Conductive Tire Strip Layout for Low Rolling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire designs face challenges in achieving reduced rolling resistance while maintaining sufficient electrical conductivity to prevent electrostatic shocks.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates a tread strip and a rubber strip with an electrical volume resistivity lower than 10^8 Ohm·cm, extending from the tread to the bead portion, providing an efficient electrical conductive pathway without the need for electrically conductive tread cap and base layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sufficient amounts of carbon black are added to rubber compositions in multiple tire components to provide a conductive pathway, then electrical conductivity is improved, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive pathway is segmented into discrete components: a conductive tread strip within the tread and a conductive rubber strip in the sidewall, rather than making the entire tread and sidewall conductive. This localized segmentation maintains electrical conductivity while reducing overall carbon black usage and rolling resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Electrical conductivity is applied locally only where needed for safety - in the tread strip and rubber strip - while other portions of the tire maintain non-conductive properties. This local quality approach ensures adequate charge dissipation without the penalty of widespread carbon black addition.
2Reliability
If electrically conductive tread cap and base layers are used to ensure electrical conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential conductive function from the complex multi-layer tread structure and concentrates it into a simplified configuration: a conductive tread strip integrated with a conductive rubber strip extending into the sidewall. This extraction eliminates the need for separate conductive tread cap and base layers, reducing structural complexity while maintaining conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber strip serving in the sidewall also functions as part of the conductive pathway, combining structural support with electrical conduction functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated conductive components, simplifying the overall tire structure.
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 rolling resistance by minimizing electrically conductive material while ensuring adequate electrical conductivity for safety, providing a reliable pathway for electrostatic charge dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
The rubber strip has an electrical volume resistivity lower than 10^8 Ohm·cm and extends from the tread to the bead portion, providing an efficient electrical conductive pathway
Data Source
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AI summary
A tire is disclosed comprising a tread (10, 10', 10"), a pair of sidewalls (2, 2', 2"), each of the sidewalls (2, 2', 2") extending from the tread to a respective bead portion (7, 7', 7"), a carcass ply (3, 3', 3", 4, 4', 4"), and a belt ply (5, 5', 5", 6, 6', 6"). In one aspect, tread (10, 10', 10") comprises a tread strip (11, 11', 11") having an electrical volume resistivity lower than 108 Ohm cm and extending from a radially outer or outermost surface of the tread (10, 10', 10") to a radially inner or innermost position of the tread wherein the tire (1, 1', 1") further comprises at least one rubber strip (12, 12', 12") having an electrical volume resistivity lower than 108 Ohm cm and extending from a radially inner or innermost position of the tread strip (11, 11', 11") along a radially inner side of the tread (10, 10', 10") and at least partially along at least one of the sidewalls (2, 2', 2") towards the respective bead portion (7, 7', 7"). In another aspect, the tread (10, 10', 10") comprises a tread base layer (11‴) having an electrical volume resistivity lower than 108 Ohm cm, the tire (1, 1', 1") further comprising at least one rubber strip (12, 12', 12") having an electrical volume resistivity lower than 108 Ohm·cm and extending at least partially from the tread base layer (11‴) or a radially inner side of the tread base layer (11‴) along an axially outer or outermost surface of the sidewall (2, 2', 2") towards the respective bead portion (7, 7', 7").