[0034] Figure 8 shows another example of a wheel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 9 、 Figure 10 and Figure 11A perspective view of the opening and closing member according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 12 A reference schematic diagram showing the configuration of the caliper and the brake disc disposed on a wheel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0037] Figure 13 A reference schematic diagram showing a vehicle equipped with a wheel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather show a somewhat simplified representation of the various features illustrating the basic principles of the present invention. The predetermined design features of the present invention included herein (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific target application and the environment of use.

[0039] In these figures, throughout the several views of the drawings, like reference numerals denote the same or equivalent parts of the present invention. Detailed Description

[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to the various specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the drawings and described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be realized that this specification is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternative forms, modifications, equivalent forms, and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0041] Although the present invention may be modified in various ways and take various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the present invention covers all modifications, equivalent forms, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0042] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first element may be referred to as the second element, and similarly, the second element may be referred to as the first element. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0043] Terms such as "unit, part, portion, etc." may be used to describe various components, but these components should not be limited by these terms. The above terms can refer not only to physically / visually distinct components, but also to the functions or components of parts even if the corresponding parts are not clearly demarcated.

[0044] The terms used herein to describe the embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The articles "a" and "an" are singular because they have a referent, but the use of the singular form in this specification should not exclude the existence of more than one referent. In other words, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the elements of the present invention referred to in the singular form can be one or more. It should also be understood that when the terms "comprise", "comprises", "include" and / or "includes" are used herein, it indicates the presence of the stated features, values, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups.

[0045] Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. These terms defined in a general dictionary should be interpreted as having the same meaning as in the context of the related art, and should not be understood as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless clearly defined in the application.

[0046] In this specification, a vehicle refers to various vehicles that move an object to be transported (such as a person, an animal or goods) from a starting point to a destination. These vehicles are not limited to vehicles traveling on roads or tracks. In addition, vehicles include not only vehicles using fossil fuels (such as gasoline), but also vehicles using electricity stored in batteries, etc. and vehicles using future fuels (such as hydrogen).

[0047] In the following description, terms such as "front", "rear side", "lateral", "front portion", "rear portion", "upper / lower", "above", "upper part", "top", "below", "lower part", "bottom", "left / right", etc. are defined based on the vehicle or the vehicle body. In addition, terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the order, size, position or importance of these components is not limited by terms such as first and second, and the sole purpose of the naming is to distinguish one component from another.

[0048] Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] Figure 1 and Figure 2FIG. is a perspective view of a wheel as viewed from the outside according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention ( Figure 1 the opening of Figure 2 is open,

[0050] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a wheel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be connected to an axle of a vehicle and can be applied to, for example, a wheel / tire assembly of a passenger vehicle. The wheel 100 can include a rim 10 and a disc 20.

[0051] The rim 10 is a portion on which a tire (not shown in the figure) is mounted and has flanges 11 on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle. The disc 20 can include a hub portion 21 and a plurality of spokes 23. The hub portion 21 is joined to the axle on the inner center side of the rim 10, and the plurality of spokes 23 radially connect the hub portion 21 to the flange 11.

[0052] Here, the disc 20 forms an opening 25 including a set area between the spokes 23, and the spokes 23 can have a width that is constant, gradually decreasing, or gradually increasing from the flange 11 side toward the hub portion 21. Accordingly, the opening 25 can include a constant width or can include a width that gradually narrows from the flange 11 toward the hub portion 21. In the drawings of the exemplary embodiment, for the sake of easy illustration, only the opening 25 including a constant width is shown, but the shape of the opening 25 is not limited thereto.

[0053] Since the basic configurations of the rim 10 and the disc 20 are well-known prior arts widely known to those skilled in the art, a detailed description of the configurations will be omitted in this specification.

[0054] The wheel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a structure in which the area of the opening 25 between the spokes 23 can be variably adjusted by the rotation of an opening and closing member 30.

