Spiked Tire Patch with Elastomeric Sealant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire puncture repair methods are inadequate for immediate roadside use, as they require professional skills, are not suitable for emergency situations, and can be hazardous due to the use of flammable gases and difficult to remove, while also not providing a clear indication for timely professional repair.
Innovation Solution
A tire patch with a thin flexible base and sharp pins for penetrative engagement, combined with an elastomeric sealant for secure attachment, and a self-contained applicator for easy and safe application, which can be stored and used to seal punctures without removing the nail, maintaining tire pressure and visibility for timely repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If adhesive patches are used to cover tire punctures, then the puncture area is covered, but the adhesive force is insufficient to block the high pressure leak and the tire must be demounted for proper repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is divided into multiple functional elements: adhesive layer for bonding, rubber plug for blocking the puncture, and visual indicator for detection. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function effectively, with the rubber plug providing reliable sealing while the adhesive ensures proper attachment without requiring tire demounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber plug acts as an intermediary element between the adhesive patch and the puncture hole. It fills the puncture cavity and provides the primary sealing mechanism, while the adhesive layer serves as an intermediary bonding agent that attaches the patch to the tire surface. This intermediary approach enables reliable sealing without requiring complex demounting procedures.
2Reliability
If rubber plugs are used to block punctured holes, then the puncture is blocked, but tedious pretreatment is required to remove puncturing nails and hazardous objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is designed with a pre-formed rubber plug that is already positioned and ready to fill the puncture cavity. The adhesive layer is pre-applied to the patch backing, so when the patch is applied to the tire, the rubber plug immediately begins blocking the puncture without requiring prior removal of nails or hazardous objects. This preliminary preparation eliminates the tedious pretreatment step while maintaining reliable puncture blocking.
3Reliability
If aerosol inflators with fluid sealant are used, then temporary emergency repair is provided, but the liquid permeates through the puncture path and creates difficult-to-remove remnants
Solution Approach 1:
The patch uses a rubber plug that is designed to be easily removed after serving its temporary emergency repair function. The rubber material is selected for its ease of extraction compared to the permeating liquid sealant in aerosol inflators. After providing temporary relief, the rubber plug can be cleanly removed without leaving difficult-to-remove remnants, facilitating subsequent professional repair work.
4Power
If flammable gases are used as propellants in aerosol products, then pressurized air is injected into the tire, but the gases are environmentally hostile and unsafe to the tire component
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful flammable gas propellants are completely extracted from the system. Instead of using aerosol inflators with butane, propane, or isobutene, the invention employs a simple adhesive patch with a rubber plug that requires no pressurized injection. This extraction of the harmful element eliminates the safety hazards and environmental harm while still providing effective temporary puncture repair through the mechanical blocking action of the rubber plug.
5Reliability
If conventional patch methods are used, then the puncture is temporarily blocked, but there is no clear indicator to prompt timely professional repair and sudden tire failure may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patch incorporates a visual indicator element that changes color or provides visible contrast when applied to the tire. This color change or visual marker serves as clear information that the puncture has been temporarily blocked and professional repair is needed. The visual indicator prevents loss of information about the injury status, prompting timely professional attention and preventing sudden tire failure by making the condition obvious to the user.
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 provides a safe and effective temporary seal for tire punctures, allowing for extended driving and easy removal for permanent repair, while being visible to prompt timely professional attention, and is easy to apply even for novice operators.
Implementation Method 1
a thick coat of an elastomeric sealant on the bottom surface of the base for sealingly adhering the spiked pad to the tire as the sealant fills any irregular clearances between the spiked pad and tire
Implementation Method 2
a number of sharp pins partially implanted in the base in a radial arrangement around a central void protruding vertically downward from the bottom surface of the base to form a large spiked pad for penetratively engaging a depth of the tire about its puncture
Data Source
AI summary
An external puncture sealing patch for a vehicle tire is provided. The patch comprises a thin spiked pad made of flexible base and a number of sharp pins partially implanted in the base in a radial arrangement around a central void protruding vertically downward from the bottom surface of the base for penetratively engaging a depth of the tire about its puncture upon depression onto the top surface of the base. A thick coat of an elastomeric sealant is added to the spiked side of the patch for sealingly adhering the spiked pad to the tire as the sealant fills any irregular clearances between the spiked pad and tire to reinforce the attachment thereof. In order to keep the patch effective for an extended period of time, the patch is also provided in a contained form whereby the patch in a dual-purpose container can be quickly deployed at the time of need for application to a tire puncture in a safe and comfortable manner.