MOTOR VEHICLE WHEEL INCLUDING A RIM AND A FIXED HUB COVER ON TOP

Abstract

A motor vehicle wheel comprising a rim (2) having an axis of rotation, and a hubcap (4) covering the outer face of this rim (2), a first element comprising the rim (2) and the hubcap (4) having on the contour of its face facing the second element several tangentially oriented grooves (16), the second element having several tabs (22) each fitting into a groove (16) by axial rotation, and the hubcap (4) having a device for locking it against rotation about the axis. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE WHEEL COMPRISING A RIM AND A FIXED HUB COVER ON ITS TOP

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle wheel comprising a rim and a hubcap fixed thereto, as well as a method of assembling this wheel and a motor vehicle equipped with such a wheel.

[0002] A known type of motor vehicle wheel, presented in particular by document FR-A1-2595071, includes a hubcap covering the outer face of the rim, comprising on its contour tabs turned axially towards the inside of the vehicle holding a ring formed by a metal wire constituting a spring.

[0003] When the wheel trim is pressed onto the rim face, claws forming hooks at the ends of the tabs and turned radially outwards catch on an inner contour of the rim, compressing the metal ring towards the wheel axle, which helps to maintain the pressure of these hooks.

[0004] The wheel trim provides protection for the outer face of the rim with its fixing screws on the wheel hub, and allows air to pass through openings positioned opposite openings in the rim, supplying cooling air to the wheel brakes behind the rims. The wheel trim also forms a relatively smooth surface, improving the vehicle's aerodynamics, and provides an aesthetic function, allowing for customization of the vehicle model.

[0005] Another type of vehicle wheel known, presented in particular by document FR-Al-2979582, has on the outer contour of the hubcap a tenon directed towards the rim which engages in a hollow in the contour of this rim, in order to add an anti-rotation function to the hubcap.

[0006] In this way, a small accidental rotation of the hubcap is avoided during the driving of the vehicle by a progressive sliding of the hooks on the inner contour of the rim, which could cause the tire inflation valve to catch on the edges of a passage of this valve formed on the outer contour of the hubcap, which would damage this valve.

[0007] However, this results in a relatively complex hubcap, comprising both the circular panel, generally formed by molding in plastic, which receives the attachment claws for the rim and the ring on its perimeter. This represents a number of components that must be procured and assembled onto the hubcap to prepare it. These components and the assembly time give the hubcap a relatively high cost. Furthermore, removing the hubcap requires pulling. large enough to cause the rim's claws to be torn off, which is not very ergonomic.

[0008] The present invention is specifically intended to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0009] To this end, it proposes a motor vehicle wheel comprising a rim featuring an axis of rotation, and a hubcap covering the outer face of this rim, this wheel being remarkable in that a first element between the rim and the hubcap has on the contour of its face turned towards the second element several grooves oriented tangentially, in that the second element has several tabs each fitting into a groove by an axial rotation, and in that the hubcap has a locking device to prevent rotation around the axis.

[0010] One advantage of this wheel is that the hubcap can be made simply and economically from a single piece, comprising the front disc having the tabs or grooves formed directly on its inner face, which is assembled by fitting onto the rim and then by axial rotation sliding the tabs into the grooves of the rim.

[0011] The rotation-locking device then confirms that the tabs remain in the grooves, thus securing the wheel trim without the risk of accidental slight rotations that could damage the tire inflation valve. Removal is quick and easy: simply remove the locking device, then rotate the wheel trim in the opposite direction; it can be removed without any particular effort.

[0012] The motor vehicle wheel according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0013] Advantageously, at least one groove includes a rotation limit stop.

[0014] Advantageously, the wheel includes four grooves distributed around its circumference.

[0015] In particular, grooves can be formed on the rim and tabs on the inner face of the hubcap.

[0016] In this case, advantageously each groove is formed in a block disposed under a rounded edge of the outer contour of the rim.

[0017] Advantageously, the rotation locking device comprises an axial locking screw engaged in a notch in the contour of the trim and screwed into a hole in a stud.

[0018] Advantageously, the hubcap has an external edge folded axially inwards which after its assembly rests on a rim edge, providing axial support for this hubcap.

[0019] Advantageously, the rim including the grooves is formed by an aluminum alloy casting.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a vehicle wheel comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that that it includes an axial advance step of the hubcap towards the rim until an axial stop, then a rotation step of this hubcap which engages the tabs in the grooves until a rotation stop, then a step of implementing the rotation locking device.

