Wheel and rim for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present development relates to a wheel (6) and a rim (10) for a wheel (6) of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a rim body (11) and - a magnetic element (40) arranged on or integrated into the rim body (11).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present development or invention relates to a rim and a wheel for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle equipped therewith. background

[0002] During the operation of a motor vehicle, particularly during braking, a brake fluid is applied to the braking surface of a brake disc, causing wear. Due to the friction that occurs, it is never entirely avoidable that particles of the friction layer of the brake disc or of the brake fluid will detach during braking and enter the environment.

[0003] In conventional disc brakes, the brake discs and / or the brake fluid are made entirely of cast iron or are coated. The resulting abrasion, the brake particles, is metallic and can cause damage to the lungs and the human body.

[0004] New regulatory requirements for the operation of motor vehicles also necessitate a reduction in brake dust produced during braking.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to minimize the amount of brake dust generated during braking, or to significantly reduce the amount of brake dust released into the environment. Accordingly, the objective of this further development is to reduce the emission of brake dust or brake particles during vehicle operation, thereby contributing to compliance with existing and future emissions or pollution standards for motor vehicles. Advantageous designs

[0006] This problem is solved with a rim, a wheel of a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle according to the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent patent claims.

[0007] In its first aspect, the device is a rim for a motor vehicle wheel. The rim comprises a rim body and at least one magnetic element arranged on or integrated into the rim body. By means of the magnetic element, brake dust generated during braking can be at least partially attracted magnetically and moved towards the magnetic element, i.e., towards the magnetic rim, where it can be collected or captured.

[0008] In particular, ferromagnetic or paramagnetic components of brake dust generated during braking can be attracted by the magnetic element in the direction of the magnetic element and / or in the direction of the rim body and adhere permanently to the magnetic element and / or the rim body due to the magnetic interaction.

[0009] The magnetic interaction between the magnetic element and the brake dust or particles contained therein, generated during braking, can significantly reduce the emission of these particles into the environment.

[0010] Providing or installing a magnetic element on or within the wheel rim is relatively inexpensive and can potentially even be retrofitted to existing wheel rims. Therefore, the arrangement and / or fixing or fastening of the magnetic element to the rim of a motor vehicle wheel represents a relatively simple measure for reducing brake dust emissions into the environment.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the rim body comprises a wheel hub section and a radially symmetrical rim bed. The magnetic element is arranged on an inner side of the rim bed facing the wheel hub section. Typically, the rim body includes one or more spokes by means of which the radially symmetrical and radially outer rim bed is rigidly connected to the wheel hub, or to the wheel hub section of the rim body.

[0012] The rim well can extend axially inwards from a radially outer end of the spokes, thus forming a mounting and / or contact surface for the tire of the vehicle wheel. The inner side of the rim well faces away from the tire and towards the wheel hub section, the wheel hub itself, or the wheel's axis of rotation. This inner side of the rim well is not visible from the outside, or only to a limited extent, when the wheel is mounted on the vehicle, so the arrangement of the magnetic element on the inner side of the rim well facing the wheel hub section is barely perceptible from the outside.

[0013] The arrangement of at least one magnetic element on the rim body therefore has hardly any influence on the external appearance of the rim and / or the wheel.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the magnetic element is designed as a counterweight. The magnetic element can have a standardized weight or mass and a standardized geometry in order to compensate for any imbalance of the rim and / or the entire wheel of the motor vehicle by means of its arrangement on the rim bed. In this respect, the magnetic element can fulfill a dual function. On the one hand, its mass, geometry, and arrangement on the rim body can contribute to eliminating an imbalance of the entire wheel.

[0015] Secondly, through its magnetic interaction with the rim body and / or with the brake dust generated during braking, it can contribute to a reduction in the brake dust released during braking and emitted into the environment.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the magnetic element is designed, with regard to its weight, geometric shape, and position on the rim, to compensate for an imbalance of the rim and / or a wheel of the motor vehicle. Several magnetic elements with the same or different masses or weights can also be arranged at predetermined positions or locations on the rim. The mass or weight, the geometric shape, and the arrangement of the magnetic element(s) on the rim can be individually determined and implemented for each wheel or rim of the motor vehicle, so that the wheel and / or rim exhibits no imbalance, or only an imbalance below a permissible tolerance range, with respect to rotation about the axis of rotation of the rim or wheel.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the magnetic element is a permanent magnet. By designing the magnetic element as a permanent magnet, a continuous magnetic interaction can be established between the magnetic element, the wheel rim, and the brake dust released during braking, or the ferromagnetic or paramagnetic particles contained therein. The magnetic element can be made of a hard magnetic material, such as an alloy of iron, cobalt, nickel, or certain ferrites.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the magnetic element incorporates a rare-earth magnet. Such magnetic materials are characterized by a high magnetic field strength at a comparatively low weight. Furthermore, such magnets or magnetic materials can be manufactured relatively inexpensively. They are also suitable for direct placement as a counterweight on the wheel rim.

