Pneumatic tire equipped with electronic device

Abstract

An inflated tire (1) has: a carcass ply (3); two annular beads (4); an annular tread (7); an inner liner (12); a pair of sidewalls (13); a pair of wear strips (14); and electronics applied to an inner surface of the inner liner (12) constituting an innermost free surface of the inflated tire (1). There are two first circumferentially oriented boundary zones (21) between the wear strips (14) and the sidewalls (13), and there are two second circumferentially oriented boundary zones (22) at the bead supports (4). There are a first axially oriented joint (23) of the inner liner (12) that imparts a cylindrical shape to the inner liner (12), and a second axially oriented joint (24) of the carcass ply (3) that imparts a cylindrical shape to the carcass ply (3). The electronics are not superimposed on any of the boundary zones (20-22) and are not superimposed on any of the joints (23-25).

Description

[0001] manual Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to an inflatable tire equipped with electronic equipment.

[0003] The present invention is advantageously applied to pneumatic tires equipped with RFID tags, i.e., pneumatic tires equipped with identification tags based on RFID (“Radio Frequency Identification”) technology, and the following discussion will explicitly refer to such pneumatic tires without sacrificing general applicability. Background Technology

[0004] In recent years, so-called "smart" pneumatic tires have emerged, becoming an important component of modern vehicles by providing information about the type of pneumatic tire installed, its condition, and environmental conditions. These "smart" pneumatic tires are equipped with RFID ("Radio Frequency Identification") tags, which allow for the remote transmission of information such as tire identification, characteristics, and history.

[0005] It has been proposed (e.g., as described in patent applications US2020070597A1, US20210016614A1, and EP4019241A2) to apply RFID tags to the inner or outer surface of the sidewall of a pneumatic tire; this solution is extremely simple from a design perspective and is also applicable to existing pneumatic tires; however, it cannot guarantee that the transponder will not detach from the pneumatic tire after the sidewall has undergone periodic deformation (especially when the transponder is glued to the outer surface). It has also been proposed (e.g., as described in patent applications US20080289736A1, EP2186658A1, and EP1366931A2) to integrate RFID tags into the structure of the pneumatic tire, i.e., within the various layers constituting the pneumatic tire.

[0006] Patent US7556074B2 describes an inflatable tire having a cavity formed therein for receiving a removable electronic monitoring module.

[0007] Patent application EP3798020A1 describes a pneumatic tire with overlapping regions, wherein the inner layers of the pneumatic tire overlap.

[0008] In cases where RFID tags are applied (glued) to the inner surface (composed of the liner) of a raw pneumatic tire before vulcanization, it has been observed that defects may sometimes exist in the liner at the location of the RFID tag. In particular, after the vulcanization of the pneumatic tire has been completed, the liner may detach or break at the location of the RFID tag. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire equipped with electronic equipment that does not have the disadvantages described above, namely, there is no risk of liner detachment or rupture near the area where the electronic equipment is applied, and at the same time it is easy and economical to manufacture.

[0010] According to the present invention, an inflatable tire equipped with electronic equipment is provided, as set forth in the appended claims.

[0011] The claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention, which form part of this specification. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary, non-limiting embodiments, in which:

[0013] • Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-section of a portion of an inflatable tire equipped with an RFID tag, with some parts removed for clarity;

[0014] • Figure 2 and Figure 3 They are Figure 1 Perspective view and exploded perspective view of the RFID tag on the pneumatic tire; and

[0015] • Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an inflatable tire. Detailed Implementation

[0016] exist Figure 1 In the diagram, the pneumatic tire as a whole is indicated by the number 1 and includes an annular carcass 2, which is composed of a single carcass ply 3, which is partially folded over itself and thus has two lateral layers superimposed on each other.

[0017] On opposite sides of the tire carcass 2, two annular bead 4 are arranged. Each of the two annular bead is surrounded by the tire carcass ply 3 and has a bead core 5 and bead filler 6. The bead core is reinforced by multiple turns of metal wire.

[0018] The tire carcass 2 supports the annular tread 7; between the tire carcass 2 and the tread 7, a tread belt layer 8 is inserted, which includes two tread ply layers 9. Each tread ply layer 9 includes multiple cords (not shown) embedded in a rubber band, which are arranged side by side with a given pitch and form an angle of inclination determined relative to the equatorial plane of the pneumatic tire 1.

[0019] Above the tread belt layer 8 (and therefore between the tread belt layer 8 and the tread 7) there is a reinforcing layer 10, which is commonly referred to as the "crown ply" and constitutes a continuous raw rubber belt that is internally reinforced with strands of nylon or similar material that are wound longitudinally (i.e. laterally and around the central axis A of the pneumatic tire 1) around the tread belt layer 8 and have the function of protecting and housing the tread ply layer 9.

