Adapter element for a wheel rim brake disc arrangement

Abstract

Adapter cooling element (1) for a wheel rim brake disc arrangement, comprising a front-side wheel receptacle (2) for receiving a wheel rim (F) on the front side (S1) of the adapter cooling element (1) and a contact side (S2) opposite the front side (S1) for contact with a brake pot of a brake disc (B) fastened to a wheel hub, characterized in that the adapter cooling element (1) has a peripheral cooling arrangement (4) made of cooling fins (4.1) extending radially outwardly on the circumference parallel to the contact side (S2), wherein the cooling arrangement (4) has bores extending into at least one cooling fin (4.1) for surface enlargement (4.2), and wherein the adapter cooling element (1) has on its front side (S1) a coaxial cylindrical part (2.1) pointing along a longitudinal axis (A) of the wheel receptacle (2) with an external thread (2.2), wherein in the assembled state the longitudinal axis (A) of the adapter cooling element (1) corresponds to the wheel axis.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adapter element for a wheel rim brake disc arrangement and is used in particular for motor vehicles, preferably passenger cars.

[0002] Motor vehicles typically have hydraulically actuated brakes, which are used on both driven and non-driven axles in the form of disc brakes. The disc brakes are mounted on a wheel hub inside a wheel rim. One problem with such wheel hub and wheel rim-brake disc assemblies is the thermal stress on the wheel bearings, the wheel rim, and the lubricant due to the heat generated during braking and the heat transfer from the brake disc to the hub body and, in particular, to the wheel rim. Cooling may be necessary for this, as the wheel rim is also only heat-resistant up to a certain point.

[0003] A brake caliper with a cooling arrangement for a motorcycle is known from DE 10 2016 220 295 A1. A brake caliper for a disc brake is disclosed, comprising a base body in the form of a brake caliper and a groove-shaped recess in the brake caliper for gripping a brake disc. A cooling arrangement is arranged on a surface of the brake caliper facing away from the recess. Such an arrangement is intended to achieve improved heat transfer between the brake caliper and the environment.

[0004] The cooling assembly is detachably connected to the brake caliper. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a screw connection and / or a positive and / or non-positive connection.

[0005] DE 102 41 867 B4 discloses a wheel hub / brake disc assembly for trucks. The assembly comprises an axle end body, a wheel hub, and a brake disc connected to a brake disc connecting torus. The outer side of the wheel hub and the inner side of the brake disc connecting torus define a ventilation ring channel that communicates with the ambient air both inwardly and outwardly in the axial direction. The heat that finds its way across the brake disc connecting torus during braking and subsequently when stationary can thus be dissipated both outwardly and inwardly via convection air. The air does not accumulate but flows inwardly or outwardly.

[0006] A driven cooling system for a vehicle brake is described in the document DE 10 2013 224 447 A1. A pipe system is disclosed for intercepting and directing a flow of ambient cooling air to the braking systems on the front wheels of (at least) a vehicle. Such a vehicle can be a three-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled cart, a passenger car, a light truck, a medium-duty truck, a heavy-duty truck, or a bus. Furthermore, application with a trailer is possible. A pipe inlet element is arranged on the vehicle body to intercept and receive air flowing above or below the moving vehicle, with the pipe system being closed to air flow until additional brake cooling is required and signaled.A valve or closure in the pipe system is opened, and the pipe is used to direct a stream of cooling air for controlled release against a friction-heated brake element while a vehicle wheel is decelerated. Such a design is complex and difficult to retrofit to existing vehicles.

[0007] From the publication DE 10 2005 014 153 A1, a brake cover for a brake disc of a vehicle brake is known. The brake cover has a ventilation grille in an area axially covering the brake disc. The ventilation grille is formed integrally within the brake cover. For example, mounting bases can be molded into the ventilation grille, via which the brake cover is attached to a wheel carrier or the like. These mounting bases can be designed as recesses to increase rigidity.

[0008] The publication DE 10 2016 212 878 A1 describes a method for manufacturing a brake caliper of a motor vehicle, wherein the brake caliper comprises at least one heat sink that is permanently connected to the brake caliper. The heat sink is applied to the brake caliper using additive manufacturing processes.

