Asymmetrical Tire Ribs for Contrast Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tire designs with surface ribs for contrast enhancement are limited in design options and require complex, costly mold production processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of asymmetrical ribs with differing gradient angles on their lateral flanks allows for targeted control of light reflection, enabling enhanced contrast effects without the need for complex structuring or curved ribs, simplifying and cost-reducing the tire production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If symmetrical ribs with uniform cross-section are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the design possibilities and contrast effect controllability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by defining ribs with different first and second flanks that have different slope angles relative to the vertical direction. This asymmetric configuration enables varied light reflection patterns on different sides of the rib, significantly expanding design possibilities and contrast effect controllability while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different portions of the rib (first flank vs. second flank) to have different geometric properties, specifically different slope angles. This enables localized control of light reflection characteristics, allowing specific areas of the tire surface to exhibit desired contrast effects while other areas maintain simpler structures.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex structuring of flanks or curved ribs are used, then the contrast effect can be precisely controlled, but the mold making and production become more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric rib design with different slope angles on first and second flanks provides precise control over light reflection and contrast effects without requiring complex curved surfaces or elaborate structuring. This achieves manufacturing precision through geometric simplicity, making mold production easier and more cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the contrast effect by adjusting the slope angle parameter of the rib flanks. By varying the slope angles of the first and second flanks independently, precise control over light reflection is achieved. This parameter-based approach avoids the need for complex structuring while maintaining high controllability of the visual effect.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different rib configurations are used to achieve desired contrast effects, then the design flexibility increases, but the production cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric rib configuration allows a single rib design to produce multiple contrast effects by varying the illumination angle and viewing angle. The different slope angles on first and second flanks create direction-dependent reflection patterns, providing design flexibility without requiring multiple different rib types, thus maintaining production efficiency.
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 approach allows for more precise manipulation of contrast effects, such as flip-flop and light-dark effects, while maintaining a simpler and more cost-effective production method for vehicle tires.
Implementation Method 1
The scattering of light at the edges of the ribs affects the reflection of light from the tire's surface, thus altering its perceived brightness
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle tire (1) with sidewalls (2) and a tread (3) and with at least one marking area (4) on its outer surface, comprising an arrangement (42) of ribs (5) with an elongated extension and two lateral flanks (6, 7), wherein the ribs (5) have a maximum height H of 0.10 mm to 0.80 mm. The objective is to improve the controllability of the contrast effect while simultaneously enabling simple and cost-effective production of the tire. This is achieved by having each of the two lateral flanks (6, 7) enclose a slope angle (61, 61', 61",71, 71') with the radial direction rR when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal extension at a height H1, and by making the slope angle (61, 61', 61") of the first flank (6) of the two lateral flanks smaller by at least 10°, preferably at least 15°, than the slope angle (71, 71') of the second flank (7) of the two lateral flanks.