Dynamic Traction Cleated Tire Spring-Loaded Ice Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow tires and all-weather tires lose traction in hazardous ice conditions, requiring additional devices like steel chains or metal studs, which are inconvenient and do not adapt to changing road conditions, posing safety risks in steep terrains and arctic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic traction cleated tire design featuring a perforated base plate attached to a steel belt with spring-loaded cleats that can penetrate ice without damaging asphalt or concrete, providing stability and safety without driver intervention, by integrating cleats into the tire's structure with load springs and materials like austenitic steel and tungsten-carbide for enhanced durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring-loaded cleats are integrated into the tire structure, then traction on ice is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleats are nested within the tire structure, housed in cylindrical cavities that are integrated into the tire body. The cleats can extend outward from the tire surface when needed while remaining contained within the overall tire structure, allowing the traction enhancement mechanism to be compact and integrated rather than external and bulky.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleats are designed to be dynamically deployable through spring-loaded mechanisms that allow them to extend outward from the tire surface when traction is needed and retract when not needed. This dynamic capability enables the tire to adapt to changing road conditions, providing traction on ice when required while maintaining a streamlined profile during normal operation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If cleats are made from hard materials like austenitic steel and tungsten-carbide, then durability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into distinct functional segments, with the cleats being separate components that can be independently manufactured from hard materials like austenitic steel and tungsten-carbide. These cleat components are then assembled into the tire structure, allowing the hard materials to be used only where needed for durability without requiring the entire tire to be manufactured with equally complex processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The tire incorporates composite construction, combining the hard, durable materials (austenitic steel and tungsten-carbide) for the cleats with other materials for the tire body and mounting structures. This composite approach allows optimization of each component for its specific function while simplifying manufacturing compared to making the entire tire from the hardest 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 tire design ensures stability and safety in arctic conditions by dynamically engaging with road surfaces, preventing accidents and financial losses, and can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes for various applications, including military and commercial use.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of load springs disposed in the cylinders; and a plurality of cleats disposed on the plurality of load springs, wherein the plurality of cleats are operable to resiliently depress within treads of the tire
Data Source
AI summary
A steel-cleated, all terrain tire has cleats that dynamically engage with changing road conditions, across slick ice and bridges, and while turning, breaking and accelerating on steep terrain. The tire design can provide stability and an enormous safety benefit in dangerous conditions, on demand, without the driver's intervention. The tire design can be used for military vehicles and aircraft, commercial jets, turboprop aircraft, heavy equipment, commercial diesel trucks, helicopters, law enforcement vehicles, fire and rescue vehicles, school buses, government vehicles, sport cars, and the like. The tire design include spring loaded cleats that can are spaced about and extend outward from the tire's surface. The spring load may be strong enough to permit the cleat to penetrate ice and the like, while not damaging asphalt or concrete roadways.