Motorcycle Tire Crown Block Acute Corner Mud Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tires for motorcycles on uneven ground tend to lose grip performance over time due to soil or mud clogging the slits in the crown blocks, leading to reduced traction and control.

Innovation Solution

The tire design features crown blocks with acute-angled external corner parts and concave sections that facilitate easy soil or mud discharge, preventing clogging by incorporating a recessed first side surface and a wider concave part on the second side surface, ensuring continuous grip performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If slits are arranged in crown blocks to increase grip performance, then grip performance on uneven ground is improved, but soil or mud clogs the slits leading to loss of grip performance over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip performanceVSAvoidduration of grip performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The crown block is segmented into multiple surfaces (first surface, second surface, third surface) separated by grooves. This segmentation allows mud to be discharged through multiple pathways rather than being trapped in a single cavity, preventing clogging and maintaining grip performance over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Mud and soil are extracted from the crown block structure through the grooves that open to the outer peripheral surface. The acute-angled external corner parts further facilitate the extraction of mud by generating elastic deformation that propels mud outward during rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If concave parts are formed in crown blocks to enhance grip, then grip performance is improved, but mud remains in the concave parts causing clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip performanceVSAvoidmud clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having closed concave parts that trap mud, the invention inverts the design by creating grooves that open to the outer peripheral surface. The acute-angled external corner parts further facilitate the extraction of mud by generating elastic deformation that propels mud outward during rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The acute-angled external corner parts generate elastic deformation during rotation that converts the harmful effect of mud accumulation into a beneficial self-cleaning mechanism, propelling mud outward and preventing clogging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If crown blocks are designed with acute-angled external corner parts, then mud discharge is facilitated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemud dischargeVSAvoidangle precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifies a parameter range for the acute angle (greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°) rather than requiring a precise single value. This parameter change approach maintains the beneficial mud-discharge function while relaxing manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11167599B2Tire for motorcycle for uneven ground traveling

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

Provided is a tire for a motorcycle for uneven ground traveling capable of continuously exhibiting good grip performance. The tire for a motorcycle for uneven ground traveling includes a tread part on which plural crown blocks are formed, and at least one of the crown block has a wheel tread, a first side surface, a first edge arranged between the wheel tread and the first side surface, a concave part that opens on the wheel tread and the first side surface, and a second edge arranged between the wheel tread and the concave part. The wheel tread has at least one external corner part in which an angle between the first edge and the second edge is an acute angle.