Cathodic Hub and Brake Rotor with Sacrificial Anodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Corrosion of hub and brake rotor assemblies, particularly in coastal areas due to salt water, remains a challenge despite the use of various coatings, necessitating improved corrosion protection.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sacrificial anode system, where aluminum or zinc-based anodes are secured to the wheel hub and brake rotor, providing cathodic protection to prevent corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coatings are applied to hubs and rotors to prevent corrosion, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the protection is still insufficient especially in coastal areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies sacrificial anodes made of aluminum or zinc that are intentionally designed to corrode preferentially and be consumed over time. These disposable anodes provide continuous cathodic protection to the hub and rotor, sacrificing themselves to protect the more valuable metal components from corrosion in salt water environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial anodes act as an intermediary element between the corrosive salt water environment and the metal hub/rotor components. By introducing this intermediate protective layer that corrodes first, the direct harmful interaction between salt water and the structural metal components is prevented.
2Reliability
If sacrificial anodes are secured to the wheel hub and brake rotor, then corrosion protection is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sacrificial anodes with the existing hub and rotor assembly by securing them to the outer periphery of the rotor. This integration approach adds corrosion protection functionality to the existing wheel assembly without requiring a complete redesign, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 sacrificial anode system effectively reduces corrosion by acting as a sacrificial layer, protecting the metal components from saltwater-induced corrosion, thereby enhancing the longevity and reliability of the wheel and brake rotor assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention relates to corrosion resistance of such an assembly by use of cathodic protection
Implementation Method 2
a first sacrificial anode secured to the at least one of the wheel hub and brake rotor
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel hub and brake rotor assembly is disclosed which is resistant to corrosion via cathodic protection. One or more sacrificial anodes may be mounted on the hub and/or the rotor.