[0020] Between the outer ends of the carcass ply 3 and the tread belt ply 8, two inserts 11 (tread ply inserts - TPIs) of the tread ply are inserted. These two inserts have a cushioning (filling) function and are made of soft rubber compound. Specifically, the tread ply inserts 11 are arranged at two axially opposite ends of the tread belt ply 8 and are inserted between the tread belt ply 8 and the carcass ply 3.

[0021] The inner liner 12 is arranged inside the carcass ply 3. The inner liner is airtight, constitutes the inner lining, and has the function of keeping air inside the pneumatic tire 1 so as to maintain the inflation pressure of the pneumatic tire 1 itself over time.

[0022] The carcass ply 3 supports a pair of sidewalls 13, which are arranged outside the carcass ply 3 between the tread 7 and the bead 4.

[0023] Finally, the carcass ply 3 supports a pair of abrasion-resistant rubber strips 14 (AGS), which are arranged radially outward, closer to the inside of the sidewall 13, and at the bead 4. These strips have a "U" shape to surround (cover) the bead 4, thus preventing direct contact between the bead 4 and the rim. The abrasion-resistant rubber strips 14 are designed to contact the rim and thus form an interface between the pneumatic tire 1 and the rim; therefore, the composition of the abrasion-resistant rubber strips 14 must be very durable, strong, and have a relatively high modulus, as well as acceptable flexural and fatigue properties and good shear strength.

[0024] The pneumatic tire 1 is equipped with an RFID (“Radio Frequency Identification”) tag 15 (also referred to as a “smart tag”), which is capable of storing information related to the operating conditions or state of the pneumatic tire 1 and / or acquiring signals related to the operating conditions or state of the pneumatic tire, and is capable of communicating via radio frequency. In other words, the RFID tag 15 is configured to respond to remote polling on a suitable fixed or portable device called a reader (or interrogator), or to automatically send signals to a receiver; the reader or receiver is capable of reading and / or modifying the information contained in the RFID tag 15 for radio frequency communication.

[0025] according to Figure 1As shown, the RFID tag 15 is disposed near the sidewall 13 of the pneumatic tire 1; according to other embodiments, the RFID tag 15 may be disposed near other parts of the pneumatic tire 1 other than the sidewall 13.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the RFID tag 15 is fastened (adheded) to the liner 12, that is, it is applied to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire 1 (more precisely, radially inward relative to the tread 7 and axially inward relative to the sidewall 13), which is composed of the inner surface of the liner 12 (exposed to air) (therefore, the RFID tag 15 is in direct contact with the liner 12). In other words, the RFID tag 15 is on the outside of the pneumatic tire 1, that is, it is not integrated inside the pneumatic tire 1, but is applied (fixed, attached) to the radially inner (and visible) surface of the liner 12, that is, on the surface of the liner 12 outside the pneumatic tire 1, and thus in direct contact with the air inside the pneumatic tire 2, and thus on the innermost free surface of the pneumatic tire 1. According to different implementations (not shown), the RFID tag 15 is integrated inside the pneumatic tire 1, that is, during the construction of the pneumatic tire 1 itself, the RFID tag is inserted between the components of the pneumatic tire 1 (for example, the RFID tag 15 may be arranged between the tire body 2 and the inner liner 12 or between the tire body 2 and the sidewall 13).

[0027] according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the RFID tag 15 includes an electronic circuit 16 (i.e., a microchip) with non-volatile memory and an antenna 17 connected to the electronic circuit 16 (preferably, the electronic circuit 16 and the antenna 17 constitute a transponder, i.e., the RFID tag 15 is essentially a transponder); these components are inserted into a rubber housing consisting of two rubber strips 18 and 19, which overlap and one presses against the other. According to different and equivalent embodiments (not shown), a single rubber strip 18 or 19 is provided on opposite sides of the liner 12 (i.e., one of the two rubber strips 18 and 19 is replaced by the liner 12).

[0028] Some green tire components of the pneumatic tire 1 overlap, and other green tire components of the pneumatic tire 1 are arranged side by side (by stacking and juxtaposing) to form a flat strip, which is then wound (around, i.e., on the assembly drum of the construction machinery) to form a cylinder, which is then deformed to present a final annular shape.

