Method for producing a motor vehicle rim from aluminium or an aluminium alloy for a wheel of a motor vehicle, and corresponding motor vehicle rim

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12023957-B2
Application number	US-202017787728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2020
Priority date	Jan 14, 2020
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A method for producing an automobile rim made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy for a wheel of an automobile, the automobile rim having a rim bed bounded on opposite sides by an outer flange and an inner flange, a hub with a center recess and a bolt circle, as well as a rim center connecting the rim bed and the hub to one another, the rim center being designed with a plurality of spokes spaced apart in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the automobile rim. The automobile rim is produced in one piece and continuously in a casting mold by die casting of a casting material, wherein the automobile rim has, at least in some areas, a low wall thickness not exceeding 15 mm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for producing an automobile rim from aluminum or an aluminum alloy for a wheel of an automobile, wherein the automobile rim has a rim bed bounded on opposite sides by an outer flange and an inner flange, a hub with a center recess and a bolt circle, as well as a rim center connecting the rim bed and the hub with one another, wherein the rim center is formed with a plurality of spokes spaced apart in a circumferential direction with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the automobile rim, wherein the automobile rim is produced in one piece and continuously in a casting mold by die casting a casting material, and that the automobile rim has, at least in some areas, a low wall thickness not exceeding 15 mm, wherein
each spoke of the plurality of spokes is adjoined on a first side, in the circumferential direction, by an intermediate spoke region, and is adjoined on a second side, in the circumferential direction, by a further intermediate spoke region, each spoke being present between the intermediate spoke region and the further intermediate spoke region, when viewed in the circumferential direction;
an intermediate spoke element, produced by die casting and having the low wall thickness at least in some areas, is formed in the further intermediate spoke region, and not in the intermediate spoke region, and
each spoke is connected to an adjacent spoke, in the circumferential direction, via the intermediate spoke element; wherein the intermediate spoke region is formed extending radially inward from the rim bed, and extends further inward, in a radial direction, than the further intermediate spoke region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automobile rim is produced in some areas with a first wall thickness exceeding 15 mm and in some areas, with a second wall thickness equal to the low wall thickness.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the spokes is formed by die casting with one supporting wall which has the first wall thickness, and at least one wall having the second wall thickness.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a ring is formed on the automobile rim, such that the ring starts from the outer flange, extends inwardly in a radial direction, overlaps the rim center at least in some areas, and has the low wall thickness; and
the automobile rim is formed in such a way that the ring has an extension in the radial direction which is greater by a factor of at least 1.25, at least 1.5, at least 1.75 or at least 2.0 than an extension of the outer flange and/or the inner flange in the same direction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate spoke region is formed extending further inward in the radial direction than the further intermediate spoke region.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate spoke element is produced extending in the radial direction with a load-bearing capacity equal to at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 75% of the load capacity of one of the spokes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate spoke element is produced in the radial direction with a maximum load-bearing capacity not exceeding 50%, at most 40%, at most 30% or at most 25% of the load capacity of one of the spokes.

8. An automobile rim made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy for a wheel of an automobile, the automobile rim comprising: a rim bed bounded on opposite sides by an outer flange and an inner flange, a hub with a center recess and a bolt circle, and a rim center connecting the rim bed and the hub with one another, wherein the rim center is formed with a plurality of spokes spaced apart in a circumferential direction with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the automobile rim, wherein the automobile rim is produced in one piece and continuously in a casting mold by die casting a casting material and that the automobile rim has, at least in some areas, a low wall thickness not exceeding 15 mm, wherein
each spoke of the plurality of spokes is adjoined on a first side, in the circumferential direction, by an intermediate spoke region, and is adjoined on a second side, in the circumferential direction, by a further intermediate spoke region, each spoke being present between the intermediate spoke region and the further intermediate spoke region, when viewed in the circumferential direction;
an intermediate spoke element, produced by die casting and having the low wall thickness at least in some areas, is formed in the further intermediate spoke region, and not in the intermediate spoke region, and
each spoke is connected to an adjacent spoke, in the circumferential direction, via the intermediate spoke element; wherein the intermediate spoke region is formed extending radially inward from the rim bed, and extends further inward, in a radial direction, than the further intermediate spoke region.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Reiling Jaan Mattes
• Gaugler Jan
• Hummel Marc

Classifications

• B60B2360/104

  Aluminum · CPC title

• B60B3/005 Primary

  in the section adjacent to rim · CPC title

• B60B2310/202

  by casting · CPC title

• Y02T10/86

  Optimisation of rolling resistance, e.g. weight reduction · CPC title

• B60Y2200/11

  Passenger cars; Automobiles · CPC title