Pneumatic Tire Shoulder Groove Pattern for Handling and Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic vehicle tires with radial design struggle to balance circumferential and transverse rigidity, which affects handling properties and wear uniformity while also increasing rolling noise.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating transverse grooves of varying lengths, with shorter and longer grooves alternating in the circumferential direction, and designing the marginal edge to form successive indentations that extend between longer grooves, ensuring the greatest axial deflection occurs in the region of the shorter grooves, thereby influencing rigidity and maintaining uniform wear without worsening rolling noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transverse grooves of equal length are provided in the shoulder-side profile band, then uniform wear is ensured, but the handling properties and power transmission are insufficient due to inadequate rigidity control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing transverse grooves of different lengths (first length and second length) at different locations in the shoulder-side profile band. Specifically, grooves closer to the tread center have a first length while grooves closer to the tread edge have a second length, creating localized variations in rigidity that improve handling while maintaining overall uniform wear through the alternating pattern.
2Ease of operation
If the profile strip rigidity is increased to improve power transmission, then handling is improved, but rolling noise increases due to uneven rubber distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry by creating an alternating pattern of short and long transverse grooves in the shoulder-side profile band. This asymmetric groove length arrangement generates controlled uneven rubber distribution that increases profile strip rigidity for better power transmission, while the alternating nature prevents excessive noise by distributing stress variations throughout the contact patch.
3Ease of operation
If transverse grooves of unequal length are provided to improve rigidity, then handling and power transmission are improved, but uniform wear is compromised due to uneven rubber distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by arranging transverse grooves of different lengths in an alternating sequence along the shoulder-side profile band. This periodic variation in groove length creates a rhythmic pattern of rigidity changes that improves handling properties while the regular alternation ensures even wear distribution across the tread width by preventing localized rubber accumulation or depletion.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A pneumatic vehicle tire of radial type of construction, having a tread with at least one shoulder-side profile strip (1) which is delimited toward the inner side of the tread by a circumferential channel and in which there are formed transverse channels (5) which end within the profile strip (1), wherein the circumferential channel (3) is delimited by two channel flanks (7, 8) and by a channel base (9) running in a circumferential direction and has a marginal edge (3a) running along the profile strip (1). Transverse channels (5) with a first length of extent (l1) and transverse channels (6) with a second length of extent (l2) smaller than the first length of extent (l1) are provided, wherein the lengths of extent (l1, l2) are measured in an axial direction from the margin (L) of the ground contact patch, wherein at least one relatively short and at least one relatively long transverse channel (5, 6) successively alternate in the circumferential direction, wherein the marginal edge (3a) running along the profile strip (1) forms, together with the adjoining groove flank (7) in the profile strip (1), indentations (11) which are arranged in succession in the circumferential direction and which, in the circumferential direction, extend in each case substantially over the region between the relatively long transverse channels (5) that are adjacent in the circumferential direction, and wherein the marginal edge (3a) has its greatest axial excursion (a) into the profile strip (1) in each case in the region of the relatively short transverse channel (6) situated between the relatively long transverse channels (5), wherein the greatest axial excursion (a) amounts to 2 mm to 5 mm.