Method and arrangement for increasing the contact area of ​​a wheel, wheel, motor vehicle and use

Abstract

This is achieved by a method for increasing the contact area (10) of a wheel (1) with at least one expandable element (7) in the region of a rim (2) of the wheel (1), wherein the expandable element (7) is brought from a rest state to an expanded state by filling it with a fluid, in which the contact area (10) of the wheel (1) is at least partially widened, wherein at least one hinged retaining element (5) is arranged on the rim (2) and can at least partially transmit contact forces of the at least one expandable element (7) to the rim (2). The expandable element (7) can, in particular, be configured to be selectively supplied with a gaseous fluid (especially compressed air) via a fluid supply. For this purpose, the fluid supply and / or the expandable element (7) can include a valve. A method proposed here can be carried out in conjunction with wheels (1) known from the prior art. In particular, a suitable wheel (1) has a rim (2), in particular a rigid structure for connection with the vehicle or an axle or hub of the vehicle, and a flexible outer structure, in particular a tire (3). The expandable element (7) can be arranged in the rim (2) in the rest state, in particular such that the width of the wheel (7) or of the vehicle is not increased.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel, a wheel, a motor vehicle and a use.

[0002] For example, agricultural vehicles face the problem that the tire contact area is too small, causing them to sink too deeply when working in a field. This has been exacerbated by developments in recent years that have led to larger vehicles and increased vehicle weight. To prevent commercial vehicles from sinking into the ground, efforts are being made to increase the contact area of ​​the wheels of motor vehicles and thus reduce ground pressure. At the same time, the vehicle width, at least when operating on public roads, must not exceed a legal maximum.

[0003] According to the current state of the art, additional wheels, similar to dual wheels, are attached to the existing wheels of the commercial vehicle. However, in order to move the commercial vehicle on public roads, these additional wheels must be laboriously removed to comply with legal requirements regarding a maximum vehicle width. Therefore, this solution is only suitable for large, contiguous agricultural areas where temporary movement of the commercial vehicle on public roads is unnecessary.

[0004] For example, US Pat. No. 4,603,916 A, DE 332 7735 A1, and DE 250 1068 A1 propose mechanical systems for increasing the contact area of ​​wheels. However, these systems involve considerable technical complexity and pose stability problems, particularly since mud and dirt are difficult to protect against penetration on agricultural land. Furthermore, all systems at least partially increase the vehicle width, even when retracted.

[0005] Based on this, the object of the invention is to propose a method for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel, a wheel, a motor vehicle, and a use thereof that at least partially overcome the described problems of the prior art. In particular, the proposed method should provide a simple and quick way to enlarge the contact area, while being easy to implement on existing vehicles and durable. Furthermore, when applied to a vehicle, the invention should not widen the vehicle, allowing it to be driven in public traffic areas.

[0006] The invention should also be suitable for a wide range of applications, such as agricultural vehicles (tractors), amphibious, off-road and special vehicles, including those for desert and polar regions and also for interplanetary purposes.

[0007] These objects are achieved by the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the solution proposed here are specified in the independent patent claims. It is pointed out that the features listed in the dependent patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically expedient manner and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features specified in the patent claims are further specified and explained in the description, with further preferred embodiments of the invention being presented.

[0008] A method for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel contributes to this, in which at least one expandable element is brought from a rest state into an expanded state by filling it with a fluid, in which state the tread of the wheel is widened, wherein at least one foldable holding element is arranged on the rim and can at least partially transfer contact forces of the at least one expandable element to the rim. The expandable element and the holding elements can in particular be designed to be arranged in a cavity of the rim. The arrangement in a cavity of the rim can in particular be carried out such that the rim is not widened in the rest state. For this purpose, the arrangement can be easily adapted in terms of its shape and size to the shape of the rim to be equipped.

[0009] It is understood that on rims that offer no or only insufficient space between the rim and the outer end surface, the arrangement cannot utilize the aforementioned advantages, in particular the fact that a rim or wheel is not widened. However, commercially available rims for commercial vehicles and land vehicles generally have sufficient space.

[0010] The at least one expandable element can be configured, in particular, to be specifically supplied with a gaseous fluid (in particular compressed air) via a fluid supply. For this purpose, the fluid supply and / or the expandable element can comprise a valve.

