Pneumatic Tire Block Segmentation for Ice Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pneumatic tires do not provide sufficient driving performance on ice, as they lack effective mechanisms to enhance traction and water discharge efficiency on icy surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates plural circumferential direction grooves and lug grooves with inclined fine grooves and bend portions, which increase ground contact pressure and improve water discharge efficiency by allowing meltwater to enter and be discharged from the grooves, reducing the likelihood of hydroplaning and enhancing traction on ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only conventional grooves are formed in the block, then the structure is simple, but driving performance on ice is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The block is divided into multiple partitions by inclined fine grooves that extend diagonally across the block. Each partition contains edges that can independently catch on icy road surfaces, increasing the number of effective traction points without requiring complete restructuring of the block geometry
Solution Approach 2:
Inclined fine grooves are added that extend in a diagonal direction different from the conventional circumferential and radial grooves. This introduces a new dimensional orientation for water discharge paths and edge formation, enabling meltwater to be channeled along previously unused trajectories
2Productivity
If groove depth is increased to improve water discharge, then water discharge efficiency improves, but block rigidity decreases and block tilting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential direction fine groove is designed with shallower depth compared to other grooves, creating a localized variation in groove depth. This shallower groove provides water discharge capability while maintaining sufficient material thickness to preserve block rigidity and prevent excessive tilting during kick-off
Solution Approach 2:
The groove depth parameter is optimized to a specific range that balances water discharge efficiency with structural integrity. The circumferential direction fine groove uses a shallower depth parameter compared to conventional grooves, achieving adequate water evacuation without compromising the block's resistance to tilting
3Reliability
If more fine grooves are added to divide the block, then traction on ice improves, but ground contact surface area reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The block is segmented by inclined fine grooves into multiple partitions, creating additional edges that can catch on ice. However, the segmentation is controlled to maintain sufficient land area between grooves, ensuring that the total ground contact surface area remains adequate for supporting vehicle load
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tire design significantly improves driving performance on ice by increasing traction and reducing the risk of hydroplaning, while maintaining rigidity and preventing the block from tilting over, thus providing better braking and steering capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
Meltwater between the block and the road surface thereby enters the inclined fine groove and the circumferential direction fine groove, and is discharged into the circumferential direction grooves and the lug grooves
Implementation Method 2
Edges of the block divided by the inclined fine groove thereby catch on an icy road, enabling driving performance on ice to be improved
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire including a block that is partitioned by plural circumferential direction grooves extending along a tire circumferential direction and by plural lug grooves extending diagonally with respect to the tire circumferential direction and provided with two or more bend portions, and at least one inclined fine groove that extends diagonally with respect to the tire circumferential direction, that is provided with at least two bend or more portions inside a single block, and that divides the block.