TIRE STRUCTURE HAVING SPIKES COUPLED THEREON

A tire structure includes a tire; an attachment layer positioned between an inner surface of the tire and a spike supporting layer, and allowing the spike supporting layer to be coupled to the inside of the tire; and a spike supporting layer coupled to the inside of the tire by the attachment layer and supporting the spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire, thereby enabling an existing tire to be used for the power generation system using tire deformation.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tire structure which is used for a power generation system using tire deformation and is formed by coupling spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of a tire to an inside of a tire. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tire structure having spikes coupled thereon, the tire structure including: a tire; an attachment layer positioned between an inner surface of the tire and a spike supporting layer, and allowing the spike supporting layer to be coupled to the inside of the tire; and a spike supporting layer coupled to the inside of the tire by the attachment layer and supporting the spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire, thereby enabling an existing tire to be used for the power generation system using tire deformation.

Background Art

Unlike an internal combustion engine that generates power by consuming fuel such as gasoline, diesel, LP gas or the like, an electric vehicle (including a hybrid vehicle) operates by receiving electric energy from a battery (storage battery) charged with electric energy whereby the vehicle can be driven. Such an electric vehicle does not cause pollution such as harmful gas, noise, and dust generated in an internal combustion engine and is environmentally friendly, so studies thereon have been actively conducted in recent years.

The electric vehicle (including a hybrid vehicle) has a storage battery charged with electric energy, and operates using electric energy charged in the storage battery. Further, when the electric energy charged in the storage battery is exhausted, the storage battery must be recharged to drive the vehicle. In the case of an internal combustion engine vehicle powered by gasoline, diesel, or LP gas, gas stations for refueling are widely available. Accordingly, the internal combustion engine vehicle can easily be refueled whenever fuel is consumed. However, charging stations for charging electrical energy are not widely available at present. Consequently, the electric vehicle is can't be easily recharged when the electric energy of the storage battery is exhausted during driving.

Meanwhile, a large amount of electric energy is required to drive the electric vehicle. However, the electric vehicle cannot store a large amount of electric energy because the storage battery has limited weight and volume. A conventional electric vehicle as shown in the following (patent document) drives only using electric energy charged in a storage battery, and is provided with no separate system for generating power using energy generated during driving and for charging the storage battery thereby. In addition, the amount of electric energy charged in the storage battery is predetermined to a certain amount. Thus, long distance operation of the electric vehicle is difficult to achieve.

PATENT DOCUMENT

Moreover, the internal combustion engine vehicle does not require a long time to refuel, so that immediate refueling is possible. However, in the case of a storage battery, when the amount of electric energy to be charged in the storage battery is large, it takes a long time to charge the storage battery. Consequently, the storage battery has commercialization problem because it requires a lot of time to be charged whenever the vehicle is driven.

In an effort to fundamentally improve the problems associated with battery charging and driving of an electric vehicle (including a hybrid vehicle) or of an internal combustion engine vehicle, the present invention, which is related to a power generation system using tire deformation occurring during a vehicle driving, and a new tire structure applied thereto, has been derived.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tire structure having spikes coupled thereon, in which spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of a tire are coupled to a conventional tire, whereby the conventional tire is used for a power generation system using tire deformation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tire structure having spikes coupled thereon, in which an attachment layer is formed by curing a rubber composition so that the spikes are firmly coupled to the inside of the tire, and the attachment layer performs as a buffer due to its elasticity, thereby preventing the tire from being damaged by the spikes.

