Lightweight Wheel Clamp with Threaded Rod Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle wheel alignment systems are heavy, making them prone to shock loading and straining for technicians, and require time-consuming adjustments for different wheel diameters.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight wheel clamp assembly with a handle and threaded rod system that allows easy adjustment and attachment to vehicle wheels, featuring a reversible design and automatic torque limiting to prevent over-tightening, enabling quick and secure attachment across various wheel sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional wheel clamp design is used, then the clamp can securely attach to vehicle wheels, but the weight of the equipment increases causing strain on technicians and shock loading damage
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel clamp is divided into separate components: a lightweight rod that attaches to the wheel, and a separate alignment device that can be attached to the rod. This segmentation allows the clamp mechanism itself to be minimized in weight while maintaining secure attachment capability through the distributed bracket system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a counterbalancing mechanism where the alignment device includes components that offset the weight distribution of the clamp system, reducing the effective strain on the technician's arm and minimizing shock loading during attachment and adjustment operations.
2Reliability
If conventional adjustment mechanism is used, then the clamp can be securely attached, but the time required to adjust for different wheel diameters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities where the rod length and bracket positions can be quickly modified. The alignment device includes movable components that allow rapid adaptation to different wheel diameters without requiring complete disassembly or time-consuming manual adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for rapid parameter changes in the clamp configuration, including rod length adjustment and bracket positioning, enabling the same basic device to securely attach to various wheel sizes by simply changing dimensional parameters rather than replacing entire components.
3Weight of moving object
If lightweight materials are used, then the weight of the equipment decreases reducing strain on technicians, but the strength and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel clamp system utilizes composite construction combining lightweight materials (such as aluminum or composite polymers) for the rod and housing components with strategic use of high-strength materials (such as steel) for critical load-bearing elements like the threaded portions and attachment points. This composite approach maintains overall lightweight design while ensuring structural integrity at stress concentration points.
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
Reduces the weight and strain on technicians, speeds up the attachment process, and prevents equipment damage by minimizing kinetic energy impact, while accommodating different wheel diameters efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a rod having a threaded portion, and an attachment portion proximal a first end of the rod. The first bracket is attachable to the attachment portion of the rod, and the handle is threadingly engagable with the threaded portion of the rod
Data Source
AI summary
A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The assembly comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatably mounted to the second bracket; and a rod having a threaded portion and an attachment portion near a first end of the rod. The first bracket is attachable to the attachment portion of the rod, and the handle is threaded to engage the threaded portion of the rod, such that when a user grasps and rotates the handle, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel.