Apparatus for friction enhancement of curved surfaces

Abstract

A tire has a curved tire surface and a nano-scale structure disposed on a portion of the curved tire surface. A contact patch on the curved tire surface contacts a contact surface as the tire rolls along the contact surface. The nano-scale structure has a base and a tip. The base is connected to the portion of the curved tire surface. The tip is disposed opposite the base. When the portion of the curved tire surface with the nano-scale structure is positioned away from the contact patch, the nano-scale structure is in a relaxed position. When the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated into the contact patch, the nano-scale structure is engaged with the contact surface. When the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated through the contact patch, the nano-scale structure is adhesively anchored to the contact surface with the nano-scale structure undergoing tension and compression. When the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated through the contact patch to leave the contact patch, the nano-scale structure is released from the contact surface as an angle between the base and tip surpasses a release angle for the nano-scale structure.

1 : A tire comprising: 
 a curved tire surface, wherein a contact patch on the curved tire surface contacts a contact surface as the tire rolls along the contact surface; and    a nano-scale structure disposed on a portion of the curved tire surface, the nano-scale structure having a base and a tip, the base connected to the portion of the curved tire surface, and the tip disposed opposite the base, 
 wherein the nano-scale structure is in a relaxed position when the portion of the curved tire surface with the nano-scale structure is positioned away from the contact patch,  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is engaged with the contact surface when the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated into the contact patch,  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is adhesively anchored to the contact surface with the nano-scale structure undergoing tension and compression when the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated through the contact patch, and  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is released from the contact surface as an angle between the base and tip surpasses a release angle for the nano-scale structure when the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated through the contact patch to leave the contact patch.  
   
   
   
       2 : The tire of  claim 1 , wherein a first group of nano-scale structures at a first portion of the curved tire surface extends from the curved tire surface in a first direction relative to the curved tire surface, and a second group of nano-scale structures at a second portion of the curved tire surface extends from the curved tire surface in a second direction relative to the curved tire surface.  
   
   
       3 : The tire of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 two raised sections on the curved tire surface, wherein the nano-scale structure is disposed between the two raised sections.    
   
   
       4 : The tire of  claim 3 , wherein the two raised sections have heights, wherein the tip of the nano-scale structure extends beyond the heights of the two raised sections.  
   
   
       5 : The tire of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one raised section on the curved tire surface, the raised section having a base attached to the curved tire surface, wherein a plurality of nano-scale structures is disposed around the base of the raised section.    
   
   
       6 : The tire of  claim 5 , wherein the raised section includes at least one angled side having a top, bottom, and face, and wherein the base of at least one of the plurality nano-scale structures is disposed at the bottom of the angled side.  
   
   
       7 : The tire of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of nano-scale structures bends away from the face of the angled side, wherein the face of the angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle.  
   
   
       8 : The tire of  claim 5 , wherein the raised section includes a first, second, third, and fourth angled sides, wherein the first and third sides are opposing sides, wherein the second and fourth are opposing sides, wherein each angled side has a top, bottom, and face, wherein the base of a first of the plurality of nano-scale structures is disposed at the bottom of the first angled side, and wherein the base of a second of the plurality of nano-scale structures is disposed at the bottom of the second angled side.  
   
   
       9 : The tire of  claim 8 , wherein the first of the plurality of nano-scale structures bends away from the face of the first angled side, wherein the second of the plurality of nano-scale structures beds away from the face of the second angled side, wherein the face of the first angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle, wherein the face of the second angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle, wherein the face of the third angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle, and wherein the face of the fourth angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle.  
   
   
       10 : The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the frictional properties of the tire are enhanced by intermolecular forces at the nano-scale structure.  
   
   
       11 : The tire of  claim 10 , wherein intermolecular forces are van der Waal's interactions.  
   
   
       12 : A method of moving a tire along a contact surface, comprising: 
 rotating the tire from a first position to a second position, wherein the tire comprises: 
 a curved tire surface, wherein a contact patch on the curved tire surface contacts a contact surface as the tire rolls along the contact surface; and  
 a nano-scale structure disposed on a portion of the curved tire surface, the nano-scale structure having a base and a tip, the base connected to the portion of the curved tire surface, and the tip disposed opposite the base,  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is in a relaxed position when the tire is in the first position, and  
 wherein the portion of the curved tire surface with the nano-scale structure is positioned away from the contact patch when the tire is in the second position, and  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is engaged with the contact surface when the tire is in the second position, and  
 wherein the portion of the curved tire surface with the nano-scale structure is rotated into the contact patch when the tire is in the second position;  
   rotating the tire from the second position to a third position, wherein the nano-scale structure is adhesively anchored to the contact surface with the nano-scale structure undergoing tension and compression when the tire is in the third position, and wherein the portion of the curved tire surface with the nano-scale structure is rotated through the contact patch when the tire is in the third position; and    rotating the tire from the third position to a fourth position, wherein the nano-scale structure is released from the contact surface as an angle between the base and tip surpasses a release angle for the nano-scale structure when the tire is in the fourth position, and wherein the portion of the curved tire surface with the nano-scale structure is rotated through the contact patch to leave the contact patch when the tire is in the fourth position.    
   