[0011] In a method proposed here, an expandable element arranged in a wheel rim can be brought from a resting state, in which the expandable element can be arranged in a vehicle rim in such a way that no or only a very slight widening of the wheel occurs (and this thus complies with legal requirements regarding a maximum width in public traffic areas), into an expanded state by supplying a fluid, in which the expandable element at least partially, in particular completely, widens the tread of the wheel. Thus, the contact area of ​​the wheel can be enlarged by widening the tread by means of the expandable element.

[0012] A method proposed here can be carried out in conjunction with wheels known from the prior art. A suitable wheel can comprise a rim, in particular a rigid structure for connection to the vehicle or an axle or hub of the vehicle, as well as a flexible outer structure, in particular a tire. The expandable element can be arranged in the rim in the rest state, in particular in such a way that the width of the wheel or the vehicle is not increased or is only increased insignificantly. The rim can in particular have a cavity or a trough, in particular in a central region of the outer side of the wheel when mounted on a vehicle. The at least one expandable element and the at least one holding element can be introduced into this cavity or trough in the rest state. In this case, in the rim or a wheel comprising such a rim, an outer end plane can be defined which the rim orThe wheel is touched on the side facing away from the vehicle. In other words, the outer end plane can be defined by a flat, level structure placed on one side of the rim or wheel facing away from the vehicle.

[0013] The holding element can in particular be a largely flat, rigid, planar element.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the at least one rotational axis of the at least one retaining element, i.e., the axis about which a retaining element can be folded, can be located in the outer end plane of the rim or wheel. In particular, the entire retaining element can be located in the outer end plane in the rest state. Advantageously, at least one expandable element can thus be protected by the at least one retaining element, especially in the rest state.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the at least one axis of rotation can be aligned as a tangent or chord of a circle concentric with the rim, in particular in the outer end plane.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the rotational axes of several (at least three) retaining elements can form a regular n-gon that can be arranged concentrically to the rim or the wheel. The retaining elements can be directed outward from the rotational axis, wherein the at least one expandable element can be arranged, in particular, between the retaining element and the rim. A separate expandable element can be assigned to each retaining element, or an expandable element can be assigned to several or all retaining elements. A folding movement of the at least one retaining element can be initiated, in particular, by the expansion of the expandable element.

[0017] In particular, the contact surface (the running surface / surface) of the expandable element can have a reinforced structure that can limit its folding movement. For example, the contact surface can be folded centrally relative to the axial width when at rest.

[0018] According to one embodiment, two holding elements can be provided, each of which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation defined as the diameter of the circle described by the rim in the outer end plane of the rim, and the two axes of rotation are offset at right angles to one another. In other words, the two holding elements can be arranged in a cross shape at right angles to one another and, when folded in, lie largely in the outer end plane of the rim or wheel or between the outer end plane and the rim. In particular, a first holding element can be folded out first and a second holding element subsequently, with the first holding element being fixed in its unfolded position by the second holding element. This can be achieved, for example, by the first holding element engaging in a recess in the second holding element when the second holding element is folded in, thereby fixing it in position.In addition, means for securing the second holding element in the unfolded state can also be provided on the first or second holding element. These means can, in particular, be motor-controlled, thus enabling a fully automated transition from the resting state to the expanded state and vice versa. In this embodiment, for example, four expandable elements can be provided, each of which can be arranged in a quadrant formed by the holding elements.

[0019] In particular, the first and second retaining elements can be designed in two parts and folded centrally along the axis of rotation. In the resting state, the two parts of a retaining element can then lie in one plane, in particular the outer end plane, and can be abutted by the folding movement and transferred into a plane perpendicular to the outer end plane. In other words, in this embodiment, two retaining elements (designed symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation) can be folded toward one another along the axis of rotation (also folded when the two retaining elements are referred to as one retaining element foldable along the axis of rotation).

[0020] According to one embodiment, the fluid filling the at least one expandable element can be directed into areas during the transition to the rest state where contamination could impede movement or block the retaining elements. These can be, in particular, the rotation axes, a recess in the second retaining element, means for fixing, etc. This advantageously ensures a smooth transition from the rest state to the expanded state and vice versa, particularly advantageously removing adhering dirt before it hardens and can block the mobility of components, in particular the retaining elements.

