Triangulation Belt Segmentation for Tire Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of tire blanks with triangulation belts requires specialized equipment, which is not compatible with existing industry devices, and existing methods do not efficiently create fragile bridges that break under mechanical stress during tire shaping and initial use without affecting performance.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the creation of a continuous notched strip with grooves and bridges that are designed to break easily under stress, using a primary strip that is coated with a rubber composition for adhesion, and cut at specific angles to form a triangulation belt with elementary widths that form an angle with the circumferential direction, allowing for the use of existing manufacturing equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a triangulation belt is constructed with elementary widths joined together, then the tire structure provides the required mechanical strength and stability, but the bridges connecting the elementary widths must be fragile enough to break during initial use without affecting performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strength of triangulation beltVSAvoidperformance during bridge breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The triangulation belt is segmented into multiple elementary widths that are joined by bridges. These bridges are designed with specific geometric characteristics (narrow width, limited length) that make them fragile and prone to breaking during initial tire use. The segmentation allows the belt to maintain structural integrity through the bridges while enabling controlled breakage that does not compromise overall tire performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridges connecting elementary widths have localized fragile characteristics with specific geometric parameters (width between 0.5-5mm, length between 5-50mm). This local quality of fragility is concentrated in the bridge regions while the elementary widths themselves maintain full strength. The bridges are positioned at specific locations to enable controlled breakage during initial use without affecting the overall structural reliability of the triangulation belt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If specialized equipment is designed to lay elementary widths one by one from a strip, then precise placement and orientation of the triangulation belt can be achieved, but existing manufacturing devices cannot be used and equipment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement precision of elementary widthsVSAvoidcomplexity of manufacturing equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elementary widths are pre-assembled into a continuous strip with bridges connecting them before the laying operation. This preliminary assembly allows the entire triangulation belt to be manufactured as a single continuous component using existing strip manufacturing equipment. The pre-formed strip can then be laid as a complete unit, eliminating the need for complex equipment designed to place individual elementary widths one by one, while still achieving precise placement and orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables existing universal strip manufacturing and laying equipment to be used for producing triangulation belts. By forming the complete triangulation belt as a continuous strip with integrated bridges, the process can utilize standard equipment already present in tire manufacturing facilities, rather than requiring specialized equipment designed exclusively for placing individual elementary widths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the bridges are made fragile to break during initial use, then the tire can achieve optimal performance after bridge rupture, but the bridges must maintain sufficient strength during manufacturing and initial handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance after bridge breakageVSAvoidstrength of bridges during handling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bridges are designed with specific geometric parameters (narrow width of 0.5-5mm, limited length of 5-50mm) that create a threshold effect. During manufacturing and handling, these parameters provide sufficient strength to withstand normal stresses. However, during initial tire use, the same parameters cause the bridges to break under operational loads. This parameter optimization enables the bridges to serve dual functions: maintaining structural integrity during handling while enabling controlled breakage for optimal performance during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2794296B1Tyre and method of manufacturing a tyre triangulation belt
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP2794296B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2794296B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2794296B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Tyre the crown reinforcement of which comprises at least one crown triangulation belt of given breadth (R) made up essentially of elemental widths (20) of flattened cross section of given breadth (B) making an angle (a) of between 10° and 80° with the circumferential direction of the tyre and separated by a groove (22) of given breadth (j). This tyre is characterized in that each elemental width (20) is connected via one or more fragile bridges (20) to at least one of the elemental widths (20) juxtaposed directly to it.