Spring Tire Tread Structure for Sand Intrusion Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tires with coil springs suffer from performance deterioration due to sand entering gaps between the springs, causing abnormalities in the drive mechanism, especially on sandy ground, leading to reduced driving force.

Innovation Solution

A tire design featuring a skeleton portion with rim members, body springs, and interlink springs that are interlaced and securely latched, along with a tread member on the outer periphery to prevent foreign matter from entering and maintain performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If coil springs are used to form the tire structure, then the tire achieves flexibility and cushioning performance, but sand enters the gaps between springs causing drive mechanism abnormalities and performance deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural flexibilityVSAvoiddrive mechanism reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A tread member is introduced as an intermediary component between the external environment (sand) and the coil spring structure. This tread member acts as a protective barrier that prevents sand from entering the gaps between springs, thereby maintaining drive mechanism reliability while preserving the structural flexibility provided by the coil springs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If coil springs are interlaced to form the tire body, then the tire achieves elastic deformation capability, but gaps between springs allow sand entry leading to reduced driving force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelastic deformation capabilityVSAvoiddriving force
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The tread member serves as a protective intermediary that maintains the elastic deformation capability of the coil springs by preventing sand contamination. By blocking sand from entering the spring gaps, the tread member ensures that the springs can continue to deform elastically without the power loss caused by sand interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a tread member is added to cover the outer periphery of the skeleton portion, then protection against foreign matter entry is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against foreign matterVSAvoidtire structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tread member is implemented as a flexible covering layer that conforms to the outer periphery of the skeleton portion. This thin film-like structure provides effective protection against foreign matter entry while adding minimal structural complexity, as it simply covers the existing spring structure without requiring complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 design enhances running performance by preventing sand and other debris from entering the tire, reducing the risk of drive mechanism abnormalities and maintaining traction on varied environments.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of body springs latched on the rim member, and a plurality of interlink springs interlaced with the body springs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3978272B1tire
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP3978272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3978272B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3978272B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire includes: a skeleton portion including a rim member, a plurality of body springs latched on the rim member, and a plurality of interlink springs interlaced with the body springs; and a tread member disposed at least on the outer periphery of the skeleton portion.