GB2479913A

GB2479913A - Vehicle wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2479913A
Application number: GB1007148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marcus Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-29
Filing date: 2010-04-29
Publication date: 2011-11-02
Also published as: GB201007148D0

Abstract

A vehicle wheel comprises a hub component 10 adapted to have a tyre 12 mounted thereon. in use, wherein the hub component 10 is provided with at least one window region that is transparent or transmissive to infra-red light, and at least one infra-red emitter 28 device located adjacent the or one of the window regions 22 and arranged to emit infra-red light such that the infra-red light can pass through the window region 22 and into a volume defined, in use, between the hub component 10 and the tyre 12.

Description

Vehicle Wheel This invention relates to a road wheel for a vehicle, for example to a motor car.

Although the invention may be used in other applications, it is particularly intended for use in relation to the wheels of cars used in motor racing.

The tyres used in many forms of motor racing, including Formula 1, are designed to operate within a relatively small temperature range. Outside of this temperature range, the levels of mechanical grip provided by the tyre are considerably reduced, and wear or damage to the tyre may be accelerated resulting in a reduction in the useful working life of the tyre. The use of external heating devices, for example heated blankets or the like, to heat the tyres before use is well known. These devices may be of significant assistance in raising the temperature of the tyres, but they can only be used whilst the vehicle is stationary. They must be removed before the vehicle can be driven.

Depending upon a number of factors, for example the ambient temperature, weather conditions, the tyre material and the nature of the road surface upon which the vehicle is driven, raising the tyre temperature to the operating temperature range, and maintaining the tyre temperature within that range whilst the vehicle is moving is difficult. Consequently, vehicle performance may be impaired for significant periods of time during which the tyre temperature is not within the optimum operating range.

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle wheel in which at least some of the disadvantages with known arrangements are overcome or are of reduced effect.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle wheel comprising a hub component adapted to have a tyre mounted thereon, in use, wherein the hub component is provided with at least one window region that is transparent or transmissive to infra-red light, and at least one infra-red emitter device located adjacent the or at least one of the window regions and arranged to emit infra-red light such that the infra-red light can pass through the window region and into a volume defined, in use, between the hub component and the tyre.

In use, operation of the emitter device results in the transmission of infra-red light into the aforementioned volume. As a result, the gas located within the aforementioned volume and/or the wall or body of the tyre will be heated. Operation of the infra-red emitter device can thus be used to assist in raising the tyre to a desired temperature and to assist in maintaining the tyre at the aforementioned temperature.

Conveniently, the vehicle wheel further includes a power supply, for example in the form of a rechargeable battery or the like, operable to supply electrical power to the emitter device. Sensor means are preferably also provided to monitor, for example, the tyre temperature and/or gas temperature and/or the gas pressure. Preferably, control means are provided to control the operation of the emitter device, for example using the output of the sensor means. The control means may be arranged to communicate, for example by way of a wireless communications link, with external control and/or monitoring equipment to allow the transmission of data from the control means to a remote location and/or to allow the operation of the emitter device to be controlled, at least in part, remotely.

Conveniently, the hub component includes at least one opening into which a window is fitted, the window being of, for example, a glass material. The window may be shaped to serve as a lens, assisting in the uniform transmission of infra-red light, or at least improving the uniformity of such transmission. The window may be of, for example, domed form. The window conveniently forms part of a housing in which the emitter device is located.

The hub component preferably comprises a substantially tubular hub part and a pair of outwardly extending rim parts. The window region or regions may be provided in the hub part. Alternatively, or additionally, they could be located within the rim part or parts.

The window is conveniently sealed to the hub component in a gas tight or substantially gas tight manner, for example using a compressible elastomeric seal. However, other forms of seal could be used.

The part of the hub component that faces into the aforementioned volume is preferably provided, at least in part, with a surface coating of a drying agent, for example silica gel material. For example, an adhesive material may be applied thereto and the drying agent secured in position by the adhesive material. Alternatively, or additionally, a similar material may be applied to part of the window. However, where applied to the window it is important to ensure that the transmission of infra-red light is not impaired to an extent sufficient to impair operation of the device to achieve heating.

