Tire Sidewall Color Marking Under Overinflation to Prevent Cracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking tires, such as inkjet printing or paint deposition, often result in surface cracks that can appear and spread rapidly due to stretching or deformation during inflation, impacting crack resistance and durability.
Innovation Solution
Inflating the tire to a pressure greater than the nominal inflation pressure before making the marking, which compresses the marking when pressure returns to nominal, reducing the risk of cracking and slowing crack propagation, and using this method in conjunction with color printing, paint deposition, or film transfer on the tire's sidewall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the tire is marked in the non-inflated state or at nominal inflation pressure, then the marking process is simpler, but the marking is stretched during inflation which causes cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is inflated to a pressure greater than the nominal inflation pressure before the marking is applied. This preliminary inflation creates a compressed state on the sidewall where the marking will be applied, so that when the tire returns to nominal pressure, the marking is in a relaxed state rather than being stretched, thereby preventing cracks.
2Reliability
If the tire is inflated to high pressure before marking, then the marking crack resistance is improved, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflation pressure is changed to a value greater than the nominal inflation pressure during the marking process. This parameter change temporarily modifies the sidewall tension state to provide compression during marking, improving crack resistance. After marking, the pressure is returned to nominal levels.
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 method improves the quality and durability of tire markings by reducing the likelihood of cracking before delivery and during use, ensuring the markings remain intact and visually appealing.
Implementation Method 1
during the inflation step, the tire is inflated to a pressure greater than the nominal inflation pressure of said tire
Implementation Method 2
making, on at least one of the sidewalls of the tire, at least one marking which is at least partially colored on said sidewall in said inflated state of said tire
Data Source
AI summary
A method for marking a tire having a tread and two sidewalls delimiting the tread, by inflating the tire mounted on a rim, and when in the inflated state, making, on at least one of the sidewalls, at least one marking which is at least partially colored, wherein during the inflation, the tire is inflated to a pressure greater than the nominal inflation pressure of the tire.