Heavy Vehicle Wheel Assembly With Adjustable Camber Angle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses, are equipped with wheels that have a fixed camber angle, which affects driving performance and tire wear, and there is a need to improve driving performance and reduce tire wear.

Innovation Solution

A wheel assembly with an angular adjustment device that allows for the adjustment of the camber angle of the wheel, comprising a thrust element and a support element with different degrees of freedom, enabling precise adjustment of the pin's inclination relative to the vertical.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the camber angle is fixed, then the wheel assembly structure is simple, but the tire wear increases and driving performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel assembly structure simplicityVSAvoidtire wear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms the fixed camber angle structure into a dynamic adjustable structure. The wheel assembly incorporates an adjustment device that allows the camber angle to be modified, enabling the system to adapt to different operating conditions and reduce tire wear while maintaining structural feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the camber angle is fixed, then the wheel assembly structure is simple, but the driving performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel assembly structure simplicityVSAvoiddriving performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces adjustability to the camber angle through a dedicated adjustment device. This allows the wheel assembly to dynamically adapt its geometry to optimize driving performance under varying conditions, while the overall structural complexity remains controlled through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the camber angle is adjustable, then the tire wear is reduced, but the wheel assembly structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire wear resistanceVSAvoidwheel assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the wheel assembly into distinct functional modules: the wheel hub, the adjustment device, and the support structure. This segmentation allows the camber angle adjustment function to be isolated in a dedicated subsystem, making the overall complex structure more manageable and maintainable while achieving the tire wear reduction benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the camber angle is adjustable, then the driving performance is improved, but the wheel assembly structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving performanceVSAvoidwheel assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel assembly is segmented into functional modules with the adjustment device as a separate subsystem. This modular approach enables the complex adjustment functionality to be implemented while keeping the overall structure organized and maintainable, achieving improved driving performance without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3967578B1Wheel assembly for a heavy vehicle comprising an angular adjusting device
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 IVECO SPA
  • EP3967578B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3967578B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3967578B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

Wheel assembly (1) for a heavy vehicle comprising a wheel (2) and a hub (3) defined by a knuckle (6) configured to be carried by an axle (5) of the vehicle, the wheel (2)) being carried in a rotationally free way on the hub (3) and defining an angle (α, β) between an axis of incidence on the ground of the wheel with respect to a centre line thereof, the knuckle (6) being connected to the axle (5) by means of a pin (9) extending along a longitudinal axis (A), the wheel assembly (1) including an adjustment device (12) to vary the inclination of said axis (A) of said pin (9) so as to vary said angle (α, β).