Technical Solution

A tire structure having spikes coupled thereon in order to accomplish the above object has the following configuration.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tire structure is used for a power generation system using tire deformation, and is formed by coupling spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of a tire to an inside of the tire.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tire structure includes: a tire; an attachment layer provided between an inner surface of the tire and a spike supporting layer, and allowing the spike supporting layer to be coupled to the inside of the tire; and the spike supporting layer coupled to the inside of the tire by the attachment layer, and supporting the spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tire structure may further include: a spike protection layer protecting the spikes inside the tire.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the attachment layer may be formed by placing a rubber composition between the inner surface of the tire and the spike supporting layer and by changing physical properties of the rubber composition through a curing process.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, for firmly coupling the spikes to the spike supporting layer, the spike supporting layer may include any one of the group consisting of a steel cord sheet having steel wires arranged at predetermined intervals, a nylon cord sheet, an aramid cord sheet, a polyamide cord sheet, a hybrid cord sheet, a special cord sheet.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each of the spikes may include: a flange extending at an end of the spike and having a predetermined area; and a protrusion protruding from the flange, wherein the protrusion of the spike is coupled to the spike supporting layer by passing through the spike supporting layer.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spike protection layer may be formed to surround a coupling portion of the spike exposed to connect to the power generation system using tire deformation, so the protection layer protects the spike and covers the spike supporting layer to which the spike is coupled.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spike supporting layer may be a steel cord sheet layer formed by overlapping a first steel cord sheet in which the steel wires are arranged at regular intervals in a first direction with a second steel cord sheet in which the steel wires are arranged at regular intervals in a second direction, so that the steel wires of the first and second sheets are overlapped with each other in a lattice form.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spike may further include: a cover portion coupled to an end of the protrusion passing through the spike supporting layer and allowing the spike to be firmly coupled to the spike supporting layer.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spikes may be coupled to the spike supporting layer such that the spikes are staggered with each other with respect to a bilateral symmetry axis of the tire.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tire structure may further include: a rubber-metal adhesive layer positioned between the attachment layer and the spikes, and made of a rubber-metal adhesive.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention can achieve the following effects according to the above-described embodiments, and the configuration, the coupling relationship, and the use relationship that will be described below.

The present invention has an effect that the spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire are coupled to the conventional tire, so it is possible to use the conventional tire for the power generation system using tire deformation.

Further, the present invention has an effect that the attachment layer is formed by curing the rubber composition so that the spikes can be firmly coupled to the inside of the tire, and the attachment layer performs as a buffer due to its elasticity, thereby preventing the tire from being damaged by the spikes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

10: driving part

20: power generating part

114: cover portion

120: load transfer part

130: rotation part

310: attachment layer

320: spike supporting layer

323: steel cord sheet layer

330: spike protection layer

331: spike insertion hole

332: cord layer

333: special rubber layer

110a-d: first to fourth spikes

310a: rubber composition layer

320a: spike supporting layer

323-1: first steel cord sheet

323-2: second steel cord sheet

323-3: third steel cord sheet

323-4: fourth steel cord sheet

323-5: fifth steel cord sheet

323-6: sixth steel cord sheet

A: pressure member

B: support jig C: flat member

BEST MODE

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed descriptions of known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, it will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The spirit of the invention to be proposed in the present invention is a tire structure and a method of manufacturing the same for applying a power generation system using tire deformation, which is applicable to all of the embodiments in which all kinds of vehicles having rotatable wheels and the rotatable wheels can be curved and expanded by gravity, for example, to a transportation device including a tire driven by electric energy of a battery as a power source, such as a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric vehicle, an electric motorcycle, etc., wherein power is generated by using deformation of a tire that repeats compression and expansion due to gravity during a vehicle driving (ultimately particularly using tire expansion of the tire deformation occurring due to gravity during the vehicle driving), or power is generated, that is, various types of power is generated or electric energy is produced, which is used to charge a battery or used directly as a power source of a motor. In other words, the present invention provides a tire structure having spikes coupled thereon and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the tire structure is formed by coupling spikes operated in conjunction with deformation (compression and expansion) of the tire to the inside of a conventional tire, and is used for the power generation system using tire deformation.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 9, a tire structure having spikes coupled thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention is used for a power generation system using tire deformation, and includes: a tire30; an attachment layer310positioned between an inner surface of the tire30and a spike supporting layer320and allowing the spike supporting layer320to be coupled to the inside of the tire30; the spike supporting layer320coupled to the inside of the tire30by the attachment layer310, and supporting spikes110operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30. The tire structure may further include a spike protection layer330that protects the spikes110inside the tires30as needed.

The power generation system to which the present invention is applied is used to generate various types of power such as power generation, air compression, hydraulic compression, power compression using a spiral spring, and various other power generation methods. Hereinafter, an example of the power generation system will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. The power system includes: a driving unit10converting a deformation of the tire30into a driving force; and a power generating unit20generating power using the driving force converted by the driving unit10. The power generating part20is configured to generate power using the driving force transmitted from the driving part10. For example, the power generating part generates power through the action (that is, using the principle that either the permanent magnet210or the coil220rotates to generate an induced electromotive force) between a permanent magnet210and a coil220by using a rotational force transmitted from a rotating unit130that will be described later. Further, the driving part10is configured to convert the deformation of the tire30, which occurs during driving of a vehicle (which is a concept that involves a vehicle driving with tires30mounted thereon, such as a bicycle, a car, a truck, etc.), into a driving force. The tire30of the vehicle is repeatedly deformed while driving. In other words, the surface of the tire30, which is in contact with the ground during the vehicle driving, is compressed by the weight of the vehicle itself. Then, as the surface of the tire30is off the ground due to rotation of the tire30according to the continuous driving, the compressed portion thereof is expanded again by air pressure inside the tire30or the like and is restored to its original state. In this manner, the tire30repeats compression and expansion during driving. In the power generation system, the deformation of the tire30, which repeatedly compresses and expands during the vehicle driving, is converted into the driving force using the driving part10, and the power generating part20generates power by using the thus converted driving force so that the power can be used for charging the battery of the internal combustion engine vehicle, particularly the battery (storage battery) of the electric vehicle (including the hybrid vehicle) or can be utilized directly as a driving force of the motor of the electric vehicle. In particular, the driving part10can convert the deformation of the tire30due to the compression and expansion of the tire30into a reciprocating motion to convert the reciprocating motion into the driving force. For this purpose, as shown inFIG. 1, the driving part10may include a spike110coupled to the tire30and operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30; a load transfer part120transmitting a motion of the spike110to the rotation part130; and the rotation unit130rotating in conjunction with the motion of the spike110that is transmitted from the load transfer part120, and transmitting a driving force to the power generating part20.

The present invention relates to the tire structure having spikes coupled thereon used in the power generation system using the above-described tire deformation. As described above, the tire structure having spikes coupled thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the tire30, the attachment layer310, the spike supporting layer320, or the spike protection layer330.

The tire30may use an existing tire, and the present invention is characterized in that the spikes110can be coupled to the existing tire30, so it is possible to utilize the existing tire without manufacturing a new tire having spikes integrally coupled thereon for use in the power generation system using tire deformation. However, the tire structure may be formed by manufacturing a new tire having the attachment layer310, the spike supporting layer320, or the spike protection layer330without using the existing tire30.

The attachment layer310is positioned between the inner surface of the tire30and the spike supporting layer320to allow the spike supporting layer320to be coupled to the inside of the tire30. The attachment layer310may be formed of at least one layer and may use various methods to couple the spike supporting layer320to the inside of the tire30. For example, an adhesive (rubber) composition including raw rubber and sulfur is positioned between the inner surface of the tire30and the spike supporting layer320and then the physical properties of the rubber composition are changed through a curing process, thereby forming the attachment layer310(the adhesive composition may use various types of adhesive materials other than raw rubber). When the attachment layer310is formed as described above, it is possible to firmly couple the spike supporting layer320to the inside of the tire30, to prevent the tire30from being damaged by the spikes110by performing as a buffer due to its elasticity, and to utilize the rubber composition used in the manufacturing of the tire and the apparatus used in the curing process, thereby achieving economic efficiency. As an example of a process of forming the attachment layer310, the process may include the step of grinding and roughening the inner surface of the tire30. Here, there may be added a process of applying an adhesive rubber such as mucilage, etc. to the ground roughened surface of the inner surface of the tire30and drying the adhesive rubber.

