Pneumatic Tire Tread Stone Trapping Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic vehicle tires with transverse channels are prone to stone trapping and cut-and-chip damage on stony or gravelly surfaces, as existing base elevations are insufficient in preventing stone entrapment and optimizing profile stiffness.
Innovation Solution
The tire features two rows of transverse ribs with oppositely oriented transverse channels, where base elevations in the overlap regions have a large volume and extent, with a downward-sloping ramp at the channel ends, and additional base elevations along the channel flanks that decrease in rubber volume towards the tread edge, aiding stone ejection and traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If base elevations are formed on the channel base of transverse channels to prevent stone trapping, then stone ejection is improved, but the middle region of the tread remains susceptible to the cut-and-chip effect due to insufficient profile stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of stone ejection and profile stiffness reinforcement by combining base elevations with transverse rib structures. The base elevations are integrated into the transverse ribs that extend across the tread, creating a unified structure that simultaneously ejects stones and maintains profile stiffness to prevent the cut-and-chip effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends base elevations from the channel base into the transverse ribs in the circumferential direction, adding a dimensional element that spans across the tread. This creates overlap regions where base elevations from opposite rows intersect, forming a three-dimensional structure that reinforces profile stiffness while maintaining stone ejection capability.
2Productivity
If transverse channels are made as main channels with maximum profile depth for drainage, then water evacuation is improved, but stone trapping becomes more likely in the middle region of the tread
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is segmented into two rows of transverse ribs with channels between them, creating multiple discrete channels rather than one continuous deep channel. This segmentation allows each channel to maintain maximum depth for drainage while the overall structure with overlapping base elevations prevents stone trapping through distributed ejection points.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If base elevations are formed to prevent stone trapping, then stone ejection is promoted, but the complexity of the tread structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse ribs serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the tread, create channels for water drainage, and incorporate base elevations for stone ejection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate structures, thereby limiting the increase in complexity while achieving multiple benefits simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread with profile positives which are separated from one another in a circumferential direction by transverse channels which extend continuously from the central region of the tread to the lateral tread edges and which are main channels of the tread and which, at least over the major part of the course thereof, have the maximum provided profile depth. The tread has, as profile positives, two rows of transverse ribs which are of encircling form in the circumferential direction and which are separated from one another by respective transverse channels. The tread is of directional configuration, wherein the transverse ribs of one row, and thus the transverse channels running between the transverse ribs, run, with respect to the axial direction, oppositely in relation to the transverse ribs and transverse channels of the other row.