Non-pneumatic Wheel V-shaped Spokes Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-pneumatic wheels face challenges in reducing noise, vibration, and intrusivity due to high stiffness rates when encountering obstacles, which is exacerbated by the limited effective length of spokes and the use of high modulus materials, leading to increased force transmission and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A non-pneumatic wheel design featuring spokes with a V-shaped geometry that exhibits nearly linear stiffness when deflected radially, allowing for reduced noise and vibration by minimizing the effective length needed and maintaining low stiffness rates, with fractional radial stiffness values between 1 N/mm/deg to 10 N/mm/deg and non-linearity of less than 20% under normal loading conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If spokes are constructed from high modulus materials to increase stiffness, then the wheel can support vehicle loads more effectively, but the intrusivity and noise vibration increase when encountering obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from high modulus to low modulus materials for spoke construction. This parameter change reduces the stiffness rate of the spokes, which in turn reduces the force transmitted to the vehicle when encountering obstacles, thereby reducing noise, vibration, and intrusivity while maintaining adequate load support capability through optimized spoke geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces curved or V-shaped geometry in the spoke design. This curvature allows the spokes to achieve the desired stiffness characteristics with shorter effective lengths. The curved geometry provides mechanical advantage in distributing loads while maintaining low stiffness rates, resolving the contradiction between load support and vibration reduction
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the effective length of spokes is increased to reduce stiffness rate and intrusivity, then noise and vibration are reduced, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved or V-shaped spoke geometry allows the design to achieve low stiffness rates without requiring excessive spoke length. The curvature provides structural efficiency, allowing the spokes to maintain adequate strength and load support while keeping the effective length optimized for reducing intrusivity, thereby avoiding the manufacturing complications that would arise from excessively long spokes
3Strength
If spokes are stretched to achieve appropriate stiffness rate using low modulus materials, then the stiffness can be reduced, but the non-linearity of stiffness increases making the wheel less responsive to momentary displacements
Solution Approach 1:
The curved or V-shaped geometry of the spokes provides a more linear stiffness response compared to straight spokes of equivalent length. This geometric configuration ensures that as the spokes deflect under load, they maintain more consistent stiffness characteristics, improving the wheel's responsiveness to momentary displacements from obstacles while still achieving the desired low stiffness rate
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 V-shaped spoke geometry effectively reduces noise, vibration, and intrusivity by maintaining low stiffness rates and minimizing effective length, providing a comfortable ride and improved handling characteristics while supporting vehicle loads.
Implementation Method 1
Construction of spokes in traditional non-pneumatic wheels from a low modulus material creates non-pneumatic wheel spokes having the ability to absorb shock, vibration and reduce noise and impulse forces
Implementation Method 2
the spokes may be lengthened by lengthening the effective length until the desired stiffness rate is achieved... to reduce the intrusivity of the wheel
Implementation Method 3
The greater the slope, the greater the force created as the spoke is displaced while the spoke having a smaller stiffness-displacement slope will exert less force to the vehicle when the wheel encounters a momentary displacement
Data Source
AI summary
A non-pneumatic wheel having spokes that are constructed such that collectively the plurality of spokes exhibit a fractional radial stiffness value within a range of 1 N/mm/deg to 10 N/mm/deg and a non-linearity of less than 20% when deflected under normal loading conditions.