Integral Spare Tire Nested Inside Vehicle Wheel Rim
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle wheel systems lack an integrated spare tire solution that remains hidden when the main tire is inflated and becomes operational without touching the road surface only when the main tire deflates.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wheel rim design incorporating an integral spare tire, which is smaller and non-pneumatic, is coupled to the inside of the main wheel, featuring a safety rim and safety tire that remains hidden and only contacts the road surface when the main tire is flat, providing support to the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an integral spare tire is coupled to the inside of the main wheel, then the vehicle can be supported when the main tire is flat, but the spare tire may touch the road surface during normal operation causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The integral spare tire is nested inside the main wheel assembly, specifically coupled to the inside of the main wheel. The spare tire is positioned within the space created by the main tire's inflation, allowing it to be stored without touching the road surface during normal operation while being immediately available to support the vehicle when the main tire deflates
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the integral spare tire relative to the road surface is dynamic rather than fixed. When the main tire is inflated, the spare tire is elevated and does not contact the road. When the main tire deflates, the spare tire descends to touch the road surface and support the vehicle weight, automatically transitioning between storage and operational states
2Device complexity
If the integral spare tire is made smaller and non-pneumatic, then it remains hidden when the main tire is inflated, but it must be large enough to support the vehicle when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The smaller non-pneumatic spare tire is nested within the space occupied by the inflated main tire. This nesting arrangement allows the spare tire to be concealed during normal operation, maintaining aesthetic appearance while being immediately available for emergency support
Solution Approach 2:
The spare tire uses a non-pneumatic construction with different material properties (solid or semi-solid elastomeric material instead of inflated air) to achieve adequate load-bearing capacity in a more compact form factor, allowing it to be smaller while still supporting the vehicle when needed
3Loss of time
If the integral spare tire is coupled to the inside of the main wheel, then it is immediately available when needed, but it increases the overall complexity of the wheel assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The integral spare tire is merged with the main wheel assembly by coupling it to the inside of the main wheel. This integration eliminates the need for separate spare tire storage compartments and manual installation procedures, reducing deployment time while consolidating the spare tire function within the existing wheel structure
Solution Approach 2:
The main wheel assembly serves multiple functions: it supports the vehicle during normal operation with the main tire, and it automatically deploys the integral spare tire when the main tire fails. The wheel assembly becomes a multi-functional system that combines primary vehicle support with emergency backup capability
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle wheel rim with integral spare tire includes a main wheel and an integral spare tire. The main wheel includes a main rim well, an inner and outer flange, and a center disc. A main tire may be mounted onto the main wheel and the main wheel may be bolted onto a hub on an axle of a vehicle. The integral spare tire includes a safety rim well, safely rim, and safety tire with the safety tire mounted on the safety rim. The integral spare tire is coupled to the inside of the main wheel. The dimensions of the main wheel, main tire, and integral spare tire are such that when the main tire is inflated the integral spare tire does not touch the road surface. However if the main tire goes flat the integral spare tire will touch the road surface and will support the vehicle.