WO2019197751A1 - Protective insert for a wheel and wheel equipped with such an insert - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an insert (100) for a wheel (200) of a vehicle, in particular a structural wheel (200) of a vehicle, comprising at least one protective element (102) projecting in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the insert (100). The invention also concerns a wheel (200) equipped with an insert (100) according to the invention. The invention also concerns a vehicle comprising an insert (100) according to the invention or a wheel (200) according to the invention.

Description

 WHEEL PROTECTION INSERT AND WHEEL EQUIPPED WITH SUCH INSERT

The invention relates to a vehicle wheel insert, in particular a vehicle structural wheel, comprising at least one protective element, and a wheel equipped with such an insert and a vehicle comprising such an insert or such a wheel.

 Inserts, known as "inserts", are known on the perforations of a wheel of structural type. These inserts have aerodynamic properties and aim to improve the drag of the vehicle.

 However, these inserts arranged on the web of the wheel are exposed to external aggression such as projections of chippings or curbs affected, which may damage the web of the wheel and / or the insert.

 It is known, according to the document FR-A1-3034043, plate wheel hubcaps devoid of style. These hubcaps are polyamides and include plastic protective beads provided to protect the hubcap.

 However, these hubcaps are not suitable for structural type wheels. In addition, they remain expensive to make and use.

 Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide an insert for better protection of a structural type wheel.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a less expensive protection insert to exploit.

 To achieve at least one of the above objectives, the invention provides a vehicle wheel insert, in particular a structural wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one protective element protruding in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the insert.

With the insert according to the invention, the protruding protector element casts the various shocks of the wheel against a sidewalk for example protects the wheel of the stripes. In addition, the insert can be easily replaced when worn. The insert is thus less expensive to use.

 In a preferred embodiment of the insert according to the invention, the protective element may be elastically deformable.

 In case of shocks, the insert can be deformed and thus better deal with external aggressions, and then return to its original shape.

 Advantageously, the protective element may comprise at least one air capsule and a flexible skin provided for covering at least one, in particular all, capsule (s) of air.

 In particular, the skin may be made of polymers, preferably Thermoplastic Urethane (TPU). The thickness of the skin may be between 1 mm and 10 mm.

 In an advantageous embodiment, the protection element may be removable.

 Maintenance of the insert according to the invention is thus simpler and less expensive.

 Preferably, the insert according to the invention may comprise a recess provided for receiving the protection element, said protection element comprising a shoulder designed to abut against a peripheral surface of said insert at said recess.

 The recess can have the shape of the protection element. The protective element can be put in place in the insert by any means of assembly, such as by gluing, clamping, clips, screwing, etc.

 The protection element may have a smooth outer surface, having a substantially flat central portion, and a rounded peripheral portion forming the shoulder on the side of the insert.

In one embodiment of the insert according to the invention, the protective element may extend from a lateral side of said insert over a distance of between 10 mm and 50 mm. The insert can be made of polymers by molding or machining processes known per se.

 Advantageously, the at least one insert may be, in part or in whole, thermosetting material.

 According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle wheel, in particular a structural vehicle wheel, having a cylindrical rim, a hub and a web connecting said cylindrical rim to said hub, said sail being provided with a plurality of perforations and comprising at least one insert according to the invention.

 The protective element protruding from the insert and therefore the veil, protects the web and the rim from external shocks.

 The insert can be inserted in an openwork or in two adjacent openings.

 For at least one insert, the protection element may extend substantially radially in the plane of the web. This orientation protects a wider area of the sail.

 In particular, the wheel according to the invention may comprise a plurality of perforations and a plurality of inserts, each insert being arranged in an ajoint equidistantly.

 Preferably, at least one insert may comprise positioning means to allow its positioning in at least one openwork, the positioning means being formed by a positioning flange intended to fit into the inner periphery of said at least one openwork.

 Advantageously, at least one insert can be attached to the wheel according to the invention by one of the following means: glue, fixing screws, fastening clips or any other similar fastening means known per se.

Preferably, for at least one insert, a limit of the protective element opposite to the web may be arranged at a non-zero distance from the web in the direction of the axis of rotation of the wheel, in particular at a distance between mm and 50 mm. In a preferred embodiment of the wheel according to the invention, at least one insert may comprise:

 a first portion arranged in a first ajourage, configured to close said openwork and comprising the at least one protection element, and

 a second portion arranged in a second ajourage, adjacent to the first ajourage, and comprising an opening for the passage of air from one side of the wheel to the opposite side.

 The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one wheel according to that described above in outline or a wheel equipped with an insert according to that described above in outline.

 Other objects, advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and non-limiting embodiments, and the following appended drawings:

 FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a nonlimiting example of an insert according to the invention,

 FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting example of a wheel according to the invention, and

 Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a half-section of a front view of the example of the wheel according to the invention.

 For the sake of clarity and brevity, the references in the figures correspond to the same elements.

