Vehicle wheels

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle wheel that can be separated into two axial members and that can suppress the increased load on the bolts fastening the two members together. [Solution] The wheel 10 comprises a first member 12 having a cylindrical first rim portion 20 and a first disc portion 22 extending from one end of the first rim portion 20 in the axial direction toward the axial center of the first rim portion 20, a second member 14 having a second disc portion 40 fixed to the first disc portion 22, and a plurality of bolts 60 and a plurality of nuts 62 for fixing the first disc portion 22 and the second disc portion 40. The second disc portion 40 has a protrusion 54 that projects toward the first disc portion 22, and the first disc portion 22 has an opening 26 into which the protrusion 54 is fitted. The clearance between the protrusion 54 and the opening 26 is smaller than the clearance between the bolts 60 and the bolt holes 24, 52.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in vehicles such as passenger cars, carts, and forklifts, the use of non-pneumatic tires that eliminate the concern of punctures and are easy to maintain has been promoted. Since non-pneumatic tires are significantly different in form from ordinary pneumatic tires due to their structure, it is not easy to assemble them onto a wheel in a state where a disk and a rim are integrated, similar to an ordinary pneumatic tire.

[0003] Therefore, wheels have been proposed that are configured such that in a state where the wheel is separated into a plurality of parts, a non-pneumatic tire can be assembled to one of the parts, and then other parts can be assembled. For example, the wheel disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured such that after assembling a non-pneumatic tire to a cylindrical rim, a disk-shaped rim flange portion can be attached to the rim (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the wheel as described above, bolts and nuts may be used as means for fixing the separated parts. In this case, when the wheel is mounted on a vehicle and a load is applied to the wheel, or when the vehicle is running and the wheel is rotating, the bolts are likely to be loaded.

[0006] Therefore, the objective is to provide a vehicle wheel that can be separated into two components in the axial direction and that can suppress the increased load on the bolts fastening the two components together. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) A vehicle wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention is A first member having a cylindrical first rim portion and a first disk portion extending from one end of the first rim portion in the axial direction toward the axial center of the first rim portion, A second member having a second disk portion fixed to the first disk portion, It comprises a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts for fixing the first disc portion and the second disc portion, The first disc portion and the second disc portion each have bolt holes formed therein for passing the plurality of bolts through. One of the first and second disk portions has a protrusion that extends toward the other disk portion, and the other disk portion has an annular opening into which the protrusion is fitted so as to surround the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the protrusion. The clearance between the protrusion and the opening is smaller than the clearance between the bolt and the bolt hole.

[0008] (2) The opening may be a through hole that penetrates the other disc portion.

[0009] (3) The second member may further include a cylindrical second rim portion extending from the outer circumference of the second disk portion toward one side in the axial direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, in a vehicle wheel that can be separated into two members in the axial direction, it is possible to suppress the increase in the load on the bolts fastening the two members together. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a vehicle wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the vehicle disc wheel shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed circle in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a vehicle wheel according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, a vehicle wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (Vehicle wheel configuration) Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a vehicle wheel 10 (hereinafter abbreviated as wheel 10) according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a part of wheel 10. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the part enclosed by the dashed circle in Figure 1.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wheel 10 according to this embodiment comprises a first member 12, a second member 14, and a fastening member 16 (shown only in Figure 1). Note that in Figure 2, the fastening member 16 is omitted from the illustration in order to make the shape of the second member 14 easier to understand. Also, although only one fastening member 16 is shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the first member 12 and the second member 14 are fixed to each other by multiple fastening members 16.

[0015] In FIGS. 1 to 3, the axial direction of the first rim portion 20 of the first member 12 described later is indicated by arrow X. Hereinafter, the axial direction of the first rim portion 20 will be referred to as the axial direction X. As the materials of the first member 12 and the second member 14, various metal materials and resin materials can be used. Examples of the metal materials include steel (e.g., hot-rolled steel sheet), aluminum, or aluminum alloy. The thicknesses of the first member 12 and the second member 14 are, for example, 2.0 to 8.0 mm, respectively.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first member 12 has a cylindrical first rim portion 20 and a disk-shaped first disk portion 22. The first disk portion 22 is formed so as to extend from one end portion of the first rim portion 20 in the axial direction X toward the axial center C side of the first rim portion 20. In the present embodiment, the first disk portion 22 has a hollow disk shape. In the present embodiment, the first disk portion 22 is formed in a flat plate shape.

[0017] A hook-shaped portion 20a is formed at the other end portion of the first rim portion 2 in the axial direction X. The hook-shaped portion 20a is formed so as to be folded back toward the outside in the radial direction of the first rim portion 20 and one side in the axial direction X at the other end portion of the first rim portion 20 in the axial direction X.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, bolt holes 24 and openings 26 are formed in the first disk portion As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a plurality of bolt holes 24 are formed in the first disk portion 22 so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction of the first disk portion 22. In the present embodiment, the plurality of bolt holes 24 are formed at a predetermined angular interval in the circumferential direction of the first disk portion 22.

