MXPA00012584A - Wheel support assembly and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of making a wheel support assembly adapted to bolt to an axle of a vehicle for supporting a tire is disclosed herein along with the assembly itself. In accordance with this method, an outer annular rim (12) having an outer annular surface configured to support a tire is provided along with at least one integral piece of sheet metal. The sheet metal is stamp formed into a plurality of spoke arrangements (28), each of which includes (i) at least two elongated spokes respectively including inner ends and outer ends and (ii) a cross-bar connecting together the inner ends of the spokes and configured to bolt to the axle for connecting the inner ends of said spokes to the axle, whereby to serve as part of a hub of the wheel support assembly. The outer ends of the spokes areconnected to the rim (12). In one embodiment disclosed herein, each spoke arrangement is formed from its own separate and distinct piece of sheet metal. In a second embodiment, all of the spoke arrangements are stamp formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

Description

ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR WHEEL SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to wheel mounting assemblies for automotive tires, and more particularly to a specifically designed wheel mounting assembly and to its manufacturing method. In the North American Patent Application, co-pending from Braunschweiler Serial No. 09 / 053,439, filed on April 1, 1998, a mounting or wheel support structure having a number of benefits, as recited or described in such document, is described. . It is believed that the present mounting for wheel support is in many aspects an improvement to the assembly described in this copending application, of which the second is incorporated herein for reference purposes. In particular, while the less recent assembly has certain economic and / or structural advantages over wheel mounting assemblies of the prior art, the present design for wheel mounting has the same advantages, and Ref. No.: 126032 , it is believed that the present design is easier and cheaper to manufacture than the less recent design, as will be seen here below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, a wheel support assembly designed in accordance with the present invention and a method for manufacturing the wheel support assembly, also in accordance with the present invention, are described. The wheel mount is adapted to be secured with bolts to a vehicle axle to support a rim. According to this manufacturing method, an outer annular ring having an outer annular surface configured to support a rim is provided, along with at least one piece of metal foil. The hoop is manufactured in any suitable way. The metal sheet is formed by punching, cutting, folding and / or bending (hereinafter "formed by die") in a plurality of beam arrangements, each of which includes (i) at least two elongated rays. respectively they include internal ends and external ends (ii), and a cross bar that connects together the inner ends of the spokes and is configured to be bolted to the end of an axle, to connect the internal ends of said spokes to the axle, which It serves as part of a wheel hub or mounting center for wheel support. The outer ends of the rays are connected to the ring. In a modality described here, each ray array is formed from its own separate and separate sheet metal piece. In a second mode, all beam arrangements are formed by die-cutting from a single piece of sheet metal. Other features of the mounting for support wheels wheels by itself, and its manufacturing method will be described in more detail here below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various aspects of the present invention, as described in summarized form above, will be described in greater detail here below along with the drawings, in which: The figures illustrate, in the form of diagrams, a mounting or structure for wheel support described in the co-pending patent application of Braunschweiler, mentioned above; Figure 2 illustrates in a perspective view, in diagram form, a mounting or structure for wheel support designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2a is a plan view, in diagram form, of a component of the assembly of Figure 2, specifically a component for connecting together an order of ray arrangements; Figure 3 is a perspective view, in diagram form, of one of a number of spoke arrangements forming part of a wheel assembly illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates in a perspective view, in the form of a diagram, a mounting or structure for wheel support designed according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view, in diagram form, of an integral beam arrangement forming part of the wheel assembly illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a