Asymmetric Inclined Tread Blocks for Tire Traction and Hydroplaning

Solution Overview

Problem

Tires face challenges in achieving improved traction and braking performance while maintaining anti-hydroplaning performance, as conventional methods often compromise on hydroplaning resistance by reducing groove volume and increasing land portion volume.

Innovation Solution

The tire design features a tread portion with first inclined grooves and land portions, where the angles of the wall surfaces are strategically set to enhance traction and braking performance, with specific angle relationships and groove configurations that prevent deterioration of anti-hydroplaning performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If groove volume is reduced and land portion volume is increased to improve traction and braking performance, then traction performance and braking performance are improved, but anti-hydroplaning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction performanceVSAvoidanti-hydroplaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different wall surface angles in different regions of the inclined land portions. The outer portions have smaller wall surface angles (θ1 < θ2) while inner portions have larger wall surface angles (θ3 > θ4), optimizing each region for its specific function - outer regions for hydroplaning resistance and inner regions for traction and braking performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs asymmetry by making the wall surface angles asymmetric both within individual land portions (different angles on opposite sides) and between outer and inner portions. This asymmetric configuration allows the tire to simultaneously achieve improved traction/braking performance and maintained anti-hydroplaning performance, resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If groove volume is reduced and land portion volume is increased to improve braking performance, then braking performance is improved, but anti-hydroplaning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking performanceVSAvoidanti-hydroplaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different wall surface angles in different regions of the inclined land portions. The outer portions have smaller wall surface angles (θ1 < θ2) while inner portions have larger wall surface angles (θ3 > θ4), optimizing each region for its specific function - outer regions for hydroplaning resistance and inner regions for braking performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs asymmetry by making the wall surface angles asymmetric both within individual land portions (different angles on opposite sides) and between outer and inner portions. This asymmetric configuration allows the tire to simultaneously achieve improved braking performance and maintained anti-hydroplaning performance, resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS11845302B2Tire

Publication Date: 2023.12.19 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

The tire has a tread portion for which an intended tire rotational direction is specified. The tread portion comprises first inclined land portions defined between first inclined grooves. The first inclined land portion comprises an outer portion having a first wall surface and a second wall surface, and an inner portion having a third wall surface and a fourth wall surface. The angle θ1 of the first wall surface is smaller than the angle θ2 of the second wall surface, and the angle θ3 of the third wall surface is larger than the angle θ4 of the fourth wall surface.