The spike supporting layer320is coupled the inside of the tire30by the attachment layer310, and supporting the spikes110operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30, that is, to allow the spikes110used for the power generation system using the deformation of the tire30to be coupled to the tire30. As shown inFIG. 3, the spikes110are coupled to the spike supporting layer320such that the spikes are staggered with each other with respect to a bilateral symmetry axis31of the tire30. One spike operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30and the other spike operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30immediately after the first spike are positioned in opposite directions with respect to the bilateral symmetry axis31. Described with reference toFIG. 3, assuming that a first spike110apositioned at the left side of the bilateral symmetry axis31operates first in conjunction with the deformation of the tire30, a second spike110boperated in conjunction with the tire30after the first spike110ais positioned at the right side of the bilateral symmetry axis31, a third spike110coperated in conjunction with the tire30after the second spike110bis positioned at the left side of the bilateral symmetry axis31, and a fourth spike110doperated in conjunction with the tire30after the third spike110cis positioned at the right side of the bilateral symmetry axis31. The arrangement of the spikes110as described above provides smooth power and torque, ensures distribution of power and torque, ensures continuous delivery of power and torque, and provides improved power efficiency, an improved cogging phenomenon, and reduced noise and vibration. There are several examples of the coupling relationship between the spikes110and the spike supporting layer320. For example, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, each of the spikes may include a coupling portion111coupled to the load transfer part120, a flange112extending at an end of the coupling portion111and having a predetermined area, a protrusion113protruding from the flange112, and a cover portion114coupled to an end of the protrusion113passing through the spike supporting layer320, and allowing the spike110to be firmly coupled to the spike supporting layer320, wherein the protrusion113of the spike110is embedded in the spike supporting layer320so that the spike110is coupled to the spike supporting layer320.

In other words, in the state in which the spike110has a structure including the flange112extending from an outer diameter of the coupling portion111and having a predetermined area, the protrusion113protruding from the flange112and having a sharp end, and the cover portion114coupled to the end of the protrusion113, the protrusion113of the spike110passes through the spike supporting layer320and then the cover portion114is coupled to the end of the protrusion13protruding through the spike supporting layer320, whereby the spike110is firmly coupled to the spike supporting layer320. The protrusion113pierces through the spike supporting layer320or passes through a protrusion insertion hole321formed on the spike supporting layer320and thus the protrusion113passes through the spike supporting layer320. A coupling force of a contact portion between the end of the protrusion113and the cover portion114can be further strengthened by various methods such as caulking, welding, or bolting as occasion demands. As show inFIG. 5, the spike supporting layer320may be formed in a single body. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 6, in order to easily form the tire structure, that is, in order to easily form the spike supporting layer320on the inner circumferential surface of the existing tire30in the manufacturing process, the spike supporting layer may be divided into a plurality of spike supporting layers. In addition, a rubber-metal adhesive is applied to the outer circumferential surface of the spike110, which is usually made of metal, for a solid coupling with the raw rubber material of the attachment layer310, and then spike is dried. Through the processes of applying the rubber-metal adhesive to the outer circumferential surface of the spike110, and forming a rubber-metal adhesive layer on the outer circumferential surface of the spike110, the spike110and the (rubber) attachment layer310are firmly coupled to each other by a subsequent curing process.

