Solid Tire Segmented Tread for Electrical Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-marking solid tires used in industrial trucks lack electrical conductivity, leading to potential electronic failures due to voltage discharges, necessitating costly grounding measures as digitization increases the importance of electrical dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A solid tire design featuring three circumferential bands, with the middle band being electrically conductive and connected to an electrically conductive base compound via an internal connecting element, while the outer bands are non-conductive, ensuring permanent electrical dissipation to the road surface with a reduced conductive surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an axially outer sidewall component with electrically conductive rubber compound is arranged on the sidewall to ensure electrical conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but the outer surface area with electrically conductive rubber compound increases, compromising non-marking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is divided into three circumferential bands with different electrical conductivity properties: the middle band is electrically conductive while the outer bands are electrically non-conductive. This segmentation allows the conductive function to be localized to only the necessary area, reducing the overall conductive surface area on the tire's outer surface while maintaining electrical conductivity functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tire are assigned different electrical conductivity properties based on their functional requirements. The middle circumferential band and base composite are made electrically conductive to provide grounding, while the outer circumferential bands are made electrically non-conductive to maintain non-marking appearance. This local differentiation optimizes both conductivity and aesthetic requirements.
2Reliability
If the entire tread is made electrically conductive to ensure permanent electrical dissipation, then electrical conductivity is improved, but the tire loses non-marking properties due to increased conductive surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is segmented into three circumferential bands where only the middle band is electrically conductive. This segmentation provides sufficient electrical dissipation capability through the conductive middle band and base composite while the electrically non-conductive outer bands prevent marking on the road surface, thus resolving the contradiction between electrical dissipation and non-marking properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The tire structure implements local quality differentiation by making specific regions (middle circumferential band and base composite) electrically conductive while keeping other regions (outer circumferential bands) electrically non-conductive. This localized conductivity approach ensures permanent electrical dissipation where needed while maintaining non-marking appearance on the outer surface.
3Reliability
If electrically conductive rubber compound is applied to the outer surface to ensure grounding, then electrical conductivity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to additional conductive components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the electrical conductivity function into the existing tire structure by making the base composite electrically conductive and integrating it with the middle circumferential band. This integration eliminates the need for separate sidewall conductive components, reducing structural complexity while maintaining grounding capability through the combined conductive base and middle band system.
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 design effectively prevents sudden voltage discharges, ensuring reliable electrical conductivity and easy production, while maintaining non-marking properties and optimizing tire properties like thermal resistance and tear resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the middle circumferential band of the three circumferential bands is electrically conductive and is connected to the electrically conductive base composite via an electrically conductive connecting element arranged entirely inside the tire
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Vehicle tire (1), wherein the vehicle tire is a solid tire (1), with a tread (2) with a running surface (6), with an electrically conductive base (3) and with two sidewalls (4). The objective is to provide a vehicle tire, in particular a non-marking solid tire, in which permanent electrical conductivity to the road surface is ensured while simultaneously having a significantly reduced electrically conductive outer surface of the vehicle tire. Furthermore, such a tire should be manufacturable in a simple manner.This is achieved by the fact that the tread (2) has three circumferential bands (7, 9) arranged in a sequence in the axial direction aR, extending over a tire circumference, each of which forms the tread surface (6) over the entire circumference, that the middle circumferential band (7) of the three circumferential bands is electrically conductive and is connected to the electrically conductive base (3) via an electrically conductive connecting element (8) arranged entirely inside the tire, and that the two outer circumferential bands (9) of the three circumferential bands consist of an electrically non-conductive rubber compound.