Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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P;R.QIl;.Cll~F. HOUS~G ~?O~ AN ELECI'RONIC COlMPONEN'r
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present application claims priority from German Patent Application No.
196 26 144.9 filed on July 1, 1996, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference
5 herein in its entirety.
~A~KGRO~ OF THE INVE~IION
1. S~ yof~e,ln~o~
~e presen~ on r~laces to a plot~L;~e ho ~s~ for a~l elec~onic co~l,u~ ~ may
A i.I~tO a drop base of a vehicle ~.
S~MM~RY QF TElF ~VFNrlON
l~he present inventio~ de~ opdmally i~tpgr~n~ ~n elechon~c co~ ~ent of E~
ptef~PnninPd type, e.g., an el~iL~u.fic module, into a drop base of a vehicle nrn so ~t the
i..t~5.~lion is upLillli~ in e~y respect. Ac~gly, a pl~ot~~ e hou~ing n~ay be fo~med oo be as
~at a~ possible, i.e., to mclude a low ce~er of gravity, snd ~e~al~le~, may include a ~ciently
15 large volume f'or ~c~lwJ~n~l~tin~ the elc~ mcs and a ba~y.
~ he pre~ent in~entio~ p1;o~des the optimal ~Lioll of the ele~ronic eo~ in thar
out¢rr~ost faces or s.~rc def~ t~e y.otecli~e housing of the el~tlvl.ic c~ ron~nt in a y-
eoo~ ~te dir~Lo~, i.e., lateTally w~ respectt~ a ci~ellce ofthe vehicle~ may be brought
into conta~t w~th a drop base flank and/or a bottom of t~e ~op base of the ~ehicle r~m. The
~0 ~ ho~ may include two re~ faces t~ m~y form an angle ~ ~ich ~ to be greatel ~
an angle ~een ~e flan~ and lhe bottom of the d~op base. Altema~vely, ~ lieu of the bottom of
the drop base, a second drop ba~e ~Ank may be u~lized as a su~por~ Re-e~llcc of this pa~icular
ge~me~ic a~ ge~pnt of ~he out;er contour of the rea~ faces of thc cl~ihu~ic Co~ ,ut hou~
and ~e the ho~ of ~he cu~ u~,ul or ~nodule may rest on ~e bottom of ~e drop ba~e wbile
25 a s~e ~t~ e mod~e ~ousing ~nd the f~anks ofthe drop base is ~ml~lt~eously ~.l~u~
~I tire leve~, ~)lC~ C blade~ or lhe like may be p~ d f~om hoo~ng under the module housing.
F~, a housing ~ y ~ay be est~bli~b~ such ~at 1he module ho~ e may be utilized wi~
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subst~ lly all ~ types w~thout limitation or hindaance of fimc~on.
A ~fi~d ~ngle ~ snd a ~inn of Icngths for legs A and B, i.e., the two bottom fi~ of
the module housing, th~ forrn ~e ~fi~ angle ~ may be cbose~ so thElt co~ points located ou
a side of the drop ba~e flf~ may be located as high as possi~ '- in a z~ d;. ~ ~ectioh~ i.e.7
S radially ~nth respect to ffle vehicle nm Thi~ a~n~Prn~nt m~y reduce the po~ial dange~ ofthe
mo~e being lifted up ~om ~e drop ba~e contour due to ~ n~ i acting aIOIlll~ e contact point~
~nd pr~-hlced by ~t~m~l fo~o7.
Since the module i9;~Pn~lP~l to fit ~1hin ~e d~p b~ of various ve~icle ri~s, a .l lini....l...
radiu~ R, which couphe~7 legs ~ otm~ aslgle ~ a~ a ~linimum a~gle ~ m~y be
~l~ Gd ~ minimAl a~d mA~im~l values e~blis~ed by the Eu~p~ T~ d Ri~ Tech
RTO) for ~op b~ses of ~u~ow vehicle r~ms. ~ may be, e.g., gr~ater tha~
or equal to ap~nu~ y 10 rnm.
