Rotor Drive Key Assembly With Anti-Loosening Wheel Engagement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotor drive key assemblies in vehicle wheel brake systems are prone to loosening due to heat cycling and vibration, leading to reduced attachment security and increased maintenance costs, as they lack effective engagement mechanisms to maintain the rotor drive keys in position during operation.
Innovation Solution
The rotor drive keys are designed with a first and second feature, each featuring an aperture extending in a substantially axial direction, allowing for secure attachment via a fastener that forms a threaded connection, and an additional feature that engages with a protrusion on the wheel, providing mechanical engagement and stability even when the fastener is loose or missing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single fastener is used to attach the rotor drive key to the wheel, then the attachment process is simple, but the rotor drive key is prone to loosening due to heat cycling and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is segmented into multiple fasteners distributed across the rotor drive key assembly. Instead of relying on a single fastener, the patent uses multiple fasteners positioned at different locations to collectively secure the rotor drive key, thereby improving reliability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates features that preemptively address loosening issues by designing the fastener configuration and attachment geometry to compensate for thermal expansion and vibration effects before they cause failure. The multi-fastener arrangement provides redundancy and distributes stresses to prevent individual fastener failure from compromising the entire attachment
2Ease of operation
If the fastener is positioned to allow easy insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the fastener becomes more susceptible to loosening under dynamic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener configuration employs asymmetric positioning and orientation where fasteners are not uniformly distributed but strategically placed to optimize both insertion accessibility and retention under load. The asymmetric arrangement allows some fasteners to be more easily accessible while others provide critical retention in high-stress zones
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the fastener retention problem by adding dimensional complexity to the attachment system. Instead of simply improving insertion ease in one dimension, the design incorporates fasteners at multiple positions and angles, utilizing spatial distribution to simultaneously achieve operational ease and retention reliability
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
This configuration enhances the attachment security of rotor drive keys, reducing movement and ensuring the rotor drive keys remain in place during dynamic braking conditions, thereby improving the robustness and longevity of the wheel brake system.
Implementation Method 1
the second aperture is configured to form a threaded connection with an end of the fastener
Implementation Method 2
the second feature of the rotor drive key is configured to engage the second protrusion of the wheel when the rotor drive key is attached to the wheel via the fastener
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an assembly includes a vehicle wheel that defines an interior and an exterior surface, where the interior surface defines a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion defines a first aperture extending in a substantially axial direction. The assembly further includes a rotor drive key on the interior surface, the drive key defining a first and second feature, and the first feature defines a second aperture extending in the substantially axial direction and is configured to align with the first aperture. The assembly includes a fastener configured to be inserted through the first and second aperture in the substantially axial direction to attach the key to the interior surface of the wheel, where the second aperture is configured to form a threaded connection with an end of the fastener. When the fastener is tightened via the threaded connection, the second feature engages the second protrusion.