Segmented Sipe Angles for Tire Stiffness and Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire designs fail to provide optimal grip on low-friction surfaces such as snowy or icy roads while maintaining high stiffness during high-load conditions like braking or cornering, leading to compromised traction and wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
A tire profile with a unique sipe design featuring multiple inclined portions and changing angles in both radial and width directions, creating irregular surfaces that interlock to enhance stiffness and grip, with protrusions and depressions that adjust stiffness based on load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If straight sipes are used in the tread portion, then the tire structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the grip on low-friction surfaces such as snowy or icy roads is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe is divided into multiple portions (first, second, third portions) with different inclination angles, creating a segmented structure that enhances grip on low-friction surfaces while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the sipe have different inclination angles (β1, β2, β3) tailored to specific functional requirements - the first portion provides initial engagement, the second portion enhances grip on low-friction surfaces, and the third portion maintains structural integrity
2Reliability
If complex sipe designs with multiple angles are used, then the grip on low-friction surfaces is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe is divided into multiple portions (first, second, third portions) with different inclination angles, creating a segmented structure that enhances grip on low-friction surfaces while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design
Solution Approach 2:
The sipe features continuous curvature transitions between different inclined portions, eliminating sharp angles and enabling more straightforward manufacturing processes while achieving the desired complex geometry for enhanced grip
3Strength
If high stiffness is provided in the tire profile, then the dry road performance and wear resistance are improved, but the grip on snowy or icy surfaces is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe structure provides localized flexibility at the blade level with multiple inclined portions that can deform independently, while the overall tire profile maintains high stiffness through the reinforced tread design, achieving both adaptability and structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The sipe blades are designed to dynamically adapt their configuration under different load conditions, allowing the tire to transition between flexible (for grip) and stiff (for performance) states as operating conditions change
4Strength
If irregular sipe forms with protrusions and depressions are used, then the interlocking and stiffness under load are enhanced, but the wear during normal driving increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sipe structure dynamically adapts its effective geometry under load, with protrusions and depressions engaging to provide stiffness only when needed during high-load conditions, while remaining less aggressive during normal driving to reduce wear
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~9
Figure 10~17
AI summary
Tire profile for a pneumatic tire (10) of an automobile comprising a tread portion comprising at least one sipe (20), the sipe (20) comprising an extension in a width direction (22) and a depth in radial direction (24), wherein the sipe (20) comprises a first portion (36), a second portion (38) arranged radially inward to the first portion (36) and at least one further portion (40), wherein the further portion (40) is connected to a portion arranged above the further portion (40) in radial direction by a further connecting line, wherein the sipe (20) comprises a first part (30), a second part (32) arranged directly besides the first part (30) in width direction (22) and at least one third part (34) directly besides the second part (32) in width direction (22), wherein the first portion (36) is inclined to the radial direction (24) by an acute angle α1, the second portion (38) is inclined to the radial direction (24) by an acute angle a2different to α1and the further portion (40) is inclined to the radial direction (24) by an acute angle αxdifferent to α1and different to a2, wherein the mathematical values of α1and a2are both positive or negative at least partially along width direction (22) and/or the mathematical values of a2and αxare both positive or negative at least a partially along width direction (22), and/or the first part (30) is inclined to the width direction (22) by an acute angle β1, the second part (32) is inclined to the width direction (22) by an acute angle P2different to β1and the third part (34) is inclined to the width direction (22) by an acute angle β3different to β1and different to P2, wherein the mathematical values of β1and P2are both positive or negative at least a partially along radial direction (24) and/or the mathematical values of P2 and β3 are both positive or negative at least a partially along radial direction (24). Due to the same mathematical value of subsequent portions (36, 38, 40) or parts (30, 32, 34) of the sipe (20) in radial direction (24) and/or width direction (22) bigger and smaller protrusion (42) / depression (44) of adjacent blocks (26, 28) spaced to each other by the sipe (20) are provided leading to a high stiffness, particularly at high load, and a low wear.