Pneumatic Tire Conductive Rubber Bead Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic vehicle tires face challenges in maintaining electrical conductivity while reducing rolling resistance, as low-resistance rubber compounds increase electrical resistance, and the use of conductive materials can be costly and complex to integrate.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic vehicle tire design featuring a radial carcass with an electrically conductive carcass ply extending from the bead sole to the superstructure, ensuring a continuous conductive path through an overlay of electrically conductive rubber mixture, which contacts both the bead sole and superstructure, thereby establishing a reliable electrical connection without additional components or complex manufacturing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If low rolling resistance rubber compounds are used, then rolling resistance is reduced, but electrical conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive regions. The conductive regions are located at the bead bases and contact patches where electrical discharge is needed, while the non-conductive low rolling resistance rubber is used in the main body of the tire. This segmentation allows the tire to simultaneously achieve low rolling resistance and adequate electrical conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different rubber compounds with different electrical conductivity properties are used in different locations of the tire. The bead bases and contact patches use electrically conductive rubber compounds to ensure charge dissipation, while other areas use low rolling resistance rubber compounds. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between rolling resistance and electrical conductivity.
2Reliability
If conductive carbon black is added to rubber compound, then electrical conductivity is improved, but rolling resistance increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Conductive carbon black is not added to the entire rubber compound but only to specific regions (bead bases and contact patches) where electrical conductivity is required. This localized approach maintains electrical conductivity where needed while preserving low rolling resistance properties in the main tire body, and reduces the overall amount of conductive additive required.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire rubber compound electrically conductive, only sufficient conductive material is added to the specific regions where electrical discharge is needed. This partial application of conductive properties achieves the required electrical performance without the penalties of adding conductive materials throughout the entire tire.
3Reliability
If thread-like conductive elements are applied to carcass surface, then electrical conductivity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and reliability decreases due to element breakage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying discrete thread-like conductive elements to the carcass surface, the invention uses a homogeneous electrically conductive rubber compound that is integrated into the tire structure. This eliminates the need for separate application steps and avoids the problem of thread breakage, while providing uniform electrical conductivity throughout the required regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive properties are merged directly into the rubber compound material itself rather than being applied as a separate layer or coating. This integration eliminates the need for additional manufacturing steps and ensures the conductive properties are inherently part of the tire structure, improving both manufacturing simplicity and reliability.
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 ensures reliable electrostatic discharge and reduced rolling resistance by maintaining electrical conductivity with a simple structural design and minimal use of electrically conductive rubber, optimizing the tire's construction and production process.
Implementation Method 1
The radial carcass is electrically non-conductive and comprises at least one carcass ply consisting of reinforcing elements embedded in an electrically non-conductive rubber compound, the surface of which has a coating of electrically conductive material
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle pneumatic tire (1) having a carcass (3) with at least one carcass layer (11), the surface of which has a support (14) made of electrically conductive material, and a method for manufacturing such a vehicle pneumatic tire (1). The object is to make available a vehicle pneumatic tire (1) and a method for manufacturing same, the electrical conductivity of which tire is reliably ensured with simple means and simple structural design. The object is achieved in that the support (14) is an electrically conductive rubber mixture and extends continuously on the surface of the carcass layer (11) from an electrically conductive bead base (9) as far as the superstructure (4) and makes contact therewith. The method has the following steps: a) manufacturing the carcass layer (11), b) covering a surface of the carcass layer (11) with a continuous support (14) made of an electrically conductive rubber mixture, wherein the support (14) in the finished vehicle pneumatic tire (1) makes contact with an electrically conductive bead base (9) and the superstructure (4).