[0029] As mentioned above, some of the green tire components of the pneumatic tire 1 are axially clustered together, and therefore according to Figure 1As shown, the pneumatic tire 1 includes boundary regions, wherein one component of the pneumatic tire 1 rests axially (i.e., parallel to the axis of rotation) on another adjacent component of the pneumatic tire 1. Between the various boundary regions within the pneumatic tire 1, and as... Figure 1 As illustrated, there are two circumferentially oriented boundary regions 20 between the insert 11 of the tread ply and the sidewall 13 (in Figure 1 Only one of them is visible in the middle), and two boundary regions 21 circumferentially oriented between the wear-resistant tape 14 and the inner liner 12 (in Figure 1 Only one of them is visible in the middle), and two boundary areas 22 circumferentially oriented at the support or apex or radial outermost tip of the bead 4 (especially the support or apex of the bead filler 6 that constitutes the radial outermost part of the bead 4). Figure 1 Only one of them can be seen in the middle.

[0030] A strip wound around a ring surrounding the assembly drum connects to itself, thus forming multiple axially oriented joints, and each component of the pneumatic tire 1 engages at different locations to avoid overlap of the joints and thus avoid forming large interruptions at a single point. Between the various joints within the pneumatic tire 1, and as... Figure 4 As shown, there are axially oriented joints 23 of the inner liner 12, axially oriented joints 24 of the carcass ply 3, and two axially oriented joints 25 of the sidewall 13. In other words, the inner liner 12 has axially oriented joints 23 (i.e., parallel to the rotational axis A of the pneumatic tire 1), wherein two opposing flaps of the inner liner 12 are joined together (by slight overlap), the carcass ply 3 has axially oriented joints 24, wherein two opposing flaps of the carcass ply 3 are joined together (by slight overlap), and the sidewall 13 has two axially oriented joints 25, wherein two opposing flaps of each sidewall 13 are joined together (by slight overlap). In summary, the joint 23 gives the inner liner 12 of the pneumatic tire 1 a cylindrical shape and is axially oriented (i.e., it is parallel to the central axis A of the pneumatic tire 1 when it is in use, the joint 24 gives the carcass ply 3 a cylindrical shape and is axially oriented, and the joint 25 gives the sidewall 13 of the pneumatic tire 1 a cylindrical shape and is axially oriented.

[0031] Once the manufacture of the uninflated tire 1 is complete (i.e., once all the components of the uninflated tire 1 are assembled and once it is given a ring shape), the uninflated tire 1 undergoes a vulcanization process in a suitable vulcanization mold.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, RFID tag 15 does not overlap with any boundary areas 20-22, and as Figure 4 As shown, the RFID tag 15 does not overlap with any of the joints 23-25. Figure 1 As shown, the RFID tag 15 is arranged at a radial distance DR (i.e., measured perpendicular to the central rotation axis A of the pneumatic tire 1) at least 5 mm (and preferably greater than 10 mm) from each boundary area 20-22; that is, relative to each boundary area 20-22, the edge of the RFID tag 15 closest to the boundary area 20-22 is at least 5 mm (and preferably greater than 10 mm) radially away from the boundary area 20-22. Figure 4 As illustrated, the RFID tag 15 is arranged at a circumferential distance DC greater than 5 mm (and preferably greater than 10 mm) from each joint 23-25 ​​(i.e., measured along a circle centered on the central axis of rotation A of the pneumatic tire 1); that is, the edge of the RFID tag 15 closest to each joint 23-25 ​​is at a circumferential distance DC greater than 5 mm (and preferably greater than 10 mm) from the joint 23-25.

[0033] In the embodiments shown in the figures and described above, the RFID tag 15 is applied to the inner surface of the liner 12 (which constitutes the innermost free surface of the pneumatic tire 1); according to other embodiments (not shown), electronic devices other than the RFID tag 8, such as electronic devices constituting a tire mount sensor (“TMS”) or as part of the TMS, are applied to the inner surface of the liner 12 (which constitutes the innermost free surface of the pneumatic tire 1).

[0034] The embodiments described herein may be combined without departing from the scope of protection of this invention.

[0035] The pneumatic tire 1 described above has many advantages.

[0036] First, the pneumatic tire 1 described above has minor defects in the inner liner 12 at the RFID tag 15; this result is achieved by avoiding any overlap of the RFID tag 15 at the boundary areas 20-22 and the joints 23-25. Specifically, the RFID tag 15 is maintained at a radial safety distance DR (greater than 5 mm) from the boundary areas 20-22, and the RFID tag 15 is maintained at a circumferential safety distance DC (greater than 5 mm) from the joints 23-25.

[0037] Furthermore, the pneumatic tire 1 described above has a particularly simple and economical implementation because it requires no additional parts and only a focus on the positioning of the RFID tag 15 (which can be easily automated).