Fur~er, each bo~m fi~ce of l~e module n~ay i~clude t~o or more ~ces in~lin~ toward on~
ar~oti~r~ i.e., ~t an Emgle a less ~ ~pro~i~ely 180~ to f~m legs A' and B'. In accordance ~
~his as~angernen~, the module may be adapted to be positionable AUld utilized w~th va~ous di~e~L
rim ~li~n~e~s
~ top of the module housing ~ay form a~l a~le y bel~ a highe~t po~ition, in the z-
diIec~on, of part faces, i.e., extemal sur~ces, of the module top snd a line, ~n ~e z-~i~don, tange~
to all o-lt~n~st point of the module o~ the ~rop base flank side, which is always grea~er than or
2~ equal to ~~ tely 90~ and less than or egusl to a~o~ ly 1~0~, i.e., a~r4~.;.u~t~.ly 9o~
~ y ~ 180 ~ . T~s confi~ ion results in ~ the fo~ce comI~onrntc of the forve ~cting on
the module f~om ~e outside, which could poten~lly c~ e module to d~i~ out of the dr~p base
or to lift ~ ~om ~be drop base con~our. Cu~s~ue~tly, the potential danger of damage to the
elc~;L U~liC ~nodule ~ay be reduced to a targe extent.
Ano~er Plt~m~ive embodi~~ pro~ride amajority of lhe ~n~l s ~ f c~s t~t laterallydefi~e the module in the x~ on may be incl;neA at an angle o so th~t a force s~lbst~nti~lly
exerted ~1vithin the x-y plane and acting on the electronic module ~om l~e outs~de co~ es as
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such tha~ ~ is greater t~ o~ equal to a~ v~;n ~ly 45~ ~nd les~ n or equal to ~ .Iy
45~. A~ a result of ~is q .~ne~n~ e normal f~ce cQ~ ~l nl .1 of ~e f~rce directed ~om the x-y
planc m~y assume a l.~
S R~,~u)u~e, la~ally~ng ~s in the c~ t;~l (or X~OIl) or f~ccs ~8~ would
se the mo~ule to drif} out of or away from the trop ba~e or to lift up fiom ~he drop base eo~ou~
may be absorbedby am~dule G~ ~ this regar~, the ~s~n~ system of ~ ot~ c
~o~g m~y be ~lP~ so ~at ~e module is not .1-",~, ~3 when a~re~ d aDd so l~tthe den~ty
of 1he finich~d ~heel rema~ns plese~
By a~d large, the housing ac~l.l;"~, to ~e present in~ention may ~t E~n dc~iLIu~c
co~ ,"l to be op~mally ~tP,g~tP~l into ~he drop base of motor vehicle rim~. The g~lu.,l.;cal
co~figur~on of ~e outer contol~r may redu~e t~e poten~l fo~ ms~in~ ~e mo~ule from ~1
forces or for lifdng the module o~ of the drop base.
Ihe pre~e~t ~nveII~on may ~ fL.lc be directod to a p~ot~i~re hou~ng for an ele~cculu~ c~l to be int~&~l~d into a drop base of a vebicle rim. l~he ~ehicle rim may inclllde a d~op
base bot~om a~d ~n ~ and outer drop base flank, T~e ~ hm~ing may include a bot~mportion h~ g fi~st and secon~ oes to bc oTiented tows~d ~e drop base. The fi~ snd seco~ faccs
may be formed to be tightly nestled agai~st tbe vehicle nm.
Awording to ano~ fe~e of ~e pre 3ent inventio~, the fi~st alld seco~d ~s may define
fir~t snd second co~ct legs of the ~lut~cLive hou~ y-direc~o~ he fi$st a~d sec~dconta~t legs ada~d to be coupled to the flank and the d~op base botk)m, ~ rely Thc first ~nd
seoo~d contwt legs may form an angle ~, in which ~ is less ~ or equal to a~pl~,A;,. ~-'PIY 180~ ~nd
greater tha~ o~ e~ to ap~ru~ rly 90~, a~d t~e fLa~ and the drop base bottom may form an
arlgle less than ,B, Pur~er, the angle ~ d lengths of the contact le~s may be select~ ~0 that the
fir~t leg ~ ~e fl~lc as bigh ss possible along ~e length of the S~st leg ~rl a z di~o~ S~ll
filrther, t~e first and second le~s ~ay be coupled tbIough a cwed portion having a radius. The
radius and the angle ~ may be ~ in~ fiom 1l.8 l;. l .l ~ nd .. -~ alues for drop base r~m~
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indic~kd by the Eusopean ~lre and Rim Te~bnical 0
A~.-l;~g to still ~oti~ feat~e oft~e present inven~ion, e~b ofthe first and secon~
rnay Llclude two or more p~ nin~ legs fo~ an~c a ~n wh~ch Q ~1~ ~h~y~ y
1~0~.
