Adjustable Wheel Offset via Sliding Centre Disc
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wheels have fixed offset/backspace designs, making it difficult to adjust the wheel specification to fit different vehicles and limiting the ability to change the external appearance without replacing the entire wheel set.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design that allows the centre portion to be attached to the rim at multiple positions along the axis of rotation using spline and groove arrangements, enabling sliding adjustment and secure attachment with screws, facilitating the fitting of aftermarket wheels and changing the wheel's appearance by swapping centre discs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wheels have fixed offset/backspace designs, then manufacturing and structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to fit different vehicles and ease of appearance modification are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel is divided into two main segments: a rim portion and a centre portion. The rim portion contains multiple grooves at different lateral positions, while the centre portion can be selectively attached to different grooves. This segmentation allows the wheel to be adapted to different vehicles by simply changing the centre portion position, without redesigning the entire wheel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rim portion is designed with multiple grooves that can accommodate different centre portions, making a single rim usable with multiple centre portions. This multi-functionality allows the same wheel rim to be adapted to fit different vehicle types and aesthetic preferences by simply swapping or repositioning centre portions, rather than manufacturing entirely different wheels.
2Ease of operation
If wheels have fixed offset/backspace designs, then structural simplicity is maintained, but ease of operation for appearance modification is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel is divided into a rim portion and a centre portion that can be independently attached or detached. The rim portion contains multiple grooves at different lateral positions, while the centre portion can be selectively attached to different grooves. This segmentation allows the wheel to be adapted to different vehicles by simply changing the centre portion position, without redesigning the entire wheel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel design transitions from a fixed, static structure to a dynamic, adjustable structure. The centre portion can be laterally adjusted along the axis of rotation to different grooves on the rim portion, allowing the wheel's appearance and specifications to be changed without replacing the entire wheel assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If aftermarket wheels are fitted to different vehicles, then vehicle customization is enabled, but fitting complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rim portion is pre-configured with multiple grooves at different lateral positions during manufacturing. This preliminary arrangement of attachment points eliminates the need for complex field modifications or measurements when fitting wheels to different vehicles. The centre portion can be directly attached to the appropriate groove based on the vehicle's requirements, significantly reducing fitting time and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel comprising a rim portion and a center portion for supporting the rim portion, wherein the rim portion is adapted to allow attachment of the center portion to the rim at a selected position of a plurality of available positions. In one arrangement the available positions are disposed in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. There is also provided the rim and the center portion and a method for constructing the wheel.