Coupling and composite wheel hub

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of connecting piece and composite hub, since connecting piece has main part, two side piece parts, extension and positioning part, these parts are used to be combined with spoke, and main part has the fixed surface for being fixed with rim, therefore when this connecting piece is placed in mould for manufacturing spoke, the accurate positioning of the position of connecting piece in mould can be realized by the contact of positioning part and mould, and the spoke formed by the mould is combined with multiple connecting pieces, and each connecting piece can be fixed with rim by its fixed surface, to constitute composite hub.Further, since main part is L-shaped sheet, and be provided with side piece part and extension, long strip-shaped combination groove is formed between main part, two side piece parts and extension, therefore connecting piece can be more firmly combined with spoke, realize anchoring effect in multiple directions, so that composite hub can withstand greater pull-off force in multiple directions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to vehicle wheel hub components, specifically to a connecting component and a composite wheel hub. Background Technology

[0002] One existing technology involves a composite wheel hub that uses different materials to manufacture the rim and spokes. The rim, for example, is made of iron, providing sufficient strength and making it less susceptible to damage from tools like pry bars when installing tires. The spokes, for example, are made of aluminum alloy, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing appearance and significantly reducing overall weight compared to a pure iron wheel hub, making it suitable for electric two-wheelers. To reliably connect these rims and spokes made of different materials, one design involves pre-embedding multiple connectors at the outer ends of the spokes. These connectors, also made of iron, can be welded to the rim, thus ensuring a secure bond between the rim and spokes.

[0003] Connecting components are typically thin sheets, with a commonly used type being a U-shaped sheet. These components are easily manufactured using stamping processes, and holes can be drilled to increase their connection with the wheel spokes. However, the bonding strength between such connecting components and wheel spokes is still relatively limited, especially since the inner side of the connecting component is essentially continuous along its length. Therefore, the anchoring effect in that direction is weak. If the wheel hub experiences stress in that direction due to impacts or other reasons, the connecting component may peel off or even detach from the wheel spokes, affecting driving safety.

[0004] Therefore, in order to further improve the bonding strength between the connector and the spokes, thereby improving the driving safety of electric two-wheeled vehicles, it is necessary to design a new type of connector structure. Utility Model Content

[0005] This utility model is designed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a connecting component that can more firmly bond with the wheel spokes, thereby enabling the composite wheel hub using this connecting component to withstand greater pull-out forces. The present utility model adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] This utility model provides a connector for connecting the spokes and rim of a composite wheel hub. The spokes are formed by a mold. The connector has the following technical features: a main body portion, which is L-shaped; two side portions, which extend from both sides of the main body portion; an extension portion, which extends from the main body portion; and a positioning portion, which extends from the extension portion, for cooperating with the mold to position the connector in the mold. The main body portion, the side portions, the extension portion, and the positioning portion are used to engage with the spokes. An elongated engagement groove is formed between the main body portion, the two side portions, and the extension portion. The main body portion has a fixing surface for fixing to the rim.

[0007] The connector provided by this utility model may also have the following technical features, wherein the main body includes a first sheet-like portion and a second sheet-like portion, both of which are elongated sheets and perpendicular to each other, and two side sheet portions extend perpendicularly from both ends of the first sheet-like portion, respectively, and the extension portion extends perpendicularly from the middle of one side edge of the second sheet-like portion, and the positioning portion is disposed at the outer end of the extension portion.

[0008] The connector provided by this utility model may also have the following technical features, wherein the main body further includes a first curved portion connected between one end of the width direction of the first sheet portion and one end of the width direction of the second sheet portion, each side sheet portion includes a second curved portion and a third sheet portion, the second curved portion is connected between one end of the length direction of the third sheet portion and one end of the length direction of the first sheet portion, and there is a gap between the side edge of the third sheet portion and the side edge of the second sheet portion.

[0009] The connector provided by this utility model may also have the following technical feature: the third sheet-like portion has one or more connecting holes, and the connecting holes are circular holes that extend along the thickness direction of the third sheet-like portion.

