Vehicle Wheel Spoke Backside Inclines for Aerodynamic Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel designs that enhance aerodynamic characteristics through protrusions on spoke portions often compromise flexibility in wheel design, particularly with techniques like JP 2018-20640 A, which degrade flexibility by placing protrusions on the wheel front side.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wheel design featuring inclined surfaces on the wheel back side of spoke portions, which incline toward the window portion, improving aerodynamic characteristics while maintaining flexibility by strategically placing these surfaces at the end or both end portions in the wheel circumferential direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If protrusions are provided on the wheel front side of spoke portions to improve aerodynamic characteristics, then aerodynamic performance is enhanced, but flexibility in wheel design is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by relocating the aerodynamic modification from the wheel front side to the wheel back side. Instead of adding protrusions on the front side of spoke portions as in conventional technology, the patent provides inclined surfaces on the back side of spoke portions that incline toward the window portion. This inverted approach maintains aerodynamic benefits while preserving design flexibility on the visible front side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing inclined surfaces at specific locations on the spoke portions - specifically on the wheel back side at end portions in the wheel circumferential direction. This localized modification targets the aerodynamic flow without requiring changes to the entire spoke structure or visible front-side design, thereby maintaining overall design flexibility while achieving aerodynamic improvement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If protrusions are provided on spoke portions to change air flow, then aerodynamic characteristics are improved, but design flexibility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing aerodynamic modifications on the wheel back side rather than the front side. The inclined surfaces on the back side of spoke portions modify air flow in the same beneficial manner as front-side protrusions would, but without constraining the visible front-side design options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a functional copy of the aerodynamic effect achieved by front-side protrusions, but implements it on the back side. The inclined surfaces replicate the air flow modification benefits without requiring the same visible design elements, allowing designers to maintain flexibility on the front side while achieving equivalent aerodynamic performance.
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 inclined surfaces on the wheel back side enhance aerodynamic performance during vehicle travel while preventing a degradation in wheel design flexibility, as demonstrated across various embodiments with different spoke portion configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an inclined surface is provided on a wheel back side of each of the spoke portions such that the inclined surface inclines toward a wheel front side from a center in a wheel circumferential direction toward the window portion
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wheel includes a hub portion attached to a vehicle, a substantially cylindrical rim portion, and a plurality of spoke portions connected to the rim portion and the hub portion. The plurality of the spoke portions have a window portion that penetrates in a wheel axial direction. An inclined surface is provided on a wheel back side of each of the spoke portions such that the inclined surface inclines toward a wheel front side from a center in a wheel circumferential direction toward the window portion. The inclined surface is provided at a portion including one end portion or both end portions in the wheel circumferential direction.