AU725086B2

AU725086B2 - Wheel for a motor vehicle and method of making same

Info

Publication number: AU725086B2
Application number: AU65827/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jens Stach
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 1995-10-11
Filing date: 1996-09-24
Publication date: 2000-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-24
Also published as: JP3091698B2; CN1105040C; AU6582796A; EP0768191A2; ES2136351T3; NO964303L; EP0768191B1; NO307695B1; DE29623451U1; EP0768191A3; JPH09164801A; CN1163833A; NO964303D0

Description

NV

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: 9 99 9* 9 9. 9 Name of Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Actual Inventor(s): Jens Stach Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: WHEEL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Our Ref 465090 POF Code: 21264/21264 The following statement is a full description of method of performing it known to applicant(s): 1 this invention, including the best

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h,,aa WHEEL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wheel for a motor vehicle having a rim spider with air openings and having a rim well connected with the rim spider, and a method of making such a wheel.

This discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these :matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

A vehicle is described in German Patent Document DE 23 11 740, which consists of a ribbed rim spider which is provided with air openings, which is arranged inside a rim well which has both rim flanges. The rim spider is welded several times to the rim well on the inside and consists of a light-metal casting, the rim well being made of a light-metal sheet. Furthermore, vehicle wheels 20 are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,610,482 which are constructed in two parts, the rim well being connected on the inside of the rim spider in the area of the rim flange by means of welding.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-part vehicle wheel which can be manufactured in a simple manner, which has a high stability while its weight is low, and which is constructed such that it can be connected in a simple manner and different connection processes can be used.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a wheel for a motor vehicle including a rim spider and a rim well each of the rim spider and rim well defining air openings, the rim spider being connected to the rim well by at least one connection so as to form an axially inner wall, an axially outer wall, a plurality of hollow spokes which extend generally radially between adjacent of said air openings and which extend between at least one radially outer annulus Ae c)j and at least one radially inner annulus, the rim spider and rim well each W:\Michelle\BF\SpecA65827.doc including means for receiving a plurality of wheel fastening bolts for attaching the wheel to the motor vehicle.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided, a wheel for a motor vehicle including a rim spider defining a plurality of air openings and a rim well connected to the rim spider by means of at least one of a threaded connection/or welded connection, each of the rim spider and rim well having an interior wall and an exterior wall which rim spider and rim well combine to form a plurality of hollow spokes radially extending between adjacent air openings and defining an exterior annulus and an interior annulus, the rim spider and rim well each including means for receiving a plurality of wheel fastening bolts for attaching the wheel to the motor vehicle.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided, a method for producing a wheel comprising the steps of: forming a first shell part into a rim spider with an exterior ring web, boundary walls defining air openings and o* o a a W:MichelIe\BFnSpec 65827.doc cylindrical receiving devices for wheel fastening bolts; forming a second shell part into a rim well with an exterior ring web, opening edges for air openings and pot-shaped bearings and a hub sleeve, subsequently assembling said first and second shell parts into a centered assembly by means of the mutually engaging portions, such that the edges of the of the wall sections in the rim spider rest on the interior edges of the air openings of the rim well, the hub sleeve is arranged in the exterior hub ring, the ring webs of the rim spider and of the rim well are situated directly opposite one another with their faces, and subsequently welding the mutually engaging portions of the two shell parts to connect the shell parts with one another.

The principal advantages achieved of the present I& :invention are that the rim spider and the rim well each S:..consist of-one shell part which can be connected to one another in an assembled manner and hollow spokes are formed between the air openings of the shell parts. The shell "-parts may be manufactured separately from one another by different processes and from various materials so that, corresponding to the demands on the wheel, the material and ego.

manufacturing process as well as the connecting process, for example, a welding process, can be-- freely selected.

go co• The shell parts are preferably each constructed with areas which "supplement one another; that is, when the two shell parts are fitted together for being connected, these areas may act as so-called centerings with respect to one another. Thus, the rim spider has air openings which are formed by inwardly aligned boundary walls which, in the fitted-together condition of the shell parts, project into air openings of the rim well and can be connected to the opening edges of these air openings, in which case this may take place by way of a welding or a gluing process.