[0021] According to one embodiment, a contact surface of the expandable element can have at least one hinge, which can be arranged in a ring-shaped and / or circumferential manner in the contact surface. This enables an at least partially rigid or reinforced design of the contact surface, for example with a (tire) profile, which can be made of rubber, for example. The hinge enables the at least partially rigid contact surface to be folded together in the frame during the transition from the expanded state to the rest state, or to be unfolded and form a 180° angle, so that a straight contact surface is created to widen the contact surface of the wheel. The option of a rigid / thicker contact surface can advantageously better protect the expandable element from damage.For this purpose, the contact surface should be designed to be flexible in the circumferential direction in the area of ​​the hinge or be segmented in the circumferential direction in order not to hinder the transition to the rest state.

[0022] In particular, a hinge can be provided axially centrally in the contact surface of the expandable element. It is also possible, especially for very wide contact surfaces, to provide multiple hinges.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the contact area can also be designed as an independent component detached from the expandable element, hereinafter referred to as the contact element. For this purpose, the rim, in particular, can be at least partially enlarged in the radial direction, with the contact element being rotatably mounted in the radially outer or most outermost region so that it can be folded out to axially widen the contact area of ​​the tire (the tire tread area). For this purpose, the retaining element can extend to the (enlarged) circumference of the rim, with the end of the contact element axially facing away from the tire being connected to the retaining element so that it can be displaceably displaced in the radial direction.During a transition from the resting state to the expanded state, the end of the contact element facing axially away from the tire can be moved from a (radially in the resting state) central region of the holding element to its radially outer end, so that the holding element, the connection of the contact element to the radially outer region of the rim, and the connection between the holding element and rim form an essentially right-angled triangle (seen in a sectional view). For this purpose, the contact element can be segmented, in particular in the circumferential direction, so that several segments of the contact element are designed with a trapezoidal surface, which form a closed circular ring in the resting state. The segments can be connected by flexible materials so that the segmented contact element forms a closed contact surface in the expanded state and no dirt or similar can penetrate to the expandable element.In this embodiment, the length of a retaining element (radial in the resting state) is to be coordinated with the thickness of the contact element (radial in the expanded state) such that the retaining element does not have a larger radius than the tire in the resting state. The retaining element can be connected to the contact element, particularly in a radially inner region.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the retaining elements can form a self-stiffening and / or self-locking system in the unfolded state (expanded state of the expandable element). For this purpose, radially aligned surfaces of adjacent retaining elements can abut one another in the expanded / unfolded state. In addition, the abutting surfaces of the retaining elements can be non-positively and / or positively interlocked or connected by means of connecting elements.

[0025] Vehicles often already have a device for supplying compressed air, so the implementation of the method proposed here on existing vehicles using air as a fluid appears possible without significant structural modifications. For this purpose, a fluid supply to an expandable element must be provided. Advantageously, the implementation of the method proposed here can thus be fully automated after actuation of a control element.

[0026] According to a further aspect, an arrangement for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel is proposed. The arrangement can comprise at least one expandable element and be designed for attachment to a wheel and / or a vehicle. Via a fluid supply, for example of the vehicle, the expandable element can be pressurized and filled with a fluid and thus brought from a resting state into an expanded state in which the tread of the wheel is widened across its entire circumference. The arrangement can also comprise at least one retaining element which, in the expanded state of the expandable element, diverts forces from its contact area into the wheel or rim and thus mechanically supports the expandable element.

[0027] The at least one retaining element can be made of a solid material. This can be, for example, metallic materials such as steel or aluminum, or plastics, particularly fiber-reinforced plastics.

[0028] For this purpose, the assembly can be attached to the wheel, in particular by means of the wheel bolts with which the wheel is attached to the vehicle, and / or to an axle / hub or another attachment point of the vehicle. For this purpose, the assembly can have a fixed support structure that accommodates the at least one expandable element and to which the at least one retaining element can be attached. In particular, the rotational axes of the at least one retaining element can also be part of the support structure.

[0029] The assembly can also be inserted into a rim specially designed for the assembly with an integrated support structure (with integrated holding elements).

[0030] The assembly is particularly suitable for being arranged in a cavity of a (commercially available, known) wheel rim. For example, the assembly can be used with the support structure and the existing fastening means (wheel bolts). In the resting state, the assembly can be configured, in particular, to be completely accommodated within a cavity of the wheel rim, between the wheel rim and an outer end plane of the wheel rim. It should be noted that the assembly can be adapted to different wheel rim shapes and sizes. This offers the advantageous possibility of producing large quantities for frequently used wheel rim models.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the expandable element can comprise a textile support structure. The textile support structure can be a two- or three-dimensional textile structure, in particular a combination of various textile structures that realize / enable a desired shape of the expandable element in the expanded state. Known fibers can be used for this purpose, in particular high-strength fibers such as high-strength polyester, aramid fibers, or other synthetic chemical fibers based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

[0032] The textile support structure can be embedded in an elastic matrix to ensure the gas-tightness of the expandable element. The matrix material can at least partially comprise rubber or caoutchouc to ensure sufficient extensibility of the expandable element.

