Plastically Deformable Wheel Yoke for Side Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current designs for vehicle wheel yokes either deform the spindle or destabilize structural elements during side impacts, leading to costly repairs and potential wheel failure, especially at high speeds.
Innovation Solution
A yoke with a U-shaped section and triangular side wings featuring a deformable zone of reduced resistance, allowing plastic deformation upon impact to modify the wheel camber, thereby distributing stress without compromising structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the spindle or structural element is designed to be rigid, then the wheel mounting stability is improved, but the cost of repair increases and the risk of wheel failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke is designed with differentiated local properties: the support plate and upper portions maintain high rigidity for stable wheel mounting, while the lower portions of the side wings contain plastic deformation zones that can yield under extreme impact. This local quality differentiation allows the structure to be both stable during normal operation and fail safely under exceptional conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The yoke structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a rigid support plate for mounting stability, stiffening strips for structural reinforcement, and controlled plastic deformation zones for energy absorption. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the overall system.
2Strength
If the yoke is designed with high rigidity, then the structural integrity is improved, but the ability to absorb impact energy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of impact energy into a beneficial controlled deformation process. The plastic deformation zones are specifically designed to absorb impact energy through controlled yielding, transforming the harmful kinetic energy from side impacts into useful plastic work that protects the wheel and other critical components from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The material parameters of the yoke are changed spatially: the lower portions of the side wings have reduced thickness or modified material properties to create controlled plastic deformation zones, while the upper portions maintain high strength. This parameter variation allows the structure to exhibit both rigidity and energy absorption capabilities.
3Strength
If the side wings are made thick and rigid, then the manufacturing strength is improved, but the plastic deformation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side wings are designed with local quality variations: thick and rigid in the upper portions for manufacturing strength and structural support, but with reduced thickness or modified geometry in the lower portions to enable controlled plastic deformation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing strength for manufacturing and deformation capability for impact absorption.
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 yoke design effectively absorbs side impacts by deforming plastically, reducing the risk of wheel failure and associated repair costs while maintaining structural rigidity, thus enhancing safety and reducing maintenance expenses.
Implementation Method 1
each side wing comprises a zone of reduced resistance which deforms plastically when a side impact is applied to the lower part of the wheel
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a shell (100), for mounting a wheel of a motor vehicle onto a structural or suspension element of a motor vehicle, which has a U-shaped cross-section and comprises: a wheel support plate (10) having an overall vertical orientation and two triangular side flanges (12) that are parallel and orthogonal to the plane of the support plate (10), each of which is defined by a first vertical side (22) adjacent to the support plate (10), a second substantially horizontal bottom side (24), and a third side (26). The invention is characterized in that each side flange (18) comprises an area (34, 44) of reduced resistance that deforms plastically when a side impact is applied to the bottom portion of the wheel, in a transverse direction (T) relative to the plane of the wheel.