Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
  • B60B7/20—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins having an element mounted for rotation independently of wheel rotation

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a non-rotating wheel cover assembly, which includes a basic part that is constructed to be mounted to a rim of a vehicle's wheel, and a rotatable first body mounted to the basic part with an eccentric centre of gravity.
• non-rotating wheel cover assembly is known in patent no. US-5.588.715.
• the non-rotating wheel cover assembly is mounted to the rim of a vehicle's wheel in such a way that the shaft of rotation of the first body mainly coincides with the shaft of rotation of the wheel.
• the coincide of the respective shafts of rotation in assembled condition prevent imbalance of the wheel.
• the first body consists of a circular disk which is connected to the basic body by means of an almost non-frictional rotational bearing.
• the eccentric centre of gravity achieves in cooperation with the rotational bearing that the disk will take a mainly steady position with regard to the vehicle, irrespective of the speed of the vehicle.
• a drawback to the known non-rotating wheel cover assembly is that under the influence of force that lay on the surface of the wheel cover, caused by change of the speed of the vehicle, the disk is placed out of its steady position. Further, when the verhicle stops or starts driving with a constant speed, the disk shall oscillate under the influence of the centre of gravity. Because the disk has an almost non-frictional bearing, it will take some time before the disk achieves a steady position.
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide in a non-rotating wheel cover assembly that does not have the above mentioned drawbacks. This purpose is attained by a non-rotating wheel cover assembly of the type mentioned in the opening, characterised in that the non-rotating wheel cover assembly includes a second body that is constructed to exert power to the first body.
• the second body is rotatably mounted in the non-rotating wheel cover assembly with regard to the basic part .
• the second body is coupled to the first body by means of a frictional coupling, so depending on the circumstances the first and second body act or move as one body with regard to each other.
• the second body is coupled to the first body by means of electromagnetic power.
• Figure 1 is an illustration which schematically in cross-section shows a non-rotating wheel cover assembly mounted to a rim according to the invention
• Figure 2 is an illustration schematically in cross- section of another construction of the non-rotating wheel cover assembly mounted to a rim according to the invention.
• FIG 1 a schematic cross-section is shown of the non-rotating wheel cover assembly 3 according to the invention that is mounted on a rim 1.
• a tire can be mounted in order to form a wheel.
• the rim 1 can be mounted to a vehicle (not shown) by means of wheelbolts 2.
• the non-rotating wheel cover assembly 3 is mounted on the averse side the rim 1 of the vehicle in order to hide the rim 1 and the wheelbolts 2 as much as possible.
• the non- rotating wheel cover assembly 3 according to the invention contains a basic part 4 that is mounted on the rim 1 of the wheel. On the basic part 4 of the preferred structural design, radial projections 5 are applied, with which the non-rotating wheel cover assembly 3 can be clamped to the rim 1.
• the projections 5 have recessions in which a clamping element 6 is spring-mounted. When mounted, the clamping element 6 is inserted in a circular groove of rim 1.
• the method of applying the basic part 4 to the rim 1 can be adapted to any type of rim that is commercial obtainable.
• the basic part 4 can also be mounted to the wheelbolts 2 by means of suitable mounting means. Mainly this means that basic part 4 is mounted motionless to the rim 1 of the wheel.
• the non-rotating wheel cover assembly 3 can be provided with locking devices, so the non-rotating wheel cover assembly 3 can only be mounted or removed by an authorized person.
• the locking device can be a spring-mounted ring, that is applied in the circular groove of the basic part 4 and which can be fitted inserted in the groove of the rim 1.
• the diameter of the spring-mounted ring can be reduced, so the ring can be mounted to or removed from the groove in the rim 1.
• the non-rotating wheel cover assembly 3 further contains a circular disk 8 that can rotate around the rotational shaft 40.
• the disk 8 is connected fixedly to an axial end of shaft part 9, of which the centerline coincides with the rotational shaft 40 of the disk 8. Consequently the shaft part 9 is placed perpendicularly on the surface of the disk 8.
• the rotational shaft 40 of the disk 8 coincides with the rotational shaft 20 of the rim 1.
• a weight element 10 is applied through which the disk 8 has an eccentrical centre of gravity.
