Vehicle pneumatic tire
By designing star-shaped microgroove elements in the tire block, the problem of exhaust device indentation interfering with the microgroove was solved, achieving effective water film discharge and force transmission, and improving the driving performance of winter tires.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2021-12-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
Smart Images
Figure CN116583414B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle pneumatic tire having a tread having shoulder-side blocks belonging to a shoulder block row and intermediate blocks between the shoulder-side blocks, wherein, in a top view, at least some of the shoulder-side blocks and / or at least some of the intermediate blocks have at least one cut extending at a maximum angle of 35° to the axial direction, the at least one cut having a width of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm and a depth at its deepest position being at least 50% of the tread depth, and wherein microgrooves are arranged therein, wherein the microgrooves have a width of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm and a depth of 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm.
[0002] The “incision” is also often referred to as a “fine incision”. Background Technology
[0003] It is known that in the case of pneumatic tires designed for winter use, the tread blocks are uniformly "covered" with multiple very shallow microgrooves extending parallel to each other. Compared to conventional cuts formed in the blocks, these microgrooves, due to their shallow depth, do not close under the forces generated during rolling. In a top view, the microgrooves typically extend axially or at an angle deviating from the axial direction by up to 90° and have a length similar to that of cuts. In the case of new tires, especially so-called "softcompound" winter tires, the surface structure formed by the microgrooves helps to absorb and drain water films formed on snow- and / or ice-covered roads during braking and acceleration, thus draining water from the tread. For example, in conditions where ambient temperatures are approximately below 0°C and there is prolonged intense solar radiation, a large amount of ice and / or snow melts, forming a thicker water film. For driving on such roads, it is advantageous to ensure that the water film is absorbed and drained through the microgrooves, while simultaneously ensuring that the contact area of the tread blocks of a new tire is large enough to guarantee good force transmission from the tire to the ground. For example, from DE 10 2017 211 128 A1, there is a known pneumatic tire for vehicles (which is also the type of pneumatic tire described at the beginning) in which microgrooves are provided in addition to slits. However, the microgrooves extend parallel to the slits.
[0004] It is also known that segments of tire vulcanizing molds have venting devices, in most cases circular, in the form of venting channels or venting valves, through which air can be discharged radially outward from the mold cavity. This ensures that the vulcanized tire does not have defects on its surface caused by air remaining in the mold cavity. Vulcanizing molds for winter tires used in passenger motor vehicles (PKW) typically have between 500 and 7,000 such venting devices, which leave slightly sunken, slightly raised, or flush indentations on the tire surface (depending on the installation position of the venting device in the mold segment).
[0005] These indentations may interfere with the formation of microgrooves, and therefore may not be able to ensure complete drainage of the water film. Summary of the Invention
[0006] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to design the tread of a tire of the type described at the beginning in such a way that: the drainage of the aforementioned water film through microgrooves is improved; and the contact area of the tread blocks of the new tire is still large enough to ensure good force transmission from the tire to the ground.
[0007] According to the present invention, the proposed objective is achieved in such a way that at least one of these blocks has a microgroove element composed of microgrooves arranged in a dendritic pattern like snow crystals, and the microgroove element is composed of at least four microgrooves that are oriented toward the center point of the microgroove element in a star-shaped manner.
[0008] A compact element consisting of at least four microgrooves resembling snow crystals is provided for expelling the aforementioned water film. This element is also positioned on the surface of the block in such a way that the microgrooves are not on the indentation of the exhaust device and therefore do not interfere with the formation of the microgrooves. The microgrooves are precisely formed and therefore function perfectly. To arrange the microgrooves like snow crystals, the microgrooves are preferably implemented as straight lines within their extension range. Furthermore, this pneumatic tire is better suited to the driving operations required by the market because the microgrooves extend in a star shape and are therefore also, for example, diagonally arranged.
[0009] Conveniently, only a single microgroove element is arranged within a single block. This achieves an optimal trade-off between drainage and a sufficiently large contact area for maximizing force transfer within the block.
[0010] Advantageously, the length of the microgrooving element corresponds to 50% to 100%, preferably 70% to 100%, of the block length. This size of microgrooving element allows it to be placed on the block outside the indentation of the exhaust device, while still effectively cutting through the micro-water film. Simultaneously, a sufficiently large contact area is achieved between the block and the lane to enable adequate and safe force transmission.
[0011] Advantageously, the width of the microgrooving element corresponds to 30% to 100%, preferably 30% to 80%, of the width of the block. This size of microgrooving element allows it to be placed on the block outside the indentation of the exhaust device, while still effectively cutting through the micro-water film. Simultaneously, a sufficiently large contact area is achieved between the block and the lane to enable adequate and safe force transmission.
[0012] Advantageously, the block with microgrooves is further arranged with microgrooves extending perpendicularly to the cut, and these additional microgrooves are spaced apart from the microgrooves. This ensures drainage towards all relevant flow directions and from these directions.
