Accommodating body with functional component, and tire
The housing design with specific dimensional ratios and material properties addresses the issue of durability and positioning of functional components in tires, enhancing crack resistance and long-distance durability while maintaining high-speed performance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-02
Smart Images
Figure JP2025043489_02072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Storage unit with functional components and tires
[0001] The present invention relates to a housing with functional components and a tire, and more particularly to a housing with functional components and a tire that improves the crack resistance of the housing and the long-distance durability of both the housing and the functional components, while improving the high-speed durability of the functional components, by devising the dimensional relationship between the housing that houses the functional components and the functional components.
[0002] Functional components (e.g., sensor units including sensors) that acquire internal tire information such as internal pressure and temperature are installed on the inner surface of the tire (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). When installing functional components, a container made of rubber or the like is attached to the inner surface of the tire, and the functional components are housed inside the attached container. However, after the functional components are housed in the container, if the container is subjected to a large impact, for example by driving over a curb or pothole, the functional components may shift and become fixed in an abnormal position, making it impossible to ensure sufficient long-distance durability. Furthermore, if the functional components remain fixed in an abnormal position, cracks may occur in the container, potentially leading to damage.
[0003] Japanese Patent No. 6272225 Publication Japanese Special Table No. 2016-505438
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a housing with functional components and a tire that improves the crack resistance of the housing and the long-distance durability of both the housing and the functional components, while improving the high-speed durability of the functional components, by devising the dimensional relationship between the housing that houses the functional components and the functional components.
[0005] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a housing with a functional component comprising a functional component for acquiring tire information and a housing for housing this functional component, wherein the housing has a bottom fixed to the inner surface of the tire, a side wall protruding from the bottom, a housing portion formed by the bottom and the side wall, and an opening communicating with the housing portion, the width of the opening being narrower than the minimum width of the housing portion, and the circumference D1 of the upper part of the functional component U and the circumference D2 of the upper part of the housingU satisfies the relationship of 0.60 ≦ D2 U / D1 U ≦ 0.95, and the perimeter D1 of the lower part of the functional component L and the perimeter D2 of the lower part of the accommodating part L satisfies the relationship of 1.05 ≦ D2 L / D1 L ≦ 1.50, and is characterized by this.
[0006] Further, the tire of the present invention is characterized in that the above-described accommodating body with a functional component is fixed to the inner surface of the tire, and the functional component is accommodated in the accommodating part.
[0007] In the present invention, the perimeter D1 of the upper part of the functional component U and the perimeter D2 of the upper part of the accommodating part U satisfy the relationship of 0.60 ≦ D2 U / D1 U ≦ 0.95. Therefore, the restraining force of the accommodating body on the functional component can be increased, the movement of the functional component can be suppressed, and the functional component can be prevented from being damaged during high-speed driving. Moreover, since the balance between the restraining force of the accommodating body on the functional component and the degree of deformation at which the accommodating body is not damaged is good, damage to the accommodating body during long-distance driving can be prevented. Also, the perimeter D1 of the lower part of the functional component L and the perimeter D2 of the lower part of the accommodating part L satisfy the relationship of 1.05 ≦ D2 L / D1 L ≦ 1.50. Therefore, a slight gap will occur between the lower part of the accommodating body and the lower part of the functional component. The existence of this gap allows the functional component to return to its normal position even if the position of the functional component is displaced in the accommodating body due to the impact when the tire contacts the ground, so the long-distance durability can be improved. By devising the dimensional relationship between the accommodating body and the functional component in this way, it is possible to improve the high-speed durability of the functional component while improving the crack resistance of the accommodating body and the long-distance durability of the accommodating body and the functional component.
[0008] In the accommodating body with a functional component of the present invention, the perimeter D2 at the high position and the perimeter D2 at the low position at any two heights in the upper part of the accommodating part UU and the perimeter D2 at the low positionUL And the circumference D1 at the higher position corresponding to the two arbitrary height points on the upper part of the functional component. UU and the circumference D1 at the lower position UL D2 UU / D1 UU ≤D2 UL / D1 UL It is preferable to satisfy this relationship. As a result, the restraining force by the housing is relatively higher in the upper part, so when a functional component is displaced within the housing due to the impact of tire contact, the functional component is more likely to recover and return to its normal position, thereby effectively improving long-distance durability.
[0009] The height H1 of the functional component when it is housed in the housing and the maximum height H2 of the gap in the housing. L This means that 0.1 ≤ H² L It is preferable that the relationship / H1 ≤ 0.9 is satisfied, and 0.15 ≤ H2 L It is more preferable that the relationship / H1 ≤ 0.70 is satisfied, and 0.15 ≤ H2 L It is most preferable that the relationship / H1 ≤ 0.60 is satisfied. Thus, ratio H2 L By setting / H1, sufficient holding force of the functional components by the housing can be ensured, and when the functional components shift position within the housing due to the impact of tire contact, they are more likely to return to their normal position, thus improving both high-speed durability and long-distance durability in a balanced manner.