[0019] Also, although only one opening 26 is shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a plurality of openings 26 are formed in the first disk portion 22. In the present embodiment, the plurality of openings 26 are formed at predetermined angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the first disk portion 22. In the present embodiment, the bolt holes 24 and the openings 26 are through holes formed so as to penetrate the first disk portion 22, respectively.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second member 14 has a disk-shaped second disk portion 40. The second disk portion 40 is provided so as to face the first disk portion 22 in the axial direction X. A hook-shaped portion 40a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the second disk portion 40. The hook-shaped portion 40a is formed so as to bend toward the other side in the axial direction X on the outer peripheral portion of the second disk portion 40.

[0021] A hub hole 42 is formed at the center of the second disk portion 40. The hub hole 42 has a substantially circular shape when viewed from the axial direction X. The second disk portion 40 has a mounting portion 44, a hat portion 46, and a mounting portion 48 provided in order from the hub hole 42 toward the radially outer side of the second disk portion 40. The above-described hook-shaped portion 40a is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the mounting portion 48.

[0022] The mounting portion 44 and the mounting portion 48 are formed in an annular shape. The mounting portion 44 is attached to the hub of the vehicle axle by being tightened by a plurality of bolts provided on the hub of the vehicle axle (not shown) and a plurality of nuts screwed onto the plurality of bolts. Since the mode of attaching the mounting portion 44 to the hub of the vehicle axle is the same as that of a known wheel disk, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The hat portion 46 is formed so as to bulge toward one side in the axial direction X between the mounting portion 44 and the mounting portion 48. Since a known wheel configuration can be adopted for the configuration of the mounting portion 44 and the hat portion 46, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the mounting portion 48 has a plate-shaped portion 50, bolt holes 52 formed in the plate-shaped portion 50 (see Figures 1 and 2), and a protrusion 54 (see Figures 1 and 3) that rises from the plate-shaped portion 50. In this embodiment, the plate-shaped portion 50 is formed in a flat plate shape. The bolt holes 52 are formed to penetrate the plate-shaped portion 50.

[0024] The protrusion 54 is provided so as to project from the plate-like portion 50 toward the first disk portion 22 in the axial direction X. In this embodiment, the protrusion 54 is formed by press working. Therefore, a recess 56 formed when the protrusion 54 was formed is formed on one side of the plate-like portion 50 in the axial direction X.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the plate-like portion 50 has a plurality of bolt holes 52 formed thereon, each opposite to a plurality of bolt holes 24. The plurality of bolt holes 52 are formed at predetermined angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the second disk portion 40. Also, referring to Figures 1 and 3, in this embodiment, the plate-like portion 50 has a plurality of protrusions 54 formed thereon, corresponding to a plurality of openings 26. The plurality of protrusions 54 are formed at predetermined angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the second disk portion 40.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the fastening member 16 includes bolts 60 and nuts 62. In this embodiment, the first disc portion 22 and the second disc portion 40 are fixed together by a plurality of bolts 60 and a plurality of nuts 62. In this embodiment, the bolts 60 are inserted into bolt holes 52 and 24 from one side in the axial direction X, and the nuts 62 are fitted onto the tips of the bolts 60 from the other side in the axial direction X of the first disc portion 22.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the protrusion 54 is fitted into the opening 26. In this embodiment, the opening 26 is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the entire outer circumference of the protrusion 54. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the opening 26 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the outer surface of the protrusion 54. In this embodiment, the outer surface of the protrusion 54 and the inner surface of the opening 26 have the same shape (for example, circular, polygonal, etc.) in a cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction X.

[0028] The height (length in the axial direction X) of the protrusion 54 is, for example, 1.0 to 2.0 mm. The clearance between the protrusion 54 and the opening 26 is smaller than the clearance between the bolt 60 and the bolt holes 24 and 52. In this embodiment, the clearance between the protrusion 54 and the opening 26 is, for example, 0.1 to 0.3 mm, and the clearance between the bolt 60 (more specifically, the shaft portion or threaded portion) and the bolt holes 24 and 52 is, for example, 0.5 to 1.0 mm. In this specification, clearance means clearance on one side. Also, the clearance between the threaded portion of the bolt and the bolt hole means the clearance between the threads of the bolt and the inner surface of the bolt hole.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, in a cross-section passing through the center of the protrusion 54 and parallel to the radial direction of the second disk portion 40, the base portion 54a of the protrusion 54 rises from the plate-like portion 50 in an arc-shaped curve. Similarly, in the above cross-section, one edge portion 26a (the edge into which the protrusion 54 is inserted) of the opening 26 in the axial direction X spreads outward from the opening 26 in an arc-shaped curve. From the viewpoint of reducing the clearance between the protrusion 54 and the opening 26, it is preferable that the radii of curvature of the base portion 54a and the edge portion 26a in the above cross-section be 0.3 mm or less. Furthermore, it is preferable that the radius of curvature of the base portion 54a is smaller than the radius of curvature of the edge portion 26a. In this case, it is possible to suppress the formation of an axial gap X between the first disk portion 22 and the second disk portion 40 by the edge portion 26a riding up onto the base portion 54a.

