Tyre Sound-Absorbing Ribbon With Tapered Ends for Secure Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing noise-suppressing tyres face issues with band-like elements detaching from the tyre due to adhesive use, leading to gaps and wear, and require a reliable attachment method that maintains mass balance and noise-absorbing material quantity.

Innovation Solution

A ribbon-shaped sound-absorbing material is used with tapered ends to prevent compression and attachment gaps, ensuring contact between ends and minimizing adhesive use for improved durability and mass balance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If adhesive is used to connect the ends of the band-like element, then the sound-absorbing material wear is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity and manual work increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound-absorbing material wearVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the adhesive connection step from the manufacturing process. Instead of using adhesive to connect the ends of the band-like element, the patent uses a mechanical interlocking structure where the ends are directly joined through the mould, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the protective function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The band-like element is designed to be self-connecting through its structural configuration. The ends of the band are shaped to interlock or overlap in a way that provides automatic alignment and connection during the moulding process, eliminating the need for external adhesive application and reducing manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the ends of the band-like element are connected with adhesive, then the detachment problem is partially solved, but the reliability of attachment remains insufficient and manual work increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The band-like element is formed with a curved or bent configuration that allows the ends to meet and connect smoothly. This curvature design ensures proper alignment and distribution of forces at the connection point, enhancing attachment reliability without requiring complex adhesive application procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the connection function into the structural design of the band-like element itself. The ends are designed to connect directly through the mould, combining the structural integrity and attachment function into a single integrated component, thereby improving reliability while reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If more sound-absorbing material is used to improve noise suppression, then the noise-suppressing properties are enhanced, but the mass balance of the tyre becomes more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise suppressionVSAvoidmass balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sound-absorbing material is strategically positioned and distributed within the tyre structure rather than being uniformly applied. The band-like element is placed in specific locations where it provides maximum noise suppression effectiveness, allowing for optimized noise control while maintaining overall mass balance of the tyre.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution enhances noise suppression by maintaining a significant amount of sound-absorbing material while reducing wear and detachment issues, achieving better mass balance and ease of manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

A tyre (100) comprises sound-absorbing material on an inner side of the tyre (100)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP4357167B1A tyre having sound-absorbing material and a method for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 NOKIAN TYRES
  • EP4357167B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4357167B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1d
  • EP4357167B1 patent drawingFigure 1e~1f

AI summary

A tyre (100) comprising a tread (120) forming a part of an outer surface (112), and sound-absorbing material formed as a ribbon (200) and attached to an inner surface of a body (101) of the tyre (100). The ribbon (200) extends from a first end (201) of the ribbon to a second end (202) of the ribbon and the the shape of the ribbon (200) tapers such that a thickness (Tr) of the ribbon (200) decreases towards the second end (202) of the ribbon. The first end (201) of the ribbon is in contact with the second end (202) of the ribbon, and/or a gap (G) is arranged between the first end (210) of the ribbon and the second end (202) of the ribbon such that a maximum width (Wg) of the gap (G), as measured along the body (101) of the tyre (100), is at most 5 mm.