Wheel for a vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle wheel capable of preventing a resonator from coming off.SOLUTION: Vertical walls 14,15 provided on an outer peripheral surface at two positions separated from each other in a rotation axis direction so as to rise outward in a radial direction and be continuous in a circumferential direction, in addition, in the vehicle wheel 1 in which the resonator 2 made of synthetic resin is attached at a plurality of locations at equal intervals in the circumferential direction between the opposing vertical walls 14,15, the resonator 2 has an outer shape formed in a rectangular shape, two opposing sides thereof are locked to the vertical walls 14,15, and the clip 3 for preventing detachment of the resonator 2 is locked to the vertical walls 14,15 in a state of covering the outer diameter side of the resonator 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes that "a Helmholtz resonator that reduces noise caused by air column resonance in the tire air chamber is fixed by being hooked onto the wheel rim." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4551422 (JP 2008-279873) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the temperature of the wheel rim can reach nearly 80 degrees Celsius due to radiant heat from the brakes, depending on the operating environment, and there is a risk that creep deformation will occur in the resonator, which is made of a resin part, causing the tubular portion to collapse due to deterioration over time. If such creep deformation occurs, the noise reduction effect will be reduced, and there is also a concern that the resonator will be more likely to come off the wheel.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle wheel that can prevent the resonator from coming off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a vehicle wheel having vertical walls that rise radially outward and are continuous circumferentially at two locations on the outer surface, spaced apart in the direction of the rotation axis, and having synthetic resin resonators attached at multiple locations equally spaced circumferentially between the two opposing vertical walls, wherein the resonator has a rectangular outer shape, and its two opposing sides are engaged with the two vertical walls, and clips for preventing the resonator from coming off are engaged with the two vertical walls in a state covering the outer diameter side of the resonator.

[0007] According to this configuration, even if the resonator becomes prone to coming off the wheel due to deterioration over time, the clip prevents the resonator from coming off the wheel.

[0008] In the above-mentioned vehicle wheel, the clip has a body made of a rectangular plate and first and second leg portions bent in a direction perpendicular to two opposing sides of the body, and the range of the body portion covering the outer diameter side of the resonator is a predetermined length range at a midpoint in the longitudinal direction of two sides of the resonator that are perpendicular to the two sides, and the first and second leg portions can be configured to be engaged with the vertical walls at two locations.

[0009] According to this configuration, the clip has a simple configuration, which makes it possible to reduce the weight of the clip and the manufacturing cost.

[0010] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle wheel, the first and second leg portions can be configured so that the width of the area from the body side to just before the tip is set smaller than the width of the area from just before the tip to the tip.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle wheel, notches are provided at multiple equally spaced locations in the circumferential direction on the two vertical walls, notches are provided at multiple locations along the two sides of the resonator, and multiple protrusions between the notches are engaged with grooves provided on the opposing surfaces of the two vertical walls, the spacing between the notches in the resonator is set larger than the spacing between the notches in each vertical wall, the smaller width areas of the first and second leg portions of the clip are fitted into the notches in the vertical walls of the wheel, and the areas of the first and second leg portions from just before the tip to the tip are fitted into the notches in the resonator. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle wheel that can prevent the resonator from coming off. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a vehicle wheel according to the present invention, showing a state before a resonator is attached to the wheel. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the resonator is attached to a wheel. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the wheel in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a view of the resonator from the surface. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a rear view of the resonator. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line (6)-(6) in FIG. 3, viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 7] (a) is a side view of the clip, (b) is a view of the clip shown in (a) as seen from the left side, and (c) is a view of the clip shown in (a) as seen from the right side. [Figure 8] 3 is an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 9]This is a view seen from the direction of the arrow (9) in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] 1 to 9 show one embodiment of the present invention. These figures disclose a resonator 2 that is attached to a vehicle wheel 1, and a clip 3 that prevents the resonator 2 from coming off.

[0016] The wheel 1 includes a rim 11 on which a tire (not shown) is fitted, and a disc 12 for connection to a hub (not shown) of a vehicle. The wheel 1 is made of metal such as an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy.

[0017] At two locations on the outer peripheral surface of the well portion 13 of the rim 11, spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the width direction, vertical walls 14, 15 are provided so as to rise radially outward and continue in the circumferential direction.

[0018] Both the vertical walls 14 and 15 are shaped like rails. Here, the vertical wall 14 located on the outer surface side of the wheel 1 will be referred to as the "outer vertical wall 14," and the vertical wall 15 located on the inner surface side of the wheel 1 will be referred to as the "inner vertical wall 15."

[0019] As shown in FIG. 6, grooves 141 and 151 are provided on the inner surfaces of the outer vertical wall 14 and the inner vertical wall 15 of the wheel 1, respectively.