[0010] Circumference D2 of the opening of the containment O and the maximum circumference D1 of the functional component MAX This means 0.4 ≤ D2 O / D1 MAX It is preferable that the relationship ≤ 0.8 is satisfied. This improves the durability of functional components during high-speed driving, and also ensures that the opening of the housing does not become excessively narrow, making it convenient when inserting and removing functional components.
[0011] When functional components are housed in the housing, the inclination angle of the side wall relative to the bottom, measured on the outer wall side of the side wall, is preferably 90° to 150°. This reduces stress concentration at the base of the side wall of the housing during long-distance travel and suppresses movement of the lower part of the housing, thereby improving long-distance durability.
[0012] Preferably, a first protrusion is formed in the central region of the bottom surface inside the housing, protruding from the bottom surface. This ensures that the first protrusion remains pressed against the functional component by tire vibrations during driving, thereby improving the sensing stability of the functional component.
[0013] It is preferable that a second protrusion is formed on the outer edge region of the bottom surface inside the housing, protruding from the bottom surface. By supporting the functional component with such a second protrusion, it is possible to prevent the functional component from being held in a tilted position, or to suppress excessive movement or vibration of the functional component inside the housing, thereby improving the sensing stability of the functional component and the durability of the housing.
[0014] Preferably, the modulus of the housing at 100% elongation at 20°C is 0.5 MPa or more and less than 10.0 MPa, and the loss modulus of the housing at 60°C is 0.4 MPa or more and less than 20.0 MPa. By setting the modulus appropriately in this way, it is possible to achieve both the durability of the housing and the ease of housing functional components within it. Furthermore, by setting the loss modulus appropriately in this way, it is possible to prevent damage to the housing of functional components caused by friction between the functional components and the housing, or by repeated deformation of the housing.
[0015] The housing should preferably be made of vulcanized rubber. Furthermore, it is preferable that the housing be made of a material containing 75 phr or more of butyl rubber and 42 phr to 80 phr of carbon black. By constructing the housing from such materials, the functional components can be sufficiently fixed to the inner surface of the tire, and durability can be improved.
[0016] The housing should be fixed to the inner surface of the tire with adhesive. Functional components should have a sensor function to detect acceleration or strain.
[0017] The tire of the present invention is preferably a pneumatic tire, but may also be a non-pneumatic tire. In the case of a pneumatic tire, the inside can be filled with air, an inert gas such as nitrogen, or other gases.
[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a housing with a functional component according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2(A) is a half cross-sectional view illustrating the dimensions of the housing with a functional component in Figure 1, and Figure 2(B) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the perimeters of the housing and the functional component. Figure 3 is a half cross-sectional view illustrating the dimensions of the housing with a functional component in Figure 1. Figures 4(A) to (G) are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of functional components that can be housed in the housing with a functional component of the present invention. Figures 5(A) to (D) illustrate embodiments of the housing with a functional component before and after housing the functional component, with Figure 5(A) being a perspective view of the state without housing the functional component, Figure 5(B) being a cross-sectional view of the state without housing the functional component, Figure 5(C) being a perspective view of the state with housing the functional component, and Figure 5(D) being a cross-sectional view of the state with housing the functional component. Figures 6(A) and (B) show modified examples of the housing with a functional component according to the present invention, with Figure 6(A) being a perspective view showing the inside of the housing with a cutout, and Figure 6(B) being a cross-sectional view of the housing with a functional component. Figure 7 is a meridian cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a pneumatic tire in which a housing with functional components is fixed to the inner surface of the tire. Figure 8 is a magnified cross-sectional view showing the housing with functional components fixed to the pneumatic tire in Figure 7.
[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the housing with functional components of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the housing with functional components 1 comprises a functional component 20 having a sensor function for detecting tire information, and a housing 10 that houses this functional component 20.
[0020] The housing 10 has a flat bottom portion 11 fixed to the inner surface of the tire, a cylindrical side wall portion 12 protruding from the bottom portion 11, a housing portion 13 formed by the bottom portion 11 and the side wall portion 12, and an opening 14 communicating with the housing portion 13. Furthermore, the housing 10 is preferably a molded body made of vulcanized rubber.