current wheel assembly, corresponding to the wheel assembly illustrated in diagram form in Figure 2, and shown fixed with bolts to the axle of a car and supporting a rim; and Figure 7 is a block diagram or flow chart illustrating a method for making either the wheel assemblies of Figure 2 or 4 according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Returning to the drawings, where similar components are designated with similar reference numbers throughout the various figures, first attention is given to Figure 1, which, as stated above, illustrates a structure or assembly for wheel 10. described in the co-pending patent application of Braunschweiler, and shown in the figures in said application. For a detailed discussion of this assembly and its attributes, reference is made to the copending application which, as stated above, is incorporated herein for reference purposes. However, for the convenience of the reader, wheel assembly 10 (which is listed differently here than in the copending application) will be discussed briefly below. As best shown in Figures 1 and 1, wheel assembly 10 includes a ring 12 having inner and outer circumferential surfaces, a plurality of spoke arrangements 14 and a clamping mechanism 16a or 16b or 16c for each beam array. As will be discussed below, each beam array is disposed within the ring 12 and is welded or fixedly attached, otherwise, appropriately, this at its radially outer end to the inner circumferential surface of the ring 12, which is configured to support the rim of a vehicle on its external surface. The radially internal end of each spoke arrangement is designed to be bolted to the hub end 18 of the axle wheel 20 (see figure lb) of a vehicle (not shown), with the aid of a mechanism cooperating clamp 16a or 16b or 16c. The radially inner ends of the ray arrangements, and their cooperating clamping mechanism together serve as a wheel hub or center for the full wheel assembly 10. As best seen in Figure 1, each beam arrangement includes two spokes 22a and 22b which are joined at their radially outer ends, by a transverse bar 23 which is fixedly connected, for example by welding to the ring 12. The radially internal ends of the two spokes are free to receive a cooperative holding mechanism 16a or 16b or 16c, as best illustrated in Figures Id and le. Each fastening mechanism is fastened by bolts to an end 18 which is connected to the hub of the wheel, such that no beam of any of the arrangements extends along a radius of the ring 12. Rather, each pair of rays makes a ray arrangement, which is on both sides, that is, it extends in parallel towards and on opposite sides of, a given radius of the ring, which means that it is also on both parts of the rotation ee of the hoop. Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, attention is paid to a mounting or structure 24 for wheel support that is designed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. In many ways, this particular assembly is similar to the assembly 10. For example, as can be seen in Figure 2, the wheel assembly 24 includes a collar 26 having internal and external circumferential surfaces as well as a plurality of spoke arrangements. 28. Unlike the wheel assembly 10, the assembly 24 does not include fastening mechanisms corresponding to the clamping mechanism 16a or 16b or 16c for each of the ray arrangements. As will be discussed below, each array 28 of spokes is disposed within the collar 26 and is welded or fixedly attached, otherwise, appropriately, in the manner to be described, at its radially outer end to the inner circumferential surface of the ring 26 which, like the ring 12, is configured to support the rim of a vehicle on its external surface The radially inner end of each beam arrangement is also designed to be bolted to the connection end 18 wheel hub or center of axle 20 (see figure lb) of a vehicle (not shown), but without the aid of individual fastening mechanisms 16a or 16b or 16c., as will be seen, the radially internal ends of each array of spokes, is specifically configured in accordance with the present invention to bolt directly to the connecting end 18 of the wheel hub or center of the axle 20, either alone or with a common connector 30 shared by all ray arrangements, as shown in figure 2 and as seen separately in figure 2a. As best seen in Figure 3, each ray arrangement 28 is in an integrally formed unit that includes two spokes 32a and 32b, joined together at their radially internal ends, by a transverse bar 34 containing a hole 36 receiving through him a bolt. The radially outer ends of the two spokes join the flanges 38a and 38b, which are bent laterally outwards from the rays to match the curvature of the ring. Back to figure 2 together with the figure1, note that each array of spokes is configured so that its outwardly bent tabs 38a and 38b, serve as bottom rests or