Pneumatic tire
The tire's innovative tread design with chamfered transverse grooves and chamber portions addresses the trade-off between drainage and noise performance, enhancing both functions simultaneously.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HANKOOK TIRE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Conventional pneumatic tires face a conflict between drainage performance, which improves with larger groove areas for water discharge, and noise performance, which decreases with smaller groove areas, leading to a trade-off in design.
The tire design features a tread with shoulder blocks partitioned by main grooves, including transverse grooves with chamfered sections and chamber portions that facilitate smooth water discharge while reducing noise by varying cross-sectional areas to optimize both performance metrics.
The design enhances drainage performance by efficiently discharging water and reduces noise generated when the tread contacts the road surface, improving the tire's marketability by balancing both functions.
Smart Images
Figure KR2025020329_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
air tires
[0001] The present invention relates to an air-filled tire, and more specifically, to an air-filled tire capable of simultaneously improving noise performance and drainage performance through the overall shape of a pattern formed on the surface of the tread.
[0002] Generally, a pneumatic tire includes a carcass that forms the basic framework of the tire, a belt layer provided on the outer side of the carcass to improve the rigidity of the tire, and a tread that contacts the road surface.
[0003] These pneumatic tires may include a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the circumferential direction on the tread, a plurality of transverse grooves formed in the width direction, and blocks formed by the grooves to improve control performance such as cornering or handling and braking performance.
[0004] Meanwhile, in such pneumatic tires, the larger the area of the grooves provided on the tread surface, the more smoothly water that has penetrated between the grooves is discharged, which is advantageous for drainage performance; however, there is a problem in that noise generated when the tread comes into contact with the road surface increases, leading to a decrease in noise performance.
[0005] Conversely, in such pneumatic tires, while a smaller groove area on the tread surface can improve noise performance by reducing noise generated when the tread contacts the road surface, there is a problem where water penetrating between the grooves cannot be smoothly discharged, resulting in reduced drainage performance.
[0006] In other words, conventional pneumatic tires have a problem in which drainage performance, resulting from the smooth discharge of water penetrating between the grooves depending on the depth and width of the grooves, and noise performance, resulting from the reduction of noise generated when the tread contacts the road surface, conflict with each other.
[0007] To address this, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0050014 discloses an air-filled tire comprising a groove formed with a relatively small area and a plurality of elliptical cross-sectional channels arranged at predetermined intervals along the groove. However, while this can partially improve drainage performance as the total cross-sectional area of the groove itself increases due to the cross-sectional channels, it has the problem of not being effective in reducing noise generated when the tread comes into contact with the road surface.
[0008] The present embodiment aims to provide an air-filled tire capable of improving drainage performance by facilitating the smooth discharge of water that has penetrated between the grooves through the shape of the grooves provided on the tread surface.
[0009] The present embodiment aims to provide an air-filled tire capable of improving noise performance by reducing noise generated when the tread contacts the road surface through the shape of the grooves provided on the tread surface.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an air-filled tire may be provided, comprising a tread including shoulder blocks provided at both ends in the width direction, partitioned by main grooves formed along the circumferential direction and spaced apart in the width direction, and transverse grooves formed on the shoulder blocks at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, wherein the transverse grooves include a chamber portion formed from the inner end of the shoulder block outward in the width direction, a first chamfer portion provided on one side of the chamber portion in the circumferential direction and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the inner side to the outer side, a second chamfer portion formed continuously from the first chamfer portion and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually decreases as it goes outward, a third chamfer portion provided on the other side of the chamber portion in the circumferential direction and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the inner side to the outer side, and a fourth chamfer portion formed continuously from the third chamfer portion and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually decreases as it goes outward.
[0011] The connecting portion formed between the first chamfer and the second chamfer may be arranged alternately with respect to the connecting portion formed between the third chamfer and the fourth chamfer in the circumferential direction.
[0012] The connecting portion formed between the first chamfer and the second chamfer may be positioned closer to the inner end of the shoulder block than the connecting portion formed between the third chamfer and the fourth chamfer.
[0013] The first chamber portion may have an end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block formed at the inner end of the shoulder block or spaced apart from the inner end of the shoulder block by a predetermined distance, and the third chamber portion may have an end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block spaced further apart from the inner end of the shoulder block than the end of the first chamber portion.
