Interlocked Foam Strip Noise Dampening for Pneumatic Tires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires face challenges in noise dampening due to internal strains in foam materials from flexing and bending, leading to limited durability, and filling tires completely with foam is expensive and affects cooling properties and driving performance.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring multiple layers of noise-damping foam strips interlocked along their length, reducing the need for adhesives and allowing for thinner layers that adapt to different tire sizes and cavity volumes, with open cell foam material providing effective noise attenuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If thick layers of foam material are used for noise dampening, then noise attenuation is improved, but internal strains from flexing and bending cause fatigue cracks and limited durability
Solution Approach 1:
The foam noise dampening material is divided into multiple thin layers (first layer, second layer, third layer) instead of using a single thick layer. Each layer has a thickness of 2-10mm, which reduces internal strains from flexing and bending that cause fatigue cracks, while maintaining effective noise attenuation through the combined effect of multiple layers.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tire cavity is completely filled with foam material, then noise dampening is maximized, but cooling properties and driving performance are negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The foam layers are applied selectively to specific regions of the tire cavity rather than filling the entire cavity. The first layer is applied to the innerliner, the second layer to the belt structure, and the third layer to the sidewall, providing localized noise dampening while preserving cooling properties in other areas.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple layers of foam strips are used, then noise dampening effectiveness increases, but the complexity of attaching and connecting layers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foam strips in different layers are interconnected through mechanical connection elements (such as hooks, loops, or interlocking features) that integrate the layers into a unified structure. This reduces the complexity of attachment by combining multiple layers into a single assembled unit rather than requiring separate attachment operations for each layer.
4Ease of operation
If foam strips are made flexible to follow tire curvature, then ease of installation improves, but resistance to rupture from mounting forces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The foam noise dampening material is constructed as a composite structure with multiple layers of different foam materials having different properties. The first layer may have higher density for structural support and rupture resistance, while outer layers may have lower density for flexibility and ease of installation. This composite construction allows the strips to follow tire curvature during installation while maintaining resistance to rupture from mounting forces.
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 interlocked foam strip system enhances durability, reduces noise, and maintains effective cooling properties while being cost-effective and adaptable, improving noise dampening without the limitations of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
multiple layers of foam strip material are attached on top of each other to the innerliner within the tire cavity in an area radially below the tread portion, wherein at least one layer consists of noise damping foam strip material
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire (1) comprising two spaced apart bead portions (3), a tread portion (10), a pair of sidewalls (2) extending radially inward from axially outer edges of the tread portion to join the respective bead portions (3), the axially outer edges of the tread portion (10) defining a tread width, a carcass (9), an innerliner (13) covering the carcass and defining a tire cavity, and multiple layers (30, 30', 130, 133) of foam strip material attached on top of each other to the innerliner (13) within the tire cavity in an area radially below the tread portion (10), wherein at least two of the layers (10, 10', 130, 133) are interlocked to each other along their length so as to hold the layers together in a radial direction. The present invention is also directed to a method of manufacturing a tire.