Annular Tire Sidewall Mark Structure for Wear and Heat Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tires, especially those for commercial vehicles under heavy loads, face challenges in maintaining the visibility of marks while improving their life performance.

Innovation Solution

A tire design featuring a raised portion on the sidewall that extends continuously in a tire circumferential direction, includes a tire maximum width position, and has a mark portion with recessed characters, which maintains visibility and improves durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a base portion protruding at constant height is provided on the sidewall, then the visibility of marks is improved, but the life performance and durability under heavy loads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of marksVSAvoidlife performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The raised portion is divided into multiple regions: a first region with greater protrusion height for enhanced mark visibility, and a second region with smaller protrusion height for improved durability. This segmentation allows different portions to serve different functions - the first region maintains visibility while the second region reduces stress concentration and improves life performance under heavy loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If the raised portion has large protrusion height, then mark visibility is improved, but heat generation and stress concentration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemark visibilityVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the raised portion have different protrusion heights tailored to their specific functions. The first region has larger protrusion for visibility, while the second region has smaller protrusion to reduce heat generation and stress concentration. This local quality variation optimizes both visibility and thermal management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the raised portion extends continuously in annular shape, then sidewall protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesidewall protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous annular raised portion is segmented into multiple regions with different protrusion heights. This segmentation can be achieved through conventional tire manufacturing processes by adjusting molding parameters in different angular or radial zones, allowing complex geometry to be produced using standard equipment and techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4497613A1tire
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP4497613A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4497613A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4497613A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire has a pair of sidewall portions. At least one of the sidewall portions has a reference surface and a raised portion raised outward in a tire axial direction. The raised portion extends continuously in a tire circumferential direction in an annular shape. The raised portion includes a tire maximum width position. The raised portion is provided with a mark portion including a plurality of characters recessed axially inward.