Hidden Tread Blocks for Irregular Wear Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire designs fail to effectively prevent irregular wear throughout the life of a tire tread without compromising traction, as previous solutions either do not address wear beyond initial stages or lead to traction losses as sipes are worn away.
Innovation Solution
The tire features hidden tread blocks formed by y-branched sipes and dividing sipes that become exposed as the tire wears, altering the longitudinal force distribution to prevent irregular wear while maintaining traction, with the sipes being strategically angled and spaced to enhance their effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sipes are placed outside the center region of the tread to prevent irregular wear, then irregular wear is reduced initially, but traction is compromised as sipes are worn away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places sipes in the shoulder regions before the tire is put into service. These sipes are positioned to be worn away over time, and their preliminary presence helps prevent irregular wear from developing in the first place, rather than trying to correct it after it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the tread pattern evolves over time. As the tire wears, the initial sipes in the shoulder regions wear away, and new sipes are exposed from the rib centers, continuously adapting the tread pattern to maintain both wear prevention and traction throughout the tire's service life
2Reliability
If sipes are extended into the shoulder regions to prevent heel and toe wear, then irregular wear is reduced, but traction losses occur as sipes wear away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends sipes into the shoulder regions at the beginning of the tire's life to prevent heel and toe wear from developing. These sipes are strategically positioned to address irregular wear patterns before they can establish themselves
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the sipe configuration so that as the tire wears, the initial sipes in the shoulder regions are worn away (discarded), but this wear exposes new sipes from the rib centers (recovery). This continuous cycle maintains traction while preventing irregular wear
3Reliability
If conventional siping patterns are used to prevent irregular wear initially, then wear is controlled at first, but irregular wear develops as the tire tread wears past these features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamically evolving tread pattern where the configuration of sipes changes over time. As the tire wears down, different portions of the siping pattern become exposed, continuously adapting the wear prevention mechanism throughout the tire's service life
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates preliminary siping features in specific locations (shoulder regions) that are designed to be worn away over time. This preliminary configuration prevents irregular wear from developing in the first place, extending the effective service life of the tread
Data Source
AI summary
Tires in use wear in a host of ways. One negative manner in which tires, especially truck tires, may wear is in an irregular fashion. When this phenomenon happens, the tread of the tire may become unusable, forcing the user to replace the tire, which is undesirable. This patent application poses a new and useful way of preventing irregular wear involving the use of hidden sipes or tread blocks. In some embodiments, these hidden sipes or tread blocks are found in tread blocks or ribs adjacent other tread blocks or ribs that have been determined to be susceptible to irregular wear. In other embodiments, the hidden sipes or tread blocks are formed by a sipe blade that has a connecting member to which two y-branched members are attached, and further comprising dividing members that connect between the y-branched members.