ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, said assembly (1) comprising at least one drive shaft (3) and a motor vehicle wheel rim (5) fixed, by means of a fastening member (13), to said shaft (3); said rim (5) comprising a hub (7) through which one end of said drive shaft (1) passes, said fastening member (13) surrounding at least part of the end of the shaft (3) and the hub (7) of said rim (5); characterized in that said assembly (1) comprises an insert (15) and in that the end of the drive shaft (3) passing through said hub (7) is split into several parts (9) defining a cavity in which said insert (15) is housed. [Fig. 1]

Description

Title of the invention: ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SUCH A SET

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles. The present invention relates more particularly to a secure assembly of a first part onto a second part by means of a fastening element, such as the fastening of a wheel rim to a transmission axle of the vehicle by means of a fastening element.

[0002] Generally, motor vehicles include wheels mounted and fixed to drive shafts. More specifically, a motor vehicle wheel includes a rim on which a tire is mounted, said rim including a hub into which one end of the drive shaft is fixed. More specifically, the end of the shaft passing through the hub of the rim is generally referred to as the "spindle."

[0003] The fixing or securing of the rim to the transmission shaft is usually done by means of a nut, also referred to as a "transmission nut", but said nut has the disadvantage of loosening due to vibrations or shocks.

[0004] It is therefore common to secure the fixing between the nut and the transmission shaft, to prevent any loosening of said nut, with one or the other of the following solutions: - drilling a hole through the nut and the spindle, then inserting a metal rod, such as a pin, through said hole; - deformation of part of the nut on the transmission shaft.

[0005] Said pin passing diametrically through the nut and the shaft, for example threaded, thus prevents any rotational movement of the nut around said shaft in case of vibrations, and thus its loosening.

[0006] Each of these solutions, however, has one or more disadvantages; the addition of a pin requires additional operations when mounting the rim on the axle, increasing, among other things, the cost of manufacturing the vehicle, while the deformation of part of the nut and axle makes vehicle maintenance, particularly changing the vehicle's wheels, more complicated and time-consuming.

[0007] It is therefore necessary to find a solution that limits the risks of the nut loosening, without increasing costs or making the maintenance of motor vehicles more complex.

[0008] The present invention thus aims to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of assembly for a motor vehicle, said assembly comprising at least one transmission shaft and a motor vehicle wheel rim fixed, by means of a fastening device, to said shaft; said rim comprising a hub through which one end of said transmission shaft passes, and said fastening element surrounding at least in part said end of the shaft and the hub of said rim; characterized in that said assembly includes an insert and in that the end of the transmission shaft passing through said hub is split into several parts delimiting a cavity in which said insert is housed.

[0009] Said assembly according to the invention is an ingenious and inexpensive way of limiting the risks of loosening of the fastening member, the insert being configured to exert a radial force on the end parts surrounded by the fastening member, and that thus said end parts also exert a radial force on said fastening member, blocking the position of the fastening member and preventing its loosening (by shocks or vibrations).

[0010] According to another possible feature, said insert is configured to modify the diameter of the end of the transmission shaft surrounded by said fastening member. Advantageously, the insertion of the insert into the cavity results in an increase in the diameter of the end of the transmission shaft capped by the fastening member, thereby locking the position of the fastening member and thus limiting the risk of loosening said fastening member, for example due to vibrations and / or shocks.

[0011] According to another possible feature, the different parts of the end of the shaft delimiting the cavity and the insert comprise mechanical structures cooperating with each other. The cavity and the insert of the assembly according to the invention advantageously comprise complementary mechanical structures designed to cooperate mechanically to secure the insert more permanently to the parts of the end of the transmission shaft, and thus limit the risk of the insert being expelled or dislodged from said cavity as a result of vibrations and / or shocks.

[0012] According to another possible characteristic, said mechanical cooperation structures are threads. Advantageously, the mechanical cooperation structures are threaded, as these structures are simple and inexpensive to implement on the insert and on the portions of the transmission shaft end that define the cavity for receiving said insert. Furthermore, the fact that these structures are threaded allows for control over the insertion and the level of fixation of the insert within said cavity.

[0013] According to another possible feature, said parts of the end of said axis are rounded. The fact that the rounded ends of the shaft, particularly at their free ends (outward-facing portions), advantageously guides the fastening element when it is mounted on the end of the transmission shaft, specifically by encircling the end and covering part of the hub. Furthermore, the rounded shapes reduce the risk of injury to an operator or third party from the end of the transmission shaft (which protrudes beyond the hub).