Furthermore, when the shell parts of the rim spider are fitted together with the rim well, cylindrical receiving devices of the rim spider are arranged in the pot-shaped bearings of the rim well. In addition, the exterior ring of the hub of the rim spider is held on the hub sleeve of the rim well. In the meeting exterior ring area of the two too shell parts, a so-called continuous hump surface is formed by means of the ring webs on both rim parts.

The connecting of the two shell parts for forming the finished wheel takes place by means of a connection, by welding, gluing or processes with the same effect, preferably between the two ring webs, between the hub sleeve of the rim well and the exterior ring of the hub of the rim spider. In addition, another connection may take place o between the boundary walls of the air openings in the rim spider with the opening edges in the rim well, which is S usually the case.

te•o A gp 0 According to one preferred embodiment, the hub rings of the shell parts of the rim spider and of the rim well are fitted into one another for the connection so that an optimal centering of the two shell parts is ensured for the connection. Either the hub rings overlap completely so that a connection, for example, a welded connection, takes place on the interior supporting surface of the rim well or the interior hub ring ends approximately in the center of the exterior hub ring and the welded connection is then situated inside the exterior hub ring.

For the special design of the rim spokes and of the exterior annulus of the rim formed as a function thereof, the connection between ring webs of the rim well and of the rim spider can be designed in a variable manner, whereby a free-standing edge in an approximate Z-shape or in an 15 approximate angular shape is obtained so that a well base rim can be'produced which is distinguished by deep-lying rim spokes.

By means of the shell parts, particularly on the basis 20 of the inwardly directed boundary walls of the air openings in connection with the opening edges of the air openings of "the rim well, stability-increasing hollow spokes are formed between the air openings, which hollow spokes, in each case, lead on the end side into concentric annuli of the wheel S 25 and, in addition, these also have a stability-increasing effect. On the one hand, these annuli are formed between the upper boundary walls of the air openings and the ring webs as well as the lower boundary walls of the air openings around the hub sleeve.

Radially extending ribs, which have a stiffening effect, may be molded on inside the hollow spokes and are provided in the shell part of the rim spider as well as in the shell part of the rim well. The ribs arranged in the hollow spokes are preferably situated opposite one another and are constructed as half-ribs. Preferably they are arranged at a distance from one another in the center plane of the hollow spoke. The shell parts may be made of various materials, for example, of an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy or a titanium alloy, in which case the individual shell parts can be combined in the various materials. It is also possible to construct the shell parts of sheet metal, in the die-casting process or of a cast rolled material. A connection of the two shell parts may be carried out by means of a welding process, such as a fusion welding, a laser welding or an electron beam welding or by means of a gluing process.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the *e a.

present invention will become more readily apparent from the

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following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF .THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an axial view of a vehicle wheel assembled of two shell parts according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view according to Line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a .sectional view according to Line III-III of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views according to Line IV-IV and V-V of Figure 1 of a hollow spoke of the assembled shell parts; Figure 6 is an enlarged representation of detail A according to Figure 2; Figure 7 is an enlarged representation of detail B according to Figure 2; 15 Figure 8 is a sectional view of two shell parts of another embodiment of the wheel according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a vehicle wheel with hub rings of the shell parts which are partially fitted into one another; Figure 10 is a sectional viewof an embodiment according to Figure 9 with hub rings of the two shell parts which are continuously fitted into one another; Figure 11 is a view of an embodiment according to Figure 9 with an exterior annulus arranged below the rim well surface and a Z-shaped free-standing rim edge and deeper-lying hollow spokes; and Figure 12 is a view of an embodiment according to Figure 9 with an angularly constructed, freestanding rim edge adjoining the exterior annulus and with deeper-lying hollow spokes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The wheel 1 consists essentially of two shell parts 2, 3 which form the rim well 2a and the rim spider 3a. These shell parts 2, 3 are produced separately, are assembled and are undetachably connected with one another of a connection, for example by welding or by gluing at connections S1, S2 and/or S3.

The rim spider 3a forms the exterior part of the wheel ee 20 1 and comprises an axially outer wall 4 (exterior wall arrangement) in which air openings 5 and cylindrical receiving devices or bolt holes 6 for wheel fastening bolts (not shown) are provided which are arranged around a hub sleeve 17.

The exterior edge of the rim spider 3a is formed by a rim flange 8 which is adjoined by a ring web 9 which extends into the interior of the rim and is part of a hump surface

F.

