Tire Sipe Profile with Variable Angle Geometry

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current tire designs face challenges in providing a good grip on various surfaces, especially low friction surfaces like snow and ice, while maintaining high stiffness and wear resistance, particularly during traction and braking on dry surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A tire profile with sipes that have continuously changing angles in both width and radial directions, creating a zig-zag extension, which allows adjacent rubber blocks to interlock, increasing stiffness and improving grip on both low and high friction surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If sipes with constant angles are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but grip performance on diverse surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesipe manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidgrip performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by making the sipe angles γ1 and η1 variable rather than constant. The angle γ1 changes continuously along the width direction, and angle η1 changes continuously along the radial direction. This allows the sipe geometry to adapt to different loading conditions and surface types, improving grip performance across diverse surfaces while maintaining manufacturability through systematic angle variation patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If sipes with constant angles are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but block interlocking and stiffness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesipe structure complexityVSAvoidtire profile stiffness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by continuously varying the sipe angles γ1 and η1. This creates an optimized interlocking pattern between adjacent rubber blocks where the continuously changing angles facilitate easier engagement and interlocking. The systematic variation in angles enhances block interlocking and increases tire profile stiffness without introducing excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If sipes with constant angles are used, then design simplicity is maintained, but wear resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesipe design complexityVSAvoidtire wear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by continuously varying the sipe angles γ1 along the width direction and η1 along the radial direction. This continuous angle variation optimizes the contact patterns between sipes and the road surface, reducing concentrated stress and slipping between rubber blocks. The result is improved wear resistance while maintaining manageable design complexity through systematic angle variation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If sipes with constant angles are used, then manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but grip on low friction surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesipe angle precisionVSAvoidgrip on snow and ice
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by continuously varying the sipe angles to optimize grip on low friction surfaces. The continuous angle variation creates more diverse contact patterns between the tire and snowy or icy surfaces, enhancing mechanical interlocking and edge engagement. This improves reliability on snow and ice while maintaining reasonable manufacturing precision requirements through systematic angle variation patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3145731B1Tire profile and molding form
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 APOLLO TYRES GLOBAL R&D BV
  • EP3145731B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3145731B1 patent drawingFigure 3~9
  • EP3145731B1 patent drawingFigure 10~17

AI summary

Tire profile for a pneumatic tire (10) of an automobile comprising a tread portion comprising at least one sipe (20), the sipe (20) comprising an extension in a width direction (22) and a depth in radial direction (24), wherein the sipe (20) comprises a first portion (36) and a second portion (38) arranged radially inward to the first portion (36), wherein the first portion (36) an d the second portion (38) are inclined to each other along a connecting line by an angle gammal, wherein the angle yl changes along width direction (22) continuously. Due to the continuous change of the angle gammal between the first portion (36) and the second portion (38) a good grip and a high efficiency at low as well as at high friction surfaces can be provided so that a tire (10) with a good grip to an underground is possible.