Wheel Weight Adapter with Sliding Mounts for Multi-Pitch Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicle manufacturers face the challenge of producing and stocking different wheel weights and mounting plates for various wheel types and sizes due to differing pitch circles and attachment points, necessitating separate adaptations for each wheel.
Innovation Solution
A wheel weight adapter unit with radially extending recesses and sliding elements that can be positioned in multiple ways to accommodate different pitch circles, allowing a single adapter to fit multiple wheel types, and featuring mounting brackets for wheel weights that can be screwed on directly or via spacers, with clamping screws for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different wheel weights and mounting plates are produced for different wheel types and sizes, then each wheel can be properly fitted, but the manufacturer must maintain large inventories of different parts
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter plate is designed with multiple recesses at different radial positions, allowing a single universal adapter to accommodate various wheel pitch circles. The sliding elements can be positioned in different recesses to match different wheel types and sizes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized adapters.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding elements are designed to be movable along the radial recesses, allowing dynamic adjustment of their position to match different pitch circle requirements. This adjustability enables one adapter plate to serve multiple wheel configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate mounting plates are used for each wheel type, then proper fitment is achieved, but the device complexity and number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter plate is segmented into multiple radial recesses, each capable of accommodating sliding elements at different positions. This segmentation allows the single adapter to provide multiple mounting configurations without requiring multiple complete adapter designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding elements act as intermediaries between the adapter plate and the wheel fastening bolts. By positioning these intermediaries at different radial locations within the recesses, the adapter can interface with various wheel types while maintaining a consistent basic design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the adapter plate is made larger to accommodate all pitch circles, then all wheels can be fitted, but the adapter becomes more expensive and harder to install
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the adapter plate diameter to cover all pitch circles, the solution uses the radial dimension within the plate. Recesses extend radially inward from the outer circumference, allowing sliding elements to be positioned at different radial distances from the center, thereby covering various pitch circle diameters without increasing the overall plate size.
Data Source
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AI summary
Wheel weight adapter unit (10') for mounting a wheel weight (30) on a commercial vehicle, comprising at least: - an adapter element (11) with at least three radially extending recesses (12, 13); - a plurality of sliding elements (20'), each of which is arranged radially displaceably or slidably in the recesses (12, 13) in the adapter element (11) and each of which has at least one through-bore (24') for the passage of a fastening bolt; - a spacer element (14) projecting beyond the adapter element (11), each having a fastening means receptacle to which the wheel weight (30) can be fastened.