tire

Abstract

To provide a tire which can keep a function of an embedded electronic component.SOLUTION: In a tire 1 including a plurality of rubber members and an RFID tag 40 as an electronic component, the RFID tag 40 is arranged at a position where three rubbers of a shoulder pad 38 that is arranged on the outer surface side of a carcass ply 23, is arranged on an inner cavity side of a tread rubber 28 and a side wall rubber 30 and acts as a rubber member, the tread rubber 28 and the side wall rubber 30 cross each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire having an embedded electronic component. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, tires have been known in which electronic components such as RFID tags are embedded in the rubber structure. Such tires enable manufacturing management, usage history management, and the like of the tire by communicating between the RFID tag embedded in the tire and an external reader. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a tire in which a patch combined with an electrical component having an antenna is disposed in a portion adjacent to the inner liner. It also shows that the electrical component can be disposed between the carcass and the sidewall or between the carcass and the tread portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-335384 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, if an electrical component is disposed between the carcass and the sidewall, the carcass and the sidewall have significantly different physical properties, and therefore, due to the differences in physical properties, such as the linear expansion coefficient and elastic modulus, relative movement occurs between the two components during vulcanization or use, which may cause stress to be applied to the electrical component. If the allowable stress is exceeded, the electrical component may lose its function. Furthermore, if electrical components are simply sandwiched between two rubber members, it is difficult to set a standard for their placement, which can lead to variations in the placement of electrical components, which can result in electrical components being placed in undesirable positions in terms of stress, strain, etc., and may not be able to maintain their functionality.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tire in which embedded electronic components can maintain their functions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A tire of the present invention (e.g., tire 1) comprises a plurality of rubber components constituting the tire and an electronic component (e.g., RFID tag 40), and the electronic component is disposed at the intersection of at least three rubber components.

[0007] (2) In the tire of (1), each of the three rubber members may be annular rubber members formed in an annular shape.

[0008] (3) In the tire of (2), a shoulder pad (e.g., shoulder pad 38) is provided as a rubber member that is arranged on the outer surface side of the carcass ply (e.g., carcass ply 23) and is arranged on the inner cavity side of the tread rubber (e.g., tread rubber 28) and the sidewall rubber (e.g., sidewall rubber 30), and the electronic component may be arranged at a position where the shoulder pad, the tread rubber, and the sidewall rubber intersect.

[0009] (4) In the tires of (1) to (3), at least a portion of the electronic component may be covered with a covering rubber sheet (e.g., covering rubber sheets 431, 432), and the covering rubber sheet covering the electronic component may be disposed at a position where at least three rubber members intersect.

[0010] (5) In the tire of (4), the three rubber members may include a first rubber member, a second rubber member arranged to cover a portion of the first rubber member and having a tapered end in a cross-sectional view in the tire width direction, and a third rubber member covering at least the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member, and the covering rubber sheet may be arranged to straddle the first rubber member and the second rubber member at the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member and be covered by the third rubber member.

[0011] (6) A manufacturing method for manufacturing the tire of (5) may include a step of attaching the covering rubber sheet at the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member so as to straddle the first rubber member and the second rubber member, and a step of attaching the third rubber member so as to cover the covering rubber sheet attached to the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire in which embedded electronic components can maintain their functionality. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a view showing a half cross section in the tire width direction of a tire according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a tire according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an RFID tag protected by a protective member in a tire according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a cross section bb of FIG. 3A. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3B is a view showing the cc cross section of FIG. 3A. [Figure 4A] 3 is a view of the peripheral portion of the protective member during the manufacturing process of the tire according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the outer side in the tire width direction. FIG. [Figure 4B]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the peripheral portion of a protective member in a modified example of the manufacturing process for the tire according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the outer side in the tire width direction. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an annular rubber sheet as a modified example of the protective member in the tire according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire according to a first modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire according to a second modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the results of a simulation of the in-plane distribution of strain energy when a tire is mounted on a rim and a 100% load is applied. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire according to a first modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire according to a second modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 12 is a diagram of the bead filler, the rubber sheet, and the protective member during the tire manufacturing process of FIG. 11, as viewed from the outside in the tire width direction. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire according to a third modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the spring antenna before the RFID tag is sandwiched between rubber sheets when no rubber is filled inside the antenna. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the RFID tag sandwiched between rubber sheets when no rubber is filled inside the spring antenna. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the RFID tag sandwiched between rubber sheets when no rubber is filled inside the spring antenna. [Figure 17]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an RFID tag in a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention before rubber is filled into the spring antenna. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an RFID tag after rubber has been filled into the spring antenna in a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an RFID tag before being sandwiched between rubber sheets in a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an RFID tag sandwiched between rubber sheets in a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a half cross section in the tire width direction of a tire 1 according to this embodiment. The basic structure of the tire is symmetrical in cross section in the tire width direction, so a cross section of the right half is shown here. In the figure, symbol S1 indicates the tire equatorial plane. The tire equatorial plane S1 is a plane that is perpendicular to the tire rotation axis and is located at the center in the tire width direction. Here, the tire width direction is a direction parallel to the tire rotation axis, and is the left-right direction on the paper surface in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, this direction is illustrated as tire width direction X. The inner side in the tire width direction is the direction approaching the tire equatorial plane S1, which is the left side of the paper in Figure 1. The outer side in the tire width direction is the direction away from the tire equatorial plane S1, which is the right side of the paper in Figure 1. The tire radial direction is a direction perpendicular to the tire rotation axis, and is the up-down direction on the paper surface of Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, this direction is shown as the tire radial direction Y. The radially outer side of the tire is the direction away from the tire rotation axis, and is the upper side of the paper in Fig. 1. The radially inner side of the tire is the direction approaching the tire rotation axis, and is the lower side of the paper in Fig. 1. The same applies to Figures 2, 5-7, 9-11, and 13.

[0015] The tire 1 is, for example, a tire for trucks or buses, and includes a pair of beads 11 provided on both sides in the tire width direction, a tread 12 that forms the contact surface with the road surface, and a pair of sidewalls 13 extending between the pair of beads 11 and the tread 12.

[0016] The bead 11 includes an annular bead core 21 formed by winding a rubber-coated metal bead wire multiple times, and a tapered bead filler 22 extending radially outward from the bead core 21. The bead filler 22 is composed of a first bead filler 221 covering the outer periphery of the bead core 21 and a second bead filler 222 arranged radially outward from the first bead filler 221. The second bead filler 222 is made of rubber with a higher modulus than the inner liner 29 and sidewall rubber 30 (described below). The first bead filler 221 is made of rubber with an even higher modulus than the second bead filler 222. Note that the first bead filler 221 may not cover the outer periphery of the bead core 21 as long as at least a portion of it is arranged radially outward from the bead core 21. The bead filler 22 may also be made of a single type of rubber. That is, the first bead filler 221 and the second bead filler 222 do not have to be separated. The bead core 21 is a component that serves to secure an inflated tire to the rim of a wheel (not shown). The bead filler 22 is a component that is provided to increase the rigidity of the periphery of the bead and ensure high maneuverability and stability.