[0033] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the expandable element can comprise structural elements. A structural element can be a solid element that can be connected to the expandable element or is part of it. The structural elements can support the achievement of the desired shape in the expanded state and ensure the absorption and dissipation of the operating loads of the expandable element. For example, structural elements can be glued to the expandable element.

[0034] The structural elements can also support fastening the assembly to a wheel and / or vehicle. For example, structural elements can have fastening means or be designed as such, for example, in the form of a hole for the passage of a screw (wheel bolt). Alternatively or additionally, the structural elements can be configured for connection to or fastening to the support structure.

[0035] For this purpose, the structural elements can exhibit elastic deformability, ensuring that the desired shape is achieved in the expanded state. An example of an advantageous arrangement of structural elements can be an annular element in the area of ​​a wheel rim, to which outer struts are articulated, forming the tread of the expandable element in the expanded state and / or providing structural support.

[0036] According to a further advantageous embodiment, structural elements can be arranged on the side of the expandable element facing away from the rim, for example as circular segments that support load absorption and / or load transfer. For this purpose, the retaining elements can, in particular, advantageously form a self-stabilizing support system, as described above.

[0037] For this purpose, the structural elements can be made, for example, from metallic materials, in particular light metals, and / or from fiber composite structures. The fiber composite structures can, in particular, comprise high-strength fibers, such as carbon fibers.

[0038] According to a further aspect, a wheel for a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising an arrangement described here for enlarging the contact area of ​​the wheel. The arrangement can be connected to a vehicle, or attached to it, in particular using the same fastening means (e.g., wheel bolts) by which the wheel can be connected to the vehicle.

[0039] According to a further aspect, a motor vehicle is also proposed, comprising at least one wheel for a motor vehicle as proposed here, comprising an arrangement for enlarging the contact area as described here. The motor vehicle can, in particular, have a device for providing a pressurized fluid, in particular a compressed air system, comprising a fluid supply to the arrangement proposed here for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel.

[0040] According to a further aspect, the use of at least one expandable element and at least one holding element for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel is also proposed.

[0041] The details, features, and advantageous embodiments discussed in connection with the method may also occur in the arrangement, wheel, motor vehicle, and / or use presented here, and vice versa. In this respect, reference is made in full to the explanations therein for a more detailed characterization of the features.

[0042] Thus, a method and arrangement for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel, a wheel, a motor vehicle, and a use are provided here, which at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, the method and arrangement for enlarging the contact area of ​​a wheel, the wheel, the motor vehicle, and the use each contribute at least to enlarging the contact area of ​​the wheel or widening the tread of the wheel, thus ensuring operation with significantly reduced ground pressure, for example, of agricultural vehicles.Particularly advantageous is the automated implementation of the method proposed here, which can significantly reduce the effort required to enlarge the contact area of ​​the wheels, thus enabling temporary operation of the vehicle in public transport quickly and easily by placing the assembly in its idle state. This is made possible in particular because the assembly is arranged in a cavity formed by the rim (between the rim and an outer end plane of the rim). A vehicle equipped with at least one assembly is not widened when the assembly is in its idle state and can be moved in public transport.

[0043] Another advantage is that complex assembly and disassembly processes are eliminated when using a device to widen the contact area of ​​a wheel. The device can remain permanently on the vehicle and be used as needed. The fully automated transition from the resting state to the expanded state and vice versa enables a particularly rapid change of the device's state, thus increasing the efficiency of vehicle use.

[0044] Furthermore, the arrangement proposed here can be easily retrofitted to existing vehicles or rims. A particularly advantageous feature is the low weight of the arrangement proposed here, which, for example, in an agricultural vehicle, does not exacerbate the problem of undesirable vehicle sinking into agricultural land compared to state-of-the-art solutions. In the expanded state, the ground pressure of the vehicle is significantly reduced, which is particularly advantageous.