[0010] The connector provided by this utility model may also have the following technical features: the positioning part is plate-shaped and has a pair of positioning protrusions. The positioning protrusions are triangular plates, and their outer end faces away from the first plate-shaped part are positioning mating surfaces for contacting the cavity surface of the mold, thereby positioning the connector in the mold.

[0011] The connector provided by this utility model may also have the following technical features: the positioning mating surface is an arc-shaped end face, which is curved in the length direction of the connector and straight in the thickness direction of the positioning part.

[0012] The connector provided by this utility model may also have the following technical features, wherein the extension portion includes an extension portion, a third curved portion and a fourth curved portion, the extension portion is rectangular and parallel to the first sheet portion, the third curved portion is connected between one end of the extension portion in the width direction and the middle of one side edge of the second sheet portion in the width direction, and the fourth curved portion is connected between the other end of the extension portion in the width direction and one side edge of the positioning portion.

[0013] The connecting member provided by this utility model may also have the following technical feature, wherein the first sheet-like portion and the first curved portion have an arc that matches the inner surface of the rim.

[0014] The connector provided by this utility model may also have the following technical feature, wherein the fixing surface includes at least the outer surface of the first curved portion.

[0015] This utility model provides a composite wheel hub, which has the following technical features: the composite wheel hub includes: a rim made of a first material; spokes made of a second material; and a plurality of connecting members made of a material that can be welded to the first material, which are attached at the outer ends of the spokes to fix the spokes to the rim, wherein the connecting members are any of the above-mentioned connecting members, and the groove of the connecting groove faces the middle of the spokes.

[0016] Functions and effects of utility models

[0017] According to the connector and composite wheel hub provided by this utility model, since the connector has a main body, two side plates, an extension, and a positioning part, these parts are used to connect with the wheel spokes, and the main body has a fixing surface for fixing with the wheel rim, when the connector is placed in a mold for manufacturing wheel spokes, the positioning part can accurately position the connector in the mold through contact with the mold. Multiple connectors are connected to the wheel spokes formed by this mold, and each connector can be fixed to the wheel rim through its fixing surface, forming a composite wheel hub. Furthermore, since the main body is L-shaped and has side plates and an extension, forming a long strip-shaped connecting groove between the main body, the two side plates, and the extension, the connector can be more firmly connected to the wheel spokes, achieving anchoring in multiple directions, allowing the composite wheel hub to withstand greater pull-out forces in multiple directions. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the wheel spokes and connecting parts in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the spokes and connecting parts in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of the inner part of frame A;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the connecting member in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the connector from another angle in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the connecting member in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0024] Figure label:

[0025] Connector 10; Main body 11; First sheet portion 111; Second sheet portion 112; First bent portion 113; Fixing surface 114; Side plate portion 12; Second bent portion 122; Third sheet portion 123; Connecting hole 1231; Extension portion 13; Extension portion 132; Third bent portion 133; Fourth bent portion 134; Positioning portion 14; Positioning protrusion 141; Positioning mating surface 1411; Relief groove 142; Connecting groove 15; Groove 151; Spoke 20; Spoke main body portion 21; Bearing sleeve 211; Disc brake seat 212; Spoke portion 22; Outer end face 221. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this utility model easy to understand, the following describes the connecting parts and composite wheel hub of this utility model in detail with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0027] Example

[0028] This embodiment provides a connecting component and a composite wheel hub. The composite wheel hub includes a rim, spokes, and multiple connecting components. The rim is made of a high-strength first material, such as iron or steel. The spokes are made of a relatively lightweight second material, such as aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy. Multiple connecting components are respectively attached to the outer ends of the spokes and welded to the rim, thereby firmly bonding the rim and spokes. Accordingly, the connecting components are made of a material that can be effectively welded to the rim material using conventional welding methods, such as iron or steel.

