Adaptable wheel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919555-B2
Application number	US-201514823742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2015
Priority date	Aug 11, 2015
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A wheel assembly for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The wheel assembly is configured to improve the aerodynamics of the moving automotive vehicle yet maintain the aesthetic appearance of a spoked wheel. The wheel assembly includes a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub and interconnected to the rim. The spokes spaced apart from each other so as to define a plurality of openings, giving the wheel an aesthetic look. The spokes having a first part operatively connected to a second part. The wheel assembly includes an actuator mechanically attached to each of the plurality of spokes. The actuator is configured to move the first part with respect to the second part so as to cover each of the plurality of openings and form a generally solid disk when the wheel assembly reaches a predetermined speed so as to improve the aerodynamics of the wheel assembly.

First claim

I claim:

1. A wheel assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, the wheel assembly configured to improve the aerodynamics of an automotive vehicle, the wheel assembly comprising:
a hub and a rim;
a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub and interconnected to the rim, each of the plurality of spokes spaced apart from each other so as to define a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of spokes having a first part hingedly connected to a second part about a support rod, the support rod extending along a radial axis of the hub and spaced apart from a plane of the hub; and
an actuator mechanically attached to the support rod of each of the plurality of spokes, the actuator configured to move the support rod towards the hub so as to position the rod closer to the plane of the hub and spread the first part and the second part away from each other so as to cover each of the plurality of openings and form a generally solid disk when the wheel assembly reaches a predetermined speed so as to improve the aerodynamics of the automotive vehicle.

2. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of spokes is movable from a first position to a second position, wherein first part is a planar member and the second part is a planar member, the first part is pivotably connected to the second part, the first part is angled with respect to the second part so as to form a generally “V” shaped cross-section, wherein in the first position the first and second part positioned with respect to each other to form the “V” shaped cross-section with the plurality of openings are disposed therebetween, and in the second position the first and second part are flattened so as to close the plurality of openings.

3. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the first part and the second part each include a distal end opposite a proximal end, and an inner side edge opposite of an outer side edge and extending between the distal and proximal ends so as to define an isosceles trapezoid, wherein the distal end of the first part and second part are disposed adjacent the hub and the inner side edge of the first part is pivotably coupled to the inner side edge of the second part.

4. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the actuator is configured to urge the outer side edge of the first part towards the outer side edge of the second part.

5. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a servo motor.

6. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 5 , further including a sensor and a controller, the sensor configured to detect a relative speed of the wheel assembly, the controller actuating the servo motor so as to move the outer side edge of the first and second part towards each other when the relative speed of the wheel assembly reaches a predetermined speed, and wherein the controller is further configured to move the outer side edges of the first and second part away from each other when a speed of the wheel assembly is below the predetermined speed.

7. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a biasing member.

8. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 7 , further including a base, the base having a plurality of elongated supports extending radially from the hub, a carriage slidably mounted to the base, and a link having a first end pivotably attached to the inner side edge of both the first and second part and a second end pivotably attached to the carriage, the biasing member configured to continuously pull the carriage towards the hub, wherein a predetermined centrifugal force generated by a rotation of the wheel assembly urges the carriage away from the hub so as to move the outer side edges of the first and second part towards each other.

9. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated supports is an elongated rod.

10. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the carriage includes a channel the elongated rod disposed within the channel.

11. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated supports further includes a spring support, wherein the biasing member is fixedly attached to the spring support on one end and is fixedly attached to the carriage on the other end, the carriage disposed between the rim and the spring support.

12. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the biasing member is a helical spring.

13. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 7 , further including a plurality of support rods extending radially from the hub, wherein the first part and the second part include a sleeve disposed along the inner side edge, the sleeve mounted to a respective one of the plurality of support rods so as to allow the first part to pivot with respect to the second part about the respective on of the plurality of support rods.

14. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 13 , further including a base, the biasing member fixed on one end to the base and on the other end to a respective plurality of support rods.

15. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the plurality of support rods and the plurality of elongated supports are made of a durable and rigid material.

16. The wheel assembly as set forth in claim 15 , wherein durable and rigid material is steel.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Wippler Erik Anthony

Classifications

• Y02T10/88

  Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses · CPC title

• B60B2900/513

  Cooling, e.g. of brakes · CPC title

• B60B2900/1216

  due to air-drag · CPC title

• B60B19/10

  with cooling fins · CPC title

• B60B7/065

  to the disc · CPC title