Segmented Noise Damper for Curved Motorcycle Tire Tread

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motorcycle tires, especially those with curved tread profiles, face challenges in adhering noise dampers effectively due to the small radius of curvature, leading to wrinkles and reduced durability, which affects noise reduction and commercial value.

Innovation Solution

A noise damper designed with specific dimensions and materials, such as polyethylene foam, adhered to the inner face of the tread portion using double-sided adhesive tape, with notches and a symmetrical cross-sectional shape to prevent wrinkles and ensure durability, is used in combination with a spiral band and carcass structure to enhance adhesion and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a noise damper is adhered to the inner face of the curved tread portion with small radius of curvature, then the tire cavity resonance is reduced and noise is decreased, but the damper edge portion gets out of order and wrinkles increase, reducing durability and commercial value

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire noiseVSAvoiddamper durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The noise damper is divided into multiple segments along the circumferential direction, with each segment having a width of 5mm to 50mm. This segmentation allows the damper to adapt to the curved surface of the tread portion more effectively, reducing wrinkles and improving adhesion while maintaining noise reduction performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The noise damper is designed with flexibility to conform to the dynamic curvature of the tread portion. The damper material and structure are optimized to dynamically adapt to the small radius of curvature during tire operation, preventing edge deterioration and wrinkles while maintaining contact with the curved surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the width of the noise damper is increased to improve noise reduction effectiveness, then the cavity resonance control is enhanced, but the rate of occurrence of wrinkles increases and adhesion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecavity resonanceVSAvoidadhesion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single wide damper that causes wrinkles and adhesion problems, the damper is segmented into multiple narrower sections. Each segment can be properly adhered to the curved surface without excessive width-induced wrinkles, while the combined effect of multiple segments provides sufficient noise reduction coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The segmentation allows for partial coverage of the tread inner face with multiple dampers rather than attempting excessive coverage with a single wide damper. This partial action approach with multiple segments achieves effective noise reduction while avoiding the adhesion and wrinkle problems associated with excessive width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 solution allows for easy and effective adhesion of the noise damper without wrinkles, improving durability and commercial value while effectively reducing tire noise by controlling cavity resonance.

Implementation Method 1

a noise damper 11 which is made of a sponge-like material and has a joint surface 20 to be adhered to the inner face TS of the tread portion 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

adhered to the inner face of the tread portion using double-sided adhesive tape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP1745947B1Pneumatic tire with noise absorbing insert
Publication Date: 2009.10.14 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP1745947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1745947B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1745947B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A pneumatic tire of which tread portion is curved so that a tread face has a radius of curvature in a range of from 50 to 220 mm, is provided with a noise damper. The noise damper having a joint surface adhered to the radially inner face of the tread portion, is provided with one of the following three designs: (1) the joint surface is curved to fit to the radially inner face of the tread portion and has a width; (2) the joint surface is substantially straight and has a width not more than 30 % of the width of the tread face measured along the tread face; and (3) the joint surface is substantially straight and has a width more than 30 % of the width of the tread face measured along the tread face, and each side edge of the noise damper is provided along the length thereof with notches.