Wheel Fixing Looseness Detection Using Axle-Direction Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel condition determination systems are influenced by road surface conditions, particularly at night, making accurate detection of loose wheel fixings challenging.
Innovation Solution
A wheel condition determination device that uses acceleration sensors to measure axle-direction accelerations, calculates variations in these accelerations, and compares them to determine if wheel fixings are loose, canceling out road surface influences through smoothing and synchronization of wheel data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If image-based determination is used to detect bad road conditions, then the system can identify road surface issues, but the determination accuracy deteriorates at nighttime and for various types of bad roads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/image-based road condition detection system with an acceleration-based mechanical sensing system. Acceleration sensors mounted on the vehicle body measure vibrations caused by road surface conditions, providing reliable detection of bad roads regardless of lighting conditions or road type. This mechanical substitution eliminates the nighttime and road-type limitations of image-based systems.
2Device complexity
If acceleration thresholds are used to detect wheel loosening, then the detection process is simple, but road surface vibrations cause false positive determinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces road surface condition detection as an intermediary system that mediates between the acceleration sensor measurements and the wheel loosening determination. When bad road conditions are detected through acceleration patterns, the system suppresses or adjusts the wheel condition determination threshold, preventing false positives while maintaining sensitivity to actual wheel loosening. This intermediary layer reconciles the simple detection approach with reliable results.
3Speed
If the system continuously monitors wheel accelerations, then timely detection of loose fixings is achieved, but false warnings increase due to road surface influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where road surface condition detection results continuously influence the wheel condition determination process. The system monitors acceleration patterns to identify bad road conditions and feeds this information back to adjust the determination logic, temporarily suppressing warnings during problematic road conditions while maintaining rapid response to actual wheel loosening events. This feedback loop reduces false warnings while preserving timely detection capability.
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
Accurately determines loose wheel fixings by minimizing road surface interference, reducing false warnings, and ensuring timely alerts for potential wheel detachment.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration sensor 6 for each wheel that detects an acceleration in an axle direction of each of the wheels
Data Source
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AI summary
An object is to appropriately determine a wheel condition by cancelling the influence of a road surface on which a vehicle is traveling. A wheel condition determination device includes an acceleration obtaining unit, a variation calculation unit, an index calculation unit, and a determination unit. The acceleration obtaining unit sequentially obtains accelerations in an axle direction of each of wheels attached to both ends of an axle of a vehicle. The variation calculation unit calculates, based on the sequentially obtained accelerations, variations in a time direction among the accelerations of each of the wheels. The index calculation unit calculates an index for comparing the variations of the wheels. The determination unit determines whether or not fixing mechanisms for fixing the wheels to the axle are loose, based on the index.