Accol~g to a fi~ fe~ue of the present invention, the p~ e h~-C~t~ m8~ inClllde
a module top a~,~ged ~h that a~ ~ppe~ l portio~ of thG module top and a line fo~med parallel
to a radius of the wheel rim and in~ 1ing an olltPrmnst po~nt of ~e first face form an angle y.
Angle y may be grea~ than or equal bo a~y,o.~i~ly 90~ and le~ l~an or equal to a~pr. ~ e
180~, i.e., ayp~ 90~ s y ~ 180D.
Acc<~l;ng to another f~turc of dle p~sent ~nven~on, the protective h~ucing may include a
plu~ty of e~n~l Su~ces laterally (IPfining ~e ~lO~C~v~ housi~g and a .,.~ l. of ~e
plurality of part faces may be inclined at an angle ~ that is greater than or e~ual to a~o i...A~ely
45 ~ and less ~an o~ equal to applox~Lely 45 ~ Further, he an~le o may be ~l~ct~ ~o tha~ an
e~l force mainly acting on the plu~aLity of e~ ~ es may fosm as s~all a~ gle ~p as
15 p~sible.
According to s~ll ann~ fe~ure of ~e present invention, the p~ti~re ho~ may i~lclude
a recess formed on a top surface for rece~v~g a ~ brackeL
T~e prese~ inven~ion may also be diIe~ted to a ~ ivt; h~g for e~ c~ n ~
to be mDun~d on a wheel r~n, the wheel rim ha~ a drop base ~ d a ~rop base bottom for
20 1~Vil4; the ~,~li~e ~ng a~d formi~g a rim an~e. lhe hou~ing may ~clu~e a s~lhs~n~
triangular ho~ in~ di~ a top sur~e and a ~t and second bottom ~ ce. The first ~nd
second bottom ~ ces may fosm a~ angle ~ grea~er than the nm angle and each of the f~rst and
~d ~. .. r~ may include a first a~ ~con~ leg adapted to be seated on the flank and bottom of
the drop b~se.
AccoIdi~ to still another fea~ure of tbe present inven~on, the first and second leg may
colltact at least one of the flank and the botto~ of the d~op ba~e.
Ac&ordhlg to a filr~her feah~re of the present invention, the top s~ e may include a fio~t
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i~ce ha~ ~ plurality of act~nal sl~ ~ ~ The ~l~Dt~L ~, c ho~ m~y f~ ~nclude side ~ f~
o-lha1ly p~llel tt~ aD. a~s Of a~ , hou~nng and b~tir~
t~e fi~ fà~e, an~ ~ least two oftt2e plu~ality of exte~ ~ at an angle ~ w~h ~espect
to ~he side sur~es su~h tba~ ~ is greate~ ~ or equal t~ ~l~y~U~L;~4~ ~5 ~ aIld les~ than or equal
to ~y;",At~l~ 45~
Accoi~g ~ ~11 a~he~ fe~e of the pses~t inverIlion, 1 he top ~ce ~y in~e a peak
hs~nh~lly ~ong an ~s of ~ e ~augh the ~lol~
st ~d 6ec0~d bott0m ~l~ces, The peak may form an angle 1~ with a line ~
~ough an O~ l point of ~e fir~t bottom ~e snd ~ub~t~ ly pe~ ~ to a line
10 ~ din~ ~om thc second bottom s~e such th~- y i5~reater ~h~ or equal to applv~ lely 90
and les~ than or equal to al~p~t~ly 1~~.
According to snolller fe~re of the p~esent inven:~on, ~e top ~ ce may includc a rear face
ha~in~ a notched por~on for receiving a mou~ng elemf~t
Acco~g to a s~ er fe~ture, the an~ ~ may be fom~;d with a cu~ portion h~vmg
15 a ~ius of c~k~d~e. F~er, ~he radius of ~ Yulul~ may be a~p~ ely 10 mm.