[0009] Furthermore, US Pat. No. 7,905,335 B2 describes a brake caliper in which an additional heat sink is mounted on the extension of each brake pad. This heat sink is mechanically attached to the extension of the brake pads and comprises several cooling fins arranged side by side.

[0010] European patent EP 0 641 677 B1 discloses a standard wheel system for road vehicles, particularly for passenger cars. The system comprises a wheel rim, preferably made of a light metal, and a hub adapter that can be mounted to the vehicle axle hub, brake disc, or brake drum by means of a screw connection. The hub adapter has a central cylindrical part with a thread. The wheel rim can be fastened to the hub adapter and thus to the vehicle axle hub, brake disc, or brake drum, by means of a central locking nut that interacts with the thread of the hub adapter and several centering elements.

[0011] From WO 2013 / 083443 A1, a vehicle wheel made of fiber-reinforced plastic is known, comprising a rim spider and a hub section centered on the wheel's rotational axis and extending over only part of the wheel disc's diameter. Heat from the brake disc can be dissipated by means of a metal plate arranged between the vehicle wheel and the wheel hub. However, due to the compact design, only a limited amount of heat can be dissipated.

[0012] The object of the invention is to develop an adapter element for a wheel rim-brake disc arrangement, which has a simple structural design and decouples a wheel rim from a brake disc with respect to heat transfer during a braking operation.

[0013] This problem is solved with the features of the first patent claim.

[0014] Advantageous embodiments arise from the subclaims.

[0015] The adapter cooling element for a wheel rim-brake disc arrangement has a front-side wheel receptacle for receiving a wheel rim on the front side of the adapter cooling element and a contact side, opposite the front side, for contact with a brake chamber of a brake disc fastened to a wheel hub. The adapter cooling element has a circumferential cooling arrangement made of cooling fins extending radially outward on the circumferential side parallel to the contact side, the cooling arrangement having bores extending into at least one cooling fin to enlarge the surface area. The adapter cooling element has on its front side a coaxial cylindrical part with an external thread pointing along a longitudinal axis of the wheel receptacle, wherein in the assembled state the longitudinal axis of the adapter cooling element corresponds to the wheel axis.

[0016] These holes are preferably arranged circumferentially. In an advantageous embodiment, the additional holes are located in the rear two fins and serve to increase the surface area to achieve greater cooling performance.

[0017] The adapter cooling element reduces the braking energy in the form of heat. This reduces the heat input into the wheel rim mounted on the adapter, resulting in lower heat input into the wheel rim. Especially when using CFRP rims, the rim temperature should be limited to a maximum of 300°C, which is ensured by such an adapter cooling element.

[0018] Using the adapter cooling element, the wheel rim can be decoupled from the brake disc or wheel hub with regard to heat transfer. This arrangement can interrupt the thermal bridge between the wheel rim and the brake chamber.

[0019] The cooling arrangement is designed in the form of at least two cooling fins or cooling ribs, with the cooling fins advantageously being circumferential. However, it is also possible to interrupt the cooling fins by means of recesses or cutouts in the outer circumference. The cooling fins serve to dissipate the braking heat.

[0020] Particularly preferably, the cooling arrangement has a corresponding contour spaced apart from the wheel rim, allowing optimal use of the installation space between the wheel rim and the brake chamber. Depending on the available installation space, different numbers of cooling fins can be used.

[0021] For easy installation, the adapter cooling element has a centering hole and through holes for receiving wheel bolts, whereby the centering hole can be aligned with the centering of the wheel hub.

[0022] The adapter cooling element can be mounted on a wheel hub using wheel bolts, whereby the wheel bolts can be countersunk into circularly arranged through holes.

[0023] The wheel bolts are countersunk into the front of the adapter cooling element. Furthermore, drive pins are provided on the front to transfer torque from the wheel hub to the rim.

[0024] The driving pins used here are screwed to the adapter cooling element using countersunk screws.

[0025] Using this type of adapter cooling element design, a wheel rim with a central locking mechanism can be mounted on the adapter cooling element and thus on a conventional wheel hub with five wheel bolts. The wheel rim can be secured to the adapter cooling element and thus to the wheel hub by means of a central locking mechanism that interacts with the external thread of the adapter cooling element and the drive pins.