[0021] The bottom portion 11 is the longest part (has the largest diameter) of the parts constituting the housing 10. The side wall portion 12 is formed to slope inward from a direction perpendicular to the bottom portion 11. Therefore, the housing portion 13 formed by the bottom portion 11 and the side wall portion 12 has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. That is, the cross-sectional width of the housing portion 13 gradually decreases toward the upper part, and the cross-sectional width is narrowest at the maximum height position. In addition, the side wall portion 12 has a locking portion 12e formed to bend toward the opening 14 at one end 12a, and the other end 12b is fixed to the bottom portion 11. After the functional component 20 is housed, the locking portion 12e abuts against the upper surface of the functional component 20 and plays a role in fixing the functional component 20 when it is housed. The width of the opening 14 into which the functional component 20 is inserted is narrower than the minimum width in the cross-sectional view of the housing portion 13.
[0022] In Figures 1 to 3, the bottom portion 11, the side wall portion 12, and the opening 14 all have a circular planar shape, and the storage portion 13 has the shape of a truncated cone. The planar shapes of the bottom portion 11, the side wall portion 12, and the opening 14 are not particularly limited and may be composed of any other planar shape, or may be composed of different planar shapes from each other. Also, the shape of the storage portion 13 is not particularly limited.
[0023] The functional component 20 has a contact surface 21 that contacts the inner surface of the tire. That is, the contact surface 21 is the surface that contacts the bottom 11. The functional component 20 also has a structure in which various electronic components are housed inside the housing 23. The electronic components can be configured to include various sensors for acquiring tire information, a transmitter, a receiver, a control circuit, and a battery. Examples of tire information acquired by the sensors include the internal temperature and pressure of the pneumatic tire, and the amount of wear on the tread. For example, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor are used to measure the internal temperature and pressure. When detecting the amount of wear on the tire tread, for example, a sensor element 22 made of a film-like piezoelectric element is placed on the contact surface 21 of the functional component 20, and the sensor element 22 detects the strain (output voltage) corresponding to the tire deformation during driving, and the amount of wear on the tread is detected based on that output voltage. In addition, it is also possible to use an acceleration sensor or a magnetic sensor.
[0024] In such a housing 1 with functional components, the circumference D1 of the upper part of the functional component 20 U and the circumference D2 of the upper part of the housing section 13 U This means 0.60 ≤ D2 U / D1 U It is configured to satisfy the relationship ≤ 0.95. That is, the circumference D2 of the housing section 13 U The circumference D1 of the functional component 20 U The intention is to increase the restraining force by the housing 10 by setting it to a smaller value within a specific range. Here, the circumference D2 of the housing section 13 U Regarding this, as shown in Figure 2(A), in the state after the functional component 20 is housed, the height h2 is defined as 3 / 4 of the total inner height H2 of the housing 10 (0.75 × H2), and a total of three positions P1 to P3 are identified: position P1 at this height h2, and positions P2 and P3 corresponding to ±25% of height h2 (0.25 × h2) relative to position P1 at height h2. Then, the circumference D2 of the housing section 13 U As shown in Figure 2(B), the circumference of the housing section 13 is measured at three identified positions P1 to P3 when the functional component 20 is not housed there, and the circumference measured at these three positions P1 to P3 is averaged. Also, the circumference D1 of the upper part of the functional component 20 U As shown in Figure 2(B), the circumference of the functional component 20 is measured at positions corresponding to the three positions P1 to P3 on the functional component 20, and the circumference measured at these three positions is averaged.
[0025] The total internal height H2 of the housing 10 is the height from the top surface of the bottom 11 to the bottom surface of the locking portion 12e after the functional component 20 has been housed. Furthermore, if a protrusion (for example, the protrusion 15 shown in Figures 6(A) and (B)) is formed on the bottom 11 of the housing 10, the total internal height H2 of the housing 10 does not include the height of the protrusion, but means the height from the top surface of the protrusion to the bottom surface of the locking portion 12e.
[0026] Furthermore, the circumference D1 of the lower part of the functional component 20 L and the circumference D2 of the lower part of the housing section 13 L This means that 1.05 ≤ D2 L / D1 LIt is configured to satisfy the relationship ≤ 1.50. That is, the circumference D2 of the lower part of the housing 13 L The circumference D1 of the lower part of the functional component 20 L By setting it to be larger in a specific range, the intention is to create a gap g in the lower part of the housing section 13. Here, the circumference D2 of the lower part of the housing section 13 L Regarding this, as shown in Figure 2(A), in the state after the functional component 20 has been housed, the height h2' is defined as 1 / 10 (0.1 × H2) of the total inner height H2 of the housing 10, and the position P4 of this height h2' is identified. Then, the circumference D2 of the lower part of the housing 13 L As shown in Figure 2(B), this is the circumference of the housing portion 13 measured at the specified position P4 when the functional component 20 is not housed. Also, the circumference D1 of the lower part of the functional component 20. L This is the circumference of the functional component 20 measured at the position corresponding to the above-mentioned position P4, as shown in Figure 2(B).
