Diametrical Stiffness Measurement for Airless Tire Tread Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring the diametrical stiffness of airless tire tread rings are inadequate, as they primarily focus on circumferential stiffness, which does not accurately reflect the tire's performance under vehicle load, potentially leading to spoke damage or compromised ride comfort.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that apply a constant load across the diameter of the tread ring, measuring the resulting deflection using a support device and load applying device, with a non-contact displacement sensor to determine the diametrical stiffness, allowing for accurate assessment of the tread ring's stiffness under actual usage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If circumferential stiffness measurement method is used, then measurement simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the tread ring from the complete tire structure and measures its diametrical stiffness independently. By supporting only the tread ring on a simple platform and applying load directly across its diameter, the measurement system achieves both simplicity and accuracy without requiring the complex rotating apparatus needed for measuring complete tires.
2Ease of operation
If diametrical stiffness is made low to allow larger deflection, then ride comfort is improved, but structural reliability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from circumferential stiffness to diametrical stiffness, which directly correlates with the actual load-bearing behavior of the tread ring in service. This parameter change enables accurate prediction of both deflection (affecting ride comfort) and stress distribution (affecting spoke reliability), allowing optimization of both competing requirements.
3Measurement precision
If diametrical stiffness measurement is implemented, then tire performance prediction is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a simplified copy of the actual service condition by supporting the tread ring on a flat platform and applying vertical load across its diameter, replicating the essential mechanics of vehicle weight transmission through the tread ring to the spokes. This copying approach achieves accurate performance prediction without the complexity of measuring complete tires or using sophisticated testing rigs.
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
Enables precise measurement of diametrical stiffness, ensuring appropriate deflection and improving tire performance by distinguishing acceptable from unacceptable tread rings, enhancing productivity and development in airless tire manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a load applying device for applying a constant load F to the supported tread ring across the diameter of the tread ring, and a measuring device for measuring the amount of deflection of the tread ring across the above-said diameter caused by the applied load F
Implementation Method 2
a non-contact displacement sensor to determine the diametrical stiffness
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus 1 for measuring a diametrical stiffness of a tread ring 100 for an airless tire 101 comprises: a device 2 for supporting the tread ring, a device 3 for applying a constant load F to the supported tread ring across the diameter of the tread ring, and a device 4 for measuring the amount of deflection of the tread ring across the above-said diameter caused by the applied load F.