Fabricated vehicle wheel

US7059685B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Werner Kermelk · Much, DE
• Günter Stelzer · Bad Honnef, DE
• Karl Rode · Rübhausen, DE
• Alan Coleman · Southgate, US
• Thomas Heck · Wooster, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2004
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2006
• Expiry date: Apr 30, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60B3/10
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved fabricated spoked vehicle wheel. According to the invention, the fabricated vehicle wheel includes a conventional full wheel rim and a unique wheel disc joined to the wheel rim and defining a wheel axis. The wheel disc includes an inner wheel mounting pad, an outer annular rim connecting flange and a plurality of radial spokes connecting the inner wheel mounting pad to the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange extends in an axial direction and defines a side edge surface extending between each pair of adjacent spokes. A plurality of windows are formed in the wheel disc. Each of the windows has a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange and the side edge surface are configured such that the window extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc.