Heavy Duty Wheel Rim Flange Profile Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wheel designs fail to effectively handle increased design loads and tire pressures, leading to tire demounting or sliding off the wheel rim during vehicle turns due to lateral loads.

Innovation Solution

A wheel rim design featuring specific flange profiles defined by mathematical equations, which enhance structural support and stability, allowing for increased load and tire pressure ratings without excessive weight increase, achieved through forging or casting using materials like steel or aluminum alloys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the size and thickness of wheel features are increased to handle higher design loads and tire pressures, then the load capacity and pressure rating are improved, but the wheel weight increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload capacityVSAvoidwheel weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the flange profile geometry through specific mathematical equations (defining curvature radii, angles, and dimensional relationships) to achieve higher load capacity and tire pressure ratings without proportionally increasing wheel weight. The precise control of flange profile parameters allows for efficient load distribution and structural performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If heavier materials or additional structural support elements are added to increase load rating, then the strength and stability are improved, but the wheel weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire retention stabilityVSAvoidwheel weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes geometric parameters of the flange profile using specific equations that define the relationship between various dimensions and curvature radii. This optimized geometry provides enhanced tire retention stability under lateral loads during vehicle turns without requiring additional structural support elements or heavier materials, thereby avoiding excessive weight increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If conventional wheel designs are used with increased design loads, then the basic structural requirements are met, but the tires can demount or slide off the wheel rim during vehicle turns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebasic structural strengthVSAvoidtire retention under lateral load

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by defining specific mathematical relationships for the flange profile geometry, including curvature radii (R1, R2, R3), angles (α1, α2, α3), and dimensional ratios. These optimized parameters create enhanced geometric interlocking between the tire and wheel rim, preventing tire demounting or sliding during vehicle turns while maintaining basic structural strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11345188B2Single piece heavy duty wheel

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 HOWMET AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

A wheel rim including a flange profile on a tire side of an open end flange of the wheel rim, the flange profile defined by the equation:y1=(a⁢⁢Theta⁢⁢1+1(1+Exp⁡(a⁢⁢Theta⁢⁢3+a⁢Theta⁢⁢4·X1))aTheta⁢⁢5)·a⁢Theta⁢2wherein, for 0≤X1≤1, aTheta1 is between −1.004 to −0.974, aTheta2 is between −−1.049 to −1.0182, aTheta3 is between −3.601 to −2.760, aTheta4 is between 18.791 to 25.965, and aTheta5 is between 0.185 to 0.277.