anchors against the inner circumferential surface of the collar 26 to which the tabs are fixedly connected, preferably by means of welding as generally indicated by the reference numeral 40. At the same time, the transverse bar 34 extends laterally through the spokes 32a and 32b so that a resting surface is present against the connecting end. 18 of the axis 20, in such a way that the hole passing through it is in alignment with a threaded stud or a bolt hole (to receive the arrow of a cooperation bolt, not shown), which is part of the end 18 of Connection. In this way, all beam arrangements 28, five in all the modes shown, can be bolted directly to one connection end 18 of axis 20. In this last aspect, while several arrangements can be bolted in place without components Additional elements forming part of the complete wheel mounting assembly, the latter may include a separate common connector 30 which is best shown in Figure 2a, as stated above. As can be seen there, the star-shaped connector 30 includes an arm 40 for each ray array, each arm includes a hole through it 42. As can be seen in figure 2, the connector 30 is positioned against the transverse bars 34 of the various ray arrays 28, such that the through holes 42 aligned with the holes 36 and are fixedly attached to the ray arrangements in this position, preferably by means of welding, as indicated with the reference number 44. In this way, the star-shaped connector serves to interconnect all the ray arrangements together and, at the same time, accommodates the arrows of the pins of the connecting end 18 of the axis 20. With the arrangements 28 of beams fixedly connected to the ring 26 in the manner discussed above and shown in Figure 2, with or without the use of the star-shaped connector 30, certain things should be noted. First, it should be noted that each ray 32a and 32b which causes each ray array to have a length L that is preferably larger than its width, which is larger than its amplitude W, while its depth D is always substantially more deep that the broad of the ray. In a real mode, each beam is 127 mm (5 inches) long, 7.62 mm (0.3 inches) wide, and 39.38 mm (1.55 inches) deep. Second, it should be noted that the spokes 32a, 32b of each pair extend inward from the ring 26 on either side but not along a radius of the ring 26. Rather, they are on both sides of a common radius , preferably in an approximately parallel relationship with the second and, at the same time, they share the axis of rotation of the ring. This is important for the following reasons. The rays displaced from a radial line carry the torque loads of the wheel as tensile stress. This is beneficial because the rays are very strong in tension. If the rays are located in a radius, the loads of torque could be carried as effort of curvature on the rays. The spokes are very weak in curvature in the circumferential direction (wheel torque). According to an important aspect of the present invention, each beam array 28 is integrally formed of a metal sheet using a conventional sheet metal die process. This is also true for the star-shaped connector 30. Thus, as illustrated by a flow chart in Figure 7, the metal sheet of the appropriate size is provided, as indicated by step 46. Metal sheet means any metal that is structurally suitable for the stated purpose, as part of the mounting for wheel support, and that can be quickly formed into the desired shape by means of a conventional metal foil stamping process. What is meant by conventional metal foil stamping process is the use of suitable equipment to cut, punch, bend and / or bend the metal sheet to the desired shape, depending on which operations or combinations thereof are appropriate for the desired shape. Once the metal sheet is provided, it is formed to the desired configuration or shape using the conventional equipment mentioned above, as indicated in steps 48 and 49. In this regard, note that the particular array 28 of rays, illustrated in FIG. Figure 3 is initially formed of a metal sheet having a thickness equal to the width W of the spokes 32a and 32b. What is completely flat at the beginning, it must be cut or punched out of the metal sheet in a generally U-shaped, generally flat, pattern. The legs of this U-shaped model will serve as much as the spokes and their lashes and the connecting section of the U-shape will serve as the crossbar. For this purpose, the connecting section is punched away from the legs and the second ones are bent around, in such a way that the depth D of the rays extends normal to the face of the connecting section which is now in position to operate as the transverse bar 34. Subsequently, the legs of the U-shape are bent outwards to produce the flanges 38a and 38b, as distinguished from the spokes 32a and 32b. At some appropriate point in this operation, the hole 36 is provided by either a drilling or drilling operation.

