Vehicle Rim Weak Points for Controlled Crash Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheel rims for motor vehicles have high dimensional stability, which can lead to penetration into the vehicle body during accidents, necessitating additional reinforcement devices that restrict design freedom and increase weight, and existing measures to deform or destroy the rim are not always effective in preventing such penetration.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of predetermined weak points on the rim, such as perforations or breaking points, designed to absorb forces and deform plastically, allowing the rim to absorb crash energy and prevent penetration into the wheel housing, thereby eliminating the need for additional reinforcement devices and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reinforcement devices are arranged on the vehicle body to prevent wheel penetration, then safety is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming weak points in the rim structure during manufacturing. These weak points are strategically positioned to initiate controlled deformation in predetermined directions during a crash, eliminating the need for additional reinforcement devices on the vehicle body. The rim is prepared in advance with structural features that guide its failure mode when subjected to impact forces.
2Reliability
If reinforcement devices are arranged on the vehicle body to prevent wheel penetration, then safety is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety function from external reinforcement devices and integrates it into the rim structure itself. By incorporating controlled weak points directly in the rim, the invention eliminates the need for separate reinforcement components on the vehicle body, thereby reducing overall vehicle weight while maintaining safety performance.
3Reliability
If reinforcement devices are arranged on the vehicle body, then wheel penetration is prevented, but design freedom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety function with the rim structure by integrating controlled weak points directly into the rim design. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate reinforcement devices, thereby maintaining design freedom in the vehicle body structure while ensuring safety through the rim's inherent controlled failure characteristics.
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 weak points enable targeted destruction of the rim during an accident, absorbing crash energy and preventing penetration into the vehicle interior, reducing damage and weight while enhancing vehicle design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the perforation promotes the plastic deformability of a rim in the area of the perforation
Implementation Method 2
the weakening element changes its shape when the device is subjected to the external force of a predetermined magnitude such that the shape of the rim is at least partially destroyed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for weakening a dimensional stability of a rim for a motor vehicle wheel in a controlled manner. The device is designed such that the shape of the rim is at least partly destroyed when the device applies an external force of a specifiable magnitude.