Agricultural Tire Tread Blocks for Loose-Ground Traction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional treads for agricultural vehicles exhibit inadequate traction performance on loose ground, which affects the productivity and efficiency of these vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A tread design for agricultural vehicles featuring tread pattern elements with a series of blocks separated by transverse cuts, where the leading face has a greater radial height than the trailing face, and the contact face is oriented at an angle between 93 and 105 degrees with respect to the radial direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional tread patterns are used, then the tread can operate on both roads and loose ground, but traction performance on loose ground is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction performance on loose groundVSAvoidperformance compromise between field and road use

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tread features blocks with asymmetric profiles where the leading face has a greater radial height than the trailing face. This local variation in block geometry optimizes traction on loose ground by increasing the leading face area for soil engagement, while the overall tread pattern maintains adaptability for road use through the arranged configuration of these blocks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The tread blocks exhibit asymmetric geometry with the leading face having a greater radial height than the trailing face. The contact face is oriented at a specific angle (93-105 degrees) relative to the radial direction, creating an asymmetric profile that enhances forward traction on loose ground while maintaining functional performance on roads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Productivity

If tread blocks with greater leading face height are used, then traction on loose ground is improved, but rolling resistance may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction performanceVSAvoidrolling resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tread design optimizes specific parameters including the radial height difference between leading and trailing faces, the contact face angle (93-105 degrees relative to radial direction), and the transverse cut depth (at least 50% of leading face height). These parameter optimizations enhance traction while controlling rolling resistance by balancing engagement depth with material deformation characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12304249B2Tread for an agricultural vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)

AI summary

A tread (2) for the driven axle of an agricultural vehicle having tread pattern elements (21, 41) extending radially towards the outside from a bearing surface (22). The tread pattern elements have, in the central part of the tread, a series of blocks (41) juxtaposed with one another in the longitudinal direction and separated by transverse cuts (42), and having, in the rolling direction (15), a leading face, a contact face and a trailing face. The leading face having a radial height greater than the radial height of the trailing face. The contact face being oriented at an angle α with respect to radial direction Z, α being between 93 and 105° and radial depth PR of the transverse cuts (42) being at least 50% of the radial height of the leading face, the width of the blocks representing at least 15% of the width of the tread.