[0021] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle equipped with wheels comprising any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0022] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] presents in axial section a wheel according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] shows a detailed view of the assembly of the hubcap fixed to the rim including the grooves;

[0025] [Fig.3] is a detail view of a groove in the rim;

[0026] [Fig.4] is a detail view of another groove incorporating the anti-rotation device positioned opposite a recess in the hubcap.

[0027] Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a rim 2 centered on an axis A having one side turned towards the outside of the vehicle EXT, receiving on its outer transverse face a hubcap 4 formed by a plastic molding, which is fixed on the contour of this rim by four links 6 distributed on this contour.

[0028] The rim 2 has on the contour of its outer face a rounded rim 10 having a hollow 12 turned towards the axis A, receiving for each connection 6 a stud 14 having a groove 16 formed in a plane perpendicular to the axis and open in the direction of this axis, which ends in the counterclockwise direction of rotation by a stop 18 closing the bottom of this groove.

[0029] The hubcap 4 has on its inner face near its contour for each link 6 an axially directed arm 20 which ends after a fold with a tab 22 turned radially outwards, arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis A, having a thickness which fits into a groove 16 of the rim 2.

[0030] The wheel trim 4 has on its outer contour a continuous edge 24 folded axially inwards which, after assembly, rests on the rounded rim edge 10 so as to secure the wheel trim in the axial direction. The wheel trim 4 also has on its outer contour a notch 8 open radially outwards, which is located at a connection 6.

[0031] The [Fig.4] shows on one of the studs 14 an axial bore 30 comprising first a smooth part, then after the groove 16 a threaded part 32 receiving a locking screw against rotation 34. The tab 22 of the trim piece 4 arranged behind the external notch 8 also has a bore.

[0032] The assembly of the hubcap 4 onto the rim 2 is carried out in a first step by advancing the hubcap centered on the axis A inwards by placing the tabs 22 on the side of the studs 14 in a clockwise direction, with at the end of the advance its external folded edge 24 resting on the rounded rim edge 10. In a subsequent step, the hubcap 4 is turned in the counterclockwise direction ROT so as to make the tabs 22 enter the rim grooves 16, until each one comes to rest on the groove bottom stop 18.

[0033] In a final step, the rotation locking screw 34 is inserted into the outer notch 8 of the trim piece 4, then successively engaged in the smooth part of the bore 30, in the bore of the trim piece tab 22, and finally screwed into the threaded part 32 so as to obtain a screw head 36 which is substantially fitted in this notch.

[0034] A simple, quick and efficient method is used to lock the rotation of the trim 4, which cannot rotate clockwise without removing the locking screw 34, thus locking the trim in place.

[0035] The trim 4 comprises a single piece made by molding in plastic material, having on its inner face the arms 20 with their tab 22 including a hole on one of the tabs, which can be achieved by a single molding operation.

[0036] In particular, the rim 2 can be made by molding an aluminum alloy, comprising the studs 14 from a foundry which then receive the grooves 16 by machining.

Claims

Demands

1. A motor vehicle wheel comprising a rim (2) having an axis of rotation (A), and a hubcap (4) covering the outer face of this rim (2), characterized in that a first element among the rim (2) and the hubcap (4) has on the contour of its face turned towards the second element several grooves (16) oriented tangentially, in that the second element has several tabs (22) each fitting into a groove (16) by axial rotation, and in that the hubcap (4) has a device for locking against rotation around the axis (A).

2. Vehicle wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one groove (16) has a stop (18) for the end of rotation.

3. Vehicle wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has four grooves (16) distributed on its contour.

4. Vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooves (16) are formed on the rim (2) and the tabs (22) on the inner face of the hubcap (4).

5. Vehicle wheel according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that each groove (16) is formed in a stud (14) disposed under a rounded rim (10) of the outer contour of the rim (2).

6. Vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation locking device comprises an axial locking screw (34) engaged in a notch (8) of the contour of the hubcap (4) and screwed into a bore (30) of a stud (14).

7. Vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hubcap (4) has an external edge folded axially inwards (24) which after its assembly is in contact with a rim edge (10) by achieving axial positioning of this hubcap.

8. Vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rim (2) including the grooves (16) is formed by an aluminum alloy casting.

9. A method for assembling a vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an axial advance step of the hubcap (4) towards the rim (2) until it reaches an axial stop, followed by a rotation step of this hubcap which engages 6 the legs (22) in the grooves (16) up to a rotation stop (18), then a step of implementing the rotation locking device.

10. A motor vehicle equipped with wheels, characterized in that the wheels are according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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