[0014] According to another possible characteristic, said insert has a substantially annular shape. Advantageously, the insert has a substantially annular shape, that is to say a ring or ring shape, which in particular allows the weight of said insert to be limited and / or makes it easier to arrange mechanical cooperation structures on the internal and / or external surface of said insert.

[0015] According to another possible feature, said insert includes an actuation structure. The actuation structure is advantageously a recess adapted to cooperate with a tool, for example a screwdriver, an Allen key, etc. Said actuation structure thus arranged on said insert allows said insert to be rotated (on itself), with the aid of a suitable tool, to facilitate its assembly and / or disassembly from the cavity receiving said transmission shaft.

[0016] According to another possible feature, the fastening member is a nut, said nut surrounding (in mounted position) at least in part the end of said axle and the hub of the rim. Advantageously, the fastening element surrounding or capping the rim hub and the end of the transmission shaft is a nut, which also mechanically cooperates with the hub and / or with a portion of the transmission shaft to secure these elements together.

[0017] The invention also relates to a fixing kit for a motor vehicle rim on a transmission shaft, characterized in that said kit comprises a fixing member and an insert which are configured to cooperate with a transmission shaft as defined in an assembly as described above.

[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example thermal, hybrid or electric, characterized in that said vehicle comprises an assembly as defined above.

[0019] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a very schematic, perspective and partial view of an assembly according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic, enlarged, and partial view of Figure 1.

[0020] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not restrictive in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of".

[0021] In this application, it should be noted that "substantially parallel" means a direction deviating by no more than 20°, or even by no more than 10° or 5°, from a parallel direction. It should also be noted that "substantially orthogonal" means a direction deviating by no more than 20°, or even by no more than 10° or 5°, from an angle of 90°.

[0022] Fig. 1 thus illustrates a very schematic, perspective and partial view of an assembly 1 intended to be mounted in a motor vehicle, for example a thermal, hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0023] Said assembly 1 comprises at least: - a transmission shaft 3, or drive shaft, that is to say a mechanical component which is configured to drive in rotation the wheels of the vehicle mounted on each of the ends of said shaft, such a shaft 3 can also transmit the mechanical power developed by an engine to the so-called "drive" wheels of the vehicle, and drive these in rotation; - a wheel rim 5 of a motor vehicle on which a tire (not shown) is mounted and which includes a hub 7.

[0024] The rim 5 generally and substantially has a circular ring shape, the hub 7 being generally located in the central part of said rim 5. The transmission shaft 3 is mounted through the hub 7 of the rim 5, the free end of said shaft 3 extending outward from the hub 7 (therefore, in the mounted position, outward from the vehicle). The shaft 3 thus extends substantially orthogonally to the main plane of extension of the rim 5.

[0025] The hub 7 thus includes a through opening through which a part of the end of the axle 3 extends, this part of the axle 3 extending through the hub 7 can also be referred to as the "rocket".

[0026] In addition, the hub 7 can also include wheel screws 8 distributed circumferentially around the axle 3 and which are fixed to a flange (not visible) mounted on the axle 3 and bearing against the inner face of the hub 7 (not visible), screw 8 allowing the rim 5 to be fixed to the hub 7 (or to an intermediate piece connected to said hub).

[0027] Thus, a portion of the transmission shaft 3 passes through the hub 7, and the free end of the transmission shaft 3 is divided into several parts 9 defining a housing 11. In the embodiment shown herein, said end of the shaft 3 comprises four parts 9, but it may comprise any number of parts as long as these parts can define a housing 11, advantageously located substantially at the center of said shaft 3.

[0028] Said assembly 1 further comprises: - a fastening member 13, for example a nut, which is configured to be fixed to the end of the axle 3 and to the hub 7, said member 13 surrounding, in the mounted position, at least in part the end of the axle 3 and the hub 7; - an insert 15 configured to be inserted (or housed) in the cavity 11 delimited by the parts 9 of the end of the shaft 3.

[0029] It should be noted that the transmission shaft 3, the fixing member 13 and / or the insert 15 are advantageously metallic, these are for example made of steel, an aluminum alloy, etc.

