Pneumatic Tire Tread Block Notching for External Damage Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic tires are susceptible to external damage at corner portions of the tread, particularly when driving on non-smooth surfaces or navigating curves, due to uneven distribution of driving and sideways forces.
Innovation Solution
The tire design features inside and outside notched portions on the tread blocks, with those nearest the tire equator notched more extensively to enhance resistance to external damage, while maintaining block rigidity and water discharge ability through specific groove orientations and dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If corner portions of blocks are left intact to maintain block strength, then block rigidity is improved, but resistance to external damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different treatments to different parts of the block structure. Specifically, corner portions of blocks are provided with notched portions that reduce material at these vulnerable locations, while the main body of the blocks retains full strength. This localized modification addresses the external damage vulnerability at corners without compromising the overall rigidity of the block structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If uniform notching is applied to all blocks, then external damage resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements asymmetric notching patterns where the degree and position of notching varies by block location. Blocks at different positions around the tire circumference receive different notching treatments based on their specific vulnerability profiles. This asymmetric approach targets external damage resistance where most needed while avoiding unnecessary manufacturing complexity in less vulnerable areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pneumatic tire is obtained that is capable of enhancing resistance to external damage of blocks provided at a tread. In a pneumatic tire (10), inside notched portions (34, 36, 38) are formed to plural blocks (22, 26, 30) formed to a tread (12) so as to notch corner portions on the tire width direction inside of the tread-in side of the blocks. Namely, the resistance to external damage of each of the blocks (22, 26, 30) can be raised due to omitting the corner portions that are susceptible to external damage at the tire width direction inside of the tread-in side of each of the blocks (22, 26, 30). Moreover, the inside notched portions (34) provided at the center blocks (22) are notched to a greater extent than the other inside notched portions (36, 38). Namely, the size of the inside notched portions (34) is made particularly large where the center blocks (22) are particularly susceptible to external damage due to the ground contact pressure at the tire equator CL side of the tread (12) being higher than at the shoulder side, thereby raising the resistance to external damage.