Angled Transverse Grooves in Pneumatic Tires for Snow Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic vehicle tires face challenges in maintaining braking and traction properties on snowy ground, with straight transverse grooves often trapping small stone chippings, leading to structural damage, irregular wear, and vibration, while also failing to effectively improve snow-snow friction.
Innovation Solution
Designing transverse grooves with sections running at angles to each other, accompanied by incisions that follow the course of these angled sections, reduces the trapping of small particles and enhances braking and traction properties by increasing the volume of the grooves, thereby improving snow-snow friction and preventing stone jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If straight transverse grooves are used, then braking and traction properties on snow are improved, but small stone chippings are trapped leading to structural damage and irregular wear
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse groove is designed with angled sections instead of a straight configuration. The groove consists of multiple sections where at least one section is angled relative to the axial direction of the tire, creating a non-linear path that prevents small stones from becoming lodged while maintaining effective snow contact for braking and traction.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse groove is divided into multiple angled sections rather than being a single straight groove. This segmentation creates a more complex geometry that effectively prevents stone trapping while maintaining the groove's depth and width specifications for optimal snow performance.
2Reliability
If wider transverse grooves are used to improve snow friction, then snow-snow friction is enhanced, but the groove volume increases leading to more stone trapping
Solution Approach 1:
The angled sections of the transverse groove create a more efficient geometry that maintains adequate groove volume for snow friction while reducing the overall space occupied compared to wider straight grooves. The angled configuration allows the groove to clear stones more effectively while preserving the necessary depth and width for snow contact.
3Reliability
If transverse grooves extend deeper into the tread, then braking and traction on snow are improved, but the risk of stone drilling and structural damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angled sections of the transverse groove create a geometry that allows the groove to extend sufficiently deep for effective snow braking and traction while the angled configuration prevents stones from being forced vertically downward into the tire structure. The angled path redirects stones laterally rather than allowing them to drill into the tread.
4Ease of manufacture
If straight transverse grooves are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but tread wear becomes uneven due to deformation and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The angled sections in the transverse groove create a more complex geometry that requires additional manufacturing steps compared to straight grooves. However, this increased complexity is necessary to prevent the deformation and vibrations that lead to uneven tread wear, as the angled configuration reduces stone trapping and the associated mechanical stresses.
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5~5a
AI summary
The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire, comprising a tread having at least one profile rib or at least one tread lug row, which has tread lugs (1) or is structured in the manner of tread lugs, and having grooves having the specified profile depth, wherein at least one profile rib or the tread lugs in a block row are crossed by sipes (3), which extend substantially parallel to each other at an angle of ≤ 45° to the axial direction and which have a width of 0.3 mm to 1.2 mm, and wherein sipes (3) are provided, between which a transverse groove (2) is provided, which extends parallel to the sipes (3) and which has, at the tread periphery, a width of 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm and a depth (t1) of at most 60% of the profile depth. The transverse groove (2) is composed of portions (4a, 4b, 4c), which extend at an angle to each other. Over the extent of the transverse groove (2), a sipe (5) adjoins the bottom of the transverse groove or the radially inner end of the transverse groove, which sipe has a width of 0.3 mm to 1.2 mm and reaches in the radial direction to a depth (t2) corresponding to the profile depth at most. The sipe (5) follows the course of the angled portions (4a, 4b, 4c) of the transverse groove (2).