Heated Insert Curing for Non-Pneumatic Tire Support Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-pneumatic tires with polymeric spokes face limitations in load carrying capacity and durability, restricting their performance compared to pneumatic tires.
Innovation Solution
A system involving an axially placement shaft, actuators, retainer plates, and inserts that secure and heat rubber sheets to cure tire components, enhancing the structural integrity and performance of non-pneumatic tire assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If non-pneumatic tires use polymeric spokes to carry load, then the tire structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the load carrying capacity and durability are limited compared to pneumatic tires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polymeric spokes with reinforcement elements (such as fibrous materials or metallic components) to create a hybrid structure. This composite construction maintains the simplified manufacturing advantage of polymeric materials while significantly enhancing the load carrying capacity and durability through the added reinforcement, directly resolving the technical contradiction between ease of manufacture and strength.
2Device complexity
If non-pneumatic tires use polymeric spokes, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the durability and performance are insufficient to match pneumatic tires
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating reinforcement elements within the polymeric spoke structure, the patent creates a composite material system that maintains low structural complexity while significantly improving durability. The reinforcement is incorporated during manufacturing, avoiding additional complex assembly steps, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and reliability.
3Strength
If the tire assembly is compressed and cured to improve structural integrity, then the load carrying capacity increases, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the curing process with the assembly process by compressing and curing the tire assembly in a single integrated operation. This combining of operations improves structural integrity through proper curing while avoiding the need for separate, complex manufacturing steps, thus resolving the technical contradiction between strength improvement and manufacturing process complexity.
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 system increases the load carrying capacity and durability of non-pneumatic tire spokes, improving their performance to match that of pneumatic tires by securely compressing and curing tire components using heated inserts.
Implementation Method 1
internal channels of the first inserts are heated by a hot liquid... internal channels of the first inserts are heated by steam... internal channels of the first inserts are heated by electricity
Data Source
AI summary
A system for curing a portion of a tire assembly includes: an axially placement shaft; a first actuator; a first retainer plate; a core on the axially placement shaft; a plurality of first inserts each axially and radially engaging a radially outer surface of the core with first ends of the first inserts axially engaging the first retainer plate; a plurality of second inserts each axially and radially engaging the radially outer surface of the core with first ends of the second inserts axially engaging the first retainer plate, each second insert disposed circumferentially between two of the plurality of first inserts; a second retainer plate; and a second actuator.