Commercial Vehicle Tyre Belt with Segmented Zero-Degree Ply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial vehicle tires face issues with limited circumferential rigidity, durability, and protection against foreign bodies due to conventional belt designs, which lead to uneven wear and increased susceptibility to damage.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic vehicle tire design featuring a belt with radially inner and outer working layers and a three-part belt layer in between, where the edge sections are zero-degree layers providing high circumferential reinforcement and the middle layer is inclined, enhancing transverse rigidity and reducing material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional belt designs with limited circumferential rigidity are used, then material usage and weight are reduced, but durability and abrasion resistance deteriorate due to belt edge movement and uneven wear

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidbelt weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The belt is divided into multiple layers with different reinforcement orientations: radially inner and outer working layers with steel cords at 10°-45° angles, and intermediate layers with steel cords at 0°-15° angles. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute differently to circumferential rigidity and durability while optimizing material distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the belt structure are given different properties: the radially inner and outer working layers have higher circumferential rigidity with angled steel cords for durability, while intermediate layers have lower rigidity with near-circumferential steel cords to reduce weight and material usage, creating a gradient structure that optimizes both durability and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a 0° ply is added between working layers to increase circumferential rigidity, then durability improves, but material usage and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidsteel cord material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding a full 0° ply throughout the entire belt width, the invention uses intermediate layers with steel cords at 0°-15° angles only in specific radial positions between the working layers. This partial application provides sufficient circumferential rigidity improvement where needed while minimizing additional material usage and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of steel cords in intermediate layers to 0°-15° angles instead of the conventional 10°-45° angles used in working layers. This parameter change provides the necessary circumferential rigidity enhancement while using less material compared to a full 0° ply design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If steel cords are wound helically with low axial feed to achieve uniform circumferential rigidity, then durability improves, but manufacturing complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidbelt structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The belt is segmented into distinct layers with specific steel cord orientations: radially inner and outer working layers with 10°-45° angles and intermediate layers with 0°-15° angles. This segmentation achieves uniform circumferential rigidity through discrete layer configurations rather than complex helical winding, simplifying manufacturing while improving durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate layers with near-circumferential steel cords serve multiple functions: they provide circumferential rigidity enhancement, reduce belt edge movement, and contribute to overall belt stability. This multi-functionality achieves durability improvement without requiring complex helical winding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Weight of moving object

If belt edges are allowed to move freely to reduce material usage, then weight is reduced, but abrasion resistance and durability deteriorate due to uneven wear patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebelt weightVSAvoidabrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The radially inner and outer working layers are designed with steel cords at 10°-45° angles that provide enhanced circumferential rigidity specifically at the belt edges and in the axial extension area. This local quality enhancement restrains belt edge movement and prevents uneven wear patterns while minimizing additional material usage compared to uniform reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The working layers with angled steel cords are positioned to preemptively restrain belt edge movement before uneven wear can occur. This preliminary structural reinforcement prevents the development of abnormal wear patterns and extends tire service life without significantly increasing overall belt weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2560829B1Pneumatic vehicle tyre
Publication Date: 2015.05.20 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP2560829B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2560829B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2560829B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pneumatic vehicle tyre for commercial vehicles, comprising a carcass (5), a breaker belt (9) and a profiled tread rubber (10), wherein the breaker belt (9) is formed by at least three belt plies (13, 14, 15), of which the radially inner ply (13) and the radially outer ply (15) are formed as working plies with parallel steel reinforcing elements (23, 25) embedded in rubber, wherein the reinforcing elements (23, 25) of the working plies (13, 15) have opposed axial directions of inclination and an angle in relation to the circumferential direction of 10°-45°, and wherein the belt ply (14) arranged between the two working plies (13, 15) is divided in the axial direction and is formed by two axial outer peripheral ply portions (18, 19) and one central ply portion (14) arranged axially between said peripheral portions, wherein the two peripheral ply portions (18, 19) are formed as zero degree plies with reinforcing elements (28, 29), which include an angle in relation to the circumferential direction U of 0°-5°, and the central ply portion (14) is formed with reinforcing elements (24) which include an angle in relation to the circumferential direction U of 5°-90°.