Wheel Hub Anti-Loosening Assembly for Single-Nut Torque Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance motor-vehicle wheel fastening systems face issues with loosening or over-tightening due to driving and braking torque, particularly in single-nut fastening systems, leading to anomalies and inefficiencies in wheel assembly.
Innovation Solution
An anti-loosening device comprising a gear with outer teeth engaging inner teeth of the wheel hub, combined with an elastic element and a coupling element, which aligns with an anti-rotation sector of the single-nut fastening unit to prevent loosening or over-tightening, utilizing a simple and low-cost design for both sides of the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single-nut fastening system is used to reduce wheel change time, then productivity is improved, but the fastening unit becomes prone to loosening or over-tightening due to driving and braking torque
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-loosening device applies a preliminary counteracting force through its elastic element and gear mechanism that opposes the loosening torque generated during vehicle operation. The device is pre-configured to engage with the fastening unit and automatically counteract the harmful effects of driving and braking torques before significant loosening occurs, thereby maintaining fastening reliability while preserving the speed advantage of single-nut systems
2Reliability
If traditional multi-fastening systems are used to prevent loosening, then fastening stability is improved, but the time required to change wheels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the fastening system into two independent functional components: a single fastening nut for rapid installation and removal, and a separate anti-loosening device with gear mechanism that provides stabilization. This segmentation allows the fastening operation to remain quick while the anti-loosening device independently handles the stability function, avoiding the time penalty of multiple fasteners
3Reliability
If an anti-loosening device is added to a single-nut system, then fastening stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-loosening device merges multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism: the gear element engages with the fastening unit's anti-rotation sector, the elastic element provides both forcing and return actions, and the coupling element synchronizes the anti-loosening action with the fastening operation. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate components for each function
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 anti-loosening device effectively minimizes anomalies caused by torque effects, ensuring stable coupling and easy implementation across both drive and non-drive wheels, while maintaining a lightweight and cost-effective solution.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element (5) extending axially with respect to said gear (3) within said wheel hub (H), wherein the elastic element (5) comprises a first end (6) connected to said gear (3), and a second end (7) engaged against at least one abutment and centering surface obtained inside the wheel hub (H)
Data Source
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AI summary
An anti-loosening device (1) for a fastening unit (2) of a motor-vehicle wheel (W) is described here, wherein the motor-vehicle wheel (W) is configured to be coupled with a wheel hub (H) by means of the fastening unit (2). The anti-loosening device (1) is configured to be arranged within the wheel hub (H) along an axial direction, so that a main axis of the anti-loosening device (1) coincides with the wheel axis (W). The anti-loosening device (1) comprises: - a gear (3) arranged to cooperate with inner teeth (H3) of the wheel hub (H), - an elastic element (5) extending axially with respect to the gear (3), and - a coupling element (8) obtained on a sector of said gear (3), arranged to receive a corresponding fastening member (10), During assembly of the wheel (W) - hub (H) assembly, the anti-loosening device (1) is arranged to create a compressed configuration, wherein the gear (3) is decoupled with respect to the inner teeth (H3), and is arranged within a cavity portion (16) obtained on the inner surface (H2) of the wheel hub (H), so as to allow rotation of the anti-loosening device (1) around the main axis; Following a rotation of the anti-loosening device (1), the coupling element (8) is arranged to be radially aligned with respect to an anti-rotation sector (9) obtained on the fastening unit (2), in such a way that in the final assembled condition, the fastening member (10) coupled to the coupling element (8) cooperates with the anti-rotation sector (9), to avoid loosening of the locking unit (2).