[0029] The structure of the connector will be described in detail below, and one type of spoke structure to which the connector can be applied will be shown as an example.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the wheel spokes and connecting parts in this embodiment. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the wheel spokes and connecting parts in this embodiment. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of part A in the middle frame.

[0031] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, multiple connectors 10 are pre-embedded (set) at multiple outer ends of the spokes 20 and partially exposed outside the spokes 20 for welding to the inner surface of the rim.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the connector in this embodiment. Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the connector from another angle in this embodiment. Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the connector in this embodiment.

[0033] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the connector 10 is a one-piece molded part made of iron or steel, for example, it can be manufactured by stamping. The connector includes a one-piece main body 11, two side plates 12, an extension 13, and a positioning part 14.

[0034] The main body 11 is an L-shaped sheet of uniform thickness, comprising a first sheet portion 111, a first curved portion 113, and a second sheet portion 112 connected in sequence. Both the first sheet portion 111 and the second sheet portion 112 are rectangular sheets with a certain curvature, and their length is much greater than their width, with their surfaces approximately perpendicular to each other. The first curved portion 113 connects one end of the first sheet portion 111 in the width direction and one end of the second sheet portion 112 in the width direction, creating a rounded transition between the two.

[0035] The main body 11 also has a fixing surface 114 for fixing to the rim, i.e., for welding to the rim. A weld portion is formed between the fixing surface 114 and the middle of the inner surface of the rim; the weld portion can be a weld point or a weld seam, etc. The fixing surface 114 includes at least the outer surface of the first curved portion 113. The fixing surface 114 may also further include the outer surface of the second sheet portion 112 (i.e., the surface of the second sheet portion 112 with the largest area and relatively far from the first sheet portion 111) or its outer end face (i.e., the end face of the second sheet portion 112 connecting to the extension 13); that is, a weld portion may also be formed between these surfaces and the inner surface of the rim.

[0036] Two side plates 12 extend from both ends of the first sheet-like portion 111 of the main body 11 along its length. Each side plate 12 includes a second curved portion 122 and a third sheet-like portion 123. The third sheet-like portion 123 is generally rectangular in shape, with its length direction generally perpendicular to the surface direction of the first sheet-like portion 111, its width direction generally perpendicular to the second sheet-like portion 112, and its length slightly greater than the width of the second sheet-like portion 112. There is a certain gap between one edge of the third sheet-like portion 123 in the width direction and one edge of the second sheet-like portion 112 in the length direction. The second curved portion 122 connects one end of the first sheet-like portion 111 in the length direction and one end of the third sheet-like portion 123 in the length direction, so that the two are in a rounded transition. The third sheet portion 123 has one or more connecting holes 1231 for engaging with the spokes 20. The connecting holes 1231 are circular through holes extending along the thickness direction of the third sheet portion 123. When there are multiple connecting holes 1231, they are arranged sequentially along the length direction of the third sheet portion 123. In this embodiment, each third sheet portion 123 has two connecting holes 1231 with the same diameter. Furthermore, the thickness of the side sheet portion 12 is the same as the thickness of the main body portion 11.

[0037] The extension 13 is sheet-shaped and extends approximately parallel to the first sheet-shaped portion 111 from the middle of one edge of the second sheet-shaped portion 112 in the width direction, serving to connect to and support the positioning portion 14. The extension 13 includes a third curved portion 133, an extension portion 132, and a fourth curved portion 134 connected sequentially. The extension portion 132 is rectangular, with its surface direction approximately parallel to the surface direction of the first sheet-shaped portion 111. The length of the extension portion 132 is less than the length of the second sheet-shaped portion 112, approximately one-third of its length, and the width of the extension portion 132 is slightly less than the width of the first sheet-shaped portion 111. The third curved portion 133 connects the middle of one end of the second sheet-shaped portion 112 in the width direction to one end of the extension portion 132 in the width direction, and the fourth curved portion 134 connects the other end of the extension portion 132 in the width direction to the positioning portion 14, such that these portions also have a rounded transition.