[0017] A carcass ply 23 that constitutes the framework of the tire is embedded inside the tire 1. The carcass ply 23 extends from one bead core to the other bead core. That is, the carcass ply 23 is embedded in the tire 1 between a pair of bead cores 21, passing through a pair of sidewalls 13 and the tread 12. 1, the carcass ply 23 includes a ply body 24 extending from one bead core to the other bead core and extending between the tread 12 and the bead 11, and a ply turn-up portion 25 turned up around the bead core 21. Here, a turn-up end 25A of the ply turn-up portion 25 is located radially inward of an outer end 22A of the bead filler 22 in the tire radial direction. The carcass ply 23 is made up of a plurality of ply cords extending in the tire width direction, and the plurality of ply cords are arranged side by side in the tire circumferential direction. The ply cords are made of metal steel cords or insulating organic fiber cords such as polyester or polyamide cords, and are covered with rubber.

[0018] In the tread 12, multiple layers of steel belts 26 are provided on the tire radially outer side of the carcass ply 23. The steel belts 26 are made up of multiple steel cords coated with rubber. By providing the steel belts 26, the rigidity of the tire is ensured and the contact state between the tread 12 and the road surface is improved. In this embodiment, four layers of steel belts 26 are provided, but the number of stacked steel belts 26 is not limited to this.

[0019] Tread rubber 28 is provided on the radially outer side of the steel belt 26. A tread pattern (not shown) is provided on the outer surface of the tread rubber 28, and this outer surface becomes the contact surface that comes into contact with the road surface.

[0020] A shoulder pad 38 serving as a pad is provided near the outer side of the tread 12 in the tire width direction, i.e., in the end regions of the steel belt 26 and the tread rubber 28 in the tire width direction, in the region between the carcass ply 23 and the steel belt 26 and the tread rubber 28. This shoulder pad 38 extends to the outer region of the sidewall 13 in the tire radial direction, and a part of it forms an interface with the sidewall rubber 30 described below. That is, in the outer region of the sidewall 13 in the tire radial direction, a part of the shoulder pad 38 is present on the inner side of the sidewall rubber 30 in the tire width direction. In other words, in the extending portion of the shoulder pad 38, from the inner cavity side of the tire toward the outer surface side of the tire, the extending portion of the shoulder pad 38 and the sidewall rubber 30 are layered in this order on the carcass ply 23. That is, in a part of the carcass ply 23, the shoulder pad 38 and the sidewall rubber 30 are layered. The shoulder pad 38 is made of a rubber member with cushioning properties and exhibits a cushioning function between the carcass ply 23 and the steel belt 26. In addition, since the shoulder pad 38 is made of rubber with low heat generation properties, by extending it to the sidewall 13, heat generation can be effectively suppressed. In this way, the shoulder pad 38 is disposed on the tire outer surface side of the carcass ply 23 and on the tire cavity side of the tread rubber 28 and the sidewall rubber 30.

[0021] An inner liner 29 serving as a rubber layer that forms the inner wall surface of the tire 1 is provided on the tire cavity side of the carcass ply 23 in the beads 11, sidewalls 13, and tread 12. The inner liner 29 is made of air-permeable rubber and prevents air in the tire cavity from leaking to the outside.

[0022] In the sidewall 13, a sidewall rubber 30 that forms the outer wall surface of the tire 1 is provided on the outer side of the carcass ply 23 in the tire width direction. This sidewall rubber 30 is the part that bends the most when the tire performs its cushioning function, and typically, flexible rubber that is fatigue-resistant is used for this part.

[0023] A steel chafer 31 is provided as a reinforcing ply on the tire radially inner side of the carcass ply 23 provided around the bead core 21 of the bead 11 so as to cover at least a part of the carcass ply 23. The steel chafer 31 also extends to the tire widthwise outer side of the ply turnup portion 25 of the carcass ply 23, and an end 31A of the steel chafer 31 is located on the tire radially inner side of the turnup end 25A of the carcass ply 23. The steel chafer 31 is a metal reinforcing layer made of metal steel cords and is covered with rubber.

[0024] A rim strip rubber 32 is provided on the tire radially inner side of the steel chafer 31. This rim strip rubber 32 is arranged along the outer surface of the tire and is connected to the sidewall rubber 30. This rim strip rubber 32 and sidewall rubber 30 are rubber members that make up the outer surface of the tire.

[0025] A first pad 35 is provided on the tire radially outer side of the end 31A of the steel chafer 31 and on the tire widthwise outer side of the turned-up portion 25 of the carcass ply 23 and the bead filler 22. This first pad 35 is provided at least on the tire widthwise outer side of the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23. The tire radially outer side of the first pad 35 is formed to taper as it goes outward in the tire radial direction.

[0026] Furthermore, a second pad 36 is provided so as to cover the outer side in the tire width direction of the first pad 35. More specifically, the second pad 36 is provided so as to cover the outer side in the tire width direction of a part of the steel chafer 31, the first pad 35, a part of the second bead filler 222, and a part of the ply body 24 of the carcass ply 23. A sidewall rubber 30 is arranged on the tire widthwise outer side of the tire radial outer region of the second pad 36, and a rim strip rubber 32 is arranged on the tire widthwise outer side of the tire radial inner region of the second pad 36. In other words, the second pad 36 is provided between the first pad 35 etc. and the rim strip rubber 32 and the sidewall rubber 30 which are members that constitute the outer surface of the tire.

[0027] The first pad 35 and the second pad 36 constitute a pad member 34, and this pad member 34 is made of rubber with a modulus higher than that of the outer portion (second bead filler 222) of the bead filler 22 in the tire radial direction. More specifically, the second pad 36 is made of rubber with a higher modulus than the second bead filler 222, and the first pad 35 is made of rubber with an even higher modulus than the second pad 36. The first pad 35 and the second pad 36 have the function of mitigating sudden distortion caused by localized changes in rigidity at the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23 and the end 31A of the steel chafer 31.

[0028] A rubber sheet 37 serving as a reinforcing rubber sheet is disposed between the bead filler 22 and the pad member 34 near the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23. The rubber sheet 37 is disposed so as to cover the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23 from the inner side in the tire width direction. The rubber sheet 37 is made of rubber having a higher modulus than the second bead filler 222. More preferably, the rubber sheet 37 is made of rubber having a modulus approximately equal to that of the first pad .

[0029] Generally, stress tends to concentrate at the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23. However, by providing the rubber sheet 37 as the reinforcing rubber sheet described above, it becomes possible to effectively suppress the concentration of stress. In this embodiment, the pad member 34 is composed of the first pad 35 and the second pad 36, but the pad member 34 may be composed of a single member. However, as described above, by adopting a configuration in which the pad member 34 is composed of the first pad 35 and the second pad 36 and further includes the rubber sheet 37, stress concentration can be more effectively suppressed.

[0030] In this embodiment, the position of the tire radially outer end 37A of the rubber sheet 37 is located radially inward of the tire radially outer end 22A of the bead filler 22. However, the position of the tire radially outer end 37A of the rubber sheet 37 may be substantially aligned with the position of the tire radially outer end 22A of the bead filler 22. 1, it is preferable to adopt a mode in which the rubber sheet 37 is disposed so as to cover the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23 from the inner side in the tire width direction, but it may also adopt a configuration in which the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23 is covered from the outer side in the tire width direction. Even in this case, it is possible to alleviate stress concentration.

