Wedge-Shaped Slide Pad for Tyre Bead Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning the gap between the tyre's bead part and the rim edge wall are inefficient, requiring trial and error, skilled operators, and result in significant side force variations, leading to vibrations and reduced performance, especially in high-performance vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A slide pad with specific dimensions and features, including a wedge shape and friction-reducing elements, is used to precisely align the bead part on the rim without moving it over the hump, ensuring a constant gap and reducing side force variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If material is inserted between tyre and rim to fill the gap, then the gap can be reduced, but it is very difficult to get appropriate thickness of the material before insertion and the process becomes trial and error
Solution Approach 1:
The slide pad is pre-formed with specific thickness (2-9mm) and wedge shape before use, allowing the operator to directly insert it without trial and error. The preliminary preparation of the alignment tool eliminates the need for on-site material adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide pad acts as an intermediary tool between the tyre bead and rim, providing a controlled thickness that fills the gap uniformly. This mediator tool translates the operator's simple insertion action into precise gap control.
2Manufacturing precision
If an apparatus with guide ring is used for alignment, then some alignment can be achieved, but the alignment is not completely uniform to the rim edge wall and variations of side forces remain
Solution Approach 1:
The slide pad concentrates the alignment function in a localized region with specific wedge geometry, creating a focused action point between the tyre bead and rim. This local quality approach provides uniform alignment at the critical gap location without requiring complex overall apparatus structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If the bead part is moved over the hump with rotation about the bead wire, then alignment can be achieved, but the process takes much time and requires much experience of the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The slide pad extracts the alignment function from the complex bead rotation process, isolating it into a simple insertion and pressing action. This separates the alignment function from the time-consuming rotational movement, achieving accurate alignment quickly.
4Ease of operation
If conventional alignment methods are used, then the bead part can be positioned, but small variations of side forces remain and the gap is not constant
Solution Approach 1:
The slide pad employs asymmetric wedge geometry with different thicknesses at opposite ends, creating a tailored pressure distribution that compensates for the uneven gap geometry. This asymmetric design transforms the simple insertion action into precise constant gap formation.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Slide pad for aligning a constant distance between the rim edge wall (2) and the back side of the bead part (3) of a tyre, wherein the slide pad has a length of at least 50 mm, a height between 1 and 15 mm and a thickness between 2 and 9 mm, wherein the upper side (7) of the insertion front (8) of the slide pad has a smaller thickness than the lower side (6) of the insertion front (8) and a process for aligning a bead part of a tyre.