Chamfered Shoulder Non-Pneumatic Tire Curb Impact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Non-pneumatic tires suffer damage to the tread member when colliding with curbs due to compressive stress.

Innovation Solution

The outer cylinder's shoulder section is chamfered, and the tread member is designed with protective sections that allow inward swelling, minimizing compressive stress and damage when the tire collides with a curb.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the tread member covers the side sections of the outer cylinder, then damage to the outer cylinder is prevented, but damage to the tread member occurs when colliding with a curb

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveouter cylinder protectionVSAvoidtread member durability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tread member is divided into a tread portion and a protective section. The protective section specifically covers the side sections of the outer cylinder, while the tread portion contacts the ground. This segmentation allows different parts of the tread member to have specialized functions, with the protective section designed to absorb collision impacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective section is positioned specifically at the side sections where curb collisions occur, rather than uniformly distributing material throughout the tread member. This local concentration of protective material optimizes the balance between protecting the outer cylinder and maintaining tread member durability under collision conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the shoulder section is chamfered and protective sections are added, then tread member damage is minimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetread member durabilityVSAvoidtread member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective section is integrated with the tread portion to form a single tread member component. This merging approach allows the tread member to simultaneously provide ground contact functionality and collision protection, reducing the need for separate protective components and simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shoulder section of the outer cylinder is chamfered at an angle of 45 degrees or more, creating a curved transition surface. This curvature design allows the protective section to swell inward more effectively during collisions, distributing stress and reducing damage while maintaining a relatively simple geometric form.

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 design effectively reduces tread member damage and maintains riding comfort and ground contact area, even at increased camber angles.

Implementation Method 1

linking members (3) configured to link the inner cylinder (6) to the outer cylinder (4) so that they are elastically displaceable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the tread member is designed with protective sections that allow inward swelling, minimizing compressive stress and damage when the tire collides with a curb

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwelling: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentEP3623174B1Non-pneumatic tire
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP3623174B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3623174B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3623174B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In the present invention, a non-pneumatic tire (1) includes an inner cylinder attachable to an axle shaft, an outer cylinder (4) configured to surround the inner cylinder from the outside in a tire radial direction, a linking member (3) configured to link the inner cylinder to the outer cylinder (4), and a tread member (5) externally fitted onto the outer cylinder (4). The outer cylinder (4) includes an outer circumferential section (41) positioned on a tire equatorial line, side sections (42) positioned on both sides in a tire width direction with respect to the outer circumferential section (41), and a shoulder section (43) configured to connect the outer circumferential section (41) to the side sections (42). The tread member (5) covers the outer circumferential section (41), the side sections (42), and the shoulder section (43), and the shoulder section (43) is chamfered.