Commercial Tire Buffing Indicator Shape to Cut Drag and Tearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buffing indicators on commercial vehicle tires are prone to tearing and increase air resistance due to their linear shape and arrangement, leading to stress peaks and air turbulence.
Innovation Solution
The buffing indicator is redesigned with dome-shaped elevations having a circular base area, which reduces air resistance and evenly distributes deformation forces, enhancing tear resistance and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If linear elevations are used for the buffing indicator, then the buffing depth can be indicated, but the elevations will tear due to stress peaks and air turbulence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by replacing the linear, angular elevations with dome-shaped elevations that have a rounded, spherical top surface. This curvature eliminates stress concentration points that cause tearing in linear elevations, while the rounded shape also reduces air turbulence during tire rotation. The dome shape distributes mechanical stresses more evenly across the elevation structure, significantly improving tear resistance while maintaining the buffing depth indication function.
2Measurement precision
If linear elevations are used for the buffing indicator, then the buffing depth can be indicated, but air resistance increases due to air turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The dome-shaped elevations with their rounded, aerodynamic profile reduce air turbulence during tire rotation compared to the sharp, linear edges of conventional elevations. The curved surface allows air to flow more smoothly over the elevations, minimizing vortex formation and pressure drag, thereby reducing overall air resistance acting on the rolling tire.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the elevations have small dimensions, then air resistance is reduced, but visibility and tear resistance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dimensional parameters of the dome-shaped elevations, specifically setting the diameter of the circular base area between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm. This parameter range represents an optimal balance: elevations within this size range maintain sufficiently low air resistance while providing adequate visibility for buffing depth indication. The dome shape itself enhances visibility by creating a pronounced three-dimensional feature that is easily detectable even at smaller dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a commercial vehicle tire which is cold-retreadable and comprises sidewalls (5), belt plies (2a) and a profiled tread (1) with shoulder flanks (8a) located outside the ground contact area and running to the sidewalls (5), wherein a buffing indicator (9, 9′, 9″) for indicating the buffing depth is provided on at least one shoulder flank (8a), running around in the circumferential direction, possibly interrupted in some portions and formed by a multiplicity of elevations (10), wherein the elevations (10) have with respect to the level of the shoulder flank (8a) a maximum thickness, determined perpendicularly to this level, of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.The elevations (10) of the buffing indicator (9, 9′, 9″) are dome-shaped and have a circular base area with a diameter of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.