Tire Shoulder Groove Segmentation for Mud and Noise Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tires face a challenge in balancing mud performance and noise performance, as increasing shoulder lateral grooves to enhance mud traction can lead to deteriorated noise performance due to increased vibration.

Innovation Solution

The tire design features trapezoidal wave-like zigzag shoulder main grooves, crown main grooves, shoulder lateral grooves, and lug grooves with specific angles and widths to optimize mud discharge and reduce noise, maintaining a balance between mud and noise performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the groove volume of the shoulder lateral grooves is increased to increase the driving force on muddy roads, then the mud performance is improved, but the noise performance deteriorates due to increased vibration of air discharged from the shoulder main groove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemud performanceVSAvoidnoise performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder lateral grooves are divided into multiple segments along the circumferential direction, with each groove having a specific length and spacing. This segmentation allows the grooves to effectively discharge mud while breaking up air vibration patterns, thereby maintaining mud performance without compromising noise performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes specific parameters including the groove volume, length, and circumferential spacing of the shoulder lateral grooves. By carefully controlling these parameters, the design achieves the right balance between mud discharge capability and noise reduction, preventing excessive air vibration while maintaining effective mud ejection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Force

If the groove volume of the shoulder lateral grooves is increased to enhance shearing force against mud, then the traction on muddy roads is improved, but the vibration of air generated in the shoulder main groove increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshearing forceVSAvoidvibration
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder lateral grooves are segmented into multiple smaller grooves rather than one large continuous groove. This segmentation maintains the total shearing force needed for traction while reducing the continuous air pathway that would generate vibration, thereby maintaining force without excessive energy loss to vibration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent carefully controls the groove volume, length, and spacing parameters to optimize the balance between shearing force generation and vibration reduction. The specific dimensional parameters ensure adequate mud engagement while limiting air vibration pathways

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design effectively improves mud performance by enhancing shearing force and soil discharging while maintaining high noise performance by reducing vibration and shock, ensuring smooth operation on muddy roads.

Implementation Method 1

the shoulder lateral grooves generate a large shearing force against mud and the mud in the shoulder lateral grooves can be discharged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

maintaining high noise performance by reducing vibration and shock

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3275699B1tire
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3275699B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3275699B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3275699B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire (1) comprises a tread portion (2), a tread edge (Te) provided in the tread portion (2), a shoulder main groove (3) extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction in the tread portion (2), and a shoulder land region (5) being defined between the tread edge (Te) and the shoulder main groove (3), wherein the shoulder land region (5) is provided with a shoulder lateral groove (10) connecting between the shoulder main groove (3) and the tread edge (Te) and a first shoulder lug groove (11) extending axially inwardly from the tread edge (Te) and terminating within the shoulder land region (5) and an angle (θ1) of the shoulder lateral groove (10) with respect to the tire axial direction is larger by 10 to 40 degrees than an angle (θ2) of the first shoulder lug groove (11) with respect to the tire axial direction.