Modular Wheel Weight System for Tractor Discs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel weight systems for agricultural tractors are not economical to produce, difficult to attach, and lack flexibility in adjusting weight, while also complicating the attachment or detachment of vehicle wheels.
Innovation Solution
A wheel weight system comprising annular inner and outer weights attached via bolts and centring members, allowing for easy adjustment and secure mounting on both sides of the wheel disc without interfering with the wheel attachment process, using a minimal set of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing wheel weight systems are used, then wheel weights can be attached to tractor wheels, but the systems are not economical to produce and are difficult to attach
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel weight system is divided into modular components: inner weights that attach directly to the wheel disc, outer weights that attach to inner weights, and centring members that facilitate alignment. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple processes, improving production economy while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a nested structure where outer weights are attached to inner weights, which are themselves attached to the wheel disc. This nesting approach reduces the overall number of components needed compared to traditional systems, simplifying manufacturing while enabling easy attachment and detachment through a standardized interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing wheel weight systems are used, then weights can be attached to wheel discs, but flexibility in varying the attached weight over a wide range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The weight system uses separate inner and outer weight modules that can be independently selected and combined. This allows flexible configuration of total weight by choosing different combinations of inner and outer weights, providing wide adjustment range without requiring a completely different system for each weight requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration of weight combinations by enabling easy attachment and detachment of outer weights to inner weights. Users can adjust the total weight range by adding or removing outer weight modules as needed, providing adaptability without permanent modifications.
3Reliability
If existing wheel weight systems are used, then wheel weights can be secured to the wheel, but the attachment or detachment of the associated vehicle wheel is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel weight attachment system is completely separated from the wheel-hub attachment system. Weights attach to the wheel disc periphery using independent bolts and centring members, extracting the weight securing function from the wheel attachment process. This allows weights to be installed or removed without interfering with wheel mounting or dismounting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Centring members act as intermediaries between the inner weights and outer weights, providing alignment and positioning functionality. This intermediary component ensures reliable weight securing through proper alignment while keeping the weight attachment system independent from wheel attachment operations, maintaining ease of wheel serviceability.
4Ease of operation
If simple attachment systems are used, then ease of attachment is improved, but manufacturing precision and proper alignment of weights are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Centring members serve as intermediary components that provide precise alignment between inner and outer weights during assembly. These members include conical surfaces that self-align components, ensuring manufacturing precision is achieved through the alignment mechanism rather than requiring extremely tight tolerances on all mating surfaces, thus maintaining ease of attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The centring members incorporate conical surfaces that provide self-aligning geometry during assembly. The conical geometry guides components into proper alignment as they are brought together, achieving precise centring through geometric constraints rather than relying solely on precision-machined flat surfaces, thereby maintaining both ease of attachment and alignment accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A wheel weight system is provided for attachment to the disc (11) of a tractor or other vehicle wheel (10). The system comprises an annular axially inner weight (12) for attachment to one side of the wheel disc via a first set of bolts (15) extending axial through the inner weight and the wheel disc. Also, the system comprises an axially outer weight (21) for the attachment to the axially inner weight by a second set of bolts (24) which extend through the axially outer weight into the axially inner weight. A set of removable centring members (23) are provided which cooperate with apertures (27, 28) in the axially inner and outer weights to centre the axially outer weight relative to the axially inner weight.