Configurable Wheel Vanes for Brake Cooling and Lower Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wheels for sports motor vehicles experience increased aerodynamic drag due to openings along the wheel axes, which are necessary for cooling brakes or electric motors, but these openings hinder energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design featuring a rim cover with through openings and movable vanes that can be configured to close or open these openings, thereby controlling aerodynamic drag, while maintaining sufficient cooling for vehicle components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If openings are provided in the rim for cooling brakes or electric motors, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rim cover movable between open and closed positions. The rim cover can be dynamically adjusted based on operating conditions: opened when cooling is required (high temperature) and closed when aerodynamic efficiency is prioritized (normal operation). This transforms a static rim structure into a dynamic one that adapts to varying thermal and aerodynamic demands, resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and aerodynamic drag.
2Loss of energy
If the rim cover is made movable to control openings, then aerodynamic drag can be reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the rim into separate functional components: a fixed rim body and a movable rim cover. This segmentation allows the rim cover to be independently controlled and moved relative to the rim body, enabling selective opening and closing of the cooling openings. The segmentation principle simplifies the overall mechanism compared to making the entire rim movable, as only the cover portion needs to be actuated.
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 wheel design effectively reduces aerodynamic drag by closing the openings during normal operation and increases drag when needed for braking, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the aerodynamic drags of the vehicles are known to correspond to energy losses... the openings cause the drawback of increasing the aerodynamic drags of the motor vehicle
Implementation Method 2
allowing conveying air flows on the brakes or possibly on electric motors, in cases of integration of the electric motors into the wheels, for cooling the same
Data Source
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AI summary
A wheel (4) for a vehicle (1) includes a rim (5) having a rotation axis (H) and one or more openings (5d, 11) for placing an inner volume (V) of the rim (5) in communication with a space outside the rim (5) and in front of the rim (5) according to the rotation axis (H), characterized by comprising one or more vanes (12) coupled to the rim (5) in a movable manner between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the one or more vanes (12) close and open at least partially the one or more openings (5d, 11), respectively.