Rotor cover

Abstract

To provide a rotor cover which can preferably straighten flow of air flowing from the interior of a wheel to the outside of a vehicle when the vehicle travels.SOLUTION: A rotor cover 20 is a member disposed between a rotor 31 of a brake 30 and a wheel disc 321 of a wheel 32. The rotor cover 20 has a side surface part 201. The side surface part 201 is a member which extends from the side of an outer end in a radial direction of the brake 30 to the wheel disc 321 in the wheel 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotor cover that is built into a wheel. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, a tire is mounted on a wheel and is installed on the body of a vehicle. The wheel has a rim and a wheel disc. The wheel disc has an opening for ventilation. A brake is disposed inside the wheel.

[0003] When the vehicle is running, air flows from inside the wheel to the outside of the vehicle through the openings formed in the wheel disc, thereby cooling the brakes.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 describes the provision of a cover-like member inside or on one side of the wheel disc for the purpose of effectively cooling the brakes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-182144 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the inventions described in the above-mentioned patent documents leave room for improvement in terms of appropriately regulating the flow of air moving from the inside to the outside of the wheel.

[0007] Specifically, in Patent Document 1, a cover is placed inside the wheel to adjust the direction of air inside the wheel. However, the cover is placed between the wheel disc and the brake rotor and spaced apart from both. Therefore, a gap is formed around the cover inside the wheel, and vortexes are generated in the gap when the vehicle is running, which creates a problem of impeding the blowing of air from inside the wheel to the outside.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rotor cover that can suitably straighten the flow of air from inside the wheel to outside the vehicle while the vehicle is running. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A rotor cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is a rotor cover that is arranged between a brake rotor and a wheel disc of a wheel, and is characterized in that it has a side portion extending from the radially outer end side of the brake toward the wheel disc inside the wheel. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the rotor cover of the embodiment of the present invention, when the vehicle is running, the air flowing from the wheel to the side of the vehicle is guided by the side portion of the rotor cover. Also, the space between the rotor and the wheel disc is filled by the rotor cover. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the convection of air between the brake and the wheel. Furthermore, it is possible to actively allow the air inside the wheel housing to flow to the side of the vehicle through the opening of the wheel disc, thereby improving the drag coefficient and lift coefficient. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a vehicle equipped with a rotor cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a tire and a wheel equipped with a rotor cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a rotor cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a top view showing a rotor cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a rotor cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a rotor cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a tire, a wheel, etc. equipped with a rotor cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the function of a rotor cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the rotor cover 20 and the vehicle 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same members are in principle given the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted. Furthermore, in the following description, the inner side in the vehicle width direction and the outer side in the vehicle width direction may be simply referred to as the inner side and the outer side. Moreover, the radial inner side and the radial outer side refer to the radial inner side and the radial outer side of the tire 12, the wheel 32, or the rotor cover 20.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle 10 equipped with a rotor cover 20. As shown in FIG.

[0014] The vehicle 10 has a vehicle body 11. Tire housings 13 are formed at the four corners of the vehicle body 11. Tires 12 are disposed in each tire housing 13. The tires 12 are fitted into wheels 32. In this embodiment, a rotor cover 20, which will be described later, is disposed inside the wheel 32, thereby suppressing the generation of vortexes inside the wheel 32 when the vehicle is running. Therefore, when the vehicle is running, a part of the air that has entered the tire housing 13 from under the floor of the vehicle body 11 is well guided to the outside through the opening of the wheel 32. This improves the drag coefficient and lift coefficient when the vehicle is running, contributing to energy saving of the vehicle 10.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tire 12 and wheel 32 with the rotor cover 20 .

[0016] As described above, the tire 12 is fitted onto the wheel 32. The brake 30 (not shown here) is built into the wheel 32. Furthermore, the rotor cover 20 is built into the wheel 32.

[0017] The rotor cover 20 is an aerodynamic member disposed between the rotor 31 of the brake 30 (not shown here) and the wheel disc 321 of the wheel 32. The rotor cover 20 will be described with reference to the figures following Fig. 3A.

[0018] The rotor cover 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 3A and other figures. Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing the rotor cover 20. Fig. 3B is a top view showing the rotor cover 20. Fig. 4A is a front view showing the rotor cover 20. Fig. 4B is a side view showing the rotor cover 20.

[0019] 3A to 4B, the rotor cover 20 is a member having a generally circular ring shape as a whole. The rotor cover 20 is a member made of metal or synthetic resin. Furthermore, the rotor cover 20 may have a hollow structure made of a bent plate-like member, or may have a solid structure. Furthermore, the external shape of the rotor cover 20 is asymmetric in the front-rear direction. In this way, the rotor cover 20 exhibits an air straightening effect when the vehicle is traveling, as described later.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 3A, the rotor cover 20 mainly includes a side surface portion 201 and an outer surface portion 204.

