Automobile Wheel Vibration Damping via Rubber Hub Cap Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automobile wheels that have been lightened to improve fuel efficiency often suffer from insufficient stiffness, leading to vibrations and noise during driving, and existing solutions that address these issues either compromise durability or increase weight.
Innovation Solution
A vibration damping apparatus is positioned between the wheel and the hub cap, utilizing vibration damping rubber to attenuate vibrations and noise, comprising a vibration damping plate and bushings that contact the disk member and hub cap, respectively, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the wheel weight is lightened to improve fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is improved, but stiffness becomes insufficient causing vibration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining aluminum alloy wheel body with vibration damping rubber material. The aluminum alloy provides lightweight properties while the rubber material provides vibration damping and noise reduction, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and stiffness maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vibration damping rubber material with specific physical parameters (hardness, damping characteristics) into the wheel structure. This changes the overall dynamic parameters of the wheel, allowing weight reduction while maintaining vibration resistance through the damping properties of the rubber material
2Strength
If casting thickness is increased to prevent vibration and noise, then vibration and noise are reduced, but weight increases restricting fuel efficiency improvement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire wheel, the patent applies vibration damping rubber material specifically at the hub cap area where vibration and noise originate. This localized approach provides the necessary stiffness and damping without adding unnecessary weight to the entire wheel structure
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration damping rubber material acts as an intermediary between the aluminum alloy wheel body and the hub cap. This intermediary layer provides vibration damping and noise reduction functions without requiring increases in the thickness of the main wheel structure, thus avoiding unnecessary weight increase
3Weight of moving object
If hollow chamber is formed in rim and spokes to reduce weight and absorb noise, then weight is reduced and noise is absorbed, but durability is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vibration damping function from the main wheel structure (rim and spokes) and concentrates it in a separate hub cap assembly with vibration damping rubber material. This allows the rim and spokes to maintain their structural integrity and durability while still achieving weight reduction and noise absorption through the dedicated damping component
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 solution effectively attenuates vibrations and noise in the automobile wheel, while also lightening the wheel's weight, thereby improving fuel efficiency without compromising durability.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration damping apparatus is provided between a wheel and a hub cap, to decrease vibration
Implementation Method 2
making the vibration damping apparatus positioned between the automobile wheel and the hub cap using vibration damping rubber
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to an automobile wheel having a vibration damping function. The automobile wheel includes a disk member connected with an axle hub and a rim member for mounting a tire. A hub cap is to be attached to or detached from one side of the disk member. A vibration damping plate in a shape corresponding to the hub cap is placed on one side of the hub cap to be in contact with the disk member. Vibration damping bushings are positioned at the vibration damping plate to be in contact with the disk member. The vibration damping plate and vibration damping bushings work together to attenuate vibration of the wheel.