[0014] The above-mentioned fourth chamfer may be formed to be longer outward from the shoulder block than the above-mentioned third chamfer in the width direction.
[0015] The above transverse groove may further include a tie bar formed within the chamber portion in the circumferential direction.
[0016] The above chamber portion may further include a first chamber portion formed outward from the inner end of the shoulder block in the width direction, and a second chamber portion formed continuously from the first chamber portion outward from the shoulder block in the width direction, with a cross-sectional area in the circumferential direction larger than that of the first chamber portion.
[0017] The above transverse groove may be formed at different heights with respect to the circumferential direction at the end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block and the end formed on the outer side of the shoulder block.
[0018] The above transverse groove may further include a curved portion formed in the circumferential direction, a curved portion provided on the inner side of the shoulder block, and a bent portion formed by bending in the circumferential direction from the curved portion.
[0019] The above transverse groove may be formed to have the same maximum height as the main groove positioned on the inner side of the shoulder block with respect to the depth direction.
[0020] The first chamfer, the second chamfer, the third chamfer, and the fourth chamfer may be formed to have the same maximum height in the depth direction.
[0021] The above shoulder block includes an inside shoulder block and an outside shoulder block, and the outside shoulder block may further include a cuff formed from the inner end of the shoulder block outward in the width direction and disposed between each transverse groove in the circumferential direction.
[0022] The above cuff may have an end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block and an end formed on the outer side of the shoulder block formed at different heights with respect to the circumferential direction.
[0023] The above cuff may be provided in a curved shape in which a curved portion is formed in the circumferential direction.
[0024] The spacing of the transverse grooves in the circumferential direction on the outside shoulder block may be formed to be larger than the spacing of the transverse grooves in the circumferential direction on the inside shoulder block.
[0025] The pneumatic tire according to the present embodiment can significantly improve the marketability of the tire by simultaneously improving drainage performance through the smooth discharge of water penetrating between the grooves due to the shape of the grooves provided on the tread surface and noise performance by reducing noise generated when the tread comes into contact with the road surface.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the overall shape of an air-filled tire according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a portion of the tread of an air-filled tire according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a shoulder block of an air-filled tire according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the AA' section of Figure 3.
[0030] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the BB' cross-section of Figure 3.
[0031] The following describes the embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are presented to sufficiently convey the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented herein and may be embodied in other forms. In order to clarify the present invention, the drawings may omit the illustration of parts unrelated to the description and may slightly exaggerate the size of components to aid understanding.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the overall shape of an air-filled tire according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a part of the tread of an air-filled tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a shoulder block of an air-filled tire according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are cross-sectional views illustrating the AA' cross-section and BB' cross-section of FIG. 3, respectively.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an air-filled tire according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a tread (10) in contact with a road surface, a carcass (20) provided inside the tread (10), and a belt portion (30) provided with a plurality of belt layers stacked from the carcass (20) toward the tread (10).
[0034] The tread (10) forms the surface where the tire contacts the road surface and provides traction for the vehicle. To this end, the tread (10) can be provided in various shapes and materials so that sufficient traction of the tire can be achieved depending on the road conditions. For example, the tread (10) can be provided as a thick rubber layer and can be made of rubber that is resistant to cuts and impacts to protect the carcass (20) and the belt portion (30), and is highly wear-resistant to extend the driving life of the tire.
[0035] More specifically, the tread (10) may include a first main groove (11), a second main groove (12), a third main groove (13), and a fourth main groove (14) that are formed extending along the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10). Here, the first main groove (11), the second main groove (12), the third main groove (13), and the fourth main groove (14) may be arranged at predetermined intervals from the inner side to the outer side of the tread (10) with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10).
[0036] Additionally, the tread (10) may include an inside shoulder block (15), an inside middle block (16), a center block (17), an outside middle block (18), and an outside shoulder block (19) that are partitioned from the inside to the outside of the tread (10) in the width direction (D2) of the tread (10) by a first main groove (11), a second main groove (12), a third main groove (13), and a fourth main groove (14) arranged from the inside to the outside of the tread (10) in the width direction (D2) of the tread (10) as described above.
