Flexible wheel cap for a vehicle wheel with a suspended seat and wheel with a suspended seat and a flexible wheel cap

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a hubcap for a vehicle wheel, the seat of which is intended to receive the tire bead and is radially floating. The invention relates in particular to assemblies comprising a flexible adapter inserted between a tire bead and a rim.

[0002] A tire, a rim, an adapter, which is a subject of the present invention, are objects usually described by a representation in a meridian plane, that is to say a plane containing an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of the tire. The radial and axial directions designate the directions, respectively, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire and parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire. In the following, the expressions "radially" and "axially" mean respectively "in a radial direction" and "in the axial direction". The expressions "radially inner, respectively radially outer" mean "closer, respectively further, from the axis of rotation of the tire, in a radial direction". A median plane is a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution of the tire, positioned axially so as to intersect the surface of the tread substantially halfway between the beads.The expressions "axially inner, respectively axially outer" mean "closer, respectively further, from the median plane of the tire, in the axial direction". State of the art

[0003] Generally speaking, a tire comprises a tread, intended to come into contact with the ground, two sidewalls extending radially inwards the axial ends of the tread and two beads extending radially inwards the two sidewalls and intended to come into contact with a rim.

[0004] In document WO2016 / 046197, it is proposed to insert an elastic adapter between a tire bead and a rim. The reader is referred for example to the Figure 5of this document to learn about a rolling assembly belonging to the field of the invention. It shows a rolling assembly comprising a tire, a rim and two identical adapters. Considering the language conventions recalled above, and referring to the way in which such an adapter is mounted on a rim, such an adapter comprises, axially from the inside to the outside, an axially inner end intended to ensure the attachment of the adapter to the rim. Such an adapter also comprises an axially outer end intended to receive a tire bead. A flexible body connects the two ends, respectively axially inner and axially outer. Such a wheel has a floating seat.It has a rim whose axial ends, where the tire seats are located, can move essentially radially in the event of very strong stress by a force oriented radially towards the axis of rotation of the wheel. To clarify, let us point out that a seat is considered to be "floating" if, by crushing the assembly mounted on flat ground, the deflection of the wheel is greater than 2.5 mm / T (millimeters per ton), and preferably greater than 3.2 mm / T.

[0005] The advantage of mounting a tire on a wheel with a floating seat is to make the tire more insensitive to a violent impact such as hitting a curb, for example. This allows for additional movement of the tire bead, linked to the travel allowed by the floating seat. It is easy to understand that the greater the travel offered to the tire, the greater its insensitivity to impact. This is all the more so when the space that can accommodate this travel is large. Therefore, the rigid part of the wheel must not interfere with this travel.

[0006] However, in the industrial field of wheels and their hubcaps, most of these objects are rigid, not flexible. Only the tire provides the ability to deform to contribute, along with the vehicle's suspension, to absorbing road irregularities. Wheels are entirely rigid under service stresses, "entirely" meaning that they are rigid up to the rim flange. When a wheel has a hubcap, this is also rigid, or in any case it does not undergo deformations imposed by its use.

[0007] The state of the art also includes hubcaps, part of which is flexible because it is designed to cooperate with the tire. For example, see documents DE 43 01 778 A1, DE 8521828 U1, DE 9204216 U1, DE 4301778 A1 or US 5511857.

[0008] Returning to the category of floating seat wheels, the volume under the rim end, under the seat, must not contain any obstacle functionally opposing the desired deformations when using such a floating seat wheel. That is to say, a functional void is required. However, this functional void creates a design constraint, the eye being attached to the metal part of the wheel which contrasts with the adapter and the tire, which are made of rubber, therefore black in color. The consequences of the presence of adapters are not in line with current wheel design. Indeed, the current trend is to have, visually, the largest possible wheel and sometimes also to have "full face" wheels, that is to say wheels which do not have a visual gap under the rim hooks, but on the contrary have an almost flat surface between the tire sidewall and the wheel disc.

