Flat Belt Roadway Simulator for Tire Rolling Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire testing machines with rotating drums or endless belts face complexity and inefficiency in simulating tire camber and steer adjustments, leading to measurement errors and increased costs due to cumbersome spindle designs and curvature-related issues.
Innovation Solution
A flat belt roadway testing machine with a pivotally mounted roadway assembly that allows for independent adjustment of camber and steer via actuators, using bearings like U-joints or spherical bearings to support the endless belt, enabling precise testing of tire and wheel assemblies with reduced complexity and curvature-related errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotating drum or endless belt with complex spindle adjustments is used to test tire characteristics, then camber and steer configurations can be replicated, but the device complexity increases and measurement precision deteriorates due to curvature-related errors and cumbersome adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the tire and wheel assembly on a complex spindle to achieve camber and steer angles, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the spindle fixed and rotating the entire roadway assembly (flat belt or drum) to generate the desired tire orientations. This simplifies the spindle design while maintaining full adaptability for testing various camber and steer configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the functions of tire support and roadway movement. The spindle remains stationary and solely supports the tire, while the roadway assembly (comprising the flat belt or drum and its support structure) is divided into independently controllable segments that can be rotated to different angles. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex adjustable spindles while preserving testing versatility.
2Productivity
If a rotating drum with crown curvature is used to simulate roadway, then tire rolling can be tested, but measurement precision deteriorates due to curvature-related errors in ascertaining rolling loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustability to the roadway curvature. Instead of using a fixed-crown drum, the system can dynamically switch between a curved drum surface and a flat belt surface, or adjust the effective radius of curvature. This allows the roadway to adapt its geometry based on testing requirements, providing both the rolling capability of curved surfaces and the measurement precision of flat surfaces when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the roadway surface from a fixed curved drum to an adjustable configuration that can be flat or curved. By varying the roadway curvature parameter (from zero curvature in flat belt mode to positive curvature in drum mode), the system optimizes for either measurement precision (flat) or rolling simulation (curved) depending on the specific test requirements.
3Measurement precision
If a flat belt roadway simulator is used instead of a rotating drum, then measurement precision improves, but adaptability decreases in replicating different roadway configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of both flat belt and curved drum systems into a single hybrid roadway assembly. The system combines a flat belt mechanism with a rotatable support structure, allowing the flat belt to be tilted and rotated to simulate camber and steer angles. This merging preserves the measurement precision of flat surfaces while adding the configurational adaptability traditionally requiring curved drums.
Solution Approach 2:
The roadway assembly is designed with multi-functionality to perform both flat belt testing and camber/steer simulation. The same flat belt mechanism can operate in a horizontal plane for basic rolling loss tests or be tilted and rotated to simulate various roadway configurations. This universal design eliminates the need for separate testing apparatus for different test types.
4Adaptability or versatility
If actuators are added to control pivotal movement of the roadway assembly for camber and steer adjustment, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roadway assembly's rotatable support structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the pivotal movement for camber adjustment, enables steer angle simulation through rotation, and maintains the flat belt configuration for accurate rolling loss measurement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate actuators and control systems for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite enhanced adaptability.
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 compact, cost-effective system for testing tire characteristics like rolling loss with improved accuracy and reduced measurement errors, offering a more efficient and simpler design compared to traditional drum-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
A bearing is arranged in the carriage to support an inner surface of the flat portion of the endless belt
Data Source
AI summary
A testing machine includes a frame and a roadway assembly. The roadway assembly includes an endless belt and a carriage supporting the endless belt for rotation on the carriage and providing flat portion in the endless belt. The carriage is pivotally coupled to the frame to move relative to the frame about at least one axis. The carriage includes a bearing arranged to support an inner surface of the flat portion of the endless belt. A spindle carriage has a spindle arranged to support a tire and wheel assembly. The spindle carriage is movably mounted on the frame to move the spindle toward and away from the flat portion. A drive is operably coupled to the roadway assembly or the spindle. An actuator controls pivotal movement of the roadway assembly about said at least one axis. A method of ascertaining rolling loss of a tire mounted to such a machine is also provided.