[0037] That is, the tread (10) may include a center block (17) positioned in the center of the width direction (D2) of the tread (10), an inside middle block (16) and an inside shoulder block (15) sequentially arranged in the inner direction of the tread (10) from the center block (17), an outside middle block (18) and an outside shoulder block (19) sequentially arranged in the outer direction of the tread (10) from the center block (17).
[0038] More specifically, the inside shoulder block (15) may be positioned inward from the first main groove (11) in the width direction (D2) of the tread (10). Additionally, the inside shoulder block (15) may include transverse grooves (110) that are continuously arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) on the shoulder block (100) of the pneumatic tire according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] The inside middle block (16) is provided between the first main groove (11) and the second main groove (12) and can be positioned adjacent to the inside from the center of the width direction (D2) of the center block (17) and the tread (10). Additionally, although not illustrated, the inside middle block (16) may include grooves and cuffs of various shapes.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the center block (17) is provided between the second main groove (12) and the third main groove (13) and can be positioned on the center side in the width direction (D2) of the tread (10). Additionally, although not shown, the center block (17) may include grooves and cuffs of various shapes.
[0041] The outside middle block (18) is provided between the third main groove (13) and the fourth main groove (14) and can be positioned adjacent to the outside from the center of the width direction (D2) of the center block (17) and the tread (10). Additionally, although not illustrated, the outside middle block (18) may include grooves and cuffs of various shapes.
[0042] The outside shoulder block (19) may be positioned outward from the fourth main groove (14) in the width direction (D2) of the tread (10). Additionally, the outside shoulder block (19) may include transverse grooves (110) and cuffs (120) that are continuously arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) on the shoulder block (100) of the pneumatic tire according to one embodiment of the present invention to be described later.
[0043] Meanwhile, in the pneumatic tire according to one embodiment of the present invention described below, the shoulder block (100) may be an inside shoulder block (15) or / and an outside shoulder block (19) among a plurality of blocks (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) that are divided in the width direction of the tread (10) by main grooves (11, 12, 13, 14) as described above.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the tread (10) may include a shoulder block (100) provided at both ends, which is partitioned by a plurality of main grooves (11, 12, 13, 14) that are extended along the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) and arranged at predetermined intervals with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10). Here, the shoulder block (100) comprises a chamber portion (111) formed from the inner end of the shoulder block (100) outwardly with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10), a first chamfer portion (112) provided on one side of the chamber portion (111) with respect to the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the inner side to the outer side, a second chamfer portion (113) formed continuously with respect to the first chamfer portion (112) and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually decreases outwardly, a third chamfer portion (114) provided on the other side of the chamber portion (111) with respect to the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the inner side to the outer side, and a fourth chamfer portion (115) formed continuously with respect to the third chamfer portion (114) and formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually decreases outwardly, and is formed in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10). It may include transverse grooves (110) that are continuously arranged at predetermined intervals.
[0045] Here, the ends of the third chamfer portion (114) and the fourth chamfer portion (115) formed on the outer side of the shoulder block (100) with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10) may be formed at a point that is the same as or similar to one end of the tire's contact width formed where the tread (10) contacts the road surface.
[0046] Additionally, the connecting portion formed between the first chamfer portion (112) and the second chamfer portion (113) may be arranged to be staggered with respect to the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) and the connecting portion formed between the third chamfer portion (114) and the fourth chamfer portion (115). Additionally, the first chamfer portion (112) may be formed from the inner end of the shoulder block (100), and the third chamfer portion (114) may be formed spaced apart from the inner end of the shoulder block (100) by a predetermined distance. Additionally, the fourth chamfer portion (115) may be formed to be longer outward from the shoulder block (100) than the third chamfer portion (114) with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10). Additionally, the first chamfer section (112), the second chamfer section (113), the third chamfer section (114), and the fourth chamfer section (115) can be formed to have the same maximum height with respect to the depth direction (D3) of the tread (10).
[0047] More specifically, the transverse groove (110) may include a first chamber section (111a) formed from the inner end of the shoulder block (100) to the outer side of the shoulder block with respect to the center of the width direction (D2) of the tread (10), and a second chamber section (111b) formed continuously from the first chamber section (111a) to the outer side of the shoulder block (100). At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second chamber section (111b) may be formed with a larger cross-sectional area than the first chamber section (111a) with respect to the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10).