For forming air ducts, the air openings 5 in the rim spider 3a have inwardly bent boundary walls 10 which project into adjacent air openings 11 of the rim well 2a. These boundary walls 10 form hollow spokes H between the air openings 5 and 11, which hollow spokes H lead on the end side into concentric annuli R1 and R2 of the wheel i.

The rim well 2a is formed of an axially inner wall 12 (interior wall arrangement) with a recessed, offset well surface 13 which extends approximately at a right angle with respect to this wall. This well 13, by way of an upright molding-on, is adjoined by a front-side ring web 14 which is situated opposite the ring web 9 of the rim spider 3a for the connection. In the interior wall 12, the air openings 20 are provided which have opening edges 15 situated or set up r in the interior wall. Adjoining the air openings 11 in the wheel center direction, cylindrical receiving devices 6 of the rim spider 3a are arranged which correspond to the potshaped bearings 16 in the interior wall 12. In the assembled condition of the shell parts 2, 3, a hub sleeve 17 of the rim well 2a is arranged in an exterior hub ring 18 of the rim spider 3a and is inserted into a ring area 19 by means of a so-called sliding fit or a press fit.

By way of mutually engaging portions of the two shell parts 2, 3 of the rim well 2a and of the rim spider 3a, such as the ring webs 9, 14, the boundary walls 10 with the opening edges 15, the cylindrical receiving devices 6 with the pot-shaped bearings 16 as well as the exterior hub ring 18 with the hub sleeve 17, a certain centering or precentering of the shell parts 2, 3 with respect to one another is achieved so that subsequently the connections of the two shell parts can be carried out.

The boundary walls 10 of the air openings 5 of the rim spider 3a are constructed to be directed into the wheel 15 interior in 'a curved manner and rest preferably on the interior side of the opening edges 15 of the air openings 11 in the rim well 2a. It is also possible for the faces of the boundary walls 10 to abut from the outside against surfaces of the interior wall 12 of the air openings 11, or 9. 9 the opening edges 15 to be tilted to the outside and three faces will then be situated opposite the faces of the coo• boundary walls, for example, for the welded connection.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate further embodiments of wheels 1 whose two shell parts 2, 3 each have hub rings 17c, 18c. These are fitted into one another for the connection.

According to Figure 9, the interior hub ring 17c of the shell part 3a is partially fitted into the exterior hub ring 18c of the shell part 2a; that is, the interior hub ring 17 ends approximately in the center of the exterior hub ring 18c and the connection point 40 is situated in the exterior hub ring 18c.

According to Figure 10, the hub rings 17c, 18c are arranged in a covered manner; that is, the interior hub ring 17c is fitted into the exterior hub ring 18c to such an extent that the connection 40 is situated in the supporting plane X-X of the rim well 2 or of the shell part 2a.

The centers of the two shell parts 2, 3 are supported, on the one hand, on opposite joint supporting surfaces 41, 42 in the area of the receiving device 6 for the wheel .i 15 fastening bolts and, on the other hand, on opposite supporting surfaces 43, 44 between these receiving devices 6. The wheel fastening bolts or the whole center of the wheel with the cylindrical receiving devices 6 is closed off by a cover e a.

"•20 Figures 11 and 12 illustrate so-called well base rims ooee in the case of which the spokes H with respect to the exterior plane A of the wheel 1 are situated lower than in the case of the embodiments according to Figures 9 and 10.

According to the embodiment of Figure 11, the exterior annulus R3 is bounded on the exterior side by the boundary wall 10 and on the interior side by ring webs 53, 54 as well as an interior wall 55 Of the hollow spoke H. The ring webs 53, 54 extend as an extension of the well surface 50. The annulus R3 is situated by the extent a away from the edge below the rim bed surface 50 so that the free-standing edge is obtained which has a generally Z-shaped design. The hump 52 has no connection point.

In Figure 12, the corresponding free-standing edge has an approximately angular design, in which case the annulus R3 adjoins a leg 56 of the edge After the two shell parts 2, 3 are fitted together, they are connected with one another, for example, by welding or gluing connections SI, S2, S3. Welding or gluing at 15 connection S1 takes place between the two ring webs 9 and 14. For a better alignment with respect to one another, one of the ring webs 9 or 14 may have an angular receiving profile 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring web 14 *has this angular receiving profile 20. Welding or gluing at connection S2 takes place between the hub sleeve 17 and the 99° exterior hub ring 18 in the ring area 19. Furthermore, *9~9 o welding or gluing at connection S3 is provided between the boundary walls 10 of the air openings 5 and the opening 9.

edges 15 of the air openings 11 in the rim well. These welded or glued connections at connection S3 may be made as alternatives to the other connections S1 and S2.