[0031] In the tire 1 of this embodiment, an RFID tag 40 is embedded as an electronic component. The RFID tag 40 is a passive transponder equipped with an RFID chip and an antenna for communicating with an external device, and performs wireless communication with a reader (not shown) as the external device. The antenna may be a coil-shaped spring antenna, a plate-shaped antenna, or a rod-shaped antenna. For example, the antenna may be formed by printing a predetermined pattern on a flexible substrate. The antenna length is optimized according to the frequency band to be used, etc. Identification information such as the serial number and part number is stored in a memory section within the RFID chip.

[0032] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the area around the embedded portion of the RFID tag 40 in the tire 1 of FIG. The RFID tag 40 (including a state where at least a portion of it is covered by a protective member 43 described below) is disposed at a position where at least three rubber members constituting the tire 1 intersect. More specifically, the tire 1 of this embodiment includes a shoulder pad 38 as a first rubber member in this embodiment, a tread rubber 28 as a second rubber member in this embodiment that is disposed so as to cover a portion of the shoulder pad 38, and a sidewall rubber 30 as a third rubber member in this embodiment that covers at least the boundary between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28, and the RFID tag 40 is disposed at a position where the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect.

[0033] More preferably, the RFID tag 40 is integrally covered with a protective member 43 made of a covering rubber sheet (described later), and this protective member 43 is arranged at the boundary between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28 so as to straddle the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28. In other words, this protective member 43 is attached so as to press, from the tire outer surface side, a tire radially inner end 28B of the tread rubber 28, which has a tapered shape at its radially inner end in the tire width direction cross section. The tire outer surface side of this protective member 43 is covered by the sidewall rubber 30.

[0034] Here, the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 are each annular rubber members that constitute the annular tire 1. The protection member 43 that holds the RFID tag 40 is disposed so as to be in surface contact with the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30.

[0035] By arranging the RFID tag 40 in this position, the RFID tag 40 is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30, making the RFID tag 40 less susceptible to stress. Furthermore, by using the boundary between multiple rubber members, in this embodiment the boundary between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be mistakenly placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, strain, and the like, and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0036] Furthermore, by placing the RFID tag 40 near the shoulder portion, i.e., the radially outer side of the sidewall, the RFID tag 40 can be placed at a position sufficiently far away from the metal bead core 21, which may have an adverse effect on communication. Here, the bead core 21 is formed into a ring shape by laminating and winding metal bead wire, and is therefore a metal member that is particularly likely to have an adverse effect on communication. Furthermore, in consideration of communication quality, it is preferable to place the RFID tag 40 as close as possible to the outer surface of the tire 1. If the RFID tag 40 were placed on the inner cavity side of the carcass ply 23, it would be farther away from the outer surface of the tire 1, resulting in a decrease in communication quality. Furthermore, if the carcass ply 23 is made of metal, placing the RFID tag 40 on the inner cavity side of the carcass ply 23 would significantly decrease communication quality. Considering these points, the position where the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect is a suitable position for embedding the RFID tag 40.

[0037] Furthermore, considering that the RFID tag 40 will be embedded during the tire manufacturing process, it is preferable to place the RFID tag 40 at the intersection of three rubber members that make up the tire. For example, if the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched between layers of wound ribbon-shaped rubber members, the timing of attaching the RFID tag 40 to the ribbon-shaped rubber members becomes complicated. Furthermore, if the RFID tag 40 is simply sandwiched between two rubber members, it is difficult to set a reference for its placement position, which may result in variations in the placement position of the electrical components. On the other hand, if the RFID tag 40 is placed at the intersection of three rubber members, as in this embodiment, during the tire building process, the RFID tag 40 can be attached accurately to the boundary between the first rubber member (in this embodiment, the shoulder pad 38) and the second rubber member (in this embodiment, the tread rubber 28), and then the third rubber member (in this embodiment, the sidewall rubber 30) can be overlapped thereon and the RFID tag 40 can be sandwiched therebetween. Considering these points, the position where the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect is a suitable position for embedding the RFID tag 40.

[0038] Furthermore, even when the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched between plies such as the carcass ply 23, for example, if the sandwiched plies move in different directions, the RFID tag 40 may be subjected to stress. Also, even when the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched between a ply such as the carcass ply 23 and a rubber member such as sidewall rubber, the ply and the rubber member have significantly different physical properties. Therefore, due to these differences in physical properties, such as the linear expansion coefficient, elastic modulus, and hardness, relative movement between the two members may occur during vulcanization or use, potentially subjecting the RFID tag 40 to stress. If the allowable stress is exceeded, the RFID tag 40 may no longer be able to maintain its functionality. The shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 are all rubber members, and taking these points into consideration, the position where the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect is an ideal position for embedding the RFID tag 40.

[0039] The shoulder pad 38 has cushioning properties, so that if the RFID tag 40 is placed on this portion, distortion occurring around the RFID tag 40 can be absorbed. Furthermore, shoulder pads generate little heat, so the RFID tag 40 provided in such a position is less susceptible to heat generated by the rubber during use. Considering these points, the position where the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect is a suitable position for embedding the RFID tag 40.

[0040] Furthermore, if the RFID tag 40 is placed at the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30, the RFID tag 40 will not be removed even in the event of retreading. In other words, the portion of the tread rubber 28 that is removed during retreading is at least the portion radially outward of the steel belts 26 of the tread rubber 28, so if the RFID tag 40 is placed at the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30, the RFID tag 40 will not be removed and can continue to be used. In this respect, too, the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 is an ideal location for embedding the RFID tag 40.

[0041] It should be noted that, taking the modulus of the shoulder pad 38 as a reference, the sidewall rubber 30 preferably has a modulus that is 0.4 to 0.7 times that of the shoulder pad 38. Furthermore, the tread rubber 28 preferably has a modulus that is 0.4 to 0.9 times that of the shoulder pad 38. By setting the modulus in this range, it is possible to maintain a balance between flexibility and rigidity as a tire. The modulus refers to the 100% elongation modulus (M100) measured in an atmosphere of 23°C in accordance with "3.7 Stress at a given elongation, S" of JIS K6251:2010.

[0042] Here, the RFID tag 40 is covered with covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 that form the protective member 43. This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C.

[0043] Fig. 3A is a diagram showing an RFID tag 40 covered with a protective member 43 made of a rubber sheet. In Fig. 3A, the RFID tag 40 is hidden by a covering rubber sheet 431, which will be described later. Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb in Fig. 3A, and Fig. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line cc in Fig. 3A.

[0044] The RFID tag 40 includes an RFID chip 41 and an antenna 42 for communicating with an external device. The antenna 42 may be a coil spring antenna, a plate antenna, or a rod-shaped antenna. For example, the antenna may be formed by printing a predetermined pattern on a flexible substrate. Considering communication performance and flexibility, a coil spring antenna is most preferable. The antenna length is optimized according to the frequency band to be used, etc.

[0045] The protection member 43 is made up of two covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 that sandwich and protect the RFID tag 40 .

[0046] The protective member 43 is made of, for example, rubber with a predetermined modulus. Here, the modulus refers to the 100% elongation modulus (M100) measured in an atmosphere of 23°C in accordance with "3.7 Stress at a given elongation, S" of JIS K6251:2010.

