Insert wheel unit for motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel unit (1) for a motor vehicle wheel, said wheel unit (1) comprising a housing (10), a measuring module (20), and a valve (30), said measuring module (20) being mounted inside said housing (10) and configured to measure at least the air pressure inside the wheel, the housing (10) comprising an insert (170) integrated into said front wall (150), said insert (170) comprising two deformable curved front portions (171A) projecting from the front face of the front wall (150) of the housing (10) and each configured to bear against the rear face of the clamping ring (330) and to be clamped by said clamping ring (330) when the coupling nut (340) is tightened against the wheel rim. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Insert wheel unit for motor vehicle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles and more particularly concerns a wheel unit for a motor vehicle wheel and a method of mounting such a wheel unit. Previous technique

[0002] Nowadays, it is known to mount wheel units in the wheels of motor vehicles to measure the pressure and temperature of the air in the wheels and to signal to the driver, if necessary, a drop in pressure or an abnormal rise in temperature.

[0003] A known type of wheel unit comprises a housing, a measuring module, and a valve. The measuring module is mounted inside the housing and is configured to measure the air pressure inside the wheel.

[0004] The valve includes in a known manner a valve body configured to be positioned in an orifice of the wheel rim and extending between a free air inlet end fitted with a cap and a bound end.

[0005] The valve further includes a clamping ring placed around the valve body and configured to bear against the inner face of the rim by its front face by compressing a sealing gasket.

[0006] The valve also includes a coupling nut configured to be placed around the valve body and against the outer face of the rim in order to fix the wheel unit to the rim by cooperating via the rim with the clamping ring.

[0007] The valve finally includes a valve foot connected to the valve body by its linked end and extending on either side of the linked end along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve body, said valve foot being mounted in a housing formed in the upper part of the housing with a pivot clearance around the longitudinal axis of the valve foot and such that the valve body extends out of the housing through an opening formed in a front wall of the housing.

[0008] With this type of wheel unit, tightening the coupling nut can cause the front wall of the housing to be crushed and bent by the clamping ring, particularly around the opening in which the valve body extends, which can weaken the wheel unit housing, or even cause the wheel unit to break from the rim, particularly when the wheel unit is subjected to accelerations of several hundred g or to excessive tightening of the coupling nut, thus generating measurements that may be erroneous.

[0009] Tightening the coupling nut can also cause the clamping ring to bend, which can reduce the effectiveness of the seal it compresses, or even lead to a loss of air pressure in the tire, especially in the event of excessive tightening of the coupling nut.

[0010] A simple, reliable and effective solution that would at least partially remedy these drawbacks would therefore be advantageous. Description of the invention

[0011] To this end, the invention first relates to a wheel unit for a motor vehicle wheel, said wheel unit comprising a housing made of a plastic material, a measuring module and a valve, said measuring module being mounted inside said housing and being configured to measure at least the air pressure inside the wheel, said valve comprising:

[0012] - a metallic valve body configured to be positioned in an orifice of the wheel rim and extending between a free end with an air inlet fitted with a cap and a bound end,

[0013] - a metal clamping ring placed around the valve body and configured to bear against the inner face of the rim by its front face by compressing a sealing gasket and comprising a rear face, opposite to the front face,

[0014] - a union nut configured to be placed around the valve body and against the outer face of the rim in order to fix the wheel unit onto the rim by cooperating via the rim with the clamping ring, and

[0015] - a metal valve foot connected to the valve body by its bound end and extending on either side of the connected end along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve body, said valve foot being mounted in a housing formed in the upper part of the housing with a pivot clearance around the longitudinal axis of the valve foot and such that the valve body extends out of the housing through an opening formed in a front wall of the housing.

[0016] The wheel unit is remarkable in that the housing includes an integrated metal insert, in particular molded or overmolded, in said front wall, said insert comprising at least two curved portions extending outward from the front wall and configured to come into contact with the valve in order to lock said valve against the front wall while maintaining a clearance to prevent the clamping ring and / or the valve foot from coming into contact with the plastic material portions of the front wall.

