Fiber Reinforced Wheel With Embedded Insert And Damage Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber-reinforced wheels face issues with abrasion, damage detection, high tooling costs, design variability, and counterfeiting, along with challenges in verifying authenticity and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design featuring a rim and spoke structure made from fiber-reinforced material, with an embedded insert that transfers loads and includes a protective cover for damage indication, and integrated features for authenticity verification, using resin transfer molding and potentially metal or ceramic inserts for weight reduction, along with damage detection mechanisms and aerodynamic enhancements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If fiber reinforced material is used for wheel construction, then weight is reduced and design flexibility is improved, but susceptibility to abrasion and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fiber reinforced plastic material as a composite material to construct the wheel, combining the advantages of low weight with enhanced mechanical properties. The composite structure allows optimization of both weight reduction and damage resistance through material selection and fiber orientation.
2Strength
If traditional manufacturing methods are used for fiber reinforced wheels, then structural integrity is achieved, but detection of structural damage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a color layer within the wheel structure that changes color or reveals visible indicators when structural damage occurs, such as when fibers separate or the wheel experiences impact. This allows easy visual detection of damage while maintaining structural integrity through the fiber reinforced construction.
3Manufacturing precision
If high tooling costs are incurred for wheel manufacturing, then manufacturing precision and quality are improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wheel manufacturing process into separate stages, with the color layer and structural layers being applied or inserted at different times. This segmentation allows for simpler, less expensive tooling while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled assembly of components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If fiber reinforced material is used without protective measures, then design flexibility is maximized, but vulnerability to impact and abrasion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a color layer that serves both as a design element and as a protective indicator system. This layer is positioned to provide beforehand protection and early warning of impact damage, allowing designers to maintain flexibility while accounting for vulnerability through built-in protective and indicator features.
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 solution reduces the need for post-processing, allows for design flexibility, enhances structural integrity, and provides means for authenticating and monitoring wheel condition, while minimizing weight and tooling costs.
Implementation Method 1
The fiber reinforced plastic material is formed by resin transfer molding
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention is directed to a wheel (1) which comprises a rim (4) and a thereto connected spoke structure (3) made out of fiber reinforced plastic material. An insert (2) is embedded in the fiber reinforced material at the center of the spoke structure (3). The insert (2) protrudes in at least one region above the surface of the fiber reinforced plastic material (16) forming at least one contact area (10, 14, 5).