• the disk 8 On the disk 8, at the averse side of the shaft part 9, a sheet 11 with an inscription, picture or the like is applied. Naturally, the inscription or picture can also be applied direclty on the disk 8.
• the disk 8 In the structural design shown by example, the disk 8 is circular.
• the disk 8 can, however, also have another shape, for example a triangular or a square. Further, the disk 8 can have the shape of a figure, such as a head, an apple etc. In all structural designs the centre of gravity of the disk 8 is eccentrical to the rotational shaft 40.
• a flanged edge 12 is applied on the basic part 4 .
• the flanged edge 12 contains openings for the passage of air ventilation (in the figures indicated with arrows A and B) .
• the flanged edge 12 extends the rim 1.
• a cover plate 13 is mounted on the basic part 4.
• the cover plate 13 is of transparant material.
• the cover plate 13 and basic part 4 together form the limitation of a space 14, wherein the disk 8 and the sheet 11 are placed. By using the cover plate 13, the sheet 11 and disk 8 are protected against exterior influences such as rain, dirt and the like.
• the non-rotating wheel cover assembly 3 in this structural design contains a delay device as a pendulum 15.
• the pendulum 15 contains a ring 16 which has been slided over the shaft part 9 with a slight clearance, and applied in the shown construction between the disk 8 and the bearing 7.
• a weight 17 is applied to the ring 16.
• the ring 16 can roll from shaft part 9.
• the pendulum 15 shall start to oscillate around the axis of rotation 41.
• the axis of rotation 41 has a distance to the rotational shaft 40 of disk 8, which corresponds with half the difference between the inner diameter of the ring 16 and the outer diameter of the shaft part 9.
• the clearance between the ring 16 and the shaft part 9 is necessary to allow the rotation of the pendulum 15 with regard to the disk 8. If the ring 16 would have been slided over the fitted shaft part 9, it could occur that the friction power is so large that rotation of the pendulum 15 with regard to disk 8 is not possible.
• the distance of the centre of gravity of the pendulum 15 with regard to rotational shaft 20 of the rim 1 is different from the distance of the centre of gravity of the disk 8 with regard to rotational shaft 20 of the rim 1. Because of that the pendulum 15 and the disk 8 have different oscillation times. Because of the difference in oscillation time the pendulum 15 and the disk 8 will start moving with regard to each other and a friction power arises between the disk 8 and pendulum 15 that counteracts the mutual movement. The contact surface between the ring 16 and the shaft part 9 cause a friction coupling for the pendulum 15 and the disk 8.
• the pendulum 15 and disk 8 turn to a new balance which is different to the vertical position.
• the verhicle has increased its speed and drives on with a constant speed, the increase has become equal to zero and disk 8 and pendulum 15 will try to take the vertical position under the influence of the centre of gravity.
• the disk 8 and pendulum 15 shall now start to oscillate around the vertical position.
• the given example is an ideal situation.
• the speed and acceleration of the vehicle change under several circumstances, for example due to road conditions, gusts of wind, and also change of gear.
• the pendulum 15 and the disk 8 wish to oscillerate with different times of vibration. In the first place this is avoided by a friction power that is present between the contact surface of the ring 16 and the shaft part 9, and the pendulum 15 and disk 8 move as one part.
• the friction power is directly proportional with the normal force, whereby the friction power cannot exceed a certain maximum value.
• the maximum value depends on the coefficient of friction between the contact surfaces.
• a slip occurs between the contact surfaces and pendulum 15 and disk 8 will start to move with regard to each other.
• the coefficient of friction changes between the contact surfaces.
• the coefficient of friction during a slip is lower than the coefficient of friction during action.
• the combination of disk 8 with the pendulum 15 will relative quickly stand still or merely show an oscillation of which the deflection is not disturbing the reading or looking of the text or picture applied to the disk 8.
• the oscillation times mainly depend on the distance of the centres of gravity with regard to the rotational shaft of the rim 1, while the friction force is mainly specified by the size of the weight 17 in connection with the deflection with regard to the vertical position and the rotation speed of the centre of gravity.
• the disk 8 and pendulum 15 can have turned with regard to each other, whereby the friction coupling between the pendulum 15 and the disk 8 prevents that the pendulum 15 and the disk 8 separately take the original vertical position.