In the case of the star-shaped connector 30, the particular shape shown requires less complicated punching, cutting, bending and / or boring and bending operations than each ray array.

However, this can be made from the same piece of sheet metal as the beam arrangement just described, and, in fact, if the piece of sheet metal provided is large enough, all ray arrangements can be made from it piece. On the other hand, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular piece of metal foil used, nor is it limited to the particular shape of either the lightning arrangement or the connector shown in Figures 2, 2 and 3. You must further understand that the operations of punching, cutting, bending, bending and drilling can be carried out in any suitable combination and order, depending on the last configuration or desired shape.

Once the ray arrangements 28 and the star-shaped connector 30 are formed in accordance with steps 48 and 50, they are soldered or fixedly connected in another manner (assuming the connector 30 is used) and are soldered or they are otherwise fixedly connected to the ring 26, according to step 52, in the complete method of manufacturing the mounting 24 for wheel support.

Having discussed assembly 24 for wheel support and its method of manufacture, attention is now given to Figures 4 and 5, and to a discussion of a mounting for support of a wheel designed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This mounting for wheel support, generally indicated as 54 in Figure 4, like assembly 24 includes a ring 56 and a plurality, specifically five, arrays of spokes 58 arranged within ring 56 in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 , that is, in the same way as the assembly 24. The ring 56 can be identical to the ring 26. The ray arrangements, unlike the ray arrays 28, are formed integrally as a single unit 60 of the metal sheet, although this single unit is formed in the same way as the individual arrays 28 of rays, ie, in the manner described above with respect to Figure 7. This formation process will be discussed here below.

As stated above, unit 60 is integrally comprised of five ray arrangements 58. Each array 58 is similar in many aspects to the array of beams 28 previously described. That is, each array 58 includes two spokes 62a and 62b having internal ends joined together, by a transverse bar 63 having a hole 65 corresponding to the previously described hole 36. In the case of the unit 60, all five transverse bars 63 integrally form part of the unit 60 and serve as a wheel hub or center for mounting for complete wheel support. This wheel hub or center is designed to bolt to the connecting end 18 of the shaft 20, using the holes 65 in the same manner as in the assembly 24. The outer ends of each pair of spokes 62a and 62b are joined by means of a cross bar or flange 64 which, like the flanges 38a and 38b, serves as a lower or lower resting part against the inner circumferential surface 'of the ring 56, and is otherwise properly welded or fixed with the ring.

Refer specifically to Figure 5, it should be noted that each ray 62a and 62b includes the same ratio of length L, width W and depth D as rays 32a and 32b. That is, each ray 62a and 62b is, in the illustrated embodiment, substantially longer than its width and substantially deeper than it is wide. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the same piece of metal sheet used to make the ray arrangements of the assembly 24, which is the metal sheet having a thickness W, is used to make the integral unit or central wheel hub 60. In addition, it should be noted that each pair of spokes 62a, 62b has in both parts a ring radius 54, and that the axis of rotation of the ring is in the same way as the pairs of rays 32a, 32b. Referring to Figure 7 together with Figure 5, it should be noted that the integral unit 60 is processed in the same way as each of the spoke arrangements 28 previously described. Thus, the unit 60 starts as a single piece of metal sheet that is cut into a star-shaped model, which may or may not have a central hole. This model is then punched / cut / folded / curved to form the hub of the center wheel of the crossbars 63, the individual spokes 62a and 62b and the external crossbars or flanges 64.

