Heavy-Duty Tire Buttress Airflow Structure for Heat Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy duty tires experience increased warping and heat generation in buttress portions due to high load-bearing capacity, which limits the effectiveness of existing cooling methods.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a recess portion in the buttress portion with a circumference-direction air entry and exit promotion portion and an air-catching wall portion, facilitating air flow and turbulence to enhance cooling, along with a diameter-direction air entry and exit promotion portion to improve airflow and release, and strategically positioning the tire width direction end portion of the belt ply to release heat effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If recess portions are formed in the buttress portion to enable cooling, then cooling performance is improved to some extent, but cooling performance is insufficient when large loads are carried due to increased warping and heat generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuttress portion temperatureVSAvoidcooling performance under large load
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating specific geometric features (slopes and air-catching walls) at particular locations within the recess portion. The slope at the air entry side and the air-catching wall at the opposite side are designed with specific angles relative to the tire surface, creating localized flow control zones that enhance cooling effectiveness in the high-heat buttress region without compromising overall tire structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from simple recess depth control to three-dimensional flow path engineering by introducing sloped surfaces and air-catching walls. This dimensional complexity creates a multi-stage air flow path that extends air penetration deeper into the recess portion, effectively addressing heat dissipation in the vertically-oriented buttress portion under heavy load conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If air flows shallowly along the recess portion surface, then air entry is facilitated, but cooling effectiveness is reduced due to insufficient air reaching the floor portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair access to recess portionVSAvoidfloor portion cooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved or sloped surfaces instead of flat vertical walls within the recess portion. The slope at the air entry side and the air-catching wall at the opposite side create a curved flow path that guides air downward along the recess walls, preventing shallow surface flow and ensuring air reaches the floor portion for effective cooling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 configuration significantly improves the cooling performance of the buttress portion, reducing temperature rises and enhancing the durability of the tire by effectively releasing heat and preventing crack advancement in the tread.

Implementation Method 1

When this heavy duty tire rotates, a speed difference occurs between the tire surface and the surrounding air, and air flows into the recess portion formed in the buttress portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

Because the air-catching wall portion is at a greater angle relative to the tire surface than the slope, turbulence may be formed in air flowing thereto from the circumference-direction air entry and exit promotion portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP3725551B1Heavy-duty tire
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP3725551B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3725551B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3725551B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A heavy duty tire 10 includes a recess portion 34, a circumference-direction air entry and exit promotion portion 36 and an air-catching wall portion 42. The recess portion 34 is formed in a buttress portion 26 and opens to a tire outer side. The circumference-direction air entry and exit promotion portion 36 is disposed at one side of a floor portion 40 in a tire rotation direction and includes a slope 46 that, from the floor portion 40 toward a tire surface, gradually decreases in depth from the tire surface. The circumference-direction air entry and exit promotion portion 36 facilitates access of air toward the floor portion. The air-catching wall portion 42 is disposed at the opposite side of the floor portion 40 from the circumference-direction air entry and exit promotion portion 36. The air-catching wall portion 42 has a greater angle relative to the tire surface than the slope.