The present disclosure relates to a tire and a method of manufacturing a tire.
Tires have been disclosed that have belts in which resin covered cords, that are formed by reinforcing cords being covered by resin, are wound in spiral forms on and are joined to the outer peripheral surface of a tire frame member that is structured by using a resin material (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2014-210487).
In the aforementioned prior art, at the time of joining the resin-covered cords to the outer peripheral surface (the wound-on surface) of the tire frame member, hot air is blown-out onto the joining surfaces of the resin-covered cords and onto the outer peripheral surface of the tire frame member, and the portions onto which the hot air has been blown-out are melted and welded together. Then, the resin-covered cords are pushed-against the outer peripheral surface of the tire frame member by a pushing roller, and the resin-covered cords are jointed to the outer peripheral surface of the tire frame member.
Further, in addition to this, there are also methods in which a belt is formed by attaching resin-covered cords to a wound-on surface that is metal or the like and that is difficult to join together with resin, and welding together the resins of the resin-covered cords that are adjacent to one another, and this belt is removed from the wound-on surface and is joined to a tire frame member.
On the other hand, in a case in which, for example, the welded surface area of the resins cannot be ensured sufficiently at the resin covered cords that are adjacent to one another, there is the possibility that the welding strength between the resins will weaken, and there is the need to consider the ensuring of durability at the time of applying this belt to a tire.
In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a tire having more improved durability, and a method of manufacturing the tire.
A tire relating to the present disclosure comprises: a tire frame member that is annular; and a belt that is provided at a tire radial direction outer side of the tire frame member, wherein the belt is structured to include a reinforcing portion that is formed by reinforcing cords crossing, and a resin portion that covers the reinforcing portion.
In the tire relating to the present disclosure, the belt is provided at the tire radial direction outer side of the tire frame member that is annular. This belt is structured to include the reinforcing portion and the resin portion. The reinforcing portion is formed by reinforcing cords crossing, and the reinforcing portion is covered by the resin portion.
Due thereto, the reinforcing cords that cross and the resin portion are made integral, and, between the reinforcing cords that cross one another, welded surfaces between resin portions can themselves be eliminated. Due thereto, the rigidity of the belt itself that is structured to include the reinforcing portion and the resin portion can be improved, and the durability of a tire that has this belt can be improved. Note that “covered” here includes at least a portion of the reinforcing portion being covered by resin.
As described above, the tire and method of manufacturing a tire relating to the present disclosure have the excellent effect of being able to improve durability more.
Forms for implementing the present invention are described hereinafter on the basis of the drawings. In the drawings, the arrow R direction indicates the tire radial direction, and the arrow W direction indicates the tire width direction. The tire radial direction means the direction orthogonal to the tire rotation axis (not shown). Further, the tire width direction means the direction parallel to the tire rotation axis, and the tire width direction can also be called the tire axial direction. Moreover, in the drawings, CL is the tire equatorial plane
The methods of measuring the dimensions of the respective portions are in accordance with the methods put forth in the 2018 YEAR BOOK issued by JATMA (Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturer Association, Inc.). In cases in which TRA standards and ETRTO standards are applied at the regions of use or the regions of manufacturing, those respective standards are followed.
<Structure of Tire>
First, the structure of a tire 10 relating to an embodiment of the present invention is described by using
As shown in
The carcass ply 14 is formed by plural cords (not illustrated), which extend in the radial direction of the tire 10, being covered by a coating rubber (not shown). Namely, the tire 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called radial tire. The material of the cords of the carcass ply 14 is PET for example, but may be another conventionally-known material.
The end portions in the tire width direction (the arrow W direction) of the carcass ply 14 are folded-over around the bead cores 12 toward the tire radial direction (the arrow R direction) outer side. Further, at the carcass ply 14, the portion, which spans from the one of the bead portions 20 to the another of the bead portions (not illustrated) is called a main body portion 14A, and the portions that are folded-over from the bead cores 12 are called folded-over portions 14B.
