JP7385472B2 - Fiber-reinforced resin wheels and vehicles equipped with them - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fiber-reinforced resin wheel used in a vehicle.

Wheels with fiber-reinforced resin rims that can be used in vehicles are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wheel in which a rim, a hub, and a flange connecting the rim and hub are integrally molded from fiber-reinforced resin.

By using fiber-reinforced resin, the wheel disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be made lighter than a metal wheel. Further, in the vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rim has a layered structure including a layer in which the resin is reinforced in the circumferential direction with reinforcing continuous fibers or reinforcing fabric, and a layer using reinforcing short fibers. made up of the body. Thereby, the wheel has high strength and rigidity.

Therefore, the wheel disclosed in Patent Document 1 is both lightweight and strong.

In addition, in the wheel disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rim extends in the left-right direction with respect to the flange. That is, the wheel disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a wide rim.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 135801/1983

As described above, by constructing the wheel using a material containing fiber-reinforced resin, the weight of the wheel can be reduced while ensuring strength. However, in recent years, it has been desired to further reduce the weight of the wheel while ensuring its strength.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fiber-reinforced resin wheel having a structure that allows for further weight reduction while ensuring strength.

Generally, the wheels of a motorcycle or an automobile have tires and wheels, support the vehicle, and transmit driving force to the road surface through rotation. Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a fiber-reinforced resin wheel has a fiber-reinforced resin wheel when viewed in a cross section (hereinafter referred to as a radial cross-section) when the fiber-reinforced resin wheel is cut in the radial direction. The reinforced resin wheel has a fiber reinforced resin rim that protrudes in the width direction (left and right direction of the vehicle). That is, when looking at a fiber-reinforced resin wheel in a radial cross section, the fiber-reinforced resin rim has a fiber-reinforced resin connection that radially connects the fiber-reinforced resin rim and the fiber-reinforced resin hub. protruding from the left or right side.

The present inventor studied the force that acts on the fiber-reinforced resin wheel while the vehicle is running in the fiber-reinforced resin wheel having the above-mentioned configuration. During the study, the present inventor focused on the fact that, for example, while the vehicle body is turning, a force is input to the wheels in an oblique direction. The inventor of the present invention has discovered that when the above-mentioned force is input to the wheel, the fiber-reinforced resin connecting portion of the fiber-reinforced resin wheel is attached to the fiber-reinforced resin rim in the left-right direction of the vehicle. It has been noticed that the robot tends to fall in the direction in which the force is applied.

In order to suppress the above-described deformation in the fiber-reinforced resin connecting portion, it is first possible to increase the rigidity of the fiber-reinforced resin connecting portion.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention first considered increasing the dimension in the width direction of the connecting portion made of fiber-reinforced resin. However, when the dimensions of the fiber-reinforced resin connecting portion are increased, the weight of the entire wheel increases, even though the fiber-reinforced resin connecting portion is lighter than metal.

Therefore, the present inventor studied a configuration that can reduce the weight of the fiber-reinforced resin connector while ensuring the rigidity of the fiber-reinforced resin connector.

Specifically, when the fiber-reinforced resin connecting portion is viewed in a radial cross section, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall and the left rim are the left side, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall and the left rim are the left side. Using the right rim as the right side, we investigated the deformation of the left and right sides when force is input diagonally to the wheel.

As a result of study, the inventor found that the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall were more significantly deformed in areas closer to the fiber-reinforced resin rim than to the fiber-reinforced resin hub. I found out something.

On the other hand, the present inventor has provided a radially outer connecting portion and a radially inner connecting portion that connect the left side and the right side at positions separated from each other in the radial direction, thereby increasing the width of the connecting portion made of fiber reinforced resin. It has been found that deformation can be suppressed without increasing the directional dimension.

Specifically, the present inventor came up with the following configuration.

A fiber-reinforced resin wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an annular rim, a hub located at the center of rotation, and a connecting portion connecting the rim and the hub in a radial direction. It is a resin wheel. The rim includes, in a radial cross section, a left rim portion located to the left of the center in the left-right direction, and a right rim portion located to the right of the center in the left-right direction. The connecting portion radially connects the left rim portion of the rim and the hub in the cross section, and the resin includes a left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall including a fiber-reinforced resin reinforced with fibers, and the rim. and a right fiber-reinforced resin connection wall that radially connects the right rim portion and the hub, and the resin includes a fiber-reinforced resin reinforced with fibers. When the left rim part and the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall are the left side, and the right rim part and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall are the right side, the left side and the right side are At least a radially outer connecting portion and a radially inner connecting portion that extend in the left-right direction and connect the left side portion and the right side portion are provided at positions spaced apart from each other in the radial direction.

Thereby, deformation of the connecting portion of the fiber-reinforced resin wheel can be suppressed when force is input to the wheel in an oblique direction. In other words, when a force is input diagonally to the wheel when the vehicle turns, etc., the connection part of the fiber-reinforced resin wheel will prevent the force from being input to the rim of the fiber-reinforced resin wheel in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Fall in the direction of being hit. In this case, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall in the connecting portion are deformed so as to be separated in the left-right direction. On the other hand, as in the above configuration, the left side including the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall and the right side including the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall are connected to a radially outer connecting part extending in the left-right direction and a radially inner connecting part extending in the left-right direction. By connecting with the connecting portion, the above deformation can be suppressed.

Furthermore, by making the left and right connecting walls of the connecting portion made of fiber-reinforced resin, the weight of the fiber-reinforced resin wheel can be reduced.

Therefore, it is possible to realize a structure in which the fiber-reinforced resin wheel can be made lighter while ensuring strength.

According to another aspect, the fiber-reinforced resin wheel of the present invention preferably includes the following configuration. The radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion are provided between the left side and the right side at a position closer to the rim than the hub in the radial direction.

Thereby, when force is input to the wheel in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion can be more reliably suppressed by the radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion.

According to another aspect, the fiber-reinforced resin wheel of the present invention preferably includes the following configuration. The radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion are provided between the left side portion and the right side portion at a position closer to the rim than an intermediate position between the hub and the rim in the radial direction. ing.

Thereby, when force is input to the wheel in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion can be more reliably suppressed by the radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion.

According to another aspect, the fiber-reinforced resin wheel of the present invention preferably includes the following configuration. The radially outer connecting portion connects the left rim portion and the right rim portion in the left-right direction. The radially inner connecting portion connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall in the left-right direction.

This prevents the radially outer connecting portion and the radially outer connecting portion from deforming so that the left rim portion and the right rim portion are separated in the left-right direction when force is input diagonally to the wheel. This can be suppressed by the inner connecting part.

