Modular Supporting Wheel Structure for Selective Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing supporting wheels for motor vehicles are prone to breakage, leading to high maintenance and replacement costs, and do not allow for optimal space management in workshops as they immobilize vehicles during repair, limiting mobility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A supporting wheel design featuring a load-bearing structure made of plastic with a central reinforcement body of metal and a dual-layered tyre system, where the second tyre element is composed of interlocking polymeric portions that can be replaced individually, reducing material waste and maintenance costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If supporting wheels are made as a single monolithic body, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the central portion is subject to breakage requiring replacement of the entire wheel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting wheel is divided into separate components: a load-bearing structure and a central reinforcement body that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows the reinforcement body to strengthen the central portion without requiring complete wheel replacement upon damage, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the entire supporting wheel is replaced when the central portion breaks, then the structural integrity is restored, but the maintenance and replacement costs significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the central reinforcement body from the load-bearing structure, the design enables selective replacement of only the damaged reinforcement body rather than the entire wheel, maintaining structural integrity while reducing maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular design allows the intact load-bearing structure to be retained and reused, discarding only the damaged central reinforcement body, thereby recovering value and reducing overall replacement costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Stability of the object's composition

If vehicles are positioned on supporting posts, then the vehicles remain stable during repair, but the vehicles become immobilized and space management is optimized poorly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidspace management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting wheel design enables vehicles to be moved on the workshop floor while maintaining stability during repair operations, transforming the static positioning system into a dynamic one that improves space utilization and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4054857B1Supporting wheel for motor vehicles

Publication Date: 2023.10.18 MODENATECH SRL

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AI summary

The supporting wheel (1) for motor vehicles comprises: - a load-bearing structure (2) comprising an outer rolling surface (3) and two opposite side walls (4, 5) which extend on parallel planes and between which there is at least one through hole (6); - a central reinforcement body (8) intended to be coupled to the hub (M) of a motor vehicle (9) and associated with the load-bearing structure (2); and wherein the load-bearing structure (2) is at least partly made of plastic material.