Further, bead fillers 18, whose thicknesses gradually decrease from the bead cores 12 toward the tire radial direction outer side, are disposed between the main body portion 14A and the folded-over portions 14B of the carcass ply 14. The rigidity of the bead portions 20 is improved by these bead fillers 18 being formed.
Here, an inner liner 22 that is formed from rubber is disposed at the tire inner side of the carcass 16. Side rubber layers 24 that are formed from a rubber material are provided at the tire transverse direction both outer sides of the carcass 16, respectively. A crown portion 23 is provided between the side rubber layer 24 and the side rubber layer 24. This crown portion 23 is gently curved so as to be convex toward the tire axial direction outer side from the bead portions 20 toward the crown portion 23, and the crown portion 23 is a supporting portion of a tread 36 that is disposed at the tire radial direction outer side thereof.
Note that, in the present embodiment, a tire case 25 is structured by the bead cores 12, the carcass 16, the bead fillers 18, the inner liner 22, and the side rubber layers 24. Namely, the tire case 25 is a tire frame member that forms the frame of the tire 10.
(Belt)
A belt 26 relating to an embodiment of the present invention is described next by using
As shown in
In the present embodiment, the belt 26 is structured by a reinforcing portion 28 and a resin portion 32. The reinforcing portion 28 is formed by a woven fabric in which reinforcing cords 30 that are formed of carbon fibers are woven-in in a state of crossing one another, and this reinforcing portion 28 is covered by the resin portion 32. Here, for the reinforcing cords 30, it is preferable to use cords that are thicker than and whose tensile strength is higher than the cords of the carcass ply 14. The reinforcing cords 30 can be structured by monofilaments (solid wires) of metal fibers or organic fibers or the like, or by multifilaments (stranded wires) in which these fibers are twisted together.
On the other hand, a resin material, whose tensile elasticity rate is higher than those of the rubber material that structures the side rubber layers 24 and the rubber material that structures the tread 36, is used at the resin portion 32 that covers the reinforcing cords 30. A thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that are elastic, or a thermosetting resin or the like can be used as the resin portion 32 that covers the reinforcing cords 30. In consideration of the elasticity at the time of traveling and the moldability at the time of manufacturing, it is desirable to use a thermoplastic elastomer.
Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPO), thermoplastic polystyrene elastomers (TPS), thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPA), thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU), thermoplastic polyester elastomers (TPC), dynamic crosslinking thermoplastic elastomers (TPV), and the like are examples of the thermoplastic elastomer.
Further, polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, vinyl chloride resins, polyamide resins and the like are examples of the thermoplastic resins. Moreover, a resin that, for example, has a deflection temperature under load (at the time of a load of 0.45 MPa) as prescribed by ISO 75-2 or ASTM D648 of 78° C. or more, and has a tensile yield strength as prescribed by JIS K7113 of 10 MPa or more, and has a tensile elongation at break as similarly prescribed by JIS K7113 of 50% or more, and has a Vicat softening temperature (A method) as prescribed by JIS K7206 of 130° C. or more can be used as the thermoplastic resin material.
The tensile elasticity rate (stipulated by JIS K7113:1995) of the resin portion 32 that covers the reinforcing cords 30 is preferably 100 MPa or more. Further, the upper limit of the tensile elasticity rate of the resin portion 32 that covers the reinforcing cords 30 is preferably made to be 1000 MPa or less. Note that within a range of 200 to 700 MPa is particularly preferable for the tensile elasticity rate of the resin portion 32 that covers the reinforcing cords 30.
Further, the thickness dimension of the belt 26 of the present embodiment is preferably made to be greater than the diameter dimension of the reinforcing cords 30. In other words, it is preferable that the reinforcing cords 30 be completely embedded in the resin portion 32. In a case in which the pneumatic tire 10 is used for a passenger vehicle, the thickness dimension of the belt 26, concretely, is preferably 0.70 mm or more.
Further, the tread 36 is disposed at the tire radial direction outer side of this belt 26, and a conventional, general, known rubber material is used as the rubber material that is used at the tread 36. Further, grooves 36A for drainage are formed in the tread 36. For the pattern of the tread 36 as well, a conventional, general, known pattern is used.