[0038] The positioning part 14 is in the shape of an irregular sheet, which can be considered as consisting of a strip-shaped sheet and two triangular sheets. The two triangular sheets are respectively connected to the two ends of the strip-shaped sheet and are mirror-symmetrical. The surface direction of the positioning part 14 is approximately parallel to the surface direction of the second sheet-shaped part 112. One edge of the positioning part 14 is straight, and the middle of this edge is connected to the fourth curved part 134. The other side has a pair of positioning protrusions 141. The positioning protrusions 141 are generally triangular in shape, and their outer ends away from the first sheet-shaped part 111 have arc-shaped end faces, which serve as positioning mating surfaces 1411 for contacting the cavity surface of the upper mold of the split mold. In the length direction of the connecting member 10, the positioning mating surfaces 1411 are curved (with a certain curvature), and in the thickness direction of the positioning part 14, the positioning mating surfaces 1411 are straight.

[0039] A relief groove 142 is formed between the two positioning protrusions 141. Its shape is roughly an inverted trapezoid with rounded corners. When molten metal is injected into the mold for die casting, the relief groove 142 allows the molten metal to flow through.

[0040] The main body 11, the two side plates 12, and the extension 13 form a rectangular box shape with one end open. A long strip-shaped joint groove 15 is formed between these parts for engaging with the spokes 20. The side of the first plate-shaped portion 111, the side of the two side plates 12, and the outer surface of the fourth curved portion 134 form the opening 151 of the joint groove 15. The opening 151 is a semi-open long strip-shaped opening with a relatively large size.

[0041] Corresponding to the structure of the connecting member 10 described above, for example, a split mold includes a matching upper mold and a lower mold. When the mold is closed, a cavity corresponding to the shape of the wheel spokes is formed between the two lower molds for injecting molten metal and performing die casting to form the wheel spokes. Multiple placement grooves are formed in the lower mold; these grooves are strip-shaped recesses whose shape matches one end of the connecting member 10 having the first plate-like portion 111. The corresponding position on the cavity surface of the upper mold is approximately parallel to the bottom of the placement groove.

[0042] In the manufacturing process of the composite wheel hub, multiple connecting parts 10 are pre-placed in the placement groove of the lower mold in the mold-open state, so that one end of the connecting part 10 with the first plate-shaped portion 111 is approximately fitted into the placement groove. Then, the mold is closed for die casting. When the mold is closed, the positioning mating surfaces 1411 of the two positioning protrusions 141 of the connecting part 10 abut against the cavity surface of the upper mold, and the upper mold presses the connecting part 10 into the corresponding placement groove, thereby accurately positioning the connecting part 10 placed in the mold. During the subsequent die casting process with molten metal, the above-mentioned structure can also maintain the position of the connecting part 10 in the mold, preventing it from shifting due to the flowing molten metal. Since the positioning mating surface 1411 is an arc-shaped end face, even if the connecting part 10 has certain dimensional tolerances, it can still contact the cavity surface of the upper mold well.

[0043] Furthermore, when in the mold, the groove 151 of the connecting groove 15 of the connector 10 faces the center of the cavity. Since the groove 151 is large, the molten liquid can easily flow into the connecting groove 15 and be formed.

[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, exemplarily, the spokes 20 may include a spoke body portion 21 and a plurality of spoke portions 22. The spoke body portion 21 forms a bearing sleeve 211 and a disc brake seat 212 in its central part. The bearing sleeve 211 has a through circular hole in its central part for the axle to pass through. The disc brake seat 212 is an irregularly shaped column with multiple threaded holes for mounting the disc brake assembly. The spoke portions 22 are generally annular, and the outer circumference of the spoke portion 22 is thicker than its inner circumference. Each spoke portion 22 has an outer end face 221 at its outer end, and the outer end face 221 has an arc that matches the inner surface of the rim. In this embodiment, there are three spoke portions 22.

