Electronic Device Assembly with Imide Adhesive for Tire Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pneumatic tires face challenges in maintaining the durability and secure attachment of electronic devices, such as RFID tags, due to adverse environmental conditions like cyclic flexing, which leads to device failure over the tire's usable lifetime.

Innovation Solution

An assembly comprising an electronic device with a body made of plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic, coated with an imide-based adhesive, secured between two elastomeric layers, including butyl-containing compounds, to enhance durability and attachment to the tire.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional packaging materials are used to secure the electronic device to the tire, then the device can be attached to the tire, but the package weakens under adverse environmental conditions (cyclic flexing) and the device ceases to function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidpackage durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining an imide-based adhesive coating with elastomeric layers (including butyl rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber) to create a multi-layer packaging structure. This composite construction provides both flexibility to withstand cyclic flexing and sufficient strength to maintain device attachment throughout the tire's service life, resolving the contradiction between initial attachment capability and long-term durability under adverse environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical and physical parameters of the adhesive and elastomeric materials to optimize performance. The imide-based adhesive coating provides heat resistance and chemical stability, while the elastomeric layers provide flexibility and resistance to cyclic deformation. These parameter changes enable the package to maintain both attachment strength and flexibility under varying environmental conditions, resolving the reliability-durability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the electronic device is secured to the tire wall, then tracking information can be transmitted, but the adhesive coating must withstand cyclic flexing and environmental degradation over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation transmissionVSAvoidenvironmental degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible elastomeric layers (including thin film structures) that can accommodate the cyclic flexing of the tire wall. These flexible layers protect the electronic device and adhesive bonding interface from mechanical stress and environmental degradation, ensuring continuous information transmission capability while withstanding the harmful effects of tire operation conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastomeric layers act as intermediary elements between the rigid electronic device and the flexible tire wall. These intermediary layers absorb and distribute mechanical stresses, protect the adhesive bonding interface from direct exposure to harsh environmental conditions, and maintain the integrity of the device-tire connection throughout the tire's service life, thereby ensuring reliable information transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 assembly provides improved environmental resistance and secure retention of the electronic device, preventing failure and maintaining functionality throughout the tire's lifetime, even under harsh conditions.

Implementation Method 1

An imide-based adhesive coating coats at least the body of the electronic device. The adhesive coating secures the body to the first and the second elastomeric layers.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

The first and second elastomeric layers are selected from a group consisting of a butyl-containing compound and a natural rubber compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2223814B1Environmentally resistant assembly containing an electronic device for use in a tire
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO
  • EP2223814B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2223814B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2223814B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3A

AI summary

An assembly (10) for use on a tire is disclosed. The assembly (10) comprises an electronic device (24) having a body (34) being at least partially made of a plastic material, and an adhesive coating (26) on the body (34) of the electronic device (24) for securing the body (34) to the tire wall, the adhesive coating (26) comprising an imide-based adhesive.