PNEUMATIC VEHICLE TIRES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire with a tread, a belt structure, a radial carcass and with sidewalls, each of which has in its radially outer region at least two rows of parallelogram-shaped elevations running concentrically to the circular ring shape of the sidewall and having a height of 0.80 mm to 1.50 mm compared to the rest of the level of the sidewall, wherein between the elevations within a row and between adjacent rows there are intermediate spaces each having in particular constant widths.

[0002] Such a pneumatic vehicle tire is known, for example, from EP 3 129 241 B1. The sidewalls of the pneumatic vehicle tire are reinforced in their radially outer region with a protective rubber layer that locally thickens the sidewalls and is divided into block elements, i.e., elevations, by a network of incisions consisting of at least one incision running circumferentially around the sidewall and a plurality of incisions running radially. The depth of the incisions, at least in some regions, amounts to a maximum of 50% of the thickness of the protective layer at the location of the respective incision. With sidewalls provided with such protective rubber layers, the risk of damage to the carcass ply running beneath the sidewalls, for example when the tire comes into contact with curbs and the like, is noticeably reduced.The tight incision network ensures great flexibility of the protective layer, which, however, comes at the expense of the robustness of the block-like structure.

[0003] Pneumatic vehicle tires with sidewalls are further disclosed in EP 3640057 A1, JP 2017144799 A and US 2015165831 A1.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of increasing the robustness of the block-like structure in a pneumatic vehicle tire of the type mentioned above without having to accept any loss of flexibility.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention in that the rows of elevations are offset from one another in the circumferential direction of the side wall with mutual overlap of the elevations, wherein the spaces between the elevations are also offset from one another in the circumferential direction from row to row and without being aligned with one another.

[0006] The mutual offset of the individual elevations makes them structurally very robust, particularly due to the possibility of optimal mutual support due to the radially offset spaces. These offset spaces between the elevations in the individual rows ensure that the sidewall remains highly flexible under load.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the elevations in all rows have a parallelogram shape in plan view with two acute angles of 30° to 70°, wherein the angles are consistent in the elevations within a row and preferably in the elevations of all rows, and wherein the elevations in all rows are oriented the same with respect to the circumferential direction. Such a design facilitates the design and arrangement of the elevations with spaces between the rows that are offset from one another in the circumferential direction without adjoining one another.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment, which can also be designed to be very visually appealing, the elevations in all rows are rectangular, in particular square, in plan view.

[0009] A particularly uniform distribution of the rubber material stressed by the elevations is achieved when all rows within a sidewall section extending in the circumferential direction have the same number of elevations. In this context, it is further advantageous if the elevations in the rows within a sidewall section extending in the circumferential direction are each designed in a consistent manner, and preferably all elevations are designed in the same way.

[0010] Further advantageous configurations of the raised portions enhance their robustness and protective effect. According to one of these configurations, the raised portions have a length of 15.00 mm to 30.00 mm, in particular 20.00 mm, in the circumferential direction of the sidewall and a width of 5.00 mm to 12.00 mm in the radial direction. Elevations that appear square in plan view preferably have an edge length of 6.00 mm to 20.00 mm.

[0011] Particularly robust against deformation are elevations with side surfaces that extend at an angle of 30° to 90°, especially up to 60°, relative to the level of the side wall. At angles less than 90°, the side surfaces are inclined outwards.

[0012] The widths of the spaces between the protrusions within a row are 1.00 to 7.00 mm, in particular at least 2.00 mm, and between adjacent rows 1.00 to 5.00 mm, in particular at least 1.5 mm. Widths of this magnitude are particularly advantageous for good sidewall flexibility under the loads encountered during tire operation.

[0013] To ensure the elevations provide good protection when coming into contact with curbs and the like, a relatively large radial area of ​​the sidewall should be covered by elevations. It is therefore advantageous if the number of rows is three to five and if the rows on the sidewall cover a sidewall section which extends radially between a first height amounting to 40% to 50% of the cross-sectional height of the tire and a second height amounting to 80% to 97% of the cross-sectional height of the tire. In this regard, it is additionally advantageous if the rows run continuously over at least a large part of the circumference of the sidewall, in particular over at least three-quarters of the circumference.

[0014] To further enhance the appearance of the protrusions and the spaces between the protrusions, a preferred embodiment provides spaces between the protrusions and between adjacent rows with a hatching pattern consisting of a plurality of parallel microribs with a preferably dome-shaped or triangular cross-section and a maximum height of 0.20 mm to 0.30 mm above the sidewall level and a width of the same at their base. Such microribs can also extend over the surfaces of protrusions, thereby achieving an extremely attractive sidewall design.

[0015] Further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the schematic drawing, which illustrates exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1 a cross-section of one half of a pneumatic vehicle tire, Fig. 2 an enlarged view of a section of the outer contour in the area of ​​the sidewall of the pneumatic vehicle tyre from Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a view of a peripheral section of the side wall with an embodiment of the invention and Fig. 4 a view of a peripheral portion of a side wall with a further embodiment of the invention.

