Motor vehicle wheel ejection assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel ejection assembly (1) for a motor vehicle wheel (10) mounted on a hub (19). The ejection assembly (1) comprises a wheel rim (10) having a central cylindrical sleeve (13) cooperating with the hub (19) and a flange (14) extending radially from the central cylindrical sleeve (13) towards a circular peripheral edge (12). At the central cylindrical sleeve (13), the rim has a cavity (16) opening opposite the hub (19) and / or the brake disc. The cavity (16) houses an inflatable chamber that can be selectively pressurized to exert a non-zero force against the hub (19) and / or the brake disc, leading to the separation of the rim. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Wheel ejection assembly for a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of removing a wheel from a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a wheel ejection assembly for a motor vehicle.

[0002] After a puncture, it is known that a damaged wheel must be removed from the motor vehicle in order to replace and / or repair it. Such removal generally begins by unscrewing the wheel studs that secure the wheel—via its rim—to the wheel hub. However, it frequently happens that, even after unscrewing the studs, the wheel remains firmly attached to the hub, making its removal very difficult or even impossible.

[0003] The rim's adhesion to the hub after the wheel studs have been removed can stem from several causes. First, continuous exposure to moisture, chemicals, and road salt used in winter can lead to corrosion of the metal surfaces of the hub and / or the wheel rim. This corrosion forms an oxide layer that bonds the surfaces together, making wheel removal difficult—or even impossible. Second, driving on muddy terrain, wet roads, or in adverse weather conditions can cause mud to accumulate around the hub or between the rim and the hub. Over time, this accumulated mud can solidify, contributing to the formation of a binder that prevents the rim from easily separating from the hub. Finally, slight misalignment or manufacturing defects can also contribute to making rim removal difficult.

[0004] Such a situation of the rim being stuck to the hub is undesirable and may lead the user, faced with this type of rim adhesion, to strike the rim with a hammer or sledgehammer, for example, in an attempt to loosen it. Such measures can damage parts of the wheel, hub, or braking system, resulting in additional repair costs. In other cases, users facing such a stuck situation may call upon specialists who will intervene urgently at high cost, which is also undesirable. Finally, in yet other cases, the user may resort to using chemicals to dissolve corrosion or mud. This method carries the risk of damaging the metal surfaces of the wheel.Furthermore, the use of chemical products remains dangerous for the user in case of uncontrolled contact with. skin or eyes, for example. Finally, the use of chemical products is also undesirable due to environmental concerns.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a new ejection assembly in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to other advantages.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to facilitate the dismantling of a wheel and limit the difficulties of dismantling related to the residual adhesion of the rim on the hub, once the studs have been removed.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a wheel ejection assembly for a motor vehicle mounted on a hub, the ejection assembly comprising:

[0008] - a wheel rim, the rim comprising a central cylindrical sleeve collaborating with the hub, the rim having a cavity formed in the central cylindrical sleeve and opening opposite the hub;

[0009] - an inflatable chamber housed in the rim cavity; and

[0010] - an inflation device for the inflation chamber.

[0011] In the context of the present invention, the wheel rim has a generally cylindrical shape and allows a tire to be positioned and held around a circular peripheral edge that extends coaxially around the wheel's axis of rotation. The rim includes a central cylindrical sleeve that allows coupling with the opposite hub. From the central cylindrical sleeve extends a flange in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the wheel's axis of rotation. The flange has an inner flange facing the hub and an outer flange on the opposite side. At a radial end of the distal flange of the central cylindrical sleeve, the rim includes a rim that extends circularly around the axis of rotation and forms an inner bearing surface for the tire intended to be fitted to the rim.

