Sidewall Tire Pattern Structure for Uniform Rubber Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pneumatic tire designs often result in a difference in rubber amount between patterned and non-patterned areas, leading to light spots or underfills during molding, which affects the tire's appearance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire with a pattern forming area on the sidewall that includes ridges protruding from a reference surface, grooves recessed from the surface, and flat surfaces between them, arranged in a nested structure with a common central point, ensuring equal rubber distribution and minimizing light spots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a pattern of ridges is formed on the sidewall surface, then decorative effect and light contrast are improved, but rubber amount difference between patterned and non-patterned areas causes light spots during molding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by arranging ridges and grooves in a nested structure where smaller ridges are positioned within the spaces between larger ridges, and grooves are similarly nested. This nested arrangement ensures that the patterned area maintains adequate rubber volume by utilizing the space efficiently, preventing light spots during molding while preserving the decorative light contrast effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the depth of grooves in different regions. Specifically, groove depth is made smaller in the radial direction outwardly from the tire center, creating local variations in rubber distribution. This allows the pattern to maintain decorative effectiveness in different areas while ensuring sufficient rubber volume in critical regions to prevent molding defects.
2Manufacturing precision
If ridges are arranged in a nested structure, then rubber distribution is equalized, but pattern complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested arrangement of ridges and grooves achieves uniform rubber distribution by efficiently utilizing available space. Smaller ridges are positioned within the intervals of larger ridges, and grooves are similarly nested, ensuring consistent rubber volume throughout the patterned area. This nesting approach equalizes rubber distribution while maintaining a systematic, repeatable pattern structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric groove depth variations, where groove depth decreases in the radial direction outwardly from the tire center. This asymmetric design allows the pattern to achieve uniform rubber distribution across different regions while creating visual interest through varying depths. The asymmetry is strategically applied to balance rubber volume without requiring overly complex symmetric arrangements.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a pneumatic tire 10 according to an embodiment, a pattern 28 is formed in a pattern forming area 18 provided on a surface of a sidewall 16. The pattern 28 includes ridges 32 protruding from a reference surface 30 in the pattern forming area 18, grooves 34 recessed from the reference surface 30, and flat surfaces 36 interposed between the ridges 32 and the grooves 34 adjacent to each other and extending along the reference surface 30.