[0017] The curved portions prevent direct compression of the housing between the clamping crown and the valve stem (environmental resistance) and thus preserve the integrity components. This also helps to reduce, or even eliminate, the risk of the casing tipping over when the wheel rotates.

[0018] In one embodiment, the insert comprises two deformable front curved portions extending outward from the front face of the front wall of the housing and each configured to bear against the rear face of the clamping ring and to be crushed by said clamping ring when tightening the coupling nut against the rim without the clamping ring coming into contact with the front wall of the housing.

[0019] The deformable front curved portions, when flattened (i.e., crushed) by the rear face of the clamping ring during tightening, conform the housing insert to the clamping ring, thus providing a strong, efficient, and reliable clamping force. Flattening the front curved portions also prevents the clamping ring from flexing and keeps it flat during tightening, improving clamping resistance and allowing the sealing gasket to maintain optimal effectiveness when the wheel unit is mounted on the rim. This prevents air leaks that could lead to pressure loss in the tire, particularly in the event of overtightening of the nut. The wheel unit, thus mounted, can withstand accelerations of several hundred g without moving, thereby improving the accuracy of measurements.

[0020] Preferably, the valve foot having a convex front face opposite the rear face of the front wall, the insert includes two rear curved portions extending outward from the rear face of the front wall of the housing and shaped to the convex front face of the valve foot in order to absorb the force applied by the valve foot on the rear face of the front wall during tightening.

[0021] In one embodiment, the insert comprises both two deformable front curved walls and two rear curved walls.

[0022] Advantageously, the insert is one piece to make its manufacture and molding easy.

[0023] Preferably, the insert is metallic, for example made of steel.

[0024] Advantageously, the insert comprises two wings connected by a connecting arm, each wing having a curved front portion.

[0025] Advantageously still, the insert comprising two wings connected by a connecting arm and two rear curved portions, each wing has a rear curved portion.

[0026] In one embodiment, the rear face of the clamping ring is flat to allow effective peening of the clamping ring on the curved portions of the insert during clamping, the peening generating two flat rails preventing bending of the clamping ring.

[0027] In one embodiment, the rear face of the clamping ring is curved.

[0028] In one embodiment, the clamping ring has a circular shape.

[0029] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a wheel unit as described above, said method comprising the steps of:

[0030] - insertion of the valve body into the valve opening of the rim,

[0031] - positioning of the valve by pivoting around the longitudinal axis of the foot of valve,

[0032] - placement of the union nut around the valve body,

[0033] - tightening the coupling nut against the front face of the rim so that the face The rear of the clamping ring comes to restrain the curved portions in front of the insert.

[0034] The invention also relates to a wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a wheel unit as presented above.

[0035] Motor vehicle comprising at least one wheel as presented above. Brief description of the drawings

[0036] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. This description is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates in perspective one form of realization of the wheel unit according to the invention.

[0038] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is another perspective view of the wheel unit of Fig.1. The case is transparent.

[0039] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the housing of the wheel unit of the [Fig.1] showing the curved, deformable portions, taken from the plastic material of the case, before matting.

[0040] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is a perspective view of the wheel unit housing of the [Fig.l] showing the valve foot receiving housing and the secondary deformable curved portions.

[0041] [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the metal insert comprising the curved sections front and back.

[0042] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the valve of the wheel unit of the [Fig.1].

[0043] [Fig.7] Fig.7 is a perspective view of the arrangement of the metal insert of [Fig.5] and of the valve foot of [Fig.6]. Description of the implementation methods

[0044] Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a wheel unit 1 according to the invention. The wheel unit 1 is a valve sensor mounted through an opening in the wheel rim (not shown), in a manner known per se.

[0045] The terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "lateral" are defined according to the position of the sensor as illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0046] The wheel unit 1 comprises a housing 10, a measuring module 20 (visible through the housing 10 in transparency on [Fig.2]), a power supply battery 25 (also visible through the housing 10 in transparency on [Fig.2]) and a valve 30.

