Motorcycle wheel

Abstract

Motorcycle wheel, designed as a cast wheel or forged wheel, with an annular rim part and a hub part, which are connected to one another via webs and are thus formed together as a one-piece component, wherein at least one spoke receptacle is provided on the hub part and a plurality of spoke fastening openings are provided on the rim part, and a plurality of spokes are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction between the rim part and the hub part, which spokes are each fastened to the spoke receptacle and the spoke fastening openings, characterized in that the spokes can be pushed through the spoke fastening openings from the radial outside and have a flange at one of their axial ends, which can rest on a radial outer side of the rim part, wherein the spokes can be tied into the spoke receptacle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motorcycle wheel, designed as a cast wheel or forged wheel, with an annular rim part and a hub part, which are connected to one another in one piece via webs and are thus designed as a single component, wherein additional spokes are provided so that a type of hybrid wheel is formed.

[0002] Cast wheels, forged wheels, and spoked wheels have long been known in the state of the art, with each wheel type representing a different technical solution with distinct advantages and disadvantages. For example, axial and radial runout, as well as inertia, weight, and manufacturing costs, are lower for cast wheels than for spoked wheels. However, spoked wheels are preferred for enduro vehicles, for example, due to their high elasticity. Furthermore, spoked wheels create a completely different overall visual impression.

[0003] Known prior art regarding cast wheels is published, for example, in patent applications DE 44 15 422 A1, DE 44 21 470 A1, or EP 0 922 591 A2. However, these are always one-piece cast wheels, sometimes with hollow spokes integrated into the same piece. Further printed prior art in this technical field is disclosed in JP H06-227 202 A.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing a motorcycle wheel that combines the advantages of a cast or forged wheel with those of a spoked wheel.

[0005] This object is achieved by a motorcycle wheel with a combination of features according to patent claim 1. Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

[0006] A motorcycle wheel is provided, either as a cast or forged wheel, comprising an annular rim portion and an axle-centered hub portion, which are connected to one another via webs and thus formed together as a single component. Additionally, one or more spoke receptacles are provided on the hub portion, and a plurality of spoke fastening openings are provided on the rim portion, to which a plurality of spokes arranged between the rim portion and the hub portion can be fastened in a circumferential direction.

[0007] The cast or forged wheel can therefore be manufactured cost-effectively in the conventional way, with the hub, webs, and rim formed as a single piece. Due to the additional use of circumferentially distributed radial spokes, which also contribute to stiffness and strength, the webs can be made smaller to save weight. Furthermore, the number of required webs can be minimized.

[0008] In a more affordable version, the spokes are made of steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber, and the cast or forged wheel is made of aluminum. Steel spokes offer the advantage of high rigidity and allow for the absorption of high tensile forces. The aluminum wheel is lightweight and easy to process.

[0009] In addition, a design is advantageous in which the spokes can be detachably attached to the rim part and / or the spoke holder.

[0010] The spokes are distributed within the motorcycle wheel in the circumferential direction, with each spoke extending at least radially from the hub portion to the rim portion and in an area between the webs and / or an area parallel to the webs. Furthermore, the spokes can also be axially oriented to increase transverse rigidity and tangentially oriented to increase torsional rigidity. This means that the spokes can fill the spaces formed by the webs in the circumferential direction or run axially parallel to the webs in order to at least partially overlap them in their radial extension.

[0011] According to the invention, a simple and cost-effective fastening variant for the spokes in the hub area is provided by the spokes being able to be inserted into the spoke holder. Such insertion can be achieved, for example, by hooking or engaging, with the corresponding spoke end being secured to the spoke holder using fastening means known from the prior art.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the spokes are provided with a tensioning device that allows them to be pre-tensioned. Pre-tensioned means that the spokes are subjected to a tensile load, generating a clamping force between the rim and hub. As long as each spoke has a tensioning device, the pre-tension force can be variably adjusted from spoke to spoke. Threaded screw connections can be used as tensioning devices, which exert radial tension on the spoke. When the screw connection connected to the spoke is tightened, the respective spoke is pulled more strongly; when loosened, the tension is reduced accordingly.

[0013] Spokes without preload can always be used in a design for transmitting compressive forces. These are preferably hollow-walled (e.g., with a tubular cross-section) to ensure good stability against buckling.

[0014] According to the invention, each spoke has a volume 70-99%, preferably 75-90%, smaller than each web. The webs, formed integrally with the rim and hub, absorb the main forces, while the spokes additionally stabilize the system. Therefore, the spokes are significantly thinner, but their number is 10-50 times higher than the webs. Alternatively, instead of many individual spokes, a multi-spoke system can be used, which as a whole has a larger volume than each web.

[0015] For attachment to the rim part, one design variant provides for the spoke attachment openings to be designed as insertion or through-holes in the rim part. The spoke attachment openings can have an undercut into which the spoke ends can be snapped or hooked.

[0016] In a further alternative embodiment, the fastening is achieved by drilling a hole for each spoke into the rim part, and the spokes are inserted, according to the invention, through the spoke fastening openings, each designed as a hole, from the radial outside to the hub. According to the invention, the spokes have a flange at one of their axial ends, which, once inserted, rests on a radial outside of the rim part and can absorb radial forces. This solution is particularly advantageous for tubular tires because it is cost-effective to implement and does not impose any special requirements on the tightness of the rim.

[0017] In a further alternative embodiment, the invention proposes that the spokes are fastened in the spoke fastening openings by means of a press fit.

[0018] All disclosed features can be combined in any way, as far as this is technically possible.

[0019] The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which utilize the presented solution even in fundamentally different designs. For example, the preloading means can interact optionally with the rim part or the hub.

Claims

[1] Motorcycle wheel, designed as a cast wheel or forged wheel, with an annular rim part and a hub part, which are connected to one another via webs and thus formed together as a one-piece component, wherein at least one spoke receptacle is provided on the hub part and a plurality of spoke fastening openings are provided on the rim part, and a plurality of spokes are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction between the rim part and the hub part, which spokes are each fastened to the spoke receptacle and the spoke fastening openings, characterized by that the spokes can be pushed through the spoke fastening openings from the radial outside and have a flange at one of their axial ends which can rest on a radial outer side of the rim part, whereby the spokes can be tied into the spoke holder. [2] Motorcycle wheel according to claim 1, characterized bythat the spokes are made of steel, aluminum or CFRP and the cast wheel or forged wheel is made of aluminum. [3] Motorcycle wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the spokes extend in the circumferential direction at least in the radial direction in an area between the webs and / or an area parallel to the webs. [4] Motorcycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the spokes have a tensioning device by which they can be pre-tensioned and the pre-tension can be variably adjusted from spoke to spoke. [5] Motorcycle according to at least the previous claim, characterized by that each spoke has a volume that is 70-99%, especially 75-90%, lower than that of each bridge. [6] Motorcycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the spoke fastening openings are designed as insertion or through-openings in the rim part. [7] Motorcycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that spoke fastening openings have an undercut into which the spokes can be snapped or hooked. [8] Motorcycle wheel according to at least one of the preceding claims 1-7, characterized by that the spokes are press-fitted into the spoke mounting holes.