[0038] List of reference numerals in the attached figure

[0039]

Claims

1. A pneumatic tire (1), the pneumatic tire comprising: Carcass ply (3), wherein the carcass ply is partially folded onto itself; Two annular bead (4), wherein each of the two annular bead has a bead core (5) and bead filler (6). Annular tread (7); Liner (12), which constitutes an internal cover and its purpose is to retain air inside the pneumatic tire (1); A pair of sidewalls (13) are arranged outside the tire carcass ply (3) between the tread (7) and the bead (4); A pair of abrasion-resistant rubber tapes (14), wherein each of the pair of abrasion-resistant rubber tapes wraps around a corresponding bead (4); and Electronic devices, particularly RFID tags (15), are applied to the inner surface of the liner (12) that constitutes the innermost free surface of the pneumatic tire (1); There are two first circumferentially oriented boundary regions (21) between the wear-resistant rubber strip (14) and the inner liner (12), and two second circumferentially oriented boundary regions (22) at the bead support portion (4). There is a first axially oriented joint (23) of the inner liner (12) and a second axially oriented joint (24) of the carcass ply (3), the first axially oriented joint giving the inner liner (12) a cylindrical shape and the second axially oriented joint giving the carcass ply (3) a cylindrical shape. The pneumatic tire (1) is characterized in that the electronic device is not superimposed on any boundary area (21, 22) and not superimposed on any joint (23, 24).

2. The pneumatic tire (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is arranged at a radial distance (DR.) greater than 5 mm and preferably greater than 10 mm from each boundary area (21, 22).

3. The pneumatic tire (1) according to claim 1, wherein, relative to each boundary region (21, 22), the edge of the electronic device closest to the boundary region (21, 22) is located at a radial distance (DR.) greater than at least 5 mm and preferably greater than 10 mm from the boundary region (21, 22).

4. The pneumatic tire (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the electronic device is arranged at a circumferential distance (DC) greater than 5 mm and preferably greater than 10 mm from each joint (23, 24).

5. The pneumatic tire (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, relative to each joint (23, 24), the edge of the electronic device closest to the joint (23, 24) is located at a circumferential distance (DC) of at least 5 mm from the joint (23, 24), and preferably greater than 10 mm.

6. The pneumatic tire (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: A tread belt layer (8) is provided, which is inserted between the carcass ply layer (3) and the tread (7); Two inserts (11) are provided with tread ply layers, the two inserts are arranged at two axially opposite ends of the tread belt layer (8) and inserted between the tread belt layer (8) and the carcass ply layer (3); There are two circumferentially oriented third boundary regions (20) between the insert (11) of the tread ply and the sidewall (13); and The electronic device is not superimposed on any boundary area (20-22).

7. The pneumatic tire (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The sidewall (13) is provided with two third axially oriented joints (25), which give the sidewall (13) a cylindrical shape; and The electronic device does not overlap at any joint (23-25).

8. A method for producing a pneumatic tire (1), the method comprising the following steps: Forming a carcass ply layer that partially folds back onto itself (3); Two annular bead rings (4) are made, wherein each of the two annular bead rings has a bead core (5) and a bead filler (6). Achieve an annular tread (7); A liner (12) is provided, which constitutes an internal covering and is intended to retain air inside the pneumatic tire (1); A pair of sidewalls (13) are provided, which are arranged outside the carcass ply (3) between the tread (7) and the bead (4); A pair of wear-resistant tapes (14) are provided, wherein each of the pair of wear-resistant tapes is wrapped around a corresponding bead (4); and The wear-resistant tape (14) and the sidewall (13) are combined to form two first boundary regions (21) circumferentially oriented between the wear-resistant tape (14) and the inner liner (12). The bead filler (6) and the sidewall (13) are combined to form two second boundary regions (22) circumferentially oriented at the bead support (4). The liner (12) is folded into a loop to form an axially oriented joint (23), which gives the liner (12) a cylindrical shape around the assembly drum of the construction machinery. The carcass ply (3) is folded into a ring to form a second axially oriented joint (24), which gives the carcass ply (3) a cylindrical shape around the assembly drum of the construction machinery. as well as Electronic devices, particularly RFID tags (15), are applied to the inner surface of the liner (12) that constitutes the innermost free surface of the pneumatic tire (1); The production method is characterized in that the electronic device is arranged on the inner surface of the liner (12) such that the electronic device does not overlap on any boundary areas (21, 22) and does not overlap on any joints (23, 24).

9. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein the electronic device is arranged at a radial distance (DR) greater than 5 mm, and preferably greater than 10 mm, from each boundary area (21, 22).

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the electronic device is arranged at a circumferential distance (DC) greater than 5 mm, and preferably greater than 10 mm, from each joint (23, 24).

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