By means of the welded or glued connection at connection S3 of the two shell parts 2 and 3 in the area of the air openings 5 and 11, closed hollow spokes H are obtained which each extend between adjoining air openings and which, on respective end sides, lead into the annuli R1 and R2. This results in a hollow-spoke wheel formed by two assembled shell bodies 2, 3, the curving of the hollow spokes H being independently selectable. Within the hollow spokes, radially extending ribs 35, 36 may be arranged which are preferably arranged in the center plane of the hollow spokes, are situated opposite one another and preferably define a free space between one another. The rib faces may also be situated directly adjoining one another.

The welding of the undetachable connecting of the two shell parts 2 and 3 for producing the wheel 1 may be carried *.out as a fusion welding, a laser welding or as an electron beam welding. Furthermore, instead of welding, a corresponding adhesive bonding of the shell parts 2, 3 to one another, for example, by way of a two-component gluing, •go• 20 is possible.

ee S S The material of the shell parts 2, 3 may optionally ••go consist of a sheet metal material, a material produced by die-casting or of a cast rolled material. Optionally, material alloys for the shell parts are conceivable which are made of an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy or a titanium alloy.

A further embodiment according to Figure 8 shows two shell parts 2, 3 for forming the rim spider 3a and the rim well 2a. The ring web 14a of the rim well 2a is constructed to extend to the exterior wall 14 of the rim spider 3a in an abutting manner. A welding or gluing at connection S4 takes place on the interior (axially inward) surface of the exterior wall 3. The boundary walls are fitted through the openings 11 in a protruding manner. These protruding ends are welded to the opening edges 15. The rim well 2a has a pot-shaped bearing 16a in which the cylindrical receiving device 18a is arranged. An edge of the sleeve 17a projects from the inside against a ring collar 31 and is connected with the latter by means of welding or gluing at connection In another embodiment of the wheel 1, instead of the welded or glued connection S2 and S3, at least one threaded connection, such as a bolt or a crew, may also be used. The boundary walls 10 or the opening edges are in this case 66 0 designed to such threaded connection is possible. A 20 threaded connection is also contemplated in the area of the connection S2 or eeoc A process for manufacturing the wheel is preferably carried out according to the following steps: In a first operation, the shell parts are produced to 25 form a rim spider with an exterior rim web, boundary walls 000* 0oeo for the air openings and cylindrical receiving devices for wheel fastening screws and a rim well with an exterior rim web, opening edges, such as the air opening, and pot-shaped bearings and a hub sleeve. Subsequently, a centered assembly of the two shell parts takes place by way of mutually engaging and corresponding shell sections for aligning the connection, in which case the edges of the wall sections of the rim spider rest on the interior edges of the air openings of the rim well, the hub sleeve is arranged in the exterior hub ring, and the ring webs of the rim spider and of the rim well are situated directly facing one another. Subsequently, one connection by welding or gluing respectively for connecting the two shell parts for producing a wheel is carried out on these directly adjoining and facing areas of the shell parts. When the shell parts are glued to one another, the surfaces which are in contact are provided with a bonding agent and are connected, in which case the fastening connections S1 to S5 may be replaced by gluing.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

sees

Claims

1. A wheel for a motor vehicle including a rim spider and a rim well each of the rim spider and rim well defining air openings, the rim spider being connected to the rim well by at least one connection so as to form an axially inner wall, an axially outer wall, a plurality of hollow spokes which extend generally radially between adjacent of said air openings and which extend between at least one radially outer annulus and at least one radially inner annulus, the rim spider and rim well each including means for receiving a plurality of wheel fastening bolts for attaching the wheel to the motor vehicle.

2. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the rim spider further includes a plurality of cylindrical receiving devices configured to receive wheel fastening bolts, an exterior hub ring, boundary walls which define the air openings, and a rim flange with a ring web extending generally axially inwardly.