The present inve~ticn may also bc dire~ted to a ~ut~~ e ho~ g for enclosing cl~llo~i~c
c-u-.p.~ in combi~oII ~vith a wheel ~ The wheel rim may include a drop base flank and a
drop base botto~ ~ece~ving the ~.uh ~i~_ housing and foIming a rim angle. The combination may
~clude the protective ho~ having a first and second bottom fi~ gle IL~e~t~
20 great~ ~an ~e ri~n a~e. A pordo~ of tbe ~s;t bottom ~ce may bc cou~lcd to the d~op base fl~nk
and a pordon ofthe second bottom face may be coupled to the drop base bottom.
~ CCOI~g to another feat~e of ffle pre5ent i~on, the fi~st botoo~ f~ce may i~clude a fi~;t
and second leg a~d the sec~ bottom face may include a ~rd ~ our~ leg. The fi~t and second
leg may fo~m an angle to ~eat 1he f~rst botto~ face o~ t~ drop base flank and the third and four~
25 leg may form an aD~le to seat the second bottom face on the drop base botto~
~ordhlg to a s~l further fe~ of ~e prese~ o4 ~e ~ut~Li~ housing m~y al~o
include a top sllr~Ce ;n~ apealc ~ ing suh~ti~ ong an ~as Of ~ r.-t~
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~ugh the pro~ective housing ~nd ~ e tl~e first and sec~nd bottom ~ces. The peak fu~
8n ~ngle ~ with a ~adi~l line ~tPr~rhn~ ~om ~he w~eel ~ through ~n u.~ L point of ~e Srst
bottom s~ such that y is ~er than or e~Iual to 90~ and less ~ or equal to 180~.
Accol~li~ to still ~nother f~re of the present i~ lion, ~e fir~t bottom surface may
5 ~nclude a co~ o~ remote fiom angle ,1~ and the dr~ ba~e fl~nk may be cu~ the ~l
bottom face at the co~ta~ng portion.
Acco~ to yet another feature of t~e p~t ~ven~on, the plot~ive ho~g ma~ also
include a top s~ ce ha~ a fi~t f~oe w~ aplu~ality of e~temal s--~Ges. The p~ hn n
nlay also include side sll~rG~ nti~ C~ ;cul~r to a tsngent of the whed ~ and
10 ~nh~lly parallel to a~ axis of symme~y Cl~ le~ e t~ t~live ho~ and l
the ~ont face. At least two of the plurality Df P.~P11~91 Sll~C~ sle aIranged at an a~gle ~ wi~
respectt~ t~e side sllrf~ suchtha~ o is greater than or equal to d~ ~ely 4~~ and less than
or equal to ~xi.~.tPIy 45~. Fur~, the plurality of e~ ~--- r ves may be A~r~gecl to
minimi7P the effect~ of eYt~l fo~ces acdng on ~he pr~ L~ housing.
Oth~ PYpmplory emhoflim~ and ad~ages of the present inve~tion may be a~."
by revieu~g the presenI ~ o~lre and ~e ~CGo~ i~ drawing.
BRI~ DE~CR~ION OF THF, nRAW~GS
The ~esent inve~on msy be fi~ desc~ibed ~n ~e detailed descnp~ion which follows, ~n
refereîlce to the n~ted plurality of dIaw~ngs by way of non-limitin~ ~ A~ s of ~.efc.l~d
20 e~o~ of thc prescnt invention, iIl wbic}~ like Ieference m~ lC~ lt similaI pBrtS
tbrougllo~lt the several vie~vs of the dra~s, a~d wherein:
Figu~es 1a, lb, and lc illu~e B ~nt, side, a~ top v~e~v, rLDye~,Li~_ly, of a l)lut~_t.i~e.
