Cast Wheel Rear Bead Design for Impact Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cast wheels face a challenge in balancing reduced mass with increased impact strength requirements, as existing designs either compromise on weight or weaken the rear edge region to reduce air inclusions during casting.
Innovation Solution
The cast wheel incorporates radially inwardly widening reduced-material portions in the rear peripheral bead, optimizing energy absorption by distributing these portions uniformly and configuring them to be L-shaped with increasing depth and concave curvature, while maintaining a connection with the tire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the wall thickness in the rear edge region is increased to meet impact strength requirements, then the impact strength is improved, but the mass of the cast wheel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating reduced-material portions with specific geometries (widening radially inward from a vertex region) at localized positions in the rear edge region. This allows the wall thickness to vary locally, providing enhanced energy absorption capacity where needed while maintaining thinner walls in other areas to reduce overall mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the rear edge region by providing multiple reduced-material portions that are uniformly peripherally distributed. Each reduced-material portion acts as an independent energy-absorbing element, collectively providing the required impact strength while minimizing overall material usage.
2Reliability
If channel-shaped indentations are provided in the rear edge region to reduce air inclusions during casting, then the casting quality is improved, but the strength of the rear edge region is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using channel-shaped indentations that extend circumferentially (as in prior art), the patent inverts the approach by creating reduced-material portions that widen radially inward from a vertex region. This inverted geometry achieves the dual benefit of facilitating air inclusion removal during casting while simultaneously enhancing energy absorption capacity and strength in the rear edge region.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cast wheel having a wheel rim base, a rear edge region, and a front edge region, wherein the front edge region is coupled to the rear edge region via the wheel rim base. The cast wheel includes at least one reduced-material portion structured and arranged in the rear edge region and a circumferential bead arranged in a rearward portion of the rear edge region, wherein at least a part of the reduced-material portion is located in a region of the circumferential bead and is structured and arranged to widen radially inward from a radially outwardly located vertex region towards a leveling-off end.