It will be appreciated that, in addition to achieving a change in tyre temperature, heating of the gas within the aforementioned volume will also change the pressure thereof. Operation of the emitter device may thus be used to maintain tyre pressure at a desired level. This may have benefits in reducing tyre wear, and also in adjusting or controlling the ride height of the vehicle. As the temperature and pressure of the gas are linked, clearly adjustment of the pressure in this manner will impact upon temperature and so the pressure control achievable may be limited by the temperature that can be accommodated at any given time.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, which is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the operation of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated, diagrammatically, part of a vehicle wheel intended for use in motor racing. The wheel comprises a hub component 10 to which a tyre 12 is fitted. The hub component 10 includes a hub part 14 of generally tubular form, and a pair of rims 16, integrally formed at each end of the hub part 14. The hub component 10 is of largely conventional form, and the tyre 12 is fitted thereto in the usual way, with the side walls of the tyre 12 bearing against and sealing to the rims 1 6, the tyre 12 and hub component 10 together defining a volume 18 to which a suitable gas under pressure is applied, the pressure being determined in accordance with parameters such as the desired ride height of the vehicle above the ground, and various handling criteria. Although the invention may be applied to conventional road going vehicles, it is envisaged that it will be used primarily in motor racing as the tyres used in motor racing are designed to operate in a much smaller optimum temperature range that conventional road tyres. In particular, the invention is applicable to Formula 1 motor racing cars, but it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted in this regard. As is common in motor racing, the hub component 10 is conveniently of cast magnesium alloy material but, again, the invention is not restricted in this regard. It is envisaged that the invention will be applied to all four road wheels of the vehicle, although this need not always be the case. It will be appreciated that as the designs and operating characteristics of the front and rear wheels, and to a lesser degree, the left-and right-hand wheels of the vehicle differ from one another, the designs of the wheels will often differ from one another, and the manner in which the invention is applied to them may also differ.

The wheel illustrated in the accompanying drawing differs from a conventional wheel in that the hub component 10 is provided with a series of openings 20 (only one of which is shown in the drawing). As illustrated, the opening 20 is formed in the hub part 14, but it will be appreciated that this need not always be the case and arrangements may be possible in which the openings 20 are formed in the rim parts 16, or in both the rim parts 16 and the hub part 14. The opening 20 is provided with a domed glass material lens 22, sealed around its periphery by an elastomeric material seal 23 to the hub component 10 so as to prevent or substantially prevent the escape of gas from the volume 18. The lens 22 provided in the opening 20 thus results in the formation of a window region in the hub component 10 which is transparent to the transmission of infra-red light. The number and position of the openings, and the shapes thereof, are chosen in such a manner as to ensure that the hub component 10 is still of sufficient strength to bear the loads which it is subject in use, and the material of the lens 22 is preferably a suitably toughened glass. It is envisaged that the openings 20 and lenses 22 will be of substantially circular or elliptical form, but the invention is not restricted in this regard, and it is envisaged that approximately four such windows will be formed in each wheel, but again this need not always be the case. The positioning of the windows is chosen in such a manner as to minimise the impact upon wheel balance and the like, and so that interference between the operation of the device and other parts of the vehicle, for example the braking mechanisms thereof, is minimised..

Located adjacent the lens 22 is a printed circuit board 24 carrying an array 26 of infra-red emitter devices 28. The board 24 is conveniently of relatively great thickness, for example it may be of thickness approximately 4mm, so as to ensure that it can bear the significant loads and harsh operating environment to which it is subject, in use. The emitter devices 28 preferably comprise suitable LEDs as LEDs are better able to withstand the harsh operating environment than many other infra-red emitters. The board 24 is orientated such that, in use, infra-red light emitted by the devices 28 is transmitted through the associated lens 22 and into the volume 18 where it serves to heat the gas within the volume 18 and also to heat the wall and/or body of the tyre 12.

The lens 22 serves to distribute the transmitted infra-red light relatively uniformly within the volume 18, avoiding or reducing the formation of hot-spots'.

Also carried by the board 24 is a control unit 30 operable to control the operation of the array 26, and infra-red receivers or sensor means 32 operable to monitor the infra-red pattern or image within the volume 18. The control unit 30 may be arranged to operate the array 26, at least in part, in response to the output of the sensor means 32.

Interpretation of the infra-red pattern or image by the control unit 30 may be achieved by the use of appropriate, predetermined look-up tables. The control unit 30 preferably further includes communications means 34 whereby data representative of the tyre temperature can be transmitted to, for example, a control unit associated with the vehicle and/or at a remote monitoring station. Such transmission may be achieved by way of, for example, a radio frequency or microwave based communications link.

