Inflatable Textile Stabilizer for Vehicle Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Textile tires for vehicles face market hindrances due to inefficiencies in reducing flow resistance, particularly on commercial vehicles, where existing designs fail to optimize energy consumption and dimensional stability.
Innovation Solution
A textile tire with a shape-retaining but inwardly flexible stabilizer, featuring a stabilizer surface element connected via a connecting line, ensuring good dimensional stability and flow properties by minimizing space when deflated, and incorporating an air duct for ventilation to manage pressure and airflow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid stabilizer structure is used inside the textile tire, then dimensional stability is improved, but the textile tire occupies more space when deflated
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer uses a flexible membrane structure with integrated stabilizing elements rather than rigid components. The membrane can flex and compress during deflation, allowing the textile tire to occupy minimal space while maintaining structural integrity and dimensional stability when inflated.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer is designed as a dynamic structure that adapts its form based on the inflation state. When deflated, the stabilizer compresses into a compact configuration; when inflated, it expands to provide the necessary dimensional stability and shape retention for flow resistance reduction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate pump system is used to build up pressure and evacuate the textile tire, then inflation and deflation functions are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The textile tire system utilizes the vehicle's existing aerodynamic flow and pressure differentials to achieve inflation and deflation without requiring a separate active pump system. The design leverages natural pressure gradients created during vehicle operation to control the inflation state, eliminating complex mechanical pumping equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs pneumatic principles by utilizing air pressure differentials and flow dynamics inherent in the vehicle's operating environment. Pressure control is achieved through passive pneumatic mechanisms rather than active mechanical pumps, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Shape
If the textile tire is made completely rigid to maintain shape, then flow properties are improved, but the textile tire cannot be compacted when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The textile tire employs flexible membrane structures that can maintain their aerodynamic shape when inflated while allowing compact compression when deflated. The flexible material properties enable the tire to transition between expanded flow-reducing configuration and compact stored configuration without structural failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer incorporates curved and rounded geometric features that facilitate compact packing when deflated while maintaining aerodynamic effectiveness when inflated. The curved geometry allows the structure to nest and compress efficiently without creating stress concentration points that would compromise structural integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5b
AI summary
In a textile tyre for lowering the drag of vehicles with a vehicle side and a rear side, wherein a holding device for fastening the textile tyre to a vehicle is arranged on the vehicle side, and the textile tyre has a filled state and an emptied state, disadvantages which are a barrier to market of the textile tyres which are available on the market can be minimized by way of a stabilizer which is arranged in the interior, by way of air ducts which are provided in the interior, by way of an outer ring on the rear wall, by way of an outlet valve which is provided on the underside, by way of a suitable sliding guide, and by way of a ventilating device which is driven by the slipstream.