[0009] The problem therefore arises of finding a technical means of filling this functional gap, at least for visual perception, in order to provide pneumatic assemblies mounted on floating seat wheels with a better aesthetic. Brief description of the invention

[0010] The invention relates to a wheel trim for a tire, intended to be used with a wheel with a floating tire seat, said wheel having an axis of rotation, said wheel comprising a rigid central part having a mounting surface and comprising a rigid peripheral part, said central part being connected to the peripheral part in a rigid manner, said peripheral part having a rim center, the rim center being extended axially by lateral rim parts, each lateral rim part comprising a tire seat extended axially outwards by a flange, at least one of the tire seats being radially floating.

[0011] The invention relates to a hubcap comprising the characteristics of claim 1.

[0012] Thus, thanks to a sufficient distance, either radially, axially, or radially and axially, there is an intermediate sector, moreover also constructed so that it is deformable under service stresses, said intermediate sector being arranged between said outer periphery and the fixing elements of said central edge ensure fixing on the rigid part of the wheel, so that the outer periphery can be moved at least radially inwards relative to the central edge. Therefore, the hubcap can remain integral with the wheel and accommodate the movements of its periphery which cooperates with the radially floating part of the wheel.

[0013] The wheel with a floating seat, in its rigid part, can be made in any way suitable for a conventional wheel, that is to say for a wheel that is entirely rigid under service stresses, such as for example in stamped sheet metal, light alloy, composite material or combining one or other of the technologies stated above. The mounting surface allows the wheel to be mounted on a hub, directly or by means of intermediate parts (also rigid). The fixing surface on a hub is on the axially inner side of the wheel, the hubcap being mounted on the axially outer side. In its floating part, said wheel can for example be made as explained in the aforementioned patent application WO2016 / 046197.

[0014] The invention allows for multiple variants of combined designs of rigid wheel part and added hubcap which make it possible to create a final object (floating seat wheel) whose aesthetics are similar to those of rigid wheels, in particular light alloy wheels which have become very popular for passenger vehicles.

[0015] The fixing elements on the rigid central part of the wheel ensure a removable fixing, by means of screws for example or any other equivalent fixing means, which makes it possible to easily replace the hubcap for example to change the design of the wheel or to facilitate the operation of mounting the adapters (flexible part of the rim) or the tire. Of course, the person skilled in the art can use other fixing means, for example by clipping, or even rivets which can also be considered to provide a removable fixing since they can be drilled to dismantle the parts thus assembled. In addition, the fact of attaching the hubcap according to the invention to the wheel gives it a stable position, not generating vibration when driving.On the side functionally opposite to the attachment to the wheel, the hubcap may be flush with or rest on a part of the adapter provided for this purpose and may have a profile and elasticity such that in the event of impact against a curb, the cover may deform and allow the extender carrying the tire to flex. Description of Figures

[0016] The invention is described below with the aid of figures 1 to 4 , including: there figure 1 is a perspective view showing a hubcap according to the invention and a rim and two adapters with which it is used, the figure 2 a perspective showing a whole formed by the pieces appearing at the figure 1 assembled to form a wheel with elastic rim and its hubcap, the figure 3 is a side view, along the direction of the axis of rotation, partially showing the entire figure 2 on which a tire is mounted, the figure 4is a radial section along IV-IV at the figure 3 , there Figure 5 is a radial section showing an alternative embodiment of a hubcap not in accordance with the invention and, partially, a wheel with a floating tire seat and a tire, the figure 6 is a radial section showing a second variant embodiment of a hubcap according to the invention and, partially, a wheel with a floating tire and a tire, the figure 7 is a radial section showing another alternative embodiment of a hubcap not in accordance with the invention and, partially, a wheel with a floating tire seat and a tire, the figure 8 is a radial section showing another alternative embodiment of a hubcap not in accordance with the invention and, partially, a wheel with a floating tire and a tire. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] To the figure 1, we see a hubcap 1 and a floating seat wheel 2. The floating seat wheel 2 is formed by the assembly of a rigid wheel base 20 and two lateral rim parts 251 and 252, both flexible. Each lateral rim part comprises a tire seat 253 extended axially outwards by a rim 254. In this embodiment, each of the lateral rim parts follows the teaching indicated for the adapter in document WO2016 / 046197; each lateral rim part is made of reinforced elastomer allowing the displacement in a radial direction of the rim 254 relative to the opposite end of said lateral rim part.The rigid wheel base 20 is a generally single-piece part, comprising a rigid central part 21 and a rigid peripheral part 23 rigidly connected by a plurality of spokes 26; each spoke 26 has two lateral faces 261 substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to a plane containing the axis of rotation of the wheel. The central part 21 comprises a fixing surface 22 on a hub, defining an axially inner side of the wheel. The peripheral part 23 has a central zone forming the rim center 24.

