Vehicle wheel with a cover disc element

Abstract

Vehicle wheel with a cover disc element (4) which - is mounted on a wheel body (1) that can be rotatably attached to a vehicle wheel hub about a wheel rotation axis (D), - has several slots (7) oriented in the radial direction (R) and evenly distributed over the circumference of the cover disc element (4), wherein the respective slot (7) grants a viewer a view of an image generating disk (5) rigidly attached to the wheel body (1) behind the cover disc element (4), characterized in that the image generating disk (5) is partially designed in a scoop-like manner, such that it conveys a cooling airflow through the slots (7) of the cover disc element (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle wheel with a cover disc element which is mounted on a wheel body which can be fastened to a rotatable vehicle wheel hub and which is rotatable about the wheel rotation axis.

[0002] Wheels of vehicles, such as passenger cars, are usually provided with a cover plate on their outer side, visible to the observer when mounted on the vehicle. This cover plate covers, for example, ring-shaped fastening screws by means of which the vehicle wheel or its actual wheel body is attached to the vehicle wheel hub. Typically, the cover plate is detachably but firmly attached to the wheel body, which is usually formed by a rim spider and a rim integrally formed with it and accommodating a tire. So that when the wheel rotates on the vehicle, the cover plate element rotates together with the wheel around the wheel's axis of rotation.However, various designs have also become known in which a preferably centrally arranged and smaller-diameter cover plate element is rotatably mounted on, for example, an annular cover plate of larger diameter, and carries a mass body at one point, which causes the smaller central cover plate element to remain virtually stationary when the wheel rotates (and with it the annular cover plate of larger diameter). If, for example, the vehicle manufacturer's brand emblem is applied to the outside of this smaller cover plate element, it can be clearly seen or read by an observer even when the vehicle is moving.

[0003] US 2 014 058 A discloses a wheel hub cap which, when attached to a motor vehicle wheel, is held stationary when the motor vehicle wheel is in motion.

[0004] US 6,896,334 B1 discloses several different embodiments of a wheel-mounted wheel decoration assembly, the first decorative element of which is attached to a wheel hub. A second decorative element of the wheel decoration assembly is movably mounted relative to the first decorative element by means of a bearing.

[0005] US 2005 / 0 116 530 A1 discloses a wheel assembly in which a first rotating element and a second element having openings are rotatable relative to each other. A design element is arranged between the first and second elements and is visible through the openings in the second element.

[0006] In addition to a primarily decorative effect, such conventional wheel arrangements also have a covering function to at least partially cover a rim or a rim hub.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to expand the functional scope of a conventional wheel arrangement.

[0008] By means of the present disclosure, a measure is to be demonstrated for a vehicle wheel having a cover disc element which is mounted on a wheel body which can be rotatably fastened to a vehicle wheel hub and is rotatable about a wheel rotation axis, by means of which a different effect than that mentioned above is achieved for an observer.

[0009] The solution to the problem arises from the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the subclaims.

[0010] According to the invention, a vehicle wheel is proposed that has a cover disc element that is rotatably mounted on a wheel body that can be rotatably attached to a vehicle wheel hub about a wheel rotation axis. Furthermore, the cover disc element has a plurality of slots oriented in the radial direction and evenly distributed over a circumference of the cover disc element. Each slot provides a view of an imaging disc that is rigidly attached to the wheel body (and rotates with it) behind the cover disc element.

[0011] In general terms, the present proposal is for using the stroboscopic effect on a vehicle wheel. This stroboscopic effect is also used in flip books, ombro-cinemas, zoetropes, or phenakistiscopes. If a sequence of individual images, which are similar except for a few differences, moves behind the slits through which a viewer can see, this can appear to the viewer like a continuous film, without the viewer noticing any gaps between the individual images in the sequence. According to the invention, this effect is used on a vehicle wheel with a cover disc element which remains stationary when the wheel is rotating and has at least one slit through which a viewer can see an image-generating disc which moves with the rotating wheel, i.e. which also rotates about the wheel's axis of rotation, and on which image-generating disc some kind of optical structures orgraphic elements or general images that have an effect on the viewer.

