Wheel rim assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304243-B2
Application number	US-202117536642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A wheel cover assembly for a wheel of a motor vehicle may include a wheel body and a cover portion arranged on an outside of the wheel body. The cover portion may be guided on the wheel body so as to be movable relative to the wheel body between an open position allowing an air flow between the outside and an inside of the wheel body, and a closed position preventing the air flow. Conversion from the open position to the closed position takes place automatically based on an operating state of the wheel. The cover portion may be configured as a disc-like component covering the outside. The cover portion may be arranged movably parallel to an axis of the wheel body between the open position and the closed position, in the open position opening a ring gap between an edge of the cover portion and the wheel body.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A wheel cover assembly for a wheel of a motor vehicle, the wheel cover assembly comprising:
a wheel body; and
a cover portion arranged on an outside of the wheel body,
wherein the cover portion is operably coupled to the wheel body so as to be movable relative to the wheel body between an open position allowing an air flow between the outside and an inside of the wheel body, and a closed position preventing the air flow,
wherein conversion from the open position to the closed position takes place automatically based on an operating state of the wheel,
wherein the cover portion is configured as a disc-like component covering the outside,
wherein the cover portion is movable axially along an axis of rotation of the wheel body between the open position and the closed position,
wherein in the open position, a ring gap is formed between an edge of the cover portion and the wheel body, and
wherein the cover portion rotates about the axis of rotation of the wheel body to move axially between the open position, in which the cover portion is disposed away from the wheel body, and the closed position, in which the cover portion is disposed proximate to the wheel body.

2. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion is arranged so as to be freely rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to the wheel body.

3. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion is configured as a component having a planar surface region, and closed on a side facing the outside.

4. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion is mounted on the wheel body by a ring web of the cover portion being in engagement with a ring groove of the wheel body,
wherein the ring web and the ring groove extend around the axis of rotation of the wheel body, and
wherein the axis of rotation of the wheel body extends through a center of the ring web and the ring groove.

5. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 4 , further comprising means for connecting a movement of the cover portion in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation to a rotational movement about the axis of rotation.

6. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a rotational movement of the cover portion about the axis of rotation is limited in rotational angle according to a design of the ring gap.

7. A wheel cover assembly for a wheel of a motor vehicle, the wheel cover assembly comprising:
a wheel body; and
a cover portion arranged on an outside of the wheel body,
wherein the cover portion is guided on the wheel body so as to be movable relative to the wheel body between an open position allowing an air flow between the outside and an inside of the wheel body, and a closed position preventing the air flow,
wherein conversion from the open position to the closed position takes place automatically based on an operating state of the wheel,
wherein the cover portion is configured as a disc-like component covering the outside, the cover portion is movable axially along an axis of rotation of the wheel body between the open position and the closed position, in the open position opening a ring gap between an edge of the cover portion and the wheel body,
wherein a rotational movement of the cover portion about the axis of rotation is limited in rotational angle according to a design of the ring gap, and
wherein end points of the rotational movement, limited in rotational angle, are secured by magnetic bodies.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Engelke Julius Maximilian
• Rausch Jessica Rebecca
• Dhake Abhinav
• Pasligh Niels

Classifications

• B60B2900/513

  Cooling, e.g. of brakes · CPC title

• B60B2900/1216

  due to air-drag · CPC title

• B60B2900/931

  Magnetic effects · CPC title

• B60B7/20

  having an element mounted for rotation independently of wheel rotation · CPC title

• B60B7/063

  to the rim · CPC title