[0045] The three aforementioned connectors 10 are respectively embedded (set) at the outer ends of each spoke portion 22, and the outer surfaces of the first sheet portion 111 and the first curved portion 1131 of the connector 10 are exposed outside the spoke 20, thereby enabling welding to the inner surface of the rim. The groove opening 151 of the mating groove 15 of each connector 10 faces the center of the spoke 20, so that when molten metal is injected for die casting, the molten metal can flow smoothly into the mating groove 15 along the cavity. Accordingly, in the formed spoke 20, the groove opening 151 of the mating groove 15 faces the center of the spoke 20.

[0046] Before welding, the outer surface of the second sheet portion 112 and the outer surface of the first curved portion 113 (specifically according to the predetermined welding position) can be surface-cut to remove the thin metal layer that has been attached to these outer surfaces during the die-casting process, so as to avoid affecting the welding effect.

[0047] In alternative solutions, the spokes 20 can also take other shapes. For example, the spoke portion 22 can be long, block-shaped, or plate-shaped. The spoke portion 22 can have or not have structures such as through holes / grooves. The number of spoke portions 22 can also be more than three. The number of connecting members 10 can correspond to the number of spoke portions 22.

[0048] The role and effect of the embodiments

[0049] According to the connecting member and composite wheel hub provided in this embodiment, since the connecting member has a main body, two side plates, an extension, and a positioning part, these parts are used to engage with the wheel spokes, and the main body has a fixing surface for fixing with the wheel rim, when the connecting member is placed in a mold for manufacturing wheel spokes, the positioning part can be contacted with the mold to achieve accurate positioning of the connecting member in the mold. Multiple connecting members are integrated into the wheel spoke formed by this mold, and each connecting member can be fixed to the wheel rim through its fixing surface, thus forming a composite wheel hub. Furthermore, since the main body is L-shaped and has side plates and an extension, a long strip-shaped engagement groove is formed between the main body, the two side plates, and the extension. Therefore, the connecting member can be more firmly integrated with the wheel spokes, achieving anchoring in multiple directions, enabling the composite wheel hub to withstand greater pull-out forces in multiple directions.

[0050] Furthermore, since the main body has a first sheet-like portion and a second sheet-like portion that are perpendicular to each other, the side sheet portion is approximately perpendicular to both the first sheet-like portion and the second sheet-like portion, and the extension portion is approximately perpendicular to the first sheet-like portion, thus forming a joint groove similar to a cuboid groove, and the groove opening is relatively large, so that when molten metal is injected into the mold for die casting, the molten metal can flow smoothly into the joint groove.

[0051] Furthermore, since the side plate has multiple connecting holes and there is a certain gap between the side plate and the second plate-shaped part of the main body, when the molten metal is injected for die casting, the molten metal will not only flow into the connecting groove, but also flow through the connecting holes and gaps and solidify at these positions, so that the spokes present a complex covering and gripping structure for the connecting parts, thereby making the spokes and the connecting parts firmly connected, and enabling the hub to withstand a large pull-out force.

[0052] Furthermore, because the connecting component has a mirror-symmetric structure and the positioning part has a pair of positioning protrusions, each with a positioning mating surface, placing the connecting component in the positioning groove of the lower mold and having its positioning mating surface abut against the upper mold achieves a good positioning effect. Moreover, because the positioning mating surface is an arc-shaped end face, even if the connecting component has certain dimensional tolerances or minor defects on the mold cavity surface, it can still maintain good contact with the mold through the arc-shaped end face, and the arc-shaped end face is also less likely to damage the mold cavity surface.

[0053] Furthermore, since the distance between the pair of positioning protrusions is relatively large, a large inverted trapezoidal clearance groove is formed between them. Therefore, when molten metal is injected into the mold and die-cast, the flow of molten metal can be avoided due to the small gap between the two positioning protrusions, thus avoiding defects in the corresponding parts of the wheel spokes.

