Wheel Made of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Material and Provided with Galvanic Isolation

• US 20190315155A1
• Filed: 06/28/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Action Composites GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: JAEGER, Elmar
• Granted Patent: US 11,358,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/10 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/341 with fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/3412 Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/3418 Aramid fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/141 Corrosions
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/14 Attaching disc body to hub resiliently B60B9/00; attaching rim to wheel body B60B23/00 ; Wheel adapters
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 5/02 made of synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1384 to wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2200/0004 metallic
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2200/0034 non-metallic
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/0025 Rust- or corrosion-preventing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/86 Optimisation of rolling resistance, e.g. weight reduction

Abstract

A wheel for a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motor scooter includes a hub region which has at least some portions made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material. The hub region includes a recess in which an insert for connecting the wheel to a vehicle axle is placed. An isolation element which galvanically isolates the insert from the hub region is arranged between the hub region and the insert.

Claims

1. A wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a hub region formed at least partially from a fiber-reinforced plastic and having a cutout therein;

an insert configured to attached the wheel to an axle of the vehicle; and

an isolation element configured to be located in the cutout concentrically between the insert and the hub region,

wherein the isolation element is configured to galvanically isolate the insert from the hub region.

2. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein

the wheel is a motorcycle or motor scooter wheel.

3. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein

the fiber-reinforced plastic of the hub region includes carbon fibers, and

the insert is formed partially or entirely from metal.

4. The wheel according to claim 3, wherein

the isolation element is formed partially or entirely from plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic, and

reinforcing fibers of the fiber-reinforced plastic include electrically nonconductive fibers.

5. The wheel according to claim 4, wherein

the nonconductive fibers are glass fibers, aramid fibers, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, or a combination thereof.

6. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein

the insert includes a cylindrical or conical connecting portion configured to engage a corresponding surface of the isolation element.

7. The wheel according to claim 5, wherein

the insert includes a cylindrical or conical connecting portion configured to engage a corresponding surface of the isolation element.

8. The wheel according to claim 6, wherein

the isolation element includes an annular portion having a radially external surface adjacent to a radially inner surface of the hub region cutout.

9. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein

the isolation element includes an annular portion having a radially external surface adjacent to a radially inner surface of the hub region cutout.

10. The wheel according to claim 8, wherein

the corresponding surface of the annular portion configured to engage the connecting portion of the insert is a radially internal surface of the annular portion.

11. The wheel according to claim 9, wherein

the corresponding surface of the annular portion configured to engage the connecting portion of the insert is a radially internal surface of the annular portion.

12. The wheel according to claim 10, wherein

the insert and the isolation element engage one another by a form-fitting connection.

13. The wheel according to claim 11, wherein

the insert and the isolation element engage one another by a form-fitting connection.

14. The wheel according to claim 12, wherein

the form-fitting connection includes a toothing arrangement interlocking in a complementary manner that is formed on the radially internal surface of the isolation element and on the connecting portion of the insert.

15. The wheel according to claim 13, wherein

the form-fitting connection includes a toothing arrangement interlocking in a complementary manner that is formed on the radially internal surface of the isolation element and on the connecting portion of the insert.

16. The wheel according to claim 14, wherein

the toothing arrangement interlocking in a complementary manner is formed by a plurality of protuberances directed in a radial direction that engage in corresponding recesses, and

either the protuberances are on to the connecting portion and the recesses are on the radially internal surface of the isolation element, the protuberances are on to the radially internal surface of the isolation element and the recesses are on the connecting portion, or the protuberances and the recesses are arranged in a complementary manner on both the radially internal surface of the isolation element and the connecting portion.

17. The wheel according to claim 15, wherein

the toothing arrangement interlocking in a complementary manner is formed by a plurality of protuberances directed in a radial direction that engage in corresponding recesses, and

either the protuberances are on to the connecting portion and the recesses are on the radially internal surface of the isolation element, the protuberances are on to the radially internal surface of the isolation element and the recesses are on the connecting portion, or the protuberances and the recesses are arranged in a complementary manner on both the radially internal surface of the isolation element and the connecting portion.

18. The wheel according to claim 16, wherein

the toothing arrangement is formed by a complementary undulating structure of the radially internal surface of the isolation element and of the connecting portion.

19. The wheel according to claim 17, wherein

the toothing arrangement is formed by a complementary undulating structure of the radially internal surface of the isolation element and of the connecting portion.

20. The wheel according to claim 18, wherein

the undulating structure is sinusoidal.