[0027] In the housing with the functional component described above, the circumference D1 of the upper part of the functional component 20 U and the circumference D2 of the upper part of the housing section 13 U This means 0.60 ≤ D2 U / D1 U Since the relationship ≤0.95 is satisfied, the restraining force of the housing 10 on the functional component 20 can be increased, and the movement of the functional component 20 can be suppressed, thus preventing damage to the functional component 20 during high-speed driving. Moreover, since there is a good balance between the restraining force of the housing 10 on the functional component 20 and the degree of deformation that does not cause damage to the housing 10, damage to the housing 10 during long-distance driving can be prevented. Also, the circumference D1 of the lower part of the functional component 20 L and the circumference D2 of the lower part of the housing section 13 L This means 1.05 ≤ D2 L / D1 LSince the relationship ≤ 1.50 is satisfied, a small gap g is created between the lower part of the housing 10 and the lower part of the functional component 20. This gap g allows the functional component 20 to return to its normal position even if it is displaced within the housing 10 due to the impact of tire contact, thereby improving long-distance durability. By devising the dimensional relationship between the housing 10 and the functional component 20 in this way, it is possible to improve the crack resistance of the housing 10 and the long-distance durability of both the housing 10 and the functional component 20 while improving the high-speed durability of the functional component 20.
[0028] Here, ratio D2 U / D1 U If the ratio D2 is less than 0.60, the restraining force of the housing 10 becomes excessively large, increasing the likelihood of cracks occurring in the housing 10 and damage to the housing 10 during long-distance travel. Conversely, if the ratio D2 U / D1 U If the ratio exceeds 0.95, the restraining force of the housing 10 decreases, and the movement of the functional component 20 within the housing 10 increases. As a result, heat generation increases due to friction between the housing 10 and the functional component 20, leading to damage to the functional component 20 and deterioration of high-speed durability. L / D1 L If the ratio D2 is less than 1.05, the functional component 20 may break if it shifts position within the housing 10 without returning to its original position, thus worsening long-distance durability. Conversely, ratio D2 L / D1 L If the value exceeds 1.50, the movement of the functional component 20 in the lower part of the housing 10 becomes larger, which may lead to damage to the housing 10, thus worsening its long-distance durability.
[0029] In the above-mentioned housing with functional components, the circumference D2 is measured at two arbitrary height points in the upper portion of the housing section 13. UU , D2 UL And the circumference D1 corresponding to the two arbitrary height points on the upper part of the functional component 20 UU , D1 UL That is, D2 UU / D1 UU ≤D2 UL / D1 ULIt is preferable that the following relationship is satisfied. That is, ratio D2 UU / D1 UU is compared to D2 UL / D1 UL The intention is to increase the restraining force in the upper part of the housing section 13 by configuring the upper part of the housing section 13 to be equal to or smaller than the above. Here, the circumference D2 of the housing section 13 UU and circumference D2 UL This refers to a circumference of D2 UU This refers to the circumference at a relatively higher position. Circumference D1 of functional component 20 UU and circumference D1 UL This refers to circumference D1 UU This refers to the circumference at a relatively higher position, and as shown in Figure 4(A), the circumference D1 is at the high position p1. UU and the circumference D1 of the low position p2 UL Therefore, by satisfying the above-mentioned relationship, the functional component 20 can be easily restored to its normal position when it shifts position within the housing 10.
[0030] Furthermore, the upper portion of the functional component 20 is defined as follows, depending on the cross-sectional shape of the functional component 20. When the cross-sectional shape is rectangular (see Figure 4(A)) or trapezoidal (see Figures 4(B) and (C)), the upper portion 20u of the functional component 20 means the upper half of the height of the functional component 20. In the case of other cross-sectional shapes (see Figures 4(D) and (E)), the upper portion 20u of the functional component 20 means the portion above the minimum height at the part of the functional component 20 that has the maximum circumference. Here, if the corners of the functional component 20 are chamfered, the definition is made as described above using a virtual contour line without chamfering. If a handle portion 24 is provided on the upper part of the functional component 20 (see Figure 4(F)), and the handle portion 24 is housed in a state where it protrudes from the housing portion 13, the handle portion 24 (the part protruding from the housing portion 13) is not included in the upper portion 20u of the functional component 20. The upper surface of the functional component 20 is provided with a recess or protrusion (engagement portion 25) that engages with the housing 10 (see Figure 4(G)). When the functional component 20 is housed with the engagement portion 25 engaged with the housing 10, the upper portion 20u of the functional component 20 is defined as described above using a virtual contour line representing the state without the engagement portion 25.
