Composite Wheel Bead Hump Geometry for Low-Pressure Tire Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Carbon fiber wheels are incompatible with existing bead lock ring designs, preventing their use in off-road conditions where lower tire pressure is necessary, as tapping threaded holes compromises the structural integrity of carbon fiber components.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece composite carbon fiber wheel with a tire lock geometry that includes a bead hump design with specific angles and chamfers to securely lock the tire bead without the need for bolted bead locks, maintaining structural integrity and allowing operation at low tire pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bead lock rings with bolts are used, then tire seating reliability at low pressure is improved, but structural integrity of carbon fiber wheels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bolted bead lock ring from the system entirely. Instead, the tire locking function is integrated directly into the wheel rim structure through molded-in bead humps with locking geometry. This extraction eliminates the need for threaded holes and bolts that would compromise carbon fiber structural integrity while maintaining tire seating reliability at low pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the bead lock ring function with the wheel rim structure itself. The bead humps are molded as integral parts of the carbon fiber wheel, combining the rim and bead lock functions into a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate bead lock components and their associated fasteners.
2Reliability
If bolted bead lock rings are installed, then tire slippage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex bolted bead lock ring assembly. The tire slippage prevention function is achieved through simplified molded bead humps with integrated locking geometry, removing multiple bolts, nuts, and the bead lock ring itself from the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the tire locking function directly into the wheel rim structure through molded bead humps. This integration eliminates the need for separate bead lock components, bolts, and assembly hardware, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining slippage prevention capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If threaded holes are tapped in carbon fiber wheels, then bead lock installation is enabled, but manufacturing precision and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for threaded holes entirely by eliminating the bolted bead lock ring system. The bead humps are molded as integral features of the carbon fiber wheel during manufacturing, requiring no post-manufacturing hole creation or fastener installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bead lock geometry is incorporated into the wheel structure during the initial molding process. The bead humps are formed as integral parts of the carbon fiber wheel before the wheel is assembled or used, eliminating the need for subsequent drilling, tapping, or fastener installation that would compromise structural integrity.
4Reliability
If traditional metal wheels with bead lock rings are used, then durability at low pressure is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes carbon fiber composite material for the wheel construction, which provides high strength-to-weight ratio. The molded bead humps in carbon fiber achieve the necessary durability and tire locking capability at low pressures while significantly reducing wheel weight compared to traditional metal wheels with bead lock rings.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite wheel for use at normal tire pressures as well as at reduced tire pressures may include a spoke section with a mating surface, a barrel section in contact with the spoke section at said mating surface, and a bead hump with tire lock geometry on at least the spoke section. The barrel section may further include a bead hump with the tire lock geometry.