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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
VEHICLE WHEEL AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1981/003465
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A cast vehicle wheel composed of relatively light section throughout and having an imperforate annular disc (section 1) between the hub (2) and rim (3). A tyre bead seating surface (8) at one side of the rim (3) is formed by a substantially cylindrical wall section (10) which is integral with the adjacent tyre retaining wall (6) and extends inwardly across and adjacent cylindrical surface of the rim (3). The bead seating wall (10) is spaced radially outwards from that rim surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced webs (17) are provided in that space (14) between the rim (3) and the bead seating wall (10). The exposed end (18) of each web (17) slopes to facilitate movement of a tyre bead onto the seating wall (10).

Inventors:
SAMUELSON M (AU)
DICK J (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/AU1981/000064
Publication Date:
December 10, 1981
Filing Date:
May 26, 1981
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GEN MOTORS HOLDENS LTD (AU)
SAMUELSON M (AU)
DICK J (AU)
International Classes:
B60B3/02; B60B3/06; B60B21/02; (IPC1-7): B60B3/02; B60B3/06
Foreign References:
JPS55132301A1980-10-15
GB1526046A1978-09-27
GB1418627A1975-12-24
AU3898672A1973-08-16
AU2383870A
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Claims:
1. A cast vehicle wheel including, a hub member, an annular disc section surrounding and formed integral with said hub member, a generally cylindrical rim member formed integral wit said disc section and located radially out wardly of said hub member, a tyre retaining wall at each end of said rim member, and a substantiallv cylindrical tyre bead seating wall formed integral with one of said tyre retaining walls and extending towards but terminating short of the other said tyre retaining wall, said bead seating wal being spaced radially outward from the adjacent surface of said rim member.
2. A cast vehicle wheel according to Claim 1, wherein sai disc section is imperforate. .; .
3. A cast vehicle wheel according to Claim 1 or 2, wherei a plurality of web's are provided in the space between and interconnect the bead seating wall and the rim member, said webs being spaced apart circumferentially of said rim member.
4. A cast vehicle wheel according to Claim 3, wherein an end surface of each said web is contiguous with the end of said bead seating wall which is remote from said one tyre retaining wall, and said end surface slopes downwardly and away from that end of the bead seating wall.
5. A cast vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, wherein said rim member is stepped between its ends to form a well section of reduced diameter, said well section being adjacent to said one tyre retaining wall, and said bead seating wall extends over part only of said well section.
6. A cast vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, wherein said disc section interconnects adjacen ends Q^r of said hub and rim members and an annular cavity is defined between said members, a plurality of circumferent ially spaced webs are provided within said cavity and each is joined to both the hub member and the rim member.
7. A cast vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, formed as a single piece casting.
8. A cast vehicle wheel substantially as herein particul¬ arly described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings. ϊ3REΛ» OMPI.
Description:
VEHICLE WHEEL AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME

This invention relates to vehicle wheels and a method of making such wheels.

It is conventional practice to cast vehicle wheels from a metal alloy, but problems arise if the casting is of heavy sections or includes heavy sections. Heavy casting sections are subject to porosity and shrinkage problems so that failure from cracking for example is more likely to occur. In addition, uneven weight distribution is likely to occur because' of inconsistencies throughout the casting that presents balancing difficulties when the wheel is ultimately put to use.

The normal method of alleviating the aforementioned problems is to cast a wheel with- holes through the region between the hub and rim of the wheel. That is not a complete answer to the problem and in any event introduces another disadvantage in that, in use, air is pushed outwardly through- those holes. It would be more beneficial to prevent such outward escape of air so as to maximise air circulation at the inside of the wheel and thereby promote cooling of the wheel brake assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cast vehicle wheel which is composed of relatively light section throughout without requiring through holes as dis¬ cussed above. According to the present invention there is provided a cast vehicle wheel including, a hub member, an annular disc section surrounding and formed integral with said hub member, a generally cylindrical rim member formed integral

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with said disc section and located radially outwardly of said hub member, a tyre retaining wall at each end of said rim member, and a substantially cylindrical tyre bead seating wall formed integral with one of said tyre retaining walls and extending towards but terminating short of the other said tyre retaining wall, said bead seating wall being spaced radially outward from the adjacent surface of said rim member.

The essential features of the invention, and further optional features, are described in detail in the following passages of th specification which, refer to the accompany¬ ing drawings. The drawings however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so that the specific form and arrangement of the features (whether they- be essential or optional features) shown is not to be under¬ stood as limiting on the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional vie of a wheel according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a partially sectioned elevation, a section being taken along line II-II of Figure 1.

A characteristic of a wheel according to the invention is that is has an imperforate disc 1 between the hub member 2 and rim member 3. That is, the disc does not need to have relatively large through, holes as required in prior constructions for the purpose of reducing the cast section. The disc 1 can be of relatively light section throughout and although holes as previously described are not essential there may be circumstances under which some form of per- foration of the disc 1 is required.

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The rim member 2 is composed of a generally cylindrical section 4 which extends axially outwards from the front side of the " disc . 1 and has relatively shallow tyre retain¬ ing walls 5 and 6 "at its front and rear ends respectively. The outer surface configuration of the. rim section 4 is such as to meet user ' requirements and that normally involves provision of a circumferential well or groove 7 at a loc¬ ation closer to the rear end of the section 4. A raised circumferential area 8 and 9 is provided on each side of the groove 7 to provide tyre bead seating surfaces.

In accordance with the present invention the section of the casting forming the base of the groove 7 continues through to the rear side of the wheel and the tyre bead seating surface 8 on that side is defined by a generally cylindrical wall section 10 which overlies and is spaced radially outwards from a rear portion 11 of the rim section . 4. As a result, both, the rim section 4 and the overlying bead seating section 10 can be formed as relatively thin sections. The bead seating surface 9 on the front side of the rim 3 can be also formed of relatively- thin section by merely stepping the casting radially outwards an appropriate distance at a location 12 on the front side of the groove 1. A relatively thin section can also be employed for both the disc 1 and the hub 2 which, as shown, is generally stepped axially forward of the disc .1.

The undersurface 13 of the wall section 10 may slope radially inwards towards the rear of the wheel so as to facilitate the casting process. In any event, it is pre- ' - ferred that the recess 14 defined below that wall section 1Q has a greater depth at its front open end 15 than at its

rear closed end 16. The rear end 16 is closed by a con¬ tinuation of the wheel disc 1 or of the rear tyre retaining wall 6.

As shown, it is preferred to provide a plurality of webs 17 within the recess 14 so as to guard against a tyre bead catching in the mouth 15 of that recess during location of a tyre on the wheel. It is also preferred that the exposed end 18 of each web 17 slopes outwardly and downwardly towards the front of the wheel to provide a ramping surface which facilitates movement of a tyre bead from the well 7 on to the rear bead seating surface, 8, The webs 17 may also serve to provide a support for the Overlying wall section 10. Such webs 17 can be cast in situ and may be of relatively light section so as not to disturb the ' basic aim of the invention. As previously stated, the hub 2 is preferably stepped - axially forward of the surrounding disc 1 and consequently . an annular cavity 19 is defined around an outer surface 20 of the hub 2. If desired, a plurality of webs 21 may be provided, as shown, within the cavity 19 so that each extends radially between the hub 2 and the inner cylindrical surface 22 of the rim section 4. The webs 21 can be shaped and arranged to suit styling requirements and serve to divide the cavity 19 into a plurality of pockets. Once again, the webs 21 may be of relatively thin section. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an improvement over prior cast wheel structures in that it enables the use of relatively light section without requiring the provision of large vent holes. Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations,

modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.