[0021] The side surface portion 201 is a surface facing radially outward. The side surface portion 201 has a front side surface portion 202 and a rear side surface portion 203. The front side surface portion 202 is a portion of the side surface portion 201 corresponding to the front side of the vehicle. The rear side surface portion 203 is a portion of the side surface portion 201 corresponding to the rear side of the vehicle.

[0022] The outer surface portion 204 is a portion that is connected to the side surface portion 201 and faces outward in the vehicle width direction. The outer surface portion 204 is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction toward the outside in the radial direction.

[0023] 3B, the above-mentioned rotation center axis 322 of the wheel 32 is indicated by a dashed line. The front side portion 202 extends toward the outside in the vehicle width direction so as to approach the rotation center axis 322 of the wheel 32. On the other hand, the rear side portion 203 extends toward the outside in the vehicle width direction so as to move away from the rotation center axis 322 of the wheel 32. As will be described later, by inclining the front side portion 202 and the rear side portion 203 with respect to the rotation center axis 322, the air flow inside the wheel 32 can be rectified.

[0024] 4A and 4B, when rotor cover 20 is viewed from the front, the upper and lower ends of side portion 201 are parallel or approximately parallel to rotation central axis 322. This allows air to smoothly pass near the upper and lower ends of side portion 201 while the vehicle is traveling.

[0025] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the tire 12 and the wheel 32 equipped with the rotor cover 20. FIG 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the AA cut surface shown in FIG 1.

[0026] The wheel 32 mainly includes a rim 324 and a wheel disc 321. The tire 12 described above is fitted onto the rim 324. An opening (not shown here) is formed in the wheel disc 321, and air inside the wheel 32 is released to the outside through the opening when the vehicle is running. The center of the wheel disc 321 is connected to a shaft (not shown here) by the hub 21 so as to rotate integrally with the shaft. Here, the wheel disc 321 may be a spoke or the like.

[0027] The brakes 30 are hydraulic braking devices provided for each tire 12 in order to brake the vehicle 10. The brakes 30 clamp a rotor 31 (described later) in response to a braking operation such as the driver depressing the brake pedal, thereby limiting the rotation of the tires 12 and wheels 32 and braking the vehicle 10. The brakes 30 have the rotor 31 and a brake caliper 33.

[0028] The rotor 31 is a generally disc-shaped portion, and is connected to the center of the wheel disc 321. The rotor 31 rotates integrally with the wheel disc 321 and the shaft.

[0029] The brake caliper 33 is disposed on the front side inside the wheel 32. The brake caliper 33 has pads (not shown). In response to the braking operation by the driver, the pads pinch the rotor 31, restricting the rotation of the rotor 31 and braking the vehicle 10. The brake caliper 33 that applies the brakes generates heat due to frictional heat, but is cooled by air flowing from the inside to the outside of the wheel 32.

[0030] The rotor cover 20 is disposed between the rotor 31 and the wheel disc 321 inside the wheel 32. In other words, the rotor cover 20 is a member that fills the space between the rotor 31 and the inner surface 323 of the wheel disc 321. As described above, the rotor cover 20 may have a hollow structure or a solid structure. The rotor cover 20 is disposed on the vehicle body 11 side. For example, the rotor cover 20 is attached to a dust cover (not shown) or the like via a bracket (not shown). When the vehicle is running, the rotor cover 20 does not rotate.

[0031] The side surface portion 201 of the rotor cover 20 is a member that extends from the side of the radially outer end portion of the rotor 31 toward the wheel disc 321 inside the wheel 32. In other words, the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the side surface portion 201 approaches the radially outer end portion of the rotor 31. On the other hand, the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the side surface portion 201 approaches the inner surface 323 of the wheel disc 321. In this manner, the space between the rotor 31 and the wheel disc 321 is closed during vehicle travel, and the formation of an air vortex can be suppressed.

[0032] Furthermore, the inner end of the side portion 201 in the vehicle width direction approaches the rotor 31 or the brake caliper 33 of the brake 30 over the entire circumferential area. Specifically, referring to FIG. 5, the inner end of the rear side portion 203, which is the side portion 201, in the vehicle width direction approaches the rear end of the rotor 31. Meanwhile, the inner end of the front side portion 202, which is the side portion 201, in the vehicle width direction approaches the front end of the brake caliper 33. In this manner, it is possible to suppress a large amount of air from flowing in the gap between the side portion 201 and the rotor 31 during vehicle travel. Similarly, it is possible to suppress a large amount of air from flowing in the gap between the side portion 201 and the brake caliper 33.

[0033] A front side portion 202 and a rear side portion 203 constituting a side portion 201 of the rotor cover 20 are inclined. Specifically, the front side portion 202 and the rear side portion 203 are inclined toward the rear of the vehicle and toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the front side portion 202 and the rear side portion 203 have a curved shape in which their intermediate portions bulge toward the front.

