Vehicle wheel

Abstract

To provide a vehicular wheel that enhances durability by inhibiting the formation of rust.SOLUTION: A vehicular wheel comprises a wheel body in which a disc part and a rim part are joined together and which has a joint fixed via a fixing part by welding, and a multilayer coating layer that is made of a multistage flexible and elastic material becoming more permeable toward a depth side from a near side of the following gap, in the gap in the fixing part between the disc part and the rim part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel mounted on a tire of a vehicle, and particularly to a vehicle wheel with enhanced durability.

Background Art

[0002] A metal vehicle wheel mounted on a tire of an automobile or the like is formed by fixing a disk portion and a rim portion by welding. However, it is actually difficult to physically fix and completely adhere the disk portion and the rim portion, and gaps, large or small, will occur. Due to the long-term use of the vehicle wheel, moisture and dust gradually penetrate and accumulate through this gap over time, resulting in metal oxidation and rust formation. When rust occurs, not only does the rust juice flow out on the surface of the disk portion, damaging the appearance, but also the corrosion due to rust progresses, causing air leakage and plating peeling, which may cause failures. In addition, the strength of the vehicle wheel itself also decreases, resulting in a decrease in durability.

[0003] Therefore, conventionally, various vehicle wheels have been developed and studied for the purpose of improving the problems of rust and rust juice generated in the gap where the disk portion and the rim portion are fixed.

[0004] For example, as a conventional vehicle wheel, there is known a vehicle wheel in which a recess formed at the joint between the rim portion and the disk portion is closed with an appropriate filler (see Patent Document 1).

[0005] Furthermore, regarding such a filler, for example, as a conventional vehicle wheel, there is known a vehicle wheel in which a fitting portion formed by a welded joint between the rim portion and the disk portion is sealed from the external space with a sealing material made of a soft elastic substance (see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in a conventional vehicle wheel, an appropriate filler such as a soft elastic material is filled in the fitting portion formed by welding between the rim portion and the disk portion to fill the gap in the fitting portion, thereby suppressing the generation of rust from the gap. However, even such a filler cannot physically fill the gap with a fine shape completely, and there is still a problem that the generation of rust from the gap in the fitting portion cannot be suppressed.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a vehicle wheel that suppresses the generation of rust and enhances durability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] As a result of intensive research, the inventors of the present invention have devised the structure of the gap in the joint portion formed by welding between the rim portion and the disk portion, and as a result, have found a new structure for the gap in the joint portion and completed the present invention.

[0010] The vehicle wheel disclosed in the present application includes a wheel body in which a disk portion and a rim portion are joined and the joint portion is fixed by welding at a fixed portion, and a multi-layer coating layer composed of a plurality of stages of soft elastic materials having increasing permeability from the front side to the back side of the gap in the gap between the fixed portions of the disk portion and the rim portion.

[0011] Thus, a wheel body is provided, in which a disk portion and a rim portion are joined, and the joint portion is fixed by welding to form a fixed portion, and a multi-layer coating layer composed of a plurality of stages of soft elastic materials with increasing permeability from the front side to the back side of the gap is provided in the gap between the disk portion and the fixed portion of the rim portion. Therefore, a coating layer of a soft elastic material with high permeability is formed on the back side of the gap. Even for the deep and complex shape at the back of the gap, due to the high permeability of the soft elastic material, it penetrates deep into the gap. On the front side of the gap, a coating layer of a soft elastic material with low permeability forms a coating layer with high hardness due to the low permeability of the soft elastic material on the front side of the gap that is in direct contact with the outside such as moisture and dust. This enhances the sealing property of the gap and also increases the strength against contact with the outside, enabling it to exhibit high durability and suppressing the generation of rust from the joint portion between the disk portion and the rim portion.

[0012] In the vehicle wheel disclosed in the present application, if necessary, the soft elastic material is made of silicone rubber. Thus, since the soft elastic material is made of silicone rubber, the silicone rubber exhibits a viscosity that easily penetrates deeply into the fine gaps of the fixed portion between the disk portion and the rim portion, as well as high heat resistance and cold resistance, and can suppress the generation of rust and rust juice from the joint portion between the disk portion and the rim portion even in a harsh external environment.

[0013] The vehicle wheel disclosed in the present application, optionally, has at least one coating layer of the multilayer coating layer formed of a soft elastic material containing an alkali metal salt. Since at least one coating layer of the multilayer coating layer is formed of a soft elastic material containing an alkali metal salt, the viscosity of the soft elastic material is reduced by containing the alkali metal salt, and a difference in viscosity (difference in permeability) between the coating layers constituting the multilayer coating layer is easily formed. At the same time, an alkaline component derived from the alkali metal salt is gradually released from the multilayer coating layer over time, and oxidation from the outside is suppressed by a pH adjustment effect, so that rust and rust juice can be suppressed from being generated at the joint between the disc portion and the rim portion even in an external environment that is easily oxidized over time.

