Temporary Support Wheel Structure for Lateral Load Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing universal temporary wheels deform and break under transverse or axial loads, especially in vehicles with non-zero wheel camber, lacking sufficient strength and durability for road-side repairs or transport.
Innovation Solution
A universal support wheel design featuring a wheel center, a wheel body with a central part and a lateral reinforcement disc, providing increased strength through a double-layer structure and optimized curvature to distribute loads, with features like a flange and bearing for secure attachment and rotation, and a rolling surface made of durable materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the wheel body is made thicker to increase lateral strength, then the wheel can withstand transverse and axial forces, but the weight increases making it cumbersome for vehicle recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel body is divided into two separate components: a central part and a lateral reinforcement disc. These segments can be manufactured separately and assembled together, allowing the reinforcement disc to provide lateral strength only where needed without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the entire wheel assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral reinforcement disc is positioned specifically at the regions of the wheel body that require lateral strength support. This localized reinforcement approach ensures that material is added only where structurally necessary, rather than uniformly thickening the entire wheel, thus minimizing weight increase while maximizing lateral strength.
2Strength
If the wheel body is made thicker to increase lateral strength, then the wheel can withstand transverse forces, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the wheel body into a central part and a lateral reinforcement disc, each component can be manufactured using standard processes and then assembled. This approach avoids the need for complex tooling or specialized manufacturing processes that would be required to produce a single-piece thickened wheel, thereby controlling manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral reinforcement disc is designed to work in conjunction with the central part to form a complete wheel body. This merging of simple components achieves the structural complexity needed for lateral strength without requiring the entire wheel to be manufactured as a single complex piece, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
3Reliability
Existing universal temporary wheels deform and break under transverse loads, but increasing the wheel thickness to prevent deformation results in a heavy and cumbersome wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral reinforcement disc provides targeted structural support at the wheel's vulnerable lateral regions, enhancing durability where transverse loads are most likely to cause failure. This localized approach ensures reliability is improved without the penalty of uniformly increasing the wheel's weight throughout its entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel body combines the central part and lateral reinforcement disc into a composite structure that leverages the strengths of each component. This composite design achieves superior durability and lateral load resistance while maintaining a weight that is manageable for vehicle recovery operations, compared to a solid uniform wheel design.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a support wheel comprising: - a wheel center comprising a center body that extends coaxial with a central wheel axis over a predetermined length between a first and a second end, wherein the first end is connectable to a wheel axle of a vehicle; - a wheel body that, when viewed from the wheel axis, extends radially outwardly to a radial outer end, wherein the wheel body comprises a central opening that is configured to at least partially receive the wheel center; - a rolling surface provided on the radial outer end of the wheel body; wherein the wheel body comprises a central part and a lateral reinforcement disc that comprises, when viewed radially outwardly from the central wheel axis, an at least partially curved shape. The invention also relates to a method for transporting a vehicle, in particular a broken-down vehicle, using a support wheel.