Ballistic Armor Wheel Assembly for Protected Run-Flat Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel technologies, particularly for large construction and mining vehicles, face challenges such as high replacement costs and downtime due to tire deformation, punctures, and blowouts, necessitating improvements in wheel design.
Innovation Solution
A wheel assembly featuring an inner rim, an outer rim, gas springs for relative movement, and a ballistic armor cover plate to protect the gas springs, with optional components like a disk, tread assemblies, and removable sidewalls for enhanced durability and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic tires are used to absorb forces during vehicle operation, then the tire can reduce deformation and provide cushioning, but the tire is susceptible to punctures, blowouts, and rapid tread wear that lead to shortened lifespan and high replacement costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pneumatic tire entirely from the wheel assembly, replacing it with a non-pneumatic design that uses solid components (rim, tread assembly, and mechanical spring elements) to absorb forces. This extraction eliminates the vulnerability to punctures and blowouts inherent in pneumatic tires while maintaining the necessary shock absorption capability through the mechanical spring system.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly employs composite structural elements combining the rigid outer rim and tread assembly with flexible mechanical spring components. This composite design provides both the structural integrity needed to resist punctures and the elastic properties required for shock absorption, replacing the homogeneous pneumatic tire structure.
2Reliability
If the wheel assembly uses gas springs to provide relative movement between inner and outer rims, then run-flat capability and structural integrity are improved, but the gas springs are vulnerable to environmental damage requiring protective coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The ballistic armor cover plate serves as an intermediary protective barrier between the gas springs and the external environment. This cover plate shields the gas springs from environmental hazards such as debris, water, and contaminants while allowing the gas springs to maintain their run-flat capability and structural function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate provides beforehand protection to the gas springs, preventing environmental damage before it can occur. This proactive protective measure ensures the gas springs remain intact and functional throughout the operational lifespan of the wheel assembly, maintaining run-flat capability without degradation from environmental exposure.
3Device complexity
If conventional tires are used without protective armor, then the wheel assembly is simpler in design, but critical components are exposed to damage from debris and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The ballistic armor cover plate performs multiple functions: it protects the gas springs from environmental damage, maintains the structural integrity of the wheel assembly, and contributes to the overall protective envelope of the non-pneumatic wheel system. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive protection without requiring separate dedicated protective components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides improved structural integrity, reduced downtime, and increased lifespan by allowing run-flat capability and protecting critical components from environmental damage, thereby reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel assembly for a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may further include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. A ballistic armor cover plate may extend between the outer and inner rim on an outboard side of the wheel assembly to protectively cover the gas springs.