Segmented Wheel Rim Fastener with Dual Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fasteners for wheel rims face issues with zinc oxidation and erosion, and chromium's hardness and poor adhesive properties leading to detachment from the wheel hub.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a main body with a chromium coating and a sleeve with a zinc coating, where the sleeve abuts against the wheel rim's hole-defining wall to prevent rotation and detachment, allowing separate surface treatments for both components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a zinc coating layer is applied to the fastener, then the fastener can fit against the wheel rim surface and maintain torque retention, but the zinc coating oxidizes and erodes after long-term exposure to the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into two distinct parts: a main body portion and a sleeve portion. Each portion is independently coated with different materials optimized for its specific function. The main body receives a chromium coating for corrosion resistance, while the sleeve receives a zinc coating for torque retention and fit against the wheel rim.
Solution Approach 2:
Different surface treatments are applied to different portions of the fastener based on their specific functional requirements. The sleeve portion that contacts the wheel rim is coated with zinc for soft fitting and torque retention, while the main body portion exposed to the atmosphere is coated with chromium for superior erosion and oxidation resistance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a chromium coating layer is applied to the fastener, then the fastener has superior erosion resistance and visual appeal, but the hardness of chromium may damage the wheel rim and chromium has poor adhesive properties causing loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is segmented into a main body and a sleeve, allowing the chromium coating to be applied only to the main body where erosion resistance is needed, while the zinc-coated sleeve provides the fitting surface that contacts the wheel rim without causing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The zinc-coated sleeve acts as an intermediary between the chromium-coated main body and the wheel rim. It provides the necessary adhesive properties and soft fitting surface, preventing direct contact between the hard chromium coating and the wheel rim, thus avoiding damage while maintaining erosion resistance.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single coating material is applied to the entire fastener, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the fastener cannot simultaneously achieve both torque retention and superior corrosion resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener structure is segmented into a main body and a sleeve that can be manufactured and coated separately. This allows each portion to receive the most appropriate coating material for its function, with the coatings applied independently before assembly, optimizing both manufacturing efficiency and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener employs a composite coating system where zinc and chromium coatings are applied to different portions of the fastener. This composite approach combines the advantages of both materials: zinc provides torque retention and fit, while chromium provides superior corrosion and erosion resistance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A fastener (10) is adapted to fasten a wheel rim (3) to a wheel hub (4). The wheel rim (3) has multiple hole-defining walls (32) respectively defining multiple installation holes (31). The fastener (10) includes a main body (1) and a sleeve (2) . The main body (1) extends along a central axis (L) thereof, is adapted to engage the wheel hub (4), and has an abutting portion (12) corresponding in shape to a corresponding one of the installation holes (31) and extending into the corresponding installation hole (31). The sleeve (2) is sleeved and retained on the abutting portion (12), and has a contacting surface (21), which abuts against a corresponding one of the installation holes (31).