[0013] Conveniently, the microgrooves of the microgrooving element have a width ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably 0.4 mm. This is the optimal width to ensure adequate drainage and sufficient lifetime performance. Furthermore, the aforementioned width provides abrasion resistance.
[0014] Conveniently, the microgrooves of the microgrooving element have a depth ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, preferably 0.5 mm. These microgrooves, due to their shallow depth, do not close under the forces generated during rolling, and can effectively cut off and absorb water films generated on the lane surface. Furthermore, the aforementioned depth offers abrasion resistance and is the optimal depth to ensure adequate drainage and sufficient lifetime performance.
[0015] Advantageously, each microgroove element consists of an even number of microgrooves, preferably 4, 6, 8, or 10; and the microgroove elements are preferably approximately symmetrical. An element is provided whose microgrooves are arranged along the direction supporting the driving operations required by the market. This ensures drainage towards all relevant flow directions and from these directions, thereby allowing any necessary and safe driving operations to be performed at any time.
[0016] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, all microgrooves of the microgroove element terminate at the center point of the microgroove element.
[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, only some of the microgrooves of the microgrooves terminate at the center point of the microgrooves element, while other microgrooves of the microgrooves element terminate in front of the center point, and / or additional microgrooves are arranged such that they are not oriented toward the center point, but toward a point on the microgrooves.
[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, all microgrooves of the microgroove element terminate in front of the center point of the microgroove element. In this embodiment, for example, the microgroove elements may be arranged on the block in such a way that the indentation of the exhaust device is located at the center of the microgroove element, and the formation of the microgrooves is not affected by the indentation.
[0019] According to the present invention, only one, two, or all three of the above embodiments can be implemented on a vehicle pneumatic tire according to the present invention.
[0020] Conveniently, arrow-shaped elements are arranged on one or more of the microgrooves of the microgroove element, with the arrows arranged symmetrically on the microgrooves and pointing inwards towards the microgroove element. This ensures drainage in all relevant flow directions and from these directions, allowing for any necessary and safe driving operations to be performed at any time.
[0021] The terms “block” and “tread block” are used synonymously here.
[0022] The present invention relates to pneumatic tires for vehicles, particularly radial winter tires (including studded tires and soft composite tires) and all-season tires for passenger motor vehicles, trucks or light trucks. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Now, other features, advantages, and details of the invention will be described in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which schematically illustrate embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:
[0024] Figure 1 A top view of a tread section of a pneumatic tire for a vehicle according to the invention, comprising axially arranged rows of tread blocks, is shown.
[0025] Figures 2 to 5 The corresponding top view of the microgroove element is shown, in which Figure 4 Show Figure 1 A magnified top view of the microgroove elements in the tire tread section.
[0026] List of reference numerals
[0027] 1..............Main groove
[0028] 2.............. Outer shoulder block row
[0029] 3.............. Semi-centered blocks near the outside
[0030] 4.............. Centered block column
[0031] 5..............Semi-centered inner block
[0032] 6..............Inner shoulder block row
[0033] 7. Length of microgroove elements
[0034] 8..............(tread) blocks
[0035] 9. Length of (tread) blocks
[0036] 10.............Incision
[0037] 11. Width of the microgroove element
[0038] 12.............Microgroove Elements
[0039] 13.............Microgrooves of microgrooves
[0040] 14.............Microgrooves of Microgrooves
[0041] 15.............Microgroove elements of microgroove texture
[0042] 16.............Microgrooves of Microgrooves
[0043] 17.............Microgrooves of microgrooves
[0044] 18..............Microgrooves of Microgrooves
[0045] 19.............Microgrooves of Microgrooves
[0046] 20.............Microgroove elements of microgroove texture
[0047] 21.............Center point of microgroove elements
[0048] 22............. Width of microgroove elements
[0049] 23.............Arrow-shaped design element
[0050] UR.............Circumferential Direction
[0051] AR.............Axial direction Detailed Implementation
[0052] exist Figure 1The tread segment shown has five tread regions surrounding it in the circumferential direction UR, formed by tread blocks arranged side by side in the axial direction AR. These tread regions are separated from each other by four main grooves 1 extending approximately in the circumferential direction UR. From left to right, these tread regions are: outer shoulder block row 2, semi-central outer tread block row 3, central block row 4, semi-central inner block row 5, and inner shoulder block row 6.