3. Wheel according to Claim 2, wherein the rim well further includes a hub sleeve and recessed, pot-shaped bearings for engagement with respective cylindrical receiving devices in the rim spider which are configured to receive 20 wheel fastening bolts. AT 16 MTA'ork6527Specn *o *6 *T rl687Ser

4. Wheel according to Claim 2, wherein the shell part which forms the rim well and the axially inner wall further includes a hub sleeve and recessed, pot-shaped bearings for engagement with respective cylindrical receiving devices in the rim spider which are configured to receive wheel fastening bolts. Wheel according to Claim 2, wherein on a radially outer edge, the shell part which forms the rim well further includes a ring web adjacent an offset well surface of the wheel, the ring web of the rim well engaging the ring web of the rim spider in an assemble position to form a tire bearing surface.

6. Wheel according to Claim 4, wherein on a radially r S outer edge, the shell part which forms the rim well further S includes a 'ring web adjacent an offset well surface of the wheel, the ring web of the rim well engaging the ring web of *the rim spider in an assemble position to form a tire 00 :bearing surface. *007. Wheel according to Claim 6, wherein the two shell parts are configured to be fitted together in a concentric S manner with respect to one another by way of respective "mutually engaging portions of the rim spider and of the rim well, and wherein the two shell parts are connected with one S* another by a connection between the ring web of the rim spider and the ring web of the rim well, and by a connection between the hub sleeve and the exterior hub ring.

8. Wheel according to Claim 7, wherein the boundary walls of the air openings and the cylindrical receiving devices form the mutually engaging portions in the rim spider and are arranged to correspond with the pot-shaped bearings of the rim well, the boundary walls projecting partially into the air openings of the rim well.

9. Wheel according to Claim 2, wherein the boundary walls of the air openings in the rim spider rest against generally radially inwardly extending opening edges of the air openings of the rim well. Wheel according to Claim 2, wherein the boundary walls of the air openings in the rim spider each include curved wall sections of the axially outer wall which extend in a direction of the wheel interior and form air guiding S• ducts. e

11. Wheel according to Claim 6, wherein the shell parts of the rim well and of the rim spider are connected with one another by a connection between the ring web of the rim spider and the ring web of the rim well, and by a connection between the hub sleeve and the exterior hub ring.

12. Wheel according to Claim 6, wherein the shell parts of the rim well and of the rim spider are connected with one another by a connection between the ring web of the rim spider and the ring web of the rim well, by a connection between the hub sleeve and the exterior hub ring, and by a connection between the boundary walls and generally radially inwardly extending opening edges of the air openings of the rim well.

13. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein on the shell part forming the rim well, a continuous ring web is provided which directly engages an axially inwardly facing surface of the axially outer wall of the rim spider to form a connection therebetween.

14. Wheel according to Claim 5, wherein at least one of the ring webs has an angular receiving profile for the other of the ring webs. Wheel according to Claim 7, wherein the connection between the two ring webs is situated approximately in the plane of the axially inner wall of the rim well and the ring web of the rim well is constructed to be shorter than the ring web of the rim spider.

16. Wheel according to Claim 9, wherein the boundary walls are fitted through the air openings of the rim well ad.a and are fixed on the opening edge by a connection.

17. Wheel according to Claim 4, wherein the exterior hub ring of the rim spider engages the hub sleeve of the rim well, and the pot-shaped bearings of the rim well engage the cylindrical receiving devices of the rim spider, bottoms of the receiving devices being supported on a base of the pot- shaped bearings.

18. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the hollow spokes between the adjacent air openings are formed of the axially inner wall of the rim well, the axially outer wall of the rim spider, and boundary walls which define the air openings.

19. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein pot-shaped bearings of the rim well include the hub sleeve which S fixedly engages a hub ring of the rim spider. *o S 20. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the shell part which forms the rim spider has a centric interior hub ring go.: :which is held fitted into a centric exterior hub ring of the SCO'* shell part which forms the rim well, the centric interior hub ring extending at least partially through the centric o 0o exterior hub ring, and the two hub rings and being connected Sby a joint connection on the interior side of the exterior ring.

21. Wheel according to Claim 20, wherein the interior ring extends through the exterior hub ring to an interior surface of the shell part forming the rim well to a fastening plane where said joint connection is located.

22. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the shell parts of the rim spider and of the rim well further include joint supporting surfaces arranged in an area of cylindrical receiving devices configured to receive wheel fastening bolts and additional supporting surfaces arranged laterally between the receiving devices, and wherein the wheel fastening bolts are covered by a closing cover.