[0055] Referring to Figures 1 to 7 , the wheel 100 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can include an opening and closing member 30 that is rotatable around the hub portion 21 to open or close each opening 25.

[0056] The opening and closing member 30 of the exemplary embodiment can be provided in the disc 20.

[0057] The disc 20 can include a hub portion 21 to be joined to the axle of the vehicle and a plurality of spokes 23 radially extending from the hub portion 21, and can include a flange 11 provided outside the spokes 23.

[0058] The opening and closing member 30 can control the opening and closing of the opening 25 provided between the spokes 23. The opening and closing member 30 can be driven by rotation around the hub 21. Specifically, the opening and closing member 30 can rotate around the axle on which the hub 21 is provided in the vehicle.

[0059] The opening and closing member 30 can include a rotating ring 31 rotatably mounted on the hub 21 and a plurality of rotating vanes 33 radially extending from the rotating ring 31.

[0060] The rotating ring 31 can be set in an annular shape so that it can be inserted into the hub 21 and rotate. In addition, the hub 21 can include a cylindrical rotation guide 21a that projects into the inner side of the wheel so that the rotating ring 31 fits onto its outer diameter.

[0061] The plurality of rotating vanes 33 can be set to extend radially from the rotating ring 31. Specifically, the plurality of rotating vanes 33 can extend longer radially from the outer side of the rotating ring 31 and can include a shape corresponding to the shape of the opening 25 to close the opening 25 by the rotation of the plurality of rotating vanes 33.

[0062] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the opening 25 is shown as including a slit shape with a constant width, but the opening 25 is not limited thereto and can be set to various shapes, such as a varying width. Therefore, the rotating vanes 33 for opening and closing the opening 25 can also be set to include a shape of a slit with a constant width or a shape with a varying width corresponding to the shape of the opening 25. In addition, the rotating vanes 33 of the exemplary embodiment can include a width larger than that of the opening 25 to facilitate closing the opening 25. That is, the outer peripheral width of the rotating vanes 33 can be larger than the outer peripheral width of the opening 25.

[0063] Meanwhile, the rotating vane 33 can include a bent portion 33a that bends at the outer end portion in the radial direction of the rotating vane 33. The bent portion 33a can increase the stiffness.

[0064] The bent portion 33a bends in the outer peripheral direction of the rim 10.

[0065] The opening and closing member 30 of the exemplary embodiment can be driven by a drive unit 50. The drive unit 50 can apply a rotational force so that the opening and closing member 30 rotates around the hub 21. In addition, since the rotating ring 31 is rotatably inserted into the hub 21, the drive unit 50 can be a device that applies a force to push the rotating vanes 33 in the outer peripheral direction to rotate the rotating ring 31 around the hub 21, or can be a device that applies a rotational force to the rotating ring 31.

[0066] That is to say, the driving unit 50 can be a pusher (forming a driving force) and a puller (forming a pulling force) that push the rotating blade 33 in the circumferential direction, and can have various structures, such as a linear motor, a hydraulic compressor or an air compressor. Of course, the driving unit 50 can be a rotating motor that rotates the rotating ring 31 or the like.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as a representative example of the driving unit 50, a pushing portion 51 formed of a shape memory alloy can be used as the pusher, and an elastic member 53 (such as a spring or the like) that pulls the rotating blade 33 to its initial position can be used as the puller. Of course, on the other hand, the pusher can be an elastic member, and the puller can be formed of a shape memory alloy material.

[0068] Since the elastic member 53 is sufficient to return the rotating blade 33 to its initial position, the elastic member 53 is not limited to a spring, and various structures such as a hydraulic damper can be applied.

[0069] That is to say, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driving unit 50 can include a pushing portion 51 formed of a shape memory alloy material that provides a rotational driving force to the opening and closing member 30 and an elastic member 53 that returns the opening and closing member 30 rotated by the pushing portion 51 to its initial position. Both the rotating ring 31 and the rotating blade 33 can be rotated by driving the driving unit 50.

