Tyre Electronic Unit Anchoring Body for Stress Uncoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire monitoring systems face challenges in manufacturing simplicity, mechanical uncoupling from tire stresses, and ease of integration with existing tires, especially for run-flat tires that require monitoring of operating parameters like pressure and distance traveled.

Innovation Solution

An anchoring body with two portions is used to secure an electronic unit and antenna within the tire, featuring a groove for the antenna's inner edge, allowing for simplified manufacturing, improved engagement reliability, and operation under varying conditions, including low pressure, without affecting the tire's operational features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the electronic unit is directly mounted on the tyre internal surface, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of engagement deteriorates due to lack of mechanical uncoupling from tyre stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidengagement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring body is divided into two separate portions that are positioned on opposite sides of the electronic unit. This segmentation allows each portion to independently engage with the tyre internal surface, providing distributed mechanical support and uncoupling the electronic unit from direct tyre stresses while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the electronic unit is integrated during tyre assembling, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased process complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring body portions are pre-positioned on the tyre internal surface during the tyre assembling process, before the electronic unit is installed. This preliminary action ensures that the anchoring structure is already in place to provide precise positioning and mechanical uncoupling, while the electronic unit itself can be manufactured separately using standard processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the antenna is exposed without protection, then the ease of operation is improved for signal exchange, but the reliability deteriorates due to mechanical stresses and deformation effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal exchange capabilityVSAvoidoperation under stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is enclosed within a protective housing that forms a flexible shell structure. This housing protects the antenna from mechanical stresses and deformation effects while maintaining the antenna's ability to exchange radio-frequency signals with vehicles through the tyre material, balancing protection with operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution enhances manufacturing simplicity, reliability, and operational efficiency of the electronic unit by minimizing deformation effects from tire operation and allowing power supply through electromagnetic induction, enabling effective monitoring of tire parameters without additional powering units.

Implementation Method 1

the antenna has the task of enabling radio-frequency signal exchange with the vehicles and/or to power the electronic unit and/or the sensor without using independent powering units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2015942B1A tyre comprising an electronic unit
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • EP2015942B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2015942B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2015942B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

A tyre having a internal surface of substantially toroidal conformation, comprises an electronic device (10) comprising an electronic unit (20) and an antenna (30), the latter being connected with said electronic unit (20) and having an inner perimetral edge (31); an anchoring body (40) mounted on said internal surface (2) for engagement between said electronic device (10) and said tyre (1), said anchoring body (40) comprising at least two portions (41), said electronic unit (20) being arranged between said portions (41). Each of said portions (41) has: a fastening surface (42) secured to the internal surface (2) of said tyre (1), and a groove (43) in which the inner perimetral edge (31) of said antenna (30) is fitted to maintain a constraint between the electronic unit (20) and the anchoring body (40). Also disclosed is a method of installing an electronic unit into a tyre.