Wheel Air Deflection Ring for Lower Drag With Brake Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aerodynamic drag created by air flowing through openings in vehicle wheels reduces fuel economy, as these openings generate turbulent air flows or 'wakes' that increase resistance during rotation.
Innovation Solution
An air deflection ring with a cylindrical mounting ring and radially inwardly extending air deflection flange is attached to the wheel's barrel, positioned adjacent to the spokes, to direct airflow away from the openings, reducing drag and maintaining the wheel's appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If openings are formed in the wheel to permit air flow for brake cooling, then brake cooling is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases and fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air deflection ring introduces local quality by creating different airflow characteristics in different regions of the wheel opening. The deflection flange redirects air flow in specific local areas to reduce turbulence and drag while maintaining cooling functionality in other areas.
2Temperature
If openings are formed in the wheel to permit air flow for brake cooling, then brake cooling is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air deflection ring converts the harmful turbulent airflow and drag into beneficial laminar flow patterns. By deflecting air away from the wheel plane, the device transforms the harmful wake effect into a controlled airflow that reduces drag while still permitting necessary cooling.
3Loss of energy
If an air deflection ring is added to reduce drag, then fuel economy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air deflection ring is segmented into two functional parts: a mounting ring that attaches to the wheel barrel and a deflection flange that performs the airflow redirection. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing and installation while achieving the drag reduction function.
Solution Approach 2:
The air deflection ring acts as an intermediary component between the wheel opening and the airflow. This mediator device simplifies the overall system by providing a dedicated element that handles airflow management without requiring complex modifications to the wheel structure or brake cooling system.
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 solution effectively reduces drag on the wheel by deflecting airflow, resulting in a 0.5 mile per gallon improvement in fuel economy without adding weight or altering the wheel's appearance, and can be used as an aftermarket part for various wheel sizes.
Implementation Method 1
the drag that develops during rotation of the vehicle wheels
Implementation Method 2
the air deflection flange is configured to direct a flow of air away from the openings during rotation of the wheel
Data Source
AI summary
An air deflection ring that is configured to be attached to a wheel of a motor vehicle that includes a barrel including a cylindrical inner surface and an opposing cylindrical outer surface, a plurality of spokes that are each separated by an opening and attach the barrel to a center of the wheel. The air deflection ring includes a cylindrical mounting ring that is configured to be fixed to the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel, and an air deflection flange that extends radially inwardly toward the center of the wheel from the cylindrical mounting ring. The cylindrical mounting ring is configured to be fixed to the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel at a location positioned immediately adjacent to the plurality of spokes, and the air deflection flange is configured to direct a flow of air away from the openings during rotation of the wheel.