(Method of Manufacturing Tire)
An example of a method of manufacturing the tire 10 of the present embodiment is described next.
First, the unvulcanized tire case 25, which is formed from the inner liner 22 that is formed of a rubber material, the bead cores 12, the bead fillers 18 that are formed of a rubber material, the carcass ply 14 in which the cords are covered by a rubber material, and the side rubber layers 24, which are illustrated in
Hereinafter, an example of the process of manufacturing the belt 26 relating to the present embodiment is described by using
First, an auxiliary plate 42, which is annular and is shown at the right side in
Further, the cross-sectional shapes when cut along the tire axial direction (the arrow W direction) (the tire axial direction cross-sectional shapes) at the belt molding drum 40 on whose outer peripheral surface 40A the auxiliary plate 42 is fit, are shown in
Next, a reinforcing sheet (reinforcing portion) 44, which is annular and is a woven fabric that is formed by the reinforcing cords 30 being woven-in, is, as shown at the right side of
Here, the reinforcing cords 30 that structure the reinforcing sheet 44 are formed of carbon fibers. Further, this reinforcing sheet 44 does not necessarily have to be annular. Although not illustrated, the both end portions of the reinforcing sheet 44 that is in an elongated form may be temporarily tacked in the state in which the reinforcing sheet 44 is wound on the outer peripheral surface 42A of the auxiliary plate 42, and this reinforcing sheet 44 may be attached to the outer peripheral surface 42A of the auxiliary plate 42.
Further, the auxiliary plate 42, at which the reinforcing sheet 44 is wound on the outer peripheral surface 42A of the auxiliary plate 42 as shown at the left side in
Next, as shown at the left side of
Then, when the molten resin 48 that covers the surface of the reinforcing sheet 44 hardens, the reinforcing sheet 44 is in a state of being covered by the resin portion 32 (see
Then, although not illustrated, this belt 26 is placed on the radial direction outer side of a tire case of a tire molding drum, and the tire case is expanded, and the outer peripheral surface of the tire case, or in other words, the outer peripheral surface of the carcass 16, is pressure-bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the belt 26. Finally, in the same way as with a general tire, the unvulcanized tread 36 is affixed to the outer peripheral surface of the belt 26, and the green tire is completed. The green tire that is manufactured in this way is, in the same way as with a general tire, vulcanization-molded in a vulcanization molding mold, and the tire 10 is completed.
<Operation, Effects of Tire>
Operation and effects of the tire 10 relating to the present embodiment are described next.
A structure that is exemplified as a comparative example is, as shown in
In particular, at a crown portion 112 that is provided at the carcass 100, in a case in which the shape of the cross-section when cut along the tire axial direction (the arrow W direction) (the tire axial direction cross-section) is arc-shaped (radius of curvature R), although not illustrated, there is the possibility that steps or gaps will form between the resin covered cords 108 that are adjacent to one another, more so at the both end portions in the tire axial direction of the carcass 100 than at the central portion side, due to the difference in diameters. In a case in which steps or gaps form between these resin covered cords 108 in this way, there is the concern that the welded surface areas between the resin portions 106 will not be ensured sufficiently.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in
Due thereto, the reinforcing cords 30 that cross and the resin portion 32 are made integral, and, between the reinforcing cords 30 that cross one another, the welded portions 119 of the resins that are shown in
Further, by improving the rigidity of the belt 26 itself, the in-plane shearing rigidity in the tire width direction of the belt 26 can be ensured. Further, due to the in-plane shearing rigidity in the tire width direction of the belt 26 being ensured, lateral force in a case in which a slip angle is applied to the tire 10 can be sufficiently generated. Accordingly, in a vehicle having the tires 10, the handling stability can be ensured, and further, the responsiveness also can be improved.
