Pneumatic Tire Sipe Protrusions Suppress Block Edge Collapsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires face challenges in maintaining block rigidity and braking performance on ice due to increased sipe density, which leads to collapsing of block portions at the edges, reducing the effectiveness of edge engagement and braking on icy surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates protrusions on one sipe wall surface and recesses on the opposing surface, specifically at the edges, to generate a force that suppresses bending deformation, enhancing engagement between edge and adjacent block portions, thereby preventing collapsing and improving braking performance on ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of sipes is increased to enhance braking performance on ice, then the number of edges is increased, but the overall rigidity of the block declines and braking performance on ice declines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing reinforcing protrusions and recesses specifically at the edge portions of blocks, while other portions maintain standard sipe configurations. This localized reinforcement addresses the rigidity issue at critical edge areas without requiring increased sipe density throughout the entire block, thus maintaining overall block strength while preserving braking performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sipe structure into different types: standard sipes in the middle portions of blocks and reinforced sipes with protrusions and recesses at edge portions. This segmentation allows different regions of the tread to have optimized characteristics - edge portions gain enhanced rigidity while middle portions maintain flexibility and edge effect for braking.
2Reliability
If sipes are disposed at edge portions of blocks to enhance edge effect, then braking performance should improve, but the portion of blocks at edges is partitioned by sipes and lateral groove and only engages with one adjacent block, making it prone to collapsing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming protrusions on one sipe wall surface and corresponding recesses on the opposing surface before the tire is in use. These structures are prepared in advance to provide mechanical interlocking support, preventing collapsing of edge portions when braking forces are applied on icy surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry by providing protrusions on only one sipe wall surface rather than symmetric features on both surfaces. This asymmetric configuration creates a mechanical interlocking system where the protrusion-protrusion engagement provides directional support specifically tailored to prevent collapsing at edge portions subjected to braking loads.
3Strength
If protrusions and recesses are formed in sipes to suppress collapsing, then block rigidity is maintained, but the complexity of the sipe structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by limiting the complex protrusion-recess structure to only the edge portions of blocks where it is most needed for preventing collapsing. The middle portions of blocks retain simpler sipe configurations, thus reducing the overall complexity increase while maintaining the necessary rigidity enhancement at critical locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of blocks is provided in a tread portion and a plurality of sipes is provided in a tread surface of the blocks. In the sipes, protrusions are formed on a first sipe wall surface of mutually opposing sipe wall surfaces and recesses that engage with the protrusions are formed on a second sipe wall surface. Collapsing of the portions of the blocks sandwiched by the sipes is suppressed due to the engaging of the protrusions and the recesses. A height of the protrusions provided on the sipe wall surfaces of the sipes located at the edges in the tire circumferential direction is greater than a height of the protrusions provided on the sipe wall surfaces of the other sipes. Specifically, a force that works to suppress bending deformation increases and collapsing of the portions of the blocks located at the edges in the tire circumferential direction is suppressed.