Tire Sidewall Guide Blocks for Aerodynamic Drag Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tires experience high frictional force, wind resistance, and fuel consumption due to their design, which is not economically viable for widespread industrial use and is not compatible with all brake systems, limiting their effectiveness in reducing energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A tire/wheel structure featuring guide blocks mounted on the sidewalls with inclined guide faces and wind-assisting grooves that enhance airflow guiding, reduce wind resistance, and generate an assistive driving force, allowing for energy savings without requiring tire or wheel replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional tread blocks are used to improve grip and slipperiness resistance, then traction performance is improved, but wind resistance and fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tread surface is segmented into multiple guide blocks arranged in circumferential rows, each with inclined guide faces that create airflow channels. This segmentation allows the tread to simultaneously provide grip through block structure and reduce wind resistance through controlled airflow paths between the blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of air resistance against the rotating tire into a beneficial effect by designing guide blocks that generate airflow-assisting grooves. These grooves create aerodynamic forces that actually assist the forward rotation of the tire, transforming drag into a propulsive force.
2Loss of energy
If aerodynamic modifications are made to wheel rims to reduce wind resistance, then fuel consumption is reduced, but compatibility with different brake systems is limited and replacement costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide block structure is designed to be universally applicable to different vehicle types and brake systems. The guide blocks are mounted on the tire sidewalls rather than integrated into the wheel rim, allowing the aerodynamic improvement to be compatible with various brake configurations without requiring wheel modifications or replacements.
3Loss of energy
If guide blocks with inclined guide faces are mounted on tire sidewalls, then wind resistance is reduced and assistive driving force is generated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex aerodynamic function is achieved through segmentation into multiple simple guide blocks rather than a single complex structure. Each guide block is a simple element with an inclined face, but their collective arrangement creates the desired airflow assistance effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide blocks act as intermediary elements between the tire and the airflow. Instead of modifying the tire rubber itself or the wheel rim directly, these guide blocks mediate the interaction between air and the rotating wheel assembly, simplifying the overall design while achieving aerodynamic benefits.
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 arrangement of guide blocks and wind-assisting grooves significantly reduces fuel and power consumption in vehicles, making it economically viable and applicable across various brake systems and vehicle types, contributing to energy savings without the need for costly replacements.
Implementation Method 1
the inclined guide faces of the guide blocks and the wind-assisting grooves help enhance airflow guiding, reduce wind resistance, and generating an assistive driving force
Implementation Method 2
when the inclined guide faces of the guide blocks and the wind-assisting grooves are moved to a position in a lower half of the circumference of the body, a follow-the-trend driving assisting force and a moving stabilizing effect are achieved
Data Source
AI summary
A tire/wheel structure includes a body, such as an automobile tire, and guide blocks mounted to two sidewalls of the body in a circumferentially arranged cascade series. Each guide block has a side facing a forward rotation direction of the body and forming at least one inclined guide face in such a way that the inclined guide face and an adjacent one of the guide blocks define therebetween a wind-assisting groove, whereby when the body is in a forward rotating condition, the inclined guide faces of the guide blocks and the wind-assisting grooves help enhance airflow guiding, reduce wind resistance, and generating an assistive driving force and when the inclined guide faces of the guide blocks and the wind-assisting grooves are moved to a position in a lower half of the circumference of the body, a follow-the-trend driving assisting force and a moving stabilizing effect are achieved.