[0031] Ratio D2UU / D1 UU compared with D2 UL / D1 UL By setting it so as to satisfy the above relationship, the restraining force by the housing 10 becomes relatively higher in the upper part. Therefore, when the functional part 20 is displaced within the housing 10 due to the impact when the tire contacts the ground, the functional part 20 is restored and easily returns to the normal position. Thus, the long-distance durability can be effectively improved.
[0032] Further, the height H1 of the functional part 20 (see FIG. 3) and the maximum height H2 of the gap g existing in the housing part 13 L (see FIG. 3) preferably satisfy the relationship of 0.1 ≦ H2 L / H1 ≦ 0.9, and more preferably satisfy the relationship of 0.15 ≦ H2 L / H1 ≦ 0.70, and most preferably satisfy the relationship of 0.15 ≦ H2 L / H1 ≦ 0.60. Here, the height H1 of the functional part 20 is the maximum height of the functional part 20 within the housing part 13 when the functional part 20 is housed. This means that, for example, when a knob part is provided on the upper part of the functional part 20 and the knob part protrudes from the housing part 13, the height H1 of the functional part 20 does not include the height of the knob part outside the housing part 13. Also, the maximum height H2 of the gap g L is the vertex height of the non-contact area between the side wall part 12 existing in the housing part 13 and the functional part 20 when the functional part 20 is housed.
[0033] As described above, by setting the ratio H2 L / H1, the holding force of the functional part 20 by the housing 10 can be sufficiently ensured, and when the functional part 20 is displaced within the housing 10 due to the impact when the tire contacts the ground, the functional part 20 is restored and easily returns to the normal position. Thus, the high-speed durability and the long-distance durability can be improved in a balanced manner. Here, when the ratio H2 L / H1 is 0.1 or more, the functional part 20 is easily restored and returns to the normal position, so that the improvement effect of the long-distance durability can be sufficiently obtained. Also, the ratio H2 LWhen / H1 is 0.9 or less, sufficient restraining force of the housing 10 can be secured, and the movement of the functional components 20 within the housing 10 is suppressed, thereby fully improving high-speed durability.
[0034] Furthermore, the circumference D2 of the opening 14 of the containment body 10 O and the maximum circumference D1 of the functional component 20 MAX This means 0.4 ≤ D2 O / D1 MAX It is preferable that the relationship ≤ 0.8 is satisfied. Here, the circumference D2 of the opening 14 O This is the circumference of the opening 14, measured when the functional component 20 is not housed in the housing 10.
[0035] As described above, the circumference D2 of the opening 14 O and the maximum circumference D1 of the functional component 20 MAX By setting this, the durability of the functional component 20 during high-speed driving can be improved, and the opening 14 of the housing 10 does not become excessively narrow, making it convenient when inserting and removing the functional component 20. Here, ratio D2 O / D1 MAX If the ratio D2 is 0.4 or higher, the opening 14 will not become excessively narrow, making it easier to attach and detach the functional parts 20. O / D1 MAX If the value is 0.8 or less, the restraining force provided by the housing 10 can be adequately secured, and the movement of the functional components 20 within the housing 10 can be suppressed, thereby fully improving high-speed durability.
[0036] Figures 5(A) to 5(D) illustrate embodiments of a housing with functional components before and after the housing of functional components. When the functional components 20 are housed in the housing section 13, the inclination angle θ of the side wall 12 with respect to the bottom 11 (see Figure 5(D)) is preferably in the range of 90° to 150°, and more preferably in the range of 100° to 135°. By appropriately setting the inclination angle θ after the housing of the functional components 20 in this way, stress concentration at the base of the side wall 12 of the housing 10 can be mitigated during long-distance travel, and the movement of the lower part of the housing 10 can be suppressed, thereby improving long-distance durability. Here, if the inclination angle θ after the housing of the functional components 20 is 90° or more, stress concentration at the base of the side wall 12 of the housing 10 will not be excessive, and the occurrence of cracks at the base of the side wall 12 can be prevented. Furthermore, if the inclination angle θ after housing the functional component 20 is 150° or less, the movement of the lower part of the housing 10 can be suppressed, preventing damage to the housing 10.
