Pulsed Laser Tire Surface Structuring Heat Damage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for introducing structures into pneumatic vehicle tires using lasers are limited by heat damage, which restricts the depth and quality of the structures that can be achieved, as the rubber compound is damaged by heat development during material removal.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a pulsed solid-state laser with a pulse duration of less than 2 µs, high pulse energy, and a diffraction index M2<1.5, combined with rapid movement of the laser beam at speeds of at least 300 mm/s, minimizes heat damage and allows for precise and deep material removal, enabling structures up to 10 mm deep and 0.2 mm wide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a laser is used to remove material from the tire surface, then structures can be introduced into the tire surface, but heat development damages the rubber compound causing cracks and poor quality structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pulsed laser operation instead of continuous laser exposure. The laser emits energy in short pulses (e.g., 100 ns duration at 10 Hz frequency) rather than continuously, allowing the material to cool between pulses. This periodic action prevents cumulative heat buildup that would otherwise damage the rubber compound and cause cracks, while still achieving effective material removal for structure creation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key laser parameters to minimize heat damage: using very short pulse durations (e.g., 100 ns), specific pulse frequencies (e.g., 10 Hz), and controlled pulse energies. These parameter changes allow the laser to remove material efficiently while keeping the thermal energy input below the threshold that causes rubber compound degradation and cracking.
2Length of moving object
If material removal is increased to create deeper structures, then more complex tire profiles can be achieved, but heat development increases causing greater material damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pulsed laser operation enables deeper structure creation by delivering energy in repeated short bursts. Each pulse removes a small amount of material, and the periodic nature allows cooling between pulses, preventing the runaway heat buildup that would occur with continuous laser exposure at the same total energy level. This enables cumulative material removal to greater depths without proportionally increasing heat damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The very short pulse duration (e.g., 100 ns) allows the laser to deliver its energy so quickly that the heat does not have time to diffuse into surrounding material and cause damage. The laser essentially 'rushes through' the material interaction window before thermal conduction can spread the heat, enabling deeper cuts with localized heating only at the immediate interaction zone.
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 approach significantly reduces heat damage, enabling high-precision and high-quality material removal with minimal heat development, allowing for the creation of complex structures without compromising tire quality.
Implementation Method 1
A method is disclosed for introducing structures into the surface of a pneumatic vehicle tire, in particular a marking in a side wall of the pneumatic vehicle tire and/or a profile in a tread of the pneumatic vehicle tire, by means of a pulsed-operated laser
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A method for introducing structures into the surface of a vehicle tire (5) using a pulsed laser (3) is presented, wherein, according to the invention, a solid-state laser is used which is operated with a pulse duration of less than 2 µs. Furthermore, a device for introducing structures into the surface of a vehicle tire (5) is presented, comprising at least a holding device (1.1, 1.2) for the vehicle tire (5), a laser holding arm (2.1, 2.2) with a laser (3), and a movement device for moving a laser beam (3.1) of the laser (3) over the surface of the vehicle tire (5), wherein, according to the invention, the laser (3) is a pulsed solid-state laser with a pulse duration of less than 2 µs.