[0034] The outer surface portion 204 approaches the inner surface 323 of the wheel disc 321. This fills the gap between the outer surface portion 204 and the inner surface 323. This makes it possible to prevent a large amount of air from flowing between the outer surface portion 204 of the rotor cover 20 and the inner surface 323 of the wheel disc 321 while the vehicle is running.

[0035] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the function of the rotor cover 20. Here, the flow of air from the inside of the wheel 32 to the outside of the vehicle is indicated by dotted arrows.

[0036] When the vehicle is traveling, air flows from under the floor of the vehicle body 11 into the inside of the wheel 32. The air cools the brake caliper 33 and the rotor 31. The air inside the wheel 32 then flows outward in the vehicle width direction through the opening of the wheel disc 321 and is discharged outside the vehicle.

[0037] According to this embodiment, when the vehicle is traveling, air flowing from the wheel 32 to the side of the vehicle is guided by the front side portion 202 and the rear side portion 203 of the rotor cover 20. Specifically, at the inside front side of the wheel 32, the air flows outward in the vehicle width direction while being guided by the front side portion 202, and is discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the opening of the wheel disc 321. At the inside rear side of the wheel 32, the air flows outward in the vehicle width direction while being guided by the rear side portion 203, and is discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the opening of the wheel disc 321. Furthermore, since the space between the wheel disc 321 and the rotor 31 is filled by the rotor cover 20, the formation of an air vortex in the space is suppressed. Therefore, air convection between the rotor 31 and the wheel disc 321 can be reduced.

[0038] The technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment will be described below together with their effects.

[0039] The rotor cover of the present invention is a rotor cover disposed between a brake rotor and a wheel disc of a wheel, and is characterized in that it has a side portion extending from the radially outer end of the brake toward the wheel disc inside the wheel. According to the rotor cover of the present invention, air flowing from the wheel toward the side of the vehicle while the vehicle is running is guided by the side portion of the rotor cover. Therefore, air convection between the brake and the wheel can be reduced. Furthermore, air inside the tire housing can be actively caused to flow toward the side of the vehicle through the opening of the wheel disc, improving the drag coefficient and lift coefficient.

[0040] In addition, in the rotor cover of the present invention, the side portion has a front side portion that is a portion corresponding to the front side of the vehicle and a rear side portion that is a portion corresponding to the rear side of the vehicle, and the front side portion extends toward the outside in the vehicle width direction so as to approach the central axis of rotation of the wheel, and the rear side portion extends toward the outside in the vehicle width direction so as to move away from the central axis of rotation of the wheel. According to the rotor cover of the present invention, the front side portion can effectively guide air toward the outside in the vehicle width direction in front of the inside of the wheel. Also, the rear side portion can effectively guide air toward the outside in the vehicle width direction in the inside rear of the wheel.

[0041] In addition, the rotor cover of the present invention further includes an outer surface portion connected to the side portion and facing outward in the vehicle width direction, the outer surface portion being close to the inner surface of the wheel disc. According to the rotor cover of the present invention, it is possible to suppress air from flowing in between the outer surface portion of the rotor cover and the wheel disc.

[0042] In the rotor cover of the present invention, the inner end of the side portion in the vehicle width direction is close to the rotor or the brake caliper of the brake over the entire circumferential area. According to the rotor cover of the present invention, air flow in the gap between the side portion and the rotor can be suppressed. Furthermore, air flow in the gap between the side portion and the brake caliper can be suppressed.

[0043] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10 Vehicles 11 Body 12 Tires 13 Tire House 20 Rotor cover 201 Side part 202 Front side part 203 Rear side part 204 External part 21 Hub 30 Brake 31 Rotor 32 Wheels 321 Wheel Disc 322 Rotational axis 323 Inner surface 324 Rims 33 Brake caliper

Claims

1. A rotor cover is disposed between a rotor of the brake and a wheel disc of the wheel, A rotor cover characterized in that it has a side portion extending from the radially outer end side of the brake toward the wheel disc inside the wheel.

2. The side surface portion has a front side surface portion corresponding to a front side of the vehicle and a rear side surface portion corresponding to a rear side of the vehicle, the front side portion extends toward an outer side in a vehicle width direction so as to approach a rotational center axis of the wheel, The rotor cover according to claim 1 , wherein the rear side surface portion extends outward in a vehicle width direction and away from the central axis of rotation of the wheel.

3. Further comprising an outer surface portion connected to the side surface portion and facing outward in the vehicle width direction, 3. The rotor cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer surface portion is adjacent to an inner surface of the wheel disc.

4. 3. The rotor cover according to claim 1, wherein an inner end portion of the side portion in the vehicle width direction is close to a rotor or a brake caliper of the brake over an entire circumferential area.

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