Vehicle Wheel Connecting Elements Axial Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel designs face challenges in transmitting high forces while maintaining lightweight construction, as the limited space in the wheel rim's drop center restricts the length and cross-sectional size of connecting elements, leading to increased mass and reduced reliability of the connection between the wheel rim and wheel disc.
Innovation Solution
The connecting elements are arranged through a through-hole in the tire seat of the rim base, allowing for a longer, radially oriented design that increases the effective length and reduces the number of elements needed, thereby enhancing the connection's reliability and durability while minimizing mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If connecting elements are arranged in the drop center area with traditional orientation, then the connection can be made, but the effective length and cross-section of connecting elements are limited, reducing force transmission capability
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting elements are reoriented from a traditional radial arrangement to an arrangement that extends in the axial direction through the rim base. This dimensional change allows the connecting elements to achieve greater effective length by utilizing the axial space of the rim base rather than being constrained to radial space, thereby improving force transmission capability without increasing the radial footprint.
2Force
If connecting elements are made with larger cross-section to increase force transmission, then force capability improves, but larger holes and countersinks are needed which increase notch effect and reduce wheel rim strength
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the orientation and dimensional parameters of the connecting elements, allowing them to achieve greater effective length in the axial direction. This parameter change enables the use of slimmer connecting elements with smaller cross-sections that can still transmit high forces due to their increased effective length, thereby reducing the notch effect and preserving wheel rim strength.
3Reliability
If more connecting elements are used to compensate for limited size, then connection reliability improves, but the mass of the wheel increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the orientation and effective length parameters of the connecting elements, the invention enables each individual element to transmit higher forces. This allows the use of fewer connecting elements to achieve the same or better connection reliability, thereby reducing the total mass of the wheel while maintaining or improving connection reliability.
4Ease of manufacture
If connecting elements are arranged in the transition from well to hump, then connection can be made, but the oblique orientation limits the possible length extension of connecting elements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the connection arrangement from the oblique transition zone to the tire seat area, where connecting elements can be oriented more axially. This dimensional repositioning allows for greater length extension of connecting elements in the axial direction while maintaining manufacturing feasibility, as the through-holes can be drilled perpendicular to the rim base surface.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim and a wheel disc which is connected to an inner side of the wheel rim, wherein the wheel disc is connected to the wheel rim by means of at least one connecting element which is guided through a through-hole of the rim base and is inserted in the wheel disc. The invention also relates to a method for producing the vehicle wheel. The vehicle wheel is characterized in that the through-hole (3) is arranged in the tire seat (1.1) of the rim base and the connecting element (3), which is guided through, is joined substantially in the direction of the radial extension of the wheel disc (2) which is associated to the tire seat (1.1) on the inner side of the rim. In the method, it is provided that the connection between wheel rim and wheel disc is produced in the region of the tire seat (1.1) of the rim base, and, after the insertion of the connecting element (3) into the wheel disc (2), a portion of the connecting element (3), which protrudes the contour of the outer side of the rim of the tire seat (1.1), is shaped so that the connecting element (3) is adjusted conform to the contour of the outer side of the rim of the tire seat (1.1).