Tyre Bead Mass Reduction via Carcass Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy-duty tires face challenges in maintaining endurance and design simplicity, especially under extreme conditions of load and inflation pressure, due to complex reinforcement structures that complicate bead design and increase mass.

Innovation Solution

A tire design featuring a radial carcass reinforcement with a single layer of reinforcement elements between polymeric mixture layers, anchored in beads with a specific layering and positioning of textile reinforcing elements to reduce mass while maintaining or improving endurance, including a 15° drop center rim and strategically placed polymeric mixture layers for enhanced performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple layers of reinforcing elements and stiffeners are added to the bead area, then the tire's durability and resistance to deformation improve, but the tire's mass and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire enduranceVSAvoidtire mass
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes traditional stiffener layers from the bead area, relying instead on the optimized carcass reinforcement anchoring and crown reinforcement structure to provide the necessary mechanical support, thereby reducing mass while maintaining durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite reinforcement structure combining carcass reinforcement elements anchored in the bead with crown reinforcement layers, creating a synergistic system that provides both durability and mass reduction compared to traditional homogeneous stiffener designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If complex reinforcement structures with multiple layers are used in the bead area, then the tire's mechanical strength improves, but the design complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebead mechanical strengthVSAvoidbead structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of traditional stiffeners with the crown reinforcement and carcass anchoring structure, creating an integrated system that simplifies design while maintaining mechanical strength through the coordinated action of reinforcement elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If additional reinforcing layers are added to protect the bead area, then the tire's resistance to wear and deformation improves, but the tire's overall mass increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebead protectionVSAvoidtire height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent shifts the protective function from radial layers to the crown reinforcement structure that extends over the bead area, providing protection through a different spatial arrangement that avoids increasing overall tire height

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3877201B1Tyre having a reduced weight bead region
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3877201B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3877201B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a tyre (1) having a radial carcass reinforcement (2) formed by a single ply of reinforcement elements, the single ply being turned up around a bead core (4) so as to be anchored in each of the beads (3). According to the invention, the turn-up of the carcass reinforcement ply (7) and the main part of the carcass reinforcement ply (2) are coupled to one another, and the turn-up of the carcass reinforcement ply (7) and the main part of the carcass reinforcement ply (2) are the only plies of reinforcement elements present in the rim with an elongation at rupture of less than 6 %. The arrangement and selection of the polymer blends of the bead region of the tyre enhance the endurance performances regardless of driving conditions, in particular during driving under extreme conditions in terms of transported loads or tyre pressure.