[0047] The measuring module 20 is configured to measure the air pressure inside the wheel, in a manner known per se. The measuring module can, for example, also be configured to measure the air temperature inside the tire and the radial acceleration of the wheel unit 1 and therefore of the wheel itself.

[0048] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the housing 10 extends along a longitudinal axis X and defines an internal space in which the measuring module 20 is mounted (the housing 10 is shown in transparency in [Fig.2]).

[0049] With reference to figures 3 and 4, the housing 10 comprises an upper wall 101, a side wall 102 and a lower wall 103 made of the same material, for example by overmolding of plastic material.

[0050] The housing 10 includes on its upper wall 101 a rectangular housing 110 in which a through orifice 110A is formed, visible in particular on [Fig.1], allowing air to be conveyed to the measuring module 20.

[0051] With reference to [Fig. 1], 3 and 4, the housing 10 also includes on its upper wall 101 two projection walls 120 extending perpendicularly to said upper wall 101 and parallel to each other. The housing 10 also includes on its upper wall 101 reinforcements 130 extending perpendicularly to said upper wall 101 and parallel to each other.

[0052] The two projection walls 120 and the reinforcements 130 each support a curved upper portion 140.

[0053] The housing 10 comprises a convex front wall 150 extending upwards from the side wall 102. The front wall 150 connects the two projection walls 120 and the two curved upper portions 140 so as to form, with the upper wall 101, a housing 160 open at its upper end. An opening 150A is formed in the front wall 150 and leads into the housing 160.

[0054] With reference to [Fig. 5], the housing 10 includes a metallic insert 170 embedded in the material of the front wall 150, for example by molding or overmolding. The insert 170 comprises two parallel wings 171 connected by a connecting arm 172. Each wing 171 has a curved front portion 171A and a curved rear portion 171B.

[0055] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the curved front portions 171A project outwards from the front face of the front wall 150.

[0056] As illustrated in [Fig.4], the rear curved portions 171B project outwards from the rear face of the front wall 150.

[0057] The valve 30 includes a valve body 310, a cap 320, a clamping ring 330, a union nut 340 and a valve foot 350.

[0058] The valve body 310 is in the form of a tubular element and is configured to be positioned through an opening in the wheel rim so as to protrude from the rim and allow inflation of the tire from outside the wheel, in a manner known per se.

[0059] The valve body 310 extends along a longitudinal axis Y between a free threaded end, called the "air inlet", intended to be placed outside the rim and on which the cap 320 is screwed, and a bound end, connected to the valve foot 350.

[0060] The clamping ring 330 has a flat face 331 ([Fig.5]), on the housing side 10, and a front face 332, intended to bear against the inner face of the rim by compressing a sealing gasket 331. Two ribs 151 extend from the front wall 150 by being made of material from said front wall 150 and prevent the clamping ring 330 from rotating once mounted at the level of two flats 333 of the clamping ring 330 ([Fig.1]).

[0061] The coupling nut 340 is intended to fix the valve 30 on the outer face of the rim by cooperating with the clamping ring 330 located on the inner side of the rim.

[0062] The valve stem 350 is connected to the valve body 310 by its linked end and extends perpendicularly to said valve body 310 on either side of the linked end, along a longitudinal axis Z. The valve stem 350 is mounted in the housing 160 with a pivot clearance so that the valve body 310 extends through the opening 150A. The two projection walls 120 prevent the valve stem 350 from rotating about the longitudinal axis Y of the valve body 310.

[0063] With reference to [Fig.7], when the valve 30 is tightened on the rim (not visible for clarity), the flat face 331 of the clamping ring 330 comes to flatten (i.e. crush) the curved front portions 171A while the valve foot 350 comes to rest against the curved rear portions 17 IB, ensuring optimum tightening.

[0064] Example of implementation

[0065] The wheel unit 1 is in the form of a single-piece element, i.e. the valve foot 350 is mounted in the housing 160.

[0066] To mount the wheel unit 1 onto the rim, the valve 30 is placed in the rim opening until the clamping ring 330 rests against the inner face of the rim. The position of the wheel unit 1 can be adjusted by rotating the valve 30 around the longitudinal axis Z of the valve stem 350, the convex front face of the valve stem 350 bearing against the curved portions 17 IB of the insert 170 and the rear face of the front wall 150 of the housing 10 or, preferably, only against the protruding curved portions 17 IB according to the embodiment.