[0012] The cover disc element has a number of slots evenly distributed around its circumference, oriented radially, i.e., perpendicular to the wheel's rotational axis. A preferred number of slots is in the range of six to twelve. Cooling air can either pass through these slots into the area behind the cover disc element, or a cooling air stream can flow outward from this area through the slots. This cooling air can then, for example, cool the imaging disc located behind the cover disc element, which can absorb radiant heat from a wheel brake located behind it. The imaging disc is partially blade-shaped, such that it conveys the cooling air stream through the slots of the cover disc element.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, the imaging disc can be designed to be air-permeable, for example, in a mesh-like manner, at least in sections, to allow a cooling air flow to reach a wheel brake located behind it, i.e., closer to the vehicle center, or to pass through the imaging disc. For an advantageous combination of functions, air passage openings in the imaging disc can form the optical structures located thereon and mentioned in the previous paragraph.

[0014] There are several ways in which the cover disc element can be rotatably mounted relative to the wheel body as the vehicle rotates while the vehicle is moving, and can be held in place in such a way that the cover disc element remains stationary when the wheel is rotating. In addition to a suitable plain bearing, a rolling bearing with intermediate rolling elements is proposed in the present case for the purpose of smooth movement. This rolling bearing is preferably provided close to the wheel rotation axis because, at constant wheel torque, the force acting on the cover disc element and attributable to the rotation of the wheel body (or a corresponding impulse) is lower than if the rolling bearing is provided further outwards in the radial direction. In this case, several rolling bearing elements can be spaced apart from one another and arranged in a quasi-ring shape on a common radius on the wheel body, directly or indirectly, i.e. with the imaging disc interposed.

[0015] The cover disc element can, for example, be held in place by a mass body, analogous to the prior art mentioned above, or alternatively or additionally by magnetic force, or prevented from rotating along with the rotating wheel body. Thus, a mass body carried by the cover disc element can cause such an uneven weight distribution over the circumference of the cover disc element that the cover disc element remains stationary when the vehicle wheel rotates, as the mass body strives to remain at its lowest point, i.e., as close to the road surface as possible.Additionally or alternatively, the cover disc element can carry a first magnetic element which interacts with a second magnetic element which is fixed to the vehicle, i.e. does not rotate with the vehicle wheel, such that the cover disc element remains stationary when the vehicle wheel is rotating. The two magnetic elements can be designed as permanent magnets. Alternatively, the second magnetic element which is fixed to the vehicle and fastened, for example, to the vehicle body or to a wheel carrier supporting the vehicle wheel hub can be designed as an electromagnet which is energized when the vehicle is in operation or only when required. As a further embodiment, the cover disc element can also be held mechanically in place, i.e. connected to a non-rotating part of the vehicle by some mechanical connecting element.Generally speaking, any suitable measure is provided and sufficient which ensures that the cover disc element mounted on the wheel body or on the image generation disc fastened thereto so that it can rotate relative to the wheel body does not rotate, i.e. remains stationary, when the wheel body is rotating.

[0016] It has been shown that when the stroboscopic effect is applied to a vehicle wheel, the best possible appearance for a viewer is achieved if the slot or slots are enclosed at least at their edge(s) by an edge structure element applied to the cover plate element and raised relative to it.

[0017] Such a design as described above is also shown in the embodiment shown in the attached figures and explained below, wherein Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show two different partial sections of a vehicle wheel according to the invention in isometric representation, and Fig. 3 shows the view of a wheel according to the invention (viewed in the direction of the wheel rotation axis).

[0018] The reference number 1 in the figures denotes a wheel body of a vehicle wheel (also called a wheel), which is integrally formed by a Fig. 1 visible rim star 1a and a rim 1b is formed, onto which according to Fig. 2 a tire 2 is mounted. In the center of the wheel body 1, a relatively small central cover 3 is inserted into an invisible and small-diameter recess, which central cover 3 bears, for example, a brand emblem of the vehicle manufacturer.

[0019] Through-openings for fastening screws, which are usually provided in the rim star 1a and can be used to fasten the wheel body 1 to a wheel hub of a vehicle, are not visible here, since they are covered by a cover disc element 4 according to the invention. This annular cover disc element 4 covers a large area of ​​the outer side of the vehicle wheel facing a viewer of the wheel mounted on the vehicle (and perpendicular to the wheel rotation axis D), i.e., the cover disc element 4 extends from the rim flange 1bb in the radial direction R to close to the central cover 3, so that only a relatively narrow annular free space remains between the latter and the cover disc element 4.

