3D Tire Sipe Structure for Wet Traction and Tread Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 2D sipes in tire tread blocks enhance certain performance parameters but negatively affect others, such as stiffness, leading to suboptimal performance in wet and dry conditions, and increased breaking distance.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional sipe configuration with sinusoidal and semicircular connecting portions that increase the connecting surface between the sipe walls, enhancing tread block stiffness without compromising other performance parameters like tangential and lateral force handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional 2D sipes are used in tire tread blocks, then water pumping capability is improved, but tread block stiffness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional sipes to three-dimensional sipes with varying depths. The sipes have different depth levels (first depth and second depth) creating a stepped configuration that adds vertical dimensionality. This 3D structure increases the connecting surface area between sipe walls, thereby enhancing tread block stiffness while preserving water pumping capability through the multi-level sipe architecture.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional 2D sipes are used in tire tread blocks, then sipe surface area is increased, but breaking distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The three-dimensional sipe configuration with varying depths creates additional connecting surfaces between sipe walls. This vertical dimensionality increases the effective sipe surface area without extending the horizontal footprint, thereby improving traction performance and reducing breaking distance while maintaining the water pumping function.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional 2D sipes are used in tire tread blocks, then water channeling is improved, but tread block structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped three-dimensional sipe structure with multiple depth levels creates enhanced water channeling pathways while the increased connecting surface area between sipe walls strengthens the tread block structure. The vertical dimensionality allows for improved water egress without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sipes are segmented into different depth levels (first depth and second depth) creating a stepped configuration. This segmentation allows different portions of the sipe structure to serve different functions: deeper portions for water channeling and shallower portions for structural reinforcement, thereby resolving the contradiction between water removal and structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example of pneumatic tire (100) with circumferential outer surface, are described. In an example, the pneumatic tire (100) includes a tread portion (102) having plurality of tread blocks (106) spaced apart on the outer surface by defining a groove between the adjacent tread blocks (106). The tread blocks (106) further include a sipe (108) formed across the surface of the tread blocks (106). The sipe (108) include a pair of walls facing each other having periodically repeating corners and depressions. The sipe (108) further include a sinusoidal and a semicircular connecting portion for improving tangential and lateral stiffness of the tread pattern, respectively.