GB2187684A - Split disc wheel for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The disc wheel is divided into three segments 1a, 1b and 1c and the edges of the segments interlock in the region of the rim 2. In the region of the disc 3 the edges 14a and 14b of the segments are spaced from each other and form respective slots 15. By means of these slots, the disc wheel segments 1a, 1b, 1c can be pushed together to assist the mounting of a tyre on the wheel. A run flat ring or insert (See Fig 4) may be provided on the rim. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Disc wheel for a vehicle The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of a disc wheel forvehicles or the like.

In its more specific aspects, the present invention relates to a new and improved construction of a disc wheel for single ortwin arrangement on vehicles, especially although not exclusively commercial vehicles. This disc wheel comprises a rim and a disc fixedly connected thereto. The disc contains a substantially planarattachmentorfastening flange with attachment orfastening holes and an inner or internal centering bore.

Heretofore known constructions of disc wheels contain either a one-part 15, drop center rim ora multipart S"flat base rim with a side ring, and to the inner side of the rim base of such side ring there is welded the disc.

Such type of disc wheels with a separated side ring ofthe previously mentioned bype, for example, as known from the German Patent Publication No.

2,134,485, have the following disadvantages.

Dangerous accidents can occur with incorrect tire mounting orfitting. Furthermore, mechanical wear arises, which impairs the safety of the rim exposed to air pressure. Two or more loose parts are required, and it is thus possible to mistake the individual parts with parts of the same size for the same type of rims.

Additionally,thereareknowntotheartvehicle wheels with demountable rims, for example from Swiss Patent No. 175,208, granted February 15,1935.

In that prior art construction, the demountable rim contains three segments which are interconnected by means of threaded bolts or screws and clamping plates to a cast wheel body. With such type of so-called "Trilex wheels or rims" a form-locking rim separation or joint surface is not present by virtue of the separation or expansion of the separation orjoint locations at the front clamping region.

With the above-mentioned prior art in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction of a disc wheel for vehicles tires which is not afflicted with the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings ofthe priorartconstructions.

Another important object of the present invention aims at the provision of an improved construction of a disc wheel of the aforementioned type, which does not possess the previously discussed disadvantages, contains as few individual parts of components as possible and nevertheless guarantees a trouble4ree, quick, safe and secure tire mounting.

Yet another significant object ofthe present invention is directed to the provision of a new and improved construction of a disc wheel containing a disc and a rim connected thereto and structured such that reliable and safe mounting ofthetire atthedisc wheel is possible in a relatively easy, safe and rapid mannerwith a minimum of effort.

Now in orderto implement these and still further objects of the invention which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the disc wheel or wheel structure of the present invention is manifested by the features that it is subdivided at its circumference and comprises three disc wheel segments. The separation or joint surfaces ofthe disc wheel segments are structured at the region of the rim so as to afford a mutual form-locking contact or interengagement. Additional separation or joint surfaces of the disc wheel segments are spaced from one another at the region of the disc and form slots which extend from the rim up to the region ofthe inner or internal centering bore.

By virtue of the construction of the disc wheel so as to contain three disc wheel segments structured in the manner described above, a problem-free and secure mounting or flitting of the tire is attained with 5' flat base rims our15" drop center rims, and there is also realized a secure or positive connection of the individual disc wheel segmentswithoutthe requirement of using any additionai connecting means orfacilities.

Briefdescription ofthe drawings The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawingswhereinthroughoutthevariousfiguresof the drawings there have been generally used the same reference characters to denote the same or analogous components and wherein; Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a disc wheel composed of three segments; Figure2 is a side view of the arrangement depicted in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the disc wheel depicted in Figure 1;; Figure 4 i 11 ustrates a modification of the embodiment of the discwheel shown in Figure3 with a 15 drop center rim withoutwell; Figure 5is a fragmentary view of the disc wheel depicted in Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow B thereof; Figure 6 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 3 on a reduced scale as compared to Figure 2; Figure 7illustrates a modification ofthe arrangement of Figure 6 with a different hole arrangement or pattern; and Figure 8 illustrates a further modification of the embodimentof Figure 6.

Detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments Describing now the drawings, it isto be understood that to simplify the showing thereof only enough ofthe structure ofthe inventive disc wheel or wheel structure has been illustrated therein as needed to enable one skilled in the artto readily understand the underlying principles and concepts of the present invention.Turning now specifically to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is depicted therein an exemplary embodiment of a disc wheel or wheel structure 1 which is circumferentially divided or segmented and comprises three disc wheel segments 1a, 1b and 1This discwheel 1 is here shown to contain a 5' flat base rim 2 and a wheel member in the form of a disc 3. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, this disc 3 is attached by means of a suitable welding joint or connection at the rim base 4, and specifically is connected atthe transition region from the rim base 4to a neighboring side flange5 ofthe 5" flat base rim 2.

The disc3 comprises a substantiallyfiatorplanar attachment orfastening flange or portion 6 defining an attachment element and a curved or arcuate-shaped transition ortransition portion 7 merging with the 5" flat base rim or rim member 2.

The attachment or fastening flange 6 contains a centering bore 8 and bore holes or openings 9for receiving therein threaded bolts or the like. These bolt bore holes 9 are positioned along a hole circle at substantially uniform pitch spacing or equidistantly from one another as shown in Figure 2. The disc wheel or wheel structure 1 is centrally fixed by means of conventional threaded bolts or screws extending through the bore holes or holes 9 at a wheel hub ora brake drum, as generally indicated by reference numeral 10.The position of the attachment or fastening flange 6, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, is displaced to such an extent from the middle or central region of the 5' flat base rim or rim member 2 that the so-called inset 11 is greaterthan one-half of width of the 5'flat base rim or rim member 2. This 5' flat base rim or rim member 2 is particularly suitable for use with a tire equipped with atube.

The three disc wheel segments 1 a, 1 band 1 care particularly clearly shown in Figure 2 and they mutually contact one another at their separation or joint surfaces 1 2 and 13 atthe region ofthe 5'flat base rim or rim 2 in theirfinished mounted or assembled state. These circumferentially located and interlocking or contacting lv engaging separation o r jo i nt su rfaces 12 and 13 serve to mutually fix the three disc wheel segments 1 a, 1 b and 1 c of the dise wheel orwheel structu re 1 in radial and axial direction.As will be readily recognized from the showing of Figure 2, the separation orjoint surfaces, particularly the contacting separation or jointsurfaces 12 and 13 between the discwheel segment 1 a and the neighboring disc wheel segment 1 band 1 c each possess a substantiallyV-shaped configuration or shape. The manner of interconnecting these three disc wheel segments 1 a, 1 band 1c is well known in the artandthe same has been disclosed byway of example in the commonly assigned Swiss Patent No. 444,692, granted September 30, 1967, to which reference may be readily had. Also of significance in this regard is the commonly assigned Swiss Patent No. 324,960, granted November30, 1957 to which reference is also made.In the region ofthe dise 3, the fu rther confronting and spaced separation orjointsurfaces 14a and 14b of each two adjacentdisswheel segments 1 a, 1 band 1 cform a respective slot 15.

Each such slot 15 extends from the circumferentially located separation or joint surfaces 12, 13 ofthe 5" flat base rim or rim 2 divided into three substantially identical or similar segments, depending upon the hole arrangement or pattern orthe number of bore holes 9, inwardly either in a radial direction or at an angle to a radial line 17 unto the centering bore 8. At the region ofthis centering bore 8 there are provided at the spaced separation surfaces 1 4a and 1 4b rounded or domed portions 19forthe reduction of stress.

