Enclosed Tire Testing System with Climate Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Current indoor tire wear testing methods using drum or flat belt simulators face challenges in accurately simulating real-world conditions, particularly in controlling temperature and humidity, which can affect tire wear and performance measurements.

Innovation Solution

An enclosed tire testing system with a rotatable drum and spindle, flexible bellows, and a climate control system that maintains specific temperature and humidity levels, along with a powder dispensing system to prevent tire sticking, is employed to simulate various environmental conditions and measure tire wear effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If indoor tire wear testing is conducted using drum or flat belt simulators, then tire wear and performance measurements can be obtained, but temperature and humidity control is difficult, affecting measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire wear measurement accuracyVSAvoidtemperature control

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The testing system is divided into separate enclosed chambers (drum enclosure and tire enclosure) that can independently control temperature and humidity conditions. This segmentation allows precise environmental control in each zone, resolving the contradiction between obtaining wear measurements and controlling temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Flexible bellows serve as an intermediary connection between the drum enclosure and tire enclosure, allowing mechanical power transmission while maintaining separate environmental controls. This enables independent temperature and humidity management in each enclosure, improving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If indoor tire wear testing is conducted using drum or flat belt simulators, then tire wear and performance measurements can be obtained, but humidity control is difficult, affecting performance measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance measurement accuracyVSAvoidtesting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The testing system is divided into separate enclosed chambers (drum enclosure and tire enclosure) that can independently control temperature and humidity conditions. This segmentation allows precise environmental control in each zone, resolving the contradiction between obtaining wear measurements and controlling temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Flexible bellows serve as an intermediary connection between the drum enclosure and tire enclosure, allowing mechanical power transmission while maintaining separate environmental controls. This enables independent temperature and humidity management in each enclosure, improving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system allows for precise control of environmental conditions, enabling accurate tire wear testing and performance measurement, simulating real-world scenarios and improving the reliability of tire testing results.

Implementation Method 1

flexible bellows having a first end connected to the drum enclosure opening and a second end connected to the tire enclosure opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlexibility: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a climate control system connected to at least one of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, the climate control system being configured to control a temperature level and a humidity level

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature control: Heating

Implementation Method 3

a climate control system connected to at least one of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, the climate control system being configured to control a temperature level and a humidity level

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHumidity control: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

a powder dispensing system configured to inject powder at a predetermined flow rate into the tire enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPowder injection: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 5

blowing cool air into the tire enclosure when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 6

adding moisture in the tire enclosure when the measured humidity level falls below a predetermined humidity threshold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHumidity addition: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS11255755B2Enclosure system for indoor tire testing

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method of testing a tire is employed in an enclosed system having a drum enclosure connected to a tire enclosure by flexible bellows, the enclosed system configured such that a tire inside the tire enclosure abuts a drum inside the drum enclosure. The method includes rotating the drum at a first angular velocity, thereby causing the tire to rotate at the first angular velocity. The method further includes measuring a temperature at a first location adjacent the tire and blowing cool air into the tire enclosure when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold. The method also includes measuring a humidity level at a second location and adding moisture in the tire enclosure when the measured humidity level falls below a predetermined humidity threshold.