Pneumatic Tire Air Barrier Layer for Pressure Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face challenges in maintaining adequate air pressure due to various factors, including damage, which can lead to air pressure loss, even after repair, necessitating improved air barrier solutions.
Innovation Solution
Applying an air barrier layer composed of a polymeric material with low oxygen permeability and strong adhesion to the innerliner of a cured tire, either during manufacturing or as a repair method, to enhance the tire's ability to retain air pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an innerliner is included in the tire to prevent air permeation, then air retention is improved, but air pressure loss still occurs due to damage and aging over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies an air barrier layer to the innerliner as a preliminary protective measure before the tire is put into service or immediately after repair. This pre-application ensures that the innerliner is already protected against air permeation, addressing the issue of air pressure loss due to damage and aging before it occurs during normal tire operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the innerliner with an air barrier layer to create a composite structure. This composite material approach integrates two different materials (innerliner and air barrier layer) to achieve superior air retention properties that neither material could provide alone, thereby extending the tire's service life and maintaining reliability.
2Strength
If a tire is repaired after damage, then structural integrity is restored, but the ability to maintain internal pressure remains problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The air barrier layer acts as an intermediary between the repaired structural components and the internal air pressure. Even after structural repair restores integrity, the air barrier layer mediates the interface to ensure effective air pressure maintenance by providing an additional protective barrier that compensates for any remaining vulnerabilities in the repaired areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The air barrier layer is applied as a preliminary step in the repair process, before the tire returns to service. This ensures that the air pressure maintenance capability is restored simultaneously with structural integrity, rather than requiring a separate repair step.
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 air barrier layer effectively reduces air permeability and maintains internal pressure, extending the tire's service life and improving its ability to maintain desirable air pressure levels, especially in aged or repaired tires.
Implementation Method 1
applying an air barrier layer composed of a polymeric material with low oxygen permeability to the innerliner of a cured tire
Implementation Method 2
applying an air barrier composition to the innerliner to form an air barrier layer
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of manufacturing a tire, the method comprising the steps of providing a cured tire subassembly, the subassembly including a first bead and a second bead, a cured carcass layer extending from the first bead to the second bead, and an optional cured innerliner disposed on the carcass layer; and applying an air barrier composition to the cured carcass layer, or to the cured innerliner if present, to form an air barrier layer.