Non-pneumatic Tire Spoke Loop Structure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires require air inflation, making them inefficient and prone to failure upon complete loss of pressure, while existing non-pneumatic tires do not meet the performance standards of pneumatic tires.
Innovation Solution
A non-pneumatic tire design featuring a spoke loop structure with a shear band and elastomeric reinforcement cords, where the shear band carries approximately 90-100% of the load and the spoke loops are primarily loaded in tension and shear, allowing for efficient load distribution without compression, and are pretensioned for optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic tires are used to achieve efficient load carrying and comfortable ride, then load carrying efficiency and ride comfort are improved, but the tire becomes vulnerable to complete failure upon loss of inflation pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pneumatic inflation system entirely from the tire structure, extracting the harmful dependency on compressed air while retaining the load-carrying function through a purely structural elastomeric design with spoke loops and shear bands
Solution Approach 2:
The tire structure serves itself by using the elastomeric material properties and geometric configuration of spoke loops to automatically distribute loads and provide ride comfort without requiring external pressure maintenance systems or monitoring
2Ease of operation
If solid tires or elastomeric structures are used to eliminate pressure requirements, then pressure maintenance is eliminated, but load carrying efficiency and performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is segmented into discrete spoke loops arranged in circumferential rows, where each loop acts as an independent load-carrying element that can deform individually to provide both structural support and ride comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction combining elastomeric materials with reinforcement cords embedded in the spoke loops and shear bands, creating a structure that achieves both the flexibility needed for comfort and the strength required for efficient load carrying
3Force
If spoke loops are designed to carry load in compression, then load carrying capacity increases, but the structure becomes vulnerable to buckling and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing spoke loops to carry load in compression, the patent inverts the approach by configuring them to carry load primarily in tension and shear, with the elastomeric material and geometric arrangement preventing buckling while maintaining load-carrying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the spoke loops by using elastomeric material with specific tensile properties and configuring the loop geometry to optimize tensile and shear load carrying while minimizing compressive stresses that would cause buckling
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 design achieves pneumatic tire-like performance without the need for air inflation, providing improved load carrying efficiency and comfort while minimizing the compressive load on spokes, enabling the tire to effectively navigate road obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
The non-pneumatic tire includes a spoke loop structure having a plurality of spoke loops. The spoke loop structure further includes a radially outer ground engaging tread and shear band.
Implementation Method 2
The shear band and the spoke loops are designed so that the stiffness of the spoke loops is directly related to the spring rate of the tire.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A non-pneumatic tire (100) is disclosed comprising a spoke loop structure (400) forming an annular ring, a ground contacting tread portion (200) and a shear band (300). The spoke loop structure (400) has a plurality of flexible loops (420) extending radially inward from the shear band (300). Each loop (420) is formed from a strip of elastomeric material. Each loop (420) is connected to a wheel (500).