Meanwhile, as shown inFIG. 5, in order to firmly coupling the spike110to the spike supporting layer320, the spike supporting layer320uses a steel cord sheet including a steel wire322arranged at a regular interval in the sheet, or uses a nylon cord sheet, an aramid cord sheet, a polyamide cord sheet, a hybrid cord sheet, a special cord sheet, etc. (Of course, various other types of cords can be used as long as the spikes and the spike supporting layer are firmly coupled to each other). In other words, the core function of the spike supporting layer320is to reliably couple the spike110to the spike supporting layer320such that the spike110is prevented from separation. Accordingly, the spike supporting layer has to not be damaged or broken by an external impact or the like and also has to not be stretched easily to strongly press the spike110. To this end, as shown inFIG. 5, the steel cord sheet, which is described as an example, has steel wires322densely arranged at regular intervals in the sheet, such that the sheet has a rigidity sufficient to be not easily stretched, damaged, and broken. In particular, in the embodiment in which the protrusion insertion hole321is formed through the spike supporting layer320at a predetermined interval as described above, the steel wires322are arranged in the spike supporting layer320such that the steel wires are arranged around the periphery of the protrusion insertion hole321while surrounding the periphery of the protrusion insertion hole321without being broken by the protrusion insertion hole321, thereby reinforcing a rigidity of the periphery of the protrusion insertion hole321. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the periphery of the protrusion insertion hole321from damage or breakage due to the external impact or the like. As another example, as shown inFIG. 16, the protrusion insertion hole321can be formed through the spike supporting layer320in the state in which the steel wires322are arranged in the spike supporting layer320.

Further, as shown inFIG. 7, the spike supporting layer320may be formed of a steel cord sheet layer323in which a first steel cord sheet323-1formed by arranging the steel wires322at regular intervals in a first direction, and a second steel cord323-2formed by arranging the steel wires322at regular intervals in a second direction are stacked on each other, whereby the steel wires322of the first and second sheets are overlapped with each other in a lattice form. In other words, the steel cord sheet layer323is formed by overlapping a plurality of sheets so as to increase a rigidity of the spike supporting layer320relatively to a single sheet type. In this case, particularly the direction (the direction inclined to the left) in which the steel wires322of the first steel cord sheet323-1are arranged is different from the direction (the direction inclined to the right) in which the steel wires322of the second steel cord sheet323-2are arranged. Preferably, the wires of the first and second sheets are arranged in different directions in a lattice form when overlapped with each other. Thus, the steel wires322of the steel cord sheet layer323in which the first and second sheets are overlapped with each other are overlapped with each other in a lattice form, thereby further enhancing coupling of the spikes110.

As another example, as shown inFIG. 8, the steel cord sheet layer323may be formed of a four-sheet layer further including: a third steel cord sheet323-3in which the steel wires322are arranged at regular intervals in a direction the same as the direction in which the steel wires322of the first steel cord sheet323-1are arranged, while arrangement angles thereof are different from each other; and a fourth steel cord sheet323-4in which the steel wires322are arranged at regular intervals in a direction the same as the direction in which the steel wires322of the second steel cord sheet323-2are arranged, while arrangement angles thereof are different from each other. In other words, when the steel wires322of the first steel cord sheet323-1described above are arranged, for example, in the left direction at an inclination angle of about 23°, the steel wires322of the third steel cord sheet323-3are arranged in the same left direction at an inclination angle of about 26°. In addition, when the steel wires322of the second steel cord sheet323-2described above are arranged, for example, in the right direction at an inclination angle of about 23°, the steel wires322of the fourth steel cord sheet323-4are arranged in the same right direction at an inclination angle of about 26°. Accordingly, a lattice form of the steel wires322formed when the first steel cord sheet323-1and the second steel cord sheet323-2are overlapped with each other is different from a lattice form of the steel wires322formed when the third steel cord sheet323-3and the fourth steel cord sheet323-4are overlapped with each other. Thus, the steel cord sheet layer323formed by overlapping the four layers of sheets can further enhance coupling of the spikes110.

As a further example, as shown inFIG. 9, the steel cord sheet layer323may further include a fifth steel cord sheet323-5and a sixth steel cord sheet323-6. Here, the steel wires322of the fifth steel cord sheet323-5are arranged in the same left direction as the steel wires322of the first and third steel cord sheets323-1and323-3at an inclination angle of about 29°, and the steel wires322of the sixth steel cord sheet323-6are arranged at an inclination angle of about 29° in the same right direction as the steel wires322of the second and fourth steel cord sheets323-2and323-4. Thus, as described above, the steel cord sheet layer323formed by overlapping the six layers of sheets can enhance coupling of the spikes110.