[0012] In the context of the present invention, the cavity forms a depression in the rim, at the level of its inner flange. The cavity forms a housing for the inflation chamber. The cavity forms an open housing opening onto the inner flange, that is to say, open on the hub side, so that the inflation chamber, when inflated, can bear directly against the hub. The cavity is machined onto the inner flange, that is to say, by removing material, or formed directly by molding the rim.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, the inflation chamber forms a reservoir that can be filled with a fluid—gaseous or liquid—so that its dimensions vary and it can extend out of the cavity. The inflation chamber is advantageously made of a deformable material, and in particular of a material Stretchable. By way of non-limiting example, the inflation chamber is made of rubber or elastomer, or even a plastic material. The fluid used to fill the inflation chamber is advantageously air pressurized within the chamber.

[0014] In the context of the present invention, the inflation device is configured to facilitate the separation of the rim from the hub to which it is attached and against which it sometimes remains stuck despite the removal of the retaining studs that bind the rim to the hub. To this end, the inflation device pressurizes the inflation chamber and increases its volume so that it overflows the cavity in which it is housed and presses directly against the hub. Advantageously, the inflation device is configured to prevent the fluid injected into the inflation chamber from escaping, thus ensuring the establishment of sufficient pressure in the inflation chamber to lead to the separation of the rim from the hub. In the context of the present invention, the inflation device can be manual or automatic.

[0015] Thus, the ejection assembly conforming to the first aspect of the invention solves the technical problem since it provides assistance for wheel removal. A motor vehicle user experiencing a flat tire can now use the ejection assembly to overcome the residual adhesion of the rim to the hub once the retaining studs have been removed. Consequently, the ejection assembly prevents the user from employing methods, tools, or chemicals that are unsuitable for their own safety, the physical integrity of their motor vehicle, or the safety of the environment.

[0016] The ejection assembly according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0017] - the cavity is located opposite a brake disc of the wheel. In this way, When the inflation chamber is inflated and pressurized by the inflation device, it expands out of the cavity and presses against the brake disc. This advantageous configuration generates an outwardly directed force, relative to the wheel's axis of rotation, against the brake disc, which leads to the inner flange of the rim being detached from the brake disc;

[0018] - according to a first embodiment, the cavity extends in a way circumferential around an axis of rotation of the wheel. In other words, the cavity has a circular groove machined on the inner flange of the rim, opposite the hub. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to generate a circumferential axial force against the hub;

[0019] - alternatively, the cavity extends at the level of a central region of a flange inside the rim, opposite the hub. This advantageous configuration allows for a more localized axial force to be generated against the hub;

[0020] - the inflation device includes a valve configured to allow inflation of the inflation chamber and to prevent said inflation chamber from deflating. In the context of the present invention, the valve is configured to allow the passage of fluid from the outside to the inflation chamber, and to prevent the fluid from exiting the inflation chamber, for a threshold pressure greater than that required to detach the rim from the hub;

[0021] - advantageously, the inflation device comprises a coupled conduit Fluid is supplied to the inflation chamber via a conduit that passes through the rim and opens onto an external rim flange. This conduit allows fluid communication between the inflation chamber and the outside, via the valve. The valve is positioned intermediately between—or alongside—the conduit and the inflation chamber. This conduit facilitates pressurization of the inflation chamber by the user of the ejection system.

[0022] - according to a first embodiment, the inflation device is of the type of a manual inflation device. Alternatively, according to a second embodiment, the inflation device is of the automatic inflation type, the ejection assembly comprising a device for pressurizing the inflation chamber. By way of non-limiting example, the inflation device comprises a compressor, or a compressed air cartridge that can be coupled to the conduit;

[0023] - in the case where the inflation device is of the automatic type, the assembly The ejection system includes a control unit configured to operate the pressurization device in order to inflate the inflation chamber. Naturally, in this case, the control unit is configured to pressurize the inflation chamber when the user wishes to remove the wheel.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for extracting a wheel associated with an ejection assembly is proposed, conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any one of its improvements, the extraction method comprising the following steps:

[0025] - a step of removing studs fixing the wheel rim to the hub;

[0026] - a step of inflating the inflation chamber housed in the cavity, so that The inflation chamber exerts sufficient pressure on the hub to detach an inner flange from the rim of said hub.