housing in accordance ~th the p~ese~lt ~n~ on;
Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d sl h~n~hcally illus~e the p.otecLi.~, hu~n~ ~md l~d f~rces
~5 of ini~al stress;
Figure 3 illu~ ~ a cross sec~on of a protec~re hou~ing ac~ esent ~1, ~O1L
pos~on~d in relation to a ~ eel rim~
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Figure 4 illu~es t~e aGtion of a force c~pone~ at an ~e ~ a~ng on the module f~om
the outside ~Le., with regard to the la~al ~lPfin~ of ~e module);
Figure S illvst~ e fit of a bottom por~on of ~e l,.ot~ ho~ accol~ing to ~e
p~ese~t inve~on on d;~,.c~ mPt~rs (i.e., ~ c nm siz~s);
S Figure 6a ;md ~b illus~e contact points of ~e l)~t~ti~ ho~ci~ acco~ding to the present
inven~on cros~ sec'do~y a~ a ~ro~t view, l~cli~el~ d
Figure 7 illu:~h~ s a cross sec~on ~ough an ~ ~e~ of the ~lo~ ., h~ ;.,g
DFT~ED DE~SCI~O~ OF I~E Pl~P.l~RR~ RMRon~TS
The par~iculsrs sho~n herei~ are b~r ~ay of ~mple a~d for ~w~o~e~ of illus'~~ivedi ~ iull ofthe y~l~ embo~im~ts of the presen~ inven~on only and are ~ d in the ca~e
of pro~id~ng what is believed to be the most use~l and readily understood description of the
les and conceptual aspects of ~e inven~ion. In this regard, no attempt i~ made to sho~v
stn~al details ofthe inventiorl in mo~e detail than is n-~Y~ for the r~ tA~
of ~he inven~oD, thc ~ o~l tsken with the d~a~ing figure m~lnng ~~ to those skilled in
the art how the i~ventio~ m~y be ~mbodied m p~r~
The prese~t invelltio~ is descn~ed with re~pect to a ~ee ~ on~l cool~li ~ systemrelated to a wheel nm to which the ~o~ re ho~ is to be lllUU~ Spe~ific~lly, the x~liol~
iS tSITlgt~iF~I to the wheel rim, t~ y-direc~ to ~e ~nt along ~e whe~l ~ sur~ce,and the z di~ection e~ends along a radius of ~e ~heel ~m.
AsLsill~ Figurelb~a~us3 ~ nn~ ie~ofap~otectivehousingormodule 2ma~r
be fon~ed as a ~ree-~ided, i.e., J~ ! ~ t~lly triangular, sur~ce i~cluding ~ top susface 4 and f~ces
6 snd 8 po~itiQ~d o~ the bottom. Faoes 6 and B may be ~ p~ to foml legs ~ and B, r~~ ly,
a~d legs A a~d B may forrn ~ angle ~. l'o prev~nt a hooki~g ~om ~der~th pl~/t~;liV~; housi~
(or module) 2 ~vhen moun~ng to a wheel rim, an~e ,B should always be ~ater than a~ angle ~o~med
bet-.~n a flank 16 and bo~ of a drop b~se 18 in the ~rheel ~ as ill~l~t~l in Figure 6a
A radial ~itio~ (R) 10 may be fo~med ~l~-_ell face 6 and fice 8. Since protec~e
housi~ module 2 is ~~ ted to be u~lized w~th various sized nm~ 12, i~ order to e~ure tha~
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mo~ule 2 will fit into the ~rious drop bases of the ~heel ~ (see Figure 6a), a minimllm radial
nd a .ni~ - a~e 13 ~ay be ~h.h ~ d fi~m mimm~ d ~ fo~ ~e
specific drop base rim a9 i..l;r~d ill ~he ETRTO ( ElliGpe~ r~ ~d R~ Terhnir~t o~i~" ).
Wb~le tbe a~gle formed ben~ ~ank 16 and bottom of ~p base 18 (which should be ~ R;~
5 2~S les~ ) ma~ ~ be eYp~ tly dis~lQSe~ i~ the E~RTO, ~e angle may be derived from other
~ t~ ~xu~Lut~l~.
As u fi~er ill~h~d in ~ e la, top 4 may include a ~ s 40 for lece;~ a ~ce,~
a f~c~ acket (~ S~OWXI).
tir ilh~ of ~he cross sec~orls of y~ , ho~ 2 are show~ in Pigures 2a
and 2b or 2c and 2d. I~ the fig~es, ~t least poi~t6 14 b alld 14d s~ould be subst~nt~ y in co~tact
vnth the wheel Iim As a result of o~cermost possible edges 14b a~d 14d s3~ow~ igutes 2a and
2b, or edges 14b and 14c, d shown in Figure 2c and 2d, module 2, in a y-di~e~on, may be bro~t
into contact with flank 16 a~d bottom 1~ ofthe drop base, ~liv~ly. As sho~n in Figures 2a -
2d, a foroe F~ 15 directed towsrd flank lS in a y direc'don, i.e., F~,, and towa~d drop base bottom 18
15 i~ the z direcdon, i.e., F" may be provided by ~he f~s~o'u~ b~acket, e.g., a spring el~ ..l Force
15 may be utilized to sea~ module 2 iD place on the wheel rim, and ~is par~lar co~ bet~een
module 2 ~d ~e wheel nm may ~ent l~e ~e lever, pressu~e blade, or ~he li~e f~om ~oki~g
under and ~m~T~ prot~live ho~ ~.
