Composite Wheel Assembly With Metal Inserts for Lower Unsprung Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle wheels made of metal are heavy, leading to reduced acceleration and suspension performance, necessitating the development of a lighter wheel assembly that maintains durability.
Innovation Solution
A wheel assembly comprising a plastic wheel with integrated metal inserts, featuring a ring-shaped insert with alternating first and second areas, and a cover area surrounding the inner area, enhancing structural integrity and stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wheel is made of metal material, then durability is ensured, but weight becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly combines a plastic wheel body with metal inserts to create a composite structure. The plastic material provides lightweight properties while the metal inserts provide durability and strength where needed, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and durability maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire wheel from metal, the invention applies metal inserts only in specific locations where strength and durability are most needed. This localized application of metal material maintains durability while minimizing the overall weight increase that would result from a fully metal construction.
2Reliability
If a wheel is made of metal material, then durability is ensured, but acceleration performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction using plastic for the wheel body and metal for inserts creates a wheel that is both lightweight (improving acceleration) and durable (maintaining reliability). The reduced overall weight compared to a full metal wheel directly improves acceleration performance while the metal inserts ensure durability is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
By concentrating metal material only in areas requiring strength and durability, the invention minimizes the overall weight of the wheel assembly. This localized approach allows the wheel to accelerate more efficiently than a full metal wheel while still providing durability where the metal inserts are positioned.
3Reliability
If a wheel is made of metal material, then durability is ensured, but suspension performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of plastic and metal materials in the wheel assembly creates optimal suspension performance. The plastic portion provides flexibility and shock absorption capabilities, while the metal inserts provide structural stability, together delivering superior suspension performance compared to solid metal wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
The strategic placement of metal inserts in areas requiring structural support, combined with the plastic material's inherent flexibility, creates a wheel assembly that effectively manages suspension forces. This localized material distribution optimizes both durability and suspension performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel assembly includes a wheel, and an insert that is inserted into the wheel. In particular, the insert includes: an outer area defining a side of the insert in a radially outward direction, wherein the radially outward direction is defined as a direction in which a center of the wheel faces an outer peripheral surface of the wheel; and an inner area extending from the outer area in a radially inward direction opposite to the radially outward direction, and configured to define a side of the insert in the radially inward direction. The wheel includes: an insertion area configured such that the outer area is inserted thereinto; and a cover area extending from the insertion area in the radially inward direction and configured to surround a portion of the inner area.