Tire pattern structure for resisting puncture and actively discharging stones

Abstract

The application discloses a tire pattern structure with anti-puncture and active stone discharge for gravel pavement, and relates to the technical field of tires.The technical scheme is as follows: a pattern block is arranged on a tread, pattern grooves are arranged between the pattern blocks, the groove bottoms of the pattern grooves are provided with elastic protection teeth in a zip fastener shape and engaged with each other in the circumferential direction of the tire, the elastic protection teeth are provided with an engagement gap therebetween for discharging stones, and the groove bottoms of the pattern grooves are provided with a gradient hardness buffer layer below the elastic protection teeth, wherein the Shore hardness of the gradient hardness buffer layer gradually changes from 75HA to 65HA from a surface layer in contact with the elastic protection teeth to an inner layer away from the elastic protection teeth.The application realizes the organic combination of stone discharge and anti-puncture through the synergistic effect of multiple structures, greatly reduces the early damage probability of the tire when driving on the gravel pavement, effectively prolongs the actual service life of the tire, improves the safety of the tire when driving on the gravel pavement, and has significant technical advantages and practical value compared with the prior art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tire technology, specifically to a tire tread structure that is puncture-resistant and actively removes stones on gravel roads. Background Technology

[0002] When tires travel on gravel roads such as mines, rural trails, and construction zones, the tread grooves, as the core structure of the tire tread, are extremely prone to trapping sharp stones and gravel particles, becoming a major cause of early tire damage. Traditional tire tread grooves are smooth groove structures without targeted active stone removal or puncture resistance designs. Sharp stones embedded in the groove bottom will continue to puncture and compress the rubber as the tire rolls, easily causing rubber cracks and delamination, and in severe cases, tire blowouts, significantly shortening the actual service life of the tire. At the same time, the walls of traditional tread grooves are flat curved surfaces, and stones are prone to bouncing and rebounding after contacting the groove walls, creating a secondary embedding problem at the bottom of the groove, further exacerbating the vicious cycle of stone trapping and punctures.

[0003] Existing technologies for improving tire tread groove anti-stone trapping and puncture resistance are mostly passive protection designs, and suffer from limitations and simplistic approaches. Some solutions increase the thickness of the rubber layer at the bottom of the tread groove to enhance puncture resistance, but this significantly reduces heat dissipation at the groove bottom. Increased heat generation at the groove bottom during tire operation can lead to rubber aging and thermal degradation, ultimately reducing tire durability. Other solutions incorporate rigid stone-removing ribs at the bottom of the groove (such as the off-road tire tread pattern and tire disclosed in Chinese Utility Model Patent CN215904259U), but their rigidity can cause stress concentration during tire rolling, leading to breakage and detachment of the ribs, thus negating their protective effect. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a new anti-stone trapping tire tread structure to address the aforementioned shortcomings of existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a tire tread structure for gravel pavement that is puncture-resistant and actively removes stones. Through the multi-structure collaborative design of interlocking elastic protective teeth in a zipper shape, a gradient hardness buffer layer, a three-level stepped trench wall, a hook-shaped anti-backflow protrusion and a variable-angle trench wall, a five-layer protection system of active stone removal + auxiliary stone removal + anti-backflow stone trapping + puncture resistance + full-cycle protection is constructed. Compared with the prior art, it is improved in terms of puncture resistance.

[0005] The technical solution of this invention is as follows:

[0006] The tire tread structure for puncture resistance and active stone removal on gravel roads includes tread blocks on the tread surface, tread grooves between the tread blocks, and interlocking elastic protective teeth in a zipper-like pattern at the bottom of the grooves along the tire circumferential direction. There are interlocking gaps between the elastic protective teeth for stone removal. A gradient hardness buffer layer is provided at the bottom of the tread grooves below the elastic protective teeth. The Shore hardness of the gradient hardness buffer layer gradually changes from 75HA to 65HA from the surface layer in contact with the elastic protective teeth to the inner layer away from the elastic protective teeth.

[0007] Preferably, the bottom of the elastic protective tooth extends into the gradient hardness buffer layer.

[0008] Preferably, the meshing gap of the elastic protective teeth is 2-3 mm.

[0009] Preferably, the Shore hardness of the elastic protective tooth is 70HA.

[0010] Preferably, the top of the two sides of the groove wall has a three-tiered stepped structure, and each step surface is inclined.

[0011] Preferably, the groove is provided with a barbed anti-backflow protrusion. The bottom of the barbed anti-backflow protrusion is set on the elastic protective tooth, and one side is set on the groove wall of the groove, inclined towards the inside of the groove.

[0012] Preferably, the inclination angles of the groove walls on both sides of the patterned groove are different.

