VEHICLE WHEEL FRAME

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle wheel frame (10) moulded of composite material includes moulding reinforcing layers (24, 26) into a rim (12) of the wheel frame, at circumferential positions toward axially outer extremities (28) of the rim. A vehicle wheel frame (10) in the form of a moulding of composite material has reinforcing layers (24, 26) moulded into a rim (12) of the vehicle wheel frame at circumferential positions toward axially outer extremities (28) of the rim.

Description: VEHICLE WHEEL FRAME THIS INVENTION relates to a vehicle wheel frame, more specifically to a frame of a road wheel for a mechanically powered vehicle or motor vehicle. It relates alεo to a method of manufacturing εuch a wheel. For purposes of this specification, the term "wheel frame" shall be used to denote a portion of a tyred road wheel without the tyre i.e. that portion of the wheel which is colloquially, but incorrectly, referred to as a "rim". In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing by moulding a vehicle wheel frame of compoεite material, including moulding reinforcing layers into a rim of the wheel frame, at circumferential positions toward axially outer extremities of the rim. The reinforcing layers may be in the form of annular bands or rings. The reinforcing layers may be of a heat setting moulding material. The method may then include laying the reinforcing material up in sub-layers when the rim is laid up, and then heating the material to induce thermal setting. Preferably, at least two sub-layers may be provi¬ ded toward each axially outer extremity of the rim and the respective sub-layers toward each axially outer extremity of the rim may be arranged in superimposed, spaced relation. In accordance with a second aspect of this inven¬ tion, there is provided a vehicle wheel frame in the form of a moulding of composite material which vehicle wheel frame has reinforcing layers moulded into a rim of the vehicle wheel frame at circumferential positions toward axially outer extremities of the rim. The reinforcing layers may be in the form of annular bands or rings of a heat setting moulding material and may be integrally moulded into the rim. The heat setting moulding material may be glass reinforced fibre material. The annular bands of heat setting material may be between about 1 mm and about 3 mm thick. Preferably, at least two reinforcing layerε may be arranged toward each axially outer extremity of the rim in superimposed, spaced relation. The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing εhowing, fragmentarily, in section, a vehicle wheel frame in accordance with the invention. With reference to the drawing, a vehicle wheel frame in accordance with the invention and shown fragmen- tarily is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The wheel frame 10 comprises a radially outer rim generally indicated by reference numeral 12, a hub in the centre of the wheel frame which hub is not shown, and radial support structure fragmentarily indicated by reference numeral 14 to support the rim 12 on the hub. The rim 12 is of generally multi-layered structure comprising a radially inner layer 16, a radially outer layer 18 and an intermediate layer 20. A radially outer face of the rim 12 is profiled in accordance with applicable standards to seat a tyre. Conveniently, a filler material indicated at 22 is used to facilitate forming thickened portions of such a profile without unduly thickening the layerε 16, 18, 20. In accordance with the invention, in regions of the rim " 12 adjacent axially outer extremities of the rim, there are provided reinforcing layerε. In the drawing, only one εide portion of the wheel and thuε only one outer extremity iε εhown. The invention iε illuεtrated with reference to that εide portion in which the reinforcing layerε are generally indicated by reference numeralε 24 and 26. The reinforcing layerε at the oppoεed εide of the wheel rim are formed similarly. The reinforcing layer 24 is provided in a region intermediate the radially inner layer 16 and the in¬ termediate layer 20. The reinforcing layer 26 is provided in a region intermediate the radially outer layer 18 and the intermediate layer 20. Along a circumferential position, at the axially outer extremity where the layerε 16, 18 meet, as indicated by reference numeral 28, the reinforcing layerε 24, 26 are adheεively joined. In one embodiment, merely by way of example, the reinforcing layer 24 is laid up with the radially inner layer 16 as one sub-component. The reinforcing layer 26 iε laid up with the radially outer layer 18 as a second sub¬ component. The intermediate layer 20 and the filler material 22 are also formed on the εecond sub-component. The two sub-components are then adheεively joined. The Applicant haε found in teεts, surprisingly, that the " reinforcing layerε 24, 26 greatly enhance the integrity of the wheel frame 10 in respect of impact. In thiε regard, it muεt be borne in mind that the wheel frame iε impact tested by applying impact to the wheel frame in a direction indicated by arrow 30, or in a direction- indicated by arrow 32, or a combination thereof. It is required that the wheel frame should remain leak-tight to a predetermined degree. This requirement has in mind that, in use, in the event of the wheel frame receiving an impact, even though it may crack, a tubeless tyre on the wheel frame should not deflate unduly quickly. In thiε regard, the Applicant is of opinion that, first, the reinforcing layerε 24, 26 in accordance with the invention inhibit formation of cracks or the propagation of cracks in the event of an impact in the region of the outer extremity of the wheel frame. Second, should cracks develop in the composite material, the reinforcing layers 24, 26 still provide leak tightneεε to a certain extent to cauεe the wheel to comply with the impact test requirements. Thus, it is believed that this invention ameliorates the degree to which a wheel frame of moulded, composite material, is prone to impact cracking.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of manufacturing by moulding a vehicle wheel frame of composite material, including moulding reinforcing layers into a rim of the wheel frame, at circumferential positions toward axially outer extremities of the rim. 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the reinforcing layers are in the form of annular bands or rings. 3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the reinforcing layerε are of a heat setting moulding material, the method including laying the reinforcing material up in sub-layerε when the rim is laid up, and then heating the material to induce thermal setting. 4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 which includes providing at least two εub-layerε toward each axially outer extremity of the rim and arranging the reεpective εub- layerε toward each axially outer extremity of the rim in εuperimpoεed, spaced relation. 5. A vehicle wheel frame in the form of a moulding of composite material which vehicle wheel frame has reinforcing layers moulded into a rim of the vehicle wheel frame at circumferential positions toward axially outer extremities of the rim. 6. A vehicle wheel frame as claimed in Claim 5 in which the reinforcing layerε are in the form of annular bandε or rings of a heat setting moulding material and are integrally moulded into the rim. 7. A vehicle wheel frame as claimed in Claim 6 in which the heat εetting moulding material is glass reinforced fibre material. 8. A vehicle wheel frame as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the annular bands of heat setting material are between about 1 mm and about 3 mm thick. 9. A vehicle wheel frame as claimed in any one of Claim 5 to Claim 8 inclusive in which at least two reinforcing layers are arranged toward each axially outer extremity of the rim in superimpoεed, εpaced relation.

Inventors: ADRIAN CHRISTIAN ANDREAS, ADRIAN, CHRISTIAN, ANDREAS
Applicants: ADRIAN CHRISTIAN ANDREAS, CSIR, HANDELMAN JOSEPH H, ADRIAN, CHRISTIAN, ANDREAS, HANDELMAN, JOSEPH, H.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60B5
IPC codes: B60B5