Wheel Finger Locking Mechanism for Axle Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel assemblies lack an efficient and secure mechanism for mounting and removing wheels from axles, particularly in wheeled products, as they often require manual force and tools, and do not provide a reliable locking system to prevent axial movement.
Innovation Solution
A wheel assembly with an axially extending axle receiving bore featuring integral fingers that can flex to engage and disengage a detent with the axle, allowing for secure locking and easy removal by radially flexing the fingers, which are designed to be flexed outward during insertion and inward to lock, and outward again to unlock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional mounting mechanism is used, then the wheel can be mounted to the axle, but manual force and tools are required and the process is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly performs the locking action automatically through the flexing fingers that engage with the axle's locking surfaces during insertion, eliminating the need for external tools or complex manual operations. The system serves itself by using the insertion motion to trigger the locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: multiple independent flexing fingers, each with its own detent, that can operate individually to engage with corresponding features on the axle. This segmentation allows for simpler individual components that collectively provide robust locking.
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented, then axial movement is prevented, but the mechanism requires complex components and tools for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism uses dynamic flexing fingers that can elastically deform to engage and disengage from the axle. This dynamic behavior allows a simple elastic component to provide reliable locking without complex mechanical linkages, springs, or adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The fingers change their physical state between flexed and unflexed positions to transition between locked and unlocked states. This parameter change (flexural deformation) provides a simple binary locking mechanism that is reliable yet structurally simple.
3Strength
If the wheel is securely locked to the axle, then axial forces are resisted, but removal requires significant force and tools
Solution Approach 1:
The same dynamic flexing fingers that provide strong locking engagement can be easily actuated in reverse to release the lock. By applying radial force to flex the fingers outward, the detents disengage from the axle's locking surfaces, allowing easy removal without tools while maintaining strong locked state during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible fingers act as thin elastic elements that can be easily deflected to change state. Their flexibility allows them to maintain strong engagement forces when locked while requiring minimal force to deflect for release, providing both strength and ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a secure locking mechanism that resists axial forces up to 160 kgf and allows for easy removal of the wheel from the axle, enhancing the usability and reliability of wheeled products by simplifying the mounting and dismounting process.
Implementation Method 1
the finger being adapted to be flexed from an insertion position to a locking position and from a locking position into an unlocking position
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel having an axle receiving bore. The bore having at least one finger integral with the wheel extending towards the front wall of the wheel. The finger having a detent facing inwardly into the axle receiving bore. The finger is flexed outwards for insertion of the axle within the axle receiving bore, and flexed inwards to insert the detent into a notch of the axle once the axle is inserted in the axle receiving bore.