[0020] By providing these grooves 141, 151, the upper end of the inner surface of the outer vertical wall 14 and the upper end of the inner surface of the inner vertical wall 15 have protruding portions 142, 152 that protrude toward the other side.

[0021] In this embodiment, multiple notches 143, 153 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in multiple predetermined angle regions on the outer vertical wall 14 and the inner vertical wall 15 where multiple resonators 2 are intended to be attached.

[0022] The resonator 2 is used to reduce the air column resonance noise in the air chamber formed between the wheel 1 and the tire (not shown), and is attached at multiple locations circumferentially equally spaced on the outer surface of the well portion 13 of the rim 11 of the wheel 1.

[0023] The resonator 2 is mounted at multiple locations at equal intervals around the circumference of the wheel 1, such as two locations 180 degrees apart around the circumference of the wheel 1, or three locations every 120 degrees around the circumference of the wheel 1, or four locations every 90 degrees around the circumference of the wheel 1.

[0024] The resonator 2 has a structure in which a single tubular portion 22 is provided on a substrate 21. The resonator 2 is made of synthetic resin. As the synthetic resin, for example, a material (such as polypropylene) having elasticity, heat resistance to heat generated as the vehicle travels, and chemical resistance to puncture repair agents is preferable.

[0025] Substrate 21 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view and a C-shaped curved shape in a side view. As shown in Fig. 4, notches 23 and 24 are provided at equal intervals on a long side (called a first side) located on the left side of substrate 21 in a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction, and on a long side (called a second side) located on the right side of substrate 21 in a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction.

[0026] Projecting pieces 25 and 26, which are rectangular in plan view, are provided between the notches 23 and 24. As will be described later, the projecting pieces 25 and 26 are engaged with grooves 141 and 151 of the wheel 1.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6, the left and right protruding pieces 25, 26 are shaped to be inclined obliquely upward in the direction of their protrusion.

[0028] The interval between the left and right cutouts 23, 24 is set to be larger than the interval between the cutouts 143 in the outer vertical wall 14 of the wheel 1 and the interval between the cutouts 153 in the inner vertical wall 15.

[0029] The tubular portion 22 has a zigzag shape. Specifically, the tubular portion 22 has a shape such that a single tubular portion 22 is made into U-turns at two locations spaced apart along the central axis direction.

[0030] More specifically, the tubular portion 22 has a first straight portion 221 (left end in Figures 3 and 4), a second straight portion 222 (center in Figures 3 and 4), a third straight portion 223 (right end in Figures 3 and 4), a first U-shaped portion 224 (lower side in Figures 3 and 4), a second U-shaped portion 225 (upper side in Figures 3 and 4), etc.

[0031] The first to third linear portions 221 to 223 are arranged so that their central axes are parallel to the first left side and the second right side of the substrate 21, and are arranged side by side in parallel in the short direction of the substrate 21.

[0032] One end (upper end in Figures 3 and 4) of each of the first to third straight sections 221 to 223 in the central axis direction is arranged on the upper short side (referred to as the third side) located at one longitudinal end (upper end in Figures 3 and 4) of the substrate 21, and the other end (lower end in Figures 3 and 4) of each of the first to third straight sections 221 to 223 in the central axis direction is arranged on the lower short side (referred to as the fourth side) located at the other longitudinal end (lower end in Figures 3 and 4) of the substrate 21.

[0033] Both ends in the central axis direction are open of the tubular portion 22. Specifically, one end in the central axis direction of the first straight portion (upper end in FIGS. 3 and 4) is open on the third side of the substrate 21, and the other end in the central axis direction of the third straight portion 223 (lower end in FIGS. 3 and 4) is open on the fourth side of the substrate 21.

[0034] If the rotation direction of the wheel 1 is, for example, the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, the opening on one end side of the first straight section 221 is upstream of the rotation direction of the wheel 1, and the opening on the other end side of the third straight section 223 is downstream of the rotation direction of the wheel 1.

[0035] The other end side of the first straight portion 221 in the central axis direction and the other end side of the second straight portion 222 in the central axis direction are connected by a first U-shaped portion 224, and one end side of the second straight portion 222 and one end side of the third straight portion 223 are connected by a second U-shaped portion 225.

[0036] The clips 3 prevent the resonator 2 from coming off when the resonator 2 is attached to the wheel 1, and are provided at multiple locations (for example, three locations) at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the resonator 2. Note that only one clip 3 is shown in Figure 1.

[0037] The clip 3 is made of a metal material (such as stainless steel) and has elasticity. However, the clip 3 can also be made of a synthetic resin or the like having properties similar to those of the material of the resonator 2.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the clip 3 includes a body portion 31 and first and second leg portions 32, 33. As shown in FIG.

