Heavy-Duty Tire Tread Hidden Cavities for Drainage and Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy goods vehicle tires face reduced rigidity and increased rolling resistance due to the production of numerous open grooves for water drainage, leading to compromised driving performance and energy consumption, especially in rainy conditions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates hidden cavities with extensions that open onto the tread surface, maintaining rigidity by ensuring the extensions remain open and functional, with elongated first openings oriented transversely or obliquely to enhance water drainage and traction, while avoiding contact between extension walls during normal use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If numerous open grooves are produced in the tread for water drainage, then water drainage performance is improved, but tread rigidity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is segmented into multiple hidden cavities (first, second, and third hidden cavities) with different orientations rather than using continuous open grooves. These cavities are separated by reinforcing elements, dividing the drainage function into discrete segments that maintain overall structural integrity while providing water evacuation paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread incorporates a flexible membrane structure that forms the walls of hidden cavities. This thin film structure allows the tread to maintain rigidity when dry while flexing to create drainage pathways when water accumulates, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and drainage capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If numerous open grooves are produced in the tread for water drainage, then water drainage performance is improved, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is segmented into discrete hidden cavities rather than continuous grooves, reducing the total surface area of drainage structures. This segmentation minimizes the deformation cycles of tread material during rolling, thereby reducing rolling resistance while maintaining effective water drainage through the distributed cavity system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the extensions remain open and functional, then water drainage is improved, but tread rigidity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The extension structures transition from a static open groove configuration to a dynamic hidden cavity system that remains closed during normal operation to maintain rigidity, then opens dynamically when water pressure activates the drainage function, allowing water to enter and exit the cavities through controlled pathways.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
Tread (1) for a heavy-duty vehicle tyre, having a tread surface (10) in the new state, said tread (1) comprising at least one cavity forming a hidden channel (22) designed to form an additional groove after a predetermined partial wear, each hidden channel (22) being extended towards the tread surface (10) in the new state and over the entire length thereof by a low-width sipe (21), at least one hidden channel (22) having a plurality of extensions (3) extending from said hidden channel towards the tread surface for establishing communication between the hidden channel (22) and the outside of the tread at least from a partial wear of the tread, each extension (3) being a secondary channel having two openings, a first elongated opening (30) of a minimum size l0 and a maximum size Lo opening onto the tread surface and a second opening (32) opening into the hidden channel (22), said tread being such that for at least one hidden channel (22) provided with extensions (3), each first opening (30) of said extensions (3) is entirely formed on one side of the sipe (21) extending from the hidden channel (22).