The other used cord sheets may use a nylon cord sheet, an aramid cord sheet, a polyamide cord sheet, a hybrid cord sheet, or a cord sheet having various structures (special cord sheet is also available).

The spike protection layer330is configured to protect the spikes110inside the tire30. In other words, as shown inFIG. 3, the spike protection layer330is formed to surround the peripheries of the coupling portions111of the spikes110exposed for connection with the power generation system using the tire deformation, so that the spike protection layer protects the spikes110and covers the spike supporting layer320supporting the spikes110. To this end, as shown inFIG. 3, the spike protection layer330may include a plurality of layers including a cord layer332and one or more special rubber layers333. As shown inFIG. 3, in order for the spike protection layer330to surround the peripheries of the coupling portions111of the spikes110, the spike protection layer330may be provided with a spike insertion hole331formed on the spike protection layer330at a regular interval. The spike insertion hole331is formed to have a diameter the same as an outer diameter of the coupling portion111of the spike110, so that the spike protection layer330tightly surrounds the peripheries of the coupling portions111of the spikes110, and the spikes110can be firmly coupled and protected without being excessively exposed inside (in) the tire30.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 15, a method of manufacturing a tire structure having spikes coupled thereon including the above structure will be described. For a power generation system using tire deformation, through the method of manufacturing the tire structure having spikes coupled thereon, the spikes110operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30can be coupled to the tire30to form the tire structure having spikes coupled thereon. The method includes: an adhesive composition attaching step S1of attaching an adhesive composition used for forming an attachment layer310to an inner surface of a tire30; and a supporting layer attaching step S2of attaching a spike supporting layer320supporting the spikes110operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30to the adhesive composition attached to the inner surface of the tire30, and may further include: a curing step S3of performing a chemical reaction such that physical properties of the adhesive composition are changed by pressure and heat applied thereto for a predetermined time.

The adhesive composition attaching step S1is a step of attaching the adhesive composition used for forming the attachment layer310to the inner surface of the tire30, wherein the spike supporting layer320supporting the spikes110can be coupled to the inside of the tire30by the adhesive composition. The adhesive composition attaching step S1may include a grinding step of grinding and roughening the inner surface of the tire30such that the adhesive composition is closely attached to the inner surface of the tire30before attaching the adhesive composition. The adhesive composition may use a variety of compositions already used to attach metals, synthetic resins, etc., and particularly when the adhesive composition uses a rubber composition containing raw rubber and sulfur, the adhesive composition is subjected to the curing step S3, which will be described later. In the adhesive composition attaching step S1, for example, as shown inFIG. 11, a rubber composition layer310aincluding raw rubber and sulfur may be formed in plural. Here, if necessary, there may be added a step of applying an adhesive rubber such as mucilage, etc., to the ground roughened surface of the inner surface of the tire30and drying the adhesive rubber after the grinding step performed prior to attaching the adhesive composition.

The supporting layer attaching step S2is a step of attaching the spike supporting layer320to the adhesive composition attached to the inner surface of the tire30, the spike supporting layer320supporting the spikes110operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire30. In the supporting layer attaching step S2, as shown inFIG. 5, the spikes110can be coupled to the spike supporting layer320formed in a single body, and then the spike supporting layer320coupled with the spikes110can be attached to the adhesive composition. As shown inFIG. 6, the spikes110may be coupled to a plurality of spike supporting layers320a, and then the respective spike supporting layers320acoupled with the spikes110can be attached to the adhesive composition. When using the spike supporting layer320formed in a single body in consideration of the inner shape of the tire30, it may be difficult to attach the spike supporting layer320to the adhesive composition. When attaching the respective spike supporting layers320a, the supporting layer attaching step S2can be facilitated.FIG. 12shows an example in which the spike supporting layer320supporting the spikes110is attached to the adhesive (rubber) composition. The spike supporting layer320coupled with the spikes110and used in the supporting layer attaching step S2may be formed such that the protrusion113of the spike110is embedded in the spike supporting layer320and the spike110is coupled to the spike supporting layer320. In other words, in the state in which the spike110has the structure including the flange112extending from an outer diameter of an end of the spike110and having a predetermined area, the protrusion113protruding from a lower end of the flange112and having a sharp end, and the cover portion114coupled to the end of the protrusion113, the protrusion113of the spike110passes through the spike supporting layer320and then the cover portion114is coupled to the end of the protrusion13protruding through the spike supporting layer320, whereby the spike110is firmly coupled to the spike supporting layer320by coupling the cover portion114to the end of the spike supporting layer320. The coupling force of the contact portion between the end of the protrusion113and the cover portion114can be further strengthened by various methods such as caulking, welding, or bolting as needed.