[0070] The pushing portion 51 can be coupled to at least one of the rotating blades 33 to provide a rotational driving force to the opening and closing member 30.

[0071] At least one of the rotating blades 33 can include a rotating rib 33b extending in the radial direction, and one end of each of the pushing portion 51 and the elastic member 53 can be connected to at least one of the rotating ribs 33b. In addition, the spoke 23 of the wheel can include a fixing rib 23b, and the other ends of the pushing portion 51 and the elastic member 53 are connected to the fixing rib 23b.

[0072] The fixing rib 23b can be provided with a control board 55 that controls the pushing portion 51 formed of a shape memory alloy. The control board (components such as a printed circuit board (PCB) and a flexible PCB (FPCB) can be applied in various ways) can be provided with a power supply connected to the outside and wired and wireless control lines.

[0073] The driving unit 50 may be configured to control the pushing portion 51 formed of a shape memory alloy material by supplying power to increase the length of the pushing portion 51, and thus the opening and closing member 30 may rotate to block the opening 25. The power is controlled by the control board 55. In addition, when the force applied to the pushing portion 51 is removed by controlling the pushing portion 51 formed of a shape memory alloy material, the opening and closing member 30 may rotate due to the restoring force (elastic force) of the elastic member 53 to return to its initial position, and the opening 25 may be opened again.

[0074] In the figures of the illustrated exemplary embodiments, the pushing portion 51 and the elastic member 53 may be provided in a curved circular shape. Although not shown in the figures, guides for guiding the stretching and compressing paths of the pushing portion 51 and the elastic member 53 may be provided separately. In addition, although not shown in the figures, the pushing portion 51 and the elastic member 53 may be provided in a straight shape, and two end portions or at least portions fixing the pushing portion 51 and the elastic member 53 may be provided to include rotational degrees of freedom.

[0075] Meanwhile, as Figure 8 shown, the bearing 40 may be provided between the rotating ring 31 and the hub portion 21 to facilitate the rotation of the rotating ring 31 while the rotating ring 31 is inserted into the hub portion 21.

[0076] In addition, as Figure 9 shown, the rotating ribs 33b may be provided on all of the rotating vanes 33 to increase the stiffness.

[0077] In addition, as Figure 10 shown, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an annular reinforcing ring 35 connecting the outer ends of the rotating vanes 33 may be provided instead of the bent portion 33a to increase the stiffness.

[0078] In addition, as Figure 11 shown, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the thickness or width of the rotating vane 33 may be increased without a bent portion to improve the stiffness. However, even in the current case, the vane 33 including the rotating rib 33b connected to the pushing portion 51 may include the bent portion 33a.

[0079] Meanwhile, as Figure 12 shown, when the wheel 100 of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided in a vehicle, the caliper 200 and the brake disc 300 are disposed adjacent to each other, and thus sufficient clearance G may be provided such that the rotation of the opening and closing member 30 provided on the wheel 100 does not interfere with the caliper 200 and the brake disc 300. Since the caliper 200 may further protrude toward the opening and closing member 30, special attention should be paid to the structural design to sufficiently maintain the clearance G.

[0080] Figure 13 FIG. is a reference schematic diagram showing a wheel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention disposed on a vehicle.

[0081] A vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention at least includes a vehicle body B, left wheels LW1 and LW2 (LW) disposed on the vehicle body B, and right wheels RW1 and RW2 (RW). In addition, the vehicle of the exemplary embodiment may include a wheel 100, and the wheel 100 includes an opening and closing member 30 configured to open and close an opening 25 to facilitate cooling of a brake disc while driving.

[0082] The wheel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can easily open or close an opening between spokes by using an opening and closing device including a simple structure, thereby improving the aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

[0083] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle may be referred to based on a concept including various transportation means. In some cases, a vehicle may be interpreted based on such a concept that includes not only various land transportation means traveling on roads, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses, but also various transportation means such as airplanes, drones, ships, and the like.

