Pneumatic Tire Sealant Adhesion Flowability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The adhesion of self-sealing sealants in pneumatic vehicle tires to the inner surface is compromised by adhesion reducers, leading to reduced flowability and sealing effectiveness, necessitating thicker sealant layers which increase production costs and tire weight.
Innovation Solution
The inner surface of the tire is strategically divided into regions with adhesion-reducing effects, covering between 20% to 80% of the sealant area, to balance adhesion and flowability, and the contact surface between the sealant and sound absorber also features adhesion-reducing regions, optimizing sealant flow during punctures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the adhesion reducer is completely removed from the inner surface by cleaning methods, then the sealant adheres well to the inner surface, but the flowability of the sealant is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific regions with adhesion-reducing effect (such as a mesh pattern or discrete areas) rather than uniformly removing the adhesion reducer across the entire inner surface. This allows different zones to have different adhesion characteristics: areas without adhesion reducer provide strong adhesion for sealant attachment, while areas with adhesion reducer maintain flowability by preventing excessive bonding. This resolves the contradiction by spatially separating the adhesion function from the flowability function.
2Reliability
If the sealant layer is applied thickly to ensure reliable sealing, then the sealing characteristics are improved, but the production costs and tire weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality to create specific regions with adhesion-reducing effect that facilitate sealant flow toward puncture sites. These localized zones allow the sealant to redistribute more effectively, ensuring reliable sealing with a thinner overall layer. The mesh pattern or discrete adhesion-reducing regions guide the sealant flow paths, concentrating the sealing action where needed rather than requiring uniform thick coverage across the entire inner surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of adhesion by introducing adhesion-reducing regions, which fundamentally alters how the sealant interacts with the inner surface. This parameter change enables the sealant to maintain appropriate flow characteristics while in a thinner layer configuration, thereby achieving reliable sealing without increasing weight or cost.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the sealant adheres fixed-in-place to the inner surface, then the sealant remains stable during normal operation, but the flowability into puncture channels is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by creating a heterogeneous surface with both high-adhesion regions (where the sealant should stick during normal operation) and low-adhesion regions (where the sealant should flow freely to puncture sites). The adhesion-reducing regions, configured as a mesh pattern or discrete areas, provide pathways for sealant flow while the surrounding areas maintain stability. This spatial differentiation allows the sealant to exhibit both stable adhesion and controlled flowability as needed.
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 approach reduces the sealant layer thickness by approximately 50%, enhancing flowability and sealing efficiency while minimizing production costs and tire weight, allowing for a thinner 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm sealant layer instead of the usual 7.5 mm.
Implementation Method 1
the sealant having such a tackiness that it adheres to the inner surface
Implementation Method 2
The sealant has such a viscosity and tackiness that, after being introduced into the finished tire, it adheres fixed-in-place to it
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic vehicle tire having a self-sealing sealant arranged in its interior, on the inner surface opposite from the tread, the sealant being highly viscous and the sealant having such a tackiness that it adheres to the inner surface. The inner surface on which the sealant is arranged has regions provided with an adhesion-reducing effect, these regions provided with an adhesion-reducing effect taking up between 40% and 60% of the inner surface on which the sealant is arranged.