[0047] The rubber used for the protective member 43 has a modulus at least higher than that of the sidewall rubber 30. For example, rubber having a modulus higher than that of the sidewall rubber 30 and lower than that of the shoulder pad 38 is used.

[0048] For example, it is more preferable to use rubber with a modulus 1.1 to 1.8 times that of the sidewall rubber 30 as the standard for the rubber used in the protective member 43. In this case, rubber with a modulus 1.6 to 3 times that of the sidewall rubber, for example, rubber with a modulus about twice as high, may be used for the rubber of the shoulder pad 38. If emphasis is placed on strengthening the protection of the RFID tag 40, the rubber used for the protection member 43 may have a higher modulus than the shoulder pad 38.

[0049] 1 and 2, the RFID tag 40 is disposed in the region where the shoulder pad 38, tread rubber 28, and sidewall rubber 30 intersect. Therefore, by setting the modulus of the protective member 43 to a value higher than that of the sidewall rubber 30 and lower than that of the shoulder pad 38, it is possible to prevent excessive stress from occurring in the rubber structure at the location where the RFID tag 40 is embedded when the tire is deformed. In other words, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of stress.

[0050] The protective member 43 may also be made of rubber mixed with short fiber filler. Examples of the short fiber filler that can be used include insulating short fibers such as organic short fibers such as aramid short fibers and cellulose short fibers, and inorganic short fibers such as ceramic short fibers such as alumina short fibers and glass short fibers. By mixing such short fiber fillers into rubber, the strength of the rubber can be increased. Furthermore, a rubber sheet in a vulcanized state may be used as the protective member 43. A rubber sheet in a vulcanized state does not undergo plastic deformation like raw rubber, and therefore can adequately protect the RFID tag 40. However, in consideration of ease of attachment during the manufacturing process and stabilization of the rubber structure due to integration with other rubber members during vulcanization, it is more preferable to use a rubber sheet of a predetermined thickness in an unvulcanized state as the protective member 43.

[0051] Furthermore, an organic fiber layer made of polyester fiber, polyamide fiber, or the like may be provided as the protective member 43. The organic fiber layer may also be embedded in the two covering rubber sheets 431 and 432.

[0052] Next, the manufacturing process of the tire 1 will be described. Figure 4A is a diagram of the peripheral portion of the protective member 43 during the manufacturing process as viewed from the outside in the tire width direction, and shows the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 attached to the boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28.

[0053] The RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 is attached before the vulcanization step in the tire manufacturing process. 4A , in the manufacturing process of the tire 1 according to the present embodiment, the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is attached to the boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28 so as to straddle the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28. That is, the protective member 43 is attached so as to press against the tire radially inner end 28B of the tread rubber 28, which has a tapered shape at the tire radially inner end in cross section in the tire width direction ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Attaching the protective member 43 to such a position can partially assist the joining of rubber members, specifically, the joining of the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28.

[0054] Furthermore, by using the boundary between multiple rubber members, in this embodiment the boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be mistakenly placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, strain, etc., and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0055] 4A (see FIGS. 1 and 2), is attached so as to cover the protective member 43 attached to the boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28. As a result, the RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 is placed at the intersection of at least three rubber members that make up the tire 1, in this embodiment, at the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30.

[0056] At this time, since the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 are in the state of raw rubber before vulcanization, the protective member 43 covered with the protective member 43 may be attached to these components by utilizing their adhesiveness. Alternatively, if the adhesiveness is low, the protective member 43 may be attached using an adhesive or the like.

[0057] In this manner, the rubber components that make up the tire are assembled to form a green tire. Thereafter, the raw tire to which each component including the RFID tag 40 has been assembled is vulcanized in a vulcanization process to manufacture a tire.

[0058] As described above, in this embodiment, the RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 can be attached to the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28 in the raw rubber state during tire manufacturing, which facilitates the assembly work of the RFID tag 40 in the tire manufacturing process. In particular, the shoulder pad 38 has a certain degree of rigidity even in the raw rubber state, which facilitates the attachment work of the RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43.

[0059] As a modified example of the manufacturing process of the tire 1, the following manufacturing process may be adopted. That is, the protective member 43 covered with the RFID tag 40 is attached to the sidewall rubber 30, and then the sidewall rubber 30 with the protective member 43 attached is attached to the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28. Here, the protective member 43 is attached to the sidewall rubber 30 so that the protective member 43 is positioned at the boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28 when the sidewall rubber 30 is attached to the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28. Even when such a process is adopted, the RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 is placed at the intersection of at least three rubber members that make up the tire 1, i.e., the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30. Therefore, since the RFID tag 40 is surrounded by multiple rubber members, the RFID tag 40 is less susceptible to stress. The boundary between the multiple rubber members serves as a reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40.

[0060] Furthermore, if the protective member 43 is formed of two covering rubber sheets 431, 432, the RFID tag 40 including the protective member 43 can be formed thin, which is suitable for embedding in the tire 1. Furthermore, when assembling the RFID tag 40 to a component of the tire 1 before vulcanization, the RFID tag 40 covered by the covering rubber sheets can be attached very easily. For example, RFID tag 40 covered with covering rubber sheets 431, 432 can be appropriately attached to a desired position on a member, such as a boundary between multiple rubber members before vulcanization, by utilizing the adhesiveness of raw rubber. Furthermore, by using covering rubber sheets 431, 432 also made of raw rubber before vulcanization, the adhesiveness of the covering rubber sheets themselves can be utilized to more easily attach the tag.

[0061] However, the protective member 43 is not limited to being formed by two covering rubber sheets, and various other configurations can be adopted. For example, as long as the covering rubber sheet forming the protective member covers at least a part of the RFID tag 40, it is possible to obtain effects such as improved workability and stress relief in the manufacturing process. Therefore, a configuration in which only one side of the RFID tag 40 is covered by one covering rubber sheet 431 as the protective member may be adopted. Alternatively, for example, a single rubber sheet may be wrapped around the entire periphery of the RFID tag 40, or a protective member in the form of a highly viscous potting agent may be attached to the entire periphery of the RFID tag 40. Even with such a rubber covering configuration, the RFID tag 40 can be adequately protected.

[0062] The RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 is embedded in the tire 1 so that the direction in which the antenna extends, i.e., the longitudinal direction, is, for example, a direction tangential to the circumferential direction of the tire 1, i.e., a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 2. The covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 are embedded in the tire 1 so that they are aligned in the tire width direction. That is, in the manufacturing process, one surface of either one of the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 is attached to a component of the tire 1 before vulcanization, such as the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28. The RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 is disposed between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28 and the sidewall rubber 30. By adopting such an embodiment, even when the tire 1 is deformed, stress is less likely to be applied to the RFID tag 40. Furthermore, the work of attaching the RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 becomes simple in the manufacturing process.

[0063] Here, in the process of attaching the RFID tag 40, the RFID tag 40 covered by the protective member 43 can be easily positioned in the above-mentioned direction by using the boundary between multiple rubber members, in this embodiment, the circumferential shape of boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28 (the inner circumferential shape of the tire radially inner end 28B of the tread rubber 28) as a reference. That is, as shown in Fig. 4A, the circumferential shape of boundary B is used as a reference, and the covering rubber sheets 431, 432 covering the RFID tag 40 may be attached so that the longitudinal direction thereof substantially coincides with the tangential direction of the circumferential shape of boundary B.