[0067] Next, the 340 union nut is screwed in from the outside of the rim until it comes into contact with the outer face of the rim.

[0068] By tightening the coupling nut 340 against the outer face of the rim, the flat face 331 of the clamping ring 330 comes to flatten (i.e. crush) the curved front portions 171A while the valve foot 350 comes to rest against the curved rear portions 17IB, possibly flattening them as well, thus ensuring reliable and optimum tightening.

[0069] The invention therefore makes it possible to fix the wheel unit 1 in a simple, efficient and quick manner, while guaranteeing high resistance to load cases (tightening, crushing related to mounting the tire on the rim, wheel rotation, vibrations, ...) and optimal sealing of the sealing joint supported by the clamping ring.

Claims

1. Demands Wheel unit (1) for a motor vehicle wheel, said wheel unit (1) comprising a housing (10) made of a plastic material, a measuring module (20) and a valve (30), said measuring module (20) being mounted inside said housing (10) and being configured to measure at least the air pressure inside the wheel, said valve (30) comprising: - a metallic valve body (310) configured to be positioned in an orifice of the wheel rim and extending between a free air inlet end fitted with a cap (320) and a bound end, - a metallic clamping ring (330) placed around the valve body (310) and configured to bear against the inner face of the rim by its front face (332) by compressing a sealing gasket and comprising a rear face (331), opposite the front face (332), - a union nut (340) configured to be placed around the valve body (310) and against the outer face of the rim in order to fix the wheel unit (1) to the rim by cooperating via the rim with the clamping ring (330), and - a metallic valve stem (350) connected to the valve body (310) by its connected end and extending on either side of the connected end along a longitudinal axis (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Y) of the valve body (310), said valve stem (350) being mounted in a housing (160) formed in the upper part of the housing (10) with a pivot clearance about the longitudinal axis (Z) of the valve stem (350) and such that the valve body (310) extends out of the housing (10) through an opening (150A) formed in a front wall (150) of the housing (10), the wheel unit (1) being characterized in that the housing (10) comprises a metallic insert (170) integrated into said front wall (150), said insert (170) comprising at least two curved portions (171A,17IB) extending outward from the front wall (150) and configured to come into contact with the valve (30) in order to lock said valve (30) against the front wall (150) while maintaining a clearance to prevent the clamping ring (330) and / or the valve base (350) from coming into contact with the plastic portions of the front wall (150).

2. Wheel unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the insert (170) comprises two deformable front curved portions (171A) projecting out from the front face of the front wall (150) of the housing (10) and configured each to bear against the rear face of the clamping ring (330) and to be held in place by said clamping ring (330) when tightening the coupling nut (340) against the rim without the clamping ring coming into contact with the front wall (150) of the housing (10).

3. Wheel unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve foot (350) has a convex front face opposite the rear face of the front wall (150), the insert (170) comprises two rear curved portions (171B) extending projecting from the rear face of the front wall (150) of the housing (10) and which are conformed to the convex front face of the valve foot (350).

4. Wheel unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (170) is monobloc.

5. Wheel unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (170) comprises two wings (171) connected by a linking arm (172), each wing comprising a front curved portion (171 A).

6. Wheel unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (170) is metallic, for example made of steel.

7. Wheel unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear face of the clamping ring (330) is flat or curved.

8. Wheel unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping ring (330) is metallic.

9. A method for mounting a wheel unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the steps of: - inserting the valve body (310) into the valve opening of the rim, - positioning the valve (30) by pivoting around the longitudinal axis (Z) of the valve stem (350), - placing the fitting nut (340) around the valve body (310),

10.

11. - tightening the coupling nut (340) against the front face of the rim so that the rear face (331) of the clamping ring (330) comes to rest on the curved front portions (171 A) of the insert (170). Wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a wheel unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Motor vehicle comprising at least one wheel according to the preceding claim.

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