The embodiments described below being in no way limiting, it will be possible to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described, isolated from the other characteristics described (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other characteristics), if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one characteristic, preferably functional without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

 Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting example of an insert according to the invention.

 The insert 100 is intended to be inserted into a wheel comprising a plurality of cut-outs and to protect said wheel.

 The insert 100 is lined with a protective element 102 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the plane 104 of the insert 100.

 The protection element extends over a distance d between 10 mm and 50 mm from the plane 104 of the insert 100.

 The protective element 102 is removably arranged in a recess provided in the insert 100.

 The protective element 102 is formed by a flexible skin Thermoplastic Urethane (TPU) covering an air capsule.

 The insert 100 comprises a first portion 106 comprising the protection element 102 and intended to be arranged in a first opening of the wheel so as to close said opening.

 The insert 100 also comprises a second portion 108 comprising an opening 110 and intended to be arranged in a second opening, adjacent to the first opening, so as to allow the passage of air in said opening.

 Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting example of a wheel according to the invention.

The wheel 200 is a structural wheel comprising a rim 202 on which the tread 204 is fixed and a hub 206 disposed at the center of the wheel 200 and guiding the wheel 200 in rotation relative to the chassis of the vehicle, around an axis of rotation X. The wheel 200 also comprises a web 208 connecting the hub 206 and the rim 202 and defining the perforations 210 spaced apart from each other.

 By way of example, the wheel 200 comprises ten successive cut-outs of which five first cut-outs are alternated with five second cut-outs of greater dimensions than the first cut-outs.

 In addition, the wheel 200 is lined, for each pair of cut-outs, with an insert 100.

 The protective element 102 extends outwardly of the wheel 200 substantially along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation X of the wheel, and at a distance of between 10 mm and 50 mm from the web 208.

 When the wheel 200 is rotating on a roadway 212, the protective element 102 is interposed between the web 208 and a sidewalk 214, deforming to dampen the impact with the sidewalk 214 and dampen the resulting shock.

 The wheel 200 further comprises fastening means 216 of the wheel 200 to an axle of the vehicle.

 The wheel 200 may be a right or left wheel of the vehicle.

 Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a half-section of a front view of the example of the wheel according to the invention.

 The wheel 200 is shown in a half-section seen from the front.

The insert 100 is arranged, in part, in an openwork 210, and comprises a recess configured to receive the protection element 102 removably clips.

The protective element 102 has a central surface SI, at the outer limit of the protective element 102 which is substantially flat and parallel to the plane of the insert 100 and a substantially rounded peripheral surface S2. The peripheral surface S2 forms a shoulder S3 facing the plane 104 and arranged to abut against the plane 104 of the insert 100. The protection element 102 comprises a bearing surface S4 arranged in abutment against an opposite rear surface. at the plane 104 of the insert 100. The support surface S4 is retractable and allows the insertion of the protection element 102 in the recess of the insert 100. The surfaces S3 and S4 then make it possible to fix the protection element 102 to the insert 100.

 In the event of wear of the protective element 102, it is sufficient to replace it without changing the insert 100. The insert 100 and the wheel 200 are therefore less expensive and easier to maintain.

 The protective element 102 protruding from the insert 100 and the veil 208 protects them from shocks F generated by the sidewalk 214. Indeed, the protective element 102 to deform under the effect of the shock F to dampen this shock and prevent scratches and damage on the tread 204, the insert 100 and the sail 208.

 The various features, shapes, variants and embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

Claims

A vehicle wheel (200), in particular a structural vehicle wheel, having a cylindrical rim (202), a hub (206) and a web (208) connecting said cylindrical rim (202) to said hub (206), said sail (208) being provided with a plurality of cutouts (210); said wheel (200) being characterized in that it comprises at least one insert (100) comprising: a first portion (106) arranged in a first opening (208), configured to close said openwork (208) and comprising the at least one protective element (102), and  a second portion (108) arranged in a second opening (208), adjacent to the first opening (208), and comprising an opening (110) allowing the passage of air from one side of the wheel (200) to the side opposite. 2. Wheel (200) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, for at least one insert (100), a limit (SI) of the protective element (102) opposite to the web (208) is arranged at a non-zero distance from the web (208) in the direction of the axis of rotation (X) of the wheel (200), in particular at a distance of between 10 mm and 50 mm.  3. Wheel (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (102) projects in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane (104) of the insert (100). 4. Wheel (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (102) is elastically deformable. 5. Wheel (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (102) comprises at least one air cap and a flexible skin, preferably made of thermoplastic urethane, intended to cover at least one, in particular all, the capsule (s) of air.  6. Wheel (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (102) is removable. Wheel (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert comprises a recess for receiving the protection element (102), said protection element comprising a shoulder (S3) intended to abut against a peripheral surface of said insert (100) at said recess . 8. Wheel (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (102) extends from one lateral side of said insert (100) over a distance (d) of between 10 mm and 50 mm. 9. Vehicle comprising a wheel (200) according to any one of the preceding claims.