Wheel opening closure system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469155-B2
Application number	US-201213724205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2012
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle is provided with a hub and a collar. The hub extends longitudinally inward from a wheel. The collar is disposed over the hub and is mounted for translation relative to the hub. The vehicle also includes a panel assembly having a support and first and second panels. The support extends radially outward from the collar, and the first and second panels are each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support. The panels pivot between an expanded position and a collapsed position and translate radially for selectively closing a wheel opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a hub extending longitudinally inward from a wheel;
a collar disposed over the hub and mounted for translation relative to the hub;
a panel assembly with a support extending radially outward from the collar and first and second panels each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support for pivoting between an expanded position and a collapsed position and translating radially for selectively closing a wheel opening;
an actuator mounted to the wheel for providing an input force in a first and a second direction;
a translation adjustment mechanism coupled to the actuator for adjusting the collar and panel assembly longitudinally inward and outward in response to the input force; and
a pivot adjustment mechanism coupled to the actuator for pivoting the panels between the expanded and collapsed positions in response to the input force;
wherein the translation adjustment mechanism and the pivot adjustment mechanism are coupled to each other to collectively adjust between a closed position where the panel assembly is adjusted longitudinally outward and expanded to engage adjacent wheel spokes about the wheel opening to restrict airflow therethrough, and an open position where the panel assembly is adjusted longitudinally inward and collapsed to allow air flow through the wheel opening.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the actuator further comprises a mechanical actuator with a tube mounted radially relative to the hub and a mass mounted for translation within the tube, the mass translating radially outward when subjected to centrifugal forces for providing the input force.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a slip ring assembly for electrically connecting the actuator to a vehicle battery.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the hub includes a peripheral surface and a recess is formed into the peripheral surface;
wherein the collar further comprises a base with a sleeve extending over the hub, the sleeve having a pair of angled slots formed therein;
wherein the translation adjustment mechanism further comprises first and second discs constrained within the recess for rotating about the hub in opposing directions relative to each other in response to the input force, each disc having at least one flange adapted to engage the sleeve within the angled slot for converting rotational motion of the disc to translational motion of the collar and the panel assembly.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 further comprising:
a pivot block coupled to the actuator and coupled to each of the first and second discs;
wherein the discs close the wheel opening in response to the input force acting in the first direction by translating the panel assembly longitudinally outward;
wherein the discs open the wheel opening in response to an input force in a second direction by translating the panel assembly longitudinally inward.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the collar further comprises a base with a sleeve extending over the hub, and wherein the pivot adjustment mechanism further comprises:
first and second rings disposed over the sleeve and mounted for translation with the collar, the rings also being mounted for rotation about the sleeve in opposing directions relative to each other in response to the input force; and
a projection extending radially outward from each ring to engage one of the first and second panels for converting rotational motion of the ring to pivotal motion of the corresponding panel.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising:
a pivot block coupled to the actuator and coupled to each of the first and second rings;
wherein the rings close the wheel opening in response to an input force in a first direction by expanding the panels;
wherein the rings open the wheel opening in response to an input force in a second direction by collapsing the panels.

8. A system comprising:
a hub extending inward from a wheel;
a sleeve disposed over the hub;
a support extending radially outward from the sleeve with a panel pivotally connected thereto; and
a ring mounted for rotation about the sleeve in response to an input force, the ring having a projection extending radially outward therefrom for engaging the panel for converting rotational motion to pivotal motion of the panel for opening/closing a wheel opening.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
the sleeve disposed over the hub with an angled slot formed therein and a panel extending radially outward therefrom; and
a disc mounted for rotation about the hub in response to an input force, the disc having a flange adapted to engage the angled slot for converting rotational motion to translational motion of the sleeve and panel for opening/closing a wheel opening.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:
a pin extending radially inward from the flange to engage the sleeve within the angled slot.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the hub includes a peripheral surface and a recess is formed into the peripheral surface, and wherein the disc is longitudinally constrained within the recess.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the angled slot is formed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis such that the flange engages the angled slot when the disc is rotating about the hub for translating the sleeve and panel longitudinally outward when the disc is rotating in a first direction, and longitudinally inward when the disc is rotating in a second direction.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:
an actuator for providing the input force;
a pivot block connected to the actuator;
wherein the disc further comprises a first disc and a second disc, each disc being mounted for rotation about the hub in opposing directions relative to each other in response to an input force.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a first post extending radially outward from the flange of the first disc;
a first link pivotally connected to an inner surface of the pivot block and to the first post;
a second post extending radially outward from the flange of the second disc; and
a second link pivotally connected to the inner surface of the pivot block and to the second post;
wherein the first and second discs rotate in opposite directions in response to translation of the pivot block.

15. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
an actuator for providing the input force;
a pivot block connected to the actuator;
wherein the ring further comprises a first ring and a second ring, each ring being mounted for rotation about the sleeve in opposing directions relative to each other in response to the input force.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a first bar pivotally coupled to an outer surface of the pivot block and to an intermediate portion of the projection of the first ring; and
a second bar pivotally coupled to the outer surface of the pivot block and to an intermediate portion of the projection of the second ring;
wherein the first ring and the second ring rotate in opposite directions in response to translation of the pivot block.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first bar further comprises:
a ball formed at one of a first end and the outer surface of the pivot block; and
a socket formed at the other of the first end and the outer surface of the pivot block.

18. The system of claim 8 wherein the panel further comprises a first panel and a second panel each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support for pivoting between a closed position where the panels

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Platto Gordon M
• Lechkun David Michael
• Meyer Anthony Lee
• Richards Brad Alan

Classifications

• B60B7/04

  built-up of several main parts (B60B7/01, B60B7/20 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60B7/00 Primary

  Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting {, venting,} or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall {, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins (wheels with cooling fins not provided on the wheel cover disc B60B19/10; apparatus or tools for removing or attaching cover discs hub caps or the like B60B31/06)} · CPC title

• B60B7/20

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

• B60B2900/513

  Cooling, e.g. of brakes · CPC title