[0037] The inclination angle θ of the side wall portion 12 after the functional component 20 has been housed is the angle measured on the outer wall side of the side wall portion 12. When measuring the inclination angle θ of the side wall portion 12, the angle can be calculated using a CT scan or the like. Also, only when measuring the inclination angle θ of the side wall portion 12, as shown in Figure 3, the inclination angle θ is measured by considering a straight line L1 passing through two points on the outer surface of the side wall portion 12, at the position of 1 / 2 (0.5 × H) and 1 / 4 (0.25 × H) of the total height H of the housing 10, as the side wall portion 12. Furthermore, if a protrusion is formed on the outer surface of the side wall portion 12 at the position of 1 / 2 and / or 1 / 4 of the total height H of the housing 10, the inclination angle θ of the side wall portion 12 shall be measured based on a straight line defined with the lower end of the protrusion as a new reference point, without including the protrusion. The total height H of the housing 10 is the height from the lower surface of the bottom portion 11 to the upper surface of the locking portion 12e.
[0038] In the above-described housing with functional components, the housing 10 can be made of rubber, elastomer, resin, etc. Furthermore, the constituent material of the housing 10 should preferably have the following physical properties. The modulus of the housing 10 when stretched to 100% at 20°C is preferably 0.5 MPa or more and less than 10.0 MPa, and the loss modulus of the housing 10 at 60°C is preferably 0.4 MPa or more and less than 20.0 MPa. In particular, the modulus of the housing 10 when stretched to 100% at 20°C should preferably be in the range of 1.0 MPa to 7.0 MPa. By setting the modulus appropriately in this way, it is possible to achieve both the durability of the housing 10 and the ease of housing the functional components 20 in the housing 10. Furthermore, by setting the loss modulus appropriately in this way, it is possible to prevent damage to the housing 23 of the functional components 20 caused by friction of the functional components 20 against the housing 10 and repeated deformation of the housing 10.
[0039] Furthermore, the material of the housing 10 preferably contains butyl rubber of 75 phr or more and carbon black of 42 phr to 80 phr. By constructing the housing 10 from such materials, the functional component 20 can be sufficiently fixed to the inner surface of the tire, and durability can be improved. Butyl rubber is relatively soft and is advantageous from a cost standpoint.
[0040] Figures 6(A) and 6(B) show modified examples of a housing with a functional component according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figures 6(A) and 6(B), at least one protrusion 15 is formed on the bottom surface 11x inside the housing 10, protruding from the bottom surface 11x. Specifically, a circular first protrusion 15A is formed, located in the area below the sensor element 22 of the functional component 20 when the functional component 20 is housed therein, and an annular second protrusion 15B is formed around the first protrusion 15A. A recess 16 is formed between the first protrusion 15A and the second protrusion 15B as an annular groove. The shapes of the first protrusion 15A, the second protrusion 15B, and the recess 16 are not particularly limited.
[0041] It is preferable that a first protrusion 15A is formed in the central region of the bottom surface 11x. This ensures that the first protrusion 15A is pressed against the functional component 20 by tire vibrations during driving, thereby improving the sensing stability of the functional component 20.
[0042] Furthermore, it is preferable that a second protrusion 15B is formed on the outer edge region of the bottom surface 11x. By supporting the functional component 20 with such a second protrusion 15B, it is possible to prevent the functional component 20 from being held in a tilted position, or to suppress excessive movement or vibration of the functional component 20 within the housing 10, thereby improving the sensing stability of the functional component 20 and the durability of the housing 10.
[0043] Figure 7 shows a pneumatic tire in which a housing with functional components is fixed to the inner surface of the tire. As illustrated in Figure 7, the pneumatic tire T comprises a tread portion t that extends in the circumferential direction of the tire and forms an annular shape, a pair of sidewall portions s arranged on both sides of the tread portion t, and a pair of bead portions b arranged radially inward of these sidewall portions s.
[0044] A carcass layer 4 is mounted between a pair of bead portions b. This carcass layer 4 includes a plurality of reinforcing cords extending in the radial direction of the tire, and is folded back from the inside to the outside of the tire around the bead core 5 located in each bead portion b. A bead filler 6 made of a rubber composition with a triangular cross-section is arranged on the outer circumference of the bead core 5. An inner liner layer 9 is arranged in the region between the pair of bead portions b on the inner surface Ts of the tire. This inner liner layer 9 forms the inner surface Ts of the tire.
[0045] On the other hand, multiple belt layers 7 are embedded on the outer circumference of the carcass layer 4 in the tread portion t. These belt layers 7 include multiple reinforcing cords that are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction, and the reinforcing cords are arranged to intersect each other between layers. In the belt layers 7, the inclination angle of the reinforcing cords with respect to the tire circumferential direction is set to, for example, a range of 10° to 40°. Steel cords are preferably used as the reinforcing cords of the belt layers 7. On the outer circumference of the belt layers 7, at least one belt cover layer 8 is arranged, in which the reinforcing cords are arranged at an angle of, for example, 5° or less with respect to the tire circumferential direction, for the purpose of improving high-speed durability. Organic fiber cords such as nylon or aramid are preferably used as the reinforcing cords of the belt cover layer 8.