As fi~r~eT showIl in F~gure lb, module top 4 m~y be confi~ t~ an a~gie y ~etw~a
20 a m~ .... or highest position of the part faces, i.e., ~Yt~l ~ulr~, of module top 4, e.g., a
uo~ peak por~o~ ~n~ a perpen~cu~ 20 ~SC~h~in~o ~ a~o~ o~ po~t 22 of module
2 (ie., ~ a y dir~on) on a ~ide of module 2 be ~ssori~t~l ~t~ drop base flank 16. In accordance
with ~e p~ ~on, angle y m y be greater d~ e~l~al to ap~ te1y 90 ~ and less ~
or equal to d~.~Ai~ly 180 ~ (i e., a~ y 90~ S y 5 180~). Thus, as s~own ~ Figure 3,
2g certai~ fio~ces msy be exerted o~ module 2 ~om the outside. Fo~ ~Y~rlç, force F 24a may be
~t~Ally exerted on or ~ear the contact po~nt between module 2 a~ op base 18 whic~ may ~esult
in a lifd~g force F2 26a and force F 24b may be e~ally exerted on the top of module 2 an~
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directed to~ard the j~otio~ of flao~ 16 a~d botto~ 18 of t~e d~op base which may result ~ a
dri~ng o~ sli~ing force F, 26b. Howev~, due to the config8on of mo~le 2 and to ~e ~Dg
of m~le 2 on ~e w~eel ~ force com~onen~s 26a and 26b may as~ume a ,..i~ ralue.
The e~n~l f~ F exerted or a~ng on module 2, i.e., 24a ar~ 24b, may be c~nci~
S by e ~ g thc force co~ponp~ dir~ted ~ .a;~lly in ~e x-y plane by resolving the force
~ iIltO a nom~l ~e FN 28 and t~ ce FT30 ~h re~pect to ~ e~n~ ~c
of module 2 bei~g a~d up~n ~y extemal force F. Fig~e 4 illus~tes ~ r. ~I force 24 w~ich may
ac~ on ~n~ s 32 of module 2 as well as its c~ y~ l no~al force F,~12~ and its
~ l force FT3~ exerted on eYt~ u~r~ces 32. Amajon:ty ofthe eYt~n~ re~ 32 that
10 la~erally define modllle 2 m the x~ec~on m.sy be inr~lined, or obliquely p~sitioned with rcspect to
a side edge, at ~n ~ngle ~, as sbown in ~igure Ic, so tha~ exte~nal force 24, ie., ~he force co~.~
directed subst~ plly ~ the x-y pla~e and ac~ om ~he outside ~f module 2 may form as sh~p,
i.e., small, a~ Emgle ~ as possl~le w~ ç~ct~rn~l surfaceS 32. As a resuJ~ of the configura~on of
~tPrn~ ~r~ 32, no~ forces F~; 28 from extemally ex~ed forces may as~ume a n~
In ~e x direc~on, i.e., t~g~ti~l t~ the drop base of Iim 12, ea~h bottom f~oe 6 alld 8 may
be comr~ed oftwo or more legs A' a~ B' which may be incli~Pd toward one ano1her such that
legs ~' and 8' fonn aD angle a suchth~t a is less than ~ rely 180~. Le~s A' aIld B' may
include ~, 3~a and 34b, l~s~li~ely In 1his man~er, legs A' an~ B' m~y be used fit v~ou~ si~d,
i.e, ~iP .. ~ ~d, ~eel ~ms, as sho~n in F;~e 5. ~ fie~lly, due to ~e ~fic angle a formed
20 between legs ~' snd B', ~L~IL~ ~e wheel nm diamete~ ~s large, e.g., 36a, o~ s~all, ~g., 3~ ces
34a Pa~d 34b of legs A' and B', ~ vely, of module 2 ma~ be ~perl~ sea~d o~ the rim.