Other temperature and/or pressure sensors 36 may also be provided and used for similar purposes.

The communications link may further allow control signals, for example initiated by the driver of the vehicle, to be received by the control unit 30 and used in controlling the operation of the array 26. For example, if it is determined that a change in the operating temperature of the tyres is desired, a signal to this effect may be transmitted, under the control of the driver, to the control unit 30 to cause a change in the manner in which the array 26 is controlled and thereby result in the tyre temperature being changed.

The board 24 further carries a bank of lithium polymer power cells 38 or other rechargeable batteries or similar power sources, capable of storing sufficient electrical energy to drive the board and associated components for operation for a predetermined period of time. Where used on a motor racing vehicle, it will be appreciated that the time period over which the device is used is relatively short, for example of the order of a few hours, and so the storage capacity of the cells 38 need only be relatively small, and thus they may be of relatively small dimensions and low in weight.

Thermostatic safety devices are preferably provided to ensure that operation of the array 26 is terminated in the event that the tyre temperature exceeds a predetermined level, thereby ensuring that the system does not cause overheating of the tyres.

The board 24 is conveniently housed within a suitable module housing 40, for example of steel form, the lens 22 preferably forming part of the housing 40. The housing 40 can be secured to the hub component 10 is such a manner as to achieve a desired level of compression of the seal 23. For example, bolts or the like (not shown) may be used to secure the housing 40 to the hub component 10. The invention thus takes the form of a stand-alone module fitted to a slightly modified design of wheel hub component 10. Incorporation of the invention into a vehicle thus requires minimal modification of the vehicle.

Although the drawing only shows the presence of a single circuit board 24, it will be appreciated that several separate boards may be provided with the various components appropriately positioned thereon and with appropriate connections being provided therebetween.

Each individual LED is expected to draw a current of the order of micro-amps, and the array will most likely, in total, operate at around 4 amps. When switched off, their output will drop to zero very quickly, thus the system is of very good responsiveness with little or no residual heat output after switching off.

In use, by appropriate control of the array 26, the gas in the volume 18 and tyre 12 can be heated to and maintained at a desired temperature. This may be achieved directly as a result of instruction transmitted to the control unit 30, for example by the driver, or as a result of a default setting of the control unit 30. If conditions change and a different operating temperature is required, the driver may instruct this change, and control of the array 26 will be altered accordingly. Maintenance of a desired temperature may be achieved by the array 26 switching on and off as appropriate.

In addition to maintaining temperature, it will be appreciated that modifying the temperature of the gas in the volume 18 will change the tyre pressure. The system may thus be used to control or vary the tyre pressure, if desired, provided the consequent changes in tyre temperature can be tolerated.

It is known to use a range of different gases in filling the volume 18. Where it is important that the moisture content of the gas be low then, in order to reduce moisture is may be desirable to apply a coating of a water absorbing material to at least part of the inner surface of the hub component 10. For example, a suitable adhesive may be applied to the desired parts of the hub component and a silica gel material adhered thereto.

A wide range of modifications and alterations may be made to the arrangement described hereinbefore without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub component adapted to have a tyre mounted thereon, in use, wherein the hub component is provided with at least one window region that is transparent or transmissive to infra-red light, and at least one infra-red emitter device located adjacent the or at least one of the window regions and arranged to emit infra-red light such that the infra-red light can pass through the window region and into a volume defined, in use, between the hub component and the tyre.
2. A wheel according to Claim 1, wherein the emitter device comprises an array of LEDs.
3. A wheel according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising a power supply operable to supply electrical power to the emitter device.
4. A wheel according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising sensor means to monitor, for example, the tyre temperature and/or gas temperature and/or the gas pressure.
5. A wheel according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising control means to control the operation of the emitter device.
6. A wheel according to Claim 5, wherein the control means is arranged to communicate with external control and/or monitoring equipment to allow the transmission of data from the control means to a remote location and/or to allow the operation of the emitter device to be controlled, at least in part, remotely.
7. A wheel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hub component includes at least one opening into which a window is fitted.
8. A wheel according to Claim 7, wherein the window is shaped to serve as a lens, assisting in the uniform transmission of infra-red light, or at least improving the uniformity of such transmission.
9. A wheel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the emitter device is located within a self contained module securable to the wheel.