Wheel End Hub Cap NFC Identification Under Dirt and Grease
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Solution Overview
Problem
The identification of wheel ends and their components on commercial vehicles becomes increasingly difficult due to dirt and grease obscuring markings, leading to higher effort and time expenditure, especially for semi-trailers where information reading is typically cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an NFC tag on or within the wheel end or hub cap, securely mounted using adhesive bonding, which allows for simple and reliable information retrieval, enhancing data security and durability by reducing noise interference and eliminating reliance on external energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional markings (serial numbers, QR codes) are used on wheel ends, then identification information can be provided, but the markings become obscured by dirt and grease over time, making identification difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/optical marking systems (serial numbers, QR codes) with an NFC (Near Field Communication) electronic identification system. The NFC tag stores identification data that can be wirelessly read by smartphones or NFC readers, eliminating the need for visual inspection of physical markings that become obscured by dirt and grease. This substitution of mechanical marking with electronic communication resolves the contradiction by maintaining information accessibility regardless of environmental contamination.
2Ease of operation
If an NFC tag is mounted on a rotating component like the hub or axle, then identification information remains accessible, but the tag is exposed to harsh environmental conditions including dirt, grease, and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the NFC tag inside the hub cap, which serves as a protective housing. The hub cap acts as a nested structure that shields the NFC tag from environmental contaminants while still allowing wireless communication. This nesting approach resolves the contradiction by providing physical protection against dirt and grease while maintaining the ease of information access through the cap's material properties that allow NFC signal penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub cap material serves as an intermediary between the NFC tag and the external environment. It provides mechanical and environmental protection to the tag while allowing electromagnetic signals to pass through for identification purposes. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by filtering out harmful environmental factors while permitting necessary communication functions.
3Reliability
If adhesive bonding is used to mount the NFC tag, then the tag is securely fixed and resistant to vibration and stress, but the bonding process adds manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adhesive bonding that allows the NFC tag to be easily attached to the hub cap during assembly without requiring complex mounting mechanisms or additional fastening components. The adhesive system is designed to be applied directly and cured in place, making the process self-contained and eliminating the need for separate mechanical attachment steps. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable secure mounting through a simple, integrated manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel end for a commercial vehicle wheel end includes a wheel bearing arrangement, a hub, a hub cap and an NFC tag, wherein the hub is held rotatably about an axle of rotation by the wheel bearing arrangement, wherein the hub cap is fixed or fixable to the hub, and wherein the NFC tag is mounted on an element of the wheel end including the hub cap or the hub.