Fiber Reinforced Plastic Wheel Butt Strap Rim Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber-reinforced plastic wheels in motor sports applications have insufficient mechanical connection between the spoke structure and the rim, leading to inadequate load-carrying capacity.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design featuring a rim and wheel center with spokes that include butt straps extending radially, bonded to the rim with additional material layers, and a wheel center with an embedded insert, where reinforcing fibers interconnect the rim and insert for enhanced load distribution and transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If fiber reinforced plastic wheels are made with conventional spoke structures, then weight reduction is achieved, but mechanical connection between spoke structure and rim becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fiber reinforced plastic composite materials with specific fiber orientations and arrangements to simultaneously achieve weight reduction and enhanced mechanical connection. The composite structure allows optimization of both lightweight properties and structural strength through material composition design.
Solution Approach 2:
The spoke structures incorporate curved and contoured forms rather than straight rigid connections, allowing better stress distribution and mechanical interconnection with the rim. The curved geometries enable improved load transfer while maintaining the lightweight composite construction.
2Ease of manufacture
If fiber reinforced plastic wheels are made with simple spoke structures, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but load-carrying capacity becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates pre-formed reinforcement elements and pre-arranged fiber orientations into the spoke structures before final assembly. This preliminary preparation of structural features enables complex load-bearing capabilities to be achieved without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity during the main production process.
Solution Approach 2:
Through strategic use of composite material lay-ups with varying fiber directions and densities, the patent achieves high load-carrying capacity in critical areas while maintaining relatively simple overall manufacturing processes. The composite material system allows localized strength enhancement without complex multi-step manufacturing.
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 design provides superior load-carrying capacity and weight reduction, improving mechanical connection and load distribution across the wheel, suitable for high-performance applications like motor sports.
Implementation Method 1
a wheel (101) made at least partially out of a fiber reinforced plastic material... reinforcing fibers interconnect the rim and insert for enhanced load distribution and transmission
Implementation Method 2
a wheel (101) made at least partially out of a fiber reinforced plastic material... provides superior load-carrying capacity
Implementation Method 3
The rim (102) comprises openings (120)... bonded to the rim with additional material layers
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel includes a rim and a wheel center with several spokes with at least one butt strap. The at least one butt strap protrudes from a radially outer end of the spokes. The rim includes at least one opening arranged corresponding to the at least one butt strap. The at least one butt strap extends across the related opening in the rim and is attached to the outside of the rim.