Commercial Vehicle Tire Tread Blocks for Crack-Resistant Winter Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicle tires with zigzag-shaped edges suffer from unequal slit lengths leading to crack formation at the base, compromising durability and traction properties, particularly in winter conditions.
Innovation Solution
The tire design features zigzag-shaped block edges composed of five or seven edge sections, with parallel and angled arrangements to ensure equal slit lengths, reducing stress at the base and improving durability while maintaining good traction and winter driving characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If zigzag-shaped block edges with transverse grooves are used, then good traction properties and winter driving characteristics are achieved, but unequal slit lengths cause crack formation at the base, compromising durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the geometric parameters of the block edges. Specifically, the block edges are designed with angles between 120° to 170° and include bends at specific positions to ensure equal slit lengths. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by maintaining the zigzag shape for traction while preventing stress concentration that causes cracking, thus improving both reliability and durability simultaneously
2Reliability
If multiple slits are arranged in tread blocks, then good traction and winter driving characteristics are improved, but stress concentration at slit bases leads to crack development and reduced tire life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the block edges by introducing bends at specific locations and controlling the angles between edge sections to be between 120° to 170°. This ensures equal slit lengths and distributes stress uniformly, preventing crack formation while maintaining multiple slits for improved traction and winter driving characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry through the bent block edge design where edge sections are arranged at specific angles and positions. The bends create an asymmetric pattern that equalizes the slit lengths opening into circumferential grooves, thereby preventing stress concentration and crack formation while preserving the beneficial effects of multiple slits
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a commercial vehicle tire with a tread having a row of profile blocks (1, 2) with profile blocks (7, 8) which each have a block edge (12) on circumferential grooves (4, 5), wherein the block edge (12) is composed of straight edge sections (12a, 12b, 12c) which each enclose an angle (β) of 120° to 170° and has a bend (12d) on the inside of the block or a bend (12e) on the outside of the block at the mutual connection of the edge sections (12b, 12c).The block edges (12) each consist of five or seven edge segments (12a, 12b, 12c), wherein the end edge segments (12a) run at matching first angles (γ) of 2° to 15° to the circumferential direction and each further edge segment (12b, 12c) runs at an angle (δ, ε) greater than the first angle (γ) to the circumferential direction and wherein the incisions (15) run between an inside-side bend (12d) of one block edge (12) and an outside-side bend (12e) of the other block edge (12) as well as between all bends (12e, 12d).