Vehicle Wheel Insert Fastening With Elastomer Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spoke inserts for light metal vehicle wheels face challenges such as high material usage and weight due to screw fasteners, and inability to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, leading to potential loosening and rattle issues under dynamic stresses.
Innovation Solution
The use of elastomer components as supporting bodies that are elastically deformable in radial and axial directions, seated on a supporting core with a radially protruding retaining flange, allowing for tolerance compensation and pretensioning to ensure a secure, rattle-free connection without screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw fasteners are used to secure the insert element, then the connection reliability is improved, but the weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the screw fasteners from the wheel assembly by implementing a integrated fastening system where the insert element itself forms the fastening mechanism through its supporting bodies with locking projections that engage directly with the wheel flange, removing the need for separate screw components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the insert element with the fastening function by integrating supporting bodies directly into the insert element structure, combining the decorative/functional insert with the fastening mechanism into a single unified component that serves both purposes
2Manufacturing precision
If rigid supporting bodies are used, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ability to compensate for tolerances decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the supporting bodies from rigid to elastomeric, allowing them to deform elastically under load to compensate for dimensional tolerances in the wheel and insert element while maintaining secure fastening
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs elastomeric supporting bodies that function as flexible elements, utilizing their elastic deformation capability to absorb and compensate for manufacturing tolerances between the wheel flange, installation openings, and insert element features
3Strength
If multiple screw fasteners are used, then the connection strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening functions into a single integrated insert element structure, where the supporting bodies with locking projections provide both localization and retention functions that would otherwise require separate screw fasteners and installation openings
Solution Approach 2:
The insert element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the decorative/functional wheel appliqué, acts as the fastening mechanism through its supporting bodies, and creates the retention structure, eliminating the need for separate dedicated fastening components
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
This solution provides a secure, play-free, and rattle-free seating of the insert element on the vehicle wheel, reducing material usage and weight while maintaining a defined bearing, even under dynamic conditions, by utilizing the elastomer properties for pretensioning and axial compensation.
Implementation Method 1
supporting bodies (9, 9.1) which are implemented as elastomer components which are elastically deformable in radial and axial direction
Implementation Method 2
at least one outwardly protruding locking projection for engaging behind an installation opening reaching through the supporting surface of the vehicle wheel
Data Source
AI summary
An insert element for a vehicle wheel comprises several supporting bodies for supporting the insert element on supporting surfaces of the vehicle wheel. The supporting bodies have a supporting shoulder, which can be brought to bear against a supporting surface of the vehicle wheel, and a fastening extension with an axial hollow channel and with at least one outwardly protruding locking projection, arranged at an axial distance from the supporting shoulder, for engaging behind an installation opening reaching through the supporting surface of the vehicle wheel. The supporting bodies are designed as elastomer components which are elastically deformable in the radial and axial direction and sit with their hollow channel on a supporting core. The supporting cores bear a radially protruding retaining flange and are held on the rear side on the insert element. Each supporting body is held by the retaining flange in a form-fitting manner against being pulled off from the supporting core.