Patent Application
20200156404
The embodiment herein generally relates to a passenger vehicle wheel. Specifically the present invention provides a novel design for a passenger vehicle steel wheel with similar aesthetics as in alloy wheel.
In general, vehicle wheels are classified into two types based on the material used for manufacturing the wheel. The materials can be non-ferrous or ferrous material. That is in non-ferrous material, alloys such as aluminum or magnesium-based alloys are utilized for manufacturing wheels and this type of wheels are referred as alloy wheels. However in ferrous-based materials, various steel compositions are utilized for manufacturing wheels and these wheels are commonly referred to as steel wheels.
In current trend, the vehicle wheels manufacturing companies are showing interest in alloy wheels because of the aesthetic look of the wheel. Even though the alloy wheels are expensive, people demand for alloy wheels for the vehicles instead of steel wheel owing to their aesthetic appearance.
While considering steel wheel, even though their appearance is not so appealing due to their process difficulties, the steel wheels are cheaper compared to the alloy wheels. Further the steel can also be repaired easily according to the preference. But the aesthetic look of the alloy wheel is not attained in the steel wheel still now.
Therefore, there is a need to develop a steel wheel with similar aesthetic look as in the alloy wheel. At the same time the properties of steel wheel that is durability and lesser cost also has to be retained.
Some of the objects of the present disclosure are described herein below:
A main object of the present invention to provide a new design and material for a passenger vehicle wheel that facilitates an improved performance and aesthetics.
Another object of the present invention to provide a highly durable wheel for the passenger vehicle.
Still another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel with a vent-hole folding at the disc that is welded on to a bead seat of a rim.
Yet another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel which has a wheel disc without a flange portion.
Another object of the present invention is to utilize a standard profile rim with flanges at both sides to provide a passenger vehicle wheel of new style.
Another object of the present invention is to utilize a standard profile rim that does not require any special machining or modification to provide a passenger vehicle wheel.
Another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel with wide range of rim sizes.
Another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel with the ability to weld (Resistance or Arc) throughout the circumference of the rim-disc contact surface for better contact and higher load/moment transfer.
Another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel with bigger disc surface that provides room for more styling and aesthetic improvements.
Another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel that can enclose the entire area of the wheel and hence eliminates the need for a wheel cap.
Another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel that may almost similar to that of alloy wheels.
Another object of the present invention to provide a passenger vehicle wheel for lesser price than the alloy wheel.
The other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated for illustration of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a passenger vehicle steel wheel in such a way to improve the performance and aesthetics as that of an alloy wheel. The steel wheel may include an inboard flange portion, an outboard flange portion, an inboard bead seat, an outboard bead seat, a rim base, an inboard safety hump, an outboard safety hump, a vent-hole, a hub mounting plate, plurality of lug bolt hole, a valve hole, a central bore and a wheel disc with plurality of spokes.
In this embodiment, the position and shape of the vent-hole and disc may be modified to improve the performance of the steel wheel. Further, the wheel disc is designed without the flange portion. The vent-hole has a folding that may get welded to the bead seat of the rim instead of the flange portion of the disc being welded to the bead seat. This may significantly increases the vent-hole area which can improve better air flow and cooling of brake drum. The new steel wheel design can enable the ability to weld segmental or throughout the circumference of the rim-disc contact surface, for better contact and higher load/moment transfer. Further the bigger wheel disc surface available provides room for more styling and aesthetic improvements.
These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
As mentioned above, there is a need to provide a new design and material for a passenger vehicle wheel that facilitates an improved performance and aesthetics. The embodiments herein achieve this by providing a novel aesthetic ferrous-based wheel with a vent-hole folding in a disc that is welded to the bead seat of a rim instead of the disc being welded to the bead seat. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
According to an embodiment, the present inventor(s) has attempted to develop a steel wheel in such a way to improve the performance and aesthetics as that of an alloy wheel. The steel wheel may include an inboard flange portion, an outboard flange portion, an inboard bead seat, an outboard bead seat, a rim base, an inboard safety hump, an outboard safety hump, a vent-hole, a hub mounting plate, plurality of lug bolt hole, a valve hole, a central bore and a wheel disc with plurality of spokes. In the embodiment, the position and shape of the vent-hole and disc may be modified to improve the performance of the steel wheel. Further, the wheel disc is designed without the flange portion. The vent-hole has a folding that may get welded to the bead seat of the rim instead of the flange portion of the disc being welded to the bead seat. This may significantly increases the vent-hole area which can improve better air flow and cooling of brake drum. The new steel wheel design can enable the ability to weld segmental or throughout the circumference of the rim-disc contact surface, for better contact and higher load/moment transfer. Further the bigger wheel disc surface available provides room for more styling and aesthetic improvements.
According to an embodiment, the passenger vehicle steel wheel may enclose the entire area of the wheel and hence it eliminates the requirement of a wheel cap. The passenger vehicle steel wheel's aesthetic is almost similar to that of the alloy wheels and the cost is much lower than the alloy wheel and the durability also can be increased. Further the passenger vehicle steel wheel can be manufactured over a wide range of sizes. The rim width can range from 4″ to 10″ while the rim diameter can be increased from 10″ to a high 24″. In an embodiment, for making the passenger vehicle steel wheel, existing rims, which has flange portion on both sides can be used and the existing rim may not be subjected to any special machining or modification.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201641003738 | Feb 2016 | IN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2016/050922 | 2/20/2016 | WO | 00 |