[0014] The vehicle wheel disclosed in the present application, optionally, has a higher compounding ratio of the alkali metal salt in the coating layer on the back side of the gap than in the coating layer on the front side. Thus, since the compounding ratio of the alkali metal salt is higher in the coating layer on the back side of the gap than in the coating layer on the front side, only due to the difference in the compounding ratio of the alkali metal salt, the viscosity of the soft elastic material is reduced by containing the alkali metal salt, and a difference in viscosity (difference in permeability) between the multi-stage coating layers constituting the multilayer coating layer is easily formed. At the same time, an alkaline component derived from the alkali metal salt is gradually released from the multilayer coating layer over time, and oxidation from the outside is suppressed by a pH adjustment effect, so that rust and rust juice can be suppressed from being generated at the joint between the disc portion and the rim portion even in an external environment that is easily oxidized over time.

[0015] The wheel for a vehicle disclosed in the present application, if necessary, the alkali metal salt is one or more selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium hydrogen carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, potassium oxide, sodium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, and magnesium silicate. Thus, since the alkali metal salt is one or more selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium hydrogen carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, potassium oxide, sodium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, and magnesium silicate, the viscosity of the soft elastic material can be easily controlled by containing an easily available alkali metal salt, and an alkaline component derived from the alkali metal salt is gradually released from the multilayer coating layer over time, suppressing oxidation from the outside by the pH adjustment action, and suppressing the generation of rust and rust juice from the joint between the disk part and the rim part even in an external environment that is easily oxidized over time.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle wheel according to the present embodiment includes a wheel body 1 formed by joining a disk portion 11 and a rim portion 12, and as shown in FIG. 2(a), this joint portion 13 is fixed by a fixing portion 14 by welding. As shown in FIG. 2(b), in the gap 14a between the disk portion 11 and the fixing portion 14 of the rim portion 12, a multilayer coating layer 2 composed of a plurality of stages of soft elastic materials with increasing permeability from the front side B to the back side A of the gap 14a is provided.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 above, the disk portion 11 is a tire member formed in a disk shape made of metal. For example, light alloy wheels such as steel wheels and aluminum wheels can be cited as an example.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 above, the rim portion 12 is a member in which a plurality of spokes and decorations such as decorative holes are appropriately formed, and is integrally joined to the outer periphery of the disk portion 11 to attach and fix a tire along the outer periphery of the rim portion 12.

[0020] For the welding used for the joint portion 13 between the disk portion 11 and the rim portion 12, a known welding method can be applied and is not particularly limited. Since a gap 14a is formed in the fixing portion 14 fixed by this welding, in this gap 14a, a plurality of stages of soft elastic materials with increasing permeability from the front side B to the back side A of the gap 14a are filled to form the multilayer coating layer 2.

[0021] That is, a plurality of coating layers are formed from a plurality of stages of soft elastic materials with different permeabilities, and these coating layers are laminated to form the multilayer coating layer 2.

[0022] Although this soft elastic material is not particularly limited, a silicone rubber is preferably used because of its ease of handling and high functionality. A silicone rubber is a rubber made of silicone (dimethylpolysiloxane) having a siloxane bond (Si-O) as a main skeleton, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a rubber having this siloxane bond (Si-O) as a basic skeleton. Silicone rubber has excellent heat resistance, cold resistance, flame retardancy, and high molding stability.

[0023] Thus, since this soft elastic material is made of silicone rubber, a viscosity that easily penetrates deeply into the fine gap 14a formed in the fixing portion 14 between the disk portion 11 and the rim portion 12, and high heat resistance and cold resistance are exhibited by the silicone rubber. For example, even in a severe external environment such as truck transportation where the temperature of the tire easily rises due to long hours of driving day and night, it is possible to suppress the generation of rust and rust juice from the joint portion 13 between the disk portion 11 and the rim portion 12.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the back side A of this gap 14a refers to the side closer to the welding location of this gap 14a and deeper than the front side when viewed from the outer surface. The front side B of this gap 14a refers to the side far from the welding location of this gap 14a and the front side B when viewed from the outer surface.

[0025] That the soft elastic material has increasing permeability from the front side B to the back side A of this gap 14a means that, for example, as shown in FIG. 2(b), as it approaches the side closer to the welding location of this gap 14a and deeper when viewed from the outer surface, a first coating layer 2a made of a soft elastic material with high permeability is formed, and as it becomes the front side B when viewed from the outer surface on the side far from the welding location of this gap 14a, a second coating layer 2b made of a soft elastic material with low permeability is formed.

