Thermoplastic Inner Tube Overlap Structure for Mold-Free Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire inner tubes require multiple molds for different sizes, leading to high inventory costs and manufacturing difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A tire inner tube made of thermoplastic elastomer material with a torus body and air nozzle stem, featuring double-layer reinforcing structures formed by overlapping and connecting sheets without an extrusion mold, allowing for easy manufacturing and size adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If extrusion forming mold is used to manufacture inner tubes, then manufacturing precision and structural integrity are improved, but device complexity and inventory costs increase due to requiring multiple molds for different sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a universal sheet material that can be manufactured into inner tubes of different sizes by adjusting the overlapping and connecting process, eliminating the need for multiple size-specific extrusion molds. The same basic sheet material and overlapping technique serve multiple size requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing parameters (overlapping width, connecting method, sheet material dimensions) rather than changing the fundamental manufacturing process or requiring different molds. By adjusting these parameters, the same basic structure can produce inner tubes of various sizes while maintaining precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple molds are prepared for different inner tube sizes, then manufacturing precision for various sizes is improved, but loss of substance and inventory costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single sheet material design serves multiple size requirements through parameter adjustment, eliminating the need to maintain inventory of multiple specialized molds and reducing associated costs and material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for easier adjustment and reuse of the sheet material for different sizes without discarding specialized molds, thereby recovering the investment in tooling and reducing overall material loss through repeated use of the same basic component.
3Ease of manufacture
If single-layer extrusion-formed inner tube is used, then manufacturing process is simpler, but structural strength and puncture resistance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by overlapping and connecting sheet material layers, forming a multi-layer reinforced inner tube that combines multiple sheets into a single strengthened component, improving structural strength while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a dimensional aspect by overlapping sheets in layers rather than using a single layer, creating reinforcement through multiple dimensions while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple through the overlapping and connecting method.
4Adaptability or versatility
If overlapping and connecting sheets is used to form torus body, then adaptability for different sizes is improved, but manufacturing precision may be affected by connection complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts parameters such as overlapping width and connecting sheet dimensions to achieve different sizes while maintaining connection accuracy. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves both adaptability and manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire inner tube includes a torus body having an outer circumferential side and an inner circumferential side opposite to the outer circumferential side, and an air nozzle stem protruding from the inner circumferential side and communicating with an inside of the torus body. The torus body is made of a thermoplastic elastomer sheet material, and has first and second overlap connecting parts. The first overlap connecting part is distributed in a complete circle along a toroidal direction of the torus body, and has first and second connecting sheets overlapped and fixed to each other. The second overlap connecting part is distributed in a complete circle along a poloidal direction of the torus body, and has first and second tube end portions overlappingly sleeved and fixed with each other. As a result, the tire inner tube is easily manufactured with a high structural strength.