[0053] In a top view, each tread block 8 has at least one cutout 10 extending at an angle α to the axial direction of up to 35°. This cutout has a width of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm and a depth at its deepest point of at least 50% of the tread depth. Two of these blocks 8 have microgrooves 12 composed of dendritic microgrooves 13-20 arranged like snow crystals, each microgrooves 12 consisting of at least four microgrooves 13-16 arranged in a star-shaped pattern toward the center point 21 of the microgrooves 12. Each block 8 has only one microgrooves 12. The length 7 of the microgrooves 12 preferably corresponds to 70% to 100% of the block length 9, and its width 11 preferably corresponds to 30% to 80% of the block width 22. The microgrooves 13-20 of microgroove element 12 preferably have a width of 0.4 mm and a depth of 0.5 mm. Each microgroove element 12 consists of an even number of microgrooves 13-20, preferably 4, 6, 8, or 10. The microgroove element 12 is approximately symmetrical. Figure 4 Enlarged to show Figure 1 The microgroove element is shown and described in detail here.
[0054] Figures 2 to 5 The corresponding top views show microgroove elements of different designs, in which... Figure 4 Show Figure 1 A magnified top view of the microgroove elements in the tire tread section.
[0055] exist Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In the microgroove element 12, four microgrooves 13-16 terminate at the center point 21 of the microgroove element 12, while another four microgrooves 17-20 terminate outside the center point 21. Two corresponding microgrooves among the four microgrooves 13-16 terminating at the center point 21 are aligned with each other, such that every two aligned microgrooves 13-14 and 15-16 form a straight line. Figure 4 In the middle, all microgrooves 13-20 terminate outside the center point 21, but extend towards the center point. Figure 5In the middle, the remaining four microgrooves 17-20 do not point towards the center point 21 within their extension range, but rather each pair of microgrooves points towards a point on two microgrooves 13 and 14, where these two microgrooves 13-14 form a straight line. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this microgroove element 12, the other four microgrooves 17-20 terminate outside the center point 21, but extend towards the center point. The length 7 of the microgroove element 12 preferably corresponds to 70% to 100% of the length of the block (the block is not shown here). The width 11 of the microgroove element 12 preferably corresponds to 30% to 80% of the width of the block (the block is not shown here). All microgrooves 13-20 have an arrow-shaped design element 23 at one end or in the middle of the microgroove element 13-20. The arrows of the arrow-shaped design element 23 are arranged symmetrically on the microgroove, with the arrows pointing towards the interior of the microgroove element.
Claims
1. A vehicle pneumatic tire having a tread having a shoulder block (8) belonging to a shoulder block row (2, 6) and an intermediate block (8) between the shoulder block (8), wherein, In a top view, at least some of the blocks (8) on the shoulder side and / or at least some of the blocks (8) in the middle are provided with at least one cut (10) extending at a maximum angle of 35° to the axial direction (AR), the at least one cut having a width of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm and a depth at its deepest position of at least 50% of the tread depth, and wherein microgrooves (13-20) are arranged, wherein the microgrooves (13-20) have a width of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm and a depth of 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm. Its features are, At least one of the blocks (8) has a microgroove element (12) consisting of microgrooves (13-20) arranged in a dendritic pattern like snow crystals, wherein only one microgroove element (12) is arranged in a block (8), and the microgroove element (12) consists of at least four microgrooves (13-16) arranged in a star shape toward the center point (21) of the microgroove element (12). The length (7) of the microgroove element (12) corresponds to 50% to 70% of the length (9) of the block, and the width (11) of the microgroove element (12) corresponds to 30% to 80% of the width (22) of the block, and all the microgrooves (13-20) of the microgroove element (12) terminate at the center point (21) of the microgroove element, or only some of the microgrooves (13-16) of the microgroove element (12) terminate at the center point (21) of the microgroove element, while the other microgrooves (17-20) of the microgroove element (12) terminate outside the center point (21).
2. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least in the block (8) having the microgroove element (12), additional microgrooves extending perpendicularly to the cut (10) are arranged, and the additional microgrooves are arranged spaced apart from the microgroove element (12).
3. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microgrooves (13-20) of the microgrooves element (12) have a width in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.
4. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 3, characterized in that, The microgrooves (13-20) of the microgrooves element (12) have a width of 0.4 mm.
5. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microgrooves (13-20) of the microgrooves element (12) have a depth in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.
6. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 5, characterized in that, The microgrooves (13-20) of the microgrooves element (12) have a depth of 0.5 mm.
7. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each microgroove element (12) consists of an even number of microgrooves (13-20).
8. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 7, characterized in that, The even numbers are 4, 6, 8 or 10.
9. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 7, characterized in that, The microgroove element (12) is approximately symmetrical.
10. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, Additional microgrooves are arranged not toward the center point, but toward a point on the microgroove.
11. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microgroove element (12) has no microgrooves (13-20) terminating at the center point (21) of the microgroove element.
12. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, Arrow-shaped design elements (23) are arranged on one or more or all of the microgrooves (13-20) of the microgrooves element (12), wherein the arrows are arranged on the microgrooves (13-20) in a symmetrical manner with the arrows pointing toward the interior of the microgrooves element.
13. The vehicle pneumatic tire according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tire surface may be provided with only microgroove elements (12) implemented in the same manner, or the tire surface may be provided with microgroove elements (12) implemented in a different manner.