[0027] According to a third aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising at least one ejection assembly conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any one of its improvements.

[0028] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, according to all their possible combinations, the different optional features set out here.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given by reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0030] [Fig.1] illustrates a front view of a wheel equipped with an ejection assembly according to the invention;

[0031] [Fig.2] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the wheel illustrated in [Fig.1] and for a first state of the ejection assembly conforming to the first aspect of the invention;

[0032] [Fig.3] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the wheel illustrated in [Fig.1] and for a second state of the ejection assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

[0033] [Fig.4] illustrates a synoptic view of the extraction process according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0034] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0035] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0036] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0037] With reference to FIGURES 1 to 3, the invention addresses an ejection assembly 1 for a wheel 10 of a motor vehicle mounted on a hub 19, the ejection assembly 1 comprising:

[0038] - a wheel rim 10, the rim comprising a central cylindrical sleeve 13 collaborating with the hub 19 and a circular peripheral edge 12 located radially outside the central sleeve. The rim has, at the level of an inner flange 142 located opposite the hub 19, a cavity 16 formed in the central cylindrical sleeve 13 and opening opposite the hub 19;

[0039] - an inflatable chamber housed in cavity 16 of the rim; and

[0040] - an inflation device for the inflation chamber 17.

[0041] As seen in the FIGURES, the rim of the wheel 10 has a general cylindrical shape and allows a tire 11 to be positioned and held around the circular peripheral edge 12 which extends coaxially around the axis of rotation 01 of the wheel 10.

[0042] The central cylindrical sleeve 13 of the rim allows coupling with the hub 19 located opposite, via fixing studs 15.

[0043] The rim flange 14 extends in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation 01 of the wheel 10. The flange 14 has an inner flange 142 located opposite the hub 19 and an outer flange 141 located on the opposite side. At an outer radial end of the flange 14, i.e., radially distal to the central cylindrical sleeve 13, the rim has a circular peripheral edge 12 which extends circumferentially around the axis of rotation 01 and forms an inner bearing surface for the tire 11 intended to be associated with the rim.

[0044] The cavity 16 is formed in the rim itself, at the level of the central cylindrical sleeve 13, on the side of the inner flange 142 and opposite the hub 19. The cavity 16 forms a depression, i.e. a housing for the inflation chamber 17. The cavity 16 forms an open housing opening onto the inner flange 142, i.e. open on the side of the hub 19, so that the inflation chamber 17, when inflated, can bear directly against the hub 19.

[0045] In the context of the present invention, the inflation chamber 17 forms a reservoir that can be filled with a fluid—gaseous or liquid—so that its dimensions vary and it can extend out of the cavity 16. The inflation chamber 17 is advantageously made of a deformable material, and in particular of a stretchable material. By way of non-limiting example, the inflation chamber 17 may be made of rubber or an elastomer, or even a plastic material.

[0046] The inflation chamber 17 is housed within the rim. Relative to the axis of rotation 01, the inflation chamber 17 - housed in its cavity 16 - is located in an intermediate position between the rim and the hub 19 and / or the brake disc.

[0047] The inflation device is configured to facilitate the separation of the rim from the hub 19 to which it is attached and against which it sometimes remains stuck despite the removal of the fixing studs 15 which link the rim to the hub 19. For this purpose, the inflation device makes it possible to pressurize the inflation chamber 17 and to increase its volume so that it overflows from the cavity 16 in which it is housed and that it presses directly against the hub 19.

[0048] The inflation device advantageously comprises a conduit 18 that passes axially through the rim and connects the inflation chamber 17 to the outside. Thus, the conduit 18 opens at the cavity 16 on one side, and at the outer flange 141 of the rim on the other. The inflation chamber 17 is fluidically coupled to the conduit 18, for example via a fluidic connector. On the side of the outer flange 141 of the rim, the conduit 18 opens through an orifice that can be closed by a safety cap not shown in the FIGURES. Advantageously, the safety cap can only be removed by means of a safety key in order to prevent uncontrolled manipulation of the ejection assembly 1 according to the invention.