[0064] 4B is a diagram showing a modified example of the manufacturing process, illustrating a case where covering rubber sheets 431, 432 covering the RFID tag 40 are attached while being bent so as to follow the circumferential shape of boundary portion B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28. In this case, covering rubber sheets 431, 432 made of crude rubber can also be attached while being deformed so as to follow the circumferential direction of boundary portion B. A flexible coil-shaped spring antenna or the like may be used as the antenna of RFID tag 40, so that the antenna also deforms following the deformation of covering rubber sheets 431, 432. By using these methods, the RFID tag 40 covered with the protective member 43 can be easily and accurately positioned in the above-mentioned direction without the need for any special markings.

[0065] 4C is a diagram showing an annular rubber sheet 50 as a modified example of the protective member. For example, the protective member is configured by sandwiching the RFID tag 40 between two annular covering rubber sheets. In this case, it is preferable that the entire periphery of the boundary portion B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28 is covered by the annular rubber sheet 50. This can generally assist in joining the rubber members, specifically, joining the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28.

[0066] 5 and 6 show modified examples of the tire 1 of this embodiment. 5 , the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is also disposed at the position where the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect. In this modified example, the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is disposed at the boundary between the sidewall rubber 30 and the tread rubber 28 so as to straddle the sidewall rubber 30 and the tread rubber 28. In other words, the protective member 43 is attached so as to press, from the tire cavity side, the tire radially inner end 28B of the tread rubber 28, which has a tapered shape at the tire radially inner end in a cross section in the tire width direction. The tire cavity side of the protective member 43 is covered by the shoulder pad 38. Even if the RFID tag 40 is placed in this position, the RFID tag 40 is less susceptible to the effects of stress because it is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically, the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30. Furthermore, by using the boundary between multiple rubber members, in this modified example, the boundary between the sidewall rubber 30 and the tread rubber 28, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, strain, and the like, and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function. Furthermore, if the RFID tag 40 is placed between three rubber members, the position of the RFID tag 40 can be easily secured even after vulcanization, resulting in good uniformity.

[0067] 6, the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is also disposed at a position where the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect. In this modified example, the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is disposed so that its radially inner end in the tire width direction, as seen in a cross section in the tire width direction, comes into contact with the radially inner end 28B of the tread rubber 28, which has a tapered shape. Even if the RFID tag 40 is placed in this position, the RFID tag 40 is less susceptible to the effects of stress because it is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically, the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30. Furthermore, by using the boundary between multiple rubber members, in this modified example, boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be mistakenly placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, strain, and the like, and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0068] It is preferable that the RFID tag 40 be placed at the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 while covered with the protective member 43 as described above, but it may also be placed directly at the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30 without being covered with the protective member 43. Placing the uncoated RFID tag 40 directly at the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, tread rubber 28, and sidewall rubber 30 reduces variations in the thickness of the rubber material where the RFID tag 40 is placed, improving tire uniformity. Furthermore, when embedding the RFID tag 40 in such a location, the smaller the volume of the embedded object, the easier it is to remove air. Furthermore, eliminating the need to cover the RFID tag 40 with a protective material reduces work time.

[0069] In this embodiment, an RFID tag 40 is embedded in the tire as the electronic component. However, the electronic component embedded in the tire is not limited to an RFID tag. For example, it may be various electronic components, such as a sensor that performs wireless communication. Furthermore, since electronic components handle electrical information, such as sending and receiving electrical signals, the presence of metal components in the vicinity may degrade their performance. Furthermore, electronic components may be damaged by excessive stress. Therefore, the effects of the present invention can be achieved even when various electronic components are embedded in the tire. For example, the electronic component may be a piezoelectric element or a strain sensor.

[0070] The tire 1 of this embodiment provides the following effects.

[0071] (1) The tire 1 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of rubber members constituting the tire 1 and an RFID tag 40, and the RFID tag 40 is disposed at a position where at least three rubber members intersect. This makes the RFID tag 40 less susceptible to the effects of stress. Furthermore, by using the boundary between multiple rubber members, in this embodiment, boundary B between the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be mistakenly placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, strain, etc., and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0072] (2) In the tire 1 according to this embodiment, each of the three rubber members is annular rubber member formed in an annular shape. In this way, even if the three rubber members are annular rubber members that are tire constituent members that constitute the annular tire 1, the above-mentioned effects can be obtained.

[0073] (3) The tire 1 according to this embodiment includes a shoulder pad 38 as a rubber member that is arranged on the outer surface side of the carcass ply 23 and on the inner cavity side of the tread rubber 28 and the sidewall rubber 30, and the RFID tag 40 is arranged at the intersection of the shoulder pad 38, the tread rubber 28, and the sidewall rubber 30. Even with this configuration, the above-mentioned effects can be obtained. Furthermore, by arranging the RFID tag 40 in such a position, good communication performance can also be obtained.

[0074] (4) In the tire 1 according to this embodiment, at least a portion of the RFID tag 40 is covered with the covering rubber sheets 431, 432, and the covering rubber sheets 431, 432 covering the RFID tag 40 are arranged at the intersection of at least three rubber members. This can also assist in joining the rubber members, in this embodiment, joining the shoulder pad 38 and the tread rubber 28.

[0075] (5) The three rubber members of tire 1 according to this embodiment include a first rubber member, a second rubber member having a tapered end in a cross-sectional view in the tire width direction and arranged so as to cover a portion of the first rubber member, and a third rubber member covering at least the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member, and covering rubber sheets 431, 432 are arranged so as to straddle the first rubber member and the second rubber member at the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member, and are covered by the third rubber member. This can also assist in joining between the rubber members, in this embodiment, joining between the shoulder pad 38 as the first rubber member and the tread rubber 28 as the second rubber member.

[0076] (6) The manufacturing method for manufacturing tire 1 according to this embodiment includes the steps of attaching covering rubber sheets 431, 432 at the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member so as to straddle the first rubber member and the second rubber member, and attaching a third rubber member so as to cover the covering rubber sheets 431, 432 attached at the boundary between the first rubber member and the second rubber member. This can also assist in joining between the rubber members, in this embodiment, joining between the shoulder pad 38 as the first rubber member and the tread rubber 28 as the second rubber member.

[0077] (7) In the tire 1 according to this embodiment, the RFID tag 40 as an electronic component is covered with an annular rubber sheet 50, and the annular rubber sheet 50 covers the boundary between the annular first rubber member and the annular second rubber member over the entire circumference. This can help to bond the first rubber member and the second rubber member together as a whole, for example, it can help to bond the shoulder pad 38 as the first rubber member and the tread rubber 28 as the second rubber member together as a whole.

[0078] Second Embodiment Next, a tire according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0079] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the embedded portion of the RFID tag 40 in the tire 1 of this embodiment. 7, the RFID tag 40 (including a state where at least a portion thereof is covered by a protective member 43) is disposed at a position where at least three rubber members constituting the tire 1 intersect. More specifically, the tire 1 of this embodiment includes a second pad 36 as a first rubber member in this embodiment, a rim strip rubber 32 as the second rubber member in this embodiment that is disposed so as to cover a portion of the tire outer surface side of the second pad 36, and a sidewall rubber 30 as a third rubber member in this embodiment that covers at least the boundary between the second pad 36 and the rim strip rubber 32, and the RFID tag 40 is disposed at a position where the second pad 36, the rim strip rubber 32, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect.