Each slot 15 possesses a width 16 which is chosen to be of such a size thatfor a problem-free mounting of the tire, the disc wheel segments 1 a, 1 b, 1 c can be pushedtogethercircumferentiallytosuch an extent that they can be sequentially inserted into the region defining the inner diameter of the tire. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in Figure 2, which is equipped with ten bolt bore holes 9, all of the slots 15 extend at an acute angle with respect to the radial line 17. Itwill be observed that some ofthe slots 15 possess a kink or bend 21 towards the inner slot end because ofthe uniform distribution of material at the bolt bore holes 9.

As previously mentioned, in the region of the side flanges 5 and the wheel flange or horn 20, the separation surfaces 12 and 13 are constructed to possess a substantially V-shape with respect to each other, so that the disc wheel segments 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, when assembled together, are fixedly interconnected in a form-locking manner in radial and axial directions, whereby the 5" flat base rim or rim 2 and thus the disc wheel or wheel structure 1 are assembled to provide a self-supporting structure. As shown in Figure 5, one of the disc wheel segments, here the disc wheel segment 1 a possesses a recess or opening 18 at the separation orjoint surface 12, through which the tire valve can protrude.

Thethree-partoftri-sigmented disc wheel or wheel structure 1 guarantees an easy mounting and demounting ofthe tire. This is similarto and can be carried out with the same tools as are used forthe mounting oftheso-called "Trilexwheelsorrims", wherein, however, the additional assembly with the wheel spider is not necessary and thus fewer individual parts are required.

Figure 3 shows a modified examplary embodiment, particularly as concerns the connection between the rim or rim member2 and the wheel member in the form of a disc 3. In this case the disc3 directly merges with the arcuate-shaped or curved transition ortransition region 7a at the lateral end ofthe rim or rim member 2 designated as the wheel or rim flange or horn 20. This arcuate-shaped orcurved transition 7a preferably has a substantially parabolic configuration or shape. With this exemplaryembodiment,theentirediscwheel 1 can initially be fabricated from a sheet metal partorsteel plating by press rolling and subsequently there is undertaken the division into, for example, the three segments la, 1b, 1c. In all other respects the disc wheel orwheel structure depicted in Figure3 essentially corresponds to the construction previously considered with respect to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 3 wherein, in this case, the rim or rim member 2 is constructed as a 15 drop center rim withoutwell. The rim horn 20, to which the disc3 is directly connected or adjoins by means of an acruate-shaped or curved transition ortransition region 7a, is positioned at the 15 shoulder 22. A run flat ring or run flat ring inserts 31 are positioned between the not particularly referenced sideflanges of attire 30 mounted on the rim or rim member 2.

Furthermore, ribs 23 arranged at the rim base4 engage in a form-locking fashion with grooves or groove means 32 ofthe run flat ring or run flat ring inserts31 andthusform atorque protection forthe run flat ring or run flat ring inserts 31, i.e. the components or parts 23 and 32 provide a form-locking connection means for the transmission oftorque between the run flat ring or run flat ring inserts31 and the drop center rim or rim member 2. This 15 drop center rim 2 is particularly suitable for use with tubeless tires and a not particularly illustrated but conventional sealing band is positioned at the outer circumference of the 15 drop center rim or rim member 2.

Figures 6 to 8 show side views of the structure depicted in Figures3 or 4 on a somewhat reduced scale, wherein the attachment orfastening flanges 6 exhibit different hole arrangements or patterns, in other words different numbers of bolt bore holes 9.

This results in an arrangement of differently extending slots 15, as, for example, in Figures 6 and 7, wheretwo slots 15 extend atan acuteangletothe previously mentioned radial line 17 (see Figure 2) and one slot 15 exceeds in radial direction. In Figure 8 all three slots 15 extend or run in the radial direction, something which is rendered possible by the hole arrangement or pattern containing six bolt bore holes 9.

The exemplary embodiments according to Figures 1,3 and 4 also can be constituted by rim and disc segments made from steel sheet or plating which are for instance interconnected by welding to form disc wheel segments. The possibility also exists of manufacturing the disc wheel segments asforged pieces or as castings by using a suitable casting process. For the latter manufacturing process, an iron-carbon alloy containing spheroidal graphite or an aluminum alloy is preferred.

