Pneumatic Tire Stud with Anchored Metal Pin

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pneumatic vehicle tire spikes with plastic bodies and metal pins face issues of low wear resistance and loose press-fit connections, leading to potential spike pin dislodgment under stress.

Innovation Solution

A spike design featuring a spike pin with anchoring elements and a fiber-reinforced plastic body, where the spike pin extends to the foot part with reinforcing fibers aligned perpendicularly, providing a durable form-fit connection and enhanced compressive strength, and a method involving injection molding to create a one-piece spike body around the spike pin with turbulent fiber orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the spike pin is pressed into a recess in the spike body using a non-positive connection, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the press-fit connection loosens under driving stresses and the spike pin breaks out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spike pin is provided with anchoring elements (such as hooks, lugs, or barbs) before insertion into the spike body. These anchoring elements are pre-formed on the pin shaft and engage with the plastic material during injection molding or pressing, creating a mechanical interlock that prevents backout while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spike body is made from plastic material containing reinforcing fibers (such as glass, carbon, or aramid fibers). This composite structure increases the strength and hardness of the plastic, enabling it to securely hold the metal spike pin through the anchoring elements while resisting the forces that would otherwise cause pin breakout

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If glass fibers are added to the plastic to increase hardness, then the spike body hardness improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespike body hardnessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing fibers are mixed into the plastic material in advance, creating a homogeneous fiber-reinforced plastic compound. This pre-mixed composite material can then be directly used in injection molding or pressing operations, achieving enhanced hardness without adding separate manufacturing steps for fiber incorporation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The type, amount, and orientation of reinforcing fibers are optimized to achieve the required hardness and strength properties. By carefully selecting fiber parameters (such as using 20-40% glass fiber by weight or using longer fibers for higher strength), the desired performance is achieved while maintaining straightforward manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the spike pin extends deeper into the spike body, then the connection strength improves, but the risk of pin breakout due to notch effect increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidresistance to pin breakout
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Anchoring elements are pre-formed on the spike pin before insertion. These elements (such as hooks or lugs) engage with the plastic material and create mechanical interlocking that distributes stresses along the insertion length rather than concentrating them at a single depth, preventing both backout and breakout

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fiber-reinforced plastic material provides enhanced strength and toughness throughout the insertion zone. The reinforcing fibers bridge stress concentrations that would otherwise occur at the pin-plastic interface, allowing deeper insertion for stronger connection without increasing the risk of pin breakout

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 design ensures a secure and durable connection between the spike pin and body, preventing dislodgment under heavy loads and optimizing load absorption with isotropic material properties, while maintaining simplicity and efficiency in production.

Implementation Method 1

the plastic material flows essentially turbulently through the area of the mold cavity that forms the main body part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulent flow: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

the plastic material flows essentially laminarly through the area of the mold cavity that forms the foot part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaminar flow: Laminar Flow

Implementation Method 3

providing a durable form-fit connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForm-fit connection: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3458286B1Stud for a pneumatic vehicle tyre, and method for producing a stud
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3458286B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3458286B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP3458286B1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

Stud for a pneumatic vehicle tyre having a stud body (1) made from a plastic which contains reinforcing fibres, and a stud pin (2) made from hard metal which is positioned in the stud body (1) and protrudes out of the stud body (1), wherein the stud body (1) has a main body part (3) and a base part (4) which protrudes laterally beyond the main body part (3). The stud pin (2) reaches in the stud body (1) substantially as far as the level of the base part (4), and has a pin shank (5) with at least one anchoring element (6, 6', 6'', 6''', 6 IV) which widens the radially inner end region of the pin shank (5), wherein the reinforcing fibres in the central region of the base part (4) are oriented mainly and substantially perpendicularly with respect to the stud pin (2).