[0026] For radial guidance of the wheel rim, a centering ring in the form of a shoulder is also provided on the wheel mount (2), which centers the wheel rim in relation to the wheel axle.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment and associated drawings.

[0028] They show: Fig. 1 an adapter cooling element in a side view, Fig. 2 a sectional view of an adapter cooling element according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a rear view of an adapter cooling element with surface enlargements, Fig. 4 a combination of a wheel rim with a brake disc and an adapter cooling element arranged therebetween in a front view, Fig. 5 a combination of a wheel rim and an adapter cooling element in a rear view, Fig. 6 a sectional view according to Fig. 4.

[0029] In the Fig. 1 shows an adapter cooling element 1 according to the invention. A sectional view of the adapter cooling element is shown in addition to Fig. 1 in Fig. 2. The adapter cooling element 1 can be mounted on a wheel hub and has a front-side wheel mount 2 for receiving a wheel rim on the front side S1 of the adapter cooling element 1. On the side opposite the front side S1, a contact side S2 is arranged for contact with a brake disc housing attached to a wheel hub.

[0030] The wheel mount 2 formed on the adapter cooling element 1 has a central cylindrical part 2.1 with an external thread 2.2 and a plurality of drive pins 3. The drive pins 3 are designed as cylindrical sleeves and are arranged coaxially around the cylindrical wheel mount 2.1 of the adapter cooling element 1. A cooling arrangement 4 is formed on the circumference of the adapter cooling element 1. This cooling arrangement is designed in the form of cooling fins 4.1 extending radially outwardly along the circumference parallel to the contact side S2.

[0031] According to the embodiment, the cooling fins 4.1 are arranged circumferentially, but can also have interruptions / depressions in the edge area.

[0032] In the direction of the wheel rim, a centering ring 2.3 is arranged in front of the cooling arrangement 4 in the area of ​​the wheel hub 2. The centering ring 2.3 is designed, in particular, in the form of a shoulder.

[0033] The wheel rim can be attached to the adapter cooling element 1 with a central locking mechanism that interacts with the external thread 2.2 of the adapter cooling element 1 and a drive pin 3 mounted on the adapter cooling element 1. The connection to the wheel hub is made by means of wheel bolts 5. The wheel bolts 5 are preferably arranged countersunk in the bores 6 so that a wheel rim can be arranged above them.

[0034] The drive pins 3 are only partially recessed into holes 7 in the adapter cooling element 1 and are screwed to it using countersunk screws 8. The drive pins 3 serve to provide a frictional connection between the adapter cooling element 1, which is connected to the drive, and the wheel rim. The adapter cooling element 1 has a centering hole 9 for positioning on a wheel hub.

[0035] Preferably, a plurality of cooling fins 4.1 are provided on the outer circumference of the adapter cooling element 1 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A.

[0036] These can be, for example, 6 to 20 cooling fins 4.1, which are spaced apart from one another at a distance of, for example, 1 to 4 mm, in particular 2-3 mm.

[0037] The adapter cooling element prevents or attenuates (decouples) the heat transfer from the brake disc via the wheel hub to the rim. This thermal decoupling prevents excessive heating of the wheel rim (e.g., during braking).

[0038] By reducing the height of the adapter cooling element 1, for example by milling in the area of ​​the cooling fins, the height of the adapter cooling element can be adapted to a smaller rim width.

[0039] Fig. 3 shows in addition to Fig. 1 a rear view of the adapter cooling element 1. The cooling arrangement 4 has on its contact side S2 pointing in the direction of the brake pot (not shown) surface enlargements 4.2 extending into the cooling fins 4.1 in the form of holes and depressions, which serve to improve heat dissipation.

[0040] In Fig. 4 shows a combination of a wheel rim F with a brake disc B and the adapter cooling element 1 arranged therebetween according to one of the preceding figures. The wheel rim F is according to Fig. 4 is connected by means of a central lock Z via the adapter cooling element 1 to a wheel hub (not shown), which is arranged behind the brake disc B. The adapter cooling element 1 can be visible or invisible from the outside, depending on the rim design.