[0019] The magnetic element can contain one or more ferrous metals, such as iron, cobalt, or nickel, as well as at least one so-called rare-earth metal, such as neodymium, samarium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium, or gadolinium. Yttrium can also act as a rare-earth metal.

[0020] Rare earth magnets are characterized by having both a high magnetic remanence flux density and a high magnetic coercive field strength, and thus a high magnetic energy density.

[0021] The magnetic element can, for example, consist of an intermetallic compound of neodymium-iron-boron, samarium-cobalt, or samarium-iron-nitrogen.

[0022] The magnetic element can have a curved shape, at least in some areas, with the radius of curvature of the magnetic element roughly corresponding to the radius of curvature of the rim bed. This allows for particularly good and easy attachment, fastening, and fixing of the magnetic element to the rim body or the rim bed.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the rim body is made of a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material. In further embodiments, the rim body can comprise an alloy that has at least a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic component. In this way, by arranging the magnetic element on the rim body, the entire rim body can be magnetized, at least partially or in certain areas, thereby further improving the magnetic interaction with the particles released during braking.

[0024] In some designs, the rim body may be made of or contain aluminum. Aluminum itself does not exhibit magnetic order and is therefore not magnetic. However, aluminum does exhibit paramagnetic behavior. For example, if an external magnetic field is applied to the aluminum by the arrangement of the magnetic element on the rim body, a magnetic field will also form inside the rim body.

[0025] It is also possible and intended that areas of the rim body which are spaced away from the magnetic element interact magnetically with the particles released during braking and that such particles are attracted towards the rim body.

[0026] In a further embodiment, the magnetic element is glued, screwed, or pressed into or onto the rim body. Basically, all fastening methods previously used for attaching counterweights to the rim body can be used to attach the magnetic element.

[0027] In another respect, the present development concerns a wheel of a motor vehicle, which has a previously described rim and a tire enclosing the rim body. The tire is typically arranged on the outer side of the rim bed, facing away from the wheel hub section of the rim. Since the wheel has a previously described rim, all features, advantages, and effects described for the rim also apply equally to the wheel of the motor vehicle; and vice versa.

[0028] Finally, a further aspect is defined as a motor vehicle that has at least one wheel or rim as previously described. The motor vehicle can be a passenger car, a light commercial vehicle, or a commercial vehicle. In addition to the wheel, the motor vehicle also includes a brake assigned to that wheel, typically a friction brake, such as a disc brake.

[0029] A further aspect of the present development concerns a balancing weight for the tire and / or rim of a motor vehicle. The balancing weight comprises a weight body which is at least partially or partially magnetic or designed as a magnet, in particular as a permanent magnet. The balancing weight is specifically designed for placement and attachment to the rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle.

[0030] The weight body can have a standardized weight and / or a standardized geometry, which is particularly suitable for arrangement and attachment to the rim of the motor vehicle, for example in the manner described above.

[0031] The weight may be made of, or consist of, a permanently magnetic or permanently magnetized material. In particular, the weight may contain one or more ferrous metals, such as iron, cobalt, or nickel, as well as at least one rare-earth metal, such as neodymium, samarium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium, or gadolinium.

[0032] By arranging the magnetic element on the rim body, a magnetic flux density can be generated in the immediate vicinity of the brake or braking system of the motor vehicle, which helps to ensure that particles generated during braking and released by the brake interact magnetically with the magnetic field emanating from the magnetic element of the rim and thus adhere permanently to the rim and / or its magnetic element.

[0033] The removal of particles captured by the magnetic element or permanently adhering to the rim can be carried out using a separate cleaning process, for example during a wheel change. For instance, it is conceivable to selectively remove the brake dust particles adhering to the rim and / or magnetic element using compressed air or a fluid in a specially designed device or environment. Brief description of the characters

[0034] Further objectives, features, and advantageous embodiments of the present development are explained in the following description of an exemplary implementation. These will show: Fig. 1. A schematic exterior view of an example of a rim, Fig. 2 a cross-section AA according to Fig. 1 Fig. 3 a schematic and simplified representation of a wheel of a motor vehicle and Fig. 4 A schematic side view of a motor vehicle. Detailed description

[0035] A primitive motor vehicle 1, designed as a passenger car, is depicted, comprising a body 2 and an interior 3 serving as a passenger compartment. The vehicle has several wheels 6, some, typically all, of which are equipped with a brake 30 or braking system. Each wheel comprises a rim 10 on which a tire 8 is mounted.