[0013] Preferably, along the length of the groove, the inclination angle of one side of the groove wall increases from 10° to 20° and then decreases back to 10°, while the inclination angle of the other side of the groove wall decreases from 20° to 10° and then increases back to 20°.

[0014] This invention addresses the technical pain points of tire tread grooves on gravel roads being prone to stone trapping and punctures. It abandons the traditional single-design approach of passive protection and instead employs a multi-structure collaborative design: interlocking elastic protective teeth resembling zippers, a gradient hardness buffer layer, a three-tiered groove wall, hook-shaped anti-backflow protrusions, and variable-angle groove walls. This constructs a five-layer protection system encompassing active stone removal, auxiliary stone removal, anti-backflow stone trapping, puncture resistance, and full-cycle protection. Compared to existing technologies, this system offers improvements in puncture resistance, with the following specific benefits:

[0015] 1. The present invention features interlocking elastic protective teeth in a zipper-like pattern at the bottom of the groove. Relying on the high elasticity of 70HA Shore hardness, these teeth can undergo elastic deformation and widen the interlocking gap when squeezed by stones. After the stones are embedded, they quickly retract and re-engage, creating a continuous radial outward squeezing force on the stones and forcibly pushing them out of the groove bottom. This achieves active stone removal and completely solves the problem of traditional grooves relying solely on the centrifugal force of tire rolling to passively remove stones, resulting in incomplete stone removal. It also prevents puncture and compression damage caused by sharp stones being embedded in the groove bottom for a long time.

[0016] 2. In this invention, the gradient hardness buffer layer below the elastic protective teeth adopts a structural design with a Shore hardness gradually changing from 75HA to 65HA, without a sudden change in hardness. The high-hardness surface layer can provide rigid support for the elastic protective teeth, preventing them from sinking under stress and causing a decrease in stone-removing force, while initially dispersing the local stress caused by stone punctures. The low-hardness inner layer can fully absorb and buffer the remaining impact stress, allowing the puncture stress to be continuously dispersed within the gradient hardness buffer layer to a larger area of ​​the groove bottom rubber, significantly reducing local stress concentration and effectively preventing the groove bottom rubber from cracking and delaminating due to stone punctures. Compared with the traditional passive protection method of thickening the rubber layer, this method improves the puncture resistance while avoiding the problems of poor heat dissipation and rapid rubber aging caused by excessively thick rubber layers.

[0017] 3. In this invention, on the one hand, the three-tiered stepped structure at the top of the patterned groove wall increases the contact friction with the stones, counteracting the bouncing force of the stones and avoiding the secondary embedding problem caused by the stones bouncing along the groove wall; on the other hand, the barbed anti-backflow protrusions in the patterned groove can effectively block stones attempting to embed backwards, preventing backflow and stone trapping. When stones are discharged outwards from the groove, they can squeeze the barbed anti-backflow protrusions to produce slight deformation and pass smoothly without affecting normal stone discharge, achieving precise protection of "preventing entry but not exit". At the same time, the design of the variable-angle groove walls on both sides of the patterned groove generates a greater upward component force when the stones contact the large-angle groove wall, and the different inclination angles of the patterned blocks on both sides create a difference in rigidity, resulting in different deformation when subjected to rolling force, further forming a squeezing thrust on the embedded stones, doubly improving the auxiliary stone discharge effect.

[0018] 4. The elastic protective teeth, gradient hardness buffer layer, barbed anti-backflow protrusion, and three-stage stepped groove wall of the present invention are all integrally vulcanized with the tire body. The bottom of the elastic protective teeth extends into the gradient hardness buffer layer, further enhancing the structural bonding strength and eliminating the risk of delamination, detachment, or breakage.

[0019] In summary, this invention achieves an organic combination of stone removal and puncture resistance through the synergistic effect of multiple structures, significantly reducing the probability of early tire damage when driving on gravel roads, effectively extending the actual service life of tires, and improving tire safety when driving on gravel roads. Compared with the prior art, it has significant technical advantages and practical value. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the tire tread structure for anti-puncture and active stone removal on gravel pavement according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the elastic protective tooth of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the patterned groove of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-stone-clamping structure in Comparative Example 1.

[0024] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Cross-sectional view at A-A'.

[0025] In the diagram, 1 is the tire tread; 2 is the tread block; 3 is the tread groove; 4 is the elastic protective tooth; 501 is the outer layer; 502 is the inner layer; 6 is the barbed anti-backflow protrusion; and 7 is the boss. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this invention, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments of this invention.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] This embodiment provides a 445 / 95R25 tire tread structure for gravel road surfaces that is puncture-resistant and actively removes stones. Figure 1 As shown, it includes tread blocks 2 disposed on the tread 1, and tread grooves 3 disposed between the tread blocks 2. Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the bottom of the tread groove 3 is provided with interlocking elastic protective teeth 4 in a zipper-like manner along the circumferential direction of the tire. The elastic protective teeth 4 are 2mm higher than the bottom of the tread groove 3 and 3mm wide. The tooth spacing between adjacent elastic protective teeth 4 is 20mm. The end of the elastic protective teeth 4 is a circular arc structure with a radius of 1mm, without sharp corner stress concentration. There is a 3mm interlocking gap between the elastic protective teeth 4 for stone removal. The elastic protective teeth 4 are integrally vulcanized with the bottom of the tread groove 3 through a tire mold.

