Pneumatic Tire Tread Resonators for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire treads fail to effectively reduce both air column resonance and tread pattern noise simultaneously, as branch grooves need to be lengthy to act effectively, leading to increased tread pattern noise due to rib fluctuations and frequency variations with speed.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire tread design featuring at least two circumferential grooves, an intermediate rib, and shoulder ribs with resonators that have branch grooves opening into the circumferential grooves and terminating in the intermediate rib, where the branch grooves' length is at least 40% of the contact surface, width is between 10% and 25% of the circumferential groove width, and projected length is at least 95% of the pitch length, minimizing cross-sectional void ratio differences to reduce air column resonance and tread pattern noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If branch grooves are made lengthy to act effectively as resonators, then air column resonance is reduced, but tread pattern noise increases due to rib fluctuations and frequency variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the branch groove length to be 40-70% of the contact surface length and the groove width to be 10-25% of the circumferential groove width. These specific parameter ranges optimize the resonator effectiveness while preventing excessive tread pattern noise generation, resolving the contradiction between resonance reduction and noise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements by forming multiple branch grooves that open at different positions along the intermediate rib, creating a distributed resonator system. This dynamic arrangement allows the resonators to function effectively across varying speeds and frequencies, reducing both air column resonance and tread pattern noise simultaneously.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If resonators are arranged with prescribed distance apart, then air column resonance is reduced, but tread pattern noise is generated in different frequency bands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the resonator system into multiple branch grooves distributed along the intermediate rib, with each groove acting as an independent resonating element. This segmentation allows the system to address air column resonance across multiple frequency bands while the distributed arrangement prevents concentrated tread pattern noise generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate rib serves as an intermediary structure that hosts multiple branch grooves at different positions. This intermediary arrangement allows the resonators to be spaced appropriately to reduce air column resonance while preventing the generation of tread pattern noise in problematic frequency bands through proper spatial distribution.
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 effectively suppresses air column resonance and tread pattern noise across multiple frequency bands, reducing overall tire noise by ensuring consistent rib width and regularizing energy fluctuations when the rib strikes the road surface.
Implementation Method 1
Air column resonance in the circumferential grooves formed in tyre treads is produced by resonance in the tubes (air columns) formed by these circumferential grooves and the road surface
Implementation Method 2
resonators of a different type to the branch groove shape, which are known as Helmholtz resonators, for reducing air column resonance
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Provided is a pneumatic tyre tread which reduces tread pattern noise while effectively suppressing air column resonance produced by circumferential grooves. The pneumatic tyre tread according to the present invention is provided with circumferential grooves 2, an intermediate rib 3, and shoulder ribs 4 in the contact surface; the tread is also provided with a plurality of resonators 5 which have a branch groove shape in which one end opens into a circumferential groove and the other end terminates in the intermediate rib, and which reduce the air column resonance in the circumferential grooves; the length of the branch grooves 5 is at least 40% of the length of the contact surface, the groove width is between 10% and 25% of the circumferential groove width, and the projected length in the lateral direction of the branch grooves is at least 95% of the pitch length, when the tyre is mounted on a standard rim and inflated to the nominal inflation pressure, and the nominal load is applied; and the difference between the minimum cross-sectional void ratio in the intermediate rib where the branch grooves are provided and the maximum cross-sectional void ratio in said intermediate rib is no greater than 10%.