Asymmetric Chamfered Tire Blocks for Snow Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
All-season tires face a trade-off between improving snow traction and maintaining dry and wet traction, as adding sipes for snow performance reduces stiffness and impairing dry and wet performance, while chamfers on both edges of tire blocks decrease stability and grip on these surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The tire features asymmetric chamfers on the leading and trailing edges of blocks, with different average widths, optimizing snow traction without compromising dry and wet traction by increasing friction on dry surfaces and enhancing contact pressure on snow-covered surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If chamfers are applied on both edges of the block, then snow traction is improved, but stability and grip on wet and dry grounds are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetric chamfer design where the leading edge chamfer has a first width and the trailing edge chamfer has a second width that is different from the first width. This asymmetry allows optimization for snow traction at the leading edge while maintaining stability and grip at the trailing edge, resolving the contradiction between snow performance and wet/dry ground performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different chamfer widths at different locations (leading vs. trailing edges) to provide locally optimized performance. The leading edge has a chamfer configuration optimized for snow penetration, while the trailing edge has a different configuration optimized for stability and grip on various surfaces, thus resolving the contradiction through spatial differentiation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple sipes are provided per block, then snow performance is increased, but block stiffness is reduced and dry and wet performance is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetric chamfer design where the leading edge chamfer has a first width and the trailing edge chamfer has a second width that is different from the first width. This asymmetry allows optimization for snow traction at the leading edge while maintaining stability at the trailing edge, resolving the contradiction between snow performance and wet/dry ground performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different chamfer widths at different locations (leading vs. trailing edges) to provide locally optimized performance. The leading edge has a chamfer configuration optimized for snow penetration, while the trailing edge has a different configuration optimized for stability and grip on various surfaces, thus resolving the contradiction through spatial differentiation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design achieves improved snow traction while maintaining or enhancing dry and wet braking performance without reducing the overall contact surface area, thus providing a better grip on various road conditions.
Implementation Method 1
optimizing snow traction without compromising dry and wet traction by increasing friction on dry surfaces and enhancing contact pressure on snow-covered surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
According to aspects of the invention, a tire for a vehicle comprising a tread is provided. The tread comprises a set of consecutive blocks arranged along a circumference of the tire; and a plurality of first grooves arranged over the circumference of the tire, wherein each of the plurality of first grooves is arranged between two blocks of the set of consecutive blocks. Each of the set of consecutive blocks comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, a first chamfer arranged on a first portion of the leading edge and a second chamfer arranged on a first portion of the trailing edge, wherein the first chamfer has a first average width in the first portion of the leading edge, and the second chamfer has a second average width in the first portion of the trailing edge; and wherein the first average width is different from the second average width.