[0054] Furthermore, since an extension is provided between the main body and the positioning part, there is sufficient distance between the pair of positioning protrusions and the fixed surface. That is, in the formed wheel spoke, there is a relatively large distance between the pair of positioning protrusions and the outer end face of the wheel spoke. Since the positioning protrusions need to abut against the inner surface of the mold cavity to achieve positioning, there will be small holes in the corresponding parts of the formed wheel spoke surface. When the small holes are relatively far away from the outer end of the wheel spoke, they can be covered by sandblasting, spraying, or other operations in subsequent processes to make the finished wheel hub have a complete appearance.

[0055] Furthermore, because the connector has multiple bends, allowing for smooth transitions between its parts, sharp edges are reduced, preventing stress concentration at these edges. This makes the connection between the connector and the spokes more reliable and able to withstand greater stress.

[0056] Furthermore, since the first sheet-like portion and the first curved portion have an arc that matches the center of the inner surface of the rim, after the spokes with multiple pre-embedded connecting parts are pressed into the inner ring of the rim, the first sheet-like portion of each connecting part can fit well against the inner surface of the rim, thus enabling better welding between the two.

[0057] Furthermore, in the embodiments, the connecting parts are sheet-like parts with uniform thickness, and such connecting parts can be conveniently and efficiently manufactured by stamping process.

[0058] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of specific implementations of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the scope of the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are only for illustrating the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A connecting member for connecting the spokes and rim of a composite wheel hub, wherein the spokes are formed by a mold, characterized in that, include: The main body is L-shaped. Two side panels extend from both sides of the main body; An extension portion extends from the main body portion; as well as A positioning part, extending from the extension part, is used to cooperate with the mold to position the connecting member within the mold. The main body, side plates, extension, and positioning portion are used to engage with the wheel spokes, and an elongated engagement groove is formed between the main body, the two side plates, and the extension. The main body has a fixing surface for fixing to the rim.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: in, The main body includes a first sheet-like portion and a second sheet-like portion, both of which are elongated strips and perpendicular to each other. The two side pieces extend perpendicularly from both ends of the first sheet-like portion. The extension extends perpendicularly to the second sheet portion from the middle of one side edge of the second sheet portion, and the positioning portion is disposed at the outer end of the extension.

3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: in, The main body further includes a first curved portion, which connects one end of the first sheet-like portion in the width direction and one end of the second sheet-like portion in the width direction. Each of the side panels includes a second curved portion and a third sheet-like portion, the second curved portion being connected between one end of the third sheet-like portion in the length direction and one end of the first sheet-like portion in the length direction. There is a gap between the side of the third sheet portion and the side of the second sheet portion.

4. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: in, The third sheet-like portion has one or more connecting holes. The connecting hole is a circular hole that extends along the thickness direction of the third sheet-like portion.

5. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: in, The first sheet-like portion and the first curved portion have an arc that matches the inner surface of the rim.

6. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: in, The fixed surface includes at least the outer surface of the first curved portion.

7. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: in, The positioning part is plate-shaped and has a pair of positioning protrusions. The positioning protrusions are triangular plates, and their outer end faces away from the first plate-shaped part are positioning mating surfaces for contacting the cavity surface of the mold, thereby positioning the connecting part in the mold.

8. The connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: in, The positioning mating surface is an arc-shaped end face, which is curved in the length direction of the connecting member and straight in the thickness direction of the positioning part.

9. The connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: in, The extension includes an extension portion, a third curved portion, and a fourth curved portion. The extended portion is rectangular in shape and parallel to the first sheet-like portion. The third curved portion is connected between one end of the extended portion in the width direction and the middle of one side edge of the second sheet-like portion in the width direction, and the fourth curved portion is connected between the other end of the extended portion in the width direction and one side edge of the positioning portion.

10. A composite wheel hub, characterized in that, include: The rim is made of the first material; The spokes are made of a second material; as well as Multiple connecting members, made of a material weldable to the first material, are attached at the outer ends of the spokes to secure the spokes to the rim. The connecting member is the connecting member according to any one of claims 1-9. The groove of the connecting groove faces the center of the spoke.

Images