[0046] The tire internal structure described above is a typical example of a pneumatic tire, but is not limited to this example.
[0047] In the above-described pneumatic tire, at least one housing 1 with a functional component is attached to the inner surface Ts of the tire. The housing 1 with the functional component is fixed to the inner surface Ts of the tire with an adhesive. This adhesive has a storage modulus of 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁶ at -40°C. 8 Pa ~ 1.0 × 10 10 It is in the Pa range and has a storage modulus of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ at 150°C. 6 Pa ~ 5.0 x 10 7 It is preferable that the storage modulus of elasticity is in the range of Pa. Examples of adhesives having such physical properties include instant adhesives, epoxy adhesives, acrylic adhesives, rubber adhesives, and urethane adhesives. As described above, by appropriately setting the storage modulus of elasticity of the adhesive, it is possible to prevent the housing 10 from falling off due to repeated deformation and load applied during tire operation. Furthermore, even if heat is generated during operation, sufficient durability of the housing 10 can be ensured.
[0048] Furthermore, while the functional component housing 1 can be attached to any part of the inner surface Ts of the tire, it is preferable to attach it to the inner surface Ts of the tire, particularly the tread portion t, among the tread portion t, sidewall portion s, and bead portion b, because it deforms less during driving and is less likely to come off due to centrifugal force.
[0049] Here, as illustrated in Figure 8, when measuring the inclination angle θ with the housing 1 equipped with functional components fixed to the inner surface of the tire, the angle between the straight line L2 passing through the other end 12b of the side wall portions 12 on both sides in a cross-sectional view and the side wall portion 12 is measured. Furthermore, even if the housing equipped with functional components does not have a member corresponding to the bottom and the side wall portions are directly fixed to the inner surface of the tire, the measurement can be performed in the same manner as described above.
[0050] In the embodiments described above, an example was given in which a housing with functional components is attached to a pneumatic tire, but the invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to non-pneumatic tires.
[0051] The tire size is 225 / 45R18, and it comprises a functional component for acquiring tire information and a housing for housing this functional component. The housing has a bottom fixed to the inner surface of the tire, a side wall protruding from the bottom, a housing formed by the bottom and the side wall, and an opening communicating with the housing. The width of the opening is narrower than the minimum width of the housing. The housing with the functional component, which houses the functional component, is fixed to the inner surface of the tire, ratio D2 U / D1 U , ratio D2 L / D1 L , ratio (D2 UU / D1 UU ) / (D2 UL / D1 UL ), ratio H2 L / H1, ratio D2 O / D1 MAX Conventional Examples, Comparative Examples 1-3, and Examples 1-21 tires were manufactured with the inclination angle θ of the side wall portion after housing set as shown in Tables 1-3.
[0052] Note that the Conventional Example and Comparative Example 1 are shown in Table 1 under "Ratio D2 L / D1 LSince the value is less than 1, no gap will be created in the lower part of the housing when functional components are housed in the housing.
[0053] These test tires were evaluated for high-speed durability, crack resistance, long-distance durability, and ease of attachment / detachment using the following test methods, and the results are shown in Tables 1 to 3.
[0054] High-Speed Durability: Each test tire was mounted on a wheel with a rim size of 18 x 7 1 / 2 JJ, and a driving test was conducted on a drum testing machine under conditions of a load of 88% of the maximum load capacity and an air pressure of 360 kPa. Specifically, the speed was increased by 10 km / h every 10 minutes starting from an initial speed of 120 km / h, and the vehicle was driven until the functional components could no longer be sensed, and the distance traveled was measured. The evaluation results are shown as an index with the measured value of the conventional example set to 100. A higher index value indicates better high-speed durability.
[0055] Crack Resistance: Each test tire was mounted on a wheel with a rim size of 18 x 7 1 / 2 JJ, subjected to degradation treatment in an oxygen atmosphere at 80°C for 5 days, and then subjected to a running test on a drum testing machine under a load of 80% of the maximum load capacity and an air pressure of 250 kPa. Specifically, the speed was increased by 10 km / h every 24 hours from an initial speed of 120 km / h until a speed of 170 km / h was reached, after which the occurrence of cracks or wrinkles in the container was visually checked. The evaluation results were shown in four stages: "◎ (Excellent)" for no cracks or wrinkles, "○ (Good)" for slight wrinkles, "△ (Acceptable)" for many wrinkles, and "× (Unacceptable)" for cracks.
