Utility Vehicle Wheel Weight With Clamping Lever Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additional wheel weights for utility vehicles, such as agricultural tractors, are difficult to assemble due to complex positioning requirements and high force needed for secure attachment of weight plates.
Innovation Solution
A design featuring a retention member with a clamping lever closure system that includes a first assembly element, a second assembly element, and a lever mechanism, allowing for manual or external operation to securely attach a weight plate to the wheel with reduced axial spacing, utilizing longitudinal ribs for reduced friction and self-securing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional screw bolts and multiple conical abutment faces are used for assembly, then the weight plate can be securely attached, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires many manipulations
Solution Approach 1:
The retention member is divided into functional segments: a base member for mounting to the wheel, a clamping lever closure system with first and second assembly elements, and a lever mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping lever closure system is designed to be self-securing through the lever mechanism. When the actuation lever is moved to the closed position, the lever mechanism automatically reduces the axial spacing between assembly elements, clamping the weight plate securely without requiring additional fastening operations or complex manipulation.
2Reliability
If high clamping force is applied to secure the weight plate, then vibration-resistant attachment is achieved, but the force required for assembly increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping lever closure transitions from an open to a closed position dynamically through the lever mechanism. This dynamic action allows the system to apply high clamping force only when needed (in the closed position) while requiring minimal force during the assembly process (during the transition).
Solution Approach 2:
The lever mechanism changes the axial spacing parameter between the first and second assembly elements. In the open position, maximum spacing allows easy insertion; in the closed position, reduced spacing creates strong clamping force. This parameter change enables both easy assembly and secure attachment.
3Reliability
If the weight plate is tightly clamped to the retention member, then secure attachment is achieved, but the friction increases making assembly more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The weight plate is first inserted in the open position where maximum axial spacing between assembly elements provides minimal friction and easy insertion. Only after positioning is complete does the lever mechanism transition to the closed position to apply clamping force, separating the insertion and clamping actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction condition changes dynamically with the lever position. During insertion (open position), friction is minimized for easy assembly. After positioning, the lever closes to increase friction and clamping force for secure attachment, achieving both goals at different stages.
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
Enables easy, vibration-resistant assembly of the weight plate with fewer manipulations and reduced force requirements, ensuring secure attachment and allowing for versatile orientation and easy handling.
Implementation Method 1
a lever mechanism which is arranged between the two assembly elements and which has a clamping element which is releasably secured to the first assembly element and an actuation lever which is articulated between the second assembly element and the clamping element in such a manner that by pivoting the actuation lever between an open and a closed position a longitudinally axial spacing between the two assembly elements can be reduced
Implementation Method 2
Longitudinal ribs formed on the hollow-cylindrical base member reduce the friction with respect to the weight plate so that, during fitting, a comparatively small application of force is required
Implementation Method 3
The two articulation locations of the actuation lever, on the one hand, on the second assembly element and, on the other hand, on the clamping element are arranged in such a manner with respect to each other that the path of the clamping force when pivoting the actuation lever has a maximum which is located between an open and closed position. This ensures that the actuation lever when the maximum is exceeded is pressed into the closed position and consequently the clamping lever closure has self-securing properties.
Data Source
AI summary
An additional wheel weight for a utility vehicle includes a weight plate and a retention member configured to be fitted to a wheel and on which the weight plate is guided in a longitudinally axial manner. A clamping lever closure is disposed between the weight plate and retention member. A first assembly element of the clamping lever closure is coupled to the retention member, a second assembly element of the clamping lever closure engages the weight plate in a longitudinally axial manner, and a lever mechanism is disposed between the first and second assembly elements. The lever mechanism includes a clamping element being releasably secured to the first assembly element and an actuation lever being articulated between the second assembly element and the clamping element.