Laser Tread Groove Assembly for Precise Drainage Texturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating surface textures in tire tread grooves to enhance drainage and wet grip are inefficient, particularly on uneven surfaces, and can compromise contact surface area and wear resistance, with traditional laser devices struggling to maintain alignment and actuation on non-planar surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A laser-based assembly with adapter elements and retractable pins ensures precise alignment and actuation of the laser beam within tire tread grooves, using a machining head with a laser beam output window and retractable pins, where the pins are housed in cavities on the adapter elements to maintain correct positioning and ensure safe emission only on the intended surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the volume of grooves is increased to improve drainage, then drainage efficiency is improved, but contact surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific surface textures only within the groove areas where drainage is needed, while leaving the tread contact surfaces smooth and intact. This localized texturing approach enhances water removal capability in grooves without sacrificing the contact surface area required for braking performance.
2Productivity
If the volume of grooves is increased to improve drainage, then drainage efficiency is improved, but wear resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by confining the surface texturing treatment exclusively to the groove regions, preserving the original tread compound and surface properties in the contact areas. This ensures that wear resistance is maintained in the load-bearing regions while drainage performance is enhanced in the groove regions.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional laser devices are used on uneven surfaces, then marking capability is achieved, but alignment precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by incorporating retractable pins that can extend and retract based on the surface topology. When the laser head contacts the uneven groove surface, the pins retract to accommodate the variation, allowing the laser beam to maintain precise alignment and perpendicular incidence on the groove surface despite the non-planar geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable pins serve as intermediaries between the laser head and the uneven groove surface. These pins transmit the contact force from the groove surface to the laser head mounting, enabling automatic alignment and positioning of the laser beam without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual cutting tools are used to create groove textures, then customization is possible, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical cutting process with a laser-based system. The laser beam can be programmed through software to create various groove textures and patterns automatically, eliminating the need for physical tool changes and manual operation while maintaining design flexibility and significantly increasing production speed.
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
This solution enables efficient creation of surface structures that enhance drainage without reducing contact surface area or wear resistance, allowing for effective wet grip and braking performance while adapting traditional laser devices for use on uneven surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
by means of the use of a laser under particular operating conditions, ensures the possibility of producing the intended surface texture of the tread grooves
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly for the creation of a tread groove surface structure, comprising a laser device (1) comprising, in turn, a machining head (2) wherein a laser beam output window (3) is formed, wherein the emission modes thereof have been programmed using appropriate software. The assembly comprises a plurality of adapter elements (5) wherein each thereof comprises an upper surface (6) that is suitable for being connected to said machining head (2) and an alignment portion (8) defined by a rigid structure (9) that is suitable for being inserted, without freedom of transverse movement, within a groove (S) of a pneumatic tyre tread (T).