[0045] An arrangement proposed here can also be used excellently for amphibious vehicles, where the expandable element not only increases the contact area of ​​the wheel but also considerably increases the buoyancy force and can thus support the buoyancy of a vehicle.

[0046] The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to figures.

[0047] They represent: Fig. 1 a) to c): a wheel proposed here with an arrangement proposed here during the transition from the rest state to the expanded state, Fig. 2 a) and b): a wheel proposed here with an alternative design of an arrangement proposed here during the transition from the rest state to the expanded state, and Fig. 3 a) and b): an alternative design of a wheel proposed here in sectional view.

[0048] Fig. 1a) shows, by way of example and schematically, a wheel 1 proposed here, comprising a tire 3 with a contact surface 10 (also referred to as the tread of a tire 3) and a rim 2, in which a proposed arrangement 4 for enlarging the contact surface 10 of the wheel 1 can be arranged. The arrangement 4 is located in the Fig. 1 a) in the rest state. The arrangement 4 can comprise holding elements 5, which can be mounted rotatably in a rotation axis 6 or can be foldable about the rotation axis 5. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, a first holding element 11 can first be folded / folded around the rotation axis 6 and then a second holding element 12 such that the (folded) first holding element 11 can be held / fixed in a recess 13 of the first holding element 11. Thus, the first and second holding elements 11, 12, in the unfolded state, form a cross-shaped structure projecting from the rim 2 ( Fig. 1 b)), wherein four expandable elements 7 are arranged in the formed quadrants and are supported by the holding elements 10, 11 and contact forces introduced into the expandable elements 7 can be diverted into the rim 2 via the rotation axes 6 ( Fig. 1c)). The arrangement 4 can be used particularly advantageously in the rest state according to Fig. 1a) be arranged completely within the rim 2, whereby the width of the wheel 1 is not increased by the arrangement 4 in the rest state.

[0049] Fig. 2a) and b) show an alternative embodiment of the arrangement 4 with eight retaining elements 5, whose axes of rotation 6 form a regular n-gon (or octagon) aligned concentrically with the rim 2 or the wheel 1. The retaining elements 5 are directed radially outward from the axis of rotation 6 and, in the rest state, can be arranged largely in an outer end plane 14 of the wheel 1 or the rim 2.

[0050] Fig. 2b) shows a sectional view of a wheel 1 with an expanded expandable element 7, wherein the folding movement of the retaining element 5 was initiated by the expansion. Part of the arrangement can be a support structure 8, which can be fastened to the vehicle or the rim 2 by means of a wheel bolt 15. In the expanded state, the expandable element 7 can form a contact surface (tread) 9 that widens the contact surface 10 of the wheel 1. For this purpose, a retaining element 5 can be hingedly attached to the support structure 8.

[0051] The wheel 1 can, for example, be a drive wheel of an agricultural vehicle, in particular a tractor. The agricultural vehicle can have a device for providing a pressurized fluid, in particular a compressed air system, comprising a fluid supply to the arrangement 4 proposed here, in particular to the expandable element 7. The fluid supply can be a compressed air line that can supply compressed air to the expandable element 7 via an opening in the expandable element 7. In particular, a valve can be arranged in the opening, in particular a controllable valve that prevents compressed air from escaping from the expandable element in the expanded state or even while it is being brought into the expanded state. To transfer the expanded state to the rest state, the valve can be opened so that compressed air can escape from the expandable element and the element is returned to the rest state.According to one embodiment, the escaping compressed air can be used to clean the arrangement 4, in particular areas necessary for a proper transition from the expanded state to the rest state and vice versa. These can be, for example, the rotation axes 6 and / or the recess 13. Advantageously, the agricultural vehicle can be moved in public traffic areas with one or two of the arrangements 4 proposed here, since the arrangement 4 does not widen the vehicle in the rest state.

[0052] The arrangement 4 can be attached to the agricultural vehicle via wheel bolts 15 for fastening the wheel 1.

[0053] The Fig. The wheel shown in Figure 2b) has a hinge 16 integrated all the way around into the contact surface 9 of the expandable element 7. The hinge 16 enables the contact surface 9 of the expandable element 7 to be folded in the rest state and during the transition from the rest state to the expanded state, wherein the hinge 16 describes an angle of 180° [degrees] in the expanded state and the contact surface 9 is thus flat.

