Adjustable Wheel Hub Simulator for Tire Fit Assessment

Solution Overview

Problem

Customizing and personalizing vehicles by replacing wheels and tires is challenging due to limited choices and a time-consuming, expensive, and inaccurate process of matching desired wheel and tire combinations with vehicle dimensions and lug hole patterns.

Innovation Solution

A five-part adjustable apparatus that simulates wheel and tire dimensions, including lug hole patterns, wheel diameter, width, backspacing, and tire profile, allowing for easy comparison of different combinations for fit and safety on a vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple wheel and tire combinations are installed on a vehicle to assess practicality, then accurate determination of fit is achieved, but time consumption and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of wheel and tire fit determinationVSAvoidtime required for assessment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a removable apparatus that copies the wheel hub and simulates wheel and tire dimensions without requiring actual installation of multiple wheel and tire combinations. The apparatus includes a wheel hub member with lug holes, a wheel diameter member with adjustable fasteners, a wheel width member with adjustable fasteners, and a tire profile member, all of which can be removed and repositioned to simulate different wheel and tire configurations on the vehicle wheel hub without permanent installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus is divided into five separate adjustable parts: wheel hub member, wheel diameter member, wheel width member, wheel backspacing member, and tire profile member. Each part can be independently adjusted and repositioned to simulate different wheel and tire dimensions, allowing accurate assessment without installing multiple complete wheel and tire combinations on the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If several wheel and tire combinations are installed on a vehicle to assess practicality, then accurate determination of fit is achieved, but expense increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of wheel and tire fit determinationVSAvoidcost of assessment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a removable apparatus that copies the wheel hub and simulates wheel and tire dimensions without requiring actual installation of multiple wheel and tire combinations. The apparatus includes a wheel hub member with lug holes, a wheel diameter member with adjustable fasteners, a wheel width member with adjustable fasteners, and a tire profile member, all of which can be removed and repositioned to simulate different wheel and tire configurations on the vehicle wheel hub without permanent installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus is designed as a inexpensive, removable tool that can be attached and removed from the vehicle wheel hub without causing damage or requiring permanent installation. The five-part apparatus can be easily detached and stored, eliminating the need for expensive permanent modifications or multiple physical wheel and tire installations to assess fit and practicality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If conventional wheel and tire installation process is used, then actual fit is determined, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of wheel and tire fit determinationVSAvoidcomplexity of assessment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is divided into five separate adjustable parts: wheel hub member, wheel diameter member, wheel width member, wheel backspacing member, and tire profile member. Each part can be independently adjusted and repositioned to simulate different wheel and tire dimensions, allowing accurate assessment without installing multiple complete wheel and tire combinations on the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a removable apparatus that copies the wheel hub and simulates wheel and tire dimensions without requiring actual installation of multiple wheel and tire combinations. The apparatus includes a wheel hub member with lug holes, a wheel diameter member with adjustable fasteners, a wheel width member with adjustable fasteners, and a tire profile member, all of which can be removed and repositioned to simulate different wheel and tire configurations on the vehicle wheel hub without permanent installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS7610685B2Apparatus for identification and simulation of vehicle wheel and tire dimensions

Publication Date: 2009.11.03 PERTRONIX LLC

AI summary

An apparatus that identifies and simulates vehicle wheel and tire dimensions can be removably attached to a vehicle wheel hub and adjusted in radial and axial directions to determine the dimension of a wheel and tire that would fit the vehicle.