Tire Electronic Unit Stress Reduction via Protective Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tires with embedded electronic units, such as RFID tags, face issues due to differences in physical properties between tire components, leading to potential stress on the electronic units during vulcanization and use, which can result in loss of function, and difficulties in maintaining a stable arrangement position.
Innovation Solution
The electronic unit is positioned between cushion rubber and bead filler or side-wall rubber, surrounded by multiple rubber members, with a protective member to absorb stress and maintain the unit's functionality, ensuring it is not adversely affected by thermal or mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic unit is arranged between the carcass and side wall, then it is possible to embed the electronic unit within the tire structure, but relative motion between members during vulcanization and use generates stress on the electronic unit due to differences in physical properties
Solution Approach 1:
A protective member made of rubber material is introduced as an intermediary between the electronic unit and the surrounding tire components (carcass ply and side wall). This protective member absorbs and distributes the stress generated by relative motion between members with different physical properties, preventing direct stress transmission to the electronic unit while maintaining its embedding within the tire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member is pre-installed around the electronic unit before vulcanization, creating a cushioning layer that anticipates and absorbs the stress that will occur during vulcanization and subsequent use. This beforehand cushioning prevents the electronic unit from being subjected to damaging stress during the vulcanization process and normal operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the electronic unit is arranged by configuring so as to sandwich simply between two rubber members, then it is easy to embed, but it is difficult to establish a reference for the arrangement position and the arrangement position may vary
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member serves as a positioning intermediary that includes positioning protrusions fitting into positioning recesses on the electronic unit. This intermediary structure guides the electronic unit to a precise location between the carcass ply and side wall during assembly, ensuring consistent arrangement positions without complicating the overall embedding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member is designed as a flexible rubber structure that can be easily deformed during assembly to accommodate the electronic unit, then maintains the unit at the correct position. The flexibility allows for easy manual or automated placement while the rigid positioning features ensure precise final positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire includes tire frame members including bead cores, a bead filler, an inner liner, side-wall rubber and cushion rubber; and an electronic unit provided at an interface of tire frame members, the tire further including: a carcass ply which extends from one bead core to another bead core and includes a rubber-coated reinforcement cord, a belt disposed on the outer side in the tire-radial direction of the carcass ply, in which the cushion rubber is disposed at an end of the carcass ply or at an end of the belt, in which the side-wall rubber is disposed on an outer side in a tire-width direction of the cushion rubber, and in which the electronic unit is disposed between the cushion rubber, and the bead filler or the side-wall rubber.