TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of wheels used in automobiles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an improved wheel for commercial vehicles to prevent failures in vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] In the present, all on road vehicles, as well as many off road vehicles, use pneumatic tyres for improved ride comfort. Pneumatic tyres are mounted on a wheel made of a metal. Wheels are a medium through which rotational movement and load is transferred from the vehicle to the tyre, and therefore, the wheels are subjected to cyclic loading, which may result in fatigue failure if not designed to withstand the fatigue load. Such failures would be observed at location of the wheel that is weakest.

[0004] Referring to FIGs. 1A-1B, a wheel for commercial vehicles typically includes a disc 102 and a rim 104. The rim 104 is fixed to outer periphery of the disc 104 by welding 106. The disc includes a plurality of vent holes 108 and a set of mounting holes 110 ata seating/mounting faceportion (102). It has been observed that major failures in form of cracks, such as cracks 150 shown in FIG. 1C, abruptly occurs in the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0005] It would therefore be advantageous if it were possible to avoid failures in the above region, as it would increase life and reliability of the wheel.

[0006] There is therefore a need in the art to provide an improved wheel for commercial vehicles that is free from abrupt cracks developing in the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0007] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. [0008] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0009] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0010] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[0011] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a wheel for commercial vehicles that is more reliable and has longer life.

[0013] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wheel that does not abruptly crack in the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0014] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a methodology to increase strength of the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0015] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a methodology to increase strength of the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations that can be implemented without any major changes in the existing production equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a wheel for commercial vehicles, such as light, medium and heavy vehicles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to failure of the wheels by cracks in vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations, which has been found to happen abruptly in conventional wheels for commercial vehicles.

[0017] In an aspect, the wheel includes a disc and a rim joined to the disc and configured to support a tyre. The disc includes a seating/mounting face portion, a spokeportion and a disc profile portion joining the seating/mounting faceportion to the spokeportion. The rim is fixed to the disc, such as by welding, at the spokeportion of the disc. The seating/mounting faceportion of the disc includes a set of holes for mounting the wheel to vehicle, and the disc profile portion includes a plurality of vent holes.

[0018] In an aspect, the disc includes a circumferential hump passing through the weak regions of the vent hole edges.

[0019] In an embodiment, the circumferential hump may be located on the outer surface defined by the convex side of the conical portion of the disc. In an alternate embodiment, the circumferential hump may be located on the inner surface defined by the concave side of the conical portion of the disc. In still another embodiment, the circumferential hump may be located on both the inner surface and the outer surface. As can be understood, the circumferential hump results in higher thickness of the disc profile portion in the region of hump.

[0020] In an embodiment, the circumferential hump may be configured to overlap with at least a portion of the vent holes such that the start point of the circumferential hump is at an end portion of the disc profile portion near to the seating/ mounting face portion and the end point of the circumferential hump is even before the centre of the vent holes.

[0021] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIGs. 1A and IB illustrate a conventional wheel for commercial vehicles.

[0024] FIG. 1C illustrates a conventional wheel for commercial vehicle with crack in the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0025] FIGs. 2A to 2C illustrate exemplary front and sectional views of the disclosed wheel for commercial vehicles, showing a circumferential hump near vent holes on the disc to avoid abrupt cracks in the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0027] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. [0028] Various terms are used herein. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.

[0029] Embodiments explained herein relate to a wheel used in motorized vehicles for mounting a pneumatic tyre. In particular, the proposed wheel includes a circumferential humpon disc of the wheel in a region of vent holes.

[0030] It is to be appreciated that while the exemplary illustrations of FIGs. 2 A - 2C show the circumferential hump to be located on an outer surface of the disc, it is possible to have the circumferential hump on an inner surface in place of the outer surface, or on both of the inner and the outer surfaces.

[0031] Presence of circumferential humpnear vent holes on the disc strengthens the disc in the location to prevent cracks in vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations, thereby increasing reliability and life of the wheel.

[0032] Referring now to FIGs.2A to 2C, where different views of the disclosed wheel are shown, the wheel200 includes a disc 202 and a rim204. The rim 204 can be joined to the disc 202by welding 206. The rim 204 is configured to support a pneumatic tyre (not shown here). The disc 202 includes a seating/mounting faceportion 260, spokeportion 230 and a disc profile portion 240, whichjoins the seating/ mounting faceportion 260 to the spokeportion 230. The rim 204 is fixed to the disc 202 at the spokeportion 230 of the disc 202. The seating/mounting faceportion 260 of the disc 202 includes a set of holes 210 for mounting the wheel 200 to a vehicle, and the conical portion 240 includes a plurality of vent holes 208 for valve accessibility and circulation of air for keeping a brake drum, that is typically located within an inner cavity of the disc 202, cool.

[0033] In an aspect, the disc 202 includes a circumferential hump220 in a region of the vent holes 208.

[0034] In an embodiment, the circumferential hump 220 may be located on the outer surface defined by the convex side of the conical portion 240 of the disc 202. In an alternate embodiment, the circumferential hump220 may be located on the inner surface defined by the concave side of the conical portion 240 of the disc 202. In still another embodiment, the circumferential hump 220 may be located on both the inner surface and the outer surface.

[0035] Presence of the circumferential hump 220, whether on the inner surface or the outer surface or on both, results in higher thickness of the conical portion 240 in the region of circumferential hump 220. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, thickness 280 of the disc 202 at the position of the circumferential hump 220 is higher than thickness 270 of the disc 202 at other places. As can be appreciated, the proposed solution avoids increasing the thickness of the disc 202 all through, thereby allowing to minimize the weight of the wheel 200.

[0036] In an embodiment, the circumferential hump 220 may be configured to overlap with at least a portion of the vent holes 208 such that the start point 252 of the circumferential hump (in cross-section view) is at an end portion of the disc profile portion 240 near to the seating/mounting face portion 260 and the end point 254 of the circumferential hump is even before the centre of the vent holes 208 (refer FIG. 2C).

[0037] The disclosed wheel 200 was subjected to validation trials and life of the wheel 200 has been found to be 3-4 times that of conventional wheels, i.e., without a circumferential hump as disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0038] Thus, the present disclosure provides a wheel that does not experience sudden cracks in the locations of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole, thereby providing a more reliable service and longer life. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the proposed wheel can be manufactured using the equipment used for conventional wheels after minor changes/modifications. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a cost- effective solution to the problem of failure of the wheel due to cracks in vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0039] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0040] The present disclosure provides a wheel for commercial vehicles that is more reliable and has longer life.

[0041] The present disclosure provides a wheel that does not abruptly crack in the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0042] The present disclosure provides a methodology to increase strength of the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations.

[0043] The present disclosure provides a methodology to increase strength of the region of vent holes, vent hole to vent hole and vent hole to bolt hole locations that can be implemented without any major changes in the existing production equipment.