[0056] Long-distance durability: Each test tire was mounted on a wheel with a rim size of 18 x 7 1 / 2 JJ, and a running test was conducted on a drum testing machine under conditions of air pressure of 180 kPa and running speed of 120 km / h. Specifically, the load was increased by 15% every 4 hours, starting from 100% of the maximum load, and the vehicle was run until either the housing or functional components broke, and the distance traveled was measured. The evaluation results are shown as an index with the measured value of the conventional example set to 100. A higher index value indicates better long-distance durability.
[0057] Detachability: For each test tire's housing with functional components, the process of attaching and detaching the functional components to and from the housing was performed. The evaluation results were indicated as "○ (possible)" if detachment was possible, and "× (impossible)" if detachment was not possible.
[0058]
[0059]
[0060]
[0061] As can be seen from Tables 1 to 3, the pneumatic tires of Examples 1 to 21 showed improved high-speed durability, crack resistance, and long-distance durability compared to conventional examples.
[0062] On the other hand, Comparative Example 1 has ratio D2 L / D1 L Because the value was set smaller than the value specified in this invention, when the functional component shifted position within the housing, the functional component failed to return to its original position and was damaged, resulting in insufficient improvement in long-distance durability. Comparative Example 2 was ratio D2 U / D1 U Because the value was set to be greater than the value specified in this invention, the restraining force by the housing decreased, and the movement of the functional components within the housing increased, resulting in a deterioration of high-speed durability. Comparative Example 3 is ratio D2 L / D1 L Because the value was set to a value greater than that specified in this invention, the movement of the functional components in the lower part of the housing increased, causing the housing to break and preventing the full improvement in long-distance durability from being achieved.
[0063] 1. Housing with functional components 10. Housing 11. Bottom 12. Side wall 13. Housing section 14. Opening 20. Functional components T. Pneumatic tire Ts. Inner surface of tire t. Tread section s. Sidewall section b. Bead section
Claims
1. A housing with a functional component comprising a functional component for acquiring tire information and a housing for housing the functional component, wherein the housing has a bottom fixed to the inner surface of the tire, a side wall protruding from the bottom, a housing portion formed by the bottom and the side wall, and an opening communicating with the housing portion, the width of the opening being narrower than the minimum width of the housing portion, and the circumference D1 of the upper part of the functional component U and the circumference D2 of the upper part of the housing U Toga 0.60 ≤ D2 U / D1 U The relationship ≤ 0.95 is satisfied, and the circumference D1 of the lower part of the functional component L and the circumference D2 of the lower part of the housing L 1.05 ≤ D2 L / D1 L A housing with functional components characterized by satisfying the relationship ≤ 1.
50.
2. The perimeter D2 at two arbitrary heights at the upper part of the housing portion UU and the perimeter D2 at the lower position UL and the perimeter D1 at the upper position corresponding to the two arbitrary heights at the upper part of the functional component UU and the perimeter D1 at the lower position UL satisfy the relationship D2 UU / D1 UU ≤ D2 UL / D1 UL The housing body with a functional component according to claim 1, characterized in that it satisfies the above relationship.
3. The height H1 of the functional component when it is housed in the housing and the maximum height H2 of the gap in the housing. L The ratio of 0.1 to H2 is 0.
1. L A housing with functional components according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it satisfies the relationship / H1 ≤ 0.
9.
4. The height H1 of the functional component when it is housed in the housing and the maximum height H2 of the gap in the housing. L 0.15 ≤ H2 L A housing with functional components according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it satisfies the relationship / H1 ≤ 0.
70.
5. Circumference D2 of the opening of the container O and the maximum circumference D1 of the functional component MAX 0.4 ≤ D2 O / D1 MAX A housing with functional components according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it satisfies the relationship ≤ 0.
8.
6. The functional component housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the inclination angle of the side wall with respect to the bottom, measured on the outer wall side of the side wall when the functional component is housed in the housing, is 90° to 150°.
7. The functional component housing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a first protrusion is formed in the central region of the bottom surface inside the housing, protruding from the bottom surface.
8. The functional component housing according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a second protrusion is formed on the outer edge region of the bottom surface inside the housing, protruding from the bottom surface.
9. The functional component housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the modulus of the housing when fully extended at 20°C is 0.5 MPa or more and less than 10.0 MPa, and the loss modulus of the housing at 60°C is 0.4 MPa or more and less than 20.0 MPa.
10. The housing with a functional component according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the housing is made of vulcanized rubber.
11. The functional component container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the container is made of a material containing butyl rubber of 75 phr or more and carbon black of 42 phr to 80 phr.
12. The housing with a functional component according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the housing is fixed to the inner surface of the tire with an adhesive.
13. The housing with a functional component according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the functional component has a sensor function for detecting acceleration or strain.
14. A tire characterized in that a housing with a functional component according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is fixed to the inner surface of the tire, and the functional component is housed in the housing portion.