Universal Toroidal Body for Interchangeable Tire Treads
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tire manufacturing and retreading processes require companies to maintain large stocks of various tire types and designs, leading to significant economic and practical challenges due to storage and handling issues, as well as the need for specific tires for different weather and terrain conditions.
Innovation Solution
A universal toroidal body with a flat surface, designed to receive any type of tread, allowing for customized tire production by users, using known vulcanization techniques, reducing the need for diverse tire stocks and enabling on-site tire manufacturing with a small stock of universal body-supports and various tread designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If companies maintain large stocks of various tire types and designs to meet different weather and terrain conditions, then the availability and adaptability of tires is improved, but the storage space requirements and handling complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is divided into two separate components: a universal toroidal body (carcass) and interchangeable tread elements. This segmentation allows the universal body to be stored once while multiple tread designs are attached as needed, eliminating the need to store complete tires of every type and reducing storage space requirements while maintaining adaptability to different conditions
Solution Approach 2:
A universal toroidal body design is created that can support multiple different tread configurations. This single universal body serves multiple functions by accommodating various tread types (directional, traction, symmetric, asymmetric) through interchangeable elements, allowing one body to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized tires
2Adaptability or versatility
If companies maintain large stocks of various tire types and designs, then the adaptability to different conditions is improved, but the handling and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the tire into a universal body and interchangeable tread elements, the system simplifies handling operations. Instead of managing complete tires of every type, operators only need to handle and swap tread elements, which are smaller, lighter, and easier to manipulate, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining full adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables end-users or fleet operators to perform tire customization themselves by selecting and attaching appropriate tread elements to the universal body using standard adhesives and vulcanization processes. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex centralized tire management and specialized handling procedures
3Loss of time
If companies maintain large stocks of various tire types and designs, then the readiness for immediate use is improved, but the economic resources immobilized in inventory increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inventory is segmented into one universal body type and multiple tread element types. This reduces the total quantity of inventory needed because the universal body can be reused across different tread configurations, eliminating the need to maintain complete stock of every tire type while ensuring readiness through quick tread swaps
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding entire tires when treads wear out, the system allows recovery and reuse of the universal toroidal body. The worn tread is removed and replaced with a new tread element, extending the lifecycle of the body and reducing the need to manufacture and store complete replacement tires, thereby reducing inventory requirements while maintaining readiness
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 solution optimizes resource use and storage space by allowing users to choose suitable treads for immediate needs, enabling customized tire production with reduced stock requirements and efficient on-site tire manufacturing, addressing the economic and practical challenges of managing diverse tire types.
Implementation Method 1
the tread can be secured by adhesives and by the vulcanization of the elastomer material
Implementation Method 2
the tread can be secured by adhesives and by the vulcanization of the elastomer material
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Separate toroidal body support for pneumatic coverings, comprising a normal structure with rims (2), side walls (4) and flat zone (5) as base (6, 7) for tread, said body (1) is finished, without tread, comprising a peripheral flat zone (7) covered by a removable woven yarn layer (9), with exceeding width in relation to said flat zone (7) to form side edges (10) to assist removal.