~ igures 6a and 6b ill~ te t~t a choice of ~gle ~ and l~s of legs A and B that fo~n
~gle ~ pro~des the contact poi~ts 38a and 38b of module 2 ~t contact d~op base bottom 18.
~er, ~o~tact points 38c a~d 3 8d of module 2 on a side of t~e dro~ e ~nl~ 16 s~ould be lo~ated
25 a~ high as possible (i.e., is~e z dire~on) to reduce the yot~;al ~ mo~ule 2 ~Dl be lifted ~om
drop base c~ 16 a~d 18 due to.momPtlts ac~g ~uIId contact point~ 38c ~nd 38d and
produ~ed by ç~e~n~l force F 24. I~ ~igure 6a, the co~tact point on flanlc 16 is located ~s hi~ as
CA 02209608 1997-07-02
~ble ~rith ~t to module 2 so a~ to minimi7P ~t~nr~ L because an t~errt~tl force F 24
dir~cted at ~e ~ -~ . . .o~t point of module 2 will result in a ~ ~ ~o~P~ Ce M ~und the oo~act poi~
such 1~t M = F L.
Figure 7 i1tl)~s a cross-se~tio~ of a complc~ l;",. ,. ;~ningtl of proh.,Li~e ho,l3~ 2.
S In Figu~e 7, each dimerlsion, i.e., length ~d radius i~ t~ ly imli~ahd in millim~t~ For
~mpl~, ~li~ ~ 20 i~;~s a radi~s of a~pro~i~h~ely 20 mm and radius R10 in~ ~ s a ~adius
of a~ i,L~ely lOmm, ctc. However, the ~imPn~ion.c shown in Figure 7 are for ~e p~usc of
~l~n~tiQn of apl~,f~.,cd etnbo~ e ~ a~ t in~ion sbould ~t be cu~lnled as limited
to t~ese explicit ~
It is noted ~at the fo~c~o~g PY~mrl~s have been p~ovid~d merely for the ~"I~Jose of
expIanation and a$e in no ~ray to be co~ ued as limiting of the present invention. Wbile the
L~vention ha~ be~n d~cnbed ~nth reference to a p~ ed emboAi".~..l, it is ~ Prstood th~ ~he
~ords ~vhich have been UDed he~ein are words of d~i~tio~ and ill~l~tr?~tion, r~ther than ~o~ds of
limi~tinn Changes rnay be made, ~vithin the pur~rie~v of the a~pended C1aimD~ a~3 P1C~D~L1~ ~Itated
15 and as ~rn~nd~d, witb.out d~l;~g ~om the scope ~nd ~t of ~he inve~o~ in itD aspects
Althou~h the in~ ion has bee~ he~ein with ~LÇ~ ce to particular means, m~ c and
~mbo~u~-~ .,Li~the in~on is not ill1f ~ed to be lim~ted to lhe pa~ ~D diDcIoDed he~ein; ~er,
the inven~o~ extend8 to all fimc~ior~lly e~uivalent ~es, methods and uses, such as are w~thin
~e scope of ~e appellded claims.
- 10 -
CA 02209608 1997-07-02
Reference Numer~l,ist
2 plot~li.~e ho~g (rnod
4 top of ~he pr~ive housin~
6, 8 faces of ~e howing bot om
5 10 ra~lius R b~.. ~ ~e faces of the housing bottom
12 (vehicle) rim
14a,14b,14c,14d o~ Er~ ostedgesofthe~lote~ h
15 force ofthe ~n~al tensio~
1~ fla~k of ~he nm b~e (outside of ~e w~eel)
10 18 boKomofthedropbase
20 ~.~dicular
22 oute~mo~ poi~t of the pr~t~Liv~ housing (of the module) in t~e y~ ec~on on the ~ide of
~e drop base fiank 1~
24a, 24b foqce acting on the l)rot~;~e housi~g from the out~dc
15 26a, 26b re~lltin~ forcc Cff~
28 ~mal f~ce FN
30 l~,~,-tial force F~
32 side face of the ~ ,elive hous~n~ (of the module) [the part faces th~t later~lly defi~e the
module (i~ the x direc~on)]
20 34a, 34b filces of the hollciry~ bottom t~at are inrlin~ in ~he x di~c~on to~ard each othe~
36a, 36b
38a, 38b, 38c, 38d pref~ble co~t poi~ts
(of the ~llU~ hous~ng aga~st tbe rim)
40 ~ecesg
