Pneumatic Tire Tread Block Flank Geometry for Snow Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic vehicle tires struggle to effectively fill the circumferential groove with snow when driving on snow-covered roads, leading to suboptimal snow-snow friction and traction properties.
Innovation Solution
The design of the tire's tread features a radially outer flank section that increases in width towards the trailing end, facilitating snow accumulation and compaction within the circumferential groove, with an optimal angle of 43° to 50° for enhanced snow-snow friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the radially outer flank section has a constant width, then the manufacturing is simple, but the snow transport and compaction into the circumferential groove is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The block flank is designed with different geometric characteristics in different circumferential regions. The radially outer flank section has its width varied continuously in the circumferential direction, creating local quality variations that optimize snow transport at specific locations while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The width of the radially outer flank section is changed as a parameter along the circumferential direction. This continuous variation of the width parameter creates a gradient structure that facilitates progressive snow transport and compaction into the circumferential groove, improving productivity without requiring complex mechanical systems.
2Speed
If the radially outer flank section has a steep angle, then snow is pushed into the groove faster, but the block flank structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the block flank are assigned different angles relative to the radial direction. The radially inner flank section has one angle while the radially outer flank section has a different angle, creating local quality variations that optimize snow transport speed at specific locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The block flank geometry is designed asymmetrically with respect to the radial direction, with the radially outer flank section having a different angular orientation than the radially inner flank section. This asymmetric design enables effective snow transport while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
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
This design accelerates snow transport and compaction into the groove, significantly improving traction properties by ensuring quicker and more extensive snow-snow friction, even under varying loads.
Implementation Method 1
The measures taken are intended to ensure good water drainage and abrasion resistance, as well as to help reduce the risk of understeer. The width of the radially outer flank section increases continuously over its circumferential extent in the direction of the tapered end of the block flank.
Data Source
Figure 1~1c
Figure 2~2c
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle pneumatic tire with a tread having at least one profile rib bounded on at least one side by a circumferential groove (2), which is divided into profile blocks (1I, 1II, 1III, 1IV, 1V) by a plurality of transverse grooves (3) and/or oblique grooves running parallel to each other and opening into the circumferential groove (2), each of which is bounded on the circumferential groove (2) by a block flank (4I, 4II, 4III, 4IV, 4V), which, viewed in cross-section and in the radial direction, is composed, at least in one circumferential section (4IIIu, 4IVu, 4Vu), of a radially inner flank section (7I, 7II, 7III, 7IV, 7V) and a radially outer flank section (8I, 8II, 8III, 8IV, 8V), wherein the radially outer flank section (8I, 8II, 8III, 8IV, 8V) has a continuously increasing width (b2I, b2II) over its circumference.The tread is directional, such that the lateral block flank (4I, 4II, 4III, 4IV, 4V) has an incoming end (5I, 5II, 5III, 5IV, 5V) that first enters the ground when the tire rolls during forward travel (R) and a trailing end (6I, 6II, 6III, 6IV, 6V), wherein the radially inner flank section (7I, 7II, 7III, 7IV, 7V), viewed in cross-section, runs at a constant angle (α) of 0° to 7° to the radial direction and the radially outer flank section (8I, 8II, 8III, 8IV, 8V), viewed in cross-section, runs at a constant angle (β) of 40° to 60° to the radial direction and wherein the width (b2I, b2II) of the radially outer flank section (8I, 8II, 8III, 8IV, 8V) increases continuously over its circumference towards the end (6I, 6II, 6III, 6IV, 6V) of the block flank (4I, 4II, 4III, 4IV, 4V).