Meanwhile, the process of manufacturing the spike supporting layer320itself is a process of manufacturing the steel cord sheet by arranging the steel wires322at regular intervals as shown inFIG. 5in order to firmly couple the spikes110. In other words, the core function of the spike supporting layer320is to reliably couple the spikes110to the spike supporting layer320such that the spikes110are prevented from separation. Accordingly, the spike supporting layer has to not be damaged or broken by an external impact or the like and also has to not be stretched easily to strongly press the spikes110. To this end, as shown inFIG. 5, the steel wires322are densely arranged at regular intervals in the sheet, so that the sheet has a rigidity that is not easily stretched, damaged, and broken. Meanwhile, herein, there may be added a process of applying a rubber-metal adhesive to the outer circumferential surface of the spike110, which is usually made of metal, for a solid coupling with the raw rubber material (adhesive composition) of the attachment layer310, and then drying the spike. Through the processes of applying the rubber-metal adhesive to the outer circumferential surface of the spike110, and forming a rubber-metal adhesive layer on the outer circumferential surface of the spike110, the spike110and the (rubber) attachment layer310are firmly coupled to each other by a subsequent curing process.

Further, as shown inFIG. 7, as another example of the process of manufacturing the spike supporting layer320, the spike supporting layer320may be formed of a steel cord sheet layer323in which a first steel cord sheet323-1formed by arranging the steel wires322at regular intervals in a first direction, and a second steel cord323-2formed by arranging the steel wires322at regular intervals in a second direction are overlapped with each other, whereby the steel wires322of the first and second sheets are overlapped with each other in a lattice form. In this case, a rigidity of the spike supporting layer320can be increased relatively to a single sheet type. Particularly, the direction (the direction inclined to the left) in which the steel wires322of the first steel cord sheet323-1are arranged is different from the direction (the direction inclined to the right) in which the steel wires322of the second steel cord sheet323-2is arranged. Preferably, the wires of the first and second sheets are arranged in different directions in a lattice form when overlapped with each other. Thus, the steel wires322of the steel cord sheet layer323formed by overlapping the first and second sheets are overlapped with each other in a lattice form, thereby further enhancing coupling of the spikes110.

As a further example of the process of manufacturing the spike supporting layer320, as shown inFIG. 8, the spike supporting layer may be formed of a four-sheet layer further including: a third steel cord sheet323-3in which the steel wires322are arranged at regular intervals in a direction the same as the direction in which the steel wires322of the first steel cord sheet323-1are arranged, while arrangement angles thereof are different from each other; and a fourth steel cord sheet323-4in which the steel wires322are arranged at regular intervals in a direction the same as the direction in which the steel wires322of the second steel cord sheet323-2are arranged, while arrangement angles thereof are different from each other. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 9, the spike supporting layer may be formed of a six-sheet layer further including a fifth steel cord sheet323-5(the steel wires322of the fifth steel cord sheet323-5are arranged in the same direction as the steel wires322of the first and third steel cord sheets323-1and323-3, while differing from each other in inclination angle), and a sixth steel cord sheet323-6(the steel wires322of the sixth steel cord sheet323-6are arranged in the same direction as the steel wires322of the second and fourth steel cord sheets323-2and323-4, while differing from each other in inclination angle). In this case, as described above, the steel cord sheet layer323formed by overlapping a plurality of sheets can enhance coupling of the spikes110.

