Tire Assembly with Segmented Wire Support for Flattening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tires face challenges in achieving optimal flattening, which affects performance metrics like rolling resistance, grip, wear, and noise, due to difficulties in meridian flattening and high mass leading to reduced endurance.
Innovation Solution
A tire assembly comprising first and second structures of wire elements connected by load-bearing wire elements, where the first structure is deformable without breaking to facilitate manufacturing and features a supporting structure that carries load by tensioning elements outside the contact area, allowing for improved flattening and reduced mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional tire structure is used to achieve load-bearing capacity, then the tire can support the applied load, but the mass of the tire increases leading to reduced endurance and higher energy dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into two distinct load-bearing systems: a supporting structure with wire elements that carries static load, and sidewalls that handle dynamic pneumatic loads. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall mass while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The load-bearing function is extracted from the traditional tire structure and concentrated into a separate supporting structure with wire elements. This allows the main tire body to be lighter while the supporting structure provides the necessary strength independently.
2Strength
If the sidewalls are connected to a supporting structure to bear load, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but overpressures at the shoulders occur causing significant wear on the tread shoulders
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function is extracted from the sidewalls and assigned to the supporting structure with wire elements. The sidewalls are disconnected from the supporting structure at their junction, allowing them to function independently as pneumatic load-bearing elements without transmitting excessive forces to the tread shoulders.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the tire are given different functions: the supporting structure with wire elements handles static load-bearing, while the sidewalls handle dynamic pneumatic loads. This local differentiation of function prevents overpressures at the shoulders by eliminating the connection between sidewalls and supporting structure at the junction point.
3Ease of manufacture
If a deformable first wire element structure is used to facilitate manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The first wire element structure is designed to be deformable during manufacturing to facilitate shaping and assembly, but becomes structurally integral when assembled with the second wire element structure and load-bearing elements. The deformability is temporary and only during the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The tire structure combines deformable wire element structures with load-bearing wire elements and elastomeric materials to create a composite structure that is both manufacturable and structurally sound. The combination of these different materials and structures achieves both ease of manufacture and structural integrity.
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 improved tread flattening, enhanced wear life, increased grip, and reduced rolling resistance, leading to better vehicle performance and fuel efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the first structure of first wire elements being arranged such that, for a rest length L of the first structure along the first general direction, expressed in m, the elongation at maximum force Art of the first structure of first wire elements along the first general direction satisfies: Art>2π×H/L
Implementation Method 2
the supporting structure is pressurized and divides the annular volume of the tire into a plurality of compartments or cells, and the sidewalls are connected to or integrated with the supporting structure. In this case, the applied load is borne by both the supporting structure and the sidewalls.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly (24) comprising: a first structure (10) extending in a first general direction (G1); a second structure (12); and a supporting structure (30) comprising supporting thread elements (32) including at least one supporting thread portion (74) extending between the first structure (10) and the second structure (12), the first structure (10) being arranged such that, for a rest length L of the first structure (10) in the first general direction (G1), elongation at maximum force Art of the first structure (10) in the first general direction (G1) satisfies the following: Art > (2π x H) / L, wherein H0 x K ≤ H with H0 being the average straight-line distance between an inner face (42) of the first structure (10) and an inner face (46) of the second structure (12) when each supporting thread portion (74) is at rest and K=0.50.