[0048] Additionally, the first chamber section (111a) and the second chamber section (111b) may each be provided at the same height with respect to the depth direction (D3) of the tread (10). Additionally, the first chamber section (111a) and the second chamber section (111b) may be provided at the same height with respect to the depth direction (D3) of the tread (10) as the first main groove (11) or the fourth main groove (14) that partitions the shoulder block (100).
[0049] Additionally, the overall shape of the first chamfer section (112) and the second chamfer section (113) in the width direction (D2) of the tread (10) may be formed by extending from the first chamfer section (111a) to at least a portion of the second chamfer section (111b) adjacent to the inner side of the shoulder block (100). Additionally, the overall shape of the third chamfer section (114) and the fourth chamfer section (115) in the width direction (D2) of the tread (10) may be formed by extending from the first chamfer section (111a) to at least a portion of the second chamfer section (111b) adjacent to the inner side of the shoulder block (100). Here, the point between the first chamber section (114) and the second chamber section (115) may be formed on the inner side of the tread (10) relative to the center of the width direction (D2) of the tread (10), rather than one end of the contact width of the tire where the tread (10) is in contact with the road surface.
[0050] Additionally, the connecting portion formed between the first chamfer portion (112) and the second chamfer portion (113) may be provided on the side of the first chamfer portion (111a) with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10), and the connecting portion formed between the third chamfer portion (114) and the fourth chamfer portion (115) may be provided on the side of the second chamfer portion (111b) with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10).
[0051] Additionally, the transverse groove (110) may be formed at an angle such that the end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block (100) is positioned lower or higher than the end formed on the outer side of the shoulder block (100) with respect to the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10). That is, the transverse groove (110) may be formed at different heights with respect to the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) for the end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block (100) and the end formed on the outer side of the shoulder block (100).
[0052] Additionally, the transverse groove (110) may further include a curved portion (116) formed in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) on the inner side of the shoulder block (100), and a bent portion (117) formed by bending from the curved portion (116) in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) on the outer side of the shoulder block (100). At this time, the first chamfer portion (112), the second chamfer portion (113), the third chamfer portion (114), and the fourth chamfer portion (115) may each be placed on the curved portion (116). That is, the bent portion (117) may be formed on the outer side of the tread (10) relative to the center of the width direction (D2) of the tread (10), above one end of the tire's contact width formed where the tread (10) contacts the road surface.
[0053] Additionally, the transverse groove (110) may further include a tie bar (118) formed within the second chamber (111b) in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) to prevent the rigidity of the shoulder block (100) from being excessively reduced due to the second chamber (111b) having a relatively wide width in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10).
[0054] Accordingly, in an air-filled tire according to one embodiment of the present invention, when water flowing into the transverse groove (110) provided on the shoulder block (100) from the outer side of the tread (10) with respect to the center of the width direction (D2) of the tread (10) flows from the bending portion (117), where the cross-sectional area is formed relatively large, to the curved portion (116), where the cross-sectional area is formed relatively small, the water can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the transverse groove (110) between the first to fourth chamfer portions (112, 113, 114, 115) formed to have the largest cross-sectional area, thereby improving drainage performance.
[0055] In addition, the air-filled tire according to one embodiment of the present invention has a relatively smaller cross-sectional area on the curved portion (116) that mainly contacts the road surface on the shoulder block (100) compared to the bent portion (117), and can also improve noise performance by reducing noise generated when the tread (10) contacts the road surface through the first chamfer portion (112) and the third chamfer portion (113), in which the cross-sectional area decreases from the outer side of the shoulder block (100) to the inner side of the shoulder block (100).
[0056] Additionally, as described above, the cuff (120) formed on the outside shoulder block (19) is formed from the inner end of the outside shoulder block (19) outward with respect to the width direction (D2) of the tread (10) and can be arranged between each transverse groove (110) with respect to the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10). This cuff (120) can be provided in a curved shape in which a curved portion is formed in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10).
[0057] In addition, in a pneumatic tire according to one embodiment of the present invention, the spacing of the transverse grooves (110) in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) on the outside shoulder block (19) may be formed larger than the spacing of the transverse grooves (110) in the circumferential direction (D1) of the tread (10) on the inside shoulder block (15). Accordingly, the outside shoulder block (19) can secure higher rigidity compared to the inside shoulder block (15) by the spacing of the transverse grooves (110) and the cuffs (120) formed between each transverse groove (110).
