Gas-Spring Wheel Assembly With Tapered Wedge Rim Attachments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel technologies, particularly for large construction and mining vehicles, face issues with high replacement costs and downtime due to tire deformation, punctures, and rapid tread wear, necessitating improvements in wheel assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A wheel assembly featuring an inner rim coupled to a vehicle hub, an outer rim surrounding the inner rim, and operatively coupled gas springs between the rims, with attachment assemblies that include tapered wedges and fasteners for securing gas springs, providing relative movement and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic tires are used to absorb forces during vehicle operation, then the tire can cushion shocks and provide traction, but excessive forces cause tire deformation, punctures, and rapid tread wear leading to shortened lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pneumatic tire from the wheel assembly and replaces it with a non-pneumatic tire consisting of a rigid outer rim, inner rim, and multiple gas springs. This removes the vulnerable pneumatic component that deforms and wears, while maintaining the shock-absorbing function through the gas spring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gas springs (pneumatic elements) to provide the shock-absorbing function previously performed by the pneumatic tire. Each gas spring contains pressurized gas that compresses and expands to absorb forces, replacing the pneumatic tire's cushioning function without using a deformable rubber tire.
2Reliability
If non-pneumatic wheels with mechanical springs are used to replace pneumatic tires, then tire punctures and deformation are eliminated, but the complexity of spring mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shock-absorbing function into multiple independent gas springs arranged around the wheel circumference. Each gas spring operates independently, and the modular design allows individual springs to be replaced if needed, reducing overall system complexity compared to a single complex spring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas springs serve multiple functions simultaneously: they absorb shocks, maintain wheel structure, provide run-flat capability, and enable easy replacement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex components, simplifying the overall design despite using non-pneumatic technology.
3Strength
If wheel assemblies are designed for durability under excessive forces, then structural integrity is maintained, but replacement costs and downtime increase when components fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the wheel assembly with separable components: the outer rim with gas springs can be detached from the inner rim and hub. This segmentation allows the outer assembly to be quickly replaced without removing the inner rim or hub, significantly reducing replacement time while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables selective replacement of the outer rim and gas spring assembly while retaining the inner rim and hub. When the outer assembly wears or fails, it can be discarded and replaced, while the durable inner structure is recovered and reused, reducing overall replacement costs and downtime.
4Reliability
If gas springs are operatively coupled between inner and outer rims to provide relative movement, then run-flat capability and fuel efficiency are improved, but the complexity of attachment assemblies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses gas springs to create a dynamic attachment between the outer rim and inner rim, allowing relative movement while maintaining connection. The gas springs compress and expand to accommodate motion, providing run-flat capability without requiring complex mechanical linkages or rigid attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas springs automatically adjust to maintain the connection between inner and outer rims during relative movement. They self-regulate the force and positioning without requiring additional control mechanisms, reducing attachment assembly complexity while enabling run-flat operation.
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 enhances the wheel assembly's durability and reduces downtime by allowing for easy replacement of gas springs and maintaining structural integrity under stress, while offering a run-flat capability and improved fuel efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim
Implementation Method 3
first and second tapered wedges carried by the fastener and engaging the respective first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways upon securing of the fastener
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel assembly for a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. Attachment assemblies may each include an attachment bracket coupled to a corresponding one of the inner and outer rims and defining spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways, and a fastener extending through the spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways and coupling a corresponding gas spring to the attachment bracket. Each attachment assembly may also include first and second tapered wedges carried by the fastener and engaging the respective first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways upon securing of the fastener.