The curing step (S3) is a step in which when the rubber composition containing raw rubber and sulfur is used as the adhesive composition, pressure and heat are applied to the rubber composition for a predetermined time sufficient to cause a chemical reaction to change the physical properties of the rubber composition, and includes: a covering step S31, a pressure member fixing step S32, a pressure/temperature adjusting step S33, and the like.

As shown inFIG. 13, the covering step S31is a step of attaching a cover member330surrounding the coupling portions111of the spikes and covering the coupling portions111. In the case of the curing step S3, a pressure member (tube, A) that will be described later expands and pressurizes the rubber composition. When the coupling portions111remain exposed, the coupling portions may be broken during expansion of the tube A. Accordingly, the cover member330is attached to prevent the coupling portions111from being exposed. Since the cover member330is made of the same shape and material as the spike protection layer330described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, since the special rubber layer333of the cover member330is made of cured rubber, physical properties thereof are not changed in the curing step S3. The covering step S31may further include a step of applying a release agent between the spike supporting layer320and the cover member330such that the cover member330can be easily removed after the curing step S3is completed. When the cover member330is not removed after the curing step S3is completed, it is possible to form a tire structure including the spike protection layer330(this case may be helpful for structurally more rigid coupling of the spike), whereas when the cover member330is removed after the curing step S3is completed, it is possible to form a tire structure having no spike protection layer330(since the cover member itself is the spike protection layer and both use the reference number330).

As shown inFIG. 14, the pressure member fixing step S32is a step of placing the pressure member A applying pressure to the adhesive (rubber) composition at a correct position inside the tire30, and includes a flat member installing step S321, a pressure member installing step S322, and a jig installing step S323.

The flat member installing step S321is a step of installing a flat member C covering the coupling portions111and the cover member330. The flat member covers the coupling portions111and the cover member330to flatten a contact surface of the pressure member A, such that a uniform pressure is applied to the adhesive (rubber) composition. The flat member C may be, for example, made of a material (e.g., Teflon) that does not adhere to the rubber at the time of curing, or a sheet made of urethane (the flat member C may be used or not, and when used, an agent such as a release agent may be applied between the flat member C and the pressure member A such as a tube, which will be described later).

The pressure member installing step S322is a step of placing the pressure member A applying pressure to the adhesive (rubber) composition at a side of the flat member C. The pressure member A may use, for example, a tube having a ring (donut) shape in which an air inflow hole (not shown) is formed, and is positioned between the flat member C and a support jig B.

The jig installing step S323is a step of placing the support jig B supporting the pressure member A at a first side of the pressure member A. The support jig B (not shown) has a cylindrical shape in which a side surface thereof protrudes inwardly toward a center, and upper and lower surfaces are open, and is configured with two symmetrical parts. The support jig may be provided on an inner surface thereof with a handle (not shown) capable of easily grasping the support jig B, and a hole (not shown) communicating with the air inflow hole.

As shown inFIG. 15, the pressure/temperature adjusting step S33is a step of applying pressure and heat to the adhesive (rubber) composition for a predetermined time (e.g., 2 to 7 hours) such that the adhesive (rubber) composition is cured and the physical properties thereof are changed. For example, the tire30after completion of the jig installing step S323is inserted into a pressure tank (not shown) and is applied with heat, and then the pressure member A is applied with air, whereby the adhesive (rubber) composition is cured. When air flows into the pressure member A positioned between the flat member C and the support jig B and the pressure member expands, the first side of the pressure member A is supported by the support jig B so as not to expand further, while a second side of the pressure member A presses the flat member C, that is, presses the coupling portions111and the cover member330to press the adhesive composition. When the support jig B, the pressure member A, and the flat member C are removed from the tire30after completion of the curing step S3, a tire structure having the spike protection layer330is obtained as shown inFIG. 3. When the support jig B, the pressure member A, the flat member C, and cover member330are removed, a tire structure having no spike protection layer330can be obtained.