[0058] Although specific embodiments of the air-filled tire according to the present invention have been described so far, it is obvious that various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.
[0059] Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims set forth below as well as equivalents thereof.
[0060] That is, the aforementioned embodiments should be understood as exemplary in all respects and not limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the claims set forth below rather than by the detailed description, and all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts thereof should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A tread comprising shoulder blocks provided at both ends with respect to the width direction, partitioned by main grooves formed along the circumferential direction and spaced apart in the width direction; and It includes transverse grooves formed on the shoulder block at predetermined intervals with respect to the circumferential direction, and The above transverse groove is A chamber portion formed from the inner end of the shoulder block outward with respect to the width direction, and A first chamber portion provided on one side of the chamber portion with respect to the circumferential direction, formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the inside to the outside, and A second chamfer formed to be continuous with the first chamfer and having a cross-sectional area that gradually decreases toward the outside, and A third chamber portion provided on the other side of the chamber portion with respect to the circumferential direction, formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the inside to the outside, and An air-filled tire comprising a fourth chamfer formed to be continuous with the third chamfer and having a cross-sectional area that gradually decreases toward the outside.
2. In Paragraph 1, The connecting portion formed between the first chamfer and the second chamfer A connecting portion formed between the third chamfer and the fourth chamfer, and an air-filled tire arranged alternately with respect to the circumferential direction.
3. In Paragraph 2, The connecting portion formed between the first chamfer and the second chamfer An air-filled tire positioned adjacent to the inner end of the shoulder block, rather than the connecting portion formed between the third chamfer and the fourth chamfer.
4. In Paragraph 1, The above first chamber An end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block is formed at the inner end of the shoulder block or is formed spaced apart from the inner end of the shoulder block by a predetermined distance, The above third chamber An air-filled tire in which the end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block is spaced further apart from the inner end of the shoulder block than the end of the first chamber portion.
5. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned fourth chamber An air-filled tire formed to be longer outward from the shoulder block than the third chamfer portion in the width direction.
6. In Paragraph 1, The above transverse groove is An air-filled tire further comprising a tie bar formed within the chamber portion in the circumferential direction.
7. In Paragraph 1, The above chamber part A first chamber portion formed from the inner end of the shoulder block outward with respect to the width direction, and An air-filled tire further comprising a second chamber portion formed continuously from the first chamber portion in the width direction toward the outer side of the shoulder block, wherein the cross-sectional area in the circumferential direction is formed to be larger than that of the first chamber portion.
8. In Paragraph 1, The above transverse groove is An air-filled tire in which an end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block and an end formed on the outer side of the shoulder block are formed at different heights with respect to the circumferential direction.
9. In Paragraph 1, The above transverse groove is A curved portion provided on the inner side of the shoulder block, including a curved portion formed in the circumferential direction, and An air-filled tire further comprising a bent portion formed by bending in the circumferential direction from the above-mentioned curved portion.
10. In Paragraph 1, The above transverse groove is An air-filled tire formed to have the same maximum height as the main groove positioned on the inner side of the shoulder block with respect to the depth direction.
11. In Paragraph 1, The first chamfer, the second chamfer, the third chamfer, and the fourth chamfer are An air-filled tire formed to have equal maximum heights in the depth direction.
12. In Paragraph 1, The above shoulder block is Inside shoulder block and, Includes outside shoulder block, The above outside shoulder block is An air-filled tire further comprising suffs formed from the inner end of the shoulder block outward in the width direction and arranged between each transverse groove in the circumferential direction.
13. In Paragraph 12, The above cuff is An air-filled tire in which an end formed on the inner side of the shoulder block and an end formed on the outer side of the shoulder block are formed at different heights with respect to the circumferential direction.
14. In Paragraph 12, The above cuff is An air-filled tire provided in a curved shape with a curved section formed in the circumferential direction.
15. In Paragraph 12, The spacing of the transverse grooves in the circumferential direction on the above outside shoulder block is An air-filled tire formed on the inside shoulder block with a spacing greater than the arrangement spacing of the transverse grooves in the circumferential direction.