Vehicle Wheel Connecting Ring Segmentation for Fatigue Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheels face challenges in fatigue strength and run-out tolerances, leading to fretting phenomena and potential cracks at the interface zone between the connecting ring and the rim, which affects performance and handling.
Innovation Solution
The wheel design features a connecting ring with a contact portion that has local recesses towards the axis, creating non-contact angular portions between the ring and the rim, and spoke ribs arranged between the disk's central part and the connecting ring, enhancing fatigue strength and handling by avoiding fretting and improving rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the contact portion of the connecting ring is positioned axially close to the axially outer connecting portion, then the wheel structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but fretting phenomena occur at the interface zone causing cracks and reduced fatigue strength
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion of the connecting ring is segmented into multiple angular contact zones separated by non-contact portions. This segmentation allows the contact interface to be distributed across multiple discrete areas rather than continuous contact, reducing stress concentration and preventing fretting-induced cracks while maintaining adequate fatigue strength
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting ring features localized variations in the contact interface: some angular portions make contact with the rim's inner annular surface while other portions deliberately remain non-contacting. This local differentiation optimizes the contact characteristics at specific zones to eliminate fretting while maintaining structural integrity
2Ease of manufacture
If the contact portion of the connecting ring is positioned axially close to the axially outer connecting portion, then the manufacturing operations are simplified, but run-out tolerances deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is divided into discrete angular segments with alternating contact and non-contact zones. This segmentation provides multiple localized reference surfaces for positioning the connecting ring relative to the rim, improving run-out control without complicating the overall manufacturing process
3Strength
If the spokes are arranged between the connecting portion of the disk central part and the separating portion of the connecting ring, then the wheel rigidity and handling are improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spoke structure merges the disk central part and the connecting ring into an integrated load-bearing assembly. The spokes act as structural connectors that simultaneously provide rigidity, define window openings, and maintain the geometric relationship between the disk and rim, achieving multiple functions through a unified structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A wheel (1) for vehicles, comprising a shaped rim (2) with a central recessed channel-like portion (6), bounded by two arcuate connecting portions (6a, 6b), one axially internal and one axially external, respectively; and a disk (3) having a plurality of spokes (3b); each spoke comprising a pair of spoke ribs (3c) interconnected by a spoke web (3d); the outer ends of such spokes (3b) being interconnected by a peripheral connecting ring (11); the connecting ring (11) comprising a cylindrical contact portion (11a) and a separating portion (11b), axially adjacent to the cylindrical portion (11a) and facing outwardly relative to the wheel (1). The contact portion (11a) and, at least partially, the separating portion (11b) are arranged at a position axially inner than the axially external connecting portion (6b) of the central portion (8) of the rim (2). The spoke ribs (3c) end externally at most at the separating portion (11b).