Improved energy- absorbing wheels are under development for use on special-purpose vehicles that must traverse rough terrain under conditions (e.g., extreme cold) in which rubber pneumatic tires would fail. The designs of these wheels differ from those of prior non-pneumatic energy-absorbing wheels in ways that result in lighter weights and more effective reduction of stresses generated by ground/wheel contact forces. These wheels could be made of metals and/or composite materials to withstand the expected extreme operating conditions.

The Spring Rods would act as shock absorbers and load distributors between the isogrid tire and the hub.
As shown in the figure, a wheel according to this concept would include an isogrid tire connected to a hub via spring rods. The isogrid tire would be a stiff, lightweight structure typically made of aluminum. The isogrid aspect of the structure would both impart stiffness and act as a traction surface. The hub would be a thin-walled body of revolution having a simple or compound conical or other shape chosen for structural efficiency. The spring rods would absorb energy and partially isolate the hub and the supported vehicle from impact loads. The general spring-rod configuration shown in the figure was chosen because it would distribute contact and impact loads nearly evenly around the periphery of the hub, thereby helping to protect the hub against damage that would otherwise be caused by large loads concentrated onto small portions of the hub.

The spring rods could be made from any of a variety of materials, depending on the nature of the anticipated loading and the scale of the wheel. (Experiments have shown, for example, that graphite/epoxy spring rods behave in a predictable, repeatable way.) The spring rods would be arranged in a pin/roller beam configuration to load them optimally and prevent the application of thrust loads (that is, loads parallel to the axis of rotation) to the tire. By appropriate sizing of the spring rods and selection of the spring-rod material, the mechanical compliance of the wheel can be tailored over a wide range.

This work was done by Peter Waydo of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Mechanics category. NPO-30378.



This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Document cover
Energy-Absorbing, Lightweight Wheels

(reference NPO-30378) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

Don't have an account? Sign up here.