Pneumatic Tire Marking with Parallel Ridges for Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pneumatic tires face challenges in maintaining consistent visibility of markings along the circumferential direction due to varying ridge orientations, which can lead to reduced visibility and potential crack propagation.

Innovation Solution

The tire features a marking portion with parallel linear ridges arranged at a consistent angle between 0° and 5° relative to the tire radial direction, ensuring uniform visibility and crack resistance across the marking length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If curved spiral ridges or linear radial ridges are provided inside the marking, then light reflection improves visibility, but the visibility varies greatly at circumferential edges when the marking portion is long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarking visibilityVSAvoidvisibility consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the ridges from curved/spiral to substantially straight and parallel, all extending in the tire circumferential direction. This parameter change ensures uniform light reflection across the entire marking portion, maintaining consistent visibility from 90% to 105% of center visibility regardless of marking length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If multiple markings are aligned in the circumferential direction, then information capacity increases, but visibility uniformity decreases at edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capacityVSAvoidmarking visibility uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies homogeneity by making all ridges parallel and extending in the same circumferential direction throughout the marking portion. This creates uniform optical properties across different markings (tire size, brand, corporate name), ensuring that all markings maintain consistent visibility regardless of their position in the circumferential direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Illumination intensity

If ridges are arranged to reflect light optimally, then marking visibility improves, but crack propagation resistance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarking visibilityVSAvoidcrack propagation resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the marking portion into multiple parallel ridges that are substantially straight and extend in the tire circumferential direction. This segmentation creates a structured pattern that both reflects light uniformly for visibility and acts as a barrier to crack propagation, preventing cracks from spreading easily across the marking portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances marking visibility and suppresses circumferential crack propagation, maintaining durability and visibility regardless of marking length, while ensuring consistent ridge orientation.

Implementation Method 1

When multiple ridges are arranged and the tire is viewed from the side, light from a direction orthogonal to the ridges is reflected, thereby improving the visibility of the marking

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3225430B1Pneumatic tire
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP3225430B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3225430B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3225430B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The disclosed pneumatic tire includes a marking portion on an outer surface of a tire side portion, the marking portion including one or more markings that include a letter, a symbol, or a graphic. In a side view of the tire, the marking portion has a curved shape, linear ridges are arranged in the one or more markings of the marking portion, and all of the ridges in the marking portion are parallel.