Wheel Bearing Assembly for Aerodynamic Drag Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerodynamic testing methods for vehicle components, such as wheels, face challenges in isolating the aerodynamic drag/lift of specific components from interference by other vehicle components.
Innovation Solution
A wheel bearing assembly and aerodynamic testing system that includes a wheel releasably coupled to the vehicle, with a shaft adaptor isolating the wheel from other vehicle components, allowing independent rotation and aerodynamic testing within a wind tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the wheel is coupled to other vehicle components (powertrain, braking assembly) during aerodynamic testing, then the wheel can be tested in a realistic vehicle context, but the aerodynamic drag/lift of the specific wheel component cannot be selectively determined due to interference from other components
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is segmented into independent components: the wheel itself, the shaft adaptor, and the bearing assembly. This segmentation allows the wheel to be isolated from other vehicle components (powertrain, braking assembly) while maintaining the ability to test aerodynamic properties. The shaft adaptor acts as a decoupling element that connects the wheel bearing assembly to the vehicle without transmitting mechanical control, enabling selective measurement of wheel aerodynamics independent of other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel is extracted from the full vehicle propulsion system by using the shaft adaptor to disconnect it from the powertrain and braking assembly control mechanisms. This extraction allows the wheel to be tested in isolation aerodynamically, while still being mounted on the vehicle. The bearing assembly further extracts the rotational function from the powered drive system, creating an independently rotating test subject that can be aerodynamically characterized without interference from driven components.
2Measurement precision
If the wheel is isolated using a shaft adaptor to enable independent rotation, then aerodynamic testing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft adaptor serves as an intermediary element between the wheel bearing assembly and the vehicle's powertrain/braking systems. It mediates the connection by allowing mechanical attachment while preventing transmission of rotational control, thus enabling independent wheel rotation for aerodynamic testing. The bearing assembly acts as another intermediary that facilitates smooth independent rotation of the wheel without mechanical coupling to the vehicle's driven components, reducing friction and enabling precise aerodynamic measurement.
3Productivity
If traditional aerodynamic testing is performed with the wheel coupled to vehicle components, then testing can be conducted in a standard setup, but substantial time is required and other components may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the wheel assembly from the vehicle's powertrain and braking systems through the shaft adaptor and bearing assembly, the testing process is isolated to only the wheel component. This prevents damage to expensive vehicle components during testing procedures and allows for rapid setup and teardown of test configurations, significantly reducing overall testing time and improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel bearing assembly is provided. The wheel bearing assembly includes a wheel releasably coupled to a vehicle to perform an aerodynamic testing of the vehicle. The wheel bearing assembly further includes a shaft adaptor coupled between a bearing of the wheel and other components of the vehicle. The shaft adaptor rotates the wheel independent of the control of other components of the vehicle.