Auxiliary Block Tread Design for Bias Abrasion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pneumatic tires with lateral grooves terminated in intermediate portions of ribs face difficulties in effectively preventing biased abrasion due to block deformation during vehicle travel.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic tire design featuring blocks formed by main grooves and lateral grooves, where auxiliary blocks connect laterally displaced blocks, with specific projection sizes and configurations to manage ground contact pressure and prevent excessive deformation, enhancing snow biting effect and foreign material removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If lateral grooves are terminated in intermediate portions of ribs, then the structure is simpler, but biased abrasion cannot be effectively prevented due to block deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegroove structure complexityVSAvoidresistance to biased abrasion

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the block structure into multiple segments by introducing auxiliary grooves that further subdivide the blocks formed by main grooves and lateral grooves. This segmentation prevents excessive deformation of individual blocks during vehicle travel, thereby preventing biased abrasion while maintaining a manageable groove structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different groove configurations to different regions of the tread surface. Auxiliary grooves are strategically placed in specific blocks to provide local reinforcement where deformation is most likely to occur, creating non-uniform structural properties that address the specific problem of biased abrasion in high-stress areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If blocks are connected via auxiliary blocks in the main groove, then biased abrasion is prevented, but foreign materials may get stuck in the main groove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of biased abrasionVSAvoidforeign material accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces auxiliary blocks as intermediary structures that connect lateral grooves through the main groove. These auxiliary blocks serve as mediators that maintain block connectivity and prevent deformation while their raised structure prevents foreign materials from getting stuck in the main groove, thus resolving the contradiction between abrasion prevention and foreign material accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10266010B2Pneumatic tire

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 TOYO TIRE CORP

AI summary

Blocks are formed on a tread surface of a pneumatic tire by main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and lateral grooves which intersect with the main grooves. The blocks include: center blocks which are positioned in a center region in the tire width direction; shoulder blocks which are positioned on both side regions in the tire width direction; and mediate blocks which are positioned in an intermediate region between the center blocks and the shoulder blocks. The lateral groove formed between the shoulder blocks and the lateral groove formed between the mediate blocks which are positionally displaced from each other in the tire circumferential direction are connected to each other via the main groove by an auxiliary block.