[0039] The body 31 is formed of a rectangular plate. The first and second legs 32, 33 are bent from the two short sides of the body 31 so as to intersect at right angles.

[0040] The width dimension in the short side direction of the body 31 (the range covering the outer diameter side of the resonator 2) is set to a predetermined length range at midpoints in the longitudinal direction of the first and second sides of the resonator 2, as shown in FIG.

[0041] As shown in Figures 7(b) and (c), the first and second leg portions 32, 33 are in an inverted T-shape when viewed from the side, and the area from the body portion 31 side to just before the tip is called the constricted portion 322, 332, and the area from just before the tip to the tip is called the tip portion 321, 331.

[0042] The width of the tip portions 321, 331 is set to be the same as the width of the body portion 31 in the short side direction. The width of the constricted portions 322, 332 is set to be smaller than the width of the body portion 31 in the short side direction.

[0043] 8 and 9, when attaching the clip 3 to the wheel 1 having the resonator 2 attached thereto, the tip portions 321 and 331 of the first and second leg portions 32 and 33 are fitted into the left and right notches 23 and 24 of the resonator 2 with an appropriate gap therebetween, and the constricted portion 322 of the first leg portion 32 is fitted into the notch 143 in the outer vertical wall 14 of the wheel 1, and the constricted portion 332 of the second leg portion 33 is fitted into the notch 153 in the inner vertical wall 15 with an appropriate gap therebetween. The respective gaps are set to dimensions necessary to enable the fitting.

[0044] Next, an example of the procedure and operation for attaching the resonator 2 to the wheel 1 will be described.

[0045] The resonator 2 is fitted between the outer vertical wall 14 and the inner vertical wall 15 of the wheel 1, and when the left and right protrusions 25, 26 of the resonator 2 are elastically deformed one by one and inserted into the grooves 141, 151 of the outer vertical wall 14 and the inner vertical wall 15, the left and right protrusions 25, 26 elastically restore their original shape, and the tips of the protruding pieces 25, 26 are engaged with the inner corners near the upper ends of the vertical walls 14, 15, i.e., the protrusions 142, 152, in the grooves 141, 151 of the outer vertical wall 14 and the inner vertical wall 15.

[0046] As shown in Figure 9, the left notch 23 of the resonator 2 is aligned with the notch 143 in the outer vertical wall 14 of the wheel 1, and the right notch 24 of the resonator 2 is aligned with the notch 153 in the inner vertical wall 15 of the wheel 1.

[0047] When attaching the resonator 2 to the wheel 1 in this way, it is sufficient to elastically deform each of the multiple protrusions 25, 26 on the left and right sides of the resonator 2 so that they engage in the grooves 141, 151 of the wheel 1. Therefore, compared to a case where the notches 23, 24 are not provided on the first and second edges of the resonator 2 on the left and right sides, it is easier to elastically deform each of the left and right protrusions 25, 26 and to engage them in the grooves 141, 151, making it easier to attach the resonator 2 to the wheel 1.

[0048] After this, clips 3 are attached to the wheel 1 on which the resonator 2 is attached so as to cover a plurality of locations at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the resonator 2 from the outer diameter side.

[0049] Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, while elastically deforming the first and second leg portions 32, 33 of the clip 3 so that they approach each other, the tip portions 321, 331 are fitted into the left and right notches 23, 24 of the resonator 2, and then inserted into the groove portions 141, 151 of the wheel 1, and further, the narrowed portions 322, 332 of the first and second leg portions 32, 33 are fitted into the notches 143, 153 of the two vertical walls 14, 15 of the wheel 1.

[0050] In this state, the first and second leg portions 32, 33 of the clip 3 are pressed against the two vertical walls 14, 15 of the wheel 1 by the elastic restoring force of the clip 3, so that the clip 3 is attached in a positioned state to the wheel 1.

[0051] As shown in Figure 9, there are gaps in the circumferential and radial directions of the wheel 1 between the tips 321, 331 of the first and second leg portions 32, 33 of the clip 3 and the left and right notches 23, 24 of the resonator 2, and there are also gaps in the circumferential direction of the wheel 1 between the constricted portions 322, 332 of the first and second leg portions 32, 33 of the clip 3 and the notches 143, 153 of the two vertical walls 14, 15 of the wheel 1. Therefore, it can be said that the clip 3 is allowed to displace radially outward and circumferentially by the amount of the gaps.

[0052] However, the clip 3 is prevented from being displaced radially outward or circumferentially beyond the gap.