[0030] When assembling a non-pneumatic tire 18 to the wheel 10 according to this embodiment, the wheel 10 is separated into a first member 12 and a second member 14, and the non-pneumatic tire 18 is assembled to the first rim portion 20 of the first member 12. Subsequently, the non-pneumatic tire 18 can be fixed to the wheel 10 by fixing the first member 12 and the second member 14 together. In this embodiment, the non-pneumatic tire 18 is assembled to the wheel 10 such that it is sandwiched from both sides in the axial direction X by the hook-shaped portion 20a of the first member 12 and the hook-shaped portion 40a of the second member 14.

[0031] (Effects and Benefits) In the wheel 10 according to this embodiment, the opening 26 is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the entire outer circumference of the protrusion 54, and furthermore, the clearance between the protrusion 54 and the opening 26 is smaller than the clearance between the bolt 60 and the bolt holes 24, 52. In this case, even if a force acts on the first member 12 and the second member 14 such that they cause displacement in the circumferential or radial direction when the wheel 10 is mounted on the vehicle and a load is applied to the wheel 10, or when the vehicle is running and the wheel 10 rotates, the contact between the protrusion 54 and the opening 26 can suppress a large load on the bolt 60.

[0032] (modified version) In the above-described embodiment, the first member 12 is provided with an opening 26 and the second member 14 is provided with a protrusion 54. However, the first disk portion of the first member may be provided with a protrusion that projects toward one side in the axial direction X, and the second disk portion of the second member may be provided with an opening into which the protrusion is fitted.

[0033] In the above-described embodiment, the opening 26 was formed as a through hole, but the opening only needs to be open enough to allow the protrusion to be fitted, and may also be a recess into which the protrusion can be fitted.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the second member 14 was not provided with a rim portion. However, as shown in the wheel 10a in Figure 4, the second member 14a may further include a cylindrical second rim portion 41 extending from the outer circumference of the second disc portion 40 toward one side in the axial direction X. In this case, the non-pneumatic tire is assembled to one of the first rim portion 20 and the second rim portion 41, for example, with the first member 12 and the second member 14a separated. The non-pneumatic tire 18 can then be fixed to the wheel 10a by fixing the first member 12 and the second member 14a together.

[0035] In the wheel described above, the case in which the axle hub is attached to the second disc portion 40 has been explained. However, the dimensions of the first disc portion 22 may be adjusted so that multiple bolts provided on the vehicle's axle hub pass through the first disc portion 22 and the second disc portion 40, thereby attaching the hub to the first disc portion 22 and the second disc portion 40.

[0036] In the embodiments described above, the case in which a non-pneumatic tire is mounted on a wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention was explained. However, the wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention can also be suitably used when a pneumatic tire is mounted on it. The wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used in various vehicles such as passenger cars, go-karts, and forklifts. [Industrial applicability]

[0037] As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle wheel that can be separated into two members in the axial direction, it is possible to suppress the increase in the load on the bolts fastening the two members together. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10,10a Vehicle wheels 12 First Member 14,14a Second member 16 Fastening members 18 Non-pneumatic tires 20 First rim section 22. First Disc Section 40. Second Disc Section 41 Second rim section 60 volts 62 nuts

Claims

1. A first member having a cylindrical first rim portion and a first disk portion extending from one end of the first rim portion in the axial direction toward the axial center of the first rim portion, A second member having a second disk portion fixed to the first disk portion, The device comprises a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts for fixing the first disc portion and the second disc portion, The first disc portion and the second disc portion each have bolt holes formed therein for passing the plurality of bolts through. One of the first and second disk portions has a protrusion that extends toward the other disk portion, and the other disk portion has an annular opening into which the protrusion is fitted so as to surround the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the protrusion. The clearance between the protrusion and the opening is smaller than the clearance between the bolt and the bolt hole. A vehicle wheel wherein, in a cross-section passing through the center of the convex portion and parallel to the radial direction of the second disc portion, the base of the convex portion rises up in an arc-shaped curve, the edge of the opening on the side of the one disc portion in the axial direction curves outward from the opening, and the radius of curvature of the base portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the edge portion.

2. The vehicle wheel according to claim 1, wherein the opening is a through hole that penetrates the other disc portion.

3. The vehicle wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second member further comprises a cylindrical second rim portion extending from the outer circumference of the second disc portion toward one side in the axial direction.

Images