Basic Motors has filed a patent utility for wheels made out of a mixture of metallic and composite materials, which the automaker claims might scale back weight and supplies value.

Most production-car wheels are made out of aluminum or metal, and are normally solid or solid as a single piece. The patent utility, which was printed by america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Oct. 10, proposes two-piece wheels made out of metallic and fire-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite.

Basic Motors hybrid metallic and composite wheel patent picture

As described within the utility, the wheel barrel can be metallic, whereas the wheel face and spokes can be made out of FRP, which might embody carbon fiber as a part of its composition. The spokes is also made hole, making room for metallic inserts for added stiffness.

The metallic barrel and composite might be connected utilizing adhesive, metallic fasteners, or by over-molding the composite piece. On this case, materials would circulation into pre-made holes or slots within the metallic wheel barrel because the composite piece is molded into form.

Basic Motors hybrid metallic and composite wheel patent picture

Some efficiency vehicles, together with GM’s personal Chevrolet Corvette Z06, already provide carbon-fiber wheels which can be lighter than equal metallic wheels. However GM believes the hybrid design will present higher impression resistance, sturdiness, and repairability by maintaining the extra damage-prone barrel part metallic.

These wheels would even have an look just like all-carbon-fiber wheels, together with the opportunity of exposed-carbon spokes, in accordance with GM, including that the composite wheel face affords extra freedom to designers. However whereas it looks like a smart compromise, there is no assure {that a} hybrid-material wheel will attain manufacturing. Patent functions usually are not product plans.