Flat Aramid Tape Reinforcement for Pneumatic Tyres
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reinforcement layers in pneumatic vehicle tires and drive belts with round cross-sections limit the reduction of rolling resistance due to their diameter, making it difficult to achieve a minimum layer thickness while maintaining necessary material properties like strength.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcement layer using a tape with a large number of non-metallic filaments arranged approximately parallel to the tape's longitudinal extent, held together by an adhesion promoter, providing a very flat cross-section and reduced height, which can be thinner than traditional round cross-section reinforcements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If round cross-section reinforcements are used, then strength and material properties are maintained, but the height of the reinforcement layer cannot be reduced further due to diameter limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from round cross-section reinforcements to flat tape-shaped reinforcements with a very flat cross-section (a << b). This dimensional change allows the reinforcement to achieve the required strength through its flat geometry and large number of parallel filaments while significantly reducing the height (a) of the reinforcement layer, enabling further reduction in rolling resistance.
2Loss of energy
If the height of the reinforcement layer is reduced to improve rolling resistance, then hysteresis and material usage decrease, but the minimum layer thickness and strength requirements become difficult to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite structures within the tape reinforcement, combining a large number of thin non-metallic filaments (25-4500 filaments) held together by an adhesion promoter. This composite approach allows the reinforcement to achieve high strength-to-weight ratio and high modulus of elasticity while maintaining a very flat cross-section, enabling reduced reinforcement layer height without compromising strength requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement is divided into a large number of thin filaments (25-4500 individual filaments) arranged parallel to each other within the tape. This segmentation allows the reinforcement to maintain high strength through the collective action of many thin elements while keeping the overall height (a) very small, thus reducing the reinforcement layer thickness and improving rolling resistance.
3Quantity of substance
If the diameter of round cross-section reinforcement is reduced to lower the reinforcement layer height, then material usage decreases, but the required strength and material properties cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes from circular cross-section to very flat rectangular cross-section (a << b). This allows the reinforcement to achieve required strength not through diameter but through the flat geometry and large number of parallel filaments, significantly reducing the height (a) and thus the material usage while maintaining or improving strength properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the reinforcement from circular (diameter d) to very flat rectangular (height a << width b). This parameter change enables the reinforcement to achieve the required strength-to-weight ratio with much smaller height a, reducing both material usage and reinforcement layer thickness while maintaining high modulus of elasticity and tear strength.
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 configuration reduces hysteresis and weight, leading to improved rolling resistance in pneumatic vehicle tires by minimizing the elastomeric and reinforcement material usage while maintaining high modulus of elasticity and tear strength.
Implementation Method 1
the filaments are held together within the tape by means of an adhesion promoter
Implementation Method 2
at least one reinforcement embedded in elastomeric material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
Reinforcement layer (13) comprises at least one reinforcing element, which is embedded in elastomeric material. The reinforcing element comprises non-metallic materials, and the cross-sectional height of the reinforcement is less than the cross-sectional width of the reinforcement. The reinforcing element is arranged in the reinforcement layer such that the extending direction of cross-sectional width is approximately parallel to the planar extent of the reinforcement layer. The reinforcing element is a band (9), which contains aramid and number of filaments made of a non-metallic material. Reinforcement layer (13) comprises at least one reinforcing element, which is embedded in elastomeric material. The reinforcing element comprises non-metallic materials, and the cross-sectional height of the reinforcement is less than the cross-sectional width of the reinforcement. The reinforcing element is arranged in the reinforcement layer such that the extending direction of cross-sectional width is approximately parallel to the planar extent of the reinforcement layer. The reinforcing element is a band (9), which contains aramid and number of filaments made of a non-metallic material, which are arranged parallel to the extension direction of the band. The filaments are held together within the band by an adhesion promoter. An independent claim is also included for a pneumatic vehicle tire comprising at least one reinforcement layer.