Corrugated Heat Shield Retainer to Prevent Wheel Abrasion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat shields and retainers for vehicle wheels, particularly those with carbon disc brakes, are prone to deformation and deflection, leading to potential contact with the wheel tube well and resulting in abrasion and damage, especially under high temperature and vibrational conditions.
Innovation Solution
A corrugated retainer design for connecting heat shield panels, featuring a central elongate panel with corrugations along its length, providing increased stiffness and strength while maintaining a minimal profile, thereby reducing the likelihood of deformation and contact with the wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If thin metal panels are used for heat shields to minimize weight, then the weight of the heat shield assembly is reduced, but the heat shield becomes more prone to deformation and deflection under high temperature and centrifugal forces
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer transitions from a flat two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional corrugated structure by adding longitudinal ribs. This dimensional change increases the moment of inertia and structural stiffness without significantly increasing weight, allowing thin metal panels to maintain their weight advantage while gaining deformation resistance through the corrugated geometry
2Device complexity
If flat retainers are used to connect heat shield panels, then the profile is minimized and weight is reduced, but the retainers provide areas of weakness that are prone to deflection and plasticity under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer incorporates curved corrugations (ribs) along its length, transforming the flat structure into a corrugated one. These curved geometric features increase structural stiffness and resistance to deflection and plasticity while maintaining a low overall profile, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If seams are created by connectors joining adjacent heat shield panels, then the panels can be assembled together, but the seams become thicker and create points more likely to contact the wheel tube well during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugated retainer is pre-formed with a three-dimensional corrugated structure before assembly. This preliminary structural preparation allows the retainer to maintain its shape and provide adequate clearance between the heat shield assembly and wheel tube well during operation, preventing the seams from contacting the tube well and causing abrasion
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 corrugated retainer effectively prevents heat shield panels from deflecting into the wheel, minimizing wheel abrasion and damage by enhancing the structural integrity of the heat shield assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the central elongate panel is corrugated, with corrugations running along the length of the central elongate panel from the top end to the bottom end
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer for connecting two panels of a heat shield assembly, the retainer comprising: a central elongate panel having a length l and a width w, a top end, a bottom end and first and second long sides extending from the top end to the bottom end; a first side panel extending along the first long side of the central elongate panel and a second side panel extending along the second long side of the central elongate panel; and wherein the central elongate panel is corrugated, with corrugations running along the length of the central elongate panel from the top end to the bottom end.