According to another aspect, the fiber-reinforced resin wheel of the present invention preferably includes the following configuration. The radially inner connecting portion includes at least a first diagonal connecting portion extending in the right direction and in the radial direction from the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall, and a first diagonal connecting portion extending in the left direction and in the radial direction from the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall. and a second diagonal connecting portion extending to the second diagonal connecting portion.

As a result, when force is input to the wheel in a diagonal direction, deformation of the connecting portion can be more reliably suppressed by the first diagonal connecting portion and the second diagonal connecting portion of the radially inner connecting portion. .

According to another aspect, the fiber-reinforced resin wheel of the present invention preferably includes the following configuration. A reinforcing connecting portion that connects the left side portion and the right side portion is further provided between the radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion in the radial direction.

Thereby, the left side and the right side of the fiber-reinforced resin wheel, which are connected by the radially outer connecting part and the radially inner connecting part, can be more firmly connected. Therefore, when force is input to the wheel in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion can be more reliably suppressed.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of defining particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the invention.

As used herein, "and/or" includes all combinations of one or more of the associated listed components.

As used herein, the use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof refers to the described features, steps, elements, components, and/or , specifying the existence of equivalents thereof, may include one or more of steps, acts, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, "attached," "connected," "coupled," and/or their equivalents are used in a broad sense, including "direct and indirect" attachment; Includes both connections and combinations. Furthermore, "connected" and "coupled" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, but can include direct or indirect connections or couplings.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be construed to have meanings consistent with the relevant art and their meanings in the context of this disclosure, and unless explicitly defined herein, , not to be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense.

In describing the invention, it is understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefits and may also be used with one or more, or even all, of the other disclosed techniques.

Therefore, for the sake of clarity, the description of the invention refrains from unnecessarily repeating all possible combinations of individual steps. However, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that all such combinations are within the scope of the invention.

In this specification, embodiments of a fiber-reinforced resin wheel according to the present invention will be described.

In the following description, numerous specific examples are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific examples.

Accordingly, the following disclosure should be considered as illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated in the drawings or description.

<Definition of fiber reinforced resin>
In this specification, "made of fiber-reinforced resin" refers not only to cases in which the component is made only of fiber-reinforced resin in which the resin is reinforced with fibers, but also to cases in which materials other than fiber-reinforced resin are used in addition to fiber-reinforced resin. This also includes cases where the parts are configured by

<Definition of section>
In this specification, the term "compartment" means that a space is partitioned into a plurality of spaces by walls or the like. A partition includes not only a case where a closed space is formed by a wall or the like, but also a case where a part of the space is connected to another space as long as the space is separated.

The application target of the present invention is not limited to motorcycles. The present invention may be applied to vehicles other than motorcycles, such as tricycles and four-wheeled vehicles.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fiber-reinforced resin wheel including a fiber-reinforced resin connecting portion can be configured to be lighter while ensuring strength.

FIG. 1 is a left side view schematically showing the overall configuration of a vehicle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear wheel and a sectional view taken along line AA in the perspective view. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the rear wheel. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the force that the rim of the rear wheel receives when a force is input to the rear tire in an oblique direction. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing deformation of the rear wheel when the rear wheel has (a) the configuration of Embodiment 1 and the configurations of (b) to (e), respectively. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel of a vehicle according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel according to a modification of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel according to a modification of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel according to a modification of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rear wheel according to a modification of the fifth embodiment.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same parts are given the same reference numerals, and the description of the same parts will not be repeated. Note that the dimensions of the constituent members in each figure do not faithfully represent the actual dimensions of the constituent members and the dimensional ratios of each constituent member.

Hereinafter, arrow F in the figure indicates the forward direction of the vehicle. Arrow RR in the figure indicates the rear direction of the vehicle. Arrow U in the figure indicates the upward direction of the vehicle. Arrow L in the figure indicates the left direction of the vehicle. Arrow R in the figure indicates the right direction of the vehicle. Further, in the following description, front, rear, left, and right directions refer to front, rear, left, and right directions as viewed from an occupant driving the vehicle.

[Embodiment 1]
<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a left side view schematically showing the overall configuration of a vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment. The vehicle 1 is, for example, a motorcycle, and includes a vehicle body 2, front wheels 3, and rear wheels 4. The vehicle body 2 supports components such as a front wheel 3, a rear wheel 4, a steering wheel 6, a seat 7, and a power unit 8. In this embodiment, the vehicle body 2 includes a frame 10, a pair of front forks 15, and a rear arm 16.

The frame 10 has a head pipe 11 and a main frame 12. The head pipe 11 is located at the front of the vehicle 1 and rotatably supports a steering shaft (not shown) connected to the handle 6. The main frame 12 is connected to the head pipe 11 so as to extend from the head pipe 11 toward the rear of the vehicle. The main frame 12 supports the power unit 8 and the like.

The frame 10 may be made of a metal material, or may be made of a fiber-reinforced resin that is reinforced with fibers such as carbon fibers.

The pair of front forks 15 are arranged on the left and right sides of the front wheel 3 and extend upward and rearward from the front wheel 3. The upper end of each front fork 15 is connected to the handle 6. The lower end of each front fork 15 rotatably supports the front wheel 3.

The rear arm 16 extends rearward from the rear of the main frame 12. The front end of the rear arm 16 is connected to the rear part of the main frame 12 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The rear end of the rear arm 16 rotatably supports the rear wheel 4. Note that the rear arm 16 and the main frame 12 are connected by a rear suspension 17.

The front wheel 3 has a front wheel 31 and a front tire 32. The front wheel 31 is rotatably supported by the lower end portions of the pair of front forks 15. In this embodiment, the front wheel 31 is, for example, a metal wheel, as in the conventional case. The front tire 32 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the front wheel 31.

A front brake disc 33, which constitutes a part of the front brake, is attached to the front wheel 31 at the center of rotation. The front brake disc 33 is disk-shaped and rotates together with the front wheel 31. Note that a front wheel caliper 34 is arranged on the outer circumferential portion of the front wheel brake disk 33 to grip the front wheel brake disk 33 when the front wheel brake is operated.

The rear wheel 4 has a rear wheel 41 (fiber-reinforced resin wheel) and a rear tire 42 (tire). The rear wheel 41 is rotatably supported at the rear end of the rear arm 16. In this embodiment, the rear wheel 41 is made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin reinforced with carbon fiber. The rear tire 42 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the rear wheel 41.