[0041] A rear view of the wheel rim with mounted adapter cooling element 1 is shown in Fig. 5. The brake disc is not shown for a better view. The adapter cooling element 1 is connected to a wheel hub by means of five wheel bolts 5 with its contact side S2. According to Fig. 5 shows the centering hole 9, by means of which the adapter cooling element 1 and the wheel rim F are centered on the wheel hub.

[0042] In Fig. 6, an adapter cooling element 1 is connected in a sectional view to a wheel rim F by means of a central closure Z, wherein the cooling arrangement 4 has a corresponding contour 10 spaced from the wheel rim F, which enables optimal utilization of the available installation space. According to the Fig. 6, the adapter cooling element 1 has a wheel mount 2 with a cylindrical part 2.1 with an external thread 2.2 and a plurality of driving pins 3. The wheel rim F is fastened to the adapter cooling element 1 by a central locking mechanism Z that interacts with the external thread 2.2 of the adapter cooling element 1 and by a driving pin 10 mounted on the adapter cooling element 1.

[0043] The adapter cooling element 1 is connected to a wheel hub by wheel bolts 5, which are only indicated here by way of example. The wheel bolts 5 are preferably designed as tapered or spherical collar bolts. The adapter cooling element 1 preferably has a corresponding shape for receiving the wheel bolts 5 such that the bolt head can be countersunk into a recess in the adapter cooling element 1. The wheel bolts 5 can be designed in the form of the wheel bolts provided by the vehicle.

[0044] The adapter cooling element can also form a track widening feature for the vehicle, with the adapter cooling element being wider or narrower depending on the desired track widening. Furthermore, the number of cooling fins can vary depending on the width of the adapter cooling element to achieve optimal heat dissipation. List of reference symbols 1 adapter cooling element 2 wheel mounts 2.1 cylindrical part of the wheel hub 2.2 External thread 2.3 Centering ring 3 driving pins 4 Cooling arrangement 4.1 Cooling fin 4.2 Surface enlargement 5 wheel bolt 6 Hole 7 Hole 8 countersunk screw 9 Center hole 10 Contour A Longitudinal axis B brake disc F wheel rim S1 front side S2 system side Z central shutter

Claims

[1] Adapter cooling element (1) for a wheel rim brake disc arrangement, comprising a front-side wheel receptacle (2) for receiving a wheel rim (F) on the front side (S1) of the adapter cooling element (1) and a contact side (S2) opposite the front side (S1) for contact with a brake pot of a brake disc (B) fastened to a wheel hub, characterized by in that the adapter cooling element (1) has a circumferential cooling arrangement (4) made of cooling fins (4.1) extending radially outwards on the circumferential side parallel to the contact side (S2), wherein the cooling arrangement (4) has bores extending into at least one cooling fin (4.1) for surface enlargement (4.2) and wherein the adapter cooling element (1) has on its end face (S1) a coaxial cylindrical part (2.1) pointing along a longitudinal axis (A) of the wheel holder (2) with an external thread (2.2), wherein in the assembled state the longitudinal axis (A) of the adapter cooling element (1) corresponds to the wheel axle. [2] Adapter cooling element (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the cooling fins (4.1) are circumferential. [3] Adapter cooling element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the cooling arrangement (4) has a corresponding contour (10) spaced from an inner side of the wheel rim (F). [4] Adapter cooling element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the cooling arrangement (4) has means for surface enlargement (4.2). [5] Adapter cooling element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adapter cooling element (1) can be mounted on a wheel hub by means of wheel bolts (5), wherein the wheel bolts (5) can be countersunk in circularly arranged through-bores (6). [6] Adapter cooling element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that driving pins (3) are arranged on the front side (S1) of the adapter cooling element (1). [7] Adapter cooling element (1) according to claim 6, characterized bythat the wheel holder (2) has a centering ring (2.3) in the form of a shoulder for centering a wheel rim (F). [8] Adapter cooling element (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the driving pins (3) are screwed to the adapter cooling element (1) by means of countersunk screws (8).

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