Tire Surface Concave Portions for Air Relief Layer Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tire technologies fail to optimize the shape and arrangement of ultra-fine depressions and projections on tire surfaces, leading to incomplete control of rotation resistance due to disturbed air relief layers.

Innovation Solution

A tire design featuring regularly arranged concave and convex portions with specific dimensions and arrangement intervals, formed using ultra-fine processing technology, to create an optimal air relief layer that reduces frictional resistance and controls rotation resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If ultra-fine processing technology is used to form depression and projection on tire surface, then frictional resistance with air is reduced, but the shape and arrangement interval are not optimized causing air relief layer disturbance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional resistance with airVSAvoidair relief layer stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the dimensions and arrangement of concave portions. Specifically, the maximum width L is set to 0.1-50 micrometers, depth D to 0.1-10 micrometers, and arrangement interval P to 0.1-100 micrometers. These optimized parameters enable the formation of a stable air relief layer that reduces frictional resistance while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by creating concave portions with specific dimensional characteristics at particular locations on the tire surface. The concave portions are strategically positioned with optimized local dimensions (width, depth, and spacing) to generate turbulent flow and stable air relief layers in critical areas, thereby reducing frictional resistance locally while ensuring overall air layer stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional ultra-fine processing is applied, then some depression and projection are formed, but optimal shape and arrangement are not achieved leading to incomplete rotation resistance control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformation of depression and projectionVSAvoidrotation resistance control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by establishing specific parameter ranges for the concave portions: maximum width L of 0.1-50 micrometers, depth D of 0.1-10 micrometers, and arrangement interval P of 0.1-100 micrometers. These optimized parameters enable both ease of manufacture through ultra-fine processing and reliable rotation resistance control by forming stable air relief layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If larger depression depth is used to reduce friction, then air relief layer formation improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional resistanceVSAvoidconcave portion depth control
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the depth parameter D of concave portions to be within 0.1-10 micrometers. This optimized depth range achieves effective air relief layer formation for reducing frictional resistance while maintaining feasible manufacturing precision requirements for ultra-fine processing technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively reduces frictional resistance and enhances rotation efficiency by forming an optimal air relief layer, maintaining performance over time and improving wear resistance compared to conventional designs.

Implementation Method 1

when a tire rotates, the tire by which depression and projection were formed in the tire surface makes the tire surface generate the turbulent flow of air intentionally, and can form the relief layer of air in it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulent flow: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP2815898B1Tire, and tire manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP2815898B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2815898B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2815898B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

a tire (pneumatic tire 1) provided with regularly arranged concave portions (concave portions 80) dented toward a tire inner side direction from a tire surface (tire surface 50) in at least some areas on the tire surface wherein in a direction along with the tire surface, a maximum width L of the concave portion is in a range of 0.1 micrometer or more to less than 50 micrometers, a depth D reaching to a point of the innermost part of the concave portion toward the tire inner side direction from the tire surface is within a range of 0.1 micrometer or more to less than 10 micrometers, in the direction along with the tire surface, an arrangement interval P of the concave portions is within a range more largely than 0.1 micrometer to less than 100 micrometers.