Tread Block Recess Geometry for On-Snow Tire Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic tires with grooves and cut-out portions on the tread surface do not effectively compact snow, leading to inadequate on-snow traction performance.
Innovation Solution
The tire design includes blocks demarcated by grooves with block wall surfaces featuring triangular-shaped recesses that extend across the block ground contacting surface and wall surface, with the recesses' openings terminating short of the groove bottom, enhancing snow compaction and traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional grooves with cut-out portions are provided on the tread surface, then the tire structure is simplified, but the on-snow traction performance is insufficient due to inadequate snow compaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing first recesses with specific triangular configurations only in certain regions of the block wall surface, rather than uniformly across the entire tread. These recesses are strategically positioned to optimize snow compaction in areas where it is most needed for traction, while maintaining a simpler overall tread structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread structure is segmented into blocks demarcated by grooves, with each block containing multiple first recesses. This segmentation allows the tire to process snow in discrete locations, improving compaction effectiveness while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular block design.
2Reliability
If the first recesses extend across the block ground contacting surface and block wall surface with openings not reaching the groove bottom, then snow compaction effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters of the first recesses, specifically setting the opening area between 0.5 mm² and 5 mm² and controlling the recess depth to extend across the block surfaces without reaching the groove bottom. These parameter optimizations achieve effective snow compaction while avoiding excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first recesses are designed to extend partially across the block surfaces but deliberately stop before reaching the groove bottom. This partial action provides sufficient snow compaction effectiveness without the complexity of full-depth recesses, achieving the optimal balance between performance and structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If the wall surface opening of the first recesses terminates without reaching the groove bottom, then snow is effectively compacted within the recesses, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies optimal parameter ranges for the first recesses, including opening area (0.5-5 mm²) and depth control, to achieve effective snow compaction. By defining these parameters within reasonable ranges rather than exact values, the design achieves high snow compaction performance while maintaining feasible manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire is provided with blocks in a tread portion. Each of the blocks has a block wall surface provided with first recesses. Each of the first recesses extends across a block ground contacting surface and the block wall surface. Each of the first recesses has a triangular ground contacting surface opening on the block ground contacting surface and a triangular wall surface opening on the block wall surface. The wall surface opening has a first end terminating without reaching a groove bottom of one of grooves demarcating the each of the blocks.