Tire Testing Apparatus Airborne Projection Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tire performance tests cannot accurately reproduce the conditions under which a tire hits a projection after becoming airborne over a pothole, as they do not simulate the extended suspension state of a vehicle passing over a pothole, leading to inadequate evaluation of tire performance on actual roads with potholes.

Innovation Solution

A tire performance testing apparatus is designed with a tire running surface, a projection installing surface, and adjustable components to replicate the conditions of a tire hitting a projection after becoming airborne, including a distance adjusting means, projection height adjusting means, and angle adjusting means to mimic the geometry and dynamics of potholes on actual roads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a projection is set on a tire running surface and the tire is made to climb over the projection, then the tire performance test can be conducted, but the suspension state during the test does not match the actual road conditions where the tire hits a projection after moving in the air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest accuracyVSAvoidsuspension state reproduction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a movable platform that can be adjusted to different positions and angles, allowing the tire running surface to be dynamically repositioned relative to the projection. This enables the suspension to be in an extended state during testing, reproducing the actual road conditions where the tire hits a projection after becoming airborne. The dynamic adjustment capability allows the test setup to adapt between different suspension states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a vertical dimension to the test setup by introducing a movable platform that can change the height and angle of the tire running surface. This dimensional change allows the tire to approach the projection from different angles and distances, simulating the airborne state that occurs when vehicles pass over potholes on actual roads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the tire running surface is fixed relative to the projection, then the test setup is simple, but it cannot simulate various pothole sizes and projection angles encountered on actual roads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest setup simplicityVSAvoidpothole condition simulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The movable platform provides dynamic adjustability for the tire running surface, allowing operators to change the position, height, and angle of the surface relative to the projection. This enables simulation of various pothole sizes and projection angles while maintaining a relatively simple overall test setup structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs adjustable parameters including the position of the movable platform, the angle of the tire running surface, and the height of the projection. These parameter changes allow the test apparatus to simulate different pothole conditions without requiring complete redesign of the test setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3015842B1Tire performance testing device
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP3015842B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3015842B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention provides a tire performance testing apparatus capable of reproducing conditions in which a tire runs on an actual road having a pothole, that is, conditions in which a tire hits a projection after moving in the air. The tire performance testing apparatus (1) according to the present invention includes a tire running surface (2), a projection installing surface (3) disposed on the front side of the end (25) of the tire running surface (2) in the traveling direction (F) of a vehicle traveling on the tire running surface (2) and positioned lower than the end (25) of the tire running surface (2), and a projection (4) disposed on the projection installing surface (3) in such a manner as to protrude upward from the projection installing surface (3). And the distance between the end (25) of the tire running surface (2) and the projection (4) is so set that the tire of a vehicle traveling on the tire running surface (2) hits the projection (4) after getting airborne away from the end (25) of the tire running surface (2).