[0030] Fig. 2 is, for its part, a schematic, enlarged and partial view of assembly 1 in which the insert 15, for reasons of readability, is not yet arranged in cavity 11. The said insert 15, for example, has a substantially annular shape, that is to say, a ring or band shape.

[0031] Said insert 15 and the parts 9 delimiting the cavity 11 advantageously comprise mechanical structures for cooperation with each other, such as threads or shapes configured to fulfill a cooperation of shapes, in order to fix (or secure) said insert 15 in the cavity 11 (and therefore to the parts 9).

[0032] Moreover, when said insert 15 has a substantially annular shape, the mechanical cooperation structure is advantageously arranged on the external surface of said ring 15, while the complementary mechanical cooperation structure is advantageously arranged on the internal surface of the axis 3, here the internal faces of said parts 9 (that is to say the faces oriented towards the interior of said axis 3).

[0033] The cavity 11 and the insert 15 of the assembly therefore advantageously comprise complementary mechanical structures designed to cooperate mechanically to secure the insert 15 to the parts 9 of the end of the transmission shaft 3.

[0034] Furthermore, said parts 9 of the end of the axis 3 are advantageously rounded, for example at the free ends of said parts 9, the latter thus being devoid of protruding edges.

[0035] Furthermore, said insert 15 advantageously comprises an actuation structure 15a. The actuation structure 15a is advantageously a suitable footprint to cooperate with a tool, for example a screwdriver, an Allen key, a sipo (or hexagonal) key, etc., the actuation structure 15 being for example a hexagonal shape in the case of actuation by a sipo key.

[0036] Furthermore, when the insert 15 is a ring, it is advantageous to provide said actuation structure 15a at the level of the internal surface of said insert 15, for example by providing threads or by shaping the form or perimeter of the internal surface of said insert 15. Thus, a tool can cooperate with said actuation structure 15a and allow said insert 15 to be driven in rotation (about itself) to facilitate its mounting and / or dismounting from the cavity 11 for receiving said transmission shaft 3.

[0037] It will also be noted that in the mounted position, the insert 15 housed in the cavity 11 is configured to exert a radial force on the end parts 9 of the shaft 3 surrounded by the fixing member 13, and that the said end parts 9 themselves also exert a radial force on the said fixing member 13.

[0038] There may also be an increase in the diameter of the end of the transmission shaft 3 capped by the fixing member 13 (increase in diameter caused by the insertion of the insert into the cavity), thus blocking the fixing member 13.

[0039] The invention further relates to a fixing kit for a motor vehicle rim on a transmission shaft 3, said kit includes a fixing member 13 and an insert 15.

[0040] In an unrepresented embodiment of the invention, said insert 15 is press-fitted into the cavity 11.

[0041] In another unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the complementary mechanical cooperation structures are complementary clips and openings, a tenon-mortise type system, etc.

[0042] In other unrepresented embodiments of the invention, said insert has a substantially cylindrical shape, a pyramidal shape, etc., the associated receiving cavity having a complementary shape into which said insert can then be inserted or housed.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, said assembly (1) comprising at least one drive shaft (3) and a motor vehicle wheel rim (5) fixed, by means of a fastener (13), to said shaft (3); said rim (5) comprising a hub (7) through which one end of said drive shaft (1) passes, said fastener (13) surrounding at least part of the end of the shaft (3) and the hub (7) of said rim (5); characterized in that said assembly (1) comprises an insert (15) and in that the end of the drive shaft (3) passing through said hub (7) is split into several parts (9) defining a cavity (11) in which said insert (15) is housed.

2. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said insert (15) is configured to modify the diameter of the end of the transmission shaft (3) surrounded by said fastening member (13).

3. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the various parts (9) of the end of the shaft (3) delimiting the cavity (11) and the insert (15) comprise mechanical structures cooperating with each other.

4. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said mechanical cooperation structures are threads.

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said parts (9) of the end of said axis (3) are rounded.

6. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (15) has a substantially annular shape.

7. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (15) comprises an actuation structure (15a).

8. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening member (13) is a nut, said nut (13) surrounding at least in part the end of said axle (3) and the hub (7) of the rim (5).

9. A motor vehicle rim fixing kit on a transmission shaft, characterized in that said kit comprises a fixing member (13) and an insert (15) which are configured to cooperate with a transmission shaft (3) as defined in an assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises an assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.