Offset Bore Wheel Assembly Reduces Stud Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel assemblies in motor vehicles face reduced lifespan and increased stress on wheel bolts and studs due to dynamic loads during cornering, leading to buckling and alternating bending stress, which affects endurance strength.
Innovation Solution
The wheel assembly design offsets the central axes of the receiving bore in the wheel hub and the push-through opening in the wheel, reducing alternating bending stress and static bending loads, and incorporates a conically tapered brake disc for enhanced contact and friction during braking, allowing for reduced dimensions and fewer components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the central axes of the receiving bore in the wheel hub and the push-through opening in the wheel are aligned, then the wheel assembly structure is simpler, but the wheel bolts and studs experience increased alternating bending stress and buckling during cornering, reducing their lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally offsetting the central axis of the receiving bore in the wheel hub from the central axis of the push-through opening in the wheel. This asymmetric arrangement creates a geometric configuration where the wheel stud does not experience maximum bending stress during cornering, thereby extending the lifespan of the wheel fastening components while accepting increased structural complexity
2Strength
If conventional wheel assemblies are used with aligned bores, then fewer components and simpler assembly are required, but the material strength requirements for wheel bolts and studs increase due to higher stress
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing an offset bore configuration, the patent reduces the alternating bending stress and buckling forces experienced by wheel studs during cornering. This asymmetric design allows for the use of materials with lower strength requirements, as the geometric arrangement inherently protects the fastening components from maximum stress concentrations
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the wheel stud is positioned to minimize stress during cornering, then the durability of wheel fasteners improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements for bore alignment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the offset bore alignment during the manufacturing stage. The wheel hub and wheel are designed with predetermined offset dimensions that are built into the components themselves, allowing for stress reduction without requiring high-precision alignment during assembly. The offset values are calculated in advance to optimize stress distribution
Data Source
AI summary
An example wheel assembly includes a wheel hub including a first bore having a first central axis, and a wheel including a second bore having a second central axis. The first central axis is offset from the second central axis. The example wheel assembly includes a wheel stud extending through the first bore and the second bore to couple the wheel and the wheel hub. The wheel stud has a first portion proximate to the first bore and a second portion proximate to the second bore. The example wheel assembly includes a wheel nut threaded onto the wheel stud. The first portion of the wheel stud is to move from a first position relative to an axis of rotation of the wheel hub to a second position relative to the axis of rotation when the wheel nut is tightened to fix the wheel to the wheel hub.