[0020] Viewed in the direction of the rotation axis D, an image generation disc 5 is located behind the cover disc element 4, on the side of which facing the cover disc element 4 there are several optical structures 6, for example graphic elements or generally any images, here (cf. Fig. 2) in the form of an arrangement of points arranged radially one behind the other, viewed in the radial direction R, wherein several such beams with a different number of points are provided next to one another. This image-generating disc 5 is rigidly connected to the wheel body 1 in a manner not shown in detail and thus rotates together with it about the wheel rotation axis D when this vehicle wheel is mounted on a moving vehicle.

[0021] In the cover plate element 4, a plurality of slots 7 are provided which run in the radial direction R and extend almost to the outer edge of the cover plate element 4 in the radial direction R, the radial edges of which slots as well as the outer connecting edge of the radial edges in the radial direction R are each, i.e. each slot 7, enclosed by a one-piece edge structure element 8 which is applied to the cover plate element 4 and is raised relative to it. The edge structure elements 8, of which Fig. 1, one of which is shown in a state removed from the associated slot 7 for the sake of visibility, serve two purposes, namely, on the one hand, to reinforce the cover plate element 4 which is structurally weakened by the slots 7 (here a total of eight evenly distributed over the circumference of the cover plate element 4) and, on the other hand, to improve the optical appearance which is offered to the observer of the wheel mounted on a moving vehicle and thus rotating, which will be explained below.

[0022] The cover disc element 4 is mounted on the wheel body 1 in such a way that it rotates around the wheel rotation axis D according to the Fig. 2, the wheel is only rotating in one direction. This means that even when the vehicle is moving, an outside observer sees the cover plate element 4 as it is shown in Fig. 3. On the other hand, the image-forming disk 5 rotates behind the cover disk element 4 with the optical structures 6 or the like provided thereon, which are alternately visible from the outside through the slits 7. Thus, Fig. 3, for example, in the vertical slits 7, a row of the optical structures 6 of the image-generating disk 5 is located, wherein the optical structures 6 in this example are designed as graphic elements in the form of dots. With suitably designed graphic elements or optical structures 6 or the like on the image-generating disk 5, an interesting appearance resulting from the stroboscopic effect can be created for an outside observer, visible through one or more slits 7. The aforementioned edge structure elements 8 improve this stroboscopic effect through their contrast formation, in particular also due to their raised nature (or elevation) compared to the cover disk element 4.

[0023] In the figures, the bearing by means of which the cover disc element 4 is mounted on the wheel body 1 in such a way that it remains stationary when the wheel is rotating is not visible. For example, in the area marked with the letter W (see Fig. 1) an annular rolling bearing is provided between the cover disc element 4 and the image forming disc 5 which is firmly connected to the wheel body 1. List of reference symbols 1 wheel body 1a rim star 1b rim 1bb rim flange 2 tires 3 Central cover 4 cover plate element 5 imaging disc 6 optical structure 7 slot 8 Edge structure element D Wheel rotation axis R Radial direction W area

Claims

[1] Vehicle wheel with a cover disc element (4) which - is mounted on a wheel body (1) rotatably attachable to a vehicle wheel hub so as to be rotatable about a wheel rotation axis (D), - has a plurality of slots (7) oriented in the radial direction (R) and evenly distributed over a circumference of the cover disc element (4), wherein the respective slot (7) allows an observer a view of an image-generating disc (5) rigidly fastened to the wheel body (1) behind the cover disc element (4), characterized by that the image forming disc (5) is partially designed like a blade, such that it conveys a cooling air flow through the slots (7) of the cover disc element (4). [2] Vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the cover disc element (4) carries a mass body which, viewed over the circumference of the cover disc element (4), causes such an uneven weight distribution that the cover disc element (4) remains stationary when the vehicle wheel is rotating. [3] Vehicle wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover disc element (4) carries a first magnetic element which interacts with a second magnetic element arranged fixedly to the vehicle in such a way that the cover disc element (4) remains stationary when the vehicle wheel is rotating. [4] Vehicle wheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover disc element (4) is mounted near the wheel rotation axis (D) by means of a bearing on the wheel body (1) or on the image forming disc (5), wherein the bearing comprises a rolling bearing. [5] Vehicle wheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the image-forming disc (5) is designed to be air-permeable at least in sections. [6] Vehicle wheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slots (7) are enclosed at least at their radial edges by an edge structure element applied to the cover disc element (4) and raised relative thereto.

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