Two-Piece Wheel for Dual CTI System Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-piece wheel designs for Central Tire Inflation (CTI) systems are limited to either non-integrated or integrated systems, restricting their application, increasing costs and complexity, and preventing the use of integrated CTI systems with steel rims due to internal air passage constraints, while also making non-integrated valves more susceptible to damage and complicating assembly.

Innovation Solution

A two-piece wheel design that accommodates both non-integrated and integrated CTI systems without the need for specialized manifolds or adapters, allowing direct mounting of valves and internal air passages, reducing complexity and cost, and enabling use on various vehicle types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multi-piece wheels are designed for non-integrated CTI systems with external air passages, then the wheel can accommodate non-integrated CTI valves, but the wheel cannot be used with integrated CTI systems and requires additional external hoses and tubing

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCTI system compatibilityVSAvoidair passage configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel design incorporates both internal air passages and external air passage openings, allowing the same wheel to function with either non-integrated CTI systems (using external passages) or integrated CTI systems (using internal passages), thereby achieving universality across different CTI system types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The air passage system is segmented into internal and external components, where internal air passages are provided within the wheel structure and external air passage openings are provided on the wheel face, allowing selective use of either pathway depending on the CTI system type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multi-piece wheels are designed for integrated CTI systems with internal air passages, then the wheel can accommodate integrated CTI valves, but the wheel cannot be used with non-integrated CTI systems and internal air passages cannot be made in steel rims due to geometry constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCTI system compatibilityVSAvoidinternal air passage fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The wheel is designed as a two-piece construction with an outer rim and an inner rim, where the outer rim can be made from materials suitable for forming internal air passages (such as aluminum or composite materials) while the inner rim can be steel, thereby enabling internal air passages in wheels that would otherwise be steel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If non-integrated CTI valves are mounted using brackets attached to the wheel, then the valve can be secured to the wheel, but the valve is positioned further outboard making it more susceptible to damage and increasing assembly time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve protectionVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting brackets for non-integrated CTI valves are integrated into the wheel structure itself rather than being separate components, combining the valve mounting function with the wheel structure and eliminating the need for separate bracket attachment steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8087439B2Wheel with integrated and non-integrated central tire inflation

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 HUTCHINSON SA

AI summary

This wheel has features allowing both integrated and non-integrated Central Tire Inflation (CTI) systems to be installed, without the need for a specialized manifold, adapter, or unique wheel to accommodate each specific system. Thus, a single, light-weight wheel in accordance with this invention can accept either non-integrated or integrated CTI valves, allowing the wheels of the invention to be used on newer vehicles with integrated CTI systems, as well as on older vehicles with non-integrated (external) CTI systems. In addition, a wheel with both integrated and non-integrated Central Tire Inflation (CTI) systems is much simpler to assemble since the valve mounts directly to the wheel and no brackets are required, unlike prior two-piece bolt-together wheels.