Adaptive Multi-Chamber Tyre for Grip and Wear Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tires face performance issues due to fixed tire shape and pressure, which are suboptimal for varying rolling conditions, leading to inadequate grip and wear resistance, especially in off-road use, where different contact patch sizes and materials are needed for optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A tire with a heater and inflatable chambers that allow dynamic adjustment of the external shape and tread band properties, enabling adaptive pressure control and material selection for varying conditions, enhancing grip and extending tire life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tyre is inflated to a single pressure setting, then the tyre structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the tyre performance is suboptimal for varying rolling conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The tyre is divided into multiple independent inflatable chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that can be inflated to different pressure settings. This segmentation allows different regions of the tyre to be optimized for different functions: the first chamber maintains overall tyre shape, the second chamber adjusts contact patch size for grip, and the third chamber adjusts contact patch pressure for wear distribution. Each chamber can be controlled independently to adapt to varying rolling conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The tyre transitions from a static single-pressure system to a dynamic multi-pressure system where chamber pressures can be adjusted in real-time based on rolling conditions. The system can dynamically inflate or deflate specific chambers to optimize performance for different surfaces, speeds, and load conditions, making the tyre adaptable rather than fixed.
2Duration of action of moving object
If wear-resistant materials are used for the tread band, then the tyre lifetime is extended, but the coefficient of friction is reduced leading to low grip
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the tyre contact patch experience different pressures due to the multi-chamber system. By adjusting the pressure in the third chamber, the system creates localized high-pressure zones that concentrate wear on specific areas of the tread band. This allows wear-resistant materials to be strategically positioned in high-wear zones while softer, higher-friction materials can be used in areas requiring grip, optimizing both lifetime and friction performance locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter in different tyre chambers to control the contact patch characteristics. By varying chamber pressures, the contact patch area and pressure distribution are dynamically adjusted, which affects both wear patterns and friction forces. This allows the tyre to optimize the balance between wear resistance and grip by changing pressure parameters rather than material properties.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the contact patch shape is fixed by original tyre construction, then the tyre manufacturing is simple, but the rolling resistance and grip ability cannot be optimized for different conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The contact patch is segmented into multiple independently controllable regions through the multi-chamber system. Each chamber (first, second, and third chambers) can be inflated or deflated independently, allowing different portions of the contact patch to be optimized for different functions. This segmentation enables the contact patch shape and pressure distribution to be dynamically adjusted for different rolling conditions without complicating the overall tyre construction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tire's adaptive features allow for optimized contact patch size and material properties, improving grip and wear resistance, maintaining performance across different driving conditions while extending the tire's useful life.
Implementation Method 1
the tyre further comprising a heater for heating one or more of the first side wall, second side wall and contact wall
Data Source
AI summary
A tyre T for adaptively adjusting to the tyre's rolling conditions, the tyre T comprising first and second side walls (1, 2) with a contact wall (3) extending therebetween and a heater 7 for heating one or more of the first side wall (1), second side wall (2) and contact wall (3), wherein plural chambers (4, 5, 6) are defined within the tyre T, at least one of the plural chambers (4, 6) being selectively inflatable for altering the external shape of the first side wall (1), second side wall (2) and/or contact wall (3).