Ribbed Hollow Wheel Support for Lower Mass and Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel supports for motor vehicles are excessively heavy, contributing to increased fuel consumption and reduced vehicle efficiency, while maintaining insufficient rigidity to effectively support the wheel.
Innovation Solution
A wheel support design featuring a hollow flask and coaxial hollow cylinder, with strategically arranged tapping and ribs to reduce material usage while maintaining mechanical integrity, allowing for a lighter mass while ensuring sufficient rigidity and endurance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a solid wheel support is used, then the mechanical strength and rigidity are sufficient, but the mass is excessive (8 kg)
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel support is segmented into a hollow flange and a coaxial hollow cylinder, creating a multi-chamber structure that reduces material usage while maintaining structural integrity. The segmentation allows strategic placement of material only where mechanically necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
Ribs are strategically positioned in specific regions of the hollow flange to provide localized reinforcement where mechanical strength is most needed. This local quality approach ensures sufficient rigidity in critical areas while minimizing material usage in non-critical regions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If material is removed to reduce mass, then fuel consumption decreases, but the rigidity and mechanical hold deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Ribs are strategically positioned in specific regions of the hollow flange to provide localized reinforcement where mechanical strength is most needed. This local quality approach ensures sufficient rigidity in critical areas while minimizing material usage in non-critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow cylinder and hollow flange structure is designed in advance to provide preliminary structural support, allowing the use of less material while maintaining the required rigidity for withstanding vehicle operational loads.
3Weight of moving object
If a hollow structure is used, then the mass is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow flange and coaxial hollow cylinder are merged into a single integral structure, simplifying manufacturing by eliminating the need for separate components and assembly operations. This combining approach maintains the weight reduction benefits while reducing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
This wheel support (10) for a motor vehicle comprises a hollow flange (12) and a coaxial hollow cylinder (14), the hollow cylinder (14) being integral with the hollow flange (12), the outer diameter of the hollow flange (12) being greater than the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder (14) such that the cylinder (14) does not cover the flange (12) in an annular portion (16) of the hollow flange (12), the hollow flange (12) having a first face (18) in contact with the cylinder (14), a second face opposite the first face (18) and first threaded holes (22) extending between the first and second faces and passing through the flange (12), the first threaded holes (22) being arranged along a diameter of the flange (12) in the annular portion (16), the annular portion (16) comprising first recesses (24) arranged between two successive first tapped holes (22) and extending from the outer peripheral surface of the flange (26) to the first face (18) of the flange (12),a rib (46) being arranged in each recess so as to stiffen the flange (12).