A rear brake disc 43, which constitutes a part of the rear brake, is also attached to the rear wheel 41 at the center of rotation. The rear brake disc 43 is disc-shaped and rotates together with the rear wheel 41. Note that, similarly to the front wheel 3, a rear wheel caliper 44 that grips the rear wheel brake disk 43 when the rear wheel brake is operated is arranged on the outer circumference of the rear wheel brake disk 43.

<Rear wheel>
Next, a specific configuration of the rear wheel 41 will be explained using FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear wheel 41 and a cross-sectional view of the rear wheel 41. The perspective view of the rear wheel 41 in FIG. 2 is the same as that in FIG. 3. Similarly, the cross-sectional view of the rear wheel 41 in FIG. 2 is similar to that in FIG. 4. Therefore, the configuration of the rear wheel 41 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the rear wheel 41. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear wheel 41 has a circular shape when viewed from the axial direction of the rotation axis R located at the rotation center of the rear wheel 4. The rear wheel 41 is arranged so that its center coincides with the rotation axis R when viewed from the axial direction. Note that the axial direction of the rotation axis R of the rear wheel 4 coincides with the left-right direction of the vehicle 1.

The rear wheel 41 includes a hub 50 located at the center of rotation of the rear wheel 4, an annular rim 60 located at the radial outer circumference of the rear wheel 41, and a hub located inside the rim 60 in the radial direction. 50 and a connecting portion 70 that connects the rim 60. The rear wheel 41 of this embodiment is a so-called dish wheel in which the connecting portion 70 is disc-shaped.

The hub 50 is located at the center of rotation of the rear wheel 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the hub 50 has a left hub portion 51 and a right hub portion 52. The left hub portion 51 is located to the left of the center of the rear wheel 41 in the left-right direction. The right hub portion 52 is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction. The left hub portion 51 and the right hub portion 52 are each shaped like a ring and a plate, and are arranged so that their thickness directions coincide with the left-right direction.

A left hub connecting member 53 is connected to the left side of the left hub portion 51 . A right hub connecting member 54 is connected to the right side of the right hub portion 52 . The left hub connecting member 53 and the right hub connecting member 54 each have a disk shape, and are attached to the hub 50 so that the thickness direction coincides with the left-right direction. The left hub connecting member 53 and the right hub connecting member 54 are connected in the left-right direction by a connecting pipe 55 that passes through the hub 50. An axle (not shown) is inserted into the connecting pipe 55. Thereby, the hub 50 is rotatably supported by an axle (not shown) via the left hub connecting member 53, the right hub connecting member 54, and the connecting pipe 55.

Although not particularly shown, a sprocket that meshes with a chain that transmits power from the power unit is attached to the right hub connecting member 54. Thereby, the power of the power unit is transmitted to the rear wheel 41 via the chain.

In this embodiment, the left hub connecting member 53, the right hub connecting member 54, and the connecting pipe 55 are each made of metal.

The width of the connecting portion 70 at the portion where it connects to the rim 60 is smaller than the width at the portion where it connects to the hub 50 when viewed in a radial cross section of the rear wheel 41 (hereinafter referred to as a radial cross section). Thereby, the rear wheel caliper 44 can be placed on the right side of the connection portion 70 with the rim 60. Therefore, the rear wheel caliper 44 can be arranged compactly in the left-right direction with respect to the rear wheel 4.

Specifically, the connecting portion 70 includes a left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and a right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. The left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 connects the left hub portion 51 and a left rim portion 61 of the rim 60, which will be described later. The right fiber-reinforced resin connection wall 72 connects the right hub portion 52 and the later-described right rim portion 62 of the rim 60. The left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the left rim portion 61 constitute the left side portion 41a of the rear wheel 41. The right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 and the right rim portion 62 constitute the right side portion 41b of the rear wheel 41.

The left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 each have a plate shape having an annular shape in a plan view, and as seen in the radial cross section, the width increases from the hub 50 toward the rim 60. They are arranged so that the intervals are narrow. A space is formed between the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72.

Specifically, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 are respectively rim-side connecting walls 71a and 72a located at the connecting portion with the rim 60, and hub-side connecting walls 71b, 72b.

The rim-side connecting walls 71a, 72a and the hub-side connecting walls 71b, 72b are each plate-shaped with an annular shape in plan view. The radial length of the rim-side connecting walls 71a and 72a is less than half of the radial length of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, respectively, when viewed in the radial cross section. small. The rim-side connecting walls 71a and 72a are arranged parallel to each other in the left-right direction, and have outer peripheral portions connected to the rim 60. The hub-side connecting walls 71b and 72b are provided so that the distance between them gradually decreases from the hub 50 to the rim 60. The hub-side connecting walls 71b, 72b are connected to the hub 50 at their inner peripheral portions, and are connected to the rim-side connecting walls 71a, 72a at their outer peripheral portions, respectively.

The left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 are each made of carbon fiber reinforced resin (e.g., epoxy resin, vinyl ester, phenol resin, polyamide, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, etc.). Constructed from fiber-reinforced resin. In this embodiment, the carbon fibers include a plurality of fiber sheets laminated in the thickness direction. The lamination direction of this fiber sheet (fiber) is the thickness direction of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. The fiber sheet refers to a member formed into a sheet shape (flat shape) by, for example, knitting or compacting fibers.

The rim 60 extends in the left-right direction from the center in the left-right direction of the rear wheel 41 when viewed in the radial cross section. That is, the rim 60 includes a left rim portion 61 extending leftward and outward in the radial direction from the center in the left-right direction, and a right rim portion 62 extending rightward and outward in the radial direction from the center in the left-right direction. and has. In the rim 60, the left rim part 61 and the right rim part 62 are integrally formed. In the rim 60, a connecting portion between the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 is recessed inward in the radial direction. As will be described later, the connecting portion between the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 constitutes a radially outer connecting portion 81.

The left rim portion 61 projects further to the left than the connecting portion 70 when viewed in the radial cross section. The right rim portion 62 projects further to the right than the connecting portion 70 when viewed in the radial cross section. In this embodiment, the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 are symmetrical when viewed in the radial cross section.

The rear tire 42 is arranged radially outward of the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62. Specifically, the inner circumferential portion of the rear tire 42 contacts the radial outer circumferential portions of the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 . Thereby, an annular space S that extends annularly along the rim 60 is formed between the rim 60 and the rear tire 42.

The left rim portion 61 has a protrusion 61a that protrudes radially outward at the left end. The right rim portion 62 has a protrusion 62a that protrudes radially outward at the right end. That is, protrusions 61a and 62a are located at both ends of the rim 60 in the left-right direction. The inner peripheral portion of the rear tire 42 is arranged between the protrusion 61a and the protrusion 62a on the rim 60 in the left-right direction.

