Tyre Groove Protrusions for Stone Ejection and Fatigue Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tyres designed for urban and suburban use face issues with stone entrapping in grooves, leading to 'stone drilling' and material tearing when driving on unmade or partially asphalt-paved roads, as existing protrusions do not provide sufficient surface area for stone ejection and can compromise tyre fatigue resistance.
Innovation Solution
The tyre features protruding elements with a smaller base size at the groove bottom and a larger top surface, allowing for increased contact area and flexibility, enabling efficient stone ejection and reduced fatigue risk by providing a wide rest surface and lateral bending mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If protrusions are made with constant section or tapering towards the upper end, then stone ejection capability is improved, but the connecting radii between side walls and groove bottom must be decreased, worsening fatigue resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion features an asymmetric cross-section that is larger at the top and smaller at the base, allowing the top surface to effectively contact and eject stones while the reduced base area maintains adequate connecting radii with groove bottom side walls, thus preserving fatigue resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional area along its height, providing a larger surface area at the top for stone ejection functionality while maintaining smaller dimensions at the base to preserve structural integrity and fatigue resistance in the groove region
2Object-affected harmful factors
If protrusions are made with larger top surfaces for stone ejection, then stone ejection efficiency is improved, but the space between the base of protrusion and side walls of groove is reduced, compromising tyre strength
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion features an asymmetric cross-section that is larger at the top and smaller at the base, allowing the top surface to effectively contact and eject stones while the reduced base area maintains adequate connecting radii with groove bottom side walls, thus preserving fatigue resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional area along its height, providing a larger surface area at the top for stone ejection functionality while maintaining smaller dimensions at the base to preserve structural integrity and fatigue resistance in the groove region
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 prevents stone entrapping, reduces the risk of material tearing, and optimizes traction, grip, and drainage performance on unmade roads while maintaining tyre strength and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the protruding stripe is deflected as a whole, thereby generating a reaction force on the basis of a deformation restoring force
Implementation Method 2
the top head portion is inclined around the base portion, and the protruding stripe is deflected as a whole
Implementation Method 3
during rolling, the centrifugal force by itself is not able to eject them
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
A tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a tread band (4) having a plurality of grooves (9) and including a plurality of elements protruding from a bottom surface (15) of the grooves (9). The protruding elements (18) have a height (h) less extended than a depth (H) of the grooves (9) and each of the protruding elements (18) has a proximal portion (20) placed close to the bottom surface (15) that is smaller than a distal portion (18a) thereof. The protruding element (18) comprises a stem (21) linked to the bottom surface (15), and two tailpieces (22) extending in mutually opposite directions from a distal end of the stem (21).