Non-Pneumatic Tire Layer Structure for Lower Rolling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wheels for vehicles, particularly non-pneumatic tires, face challenges in reducing rolling resistance and improving energy efficiency, which affects the productivity and ride comfort of electric industrial vehicles like forklifts.
Innovation Solution
The design of a non-pneumatic tire with multiple structurally different layers arranged radially, featuring a stiffer intermediate layer to decouple elastic deformations and enhance thermal conductivity, along with reinforcing cables and voids to manage heat dissipation and reduce rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-pneumatic tires are used, then flat-proof capability is improved, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into multiple layers with different stiffness characteristics (outer layer, intermediate layer, inner layer) to manage elastic deformation independently in each layer, reducing overall rolling resistance while maintaining flat-proof capability
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tire are assigned different material properties - the outer layer has specific stiffness for contact performance, the intermediate layer has higher stiffness to decouple deformations, and the inner layer has specific properties for structural support, optimizing both reliability and energy efficiency locally
2Ease of operation
If tire stiffness is increased, then ride comfort is improved, but speed capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tire structure is segmented into layers with different stiffness levels, allowing the outer layer to provide comfort through controlled deformation while the intermediate layer maintains speed capability by reducing excessive elastic deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness parameters are optimized by selecting appropriate materials and thicknesses for each layer, creating a gradient of stiffness values that balance comfort and speed performance
3Loss of energy
If elastic deformation is reduced, then rolling resistance is improved, but thermal behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate layer is designed with specific thermal and mechanical properties to decouple elastic deformations locally, reducing heat generation from deformation while managing thermal dissipation in that region
Solution Approach 2:
The tire uses composite material construction with layers having different thermal and mechanical characteristics, combining materials that reduce elastic deformation with those that facilitate heat dissipation
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 results in lower rolling resistance, improved thermal behavior, and increased working-day-average-speed, allowing vehicles to travel faster while maintaining ride comfort and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
An intermediate one of the layers is configured to decouple elastic deformations of respective ones of the layers
Implementation Method 2
which may improve thermal behavior of the wheel and/or may be combined with ways to better distribute or dissipate heat (e.g., by increasing thermal conductivity)
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel for a vehicle, such as a forklift (e.g., an electric forklift) or another material-handling vehicle, in which the wheel comprises a tire (e.g., a non-pneumatic tire) and may be designed to enhance its use and performance and/or use and performance of the vehicle, including, for example, to exhibit less rolling resistance, be more energy-efficient and/or allow the vehicle to travel faster and/or with improved ride comfort. For instance, elastic deformation of the wheel as it rolls may be better managed (e.g., reduced), which may improve thermal behavior of the wheel and/or may be combined with ways to better distribute or dissipate heat (e.g., by increasing thermal conductivity).