[0026] As the first coating layer 2a made of a soft elastic material with high permeability is formed on the side closer to the welding portion of the gap 14a and deeper when viewed from the outer surface, the soft elastic material will penetrate into the fine gap 14a formed near the welding portion due to its high permeability (low viscosity). Thus, the soft elastic material can sufficiently penetrate and fill the fine gap 14a, suppressing the formation of the gap 14a.

[0027] Also, as the second coating layer 2b made of a soft elastic material with low permeability is formed on the side far from the welding portion of the gap 14a and closer to the front side B when viewed from the outer surface, the soft elastic material will be firmly fixed on the side away from the welding portion and in direct contact with the external environment due to its low permeability (high viscosity). Thus, a coating layer with sufficient strength is formed on the side facing the external environment.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3(a), to form the multi-layer structure of such a multi-layer coating layer 2, the disk portion 11 and the rim portion 12 are joined, and after the joint portion 13 is fixed at the fixing portion 14 by welding to form the wheel body 1, as shown in FIG. 3(b), as approaching the side closer to the welding portion of the gap 14a between the disk portion 11 and the fixing portion 14 of the rim portion 12 and deeper when viewed from the outer surface, the first coating layer 2a made of a soft elastic material with high permeability is formed.

[0029] Next, as shown in FIG. 3(c), on the side far from the welding portion of the gap 14a and closer to the front side B when viewed from the outer surface, the second coating layer 2b made of a soft elastic material with low permeability is laminated on the first coating layer 2a to form the multi-layer coating layer 2.

[0030] This multilayer coating layer 2 is not particularly limited as long as it has two or more layers. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), from the side close to the welded portion of the gap 14a and deeper when viewed from the outer surface, and toward the front side B when viewed from the outer surface and away from the welded portion of the gap 14a, it can also be configured as a three-layer structure laminated with a first coating layer 2a, a second coating layer 2b, and a third coating layer 2c. In this case, a soft elastic material with decreasing permeability in the order of the first coating layer 2a, the second coating layer 2b, and the third coating layer 2c is used. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 4(b), it can also be configured as a four-layer structure laminated with a first coating layer 2a, a second coating layer 2b, a third coating layer 2c, and a fourth coating layer 2d. In this case, a soft elastic material with decreasing permeability in the order of the first coating layer 2a, the second coating layer 2b, the third coating layer 2c, and the fourth coating layer 2d is used.

[0031] The formulation components of this soft elastic material are not particularly limited, and known additives such as thickeners, extenders, curing agents, etc. can be used alone or in combination. However, it is preferable that this soft elastic material constituting at least one coating layer of this multilayer coating layer 2 contains an alkali metal salt.

[0032] By containing an alkali metal salt in this soft elastic material, the viscosity of the soft elastic material can be easily lowered by the amount increased by the alkali metal salt.

[0033] When this multilayer coating layer 2 is composed of two coating layers, this multilayer coating layer 2 can be composed of two coating layers of a soft elastic material containing an alkali metal salt and a soft elastic material not containing an alkali metal salt.

[0034] In addition, when this multilayer coating layer 2 is composed of two coating layers, it can be composed of two coating layers of a soft elastic material containing an alkali metal salt at a low concentration and a soft elastic material containing an alkali metal salt at a high concentration.

[0035] That is, this alkali metal salt can be configured such that the compounding ratio of the coating layer on the back side of this gap is higher than that of the coating layer on the front side. In this way, since the compounding ratio of this alkali metal salt is higher in the coating layer on the back side of this gap than in the coating layer on the front side, only due to the difference in the compounding ratio of the alkali metal salt, the viscosity of this soft elastic material decreases by containing the alkali metal salt, and thus the difference in viscosity (difference in permeability) between the multi-stage coating layers constituting the multi-layer coating layer 2 is easily formed. At the same time, the alkaline component derived from the alkali metal salt is gradually released over time from this multi-layer coating layer 2, and oxidation from the outside is suppressed by the pH adjustment action. Even in an external environment that is prone to oxidation over time, the generation of rust and rust juice from the joint between the disk portion 11 and the rim portion 12 can be suppressed. That is, by blending such an alkali metal salt, a vehicle wheel with a pH adjustment function that has never existed before is formed.

[0036] The compounding ratio of this alkali metal salt is not particularly limited. For example, it can be compounded at a ratio of 0.1 mmol / L to 80 mmol / L, and more preferably at a ratio of 1 mmol / L to 60 mmol / L, which makes it possible to impart appropriate permeability while taking advantage of the properties of the silicone rubber.

[0037] In any case of the above-mentioned alkali metal salt blending, a multi-layer coating layer 2 is formed as two coating layers with different permeabilities due to the difference in viscosity in the coating layer.

