Corrugated Tire Web Structure for Load Support and Vibration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing non-pneumatic tire technologies face challenges in creating a robust and efficient web structure that can maintain performance without inflation, particularly in supporting load and reducing vibration while ensuring ride comfort.

Innovation Solution

A method involving pre-forming elongated sheets of polymeric material into corrugated rings with peaks and valleys, which are then bent into annular shapes and interconnected to form a webbing structure, using pre-strained thermoplastic elastomer resin for enhanced resilience and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional molding processes are used to create spokes or webbing, then structural strength can be achieved, but manufacturing complexity and production time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The webbing structure is divided into multiple corrugated rings that can be manufactured separately and then joined together. Each ring is formed from an elongated sheet that is corrugated to create peaks and valleys, then bent into an annular shape. Multiple rings are joined by affixing peaks of one ring to valleys of another ring, creating a modular assembly that maintains strength while simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elongated sheets are pre-corrugated into peaks and valleys before being bent into annular rings. This preliminary formation of the corrugated pattern allows the rings to be pre-assembled and pre-strained, reducing the complexity of final assembly and enabling more efficient production compared to forming the complete structure in a single molding operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If a robust web structure is designed to support load, then tire performance improves, but weight of the tire increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload support capabilityVSAvoidtire weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The webbing structure uses thin corrugated rings made from elongated sheets of polymeric material. The corrugation creates a structurally efficient geometry that provides high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing the rings to support loads effectively while remaining lightweight. The thin film nature of the sheets minimizes material usage and overall weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elongated sheets are bent into annular (circular) shapes to form the rings, and the sheets themselves are corrugated into curved peaks and valleys. This curvature provides structural efficiency, distributing stresses evenly throughout the ring structure and maximizing load-bearing capacity while minimizing material requirements, thus reducing weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If pre-strained thermoplastic elastomer resin is used, then resilience and durability are enhanced, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresilience and durabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes pre-strained thermoplastic elastomer resin, changing the physical state and mechanical properties of the material before forming. The pre-straining process modifies the material parameters to enhance resilience and durability. The thermoplastic nature allows the material to be formed at elevated temperatures and then set, creating a durable structure that maintains its properties under service conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The webbing structure uses composite construction by joining multiple corrugated rings together through affixing peaks to valleys. The combination of pre-strained thermoplastic elastomer resin with the corrugated geometric structure creates a composite system that leverages both the material properties and the structural geometry to achieve enhanced resilience and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 a lightweight, durable, and vibration-reducing web structure that maintains tire integrity and ride comfort even under load, offering an efficient alternative to traditional pneumatic tires.

Implementation Method 1

The first corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The second corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11833866B2Web structure for non-pneumatic tire and method of making same

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A web structure for a non-pneumatic tire includes a first corrugated ring having a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys. The first corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The web structure further includes a second corrugated ring having a second plurality of peaks and a second plurality of valleys. The second corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The second plurality of valleys are affixed to the first plurality of peaks by welding or an adhesive.