23. Wheel according to Claim 20, wherein the shell parts of the rim spider and of the rim well further include joint supporting surfaces arranged in an area of cylindrical receiving devices configured to receive wheel fastening bolts and additional supporting surfaces arranged laterally etween the receiving devices, and wherein the wheel .fastening bolts are covered by a closing cover. S

24. Wheel according to Claim 21, wherein the shell parts of the rim spider and of the rim well further include joint supporting surfaces arranged in an area of cylindrical *"'receiving devices configured to receive wheel fastening S 0"olts and additional supporting surfaces arranged laterally *:'°*ttween the receiving devices, and wherein the wheel fastening bolts are covered by a closing cover. *0

25. Wheel according to Claim 5, wherein an exterior _N ~21 annulus is defined by the boundary wall of the rim spider and by an edge web of the shell part forming the rim well projecting away from a rim well surface, and a connection point of the two ring webs is situated in the area of a rim hump.

26. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the radially outer annulus is defined by the boundary wall of the shell part of the rim spider and by ring webs of the rim spider and of the rim well which are arranged at a distance with respect to a rim hump, the ring web of the rim well extending as an approximately straight extension to the rim well surface and the annulus being arranged below the rim well surface.

27. Wheel according to Claim 25, wherein the radially outer annulus is defined by the boundary wall of the shell part of the rim S:spider andby ring webs of the rim spider and of the rim well which are arranged at a distance with respect to the .hump, the ring web of the rim well extending as an S:approximately straight extension to the rim well surface and the annulus being arranged below the rim well surface. S'S.

28. Wheel according to Claim 2, wherein the boundary o wall 10 extends into a projecting, free-standing edge of the r:"'rim spider which is designed approximately in a Z-shape and ends in the rim flange.

29. Wheel according to Claim 26, wherein the boundary wall extends into a projecting, free-standing edge of the rim spider which is designed approximately in a Z-shape and ends in a rim flange of the shell part. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the boundary wall extends into a free-standing edge of the rim spider which is designed to be approximately angular and ends in the rim flange.

31. Wheel according to Claim 26, wherein the boundary wall extends into a free-standing edge of the rim spider which is designed to be approximately angular and ends in a rim flange of the shell part. S32. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein radially extending ribs are formed on respective interior surfaces of the hollow-spokes of the shell parts.

33. Wheel according to Claim 32, wherein the ribs are arranged in a center plane, are situated opposite one another, and are spaced with respect to one another. 0 00 34. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the shell parts are made from sheet metal, by die-casting or by cast S" rolling.

35. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the shell parts are produced from one of an aluminum alloy, a 23 ,CO ~0 T~ magnesium alloy, and a titanium alloy.

36. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the two shell parts are connected by one of a welding process, a fusion welding process, a laser welding process, and an electron beam welding process.

37. Wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the shell parts of the wheel are adhesively connected with one another.

38. A wheel for a motor vehicle including a rim spider defining plurality of air openings and a rim well connected to the rim spider by means of at least one of a threaded connection and/or welded connection, each of the rim spider and rim well having an interior wall and an exterior wall which rim spider and rim well combine to form a plurality of hollow spokes radially extending between 15 adjacent air openings and defining an exterior anulus and an interior anulus, the rim spider and rim well each including means for receiving a plurality of wheel fastening bolts for attaching the wheel to the motor vehicle.

39. Method for producing a wheel including the steps of: 20 forming a first shell part into a rim spider with an exterior ring web, boundary walls defining air openings and cylindrical receiving devices for wheel fastening bolts; forming a second shell part into a rim well with an exterior ring web, opening edges for air openings and pot-shaped bearings and a hub sleeve; subsequently assembling said first and second shell parts into a centered assembly by means of the mutually engaging portions, such that edges of the boundary wall in the rim spider rest on the interior edges of the air openings of the rim well, a hub sleeve is arranged in the exterior hub ring, the ring webs of the rim spider and of the rim well are situated directly opposite one another with their faces; and subsequently welding the mutually engaging portions of the two shell parts to connect the shell parts with one another. W:%MicheIIe BF'Sp5827 .doC 24 A wheel for a motor vehicle substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

41. A method for producing a wheel substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED: 19 JULY 2000 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: DR. ING. h.c.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT *9 9 9 9 g W:\Michelle\BF\Speci\65827.doc