[0038] Similarly, even when this multilayer coating layer 2 is composed of three or more coating layers, the multilayer coating layer 2 can be composed of a plurality of coating layers made of a plurality of soft elastic materials containing alkali metal salts at different concentrations. In this way, by containing alkali metal salts at different concentrations for each of the plurality of coating layers, the viscosity (permeability) of the soft elastic materials constituting each multilayer coating layer 2 can be easily set. Further, a coating layer of a soft elastic material that does not contain an alkali metal salt can also be included in the coating layer constituting this multilayer coating layer 2. In any case, due to the difference in viscosity of each coating layer constituting this multilayer coating layer 2, the multilayer coating layer 2 is formed from three or more coating layers having different permeabilities.

[0039] Furthermore, since this soft elastic material contains an alkali metal salt, as described above, a multilayer coating layer 2 having different permeabilities for each coating layer can be easily obtained. At the same time, due to the gradual release of alkaline components derived from the alkali metal salt from the coating layer containing the alkali metal salt over time, even when moisture or dust received from the external environment comes into contact with the multilayer coating layer 2, the alkaline components released from this multilayer coating layer 2 and manifested on the surface of the multilayer coating layer 2 suppress the oxidation action by these moisture and dust.

[0040] When this soft elastic material is composed of silicone rubber, the silicone rubber exhibits a milky white appearance, but generally, it is likely to change color due to aging oxidation and turn yellowish, which is characteristic of rubber. In this embodiment, by forming the multilayer coating layer 2 containing an alkali metal salt, it becomes possible to suppress such yellowing.

[0041] In this way, since this soft elastic material contains an alkali metal salt, the viscosity of this soft elastic material is reduced to create a difference in viscosity (permeability) between each multilayer coating layer 2. At the same time, the alkaline components derived from the alkali metal salt are gradually released from this multilayer coating layer 2 over time to suppress oxidation from the outside. Even in an external environment that is easily oxidized over time, it is possible to suppress the generation of rust and rust juice from the joint portion 13 between the disk portion 11 and the rim portion 12.

[0042] Such alkali metal salts are not particularly limited as long as they are compounds exhibiting alkalinity, but it is preferable that they are one or more selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium hydrogen carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, potassium oxide, sodium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, and magnesium silicate.

[0043] In this way, by containing easily available alkali metal salts, the viscosity of this soft elastic material can be easily controlled, and the alkaline components derived from the alkali metal salts are gradually released from this coating layer over time, so that oxidation from the outside is suppressed by the pH adjustment effect, and rust and rust juice generation from the joint portion 13 between the disk portion 11 and the rim portion 12 can be suppressed even in an external environment that is prone to oxidation over time.

[0044] In the above, the vehicle wheel according to this embodiment forms the multilayer coating layer 2 composed of the first coating layer 2a and the second coating layer 2b from the back side B to the front side A with respect to the gap in one direction starting from this fixing portion 14. However, it is not limited to this configuration. As shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the gaps in both directions starting from this fixing portion 14, the multilayer coating layer 2 composed of the first coating layer 2a and the second coating layer 2b is formed from the back side B to the front side A of the gap in one direction of the two directions, and at the same time, with respect to the gap in the other direction of the two directions from the back side B' to the front side A', the multilayer coating layer 2 composed of the first coating layer 2a' and the second coating layer 2b' can be formed respectively.

[0045] Also, the vehicle to which the vehicle wheel according to this embodiment can be applied is not particularly limited and can be widely applied to light automobiles, ordinary vehicles, trucks, etc. No matter which vehicle it is applied to, rust generation can be suppressed and durability can be enhanced.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1 Wheel body 11 Disk part 12 Rim part 13 Joint part 14 Fixing part 14a Gap 2 Multilayer coating layer 2a First coating layer 2a’ First coating layer 2b Second coating layer 2b’ Second coating layer 2c Third coating layer 2d Fourth coating layer

Claims

1. A wheel body in which a disk portion and a rim portion are joined, and the joined portion is fixed by a welding portion; In the gap of the fixed portion where the disk portion and the rim portion are fixed by welding, a multi-layer coating layer composed of a plurality of stages of soft elastic materials with increasing permeability from the front side to the back side of the gap of the fixed portion; Characterized by comprising A vehicle wheel.

2. In the vehicle wheel according to Claim 1, The soft elastic material is made of silicone rubber, A vehicle wheel.

3. In the vehicle wheel according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, The soft elastic material constituting at least one coating layer of the multi-layer coating layer contains an alkali metal salt, A vehicle wheel.

4. In the vehicle wheel according to Claim 3, The alkali metal salt has a higher blending ratio in the coating layer on the back side of the gap than in the coating layer on the front side, A vehicle wheel.

5. In the vehicle wheel according to Claim 3 or 4, The alkali metal salt is one or more selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium hydrogen carbonate, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, potassium oxide, sodium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, and magnesium silicate, A vehicle wheel.

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