The rear wheel 41 is made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin in which a resin (for example, epoxy resin, vinyl ester, phenol resin, polyamide, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, etc.) is reinforced with carbon fibers. In this embodiment, the carbon fibers include a plurality of fiber sheets laminated in the thickness direction. The lamination direction of this fiber sheet (fiber) is the thickness direction of each wall that constitutes the rear wheel 41. The fiber sheet refers to a member formed into a sheet shape (flat shape) by, for example, knitting or compacting fibers.

In this embodiment, the hub 50, rim 60, and connecting portion 70 are made of carbon fiber resin. Further, the hub 50, the rim 60, and the connecting portion 70 are integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the rear tires 42 ride on a convex part M on the road surface when the vehicle 1 turns, a force is input to the rear tires 42 in an oblique direction ( arrow). When such a force is input to the rear tire 42, the force is input to either the left rim portion 61 or the right rim portion 62 of the rim 60 (solid line arrow in FIG. 5). In the example shown in FIG. 5, force is input to the right rim portion 62. In this case, the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 connected to the right rim portion 62 is deformed so as to fall to the right.

That is, when a force is input to the rear tire 42 in an oblique direction, the force is input to one of the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 of the rim 60 . As a result, one of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 is deformed in the direction in which the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 are separated.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the rear wheel 41 is provided between the left side 41a and the right side 41b, and the left side 41a and the right side 41b are separated from each other in the radial direction. It has a radially outer connecting portion 81 and a radially inner connecting portion 82 that connect the two. Therefore, the left side part 41a and the right side part 41b are connected in the axial direction of the rotation axis R at two points in the radial direction.

The radially outer connecting portion 81 connects the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62. That is, the radially outer connecting portion 81 is constituted by the right end portion of the left rim portion 61 and the left end portion of the right rim portion 62 in the rim 60 . The radially outer connecting portion 81 is located in a portion of the rim 60 that is recessed inward in the radial direction.

The radially inner connecting portion 82 connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. Specifically, the radially inner connecting portion 82 is provided outward from the center of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41. In this embodiment, the radially inner connecting portion 82 connects the rim side connecting walls 71a and 72a. Specifically, the radially inner connecting portion 82 is the connecting portion between the rim-side connecting walls 71a, 72a and the hub-side connecting walls 71b, 72b in the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. Concatenate. Further, the radially inner connecting portion 82 is obtained by dividing the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 into three equal parts, respectively, in the radial direction into a hub side portion, a center portion, and a rim side portion. and is provided on the rim side portion.

This can prevent the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 from deforming in the direction of separation. Therefore, the strength of the rear wheel 41 can be improved.

By providing a radially outer connecting portion 81 and a radially inner connecting portion 82 between the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, the radially outer connecting portion 81 A partitioned space P is formed between the radially inner connecting portion 82 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 . That is, the partitioned space P is formed by the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, the radially outer connecting portion 81, and the radially inner connecting portion 82.

Therefore, the rear wheel 41 has a partitioned space P at the connection portion between the rim 60 and the connecting portion 70. Note that the partitioned space P may be formed in an annular shape around the entire circumferential direction inside the rim 60 of the rear wheel 41 in the radial direction, or may be formed only in a part of the circumferential direction. .

In the case of this embodiment, in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41, the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 The left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 are parallel to each other.

As described above, by connecting the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 by the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82, the diameter of the rear wheel 41 is reduced. In the cross section in the direction, the section modulus can be increased. Therefore, the strength of the rear wheel 41 can be improved.

In the radial direction of the rear wheel 41, the interval between the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 is the same as the distance between the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 in the axial direction of the rotation axis R. It is larger than the interval between the portions of the wall 72 that form the partitioned space P (the length of the radially inner connecting portion 82 in the axial direction). Therefore, the radial dimension of the partitioned space P is larger than the left-right dimension. Thereby, the strength of the portion forming the partitioned space P in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41 can be improved. Therefore, the strength of the rear wheel 41 in the radial direction can be improved.

The effect of improving the strength of the rear wheel 41 by the above-mentioned radially outer connecting portion 81 and radially inner connecting portion 82 will be described below.

FIG. 6 shows an example of deformation when a force is input to the rear wheel 41 in an oblique direction. In addition to the modification in which the rear wheel (a) has the configuration of this embodiment, FIG. 6 shows, as a comparative example, modification in which the rear wheel has the configurations shown in (b) to (e). FIG. 6 shows the deformation of each configuration of the rear wheel when a force is input from an oblique direction (in the direction of the solid arrow in FIG. 5), as in FIG. 5, so that force is input to the right rim portion 62. show.

Note that FIG. 6(b) shows the rear wheel when the radially inner connecting portion 82 is provided at the center portion of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 in the radial direction of the rear wheel. Showing the deformation of the wheel. FIG. 6(c) shows a modification of the rear wheel when the rear wheel is not provided with the radially inner connecting portion 82. FIG. 6(d) shows a deformation of the rear wheel when the rear wheel is not provided with the radially outer connecting portion 81. FIG. 6(e) shows a modification of the rear wheel when the rear wheel is not provided with the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82. In each figure, the reference numeral 90 is a valve to be described later.

As shown in FIG. 6, in a rear wheel (FIGS. 6(c) to (e)) in which at least one of the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 is not provided, the radially outer connecting portion 81 Compared to the rear wheel (FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b)) in which both the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 are provided, The amount of deformation in at least one of the left and right directions is large.

In addition, in the case of the rear wheels in which the radially outer connecting portion 81 is not provided (FIGS. 6(d) and (e)), the rear wheel in which the radially outer connecting portion 81 is provided (as shown in FIG. 6(a)) Compared to (c)), the amount of deformation in the left-right direction of the right rim portion 62 side portion of the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 is large. Further, in the case of rear wheels in which the radially inner connecting portion 82 is not provided (FIGS. 6(c) and 6(e)), the rear wheels in which the radially inner connecting portion 82 is provided (in FIG. 6(a), Compared to (b) and (d)), the amount of deformation in the left-right direction of the radial center portion of the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 is large.

Therefore, in the rear wheel provided with the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82, deformation of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 can be suppressed. Therefore, by providing the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82, the strength of the connecting portion 70 of the rear wheel 41 can be improved.

