Tire Testing Rim With Local Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tire testing rim systems face issues with high frictional forces between the tire bead and the rim base, leading to inadequate tire fitting and removal difficulties, and require extensive work for friction reduction treatments that result in frequent replacement and high costs due to surface hardness degradation.
Innovation Solution
A rim for tire testing with a rotatable body that can be divided into multiple members, where only the rim base portion undergoes friction reduction treatment, including a concave-convex structure and coating, allowing easy removal and repair of the treated part, reducing frictional forces and operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tire bead portion is coated with lubricant to reduce frictional force, then the tire can be fitted and removed easily, but the rim base portion is prone to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a friction reduction treatment (such as coating with low-friction material or surface modification) to the rim base portion before the tire is mounted and before any lubricant application would be needed. This preliminary friction reduction allows the tire to be fitted and removed easily without requiring additional lubricant that would cause corrosion, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and corrosion resistance.
2Ease of operation
If friction reduction treatment is performed on the rim base portion, then the tire can slide smoothly and be removed easily, but the treated surface hardness decreases leading to frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies friction reduction treatment only to specific localized areas of the rim base portion where the tire bead contacts during mounting and removal, rather than treating the entire rim surface. This selective local treatment reduces friction where needed while preserving the hardness and strength of other critical areas, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and surface hardness maintenance.
3Strength
If the rim base portion is made thicker to increase strength, then the rim can withstand internal pressure better, but the frictional force increases making tire removal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the thick cross-section of the rim base portion for overall structural strength and internal pressure resistance, but applies friction reduction treatment specifically to the outer peripheral surface area that contacts the tire bead. This allows the rim to maintain its load-bearing strength while reducing the frictional force at the contact interface, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of tire removal.
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 solution enables easy and cost-effective repair or replacement of the friction-reduced rim base portion, improving workability and reducing the need for frequent replacements, thus addressing the challenges of high friction and maintenance costs in existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a friction reduction treatment for reducing a frictional force to the tire is performed on an outer peripheral surface of the rim base portion
Data Source
AI summary
A rim for tire testing includes a rim body that is rotatably provided in a tire testing device so that a tire to be tested can be attached to the rim body, and a filling unit that can fill the tire to be attached to the rim body with a gas at a predetermined pressure. The rim body can be divided into a plurality of members in a direction along a rotational axis of the rim body. Of the rim body divided into the plurality of members, a rim base portion to be contact with a tire bead portion of the tire is integrated with the other divided members than the rim base portion by use of a coupling member.