[0080] Also in this embodiment, more preferably, the RFID tag 40 is covered and held by a protective member 43 made of a covering rubber sheet, and this protective member 43 is arranged at the boundary between the second pad 36 and the rim strip rubber 32 so as to straddle the boundary between the second pad 36 and the rim strip rubber 32. In other words, this protective member 43 is attached so as to press against the tire radially outer end 32A of the rim strip rubber 32, which has a tapered shape at its radially outer end in a cross-sectional view in the tire width direction. The tire outer surface side of this protective member 43 is covered by the sidewall rubber 30.

[0081] Here, the second pad 36, the rim strip rubber 32, and the sidewall rubber 30 are each annular rubber members that constitute the annular tire 1. The protective member 43 that holds the RFID tag 40 is disposed so as to be in surface contact with the second pad 36, the rim strip rubber 32, and the sidewall rubber 30.

[0082] Even if the RFID tag 40 is placed in this position, the RFID tag 40 is less susceptible to stress because it is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically the second pad 36, the rim strip rubber 32, and the sidewall rubber 30. Furthermore, by using the boundary between the multiple rubber members, in this embodiment the boundary between the second pad 36 and the rim strip rubber 32, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, strain, etc., and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0083] Taking the modulus of the second pad 36 as the reference, the sidewall rubber 30 preferably has a modulus that is 0.4 to 0.6 times that of the second pad 36. The first pad 35 preferably has a modulus that is 1.1 to 1.2 times that of the second pad 36. The second bead filler 222 preferably has a modulus that is 0.7 to 0.8 times that of the second pad 36. Taking the modulus of the second pad 36 as the reference, the rim strip rubber 32 preferably has a modulus that is 0.8 to 1 times that of the second pad 36. The rubber sheet 37 preferably has a modulus that is 1.1 to 1.2 times that of the second pad 36. In other words, the modulus of the rubber sheet 37 is preferably approximately equal to the modulus of at least the portion of the pad member 34 that covers the turned-up end 25A of the carcass ply 23 (the first pad 35). By setting the modulus in this range, it is possible to maintain a balance between the flexibility of the tire and the rigidity in the vicinity of the bead 11 . The modulus refers to the 100% elongation modulus (M100) measured in an atmosphere of 23°C in accordance with "3.7 Stress at a given elongation, S" of JIS K6251:2010.

[0084] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the results of a simulation of the in-plane distribution of strain energy when the tire 1 of this embodiment is mounted on a rim and a 100% load is applied. In the enlarged cross-sectional view shown in Fig. 8, the region is divided into five regions according to the magnitude of the strain energy. Here, the region with the highest strain energy is level 5, the region with high strain energy is level 4, the region with slightly lower strain energy is level 3, the region with even lower strain energy is level 2, and the region with the lowest strain energy is level 1. In Fig. 8, the regions are divided and displayed using thick dotted lines as boundaries.

[0085] The area where the second pad 36, the rim strip rubber 32, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect is generally in the level 1 to 2 region, which has little strain energy and is a very suitable area for placing the RFID tag 40.

[0086] In addition, the manufacturing process of tire 1 is the same as in the first embodiment in that it includes the process of attaching a protective member 43 as a covering rubber sheet at the boundary between the first and second rubber members so as to straddle the first and second rubber members, and the process of attaching a third rubber member so as to cover the covering rubber sheet attached to the boundary between the first and second rubber members.

[0087] In addition to the above advantages (1) to (2) and (4) to (7), the tire 1 of this embodiment also provides the following advantages.

[0088] (8) In the tire 1 according to this embodiment, the RFID tag 40 is disposed at a position where the second pad 36, the rim strip rubber 32, and the sidewall rubber 30 intersect. This allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its functionality without being affected by excessive strain.

[0089] Third Embodiment Next, a tire according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components as those in the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0090] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the embedded portion of the RFID tag 40 in the tire 1 of this embodiment. 9, the RFID tag 40 (including a state where at least a portion of it is covered by a protective member 43) is disposed at a position where at least three rubber members constituting the tire 1 intersect. More specifically, the tire 1 of this embodiment includes a second pad 36 as a first rubber member, a first pad 35 as a second rubber member, and a second bead filler 222 as a third rubber member, and the RFID tag 40 is disposed at a position where the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the second bead filler 222 intersect.

[0091] Also in this embodiment, more preferably, the RFID tag 40 is covered and held by a protective member 43 made of a covering rubber sheet, and this protective member 43 is arranged at the boundary between the second pad 36 and the first pad 35 so as to straddle the second pad 36 and the first pad 35. In other words, the protective member 43 is attached so as to press against the tire radially outer end 35A of the first pad 35, which has a tapered shape at its tire radially outer end in a cross-sectional view in the tire width direction. The tire cavity side of the protective member 43 is covered by the second bead filler 222.

[0092] Here, the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the second bead filler 222 are each annular rubber members that constitute the annular tire 1. The protective member 43 that holds the RFID tag 40 is disposed so as to be in surface contact with the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the second bead filler 222.

[0093] Even if the RFID tag 40 is placed in this position, the RFID tag 40 is less susceptible to stress because it is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically, the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the second bead filler 222. Furthermore, by using the boundary between the multiple rubber members, in this modification, the boundary between the second pad 36 and the first pad 35, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be mistakenly placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, distortion, and the like, and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0094] In addition, the manufacturing process of tire 1 is the same as in the first embodiment in that it includes the process of attaching a protective member 43 as a covering rubber sheet at the boundary between the first and second rubber members so as to straddle the first and second rubber members, and the process of attaching a third rubber member so as to cover the covering rubber sheet attached to the boundary between the first and second rubber members.

