Tire-Wheel Assembly With Low-Loss Tread for Wireless Power Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire-wheel assemblies face inefficiencies in wireless power supply from outside the tread portion in a radial direction, particularly when using high-frequency power transmission.

Innovation Solution

The tire-wheel assembly incorporates low-loss tread rubber with a loss tangent of 0.25 or less, a specific gauge ratio of sidewall to bead width, and optimized power receiving coil positioning to enhance power receiving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless power supply is implemented from outside the tread portion in radial direction, then convenience of power supply for electric vehicle is enhanced, but power receiving efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of power supplyVSAvoidpower receiving efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the tread rubber by selecting a rubber composition with specific loss tangent characteristics (tanδ ≤ 0.25 at 60°C). This parameter change reduces energy loss during wireless power transmission through the tread, thereby improving power receiving efficiency while maintaining the convenience of wireless power supply from outside the tire

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite rubber composition comprising specific rubber components (natural rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, polybutadiene rubber) in optimized proportions. This composite material structure achieves both low loss tangent for improved power receiving efficiency and appropriate mechanical properties for tire performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Power

If high-frequency power transmission is used, then power transmission capability is improved, but heat generation increases and power receiving efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission capabilityVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the loss tangent parameter of the tread rubber specifically for high-frequency operation. By selecting rubber composition with tanδ ≤ 0.25 at 60°C (which corresponds to high-frequency vibration conditions), the patent reduces heat generation during high-frequency power transmission while maintaining adequate power transmission capability

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

This configuration improves power receiving efficiency, especially at high frequencies, while reducing heat generation and maintaining tire performance characteristics such as handling stability and ride comfort.

Implementation Method 1

a power receiving coil (secondary coil) 51 configured to receive a wireless supply of electric power from a power transmission coil (primary coil) 71

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The tread rubber has a loss tangent tanδ of 0.25 or less at 60°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4005825B1Tire wheel assembly and tire
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP4005825B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4005825B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4005825B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A tire-wheel assembly and a tire used in the tire-wheel assembly, the tire-wheel assembly includes the tire having a tread portion, a sidewall portion, and a bead portion, and a wheel on which the tire is mounted, the tire-wheel assembly configured such that electric power is wirelessly supplied from outside the tread portion in a tire radial direction to a power receiving device disposed inside the tread portion of the tire in the tire radial direction. The tread portion contains low-loss tread rubber having a loss tangent tanδ of 0.25 or less at 60°C, and a ratio Ts/Tb between a gauge Ts of the sidewall portion at a tire maximum width portion and a bead width Tb of a bead core at a center position in the tire radial direction is 15% or more and 60% or less.