In addition, when the radially inner connecting portion 82 is provided at the center portion of the rear wheel in the radial direction of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 (FIG. 6(b)), , compared to the configuration of the present embodiment (FIG. 6(a)), the amount of deformation in the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 that constitute the divided space P is large. In other words, as in the configuration of the present embodiment, the radially inner connecting portion 82 is located closer to the center of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41. By providing it at a position close to the rim 60, deformation of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 can be further suppressed. Therefore, the strength of the rear wheel 41 can be further improved.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the radially outer connecting portion 81 is provided with a ventilation hole 81 a that radially penetrates the radially outer connecting portion 81 . The ventilation hole 81a connects the annular space S and the partitioned space P. This vent hole 81a is smaller than a valve attachment hole 71c, which will be described later, to which a valve 90 is attached. The ventilation hole 81a is provided at the center portion of the rim 60 in the left-right direction when the rim 60 is viewed in cross section in the radial direction.

In this embodiment, a valve mounting hole 71c that penetrates the left fiber-reinforced resin connection wall 71 in the left-right direction is provided in a portion of the left fiber-reinforced resin connection wall 71 that partitions the partitioned space P. The valve attachment hole 71c connects the partitioned space P and the outside. A valve 90 is attached to the valve attachment hole 71c.

Specifically, the valve 90 includes a valve body 91 and a collar 92. The valve body 91 is attached to the periphery of the valve attachment hole 71c via the collar 92. The collar 92 is made of a metal material such as an aluminum alloy, and is fixed to the peripheral edge of the valve mounting hole 71c with an adhesive or the like. A valve body 91 is attached to the collar 92 . That is, the collar 92 functions as an attachment member for attaching the valve body 91 to the peripheral edge of the valve attachment hole 71c in the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71.

As described above, by providing the valve mounting hole 71c for mounting the valve 90 separately from the ventilation hole 81a that connects the annular space S and the partitioned space P between the rear tire 42 and the rim 60, the rear It is possible to prevent the strength of the wheel 41 from decreasing. That is, with the above-described configuration, it is not necessary to make the ventilation hole 81a provided in the radially outer connecting portion 81 that constitutes a part of the rim 60 to a size that allows the valve 90 to be attached. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the shape, size, position, number, etc. of the vent hole and the valve mounting hole can be improved, and a decrease in the strength of the rim 60 can be prevented. Therefore, the strength of the rear wheel 41 can be prevented from decreasing.

As described above, in this embodiment, the connecting part 70 that connects the rim 60 and the hub 50 in the radial direction connects the left rim part 61 and the hub 50 in the radial direction, and the resin is reinforced with carbon fibers. A left fiber-reinforced resin connection wall 71 made of resin, and a right fiber-reinforced resin that connects the right rim portion 62 and hub 50 in the radial direction, and the resin is made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin reinforced with carbon fibers. and a connecting wall 72. When the left rim portion 61 and the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 are the left side 41a, and the right rim portion 62 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 are the right side 41b, the left side 41a and the right side 41b A radially outer connecting portion 81 and a radially inner connecting portion 82 that extend in the left-right direction and connect the left side portion 41a and the right side portion 41b are provided at positions separated from each other in the radial direction.

Thereby, when force is input to the rear wheel 4 in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion 70 of the rear wheel 41 can be suppressed. That is, when a force is input to the rear wheel 4 in an oblique direction when the vehicle 1 turns, etc., the connecting portion 70 of the rear wheel 41 receives the force input to the rim 60 in the left-right direction of the vehicle 1. Fall in the direction. In this case, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 in the connecting portion 70 are deformed so as to be separated in the left-right direction. On the other hand, as in the above configuration, the left side portion 41a including the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right side portion 41b including the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 are connected to a radially outer connecting portion extending in the left-right direction. 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82, the above-described deformation can be suppressed.

Moreover, in the connecting portion 70, by making the left and right connecting walls made of fiber-reinforced resin, the weight of the rear wheel 41 can be reduced.

Therefore, it is possible to realize a structure in which the rear wheel 41 can be made lighter while ensuring strength.

Further, the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 are provided between the left side portion 41a and the right side portion 41b at a position closer to the rim 60 than the hub 50 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41. There is. Specifically, the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 are located between the left side portion 41a and the right side portion 41b from an intermediate position between the hub 50 and the rim 60 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41. is also provided at a position close to the rim 60.

As a result, when a force is input to the rear wheel 4 in an oblique direction, the deformation of the connecting portion 70 of the rear wheel 41 is more reliably prevented by the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82. It can be suppressed.

Further, the radially outer connecting portion 81 connects the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 in the left-right direction, and the radially inner connecting portion 82 connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71. The wall 72 is connected in the left-right direction.

This prevents the connecting portion 70 from being deformed so that the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 are separated in the left-right direction when a force is input to the rear wheel 4 in an oblique direction. This can be suppressed by the connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the rear wheel 141 according to the second embodiment. The rear wheel 141 in the second embodiment differs in the configuration of the radially inner connecting portion 182 from the configuration of the first embodiment, and also includes a cylindrical reinforcing connecting portion 183 (reinforcing connecting portion) having an elliptical cross section in the partitioned space P. have Therefore, in the following, the same components as those in Embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

In addition, in FIG. 7, descriptions of a valve, a ventilation hole connecting the annular space S and the partitioned space P, etc. are omitted. Although not shown, a valve is provided on the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 of the connecting portion 70 to connect the partitioned space P with the outside, as in the first embodiment, and a vent hole is provided in the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 of the connecting portion 70 to connect the partitioned space P with the outside. 1, it is provided in the radially outer connecting portion 81 so as to connect the annular space S and the partitioned space P. Further, in FIG. 7, illustration of tires is also omitted. The omission of illustrations in FIG. 7 also applies to the illustrations in each of the following embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 7, between the left side 41a and the right side 41b of the rear wheel 141, a radially outer connecting part 81 and a radially inner connecting part 182 connect the left side 41a and the right side 41b. It is set up to do so.

The radially inner connecting portion 182 connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. The radially inner connecting portion 182 is provided in the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 at a position closer to the rim 60 than to the hub (not shown) in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41. There is. The radially inner connecting portion 182 has a semicircular cross section with a portion located between the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 protruding radially outward. The radially inner connecting portion 182 has a straight cross section or a half cross section in which a portion located between the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 protrudes radially inward. It may have any shape, such as a circular shape, as long as it can connect the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72.

A partitioned space P is formed in the connecting portion 70 by the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 182, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72.