All exemplary embodiments ofthethree-partdisc wheel or wheel structure also can be used fordouble tiring of vehicles in twin arrangement with discs directed to face each other.

While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. ACCORDINGLY,

Claims (17)

1. Adiscwheelforsingleortwinarrangementon vehicles, especially commercial vehices, comprising: a rim; a disc fixedly connected to said rim; said disc containing a substantially planar attachmentflange with attachment holes and an inner centering bore; said disc wheel being structured at its circumference as a segmented structure comprising three disc wheel segments; said disc wheel segments being arranged in neighboring relationshiptooneanotherand defining adjacent each two neighboring disc wheel segments separation surfaces; said separation surfaces of said disc wheel segments being structured at the region of the rim so asto provide a mutual form-locking contact;; said discwheel segments containing further separationsurfaceswhich are spaced art a predetermined distance from one another atthe region of the disc so as to form slots; and said slots extending from the region ofthe rim to the inner centering bore.

2. The discwheel as defined in claim 1, wherein: said mutual form-locking contact is provided by a substantially V-shaped configuration of at least predetermined adjacent ones of said separation surfaces located at the region of said rim; and said substantially V-shaped configured separation surfaces mutually fixing said disc wheel segments in radial and axial direction.

3. The disc wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein: each said slot possesses a width dimensioned such that each of said disc wheel segments can be pushed together to facilitate mounting of a tire on the disc wheel.

4. The disc wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein: each said slot possesses a substantially constant width; and at least predetermined ones of said slots possessing a rounded portion extending towards said inner centering bore.

5. The discwheel as defined in claim 1,wherein: said disc wheel segments are arranged at the circumference of said rim so asto possess a substantially equal spacing from one another; said disc wheel segments each possessing a plurality of holes arranged at a predetermined pitch spacing; and said slots selectively extending in radial direction or atan angle to said radial direction depending upon the predetermined pitch spacing of the holes.

6. The disc wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein: said rim has a rim base; and said disc being connected with said rim at the region of said rim base.

7. The disc wheel as defined in claim 1,wherein: said rim possesses a rim flange having an outer end; and a substantially arcuate-shaped transition portion for directly connecting said disc with said outer end of said rim flange.

8. The disc wheel as defined in claim 7, wherein: said substantially arcuate-shaped transition portion possesses a substantially parabolic configuration.

9. Thediscwheel as defined in claim 1,wherein: said rim has a rim base; and one of said disc wheel segments contains a recess in one of said separation surfaces at the region of said rim base for receiving a tire valve.

10. The disc wheel as defined in claim 1,wherein: said disc wheel segments comprise castings formed from an iron-carbon alloy containing spheroidal graphite.

11. The discwheel as defined in claim 1,wherein: said disc wheel segments comprise castings formed from an aluminum alloy.

12. The disc wheel as defined in claim 1,wherein: said rim defines a 5" flat base rim for tires equipped with tubes.

13. The disc wheel as defined in claim 1,wherein: said rim defines a 15 drop center rim fortubeless tires provided with a sealing band.

14. The discwheel as defined in claim 1,further including: runflatring insertsprovidedforsaid rim; and form-locking connection means for transmitting torque between the run flat ring inserts and said rim.

15. A wheel structure for vehicles, comprising: a rim; a wheel member connected to said rim; said wheel member containing an attachment element equipped with attachment holes; said rim and wheel member comprising a plurality of segments; said pluralityofsegments being arranged in neighboring relationship to one another and defining adjacent each two neighboring segments first separation surfaces; said first separation surfaces of said plurality of segments being arranged at the region ofthe circumference of the rim for interlocking said plurality of segments with one another; said plurality segments possessing second separation surfaces spaced radially inwardly of said first separation surfaces and ata predetermined distance from one another at the region of the wheel membersoastoforma plurality of slots; and each of said slots extending inwardly from the region ofthe rim.

16. Adiscwheel as defined in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. Awheel structure as defined in Claim 15 and substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.