Moreover, due to the rigidity of the belt 26 itself improving, the out-of-plane bending rigidity of the belt 26 improves, and breakage of the belt 26 due to so-called buckling of the tread 36 (the phenomenon in which a portion of the tread 36 separates from the road surface) that is due to riding-over protrusions or the like can be suppressed. Accordingly, in accordance with the present embodiment, the durability of the tire 10 that has this belt 26 can be improved.
Note that the crown portion 23 that is provided at the carcass 16 is not necessarily limited to a case in which the shape of the tire axial direction cross-section thereof is arc-shaped, and may be rectilinear. Even if the tire axial direction cross-sectional shape of the crown portion 23 is rectilinear, effects that are substantially similar to those of the case in which it is arc-shaped can be obtained.
Further, in the present embodiment, at least some of the reinforcing cords 30 are formed by carbon fibers. Although not illustrated, in a case in which, for example, the belt 26 that is provided at the tire radial direction outer side of the carcass 16 is formed only of carbon fibers, the cost increases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, only the frame at the belt 26 is the reinforcing portion 28, and carbon fibers are used thereat. Due thereto, the rigidity of the belt 26 can be ensured while the cost is reduced.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, a woven fabric that is formed by carbon fibers being woven-in is used as the reinforcing portion 28. Due thereto, the rigidity of the belt 26 can be further improved. However, it is not absolutely necessary that the carbon fibers be a woven fabric.
Further, in the present embodiment, the reinforcing portion 28 is provided at the tire radial direction outer side of the carcass 16. Here, in a case in which the reinforcing cords 30 that structure this reinforcing portion 28 are formed of metal or carbon or the like, it is difficult to directly join the reinforcing portion 28 to the tire radial direction outer side of the carcass 16.
On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the reinforcing portion 28 is covered by the resin portion 32, but, for the “covering” in the present embodiment, it suffices for at least a portion of the reinforcing portion 28 to be covered by the resin portion 32. The surface of the reinforcing sheet 44 is in a state of being covered by the resin portion 32 due to the manufacturing method in which, as shown in
Due thereto, even if there is a case in which, in the manufacturing, the resin portion 32 cannot be provided at the carcass 16 side of the reinforcing cords 30, by providing the separate resin layer 50 at the carcass 16 side of the reinforcing cords 30, this resin layer 50 and the reinforcing cords 30 are joined via the resin portion 32, and the reinforcing portion 28 is joined to the tire radial direction outer side of the carcass 16, and the effect of increasing the joining strength is exhibited. Namely, in accordance with the present embodiment, the degrees of freedom in selecting the method of manufacturing of and the materials of the belt 26 can be further improved. Note that the resin layer 50 is a layer that is provided between the carcass 16 and the reinforcing portion 28, and does not necessarily have to be provided separately as a “resin layer”. Therefore, “resin layer” may indicate a portion of the resin portion.
In the above-described structure, for example, in the above-described process of manufacturing the belt 26, after the auxiliary plate attaching step shown in
Further, in the present embodiment, in the state in which the reinforcing sheet 44 is wound on the outer peripheral surface 42A of the auxiliary plate 42 as shown in
For example, although not illustrated, the belt 26 may be formed by covering the surface of the reinforcing sheet 44 by the resin portion 32 by insert molding or two-color molding. Note that, in accordance with two-color molding, the surface of the reinforcing sheet 44 that is shown in
Further, in the present embodiment, as the resin material that structures the resin layer 50 that is shown in
The belt 26 of the above-described embodiment is not limited to a general tire, and can also be used in a radial tire whose side portions are reinforced by reinforcing rubber. Further, the resin layer 50 and the belt 26 of the above-described embodiment are joined together, and this may be joining by welding, or may be joining by using an adhesive.
Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and, other than the above, can of course be implemented by being modified in various ways within a scope that does not depart from the gist thereof.
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-120307 filed on Jun. 25, 2018 is, in its entirety, incorporated by reference into the present specification. All publications, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in the present specification are incorporated by reference into the present specification to the same extent as if such individual publication, patent application, or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2018-120307 | Jun 2018 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2019/023355 | 6/12/2019 | WO | 00 |