Annular Tire Insert for Lateral Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face challenges in maintaining lateral stiffness and traction at reduced pressures, leading to increased tire wear, instability, and the risk of pinch punctures, while high pressures enhance rigidity but decrease traction and increase vibration transmission.
Innovation Solution
An annular member is integrated into the tire, contacting a significant portion of the interior surface to provide outward pressure, enhancing lateral stability and traction, and optionally paired with an inflatable bladder to manage internal pressure and prevent pinch punctures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high internal pressure is used in the tire, then lateral stiffness and rigidity of the sidewalls are improved, but traction decreases and vibration transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tire system is segmented into multiple functional components: the annular member provides structural support and rim protection, the inflatable bladder provides pressurization, and the sidewalls provide lateral stiffness. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling the use of lower overall pressure while maintaining necessary stiffness through the annular member's structural contribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular member acts as an intermediary between the rim and the road, providing mechanical support and absorbing impacts. This intermediary structure reduces the need for high internal pressure to maintain stiffness, thereby reducing vibration transmission to the vehicle while preserving traction through better contact with the road surface.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If reduced internal pressure is used in the tire, then traction and vibration absorption are improved, but lateral stiffness decreases and pinch puncture risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tire system is segmented into multiple functional components: the annular member provides structural support and rim protection, the inflatable bladder provides pressurization, and the sidewalls provide lateral stiffness. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling the use of lower overall pressure while maintaining necessary stiffness through the annular member's structural contribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The tire assembly combines different materials and structures: a rigid annular member (potentially metal or composite), a flexible inflatable bladder, and elastic sidewall rubber. This composite structure provides both the stiffness needed for lateral support and the flexibility needed for vibration absorption at reduced pressures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional inserts are used to protect the rim, then rim protection is improved, but lateral support to the sidewall is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The annular member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the rim from road impacts, provides lateral support to the sidewalls through its structural rigidity, and serves as a mounting surface for the inflatable bladder. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and resolves the contradiction between rim protection and lateral support.
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 annular member allows for operation at lower pressures with improved lateral stiffness and traction, reducing tire wear and instability, while the inflatable bladder provides additional pressure control and protection against pinch punctures.
Implementation Method 1
an annular member adapted to contact at least 10% of an interior surface of the pneumatic tire and provide an outward pressure thereagainst
Implementation Method 2
an inflatable bladder to contain the pressurized fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An insert for a pneumatic tire assembly comprising a tire mounted on a rim, the tire having opposed sidewalls interconnected by a tread portion and the tire defining an interior volume with a width WPT and an interior surface. An annular member has a base portion, an outer portion and opposed side portions, wherein the annular member is adapted for insertion into the interior volume of the tire so that there is an empty space between the outer portion of the annular member and the interior surface of the tire at the tread portion and there is an area of contact between the opposed side portions of the annular member and the respective opposed sidewalls of the tire. The annular member has a width WAM that is greater than WPT as measured prior to insertion of the annular member into the interior volume of the tire, and the annular member exerts an outward pressure against the tire over the area of contact between the opposed side portions of the annular member and the respective opposed sidewalls of the tire.