[0029] like Figure 3As shown, a 3mm thick gradient hardness buffer layer is provided at the bottom of the groove 3 below the elastic protective tooth 4. This gradient hardness buffer layer is made of multiple layers of rubber with different carbon black contents, so that its Shore hardness gradually changes from 75HA to 65HA from the surface layer 501 in contact with the elastic protective tooth 4 to the inner layer 502 away from the elastic protective tooth 4. This gradual change in hardness, without abrupt hardness changes, can effectively disperse the local stress caused by stone punctures. The gradient hardness buffer layer, the groove 3, and the elastic protective tooth 4 are integrally vulcanized in the same vulcanization process. The rubber of the elastic protective tooth 4 has a Shore hardness of 70HA, and the bottom of the elastic protective tooth 4 extends 2mm into the gradient hardness buffer layer to enhance the bonding strength between the two and reduce the risk of delamination and detachment of the elastic protective tooth 4.

[0030] At the same time, such as Figure 3 As shown, the top of the two side walls of the patterned groove 3 has a three-tiered structure, with each tier being 1mm high and 2mm wide, and each tier surface forming a 15° angle with the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the tiered surfaces of the three-tiered structure are frosted and rough, further increasing the contact friction with the pebbles.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, a barbed anti-backflow protrusion 6 is provided inside the patterned groove 3. The bottom of the barbed anti-backflow protrusion 6 is set on the elastic protective tooth 4, and one side is set on the groove wall of the patterned groove 3, inclined towards the inside of the patterned groove 3. The barbed anti-backflow protrusion 6 is integrally vulcanized with the patterned groove 3, with a height of 2mm, a bottom width of 3mm, and an inclination angle of 45°.

[0032] In the tire tread structure of this embodiment, the elastic protective teeth 4 undergo elastic deformation when squeezed by stones, temporarily increasing their interlocking gap. After the stone is embedded, they actively retract and re-engage due to their elasticity. During the retraction process, a radially outward squeezing force is generated on the stone, forcibly pushing the stone out of the bottom of the tread groove 3, thus completing the active stone removal. The gradient hardness buffer layer can disperse the puncture stress. The high-hardness surface layer 501 provides rigid support for the elastic protective teeth 4, preventing the elastic protective teeth 4 from sinking under force and causing the stone removal force to decrease. At the same time, it initially disperses the local stress of the stone puncture. The low-hardness inner layer 502 further absorbs and buffers the puncture energy, dispersing the impact stress of the stone to a larger area of ​​the bottom rubber of the tread groove 3, reducing local stress and preventing the bottom rubber of the tread groove 3 from cracking due to stress concentration. At the same time, the three-stage stepped structure at the top of the groove walls on both sides of the tread groove 3 increases the contact friction between the groove wall and the stone. When the stone contacts the groove wall, the friction counteracts the bouncing force of the stone, preventing the stone from bouncing along the smooth groove wall and embedding itself into the bottom of the groove again. The hook-shaped anti-backflow protrusion 6 is inclined at 45°. When stones in the tread groove 3 are discharged outward, they can be squeezed to produce slight elastic deformation of the hook-shaped anti-backflow protrusion 6, allowing them to pass smoothly. When external stones attempt to embed themselves in the reverse direction, the hook-shaped structure of the hook-shaped anti-backflow protrusion 6 can form a barrier, effectively reducing the probability of lateral backflow and stone entrapment. In summary, the above-mentioned structural designs of the tire tread structure in this embodiment work together to achieve multiple protections, including active stone removal, anti-backflow and stone entrapment, auxiliary stone removal, and puncture resistance.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclination angles of the groove walls on both sides of the patterned groove 3 are designed to be different. Specifically, along the length of the patterned groove 3, the inclination angle of one side of the groove wall increases from 10° to 20° and then decreases back to 10°; correspondingly, the inclination angle of the other side of the groove wall decreases from 20° to 10° and then increases back to 20°. This results in different inclination angles on both sides of the patterned groove 3 (e.g., Figure 3 As shown), the rigidity of the patterned blocks 2 is also different, and the inclination angles of the two side groove walls are different. When a stone enters and contacts the groove wall with a large inclination angle on one side, it will generate a larger upward component force, which can increase the stone removal effect. Moreover, after the stone is clamped in the patterned groove 3, when the patterned blocks 2 on both sides are subjected to rolling force, the different rigidity of the patterned blocks 2 on both sides and the different deformation of the rubber can increase the stone removal effect.