[0018] Alternatively, the floating seat wheel could also comprise flexible rim side parts mounted in various ways, such as for example according to one or other of the examples given in document WO2015 / 086662, all things being equivalent with regard to the present invention which finds application as soon as the wheel comprises floating seats, whatever the embodiments of the flexible part of the wheel.

[0019] As for the hubcap 1, it can be seen that it has the general appearance of a star comprising a central edge 11 and an outer periphery 12. The central edge 11 is formed by a plurality of inner segments 111. The outer periphery 12 comprises a plurality of outer segments 121 forming arcs of circles contained on a circle circumscribed radially on the outside. The inner segments 111 of the central edge 11 comprise holes for receiving screws forming fixing elements on the rigid part of the wheel. The outer periphery 12 is arranged to cooperate with functional clearance J relative to said lateral rim part 251 (see figure 2 ).

[0020] To the figure 1, we see that the wheel base 20 resembles a conventional light alloy wheel, with however a disc offset greater than usual. This is due to the fact that, on the seats, it is not directly a tire that is mounted, but the adapters that form the flexible rim side parts 251, 252. The offset is dimensioned so that the axially external faces of the spokes 26 are substantially coplanar with the axially external face of the rim 254.

[0021] Let us return to the hubcap 1. The outer periphery 12 comprises a plurality of outer segments 121 forming arcs of circles contained on the radially outer circumscribed circle. The outer periphery 12 has a shape of revolution almost parallel to, in the mounting position, the radially inner face of the lateral part of the rim 251 axially to the outside, opposite the edge 254 (see figure 3). The outer segments 121 are extended axially inwards by legs 123 (see figure 4 ). The legs are deformable; they have a sufficient length to accompany by their flexion the radial displacement imposed on the external periphery 12. The legs 123 have holes allowing the insertion of screws forming fixing elements on the rigid part of the wheel.

[0022] The outer segments 121 are connected to the central edge 11 by at least one deformable arm 122, in this case in the example that the figure 1illustrates, by two deformable arms 122, arranged to frame the two substantially parallel lateral faces 261 of the spokes 26 of the wheel. Two arms 122 are connected to each outer segment 121, on each side of each outer segment in the circumferential direction. The tab 123 extends each segment by the axially inner edge thereof. The central edge 11 comprises inner segments 111 each connected to two deformable arms 122, these being derived from different outer segments 121, said two arms 122 being connected to the outer segment 121 which they connect on each side of said inner segment in the circumferential direction.

[0023] THE figures 3 And 4show a tire 3 mounted on a floating seat wheel 2 equipped with its hubcap 1. The reader will recognize all the elements previously described. Furthermore, in these figures, it can be seen that the central edge is located at a radius R 1O and that the outer periphery 12 is located at a radius R 2O . In this implementation, the hubcap 1 conforms to the following arrangement: the circle R 1O is equal to 30% of R 2O . In the same figures, the hubcap is shown in continuous lines in its undeformed state, as it appears in figures 1 And 2. It is also shown in the deformed state, in broken lines. We see in particular that, if the tire 3 hits a significant obstacle, such as a curb approached at a significant speed, because said lateral rim portion 251 will flex radially inwards (the flexing of the lateral rim portion is not shown so as not to overload the drawings), the clearance J will be immediately canceled and said lateral rim portion 251 will impose on at least one outer segment 121 a deformation F radially inwards as shown in broken lines in figures 3 And 4 . The hubcap 1 is capable of absorbing this deformation by the buckling of the arms 122, as illustrated by the circumferential displacement D visible in the figure 3. By indicating that the arms 122 are deformable, we mean that they are made of a material that allows them to buckle without permanent deformation. Note that such deformation does not occur with each wheel revolution under normal conditions, but only when the tire undergoes a significant impact such as when coming out of a pothole, and that in this case, only one sector of the wheel will undergo deformation, therefore normally one or possibly two pairs of arms 122.

