Pneumatic Tire Block Corner Inclined Surface Rigidity

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing pneumatic tire designs, such as JP 2017-56892 A, suffer from reduced rigidity and steering stability due to sipes extending to side surfaces of blocks, which lowers the tire's overall performance.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic tire design featuring blocks with a polygonal shape, including a first inclined surface at corner portions and narrow grooves that extend from the center towards the side surfaces, along with raised portions on groove bottoms, to enhance rigidity and steering stability while maintaining a high edge effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sipes extend to side surfaces of the blocks, then the edge effect is increased, but the rigidity of the blocks is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge effectVSAvoidrigidity of blocks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the block have different properties: the corner portions have inclined surfaces with larger angles (120-160 degrees) to maintain rigidity, while the center portions have narrow grooves extending to side surfaces to provide edge effect. This spatial differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of both rigidity and edge effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The block is segmented into different functional zones: corner portions with inclined surfaces for rigidity maintenance, and central regions with narrow grooves for edge effect enhancement. The narrow grooves are positioned at specific distances from side surfaces, creating distinct functional segments within the block structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If narrow grooves extend from center toward side surfaces, then the edge effect is enhanced, but the corner portions become prone to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge effectVSAvoidstructural stability of corner portions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the block have different properties: the corner portions have inclined surfaces with larger angles (120-160 degrees) to maintain rigidity, while the center portions have narrow grooves extending to side surfaces to provide edge effect. This spatial differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of both rigidity and edge effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the angle between side surface and inclined surface is increased, then the rigidity is improved, but the area of top surface is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of blockVSAvoidarea of top surface

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the angle between the side surface and inclined surface to be within 120-160 degrees. This specific angle range was determined to provide the optimal balance between maintaining block rigidity and preserving sufficient top surface area for load-bearing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11529828B2Pneumatic tire

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 TOYO TIRE CORP

AI summary

A pneumatic tire includes a block formed by a main groove extending in a tire circumferential direction and a lateral groove extending in a tire width direction. The block includes a first inclined surface provided at a corner portion between a first side surface and a top surface, the first inclined surface extending obliquely toward a groove bottom of the main groove or the lateral groove defined by the first side surface, and a first narrow groove extending from a center of the block toward the first side surface, an outer end of the first narrow groove being located on the first inclined surface, the first narrow groove being smaller in groove width than the main groove and the lateral groove.