Vehicle Wheel Guide Member for Sub-Air Chamber Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional vehicle wheel design with a sub-air chamber member makes it difficult to elastically deform the edge portions during attachment, requiring a large mechanical force for secure retention.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating guide members on the rim that engage with the sub-air chamber members to guide and attach them in the wheel circumferential direction, allowing for easier attachment and improved retention without the need for excessive mechanical force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sub-air chamber member is attached by fitting edge portions into groove portions, then the sub-air chamber member can be retained on the well portion, but a large mechanical force is required for attachment and elastic deformation of edge portions is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention of sub-air chamber memberVSAvoidattachment process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the sub-air chamber member and the well portion. The guide member includes a guide portion that guides the edge portion of the sub-air chamber member along the outer circumferential surface of the well portion in the wheel circumferential direction, enabling easier attachment while maintaining secure retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system is segmented into three components: the well portion, the sub-air chamber member, and the guide member. The guide member is divided into a guide portion and a retaining portion, where the guide portion facilitates attachment and the retaining portion ensures secure retention, distributing the functional requirements across separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the bottom of the sub-air chamber member is curved to be convex toward the outer circumferential surface, then centrifugal force increases retention, but the edge portions cannot be elastically deformed during attachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention under centrifugal forceVSAvoidelastic deformability of edge portions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is separated into a guide portion and a retaining portion. The guide portion has a curved shape matching the outer circumferential surface to guide deformation, while the retaining portion maintains the structural integrity needed for centrifugal force retention, allowing the edge portions to be elastically deformed during attachment while maintaining retention strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a pusher or mechanical tool is used to press the edge portions against the outer circumferential surface, then secure attachment is achieved, but the attachment process becomes complex and requires excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidattachment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for pushers or mechanical tools. The guide portion guides the edge portion along the outer circumferential surface, and the retaining portion secures the attachment, achieving secure attachment through the geometric configuration of the guide member itself rather than through external mechanical force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member is designed to perform the attachment function through its own geometric configuration. The guide portion and retaining portion work together to guide and secure the sub-air chamber member without requiring external mechanical tools or excessive force, making the system self-sufficient for the attachment operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates simpler and more secure attachment of the sub-air chamber members, enhancing their retention under centrifugal force while reducing the requirement for mechanical tools.

Implementation Method 1

The guide member engages with the sub-air chamber member to guide the sub-air chamber member on the outer circumferential surface in the wheel circumferential direction, thereby to attach the sub-air chamber member to the rim

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGuidance mechanism:

Implementation Method 2

the sub-air chamber member attached to the well portion via the pair of edge portions is curved extending from a bottom of the sub-air chamber member respectively to the pair of edge portions to be convex toward the outer circumferential surface of the well portion, so as to withstand the centrifugal force acting on the sub-air chamber member in a direction in which the sub-air chamber member separates off from the well portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS11298975B2Vehicle wheel

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle wheel includes: a rim including a well portion and a guide member; and a sub-air chamber member serving as a Helmholtz resonator. The well portion has an outer circumferential surface extending in a wheel circumferential direction of the vehicle wheel. The guide member engages with the sub-air chamber member to guide the sub-air chamber member on the outer circumferential surface in the wheel circumferential direction, thereby to attach the sub-air chamber member to the rim.