Vehicle Rim with 3D Surface Structures for Cavity Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel designs fail to effectively reduce tire cavity noise within the vehicle interior without adding extra components or compromising space for other components, such as brake components, and often increase rolling resistance and weight with existing noise reduction methods.
Innovation Solution
A rim design featuring three-dimensional surface structures on the rim base, including elevations and depressions, which are integrated into the metal casting process, modulate air vibrations and scatter or absorb sound waves, thereby reducing noise transmission without additional components or space constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If porous absorptive materials are fitted in the tire cavity, then tire cavity noise is reduced, but rolling resistance increases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical absorption materials with a geometric surface structure on the rim base. The three-dimensional structures (elevations and depressions) create acoustic effects through their geometry rather than requiring absorptive materials, thus reducing noise without increasing rolling resistance or weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface geometry parameters of the rim base by adding elevations and depressions with specific dimensions (e.g., elevation height 5-15mm, depression depth 5-15mm). These geometric parameter changes create sound scattering and absorption effects without requiring additional materials that would increase weight or rolling resistance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If porous absorptive materials are fitted in the tire cavity, then tire cavity noise is reduced, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy absorptive materials with a geometric surface structure on the rim base. The three-dimensional structures (elevations and depressions) create acoustic effects through their geometry rather than requiring absorptive materials, thus reducing noise without increasing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface geometry parameters of the rim base by adding elevations and depressions with specific dimensions (e.g., elevation height 5-15mm, depression depth 5-15mm). These geometric parameter changes create sound scattering and absorption effects without requiring additional materials that would increase weight.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If resonance chambers are added to the rim, then cavity resonances are dampened, but installation space for other components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the rim base serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the wheel and simultaneously acts as a noise reduction element through its three-dimensional surface structures. This eliminates the need for separate resonance chambers while maintaining noise control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the noise reduction function with the existing rim base structure. The elevations and depressions are integrated directly into the rim base geometry, combining the structural and acoustic functions in one component, thus avoiding space conflicts with brake components.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If additional noise reduction components are added, then tire cavity noise is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the noise reduction function with the existing rim base structure. The elevations and depressions are integrated directly into the rim base geometry, combining the structural and acoustic functions in one component, thus avoiding space conflicts with brake components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the rim base serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the wheel and simultaneously acts as a noise reduction element through its three-dimensional surface structures. This eliminates the need for separate resonance chambers while maintaining noise control functionality.
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 integrated three-dimensional surface structures on the rim base effectively dampen noise by distributing force over a larger area, counteracting standing waves and reducing noise pollution within the vehicle interior through sound scattering and absorption, without affecting the manufacturing process or requiring additional components.
Implementation Method 1
the elevations and the depressions scatter incident sound waves on the outer surface of the rim base
Implementation Method 2
the elevations and the depressions scatter incident sound waves on the outer surface of the rim base, wherein the elevations and the depressions are configured in such a way that the noise pollution in the vehicle interior due to air vibrations
Implementation Method 3
the elevations and the depressions are configured in such a way that the noise pollution in the vehicle interior due to air vibrations in the area of the tire cavity can be reduced
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rim 2 and a wheel 1 for a motor vehicle, which incorporate measures for reducing tire cavity noise and thus contribute to noise reduction in the vehicle interior. Advantageously, the noise-reducing features of the rim are an integral part of the rim and can be formed during the wheel manufacturing process without additional work steps. The installation space for adjacent components is also not affected.