Pneumatic Tire Sidewall Two-Dimensional Code Readability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires with two-dimensional codes on their sidewalls face readability issues due to surface irregularities caused by vulcanization defects, especially in tires with a cross-sectional height of 80 mm or less, leading to reduced code readability over time.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates first ridges projecting from the smooth surface around the two-dimensional code, with specific placement and height to prevent vulcanization defects and maintain code readability, including parallel ridges on both sides of the code and vent hole projection traces to facilitate gas discharge during vulcanization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the two-dimensional code is provided on the smooth surface of the sidewall portion, then the readability of the code is improved in the initial stage, but vulcanization defects occur at the boundary portion causing cracks to form around the dot holes during long-term use
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall portion is divided into distinct regions: a smooth surface region for the two-dimensional code and a ridge pattern region for gas discharge. This segmentation allows each region to serve its specific function without interfering with the other, preventing vulcanization defects while maintaining code readability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ridge pattern acts as an intermediary structure between the smooth surface and the boundary portion. It provides a transition zone that facilitates gas discharge during vulcanization, preventing gas accumulation that would otherwise cause cracks around the code dot holes.
2Measurement precision
If the smooth surface is provided without ridge pattern, then the gray scale elements can be clearly distinguished for advanced readability, but gas remains during vulcanization causing defects
Solution Approach 1:
Different surface qualities are applied to different regions: the smooth surface region provides clear gray scale element distinction for the two-dimensional code, while the ridge pattern region provides gas discharge pathways. Each region has optimized local properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sidewall surface is segmented into functional zones with different characteristics. The smooth surface zone maintains code readability while the ridge pattern zone handles gas discharge, eliminating the need to compromise either function.
3Area of stationary object
If the two-dimensional code is provided on the buttress region, then the code can be placed on the limited smooth surface area, but the boundary portion with step structure causes gas entrapment
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge pattern serves as an intermediary structure at the boundary portion, mediating between the smooth surface and the step region. It prevents gas entrapment by providing discharge pathways while maintaining the boundary structure necessary for the buttress region geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the two-dimensional surface area constraint by introducing a three-dimensional ridge structure. The ridges extend vertically from the surface, creating additional gas discharge pathways in the vertical dimension without compromising the horizontal smooth surface area for the code.
Data Source
AI summary
A sidewall surface of a pneumatic tire includes a region of a smooth surface and a two-dimensional code within the region and provided with a dot pattern including two types of gray-scale elements formed of surface irregularity with respect to the smooth surface. The tire has a cross-sectional height of 80 mm or less along a radial direction from an innermost position of bead cores in the radial direction to a tire maximum outer diameter position, one or more first ridges projecting with respect to the smooth surface and extending in the radial direction are on a surface of the tire between edges on sides of the two-dimensional code in a circumferential direction and positions away from the edges along the circumferential direction by a length of 50% of the two-dimensional code width, and portions within the range other than the first ridges correspond to the smooth surface.