[0084] For the convenience of explanation and precise definition of the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "front", "rear", "back", "inner side", "outer side", "inwardly", "outwardly", "inside", "outside", "internal", "external", "forward", "backward" are used to describe the features of the exemplary specific embodiments with reference to the positions of these features shown in the drawings. It will be further understood that the term "connected" or its derivatives refer to both direct connection and indirect connection.

[0085] The term "and / or" may include combinations of multiple related listed items or any one of multiple related listed items. For example, "A and / or B" includes all three cases, such as "A", "B", and "A and B".

[0086] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, singular expressions include plural expressions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0087] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, "at least one of A and B" may refer to "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of a combination of at least one of A and B". In addition, "one or more of A and B" may refer to "one or more of A or B" or "one or more of a combination of one or more of A and B".

[0088] In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as "including" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not preclude the possibility of adding or the presence of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0089] According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, components may be combined with each other to be implemented as one, or some components may be omitted.

[0090] The foregoing description of the specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary specific embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the particular principles of the invention and its practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to implement and utilize the invention in its various exemplary specific embodiments and their various alternative forms and modifications. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A wheel, comprising: A wheel disc including a hub, a plurality of spokes radially extending from the hub, and a rim disposed outside the spokes; an opening and closing member that controls the opening and closing of the openings formed between the spokes; as well as a drive unit that is coupled to the opening and closing member and rotates the opening and closing member about a hub; Wherein, the driving unit includes a pushing portion that provides a rotational driving force to the opening and closing member.

2. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein: The opening and closing member is driven to rotate about the same axis as the axis of the rotation center of the hub.

3. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein: The opening and closing member comprises: a rotating ring rotatably mounted on the hub; and A plurality of rotating blades radially extend from the rotating ring.

4. The wheel according to claim 3, wherein: The hub includes a cylindrical rotating guide such that the rotating ring is inserted into the outer diameter of the cylindrical rotating guide.

5. The wheel according to claim 3, wherein: At least one of the rotating blades includes a bent portion formed at an outer end portion in a radial direction of the rotating blade.

6. The wheel according to claim 5, wherein: The bent portion is bent at an outer end portion in a peripheral direction of the rim.

7. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein: The driving unit further includes a puller which returns the opening and closing member rotated by the pushing portion to an initial position of the opening and closing member.

8. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein: The puller is an elastic member.

9. The wheel of claim 1, wherein: The opening and closing member includes a plurality of rotating blades, The push portion includes a pusher formed of a shape memory alloy, the pusher being coupled to one of the rotating blades to provide a rotational driving force to the opening and closing member.

10. The wheel according to claim 9, wherein: The driving unit further includes a puller which returns the opening and closing member rotated by the pushing portion to an initial position of the opening and closing member.

11. The wheel according to claim 10, wherein: The puller is an elastic member.

12. The wheel of claim 10, wherein: At least one of the rotating blades comprises a rotating rib extending in a radial direction, One end portion of each of the push portion and the puller is connected to the rotating rib.

13. The wheel according to claim 12, wherein: One of the spokes includes a fixing rib to which the other end of each of the push portion and the puller is connected.

14. The wheel according to claim 3, wherein: The rotating blades are arranged to correspond to the shape of the opening.

15. The wheel according to claim 14, wherein: The rotating blade comprises a peripheral width which is greater than the opening.

16. The wheel according to claim 3, wherein: The rotor blade comprises a curved portion at its outer end.

17. The wheel according to claim 3, wherein: An annular reinforcement ring is provided to connect the outer ends of the rotating blades.

18. The wheel of claim 3, wherein: A bearing is installed between the rotating ring and the hub.

19. A vehicle comprising: Car body; and The wheel according to claim 1, arranged to enable the vehicle body to travel.

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