Heavy Vehicle Tyre Elastic Reinforcement Shock Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy vehicle radial tires for civil engineering applications are sensitive to shocks at the tire center due to excessive stiffening from additional non-elastic reinforcement layers, leading to reduced service life as deformation energy is transmitted to the carcass reinforcement.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an additional reinforcement layer centered on the equatorial plane with elastic metal reinforcements forming an angle of up to 10° with the circumferential direction, having an elastic modulus of no more than 150 GPa, to rebalance force absorption between working and additional reinforcements, reducing the risk of rupture and enhancing endurance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If additional non-elastic reinforcement layers are added to the crown reinforcement, then the rigidity and force absorption capacity of the tire is improved, but the tire becomes excessively stiff and sensitive to shocks at the tire center, reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce absorption capacityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the additional reinforcement layer by specifying that the metal reinforcements must be elastic with an elastic modulus of at most 150 GPa. This parameter change transforms the additional layer from a stiffening element into a shock-absorbing element that can deform elastically, thereby reducing the excessive stiffness problem while maintaining force absorption capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite reinforcement structure by superimposing elastic metal reinforcements (additional layer) over non-elastic metal reinforcements (working layers). This composite structure combines the force absorption capability of the non-elastic layers with the shock-absorbing elastic deformation of the elastic layer, resolving the contradiction between strength and service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If additional reinforcement layers are added to encircle the tire and provide rigidity, then the tire's roadholding and resistance to mechanical stresses is improved, but the sensitivity to shocks in the center of the tread increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveroadholdingVSAvoidsensitivity to shocks
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by defining the elastic modulus of the additional reinforcement layer to be at most 150 GPa, which is significantly lower than conventional non-elastic reinforcements. This parameter change enables the additional layer to deform elastically under shock loads, converting harmful shock sensitivity into beneficial shock absorption while maintaining roadholding through the crossed-layer configuration.

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 reduces the risk of rupture in working layers and additional layers, leading to a significant gain in the endurance of the crown reinforcement by evenly distributing forces and minimizing compression and extension stresses.

Implementation Method 1

the metal reinforcements of each additional layer being elastic and having an elastic modulus in extension at most equal to 150 GPa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2900486B1Tyre for heavy civil engineering vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP2900486B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

In order to desensitise the crown of a tyre for a heavy civil engineering vehicle in terms of impacts essentially hitting the centre of the tread, a tyre (1) is provided, comprising a tread (2), a bracing ply (3) and a casing ply (4), the bracing ply (3) comprising, radially from the outside towards the inside, a protective ply (5) comprising at least one layer (51, 52) consisting of elastic metal reinforcements, at an angle of ≥ 10° to the circumferential direction, a working ply (6) comprising at least two layers (61, 62) consisting of non-elastic metal reinforcements crossed from one working layer to the next, at an angle of ≤ 60° to the circumferential direction, and an additional ply (7) centered on the equatorial plane of the tyre, comprising at least one additional layer (71, 72) consisting of elastic metal reinforcements that, when extended, have a maximum elastic modulus of 150 GPa, at an angle of ≤ 10° to the circumferential direction.