[0049] Thus, when the driver of the motor vehicle equipped with such an ejection assembly 1 finds himself in a situation requiring the removal of the wheel 10 and the wheel 10 remains stuck against the hub 19 and / or the brake disc, then he can use the ejection assembly 1 to easily detach the rim from the hub 19.

[0050] To do this, the safety cap is removed using, for example, the ignition key of the motor vehicle.

[0051] With reference to [Fig.3], the invention also addresses an extraction process 2 comprising the following steps:

[0052] - a step of removing 21 of the fixing studs 15 from the wheel rim 10 to the hub 19;

[0053] - an inflation step 22 of the inflation chamber 17 housed in the cavity 16, of so that the inflation chamber 17 exerts sufficient pressure on the hub 19 in order to detach the inner flange 142 from the rim of said hub 19.

[0054] Thus, the inflation step 22 of the inflation chamber 17 is carried out by introducing air - for example via a compressor or with the aid of a hand pump - into the inflation chamber 17 and through the conduit 18. For this purpose, the inflation device advantageously includes a valve 181 in order to facilitate this pressurization.

[0055] The extraction method 2 as described herein results in the selective inflation of the inflation chamber 17, creating a space between the rim and the brake disc and / or the hub 19. Thus, the removal of the blocked wheel 10 is facilitated, innovatively solving the problems associated with the jamming of the wheel 10 during a tire change or puncture.

[0056] In summary, the invention relates to an ejection assembly 1 for a motor vehicle wheel 10 mounted on a hub 19, the ejection assembly 1 comprising a wheel rim 10 having a central cylindrical sleeve 13 cooperating with the hub 19 and a flange 14 extending radially from the central cylindrical sleeve 13 towards a circular peripheral edge 12. At the central cylindrical sleeve 13, the rim has a cavity 16 opening opposite the hub 19 and / or the brake disc, the cavity 16 housing an inflatable chamber that can be selectively pressurized in order to exert a non-zero force against the hub 19 and / or the brake disc and leading to the separation of the rim.

[0057] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Specifically, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

Demands

1. Ejection assembly (1) of a motor vehicle wheel (10) mounted on a hub (19), the ejection assembly (1) comprising: - a rim of the wheel (10), the rim having a central cylindrical sleeve (13) collaborating with the hub (19), the rim having a cavity (16) formed in the central cylindrical sleeve (13) and opening opposite the hub (19); - an inflation chamber (17) housed in the cavity (16) of the rim; and - an inflation device for the inflation chamber (17).

2. Ejection assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the cavity (16) is located opposite a brake disc of the wheel (10).

3. Ejection assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity (16) extends circumferentially around a rotation axis (01) of the wheel (10).

4. Ejection assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inflation device includes a valve (181) configured to permit inflation of the inflation chamber (17) and to prevent said inflation chamber (17) from deflating.

5. Ejection assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inflation device comprises a conduit (18) fluidly coupled to the inflation chamber (17), the conduit (18) passing through the rim so as to open onto an outer flange (141) of the rim.

6. Ejection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inflation device is of the type of a manual inflation device.

7. Ejection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inflation device is of the type of an automatic inflation device, the ejection assembly (1) comprising a device for pressurizing the inflation chamber (17).

8. Ejection assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the ejection assembly (1) comprises a control unit configured to drive the pressurization device in order to inflate the inflation chamber (17).

9. A method for extracting (2) a wheel (10) associated with an ejection assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the extraction method (2) comprising the following steps: - a step of removing fixing studs (15) from the rim of the wheel (10) to the hub (19); - a step of inflating (22) the inflation chamber (17) housed in the cavity (16), so that the inflation chamber (17) exerts sufficient pressure on the hub (19) to detach an inner flange (142) from the rim of said hub (19).

10. Motor vehicle comprising an ejection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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