Spare Wheel Container Docking for Multifunction Vehicle Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle designs lack efficient and versatile use of the space within the cavity of a spare wheel, limiting the storage options and functionality of the spare wheel area.
Innovation Solution
A system that secures a wheel to the exterior of a vehicle with its cavity facing outward, allowing containers to be fitted within, which can include electrical, fluid, and communication systems, as well as storage spaces, and is equipped with identifier tags for monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spare wheel cavity is left empty or used only for basic storage, then the vehicle structure remains simple, but the storage efficiency and functionality are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed to perform multiple functions: storage of tools and equipment, electrical power supply through integrated batteries, fluid management through reservoirs, and communication through embedded modules. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by maximizing the utility of the spare wheel cavity without requiring separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The container fits within the cavity of the spare wheel, utilizing the existing space efficiently. The container itself can contain smaller compartments and integrated systems (electrical, fluid, communication) nested within its structure, allowing complex functionality to be packed into a compact form factor that matches the spare wheel dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the container includes integrated electrical, fluid, and communication systems, then the versatility and utility are enhanced, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional systems (electrical power supply, fluid reservoirs, communication modules) are merged into a single integrated container structure. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby easing manufacturing complexity while maintaining high versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate various configurations of electrical, fluid, and communication systems depending on the specific application requirements. This modular universality allows for standardized manufacturing processes that can be adapted to different functional needs without requiring completely custom designs for each configuration.
3Volume of moving object
If the container is designed to fit precisely within the spare wheel cavity, then the space utilization is optimized, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed to nest within the existing spare wheel cavity, utilizing the space defined by the wheel's inner diameter. This nesting approach allows the container dimensions to be derived from the wheel's existing geometry, reducing the need for high-precision custom fitting while maximizing space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design incorporates adjustable parameters such as wall thickness, compartment sizes, and mounting features that can be modified to accommodate variations in wheel cavity dimensions. This parametric design approach allows for tolerance compensation and reduces the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a system for storing containers in a cavity of a spare wheel at an exterior of the vehicle. The system includes a dock having a bracket secures the wheel to the exterior surface of a vehicle with an outer face of the wheel facing inwards toward the vehicle and the cavity of the wheel facing outwards away from the vehicle. The container is arranged in the cavity of the wheel. The container and dock may include one or more electrical connectors or ports, fluid ports, communications ports, or a combination thereof. The container may include a first aid kit, waste can, water container, cooler, auxiliary battery, vacuum cannister, compressed air system, toolbox, storage space, electric appliance, electric cord wound on a reel, a camera, or other types of containers. The container may be secured to the wheel, to the dock, or to both.