Wheel holder
A wheel holder ( 2 ) for fastening to a wheel ( 1 ), in particular to a wheel ( 1 ) of a motor vehicle, comprises at least two arms ( 22, 23, 24 ) extending outward from a center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ) in a radial direction; each of the arms ( 22, 23, 24 ) having at least one movable element ( 32, 33, 34 ) that is movable in the radial direction; a rotation element ( 40 ) that is arranged in the center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ) such that it can rotate; at least two coupling elements ( 52, 53, 54 ) each extending between one of the movable elements ( 32, 33, 34 ) and the central rotation element ( 40 ) such that the movable elements ( 32, 33, 34 ) are movable in the radial direction by rotation of the rotation element ( 40 ); and at least one drive device ( 63, 64 ) which is connected to one of the movable elements ( 32, 33, 34 ) via a force transmitting element ( 73, 74 ) and which is designed to apply, via the force transmitting element ( 73,74 ), a force to the movable element ( 32, 33, 34 ) that is directed towards the center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ).
1. A wheel holder ( 2 ) for fastening to a wheel ( 1 ), including a wheel ( 1 ) of a motor vehicle, the wheel holder ( 2 ) comprising:
at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) extending outward from a center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ) in a radial direction, each of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) having at least one movable element ( 32 , 33 , 34 ) that is movable in the radial direction;
a synchronization system ( 40 , 52 , 53 , 54 ) which is designed to synchronize the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ), the synchronization system ( 40 , 52 , 53 , 54 ) comprising:
a central rotation element ( 40 ) that is disposed in the center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ) such that it can rotate; and
at least two coupling elements ( 52 , 53 , 54 ) each extending between one of the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ) and the central rotation element ( 40 ) such that the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ) are movable in the radial direction by rotation of the central rotation element ( 40 ); and
a drive system ( 63 , 64 , 73 , 74 ) which is designed to drive the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ), the drive system ( 63 , 64 , 73 , 74 ) comprising at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ) and at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 );
wherein the at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ) is designed to generate a force and to transfer the same via the at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 ) to one of the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ) such that the force acting on the at least one movable element ( 32 , 33 , 34 ) is directed towards the center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ); and
wherein the at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ) comprises a wheel, a roller or a drum ( 93 , 94 ), and wherein the at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 ) is adapted to be wound onto the wheel, the roller or the drum ( 93 , 94 ).
2. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 ) extends substantially parallel to one of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ), including along one of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ).
3. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 ) comprises a chain, a wire, a cable pull or a belt.
4. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the wheel, the roller or the drum ( 93 , 94 ) is adapted to be rotated about an axle ( 113 , 114 ) that is aligned orthogonal to a common plane of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ).
5. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the drive system ( 63 , 64 , 73 , 74 ) is a drive system ( 63 , 64 , 73 , 74 ) that is independent of the synchronization system ( 40 , 52 , 53 , 54 ).
6. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 ) comprises a chain, a wire, a cable pull or a belt.
7. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel ( 1 ), the roller or the drum ( 93 , 94 ) is adapted to be rotated about an axle ( 113 , 114 ) that is aligned orthogonal to a common plane of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ).
8. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the wheel ( 1 ), the roller or the drum ( 93 , 94 ) is adapted to be rotated about an axle ( 113 , 114 ) that is aligned orthogonal to a common plane of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ).
9. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the drive system ( 63 , 64 , 73 , 74 ) is independent of the synchronization system ( 40 , 52 , 53 , 54 ).
10. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ) and the at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 ) are formed as independent elements separate from the rotation element ( 4 ) and the at least two coupling elements ( 52 , 53 , 54 ).
11. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ) comprises an elastic element ( 83 ), including a spiral spring, which is adapted to drive the at least one force transmitting element ( 73 , 74 ).
12. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ) is disposed outside of the center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ), wherein the at least one drive device ( 63 , 63 ) is disposed in a region between the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ).
13. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel holder ( 2 ) comprises at least two drive devices ( 63 , 64 ) and at least two force transmitting elements ( 73 , 74 ), wherein the at least two drive devices ( 63 , 64 ) are arranged between different arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ).
14. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the central rotation element ( 40 ) is adapted to be rotated about an axle ( 30 ) that is aligned orthogonal to a common plane of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ); and wherein the at least two coupling elements ( 52 , 53 , 54 ) extend substantially parallel to the common plane of the at least two arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ).
15. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the central rotation element ( 40 ) comprises a central portion and at least two rotation element arms ( 42 , 43 , 44 ), and wherein each of the at least two coupling elements ( 52 , 53 , 54 ) is connected to one of the at least two rotation element arms ( 42 , 43 , 44 ).
16. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two coupling elements ( 52 , 53 , 54 ) are each pivotably connected to the central rotation element ( 40 ) and the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ).
17. The wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel holder ( 2 ) comprises three arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ); and wherein the three arms ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) are arranged at angular distances of 120° about the center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ).
18. A method of mounting a wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , to a wheel ( 1 ), including to a wheel ( 1 ) of a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
moving the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ) in synchronous manner outward in a radial direction so as to increase the arm lengths of the arms;
applying the wheel holder ( 2 ) to a wheel ( 1 ), including a wheel ( 1 ) of a motor vehicle; and
moving the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 34 , 34 ), with the aid of the force exerted by the at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ), in synchronous manner in the direction towards the center ( 28 ) of the wheel holder ( 2 ) in order to fix the wheel holder ( 2 ) to the wheel ( 2 ).
19. A method of removing the wheel holder ( 2 ) according to claim 1 from the wheel ( 1 ), said method comprising:
moving the at least one movable elements ( 32 , 33 , 34 ) in synchronous manner outward in the radial direction against the force exerted by the at least one drive device ( 63 , 64 ).