[0024] There Figure 5is a radial section which is not included in the invention showing an alternative embodiment of a hubcap 1A having the general appearance of a truncated cone, the outer diameter of which is close to the seat diameter of the tire bead, and the inner diameter of which is close to the diameter of the central part of the rim. Similar parts bear the same reference numerals, with the addition of the suffix “A”, which means that it is not useful to describe them again in full. The central edge 11A is radially quite close to the outer periphery 12A. The central edge 11A is interrupted to span the spokes 26. The hubcap 1A is intended to be fixed by screws 10A on the rigid part of the wheel 2 forming the axially outer edge on which a seat is provided for mounting the flexible lateral part 251.In this implementation, the hubcap 1A conforms to the following arrangement: the outer periphery 12A is axially spaced from the nearest 10A of the fixing elements on the wheel by a value W which is 24% of R 2A . The outer periphery 12A is arranged to cooperate with functional clearance J relative to said lateral rim portion 251. In the event of high stress F requiring radial displacement of the outer periphery 12A, the hubcap 1A takes on the appearance shown in broken lines. Note that the circle R 1A is 85% of R 2A .

[0025] There figure 6 is a radial section showing a second variant embodiment of a hubcap 1B whose radially outer part resembles the embodiment described with the figures 1 to 4. Similar parts have the same reference numerals, with the addition of the suffix “B”, which means that it is not useful to describe them again in full. Each outer segment 121B is connected, by its axially outer edge, to an arm 122B arranged axially outside the axially outer face of each spoke 26. The radially inner end of the set of arms 122B forms the central edge 11B of the hubcap 1B, the arms 122B being deformable. The radially inner ends of the arms 122B form the central edge 11B of the hubcap 1B; they include holes for receiving screws 10B forming fixing elements on the rigid part of the wheel. It will be noted that in this implementation, the hubcap 1B also conforms to the following arrangement: the circle R 1B is equal to 33% of R 2B . The outer periphery 12B is arranged to cooperate with functional clearance J relative to said rim side portion 251.In the event of a strong stress F requiring radial displacement of the outer periphery 12B, the trim 1B takes on the appearance shown in broken lines, with deformation of the lugs 123B and the arms 122B, the latter by axial displacement R which is all the greater the more one is at mid-radial height of the arms 122B (with isotropic material and constant section of these).

[0026] There figure 7is a radial section showing another alternative embodiment of a hubcap 1C which is not included in the invention. This may take the form of a disc, pierced or not in the central part; it may also take the form of a set of arms 122C similar to the arms 122B. The similar parts bear the same numerical references, with the addition of the suffix “C”, which means that it is not useful to describe them again in full. The radially inner end of the set of arms 122C (or of the disc) forms the central edge 11C of the hubcap 1C. The arms 122C are deformable (or the disc is deformable). The central edge 11C has holes for receiving screws 10C forming fixing elements on the rigid part of the wheel. It will be noted again that in this implementation, the 1C trim also conforms to the following arrangement: the circle R 1C is worth 30% of R 2C .Note that, depending on the size of the wheel and the choice of materials, an appropriate range of value for R 1C is 30% to 65% of R 2C . The outer periphery 12C (circumferentially continuous or not) is arranged to, in the state free of any stress, hubcap 1C mounted on wheel 2, be slightly offset axially relative to the rim 254, with functional clearance J. In the event of high stress F requiring radial displacement of the rim 254, the outer periphery 12C is pushed axially outwards and takes on the appearance shown in broken lines, with deformation of the arms 122C (or of the disc if it is a solid disc).

[0027] There figure 8is another radial section which is not included in the invention showing a fourth alternative embodiment of a hubcap 1D according to the invention in which the outer periphery 12D of the hubcap 1D comprises fixing elements 10D, for example screws, on the floating part of the wheel, that is to say on the rim 254D, which comprises a corresponding female threaded part or any equivalent arrangement, depending on the fixing means used. Similar parts bear the same reference numerals, with the addition of the suffix “D”, which means that it is not useful to describe them again in full.In this implementation, the hubcap 1D conforms to the following arrangement: the outer periphery 12D is axially spaced from the nearest 10D of the fixing elements on the wheel by a value WD which is 24% of R 2D , WD being measured between the positive fixing points on one side on the rigid part of the wheel and on the other on the floating part of the wheel because this is what counts from a functional point of view to allow elastic deformations. The other elements are comparable to what has been described above (references to similar or identical parts being designated in the drawing by the same numbers this time bearing the suffix D and do not require further explanation.

[0028] The invention lends itself to multiple variations; it opens up a new field of design for the use of wheels with floating rims; among possible and interesting variations, we can cite the possibility of integrating into the hubcap according to the invention an indicator of shock suffered beyond a certain threshold, which will result for example in a visible permanent deformation of a part of the hubcap, or a local breakage of the latter or the loss of the latter.

[0029] Finally, let us also point out that the invention extends to an assembly comprising a hubcap 1, 1E according to the invention and a wheel 2 with a floating seat.

Claims

1. Hubcap (1) for a wheel (2) with a floating seat for a tyre, the wheel being formed by the assembly of a rigid wheel base (20) and two flexible rim lateral parts (251, 252) comprising a tyre seat (253) provided with a flange (254), said hubcap comprising: • a central edge (11, 11B) situated at a radius R1 and comprising fixing elements for securing to the wheel, • an exterior periphery (12, 12B) inscribed on a circle of radius R2, characterized in that the exterior periphery (12, 12B) is arranged so as to be able to collaborate with a functional clearance "J" with respect to a rim lateral part (251) and in that: • the exterior periphery (12, 12B) comprises a plurality of exterior segments (121) forming arcs of circles contained on a circle circumscribed radially to the outside of the central edge (11, 11B), said exterior segments (121) have a shape of revolution capable, in the mounted position, of being almost parallel to the radially interior face of said rim lateral part (251) axially on the outside, facing the flange (254), the exterior segments (121) are radially displaceable, • the exterior segments (121) are connected to the central edge (11) by at least one deformable arm (122), • the exterior segments (121) are extended axially inwards by deformable tabs (123), the tabs (123) comprising fixing elements (10, 10B) for securing to the rigid part of the wheel, and in that said central edge (11, 11B) and said exterior periphery (12, 12B) are in accordance with at least one of the following two arrangements: • the exterior periphery (12, 12B) is axially distant from the closest of the fixing elements for securing to the wheel by a value exceeding 10% of the radius R2, • the circle of radius R1 represents at most 90% of radius R2.

2. Hubcap according to Claim 1 for a floating-seat wheel, the rigid part of which comprises a plurality of spokes (26) connecting the rigid central part (21) and the rigid peripheral part (23), each spoke (26) having two lateral faces (261) which are substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to a plane containing the axis of rotation of the wheel, in which: • the exterior segments (121) are connected to the central edge (11) by two deformable arms (122), arranged to flank the two lateral faces (261), two arms (122) being connected to the exterior segment (121) that they connect on each side of said exterior segment in the circumferential direction, the tab (123) extending said segment via the axially interior edge thereof, • the central edge comprises interior segments (111) each connected to two deformable arms (122), the latter coming from different exterior segments (121), said two arms (122) being connected to the exterior segment (121) that they connect on each side of said interior segment in the circumferential direction.

3. Hubcap according to one of Claims 1 to 2, in which the fixing elements for securing to the rigid part of the wheel are screws.

4. Hubcap according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the circle R1 represents at most 75% of R2.

5. Hubcap according to one of Claims 4, in which the circle R1 represents at most 45% of R2.

6. Assembly comprising a hubcap (1) and a floating-seat wheel (2), said floating seat being intended to receive a tyre, said wheel (2) having an axis of rotation, said wheel (2) comprising a rigid central part (21) having a mounting bearing surface (22) and comprising a rigid peripheral part (23; 123B), said central part being rigidly connected to the peripheral part, said peripheral part having a rim centre (24), the rim centre being extended axially by rim lateral parts (251, 252), each rim lateral part comprising a tyre seat (253) extended axially outwards by a flange (254), at least one of the tyre seats (253) being radially floating, said hubcap being in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 5.