Drive Belt Textile Overlay Bonding via Meltable Plastic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive belts with textile cover plies face issues with durability, noise, especially in moist environments, and high costs due to materials like nylon-6,6 stretch fabrics, and lack effective adhesion between the textile cover and the foundational body.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a polyolefin-based adhesion promoter between the foundational body and the textile cover ply that melts and co-crosslinks during vulcanization, forming a durable adhesive assembly, enhancing wear protection and noise insulation, particularly using self-supporting films or polymeric solutions with additives like silicone and fluoropolymers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a textile cover ply is used on drive belts, then wear protection is improved, but adhesion to the foundational body deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear protectionVSAvoidadhesion to foundational body

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A polymeric adhesion promoter layer is introduced as an intermediary between the textile cover ply and the foundational body. This layer melts during vulcanization and forms co-crosslinks with both the foundational body and the textile cover, creating a durable adhesive assembly that ensures strong bonding while maintaining the wear protection benefits of the textile cover.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional textile cover plies are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but noise insulation deteriorates in moist environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidnoise insulation in moist environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The textile cover ply is enhanced by incorporating a polymeric adhesion promoter layer that creates a composite structure. This composite material combines the cost-effective textile fibers with the polymeric layer that provides noise insulation properties, particularly effective in moist environments where conventional textiles fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If nylon-6,6 stretch fabric is used for textile cover ply, then adhesion and durability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion and durabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using expensive nylon-6,6 stretch fabric, the invention employs a more cost-effective textile cover ply combined with a polymeric adhesion promoter layer. The adhesion promoter compensates for the lower inherent adhesion of the cheaper textile, achieving comparable or superior durability at reduced material cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Strength

If flocked cover ply is used, then initial adhesion is achieved, but durability deteriorates with engine exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial adhesionVSAvoiddurability with engine exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms the adhesion mechanism by using a polymeric adhesion promoter that undergoes phase change during vulcanization. The polymer melts and penetrates the textile cover ply, then co-crosslinks with the foundational body, creating a durable bond that withstands engine exposure conditions that cause conventional flocked coatings to fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides improved abrasion resistance, noise reduction, and enhanced adherence to the foundational body, especially under moist conditions, with reduced material costs and improved performance in drive belts like V-belts and toothed belts.

Implementation Method 1

the polymer is constituted such that it melts in the course of vulcanization and penetrates into the textile cover ply

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

undergoing co-crosslinking to become joined to a durable adhesive assembly formed by the foundational body and the textile cover ply

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCo-crosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS8507391B2Elastic articles, particularly drive belts, having a textile overlay and a bonding agent made from meltable plastic

Publication Date: 2013.08.13 CONTITECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

AI summary

An article has an elastic main element based on a vulcanizate having a wear-susceptible article surface. The article is primarily a drive belt (8) having a top layer (9) as the belt rear and a substructure (10) having a force transmission zone (13), wherein the force transmission zone and/or the top layer is/are supplied with a textile overlay (15), wherein the textile overlay is in turn additionally prepared with a plastic. The plastic is a bonding agent that is arranged between the main body and the textile overlay (15), wherein the plastic is supplied such that it melts during vulcanization and penetrates into the textile overlay while bonding, connected to a permanent adhesive bond between main body and textile overlay. A cotton fabric is used as the textile overlay (15), for example. The plastic is in the form of a film, for example, particularly in the form of a PE film. The primary purpose of use is the V-belt, ribbed V-belt (8) and the toothed belt.