[0036] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 3 shows the constructive details of the wheel 6 and its rim 10 in more detail. The rim 10 comprises a rim body 11. The rim body 11 can be designed as a single-piece metal casting. The rim body 11 typically includes a radially inner hub section 12, from which several spokes 14 extend radially outwards and terminate in a radially symmetrical outer rim bed 16.

[0037] The rim well 16 has an inner surface 18 facing towards the wheel hub or wheel hub section 12 and an opposite outer surface 17. When a tire 8 is mounted on the rim 10, the tire 8 rests against the outer surface 17 of the rim well 16. The rim has an outer surface 20 visible from the outside when mounted on the vehicle 1 and an opposite axial inner surface 22. The rim well 16 typically extends axially inwards from the outer surface 20 of the rim body 11, or from an outer surface of the spokes 14, in the manner of a radially symmetrical flange.

[0038] As particularly in the cross-section of Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, a magnetic element 40 is arranged on the rim body 11. The magnetic element 40 is located on the outer surface 18 of the rim bed 16 facing the wheel hub section 12. The outer surface 18 of the rim bed 16 has a radially inwardly projecting surface for the arrangement of the magnetic element 40. The magnetic element 40 can, in particular, be implemented as a counterweight 42, by means of which a possible imbalance of the rim 10, or of the entire wheel 6, can be compensated.

[0039] As particularly in Fig.As shown in Figure 2, the wheel 6, or rather its rim 10, is arranged directly adjacent to a brake 30 of the motor vehicle 1. The brake 30, implemented as a disc brake, has a brake disc 32 that rotates with the wheel 6 and a brake caliper 34 arranged on the vehicle body 2. One or more brake pads 36, 37 are arranged on the brake caliper 34, which can be brought into friction with the brake disc 32 by means of corresponding brake cylinders.

[0040] During braking, the friction linings 36, 37 engage with the rotating brake disc 32 in a known manner. This braking process generates abrasion on both the friction linings 36, 37 and the brake disc 32. Such abrasion can release particles 5, which are attracted by the magnetic element 40 towards the magnetic element 40 or towards the rim body 11. Due to a magnetic interaction between the rim body 11, the magnetic element 40, and the particles 5, the particles 5 can adhere to the magnetic element 40 and / or to the rim body 11, particularly to the inner surface 18 of the rim well 16. In this way, the emission of particles 5 into the environment of the vehicle 1 can be prevented or significantly reduced.

[0041] The illustrated embodiments merely show possible configurations of the development, for which numerous further variants are conceivable during development. The exemplary embodiments shown are in no way to be interpreted as limiting with regard to the scope, applicability, or configuration possibilities of the development. The present description merely shows the person skilled in the art one or a few possible implementation(s) of an embodiment. Thus, a wide variety of modifications can be made to the function and arrangement of the described elements without departing from the scope of protection defined by the following claims or their equivalents. Reference symbol list 1 motor vehicle 2 Bodywork 3 Interior 5 particles 6 wheels 8 tires 10 rim 11 rim bodies 12 Hub section 14 spokes 16 rim bed 17 Outside 18 Inside 20 Outside 22 Inside 30 disc brake 32 brake disc 34 brake calipers 36 friction lining 37 Friction lining 40 magnetic elements 42 Counterweight

Claims

[1] Rim (10) for a wheel (6) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising: - a rim body (11) and - a magnetic element (40) arranged on or integrated into the rim body (11). [2] Rim (10) according to claim 1, wherein the rim body (11) has a wheel hub section (12) and a radially symmetrical rim bed (16) and wherein the magnetic element (40) is arranged on an inner side (18) of the rim bed (16) facing the wheel hub section (12). [3] Rim (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic element (40) is designed as a counterweight (42). [4] Rim (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic element (40) is designed with respect to its weight, its geometric shape and its position on the rim body (11) to compensate for an imbalance of the rim body (11). [5] Rim (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic element (40) is a permanent magnet. [6] Rim (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic element (40) comprises a rare earth magnet. [7] Rim (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rim body (11) is made of a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material. [8] Rim (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic element (40) is glued, screwed or pressed onto the rim body (11). [9] Wheel (6) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising: - a rim (10) according to one of the preceding claims, and - a tire (8) enclosing the rim body (11). [10] Motor vehicle (1) with at least one wheel (6) according to claim 9.

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