Inside the partitioned space P, a rear wheel 141 is installed so as to be in contact with the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 182, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. A cylindrical reinforcing connecting portion 183 having an elliptical cross section when viewed in a radial cross section is provided. The cylindrical reinforcing connecting portion 183 is located between the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 182 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 141, and connects the left side portion 41a and the right side portion 41b. Note that the cylindrical reinforcing connecting portion 183 may have a cross-sectional shape that includes a straight portion when viewed from the above-mentioned cross section, or may have a cross-sectional shape other than an ellipse, such as a perfect circle shape.

The left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, the left rim portion 61, the right rim portion 62, the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 182, and the cylindrical reinforced connecting portion 183 are integrated. It is formed of.

The rear wheel 141 of this embodiment is also made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin in which a resin (for example, epoxy resin, vinyl ester, phenol resin, polyamide, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, etc.) is reinforced with carbon fibers. Also in this embodiment, the carbon fibers include a plurality of fiber sheets laminated in the thickness direction. The lamination direction of this fiber sheet (fiber) is the thickness direction of each wall that constitutes the rear wheel 141. The fiber sheet refers to a member formed into a sheet shape (flat shape) by, for example, knitting or compacting fibers.

With the configuration of this embodiment, the rigidity of the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 182, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, which constitute the partitioned space P, is This can be improved by the reinforced connection part 183. Therefore, when force is input to the rear wheel 141 in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion 70 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the rear wheel 141 can be made lighter while ensuring the strength of the rear wheel 141.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the rear wheel 241 according to the third embodiment. The rear wheel 241 in the third embodiment differs from the configuration in the second embodiment in that a rectangular cylinder reinforcing connection part 283 having an octagonal cross section is provided in the partitioned space P. Therefore, in the following, the same components as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 8, between the left side 41a and the right side 41b of the rear wheel 241, a radially outer connecting part 81 and a radially inner connecting part 282 connect the left side 41a and the right side 41b. It is set up to do so.

The radially inner connecting portion 282 connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. The radially inner connecting portion 282 is provided in the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 at a position closer to the rim 60 than to the hub (not shown) in the radial direction of the rear wheel 41. There is. The left end and right end of the radially inner connecting portion 282 are located radially inward of the rear wheel 241 than the center portion in the left-right direction. That is, the radially inner connecting portion 282 has a straight center portion extending in the left-right direction, and a left end portion and a right end portion extending inward in the radial direction of the rear wheel 241 in a curved manner.

The radially inner connecting portion 282 has a semicircular cross section in which the middle of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 protrudes outward in the radial direction, or the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 has a semicircular cross section that projects outward in the radial direction. The left fiber-reinforced resin connection wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connection wall 72 can be connected, such as by having a semicircular cross section in which the intermediate portion of the connection wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connection wall 72 protrudes radially inward. It may be any shape as long as it is.

A partitioned space P is formed in the connecting portion 70 by the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 282, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72.

Inside the partitioned space P, a rear wheel 241 is installed so as to be in contact with the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 282, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. A rectangular cylinder reinforcing connecting portion 283 (reinforcing connecting portion) having an octagonal cross section when viewed in a radial cross section is provided. The square cylinder reinforcing connecting portion 283 is located between the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 282 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 241, and connects the left side portion 41a and the right side portion 41b. Note that the rectangular cylinder reinforcing connecting portion 283 may have a polygonal shape other than an octagonal shape when viewed in the cross section.

The left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, the left rim portion 61, the right rim portion 62, the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 282, and the rectangular cylinder reinforced connecting portion 283, It is formed in one piece.

The rear wheel 241 of this embodiment is also made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin in which a resin (for example, epoxy resin, vinyl ester, phenol resin, polyamide, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, etc.) is reinforced with carbon fibers. Also in this embodiment, the carbon fibers include a plurality of fiber sheets laminated in the thickness direction. The direction in which the fiber sheets (fibers) are laminated is the thickness direction of each wall that constitutes the rear wheel 241. The fiber sheet refers to a member formed into a sheet shape (flat shape) by, for example, knitting or compacting fibers.

With the configuration of this embodiment, the rigidity of the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 282, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, which constitute the partitioned space P, is This can be improved by the cylinder reinforcement connection part 283. Therefore, when force is input to the rear wheel 241 in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion 70 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the rear wheel 241 can be made lighter while ensuring the strength of the rear wheel 241.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the rear wheel 341 according to the fourth embodiment. The rear wheel 341 according to the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the rear wheel 341 has a first reinforcing connecting portion 383 and a second reinforcing connecting portion 384 extending in the radial direction and the left-right direction of the rear wheel 341 in the divided space P. The configuration is different from that of Therefore, in the following, the same components as those in Embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 9, the rear wheel A first reinforcing connecting portion 383 and a second reinforcing connecting portion 384 (reinforcing connecting portion) are provided that extend in the radial direction and left-right direction of the wheel 341.

The first reinforcing connecting portion 383 connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 and the radially outer connecting portion 81 . The second reinforcing connecting portion 384 connects the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 with the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the radially outer connecting portion 81 . That is, the first reinforcing connecting portion 383 extends from the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 341 and in the right direction, and connects the left side portion 41a and the right side portion 41b. The second reinforcing connecting portion 384 extends from the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 in the radial direction and leftward direction of the rear wheel 341, and connects the right side portion 41b and the left side portion 41a. The first reinforcing connecting portion 383 and the second reinforcing connecting portion 384 are located between the radially outer connecting portion 81 and the radially inner connecting portion 82 in the radial direction of the rear wheel 341, and are located between the left side portion 41a and the right side portion 41b. Connect with.

The first reinforcing connecting portion 383 and the second reinforcing connecting portion 384 intersect when viewed in a cross section of the rear wheel 341 in the radial direction, and are connected at the intersection.

Left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, left rim portion 61, right rim portion 62, radially outer connecting portion 81, radially inner connecting portion 82, first reinforcing connecting portion 383, and The two reinforcing connecting portions 384 are integrally formed.

The rear wheel 341 of this embodiment is also made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin in which a resin (for example, epoxy resin, vinyl ester, phenol resin, polyamide, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, etc.) is reinforced with carbon fibers. Also in this embodiment, the carbon fibers include a plurality of fiber sheets laminated in the thickness direction. The lamination direction of this fiber sheet (fiber) is the thickness direction of each wall that constitutes the rear wheel 341. The fiber sheet refers to a member formed into a sheet shape (flat shape) by, for example, knitting or compacting fibers.

With the configuration of this embodiment, the rigidity of the radially outer connecting portion 81, the radially inner connecting portion 82, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, which constitute the partitioned space P, is This can be improved by the first reinforcing connecting portion 383 and the second reinforcing connecting portion 384. Therefore, when force is input to the rear wheel 341 in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion 70 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the rear wheel 341 can be made lighter while ensuring the strength of the rear wheel 341.

