V-Shaped Tire Wear Indicators with Depth Gradients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing setting indicators on pneumatic vehicle tires are poorly recognizable and difficult to find, making it challenging to determine uneven tread wear and incorrect chassis adjustments, especially after low mileage, until significant wear has progressed.
Innovation Solution
Designing V-shaped setting indicators with parallel ribs on the tread surface, where incisions deeper axially on the inside disappear earlier than those on the outside, allowing for early detection of uneven wear and indicating the need for chassis readjustment, and providing a clear visual indication of wear progression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If setting indicators are made flat and superficial on tread positives, then they are easier to manufacture, but they become poorly recognizable and difficult to find on the tread
Solution Approach 1:
The setting indicator is transformed from a flat 2D surface marking into a 3D structured form with multiple incisions at varying depths protruding from the tread surface. This dimensional transformation creates visible depth variations and shadow effects that significantly improve recognizability while remaining manufacturable through standard molding processes
Solution Approach 2:
The setting indicator is divided into multiple incisions (first, second, third incisions) at different depths rather than using a single flat marking. This segmentation creates a stepped profile that enhances visibility and allows for progressive wear indication, making the indicator both recognizable and informative
2Measurement precision
If setting indicators are placed in shoulder areas separated by tread center, then they can indicate uneven wear, but they become harder to locate and assess quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies colored filler particles (such as iron oxide) to specific incisions within the setting indicator, creating visual contrast that draws immediate attention to the indicator's location and wear state. This color coding system allows for rapid identification and assessment without requiring the inspector to search through the tread structure
Solution Approach 2:
The incisions are designed with asymmetric depth patterns where the first incision has a different depth than the second and third incisions. This asymmetric configuration creates an easily recognizable pattern that stands out on the tread surface and allows for quick visual assessment of wear progression
3Measurement precision
If incisions are made at different depths with deeper incisions closer to tread center, then wear progression can be tracked, but the indicator becomes more complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The incisions are pre-formed at different depths during the tire manufacturing process rather than being created in the field. This preliminary action allows for precise depth control and consistent positioning, enabling accurate wear progression tracking while avoiding the complexity of post-manufacturing modifications
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
Enables quick and easy assessment of even tire wear and severity of misalignment, facilitating timely chassis readjustment and improving the visibility and recognizability of wear indicators.
Implementation Method 1
In the course of the abrasion of the tread strip, the setting indicators are therefore worn down
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle tyre comprising a tread that has positive profiles in the shoulder regions, at least one setting indicator (3, 4) being designed on the surface (3a, 4a) of each profile, and said indicator comprising at least two recesses (10, 11, 12; 13, 14) of different depths (T1, T2, T3;T4, T5) that reach in the radial direction from the surface (3a, 4a) into the tread. The recesses (10, 11, 12; 13, 14) are arranged consecutively in the direction of the centre of the tread and are made such that the smaller their distance from the centre of the tread, the deeper they are.