Tire Sidewall Mark Geometry to Prevent Mud Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tire marks with serrations are prone to mud clogging on muddy roads, leading to reduced legibility and difficulty in cleaning, which compromises their visibility and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The pneumatic tire features elongated first protrusions with a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the traveling direction, including chamfered angles and curved sides, which prevent mud accumulation while maintaining conspicuousness through complex light reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the mark includes serrations with short pitches and different angles, then the mark becomes conspicuous through light reflection, but the mark is easily clogged with mud
Solution Approach 1:
The mark is divided into multiple elongated protrusions (one to four) arranged in parallel, each with specific geometric features. This segmentation allows the mark to maintain conspicuity through light reflection while reducing mud accumulation compared to continuous serrated structures
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions incorporate curved surfaces and rounded edges instead of sharp angles. The cross-section includes at least one curved face outwardly protruding from chamfered angles, and sides that are curved lines rather than straight lines. This curvature prevents mud from adhering and accumulating in sharp corners
2Illumination intensity
If the mark includes serrations with short pitches, then the mark appears conspicuous, but it becomes difficult to clean off dirt from the tire
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions feature curved surfaces and rounded edges throughout their structure. The cross-section includes curved faces at the angles and curved lines for the sides, eliminating sharp corners where dirt would accumulate. This geometry makes the mark easy to clean while maintaining its conspicuous appearance through light reflection
3Illumination intensity
If the mark has complex serration patterns, then light reflection creates variations of light and shadow, but the structure accumulates more mud
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous complex serrations, the mark uses a limited number of discrete elongated protrusions (one to four) arranged in parallel. Each protrusion has a specific cross-sectional geometry that creates light and shadow variations while minimizing surfaces where mud can accumulate
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions incorporate curved surfaces and rounded edges instead of sharp angles. The cross-section includes at least one curved face outwardly protruding from chamfered angles, and sides that are curved lines rather than straight lines. This curvature prevents mud from adhering and accumulating in sharp corners
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 configuration effectively prevents mud clogging and maintains the tire's visibility by reducing mud adhesion and stress concentration, enhancing the tire's aesthetic appeal and durability.
Implementation Method 1
allows light that irradiates the mark to be reflected in a large number of different directions. This generates variations of light and shadow parts on the mark
Data Source
AI summary
A tire 1 includes at least one mark 4 on a sidewall 2. The mark 4 includes an outer surface including one or more and four or fewer elongated first protrusions 18 having a trapezoidal or substantially trapezoidal cross section that is orthogonal to a traveling direction of the tire 1. The mark 4 may include one or more circular second protrusions 15 and 16 protruding axially outward on an entire edge of the mark 4 to fringe the mark 4.