[0053] When the rotational centrifugal force of the wheel 1 acts on the resonator 2 and the clip 3, the tip portions 321 and 331 of the first and second leg portions 32 and 33 of the clip 3 are pressed against the protruding portions 142 and 152 of the wheel 1, preventing the clip 3 from coming off radially outward. This prevents the resonator 2 from coming off.

[0054] Furthermore, when a force acts on the clip 3 in one direction around the wheel 1, the constricted portions 322, 332 of the first and second leg portions 32, 33 of the clip 3 are pressed against the notches 143, 153 of the two vertical walls 14, 15 of the wheel 1, thereby preventing the clip 3 from moving significantly in the circumferential direction.

[0055] As described above, the resonator 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be easily attached to the wheel 1, and even if the resonator 2 becomes prone to coming off the wheel 1 due to deterioration over time, the clip 3 can prevent the resonator 2 from coming off. This makes it possible to maintain the noise reduction effect of the resonator 2 for the wheel 1 for a long period of time.

[0056] Generally, when the diameter of the wheel 1 is increased, the weight of the wheel 1 increases, which in turn increases the unsprung weight of the vehicle and deteriorates ride comfort. Therefore, when the weight of the wheel 1 is reduced to improve ride comfort, the rigidity of the wheel 1 decreases, and the NV performance deteriorates. Therefore, it has been considered to attach a resonator 2 to the wheel 1 in order to improve the NV performance while ensuring the rigidity of the wheel 1, which is being increased in diameter. In this case, the challenge is to make it easy to attach the resonator 2 to the wheel 1 and to make it difficult for the resonator 2 to come off the wheel 1 as the wheel 1 rotates, and this challenge can be solved according to the above embodiment.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof.

[0058] (1) In the above embodiment, the number of straight portions and the number of U-shaped portions of the tubular portion 22 of the resonator 2 can be set arbitrarily.

[0059] (2) In the above embodiment, the intervals between the plurality of left notches 23 of the resonator 2 and the intervals between the plurality of right notches 24, and the intervals between the notches 143, 153 of the wheel 1 can be set arbitrarily.

[0060] (3) In the above embodiment, the width dimension and protrusion dimension along the longitudinal direction of the plurality of protruding pieces 25, 26 on the left and right sides of the resonator 2 can be set arbitrarily. [Industrial Applicability]

[0061] The present invention can be suitably used in vehicle wheels. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 wheel 11 Rims 12 discs 13 Well section 14 Outer vertical wall 141 Groove 142 overhang 143 Notch 15 Inner vertical wall 151 Groove 152 overhang 153 Cutout 2 Resonators 21 PCB 22 Tubular part 221 1st straight section 222 2nd straight section 223 3rd straight section 224 1st U-shaped section 225 2nd U-shaped section 23 Left notch 24 Right notch 25 Left protrusion 26 Right protrusion 3 clips 31 Torso 32 1st leg 321 Tip 322 Waist 33 Second leg 331 Tip 332 Waist

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel having vertical walls provided on an outer peripheral surface at two locations spaced apart in the direction of the rotation axis so as to rise radially outward and continue in the circumferential direction, and having synthetic resin resonators attached at a plurality of locations equally spaced in the circumferential direction between the two opposing vertical walls, The resonator has a rectangular outer shape, and two opposing sides thereof are engaged with the two vertical walls, A vehicle wheel characterized in that clips for preventing the resonator from coming off are engaged on the two vertical walls in a state covering the outer diameter side of the resonator.

2. 2. A vehicle wheel according to claim 1, The clip has a body portion made of a rectangular plate, and first and second leg portions bent in directions perpendicular to each other from two opposing sides of the body portion, The range of the body portion covering the outer diameter side of the resonator is a predetermined length range at midpoints of two sides of the resonator perpendicular to the two sides in the longitudinal direction, A wheel for a vehicle, wherein the first and second legs are engaged with the two vertical walls.

3. 3. A vehicle wheel according to claim 2, A wheel for a vehicle, characterized in that the width of the region from the body side to just before the tip of the first and second legs is set to be smaller than the width of the region from just before the tip to the tip of the first and second legs.

4. 4. A vehicle wheel according to claim 3, The two vertical walls are each provided with a plurality of notches at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, Notches are provided at a plurality of locations along the two sides of the resonator, and a plurality of protrusions present between the respective notches are engaged with grooves provided on the opposing surfaces of the two vertical walls, The intervals between the notches of the resonator are set larger than the intervals between the notches of the vertical walls, The narrower width regions of the first and second legs of the clip are fitted into notches in the vertical wall of the wheel; A vehicle wheel, characterized in that the first and second leg portions have regions extending from just before the tip to the tip, which are fitted into notches in the resonator.

Images