[0034] Comparative Example 1

[0035] Comparative Example 1 adopts a conventional anti-stone-clamping structure design, that is, Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, a protrusion 7 is set at the center of the bottom of the patterned groove 3 to eject pebbles from the patterned groove 3.

[0036] The puncture resistance of tires using the tread pattern designs of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 was tested. These tires were mounted on a crane vehicle and driven on a gravel road surface in a wind power operation scenario, at an average speed of 10 km / h and a load of 10 t, until the tires were finally cut and damaged, rendering them unusable. The test results are shown in Table 1.

[0037] Table 1. Test results of puncture resistance of tires using the tread pattern designs of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

[0038]

[0039] As can be seen from Table 1, this invention addresses the technical pain points of tire tread grooves 3 on gravel roads being prone to stone trapping and punctures. It abandons the traditional single design concept of passive protection and instead constructs a five-layer protection system with active stone removal, auxiliary stone removal, anti-backflow stone trapping, anti-puncture, and full-cycle protection through a multi-structure collaborative design of interlocking elastic protective teeth 4, gradient hardness buffer layer, three-level stepped groove wall, barbed anti-backflow protrusions 6, and variable-angle groove wall. This system improves the resistance to punctures and other aspects.

[0040] Comparative Example 2

[0041] In Comparative Example 2, the bottom of the tread groove 3 is provided with a 3mm thick buffer layer below the elastic protective tooth 4. This buffer layer is made of a single layer of tread rubber with a Shore hardness of 65HA.

[0042] Cutting tests were conducted on the gradient hardness buffer layer of Example 1 and the buffer layer of Comparative Example 2 in accordance with GB / T 46605-2025 "Determination of Dynamic Cut Resistance of Vulcanized Rubber or Thermoplastic Rubber". The test results are shown in Table 2.

[0043] Table 2. Volumetric cutting amount of the gradient hardness buffer layer in Example 1 and the buffer layer in Comparative Example 2.

[0044]

[0045] As can be seen from Table 2, the present invention sets a gradient hardness buffer layer with gradually changing hardness below the elastic protective tooth 4, which can reduce the volume cutting amount of the tire during driving and effectively prevent the rubber at the bottom of the tread groove 3 from cracking and delaminating due to stone puncture. Compared with the passive protection method of traditional rubber layer, it improves the puncture resistance.

Claims

1. A tire tread structure for puncture-resistant and actively expelling stones on gravel roads, comprising tread blocks (2) on the tread (1), with tread grooves (3) between the tread blocks (2), characterized in that, The bottom of the tread groove (3) is provided with interlocking elastic protective teeth (4) in a zipper-like manner along the circumferential direction of the tire. There is an interlocking gap between the elastic protective teeth (4). When squeezed by stones, the teeth undergo elastic deformation and the interlocking gap widens. After the stones are embedded, the teeth retract and interlock, forming a continuous radial outward squeezing force on the stones, forcibly pushing the stones out of the groove bottom, thus achieving active stone removal. Below the elastic protective teeth (4), a gradient hardness buffer layer is provided at the bottom of the tread groove (3). The Shore hardness of the gradient hardness buffer layer is... The degree of contact between the surface layer (501) and the elastic protective tooth (4) and the inner layer (502) away from the elastic protective tooth (4) gradually changes from 75HA to 65HA; the bottom of the elastic protective tooth (4) extends into the gradient hardness buffer layer; a barbed anti-backflow protrusion (6) is provided in the groove (3), the bottom of the barbed anti-backflow protrusion (6) is provided on the elastic protective tooth (4), one side is provided on the groove wall of the groove (3), and it is inclined towards the side inside the groove (3).

2. The tire tread structure for puncture-resistant and actively expelling stones on gravel roads as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bite gap of the elastic protective tooth (4) is 2-3 mm.

3. The tire tread structure for puncture-resistant and actively expelling stones on gravel roads as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The Shore hardness of the elastic protective tooth (4) is 70HA.

4. The tire tread structure for puncture-resistant and actively expelling stones on gravel roads as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the two sides of the patterned groove (3) has a three-level stepped structure, and each step surface is inclined.

5. The tire tread structure for puncture-resistant and actively expelling stones on gravel roads as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inclination angles of the groove walls on both sides of the patterned groove (3) are different.

6. The tire tread structure for puncture-resistant and actively expelling stones on gravel roads as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Along the length of the patterned groove (3), the inclination angle of one side of the groove wall of the patterned groove (3) increases from 10° to 20° and then decreases back to 10°. Correspondingly, the inclination angle of the other side of the groove wall decreases from 20° to 10° and then increases back to 20°.

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