Tire Conductive Path for Static Dissipation in Low Rolling Resistance Designs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires made with weakly electrically conducting rubber compounds face challenges in conducting electrical charge effectively, leading to issues like static electricity buildup and accelerated aging, as the reinforcing plies are unable to facilitate charge flow between the crown and carcass reinforcing plies.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a continuous linear element that runs circumferentially over the crown reinforcing plies, with internal and external leaders connecting the tread strip and carcass reinforcing ply, allowing for electrical charge to flow from the tread strip to the rim through a butt joint configuration, using either coated threads or a thin conducting strip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If weakly electrically conducting rubber compounds (silica-based) are used in the tread strip and reinforcing plies to reduce rolling resistance, then fuel consumption is reduced, but electrical charge cannot flow effectively leading to static electricity buildup and accelerated tire aging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the charge conduction function into separate components: non-conducting rubber compounds for rolling resistance reduction, and discrete conducting elements (coated threads or strips) for charge conduction. The conducting elements are segmented into crown reinforcing ply conductors and carcass reinforcing ply conductors that work together to bridge the charge path.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediary conducting elements (coated threads or strips) between the non-conducting rubber compounds. These intermediaries provide the electrical conduction path while allowing the bulk rubber to remain non-conducting for low rolling resistance. The coated threads/strips act as mediators that connect the tread strip through reinforcing plies to the rim.
2Productivity
If non-conducting fillers like silica are used in the tread strip to improve rolling resistance, then fuel efficiency is improved, but static electricity builds up because charge cannot flow to ground
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the tire structure into non-conducting regions (tread strip with silica, reinforcing plies) and conducting regions (coated threads or strips). This allows the majority of the tire to use non-conducting fillers for fuel efficiency while isolated conducting elements prevent static buildup by providing charge flow paths to ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by making only specific regions conducting rather than the entire tire. The coated threads or strips localized in the crown and carcass reinforcing plies provide conduction where needed, while the rest of the tire maintains non-conducting properties for low rolling resistance. This localized approach prevents static buildup without sacrificing fuel efficiency.
3Reliability
If conducting compounds are applied to the tread strip or inserts are placed in the tread to enable charge flow, then static electricity is prevented, but the complexity of the tire structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the charge conduction function with the existing reinforcing plies structure. Instead of adding separate conducting components, the conducting elements (coated threads or strips) are integrated into the crown and carcass reinforcing plies that are already part of the tire construction. This combining approach enables charge conduction without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coated threads or strips serve multiple functions: they provide structural reinforcement as part of the ply construction and simultaneously provide the electrical conduction path. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated conducting components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable charge conduction.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conducting elements are added to enable charge flow from tread to rim, then static electricity and ozone aging are prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conducting elements (coated threads or strips) are prepared in advance during the ply manufacturing process. The threads or strips are coated with conducting compound before being incorporated into the tire plies. This preliminary action ensures charge conduction capability is built into the structure during manufacturing, preventing ozone aging without requiring complex post-assembly modifications.
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 configuration enables efficient conduction of electrical charge from the tread strip to the rim, preventing static buildup and reducing tire aging, while maintaining the benefits of weakly conducting compounds in reducing rolling resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous linear element which runs circumferentially over the radially upper part of each of the plies... enabling efficient conduction of electrical charge from the tread strip to the rim
Data Source
AI summary
A tire (1) comprising a crown reinforcing belt, formed of a plurality of reinforcing plies (13, 14) superposed on one another, each reinforcing ply resulting from the circumferential winding of one or more ply portions, in which tire the faces of the circumferential ends of the said portions (13, 14) are butted together to form a butt joint (130, 140). An electrically conducting continuous linear element (20) runs circumferentially over the radially upper part of each of the plies and crosses from the radially upper part of a first reinforcing ply into the radially upper part of a second reinforcing ply superposed directly on it, passing between the two faces of a butt joint of the said second reinforcing ply, and in that the said continuous element (20) comprises an internal leader (21) running over all or part of the radially lower face of the radially internal reinforcing ply (14) of the said belt and an external leader (22) running over all or part of the circumference of the radially upper face of the radially external reinforcing ply (13) of the said belt.