Pneumatic Tire Sidewall Protector Rubber Hardness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction vehicle tires face durability issues due to cut damage from road debris, particularly rocks, which conventional tires with sidewall protectors struggle to address effectively, leading to cracks and reduced tire lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring a protector on the sidewall with specific rubber hardness, elongation at break, and elastic modulus properties, integrated with the sidewall rubber, to enhance durability and prevent cracks while maintaining protection against road hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a protector is added to the sidewall to protect against cut damage from rocks and debris, then cut resistance is improved, but the tire is more prone to cracks developing at the protector-sidewall interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the rubber hardness, elongation at break, and elastic modulus of the protector within specific ranges. The rubber hardness is set between 50-60, elongation at break between 500-700%, and elastic modulus between 3.4-7.0 MPa. These parameter adjustments allow the protector to maintain cut resistance while reducing stress concentration and preventing crack formation at the interface with the sidewall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by integrating the protector as an integral part of the sidewall structure rather than a separate attachment. The protector is formed from rubber composition that is combined with the sidewall rubber, creating a composite structure that maintains material continuity and reduces interface defects. This composite approach ensures seamless integration between the protector and sidewall, eliminating weak points where cracks could initiate.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the protector rubber is made harder to improve protection against road debris, then cut resistance increases, but the protector becomes more rigid and prone to cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes by defining an optimal range for rubber hardness (50-60) that balances protection effectiveness with flexibility. Additionally, the patent specifies elongation at break (500-700%) and elastic modulus (3.4-7.0 MPa) parameters that ensure the protector remains sufficiently flexible to accommodate tire deformation while maintaining adequate protection against road debris. This multi-parameter approach prevents the protector from being overly rigid.
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 tire's optimized protector configuration reduces crack occurrence and improves durability by balancing strength and flexibility, ensuring effective protection and extended tire lifespan even on rough terrain.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic modulus E_p ranging from 3.4 MPa to 7.0 MPa
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire includes a carcass layer, a belt layer disposed outward of the carcass layer, a tread rubber disposed outward of the belt layer in a tire radial direction, sidewall rubbers disposed outward of the carcass layer in a tire width direction, and protectors disposed in regions from tire ground contact edges to maximum tire width positions and protruding from tire profiles. The protectors have a rubber hardness Hs_p in a range of 50≤Hs_p≤60, an elongation at break Eb_p in a range of 500%≤Eb_p≤700%, and an elastic modulus E_p in a range of 3.4 MPa≤E_p≤7.0 MPa.