[0016] Pneumatic vehicle tires designed according to the invention are radial-type tires for motor vehicles, preferably tires for passenger cars, SUVs, vans or light trucks.

[0017] The Fig.1 The pneumatic vehicle tire shown has, as essential components, a tread 1, which is provided with a tread profile in a manner not shown, bead regions 2 with bead cores 3, sidewalls 4, a multi-layer belt assembly 5, and a carcass insert 6. Radially outside the bead core 3, a core profile 7 is installed, circumferentially surrounding the tire together with the bead core 3.

[0018] The sidewalls 4 are made of a rubber material and run along the carcass ply 6 on the outside of the tire between the belt assembly 5 and the bead areas 2. To support low rolling resistance of the pneumatic vehicle tire by reducing weight, the sidewalls 4 are kept relatively thin. With thin sidewalls 4, the risk of damage to the carcass ply 6 upon contact with curbs or the like is greater than with thicker sidewalls.

[0019] In order to make the side walls 4 more robust against external influences, they are, in particular, Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 show, reinforced with parallel and adjacent rows 9, 9' of block-shaped elevations 8, 8', which extend from the rest of the side wall level 4a ( Fig. 2 ) and have a cover surface 8'a with a constant height h of 0.80 mm to 2.00 mm, in particular 1.00 mm, relative to this level. The elevations 8, 8' have side surfaces 8b, 8'b sloping from the cover surface 8a, 8'a to the side wall level 4a. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 and Fig 3 the side surfaces 8b are inclined at an angle of 30° to 60°, in particular 45°, relative to the side wall level 4a, in the embodiment according to Fig. 4 The side surfaces 8'b are inclined at an angle of 70° to 90° relative to the side wall level 4a. The rows 9, 9', which number at least two and in particular up to five, concentrically follow the circular ring shape of the side wall 4 and are therefore circular ring sections that run continuously within a wider side wall section 4b encompassing all rows 9, 9', which section extends over the circumference of the side wall 4 or part of the circumference, for example over at least three-quarters of the circumference.

[0020] As in particular Fig. 1 shows, the side wall section 4b covers in the radial direction a side wall area between a first height h 1 , which is 30% to 50% of the cross-sectional height H, and a second height h 2 , which is 80% to 97% of the cross-sectional height H.

[0021] In the Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 In the preferred embodiment shown, the number of elevations 8, 8' in the rows 9, 9' within a side wall section 4b is the same, wherein within each row 9, 9' there are preferably elevations 8, 8' of equal size and shape in parallelogram form - in plan view.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a design with parallelogram-shaped elevations 8 with two acute angles of 30° to 70° and two corresponding obtuse angles, two longer sides which are slightly curved in the circumferential extent of the side wall 4 and in accordance with the circular ring shape and have a length l determined along their chord of 15.00 mm to 30.00 mm, in particular at least 20.00 mm, wherein the length l of the elevations 8 located within the radially innermost row 9 is less than the length l of the elevations 8 in the radially outermost row 9 and increases from the innermost to the outermost. The width b of the elevations 8 determined in the radial direction is 5.00 mm to 12.00 mm, wherein the width b is the same in all or some rows 9 or increases from the radially innermost row 9 towards the radially outermost row 9.

[0023] Within the rows 9, there are spaces 11 between the elevations 8, the width a 1 of which at the side wall level 4a is in the order of magnitude of 1.00 mm to 5.00 mm, in particular at least 2.00 mm, and is preferably constant between the elevations 8 within a specific row 9. Between adjacent rows 9, there are also spaces 12, the width a 2 of which is 1.00 mm to 5.00 mm, in particular 2.00 mm to 5.00 mm, wherein the width a 2 can be increasingly larger the further radially outward a row 9 is located.

[0024] The mutual arrangement of the elevations 8 in the adjacent rows 9 is such that they are offset from row 9 to row 9 in the same circumferential direction over, for example, 25% to 50% of their lengths l and therefore overlap one another in such a way that there are no mutually aligned spaces 11.

[0025] The spaces 11, 12 between the elevations 8 and between adjacent rows 9 are in the Fig. 3 The preferred embodiment shown is provided with a hatching of parallel microribs 10 with a dome-shaped or triangular cross-section with a maximum height of 0.20 mm to 0.30 mm relative to the rest of the side wall level 4a and a width of the same at their base. These microribs 10 can furthermore have a mutual spacing of 0.10 mm to 0.20 mm at their base. For design reasons, it can also be provided that microribs 10 extend over the surfaces of the elevations 8. In addition, a narrow, approximately 1.50 mm to 2.00 mm wide boundary strip can be provided radially inside the radially innermost row 9 and radially outside the radially outermost row 9 with microribs 10, as described. Fig. 3 shows that a label made up of any characters can be formed as local additional elevations over one row 9 or over several rows 9.

[0026] Instead of the illustrated and described parallelogram shape with two acute and two obtuse angles in plan view, the elevations 8 can also have the shape of rhombuses. Alternatively, the elevations can have the shape of rectangles elongated in the circumferential direction.

