Non-pneumatic Tire Grooves for Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-pneumatic tires experience uneven wear due to variations in ground contact pressure, particularly at the tread member, leading to localized increased pressure areas.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a mounting body, a ring-shaped body, and a cylindrical tread member with connecting members featuring first and second connecting plates that form grooves on the tread member's outer surface, distributing ground contact pressure and minimizing variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-pneumatic tire structure with a tread member mounted over a ring-shaped body is used, then the tire does not need pressurized air and puncture problems are eliminated, but the tread member is subject to uneven wear due to localized increased ground contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by forming grooves at specific locations on the tread member's outer peripheral surface - namely at the top part above the gap between connecting plates and at portions corresponding to where connecting plates are connected to the ring-shaped body. These localized groove features create areas of reduced ground contact pressure precisely where pressure concentration occurs, thereby preventing uneven wear while maintaining the puncture-resistant non-pneumatic structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If the tread member has a smooth outer peripheral surface, then manufacturing is simpler, but ground contact pressure varies significantly causing uneven wear
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire tread member surface complex, the patent introduces grooves only at specific critical locations - the top part and portions corresponding to connecting plate connections. This localized modification maintains relatively simple manufacturing while achieving the precise goal of equalizing ground contact pressure distribution, thus balancing manufacturing ease with pressure distribution precision.
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 configuration minimizes and equalizes ground contact pressure variations, reducing uneven wear of the tread member and enhancing durability.
Implementation Method 1
a connecting member configured to connect the mounting body and the ring-shaped body such that the mounting body and the ring-shaped body are relatively and elastically displaceable
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is provided with: a mounting body mounted on an axle; a ring-shaped body (13) surrounding the mounting body from an outside in a tire radial direction; a connecting member (15) configured to connect the mounting body and the ring-shaped body (13) such that the mounting body and the ring-shaped body (13) are displaceable; and a cylindrical tread member (16) mounted over the ring-shaped body (13), wherein grooves (51, 52) are formed at an outer peripheral surface of a portion located above and corresponding to a portion of the tread member (16) at which the ring-shaped body (13) and the connecting member (15) are connected.