[0054] Fig. 3 a) and b) shows an alternative design of a wheel in which the contact surface of the expandable element 7 is designed as a detached component, as a contact element 17. For this purpose, the rim can have a radial enlargement 19 at least on one side. At a radially outer region of the radial enlargement 19, there can be a foldable connection 20 with the contact element 17. In addition, the holding element 5 can be fastened to the rim 2 and, in the outer region, form a sliding connection 18 with the contact element 17. The sliding connection 17 is a connection in which the holding element 5 forms a guide for the contact element 17 (or a connection point thereof) and thus the contact element 17 slides or is guided radially outwards in the holding element 5 during the transition from the rest state to the expanded state.

[0055] As a precautionary measure, it is pointed out that the Fig. 2b), Fig. 3a) and Fig. 3b) refer to a segment of a Fig. 2a) shown segmentation of holding element 5 and, if applicable, support element 17.

[0056] As a precaution, it should be noted that the numerals used here ("first", "second", ...) primarily serve (only) to distinguish between several similar objects, quantities, or processes, and therefore do not necessarily prescribe any interdependence and / or sequence of these objects, quantities, or processes. Should a dependence and / or sequence be necessary, this is explicitly stated here or will be obvious to the person skilled in the art upon studying the specifically described embodiment. To the extent that a component can occur multiple times ("at least one"), the description of one of these components can apply equally to all or part of the majority of these components, but this is not mandatory. List of reference symbols 1 wheel 2 rims 3 tires 4 Arrangement 5 Holding element 6 axis of rotation 7 expandable element 8 Support structure 9 Contact area expandable element 10 Wheel contact area 11 first holding element 12 second holding element 13 Recess 14 outer finishing level 15 wheel bolts 16 Hinge 17 Insurrection Element 18 sliding connection 19 radial enlargement rim 20 Connection rim support element QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 4,603,916 A

[0004] DE 332 7735 A1

[0004] DE 250 1068 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Method for enlarging the contact area (10) of a wheel (1) with at least one expandable element (7) in the region of a rim (2) of the wheel (1), wherein the expandable element (7) is brought from a rest state into an expanded state by filling it with a fluid, in which the contact area (10) of the wheel (1) is at least partially widened, wherein at least one foldable holding element (5) is arranged on the rim (2) and can at least partially transmit contact forces of the at least one expandable element (7) to the rim (2). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is air and compressed air is supplied to expand the at least one expandable element (7). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding elements (5, 11, 12) are foldable about an axis of rotation (6) which lies largely in an outer end plane (14) of the rim (2). [4] Method according to claim 3, wherein an axis of rotation (6) of the holding elements (5, 11, 12) is aligned tangentially or radially to a circle aligned concentrically to the rim (2). [5] Method according to claim 4, wherein two holding elements (11, 12) are each mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (6) which is the diameter of the circle described by the rim (2) in the outer end plane (14) of the rim (2) and the two axes of rotation (6) are aligned at right angles to each other. [6] Method according to claim 5, wherein a first holding element (11) is first unfolded and then a second holding element (12), wherein the second holding element (12) fixes the first holding element (11) in its unfolded position. [7] Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one axis of rotation (6) of at least one holding element (5) is aligned as a tangent or chord of a circle concentric with the rim (2) and folding of the at least one holding element (5) is initiated by expanding the expandable element (7). [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a support surface of the expandable element (7) has at least one hinge which folds out during the transition from the rest state to the expanded state and folds together during the transition from the expanded state to the rest state. [9] Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a contact element (17) or segments of the contact element (17) are rotatably attached to a radial enlargement (19) of the rim (3) and have a sliding connection (18) with the holding element (5), and the contact element (17) or segments thereof form a circular ring in the rest state, which lies substantially in the outer end plane (14) and in the expanded state forms a widening of the contact surface (10) of the tire (3), [10] Arrangement (4) on a rim (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one holding element (5, 11, 12) and an expandable element (7), arranged to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. [11] Wheel (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an arrangement (4) according to claim 10. [12] Wheel (1) for a motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the arrangement (4) in the rest state is arranged completely in a cavity in a rim (2) of the wheel (1) between the rim (2) and the outer end plane (14) of the rim (2). [13] Motor vehicle comprising at least one wheel (1) according to claim 11 or 12. [14] Use of at least one foldable holding element (5, 11, 12) for transmitting contact forces of an expandable element (7) in the expanded state to a rim (2) of a wheel (1) of a motor vehicle.

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