<Modified example>
10 and 11 show a modification of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a rear wheel 441 according to a modification of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a rear wheel 541 according to a modification of the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, a first reinforcing connecting portion 483 (reinforcing connecting portion) is provided to connect the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, the radially inner connecting portion 82, and the radially outer connecting portion 81. Good too. A second reinforcing connecting portion 484 (reinforcing connecting portion) may be provided to connect the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, the radially inner connecting portion 82, and the radially outer connecting portion 81.

As shown in FIG. 11, a first reinforcing connecting portion 583 (reinforcing connecting portion) is provided to connect the radially inner connecting portion 82, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the radially outer connecting portion 81. Good too. A second reinforcing connecting portion 584 (reinforcing connecting portion) may be provided to connect the radially inner connecting portion 82, the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, and the radially outer connecting portion 81.

[Embodiment 5]
FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a rear wheel 641 according to the fifth embodiment. The rear wheel 641 in Embodiment 5 differs from the configuration in Embodiment 1 in that it has a first radially inner connecting portion 682a and a second radially inner connecting portion 682b as radially inner connecting portions. Therefore, in the following, the same components as those in Embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 12, the rear wheel 641 has a first radially inner connecting portion 682a (first diagonal connecting portion) that connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. and a second radially inner connecting portion 682b (second diagonal connecting portion). The first radially inner connecting portion 682a and the second radially inner connecting portion 682b intersect when viewing the rear wheel 641 in a radial cross section, and are connected at the intersection.

The first radially inner connecting portion 682a extends from the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 in the radial direction and right direction of the rear wheel 641, and extends between the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. Connect with. The second radially inner connecting portion 682b extends from the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 in the radial direction and leftward direction of the rear wheel 641, and extends between the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 and the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71. Connect with.

A partitioned space P is formed by the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, the radially outer connecting portion 81, the first radially inner connecting portion 682a, and the second radially inner connecting portion 682b. Ru.

The rear wheel 641 of this embodiment is also made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin in which a resin (for example, epoxy resin, vinyl ester, phenol resin, polyamide, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, etc.) is reinforced with carbon fibers. Also in this embodiment, the carbon fibers include a plurality of fiber sheets laminated in the thickness direction. The lamination direction of this fiber sheet (fiber) is the thickness direction of each wall that constitutes the rear wheel 641. The fiber sheet refers to a member formed into a sheet shape (flat shape) by, for example, knitting or compacting fibers.

With the configuration of the present embodiment, the rigidity of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 is reduced by the radially outer connecting portion 81, the first radially inner connecting portion 682a, and the second radially inner connecting wall 72. This can be improved by the portion 682b. Therefore, when force is input to the rear wheel 641 in an oblique direction, deformation of the connecting portion 70 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the rear wheel 641 can be made lighter while ensuring the strength of the rear wheel 641.

<Modified example>
13 and 14 show a modification of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a rear wheel 741 according to a modification of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a rear wheel 841 according to a modification of the fifth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first radially inner connecting portion 782a may be provided to connect the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, and the radially outer connecting portion 81. good. The second radially inner connecting portion 782b may be provided to connect the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72, the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71, and the radially outer connecting portion 81.

As shown in FIG. 14, a first radially inner connecting portion 882a may be provided to connect the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the radially outer connecting portion 81. The second radially inner connecting portion 882b may be provided to connect the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72 and the radially outer connecting portion 81. In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 14, the first radially inner connecting portion 882a and the second radially inner connecting portion 882b are located at the same position in the left-right direction with respect to the radially outer connecting portion 81 (in the example in FIG. 14, in the left-right direction (center part).

(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments described above are merely examples for implementing the present invention. Therefore, without being limited to the embodiments described above, the embodiments described above can be modified and implemented as appropriate without departing from the spirit thereof.

In each of the embodiments described above, the radially outer connecting portion 81 connects the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62. However, if the radially outer connecting portion 81 is located radially outward than the radially inner connecting portion 82, it will not connect the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. You can.

In each of the embodiments, the radially inner connecting portion 82 connects the rim-side connecting wall 71a of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the rim-side connecting wall 72a of the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72. However, the radially inner connecting portion 82 may connect the hub-side connecting wall 71b of the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 71 and the hub-side connecting wall 72b of the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72.

In each of the above embodiments, a case has been described in which the rear wheel 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841 is applied. The configuration may be applied to the front wheel.

In each of the embodiments described above, the rear wheels 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841 are so-called dish wheels in which the connecting portion 70 is disc-shaped. However, the connecting portion of the rear wheel may have an opening or the like as long as it is disc-shaped.

In each of the embodiments described above, in the rear wheels 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841, the left rim portion 61 and the right rim portion 62 have a symmetrical shape. However, the left rim portion and the right rim portion may be asymmetrical. For example, the rear wheel may have a configuration in which the connecting portion is connected to the left or right of the center of the rim in the left-right direction when viewed in a radial cross section.

In each of the embodiments described above, one ventilation hole 81a is provided in the rear wheel 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841. However, a plurality of ventilation holes may be provided in the rear wheel. Moreover, the size and shape of the ventilation hole may be any size and shape. Note that a plurality of valves may be attached to the rear wheel.

In each of the above embodiments, the rear wheels 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841 are made of carbon fiber reinforced resin reinforced with carbon fibers. However, the rear wheel may be made of a fiber-reinforced resin reinforced with fibers other than carbon fibers (for example, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, glass fibers, etc.). Further, in each of the above embodiments, the rear wheels 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841 are made of resin such as epoxy resin, vinyl ester, phenol resin, polyamide, polypropylene, and polyphenylene sulfide. has been done. The resin may be any other type of resin as long as it can be reinforced with fibers.

In addition, if the connecting portion 70 of the rear wheels 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841 is made of fiber-reinforced resin, other parts such as the hub, the rim, and the radially outer The connecting portion, the radially inner connecting portion, the first radially inner connecting portion, the second radially inner connecting portion, the cylindrical reinforcing connecting portion, the rectangular cylindrical reinforcing connecting portion, the first reinforcing connecting portion, and the second reinforcing connecting portion, for example. It may be made of metal material, resin, or the like.

For example, the rim and the radially outer connecting portion may be made of fiber-reinforced resin, and the radially inner connecting portion may be made of metal.

Furthermore, the rim, the radially outer connecting portion, and the radially inner connecting portion may be made of metal.

Further, the rim may be made of metal, and the radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion may be made of fiber reinforced resin.

