Utility Vehicle Tyre Bead Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial vehicle tires with radial design face challenges in achieving high load capacity and mileage while being cost-effective and resistant to crack formation at bead areas, particularly around the rim cut edges, and are complex and expensive to produce.

Innovation Solution

The textile reinforcements in the reinforcement layer run parallel to the carcass ply, positioned inside the tire, starting at 40 mm to 60 mm and extending to 100 mm to 150 mm in the radial direction, with a rubber mixture containing silica, and up to four interconnected layers overlapping the steel cord bead reinforcement, ensuring durability and efficient manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional steel cord bead reinforcement is used with small radial extent, then the tire structure is simpler and production is easier, but crack formation occurs at the cut edges of the bead reinforcement near the rim

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to crack formationVSAvoidcomplexity of reinforcement structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the bead reinforcement in the axial dimension beyond the rim flange, creating an overlapping region that eliminates cut edges at the rim interface. This dimensional extension resolves the crack formation problem by removing the harmful cut edge geometry while maintaining structural simplicity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The bead reinforcement is positioned to overlap the rim flange in advance, preventing the formation of cut edges at the critical rim interface before they can cause cracks. This preliminary positioning of the reinforcement layer eliminates the harmful geometry proactively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If multiple reinforcement layers with complex arrangements are used, then load capacity and mileage are improved, but manufacturing complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidcomplexity of reinforcement structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies reinforcement selectively in the bead area where it is most needed for load capacity, rather than uniformly throughout the tire. The reinforcement layer is positioned specifically at the rim interface and extends axially only in the bead region, providing local strengthening without overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite reinforcement structure combining steel cord bead reinforcement with a textile reinforcement layer. This composite approach provides enhanced load capacity through material synergy while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through layered construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If textile reinforcements run at angles to the radial direction, then reinforcement coverage is improved, but adhesive properties and tearing resistance are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive propertiesVSAvoidtearing properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the textile reinforcement from angled to radial alignment. This parameter change optimizes both adhesive properties at the rim interface and tearing resistance by aligning the reinforcement cords with the primary stress directions in the bead area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration enhances load capacity, mileage, and durability while avoiding imperfections at the rim cut edges, allowing for cost-effective and efficient production of tires with improved bead area resistance and adhesive properties.

Implementation Method 1

The addition of silicic acid ensures optimal adhesive properties between the textile reinforcements and the rubber matrix and improves the tearing properties of the rubber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3166804B1Utility vehicle tyre
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3166804B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A utility vehicle tyre which is of a radial design and which is embodied as an oblique shoulder tyre, having an airtight inner layer (1) which is, if appropriate, combined with a filler profile (11), a single-layer or multi-layer carcass inlay (4) with strength carriers made of steel cord or a material with a similar strength, wherein the carcass inlay (4) is turned over in bead regions around bead cores (5) to form carcass turn ups (4a), wherein in each bead region a steel cord bead reinforcer (9) runs on the outside of the carcass inlay (4), runs around the bead region and has a section (9a) running on the outside of the tyre and a section (9b) running on the inside of the tyre. Running between the inner layer (1) or between the filler profile (11) and the section (9b) of the steel cord bead reinforcer (9) which runs on the inside of the tyre and the section of the carcass inlay (4) which adjoins this section (9b) in the radial direction is at least one reinforcement layer (12) having textile strength carriers embedded in a rubber mixture, the strength carriers of which reinforcement layer (12) run parallel to the strength carriers in the carcass inlay (4).