   
       13 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein a first group of nano-scale structures at a first portion of the curved tire surface extends from the curved tire surface in a first direction relative to the curved tire surface, and a second group of nano-scale structures at a second portion of the curved tire surface extends from the curved tire surface in a second direction relative to the curved tire surface.  
   
   
       14 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein a first raised section on the curved tire surface contacts the contact surface before the nano-scale structure is engaged with the contact scale structure when the tire is in the second position, and wherein a second raised section on the curved tire surface contacts the contact surface after the nano-scale structure is released from the contact surface when the tire is in the fourth position, wherein the nano-scale structure is disposed between the first and second raised sections.  
   
   
       15 : The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second raised sections have heights, wherein the tip of the nano-scale structure extends beyond the heights of the first and second raised sections.  
   
   
       16 : The method of  claim 14 , wherein a raised section on the curved tire surface contacts the contact surface after the nano-scale structure is engaged with the contact scale structure when the tire is in the second position, wherein the raised section has a base attached to the curved tire surface, wherein the nano-scale structure is disposed at the base of the raised section.  
   
   
       17 : The method of  claim 16 , wherein the raised section includes at least one angled side having a top, bottom, and face, and wherein the base of the nano-scale structure is disposed at the bottom of the angled side.  
   
   
       18 : The method of  claim 17 , wherein the face of the raised section is in contact with the nano-scale structure when the tire is in the third position, and wherein the raised section supports the nano-scale structure when the tire is in the third position.  
   
   
       19 : A method of making a tire comprising: 
 forming a curved tire surface, wherein a contact patch on the curved tire surface contacts a contact surface as the tire rolls along the contact surface; and    forming a nano-scale structure disposed on a portion of the curved tire surface, the nano-scale structure having a base and a tip, the base connected to the portion of the curved tire surface, and the tip disposed opposite the base, 
 wherein the nano-scale structure is in a relaxed position when the portion of the curved tire surface with the nano-scale structure is positioned away from the contact patch,  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is engaged with the contact surface when the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated into the contact patch,  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is adhesively anchored to the contact surface with the nano-scale structure undergoing tension and compression when the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated through the contact patch, and  
 wherein the nano-scale structure is released from the contact surface as an angle between the base and tip surpasses a release angle for the nano-scale structure when the portion of the curved tire surface is rotated through the contact patch to leave the contact patch.  
   
   
   
       20 : The method of  claim 19 , wherein forming a nano-scale structure comprises: 
 forming a first group of nano-scale structures at a first portion of the curved tire surface extends from the curved tire surface in a first direction relative to the curved tire surface; and    forming a second group of nano-scale structures at a second portion of the curved tire surface extends from the curved tire surface in a second direction relative to the curved tire surface.    
   
   
       21 : The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 forming two raised sections on the curved tire surface, wherein the nano-scale structure is disposed between the two raised sections.    
   
   
       22 : The method of  claim 21 , wherein the two raised sections have heights, wherein the tip of the nano-scale structure extends beyond the heights of the two raised sections.  
   
   
       23 : The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 forming at least one raised section on the curved tire surface, the raised section having a base attached to the curved tire surface; and    forming a plurality of nano-scale structures disposed around the base of the raised section.    
   
   
       24 : The method of  claim 23 , wherein the raised section includes at least one angled side having a top, bottom, and face, and wherein the base of at least one of the plurality nano-scale structures is disposed at the bottom of the angled side.  
   
   
       25 : The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of nano-scale structures bends away from the face of the angled side, wherein the face of the angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle.  
   
   
       26 : The method of  claim 23 , wherein the raised section includes a first, second, third, and fourth angled sides, wherein the first and third sides are opposing sides, wherein the second and fourth are opposing sides, wherein each angled side has a top, bottom, and face, wherein the base of a first of the plurality of nano-scale structures is disposed at the bottom of the first angled side, and wherein the base of a second of the plurality of nano-scale structures is disposed at the bottom of the second angled side.  
   
   
       27 : The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first of the plurality of nano-scale structures bends away from the face of the first angled side, wherein the second of the plurality of nano-scale structures beds away from the face of the second angled side, wherein the face of the first angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle, wherein the face of the second angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle, wherein the face of the third angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle, and wherein the face of the fourth angled side and the curved tire surface form an obtuse angle.