In addition, sometimes in this process the holes 65 are punctured or drilled. In both mounting cases for wheel support 24 and 54, five ray arrangements were used. This is because five bolt connections are often made to a standard automotive axle. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to five such arrangements. In the same way, the present invention is not limited to pairs of rays or rays that are substantially longer than wide. However, as in the case of mounting for tire support, described in the co-pending Braunschweiler patent application, there are distinct structural advantages in having pairs of spokes in the described shared relationship, and having rays that are substantially deeper than wide Referring now to Figure 6, a real prototype 24 'of assembly 24, s * e shows mounted to a car and supporting an automotive rim. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method to implement the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the manufacture of the objects to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS 1. A wheel support assembly, adapted to be bolted to a vehicle axle to support a rim, said assembly is characterized in that it comprises: (a) an outer annular ring having an outer annular surface configured to support a rim and an internal annular surface; (b) a plurality of arrays of rays, each comprising (i) at least two elongated rays which respectively include internal ends and outer ends and, (ii) a transverse bar connecting together the inner ends of the spokes and is configured to be bolted to said shaft to connect the internal ends of said spokes to said axis, whereby said crossbar serves as part of a wheel hub of said wheel support assembly, the spokes and said crossbar are formed integrally die-casting from a piece of metal foil; and (c) means for connecting the outer ends of said spokes to said ring.
2. 2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each ray arrangement is a separate and distinct arrangement, and because the assembly includes a connector formed by die-casting, metal, formed integrally and fixedly connected with all the crossbars, and all the ends internal of all the spokes together serve as the wheel hub of said wheel assembly.
3. 3. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that all ray arrangements are formed by punching, integrally as a single unit of a piece of metal sheet.
4. 4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that all rays of such arrays of rays extend inward from said collar along a path that does not coincide with a radius of said collar.
5. 5. An assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that each array of rays includes only a pair of spokes, and because each beam of each pair extends inwardly and on opposite sides of a particular radius of such a ring.
6. 6. An assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that each beam has a generally rectangular cross section, defined by front and rear edges and opposite side walls, the latter extending approximately in parallel with the axis of said ring, and because each The side wall is substantially deeper than the width of the edges.
7. 7. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that all rays of said ray arrays extend inwardly from said rim along a path that does not coincide with a radius of said rim.
8. 8. An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that each array of rays includes only a pair of spokes, and because each beam of each pair extends inwardly and on opposite sides of a particular radius of said ring.
9. An assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that each beam has a generally rectangular cross-section, defined by front and rear edges and opposite side walls, the latter extending approximately parallel to the axis of said ring, and because each side wall is substantially deeper than the width of the edges.
10. 10. An assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that each array of spokes is a separate and separate array, and because the assembly includes a metal die-cast connector, integrally formed, fixedly connected with all the transverse bars, such that said connector, all the cross bars and all the internal ends of all the spokes together serve as the wheel hub or center of said wheel assembly.
11. 11. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each array of rays includes a single ring connection member connected to, and extending between the two spokes of such array in a direction generally normal to a radius of said ring, this to connect said ring and with which it serves as part of said connection means.
12. 12. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each ray array includes a pair of ring connection tabs, respectively connected to the two spokes of such array, in a direction generally normal to a radius of said ring to connect said ring and with which it serves as part of said means of connection.
13. 13. A method for making a wheel mounting assembly adapted to be bolted to an axle of a vehicle for supporting a rim, said method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) providing an outer annular ring having a surface external annular configured to support a rim; (b) providing at least one integral piece of foil, and forming by die cutting the foil of a plurality of arrays of spokes, each of which is integrally formed by punching to include (i) at least two elongated beams that respectively include internal ends and outer ends; and (ii) a transverse bar that connects together the internal ends of said spokes and is configured to be bolted to said axis to connect the internal ends of said spokes to said axis, which which serves as part of a wheel hub or center of said mounting for wheel support; and (c) connecting the outer ends of said spokes to said ring. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that each beam arrangement is formed by stamping its own separate and separate sheet metal piece. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that all the ray arrangements are formed by die-cutting of a single piece of metal foil. ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR WHEEL SUPPORT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Described herein is a method for manufacturing a wheel mounting assembly adapted to be bolted to a car axle to support a rim, together with the assembly itself. According to this method, an outer annular ring (12) having an outer annular surface configured to support a rim, together with at least one integral piece of metal foil, is provided. The metal sheet is formed by die cutting in a plurality of ray arrangements (28), each of which includes (i) at least two elongated beams which respectively include internal ends and outer ends and, (ii) a transverse bar which connects the inner ends of the spokes together and which is configured to be bolted to the shaft, to connect the ends internal of the spokes to the shaft, which serves as part of a wheel hub or mounting center for wheel support. The outer ends of the rays are connected to the ring (12). In a modality described there, each array of rays is formed from its own separate and separate sheet metal piece. In a second mode, all ray arrangements are formed by die-cutting of a single piece of sheet metal.