Airless Tire Spoke and Ring Structure for Uniform Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airless tires face issues with poor durability due to uneven load distribution, as the outer annular portion must absorb lateral forces and road irregularities, leading to excessive stress on connection spokes near the ground contact.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates elastic spokes with bent portions and intermediate rings that distribute load by transmitting it in the circumferential direction through the intermediate rings, connecting the wheel and tread, thereby reducing stress on individual spokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the outer annular portion is made rigid to distribute load evenly, then load distribution improves, but the tire cannot absorb road irregularities and generate lateral force during steering
Solution Approach 1:
The outer annular portion is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thicker at the ground contact portion and thinner at other portions. This local variation in thickness allows the ground contact area to be more rigid for stable load distribution, while other areas remain more flexible to absorb road irregularities and enable steering movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the outer annular portion is made flexible to absorb road irregularities, then adaptability improves, but load distribution deteriorates and stress concentrates on ground contact spokes
Solution Approach 1:
The outer annular portion is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thicker at the ground contact portion and thinner at other portions. This local variation in thickness allows the ground contact area to be more rigid for stable load distribution, while other areas remain more flexible to absorb road irregularities and enable steering movement.
3Weight of moving object
If the outer annular portion is made thinner to reduce weight, then weight reduction improves, but durability deteriorates due to stress concentration on spokes
Solution Approach 1:
The outer annular portion is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thicker at the ground contact portion and thinner at other portions. This local variation in thickness allows the ground contact area to be more rigid for stable load distribution, while other areas remain more flexible to absorb road irregularities and enable steering movement.
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
This design effectively distributes the load across the tire, reducing rolling resistance and enhancing durability by minimizing stress concentration on specific spokes, resulting in a more uniform tire deformation and reduced material thickness.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of spokes having elasticity and provided radially from an outer circumferential side of a wheel toward an inner circumferential side of a tread and an intermediate ring having elasticity and provided to connect to the plurality of spokes between the wheel and the tread
Data Source
AI summary
An airless tire includes a plurality of spokes having elasticity and provided radially from an outer circumferential side of a wheel coupled to a vehicle toward an inner circumferential side of a tread that comes into contact with a road surface; and an intermediate ring having elasticity and provided to connect to the plurality of spokes between the wheel and the tread. Each of the spokes having a bent portion between an end portion on the wheel side and an end portion on the tread side, the bent portion is bending with respect to a direction connecting these end portions. The intermediate ring are connected to the bent portion. Each of the spokes has a plurality of bent portions, and the bent portions each have a minor angle that is formed to decrease from the end portion on the wheel side to the end portion on the tread side.