[0095] 10 to 13 show modified examples of the tire 1 of this embodiment. These modified examples are examples in which three rubber members surrounding the RFID tag 40 are different. However, they have in common that the second pad 36 is used as one of the rubber members. In the first modified example shown in FIG. 10 , the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is also disposed at the intersection of at least three rubber members constituting the tire 1. More specifically, the tire 1 according to this modified example is disposed at the intersection of the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the second bead filler 222. In this modified example, the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is disposed at the boundary between the second bead filler 222 and the first pad 35, straddling the second bead filler 222 and the first pad 35. That is, the protective member 43 is attached so that its radially outer end in the tire width direction presses against the radially outer end 35A of the first pad 35, which has a tapered shape in a cross-sectional view in the tire width direction. The tire outer surface side of the protective member 43 is covered by the second pad 36. Even if the RFID tag 40 is placed in this position, the RFID tag 40 is less susceptible to stress because it is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically, the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the second bead filler 222. Furthermore, by using the boundary between the multiple rubber members, in this modification, the boundary between the second bead filler 222 and the first pad 35 as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, distortion, and the like, and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0096] In the second modified example shown in FIG. 11 , the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is also disposed at the intersection of at least three rubber members constituting the tire 1. More specifically, the tire 1 according to this modified example is disposed at the intersection of the second bead filler 222, the rubber sheet 37, and the second pad 36. In this modified example, the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is disposed at the boundary between the second bead filler 222 and the rubber sheet 37 so as to straddle the second bead filler 222 and the rubber sheet 37. That is, the protective member 43 is attached so as to press against the tire radially outer end 37A of the rubber sheet 37. The tire outer surface side of the protective member 43 is covered by the second pad 36. The rubber sheet 37 is formed slightly larger in the tire radially outer direction than in the first modified example shown in FIG. 10 . Even if the RFID tag 40 is placed in this position, the RFID tag 40 is less susceptible to stress because it is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically, the second bead filler 222, the rubber sheet 37, and the second pad 36. Furthermore, by using the boundary between the multiple rubber members, in this modification, the boundary between the second bead filler 222 and the rubber sheet 37 as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, distortion, and the like, and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0097] Fig. 12 is a view of the bead filler 22, rubber sheet 37, and protective member 43 during the manufacturing process of the tire 1 in Fig. 11, as viewed from the outside in the tire width direction. The rubber sheet 37 is attached to the bead filler 22 and joined at a joint portion 37C to form an annular shape. As shown in this figure, a protective member 43 covering an RFID tag 40 is attached to the boundary between the annular second bead filler 222 and the rubber sheet 37. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12 , in order to assist the bonding between the bead filler 22 and the rubber sheet 37, an additional rubber sheet 51 may be attached to the boundary between the second bead filler 222 and the rubber sheet 37. The number of additional rubber sheets 51 may be one or more. The protective member 43 and the additional rubber sheets 51 are preferably arranged at equal intervals. In this embodiment, one protective member 43 and two additional rubber sheets 51 are arranged at intervals of 120°. Furthermore, when multiple electronic components are embedded in the tire 1, the additional rubber sheet 51 may be a rubber sheet that covers the electronic components. Like the protective member 43, the additional rubber sheet is preferably made of unvulcanized raw rubber when attached. This configuration in which an additional rubber sheet 51 is attached is also applicable to the first and second embodiments.

[0098] In the third modified example shown in FIG. 13 , the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is also disposed at the intersection of at least three rubber members constituting the tire 1. More specifically, the tire 1 according to this modified example is disposed at the intersection of the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the rubber sheet 37. In this modified example, the protective member 43 covering the RFID tag 40 is disposed at the boundary between the second pad 36 and the first pad 35 so as to straddle the second pad 36 and the first pad 35. That is, the protective member 43 is attached so as to press the tire radially outer end 35A of the first pad 35, which has a tapered shape at its tire radially outer end in a cross-sectional view in the tire width direction. The tire cavity side of the protective member 43 is covered by the rubber sheet 37. Even if the RFID tag 40 is placed in such a position, the RFID tag 40 is not easily affected by stress because it is surrounded by multiple rubber members, specifically, the second pad 36, the first pad 35, and the rubber sheet 37. Furthermore, by using the boundary between the multiple rubber members, in this modification, the boundary between the second pad 36 and the first pad 35, as the reference for the placement position of the RFID tag 40, variation in the placement position of the RFID tag 40 is reduced. This reduces the possibility that the RFID tag 40 will be mistakenly placed in an undesirable position in terms of stress, distortion, and the like, and allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its proper function.

[0099] As shown in the results of the in-plane distribution simulation of strain energy in Figure 8, even in the modified examples shown in Figures 9 to 13, the location where the RFID tag 40 is placed is generally in the level 2 area, which has little strain energy and is a very preferable area for placing the RFID tag 40.

[0100] In addition to the above advantages (1) to (2) and (4) to (7), the tire 1 of this embodiment also provides the following advantages.

[0101] (9) In the tire 1 according to this embodiment, the RFID tag 40 is disposed at a position where three rubber members including the second pad 36 intersect. This allows the RFID tag 40 to maintain its functionality without being affected by excessive strain.

[0102] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a tire according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 14 to 20. In the following description, the same components as those in the first to third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. This embodiment is particularly suitable when the antenna of the RFID tag 40 is a coil spring antenna.

[0103] The RFID tag 40 of this embodiment uses a coil-shaped spring antenna 421, which has high communication performance and flexibility, as its antenna. The spring antenna 421 is set to an antenna length optimized according to the frequency band to be used, etc.

[0104] In this embodiment, rubber is placed inside the spring antenna 421 before the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched between the two covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 that make up the protective member 43. More preferably, the rubber is filled inside the spring antenna so that as little air as possible remains. This process and the reason for adopting this process will be explained using Figures 14 to 20.

[0105] 14 to 17, a description will be given of the state around the RFID tag 40 as a reference example when no rubber is filled in the spring antenna 421. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing cross sections of the spring antenna 421 and the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 before the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing cross sections of the spring antenna 421 and the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 after the RFID tag 40 has been sandwiched between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432.

[0106] 15, in this reference example, since the spring antenna 421 is not filled with rubber beforehand, a certain amount of air 45 may remain inside the spring antenna 421 after it is sandwiched between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. If air remains in this way, the integrity between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 and the spring antenna 421 will be insufficient, and when the tire deforms, the spring antenna 421 will not follow the movement of the rubber, which may result in damage to the RFID tag 40 having the spring antenna 421.

[0107] Here, unvulcanized raw rubber is used as the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. Therefore, by pressing the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 from both sides, the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 are embedded to some extent into the spring antenna, as shown in Fig. 15. However, it takes a great deal of time and effort to embed the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 into the spring antenna until they are completely embedded.

[0108] Even if the rubber sheets are slowly sunk into the spring antenna until they are completely embedded, the distance L between the outer periphery of spring antenna 421 and the outer surfaces of covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 becomes very short, as shown in Fig. 16. It is difficult to stabilize this distance L, and localized thin areas may occur. Therefore, the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 may not adequately protect RFID tag 40, and the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 may be damaged during vulcanization.

[0109] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 17 to 20, rubber is placed inside the spring antenna 421 before the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. More preferably, the rubber is filled inside the spring antenna so that as little air as possible remains. The diagrams on the right side of Figures 17 to 20 show cross sections of the spring antenna 421 and its surroundings.

[0110] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the state before the rubber 46 is filled in the spring antenna 421, and FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the state after the rubber 46 is filled in the spring antenna 421. The rubber 46 is embedded so that its outer diameter is approximately the same as the outer peripheral surface of the spring antenna 421. If the rubber 46 protrudes beyond the outer peripheral surface of the spring antenna 421, it is preferable to wipe off the protruding portion. In other words, it is preferable that the outer peripheral surface of the rubber 46 is molded so that it is approximately flush with the outer peripheral surface of the spring antenna 421. It is also possible to fill the inside of the spring antenna 421 with rubber 46 and to wrap the outer periphery of the spring antenna 421 thinly with rubber 46. On the other hand, wrapping the spring antenna 421 thickly with rubber 46 is not preferable because it reduces the flexibility of the spring antenna 421 and increases the width dimension formed by the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 after the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched between them. The rubber 46 may be embedded so that its outer diameter is approximately the same as the inner circumferential surface of the spring antenna 421. It is desirable that the outer circumferential portion of the rubber 46 be located within the range from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface of the spring antenna 421.

