Tire Side Portion Turbulence Ridges for Cooling and Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires with turbulence generation ridges are prone to defects during manufacturing and damage during use, leading to reduced cooling effectiveness and durability, especially in run-flat tires.
Innovation Solution
The design features turbulence generation ridges with inner and outer end portions smoothly continuous to the tire surface, reducing exposure and enhancing stiffness, while maintaining a higher inner end height than outer end height to accelerate air flow and improve cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If turbulence generation ridges are formed to protrude from the tire side portions, then cooling effect is improved, but the ridges are more likely to be damaged during use and manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The turbulence generation ridges are designed with curved surfaces instead of sharp edges, and the end portions are rounded to be smoothly continuous with the tire side portion surface. This curvature design reduces stress concentration and makes the ridges more resistant to damage during manufacturing and use, while still maintaining their ability to generate turbulence for cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The ridges are designed with increased thickness at the end portions compared to conventional ridges. This beforehand cushioning of material provides extra strength and durability to the most vulnerable parts of the ridges, preventing damage during manufacturing and use while maintaining the cooling function.
2Reliability
If outer end portions of turbulence generation ridges are left without ridges to prevent contact damage, then ridge durability is improved, but cooling effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The turbulence generation ridges are designed with asymmetric end portions where the inner end height is greater than the outer end height. This asymmetric design allows the ridges to maintain full length for cooling effectiveness while the strengthened, rounded outer end portions resist contact damage during vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the ridges are given different properties: the main body maintains the turbulence generation function, while the end portions are specifically designed with increased thickness and rounded surfaces to provide enhanced durability and damage resistance in the most vulnerable areas.
3Ease of manufacture
If turbulence generation ridges are formed in the mold, then manufacturing is enabled, but bare defects occur at inner and outer end portions
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded and curved surfaces at the end portions of the ridges eliminate sharp corners and edges that are prone to trapping air bubbles and causing bare defects during molding. The smooth continuous transitions from the ridges to the tire side portion surface improve mold filling and reduce manufacturing defects.
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 design minimizes manufacturing defects, prevents damage to the ridges during use, and enhances the cooling effect on tire side portions, thereby improving durability and reducing temperature-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling effect is improved by forming turbulence generation ridges extending in the radial direction of the tire in tire side portions and by causing the turbulence generation ridges to generate or accelerate turbulence on the surface of the tire
Implementation Method 2
the inner end height (H1), which is a height of the inner end portion from the surface of the tire side portion, is larger than an outer end height (H2), which is a height of the outer end portion from the surface of the tire side portion
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire 1 according to the present invention includes a plurality of turbulence generation ridges 13 which extend on a surface of a tire side portion 7 in a tire-radial direction and which are arranged at a pitch in a tire-circumferential direction. A protrusion 15 rising from the surface 7a of the tire side portion 7 is formed in the tire side portion 7. Either an inner end portion 13A of the turbulence generation ridge 13 or an outer end portion 13B of turbulence generation ridge 13 is smoothly continuous to a surface of the protrusion 15. An inner end height (H1), which is a height of the inner end portion 13A from the surface 7a of the tire side portion 7, is larger than an outer end height (H2), which is a height of the outer end portion 13B from the surface 7a of the tire side portion 7.