Pneumatic Tire Resonator Segmentation for Noise and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires that reduce air column resonance sound through resonators compromise steering stability due to increased grooves, leading to a smaller footprint area and lower rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring two external and two internal circumferential main grooves with specific resonator structures, including auxiliary and branch grooves, that balance noise reduction with steering stability by optimizing groove widths, land portion widths, and resonator placement to maintain rigidity and reduce air column resonance sound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If more resonators are formed in the land portions to reduce air column resonance sound, then noise reduction is improved, but the footprint area decreases and rigidity lowers, leading to decreased steering stability
Solution Approach 1:
The resonators are segmented into multiple groove components (auxiliary grooves and branch grooves) rather than single deep grooves. This segmentation allows the resonators to occupy less continuous space in the land portions while still achieving effective noise reduction through the combined volume of multiple smaller groove structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Different groove structures are applied to different locations: auxiliary grooves terminate within the land portions while branch grooves extend toward circumferential main grooves. This local differentiation optimizes noise reduction effectiveness while minimizing the impact on footprint area and rigidity by strategically placing groove openings and terminations.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If more grooves are formed in the land portions to reduce noise, then noise reduction is improved, but the rigidity of the land portions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The resonator grooves are divided into auxiliary grooves (terminating within land portions) and branch grooves (extending toward main grooves). This segmentation distributes the groove volume across multiple smaller structures rather than one large continuous groove, maintaining rigidity while achieving noise reduction through cumulative groove volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary grooves are designed to terminate within the land portions rather than extending fully across them, providing partial action that is sufficient for noise reduction without completely compromising the structural integrity and rigidity of the land portions.
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 achieves a high level of noise reduction from circumferential main grooves while maintaining steering stability, handling responsiveness, and turning performance, with improved uneven wear resistance and reduced pattern noise.
Implementation Method 1
resonators (Helmholtz-type resonators) each composed of an air chamber and a narrowed groove
Implementation Method 2
reduce vehicle exterior noise such as air column resonance sound generated from the circumferential main grooves
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire includes: two external circumferential main grooves in a vehicle-installed outside half portion; two internal circumferential main grooves in a vehicle-installed inside half portion; a central land portion; an external intermediate land portion; and an internal intermediate land portion. The central land portion is a rib-shaped land portion continuous in the tire circumferential direction. The external intermediate land portion includes external resonators each composed of a first auxiliary groove, a first branch groove, and a second branch groove. The internal intermediate land portion includes internal resonators each composed of a second auxiliary groove, a third branch groove, and a fourth branch groove. The first auxiliary groove is less in groove volume than the second auxiliary groove. A total groove width of the two external circumferential main grooves is less than a total groove width of the two internal circumferential main grooves.