[0111] Here, flexible rubber is used as the rubber 46 in order to ensure the flexibility of the spring antenna 421. However, in consideration of workability and the like, it is preferable to use rubber 46 having a higher modulus than the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. Preferably, unvulcanized rubber is used as the rubber 46 disposed inside the spring antenna 421. By using unvulcanized rubber for the rubber 46 and the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 and vulcanizing them simultaneously, the integrity of the rubber 46, the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432, and the spring antenna 421 is improved. It is also more preferable that the rubber 46 and the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 are made of the same type of rubber. In order to emphasize the flexibility of spring antenna 421, rubber 46 may have a lower modulus than covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. Rubbers having approximately the same modulus or made of the same material may also be used. Note that vulcanized rubber may be used as the rubber 46 disposed inside the spring antenna 421. It is also possible to use a rubber adhesive, a rubber filler, or the like. Various rubber materials can be used, taking into consideration ensuring flexibility while minimizing air remaining inside the spring antenna 421. Various methods can be used to arrange the rubber 46, but for example, a syringe can be used to inject the rubber into the spring antenna 421. In this case, a syringe may be used to fill a set appropriate amount of rubber 46. Alternatively, after filling a larger amount of rubber 46, the portion that protrudes from the outer periphery of the spring antenna 421 may be wiped off.

[0112] FIG. 19 shows the RFID tag 40 with the spring antenna 421 filled with rubber 46 before it is sandwiched between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432, and FIG. 20 shows the RFID tag 40 after it has been sandwiched between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432.

[0113] 20, according to this embodiment, since the spring antenna 421 is filled with the rubber 46 in advance, no air pockets exist between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. Therefore, there is no need to worry about air pockets, and the process of sandwiching the RFID tag 40 between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 is simplified. Furthermore, by disposing the rubber 46 inside the spring antenna 421, the integrity of the spring antenna 421, the rubber 46, and the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 is improved, and when the tire deforms, the spring antenna 421 follows the movement of the rubber, thereby improving the durability of the RFID tag 40 having the spring antenna 421.

[0114] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the distance L between the outer periphery of the spring antenna 421 and the outer surfaces of the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 is stabilized. That is, the distance L is generally secured to be close to the thickness of the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. Therefore, the RFID tag 40 is sufficiently protected by the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432. In this embodiment, the RFID tag 40 sandwiched between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 is disposed between the rubber members, and then the green tire is vulcanized.

[0115] In this embodiment, the RFID tag 40, in which the spring antenna 421 is filled with rubber 46 in advance, is covered with covering rubber sheets 431 and 432, and is then placed between the rubber members. However, the RFID tag 40 in which the rubber 46 has been filled in advance inside the spring antenna 421 may be disposed between the rubber members without being covered with the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 . In this way, by disposing the uncoated RFID tag 40 directly between the rubber members, variations in the thickness of the rubber member where the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched are reduced, improving the uniformity of the tire 1. Furthermore, because the rubber 46 is filled in advance inside the spring antenna 421, the rubber sheet 37 does not sink excessively into the spring antenna.

[0116] In addition to the above effects (1) to (10), the tire according to this embodiment has the following effects.

[0117] (11) In this embodiment, the RFID tag 40 as an electronic component with communication capabilities has a spring antenna 421, and a step of placing rubber 46 inside the spring antenna 421 is included before the step of attaching the RFID tag 40 to the rubber member. This eliminates the need to worry about air pockets during the process of sandwiching the spring antenna 421 of the RFID tag 40 between the rubber members, improving assembly efficiency. (12) In this embodiment, the method includes a step of placing rubber 46 inside spring antenna 421 of RFID tag 40, which is an electronic component having a communication function; a step of sandwiching RFID tag 40 having spring antenna 421 with rubber 46 placed therein between covering rubber sheets 431 and 432; and an arrangement step of arranging RFID tag 40 sandwiched between covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 between rubber members. This prevents air 45 from remaining inside the spring antenna 421. In addition, since there is no need to worry about air pockets, the work of sandwiching the RFID tag 40 between the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 is also simplified. Furthermore, since the distance L between the outer periphery of the spring antenna 421 and the outer surfaces of the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 is stable, the RFID tag 40 is sufficiently protected by the covering rubber sheets 431 and 432 .

[0118] (13) This embodiment includes a step of placing rubber 46 inside the spring antenna 421 of the RFID tag 40, which is an electronic component having a communication function, and a step of attaching a rubber sheet 37 to the bead filler 22 so as to sandwich the uncoated RFID tag 40 between the rubber members. In this way, by directly sandwiching the uncoated electronic component between the rubber members, variations in the thickness of the rubber member in the portion where the RFID tag 40 is sandwiched are reduced, improving the uniformity of the tire 1. Furthermore, because the rubber 46 is filled in advance inside the spring antenna 421, the rubber sheet 37 does not sink excessively into the spring antenna.

[0119] The tire of the present invention can be used as various tires for passenger cars, light trucks, trucks, buses, etc., but is particularly suitable as a tire for trucks, buses, etc. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any modifications and improvements made within the scope of the present invention are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1. Tires 11...Bead 12...Tread 13...Sidewall 21...Bead core 22...Bead filler 221...First bead filler 222...Second bead filler 23...Carcass ply 24...Ply body 25...Ply folded part 26...Steel belt 28...Tread rubber 28B...Tire radial inner end 29...Inner liner 30...Sidewall rubber 31...Steel Chafer 32...Rim strip rubber 32A...Tire radial outer end 34...Pad member 35...First pad 35A...Tire radial outer end 36...Second pad 37...Rubber sheet 37A...Tire radial outer end 38...Shoulder pads 40...RFID tag 41...RFID chip 42...Antenna 421...Spring antenna 43...Protective material 431, 432...Rubber sheet 46...Rubber

Claims

1. A bead core; a bead filler extending outward in the tire radial direction from the bead core; a carcass ply having a ply turnup portion turned up around the bead core; a pad member provided on the outer side of the folded-up portion of the carcass ply and the bead filler in the tire width direction; a rubber sheet disposed between the bead filler and the pad member; a member constituting an outer surface of the tire that covers the outer side of the pad member in the tire width direction; and an electronic component disposed at a position where at least three rubber members intersect, The pad member includes a first pad provided on an outer side of the folded-up portion of the carcass ply and the bead filler in the tire width direction; a second pad provided to cover the outer side of the first pad in the tire width direction, the member constituting the outer surface of the tire covers the entire outer side of the second pad in the tire width direction, The rubber sheet is arranged to cover an end of the folded-up portion of the carcass ply from the inner side in the tire width direction, the at least three rubber members include the bead filler, the second pad, and the rubber sheet; The electronic component is disposed at a position where the bead filler, the second pad, and the rubber sheet intersect.

2. A manufacturing method for manufacturing the tire according to claim 1, comprising: At least a portion of the electronic component is covered with a coating rubber sheet, The coated rubber sheet is attached at the boundary between the bead filler and the rubber sheet. a step of attaching the bead filler and the rubber sheet so as to straddle the bead filler and the rubber sheet; and attaching the pad member to cover the covering rubber sheet attached to the boundary between the bead filler and the rubber sheet.

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