• the pendulum 15 and the disk 8 now form a oscillation unit of which the centre of gravity is situated below the rotational shaft 40.
• the material of the shaft part 9 and the ring 16 are chosen in such a way that the coefficient of friction between the contact surfaces allows sliding oscillation of the ring 16 with regard to the shaft part 9.
• the friction power during a slip must be large enough to counteract the oscillating movement of disk 8.
• Figure 2 shows a variant of a non-rotating wheel cover assembly according the invention.
• the basic part 4 is structural designed with a closed reverse side 18.
• the basic part 4 mainly has the shape of a "pan”, whereby the reverse side 18 forms the bottom of the "pan”.
• a cover plate 13 of transparant material is applied in the flanged edge 12.
• the cover plate 13 and the basic part 4 define the closed space 14.
• the disk 8 is supplied with a mainly cylindrical journal 22, that is coaxial with the centre line of the disk 8. In the free axial surface of the journal 22 a circular recess is applied, in which the roller bearing 21 can be inserted.
• the outer diameter of the journal 22 corresponds with the inner diameter of ring 16 of the pendulum 15.
• the disk 8 and the pendulum 15 as well as the roller bearing 21 are completely protected against exterior influences. Mainly, pollution by street litter, sand and such is avoided with this structural design.
• the axial dimension of the construction shown in figure 2 is smaller than the axial dimension of the structure shown in figure 1.
• the damping force is an electromagnetic force or power.
• a layer of paramagnetic material is applied on the disk 8, on the side towards the pendulum 15.
• a permanent magnet is applied on the pendulum 15 of which the magnetic power is defined in connection with the masses of the weight element 10 and weight 17.
• a relative movement of the disk 8 and the pendulum 15 with regard to each other shall generate turbulent flows in the layer of electromagnetic material. Through this an electromagnetic force arises, which counteracts the relative movement of the disk 8 and the pendulum 15 and therefore damps an oscillating movement.
• the method of fitting the basic part 4 can, as an example, be adjusted to the type of rim for which the non- rotating wheel cover assembly must be suitable.
• Another possibility is to fit with a bearing the disk 8 and the pendulum 15 separately with regard to the basic part 4, by which the respective shaft of rotations coincide.
• the friction coupling between the disk 8 and the pendulum 15 can be achieved in a surface perpendicular on the rotational shaft 40 of the disk 8.
• an adjusting element can be supplied to apply the pressure force between the disk and the pendulum 15.
• the adjusting element can, as example, be of a coil spring that, with the help of an adjusting screw, can excercise an adjusting force to the pendulum 15 in the direction of the disk 8.
• the disk 8 is supplied with a hollow cylindrical shaped part with an applied groove in the perpendicular wall.
• the pendulum 15 extends through the groove and can move by sliding over the inner surface of the cylindrical shaped part, by which it seems that the pendulum rotates around the rotation shaft of the disk 8.
• the disk 8 is assembled with a bearing in the basic part 4 by means of a central shaft part.
• the pendulum oscillation of the pendulum 15 with regard to the disk 8 is therefore restricted by the length of the groove.
• the pendulum 15 reaches the end of the groove, the interchanging of the impuls gives more loss of energy and therefore an extra damping.
• the disk 8 has a picture carrying part.
• the picture is, for example, representative for the verhicle on which the non-rotating wheel cover is assembled.
• the picture carrying part can extend the recess, respectively be seen behind the transparant part of the wheel cover. Then the picture is always well visable and mainly steady with regard to the vehicle.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
• Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
• Diaphragms And Bellows (AREA)
• Motor Or Generator Frames (AREA)
• Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
• Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19767869

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (4)

• 1998
  • 1998-09-23 NL NL1010164A patent/NL1010164C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-09-22 EP EP99970059A patent/EP1115585B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-09-22 CN CN99811273.9A patent/CN1320085A/zh active Pending
  • 1999-09-22 DE DE69904842T patent/DE69904842D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-09-22 AU AU60104/99A patent/AU6010499A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-09-22 AT AT99970059T patent/ATE230680T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-09-22 WO PCT/NL1999/000593 patent/WO2000020231A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-09-22 JP JP2000573567A patent/JP4428862B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (4)

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