Tyre Fabric Assembly With Controlled Warp Breakage for Uniform Flattening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tires face challenges in achieving smooth deformation and uniform flattening under load, leading to difficulties in optimizing performance metrics such as wear, grip, endurance, rolling resistance, and noise.

Innovation Solution

The assembly comprises a first fabric with deformable warp elements and a second fabric connected by supporting wire elements, where the second wire member has low tenacity, allowing for controlled elongation and breakage to facilitate tire manufacturing without elastic return, ensuring a continuous warp structure and homogeneous distribution of breaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If conventional tire structures are used, then the tire maintains structural integrity, but the tire cannot achieve smooth deformation and uniform flattening under load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflattening uniformityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric structure is segmented into multiple filamentary elements (first and second wire members) that can independently deform and break. This segmentation allows the tire to achieve uniform flattening through controlled breakage of individual filaments while maintaining overall structural integrity through the continuous warp structure and interlacing of remaining elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by specifying different tenacity values for the first and second wire members. The second wire member has lower tenacity (5-20 cN/tex) compared to the first wire member (>20 cN/tex), enabling controlled breakage at specific stress levels to achieve uniform flattening while the higher tenacity first wire member maintains structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If high tenacity wire members are used throughout, then structural strength is maintained, but elastic return occurs after shaping requiring careful process control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire member strengthVSAvoidshaping process control
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different tenacity properties to different wire members within the same fabric structure. The second wire members have reduced tenacity specifically in regions where controlled breakage is desired during shaping, while the first wire members maintain high tenacity to preserve overall structural strength. This localized property differentiation eliminates elastic return issues without compromising manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the fabric structure is made more deformable, then tire conformation becomes easier, but the fabric may break irregularly during shaping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconformation easeVSAvoidbreakage uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls breakage uniformity through parameter changes in the wire member properties. The second wire members are specifically designed with tenacity in the range of 5-20 cN/tex and elongation at break of 10-30%, creating a controlled deformation behavior that ensures uniform breakage patterns during shaping while maintaining ease of conformation. The systematic variation of these parameters across the fabric structure prevents irregular breakage.

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 solution enables easier and more regular tire conformation with reduced rupture shocks, improving the tire's ability to deform smoothly and uniformly, thereby enhancing performance characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

there is an elongation of the first fabric in the first general direction (G1) less than or equal to 2×π×H / L from which the second wire member is broken

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture Mechanics: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 2

for any elongation of the first fabric in the first general direction (G1) less than or equal to 2×π×H / L, the first wire member is not broken

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTensile Strength: Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3996904B1Assembly comprising a partially breakable fabric and a supporting structure
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3996904B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3996904B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3996904B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly for a tyre comprising a first fabric, having a longitudinal edge extending in a first general direction (G1), comprising first yarn elements, referred to as warp elements, each first warp yarn element comprising first and second yarn members, a second fabric and a supporting structure, such that for any elongation of the first fabric in the first general direction (G1) of less than or equal to 2xπxH/L, the first yarn member is unbroken and there is an elongation of the first fabric in the first general direction (G1) of less than or equal to 2xπxH/L above which the second yarn member is broken, characterised in that the second yarn member has a tenacity of less than or equal to 20 cN/tex, where 0 < H < KxH0, H0 representing the average straight distance in m between an inner face of the first fabric and an inner face of the second fabric when each supporting yarn portion is at rest, L representing the length at rest of the first fabric in the first general direction (G1) and K=1.2.