Further, the rim and the radially outer connecting portion may be made of metal, and the radially inner connecting portion may be made of fiber reinforced resin.

Further, the rim and the radially inner connecting portion may be made of metal, and the radially outer connecting portion may be made of fiber reinforced resin.

Further, the rim may be made of fiber-reinforced resin, and the radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion may be made of metal.

Furthermore, the rim and the radially inner connecting portion may be made of fiber-reinforced resin, and the radially outer connecting portion may be made of metal.

In each of the above embodiments, the carbon fibers used in the carbon fiber reinforced resin may be woven or not woven. That is, carbon fibers do not need to be fiber sheets. Further, in each of the embodiments described above, a plurality of carbon fiber sheets are laminated, but the invention is not limited to this, and only one fiber sheet may be used. In this case, the lamination direction in each of the above embodiments corresponds to the thickness direction of the member made of carbon fiber reinforced resin. Further, the carbon fibers may be continuous fibers having a predetermined length (for example, 1 mm) or more, or may be discontinuous fibers.

In each of the above embodiments, a plurality of fiber sheets used for the carbon fiber reinforced resin are laminated in the thickness direction and bonded together by resin. However, the carbon fiber reinforced resin may be made of a composite material in which a carbon fiber reinforced resin layer reinforced by a fiber sheet and a foamed resin layer containing a foamed synthetic resin are laminated in the thickness direction. This composite material has a pair of carbon fiber reinforced resin layers, and the foamed resin layer is arranged between the carbon fiber reinforced resin layers. By using the composite material, the weight of each member containing the carbon fiber reinforced resin can be reduced, and the thickness of each member can be easily changed, compared to the case where only a carbon fiber reinforced resin layer is used. Note that a resin capable of absorbing vibrations may be used as the foamed synthetic resin of the foamed resin layer.

In each of the embodiments described above, the rear wheels 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841 are integrally formed. However, the rear wheel may be constructed by connecting a plurality of members with adhesive, bolts, or the like.

In each of the embodiments described above, the partitioned space P is a cavity. However, the partitioned space P may be filled with a foam material, a resin material, or the like.

In each of the embodiments described above, the valve 90 includes a valve body 91 and a collar 92. However, the valve may have a rubber part that can be attached to the valve mounting hole. In this case, the bulb may not have a collar. In each of the above embodiments, the valve may have any configuration as long as it can supply air to the annular space between the rear tire and the rim.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the radial dimension of the partitioned space P is larger than the left-right dimension. However, the radial dimension of the partitioned space may be the same as the left-right dimension, or the left-right dimension may be larger than the radial dimension.

1 Vehicle 2 Body 3 Front wheel 4 Rear wheel 31 Front wheel 32 Front tire 41, 141, 241, 341, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841 Rear wheel (fiber reinforced resin wheel)
41a Left side 41b Right side 42 Rear tire (tire)
43 Rear wheel brake disc 44 Rear wheel caliper 50 Hub 51 Left hub portion 52 Right hub portion 60 Rim 61 Left rim portion 61a Projection portion 62 Right rim portion 62a Projection portion 70 Connection portion 71 Left fiber reinforced resin connection wall 71a Rim side connection Wall 71b Hub side connecting wall 71c Valve mounting hole 72 Right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall 72a Rim side connecting wall 72b Hub side connecting wall 81 Radial outer connecting portion 82, 182, 282 Radial inner connecting portion 90 Valve 91 Valve body 92 Collar 183 Cylindrical reinforcement part (reinforcement connection part)
283 Square tube reinforcement part (reinforcement connection part)
383, 483, 583 First reinforcement connection part (reinforcement connection part)
384, 484, 584 Second reinforcement connection part (reinforcement connection part)
682a First radially inner connecting portion (first diagonal connecting portion)
682b Second radially inner connecting portion (second diagonal connecting portion)
782a First radially inner connecting portion (first diagonal connecting portion)
782b Second radially inner connecting portion (second diagonal connecting portion)
882a First radially inner connecting portion (first diagonal connecting portion)
882b Second radial inner connecting portion (second diagonal connecting portion)
S Annular space P Partitioned space

Claims (7)

An annular rim and
A hub located at the center of rotation,
A fiber-reinforced resin wheel comprising: a connecting portion connecting the rim and the hub in a radial direction;
The rim is
In the radial section,
a left rim portion located to the left of the center in the left-right direction;
a right rim portion located to the right of the center in the left-right direction;
has
The connecting portion is
In the cross section,
a left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall that connects the left rim portion of the rim and the hub in the radial direction and includes a fiber-reinforced resin in which the resin is reinforced with fibers;
a right fiber-reinforced resin connection wall that radially connects the right rim portion of the rim and the hub, and includes a fiber-reinforced resin reinforced with fibers;
has
The left rim portion protrudes to the left beyond a connecting portion with the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall,
The right rim portion protrudes to the right beyond a connecting portion with the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall,
When the left rim part and the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall are the left side, and the right rim part and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall are the right side,
The left side and the right side are spaced apart from each other in the radial direction so that a partitioned space extending in the circumferential direction of the fiber-reinforced resin wheel is formed between the left side and the right side in the left-right direction and the circumferential direction. A fiber-reinforced resin wheel including at least a radially outer connecting portion and a radially inner connecting portion that extend to connect the left side and the right side. The fiber reinforced resin wheel according to claim 1,
The radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion are made of fiber-reinforced resin and are provided between the left side and the right side at a position closer to the rim than the hub in the radial direction. wheel. The fiber reinforced resin wheel according to claim 1,
The radially outer connecting portion and the radially inner connecting portion are provided between the left side portion and the right side portion at a position closer to the rim than an intermediate position between the hub and the rim in the radial direction. Wheels made of fiber-reinforced resin. The fiber reinforced resin wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The radially outer connecting portion connects the left rim portion and the right rim portion in the left-right direction,
The radially inner connecting portion is a fiber-reinforced resin wheel that connects the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall and the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall in the left-right direction. The fiber reinforced resin wheel according to claim 4,
The radially inner connecting portion includes at least:
a first diagonal connecting portion extending from the left fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall in the right direction and in the radial direction;
a second diagonal connecting portion extending from the right fiber-reinforced resin connecting wall in the left direction and in the radial direction;
Fiber-reinforced resin wheels. The fiber reinforced resin wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A wheel made of fiber-reinforced resin, further comprising a reinforcing connecting part that connects the left side part and the right side part, between the radially outer connecting part and the radially inner connecting part in the radial direction. A vehicle comprising the fiber-reinforced resin wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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