[0027] Fig. 4shows a design with, in plan view, square elevations 8' with an edge length l' of 6.00 mm to 20.00 mm. The further radially inward the elevations 8' are located, the smaller their edge length l'. The spaces 11', 12' between the elevations 8' have a width a 1 ' of 3.0 mm to 7.00 mm, and the width a 2 ' between adjacent rows 9' is 1.5 mm to 5.00 mm. The spaces 11', 12' between elevations 8' are provided with a hatching of microribs 10' running parallel to one another in such a way that, when viewed onto the side wall 4, the impression of cube-shaped elevations 8' is created. Microribs 10' can also run over surfaces of elevations 8'. The design of the microribs 10' corresponds to that of the microribs 10.

[0028] In another embodiment (not shown), the number of protrusions provided in one row differs from the number of protrusions provided in at least one other row, for example, by providing one protrusion instead of the two otherwise provided protrusions. The dimensions of the protrusions and the gaps are coordinated to ensure mutual overlap of the protrusions from the adjacent rows. List of reference symbols

[0029] 1Tread 2Bead area 3Bead core 4Sidewall 4aSidewall level 4bSidewall section 5Belt assembly 6Radial carcass 7Ape profile 8, 8'Elevation 8a, 8'aCover area 8b, 8'bSide area 9, 9'Row 10, 10'Microrib 11, 12, 11', 12'Gap a 1 , a 2 , a 1 ', a 2 ', bWidth HSection height h 1 , h 2 Height lLength l'Edge length

Claims

1. Pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread (1), a belt assembly (5), a radial carcass (6), and having sidewalls (4) which in each case in their radially outer region have at least two rows (9, 9') of parallelogram-shaped elevations (8, 8') with a height (h) of 0.80 mm to 1.50 mm, determined in relation to the remaining level (4a) of the sidewall (4), said rows (9, 9') running so as to be concentric with the annular shape of the sidewall (4), wherein intermediate spaces (11, 11', 12, 12') having in each case in particular constant widths (a1, a2, a1', a2') are present between the elevations (8, 8') within one row (9, 9') and between mutually adjacent rows (9, 9'), characterized in that the rows (9, 9') of elevations (8, 8') are mutually offset in the circumferential direction of the sidewall (4), with the elevations (8, 8') overlapping one another, wherein the intermediate spaces (11, 11') between the elevations (8, 8') are also mutually offset in the circumferential direction from row (9, 9') to row (9, 9'), so as not to be co-aligned.

2. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elevations (8) in all rows (9) when viewed from above have a parallelogram shape with two acute angles of 30° to 70°, which angles in the elevations (8) match within a row and preferably in the elevations (8) of all rows, wherein the elevations (8) in all rows (9) are identically aligned in the circumferential direction.

3. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elevations (8') in all rows (9') are rectangular, in particular square, when viewed from above.

4. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that all rows (9, 9') within a sidewall portion (4b) which extends in the circumferential direction have the same number of elevations (8, 8').

5. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elevations (8, 8') in the rows (9, 9') within a sidewall portion (4b) which extends in the circumferential direction are in each case of identical design.

6. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the elevations (8) in the circumferential direction of the sidewall (4) have a length (l) of 15.00 mm to 30.00 mm, in particular of at least 20.00 mm, and in the radial direction have a width (b) of 5.00 mm to 12.00 mm.

7. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, when viewed from above, square elevations (8) have an edge length (I') of 6.00 mm to 20.00 mm.

8. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the elevations (8, 8') have lateral faces (8b, 8'b) which run at an angle of 30° to 90°, in particular up to 60°, in relation to the level (4a) of the sidewall (4).

9. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the widths (a1, a2, a1', a2') of the intermediate spaces (11, 11', 12, 12') between the elevations (8, 8') within a row (9, 9') are 1.00 to 7.00 mm, in particular at least 2.00 mm, and between adjacent rows (9, 9') are 1.00 to 5.00 mm, in particular at least 1.5 mm.

10. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the number of rows (9, 9') is three to five.

11. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rows (9, 9') on the sidewall (4) cover a sidewall portion (4b) which in the radial direction extends between a first height (h1), which is 40% to 50% of the cross-sectional height (H) of the tyre, and a second height (h2), which is 80% to 97% of the cross-sectional height (H) of the tyre.

12. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the rows (9, 9') run continuously over at least a major part of the circumference of the sidewall (4), in particular over at least three quarters of the circumference.

13. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that intermediate spaces (11, 11', 12, 12') between elevations (8, 8') and / or between adjacent rows (9, 9') are provided with a crosshatch of parallel micro-ribs (10, 10'), preferably with a dome-shaped or triangular cross-section, with a maximum height of 0.20 mm to 0.30 mm in relation to the sidewall level (4a), and a likewise width at their base.

14. Pneumatic vehicle tyre according to Claim 13, characterized in that micro-ribs (10, 10') also run over surfaces of elevations (8, 8').