Pneumatic Tyre Groove Rubber Blocks Stone Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic vehicle tires, particularly commercial tires, face challenges in maintaining effective stone ejection and wet grip properties over their service life, especially with narrow circumferential grooves, which also complicates production and increases rolling resistance.
Innovation Solution
The design features rubber blocks arranged in an alternating sequence within the circumferential grooves, with specific height and positioning to optimize stone protection and water absorption, while maintaining a wavy groove shape for improved wet grip and durability, and includes features like flat surfaces and angled cutting contours for enhanced wet grip edges and reduced rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If two rows of rubber blocks are formed in the groove base with a straight channel between them, then stone ejection is facilitated and the groove base is protected, but the water absorption capacity is massively restricted and wet grip properties are negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the circumferential groove with a wavy line shape instead of a straight channel. The wavy configuration includes undulating grooves that curve and wave along the groove base, allowing water to be absorbed and transported along the curved paths while maintaining stone ejection capability through the rubber blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the groove base into multiple undulating grooves rather than a single straight channel. This segmentation creates multiple water absorption paths and maintains effective gripping edges distributed along the wavy groove paths, thereby preserving wet grip properties while protecting against stone ingress.
2Loss of energy
If circumferential grooves are designed with very steep, hardly inclined flanks to prevent rolling resistance increase, then additional effects on tire life are prevented, but penetrating stones can easily get caught in the circumferential groove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by forming rubber blocks at specific locations within the circumferential groove - particularly at the groove base and along the flanks. These localized rubber block structures provide stone ejection functionality in the regions where stones are most likely to penetrate, while the overall groove flank design maintains gentle inclination to minimize rolling resistance.
3Reliability
If a wavy line shape is formed over the entire depth of the circumferential groove to maintain effective groove length, then water absorption capacity is improved, but irregular abrasion effects are promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by forming rubber blocks at specific locations within the circumferential groove - particularly at the groove base and along the flanks. These localized rubber block structures provide stone ejection functionality in the regions where stones are most likely to penetrate, while the overall groove flank design maintains gentle inclination to minimize rolling resistance.
4Loss of energy
If narrow circumferential grooves are used to reduce rolling resistance, then energy loss is reduced, but the formation of effective gripping edges and water absorption capacity are made difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by forming rubber blocks with specific height dimensions (1/8 to 1/3 of the tread depth) within the narrow circumferential groove. This vertical dimensioning allows the rubber blocks to protrude sufficiently to provide stone ejection and maintain effective gripping edges, while the groove itself remains narrow to minimize rolling resistance.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
Pneumatic vehicle tyre with a tread profile comprising profile strips (1, 21), which are separated from one another by circumferential grooves (2), are bounded outwardly in the radial direction R by a radially outer surface (6) and in the axial direction A towards the circumferential groove (2) in each case by a flank (3, 4), which forms a groove wall of the circumferential groove (2), wherein first rubber blocks (7), arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction U, and second rubber blocks (8), arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction U, are formed in the groove base (5) of at least one circumferential groove (2), wherein the first rubber blocks (7) are integrally formed in the flank (3) of the first profile block strip (1) and the second rubber blocks (8) are integrally formed in the flank (4) of the second profile block strip (1), wherein the first rubber blocks (7) and the second rubber blocks (8) are formed with a height h, measured outwards from the groove base (5) in the radial direction R with (1/8) P T< h < (l/3)P j, wherein the first rubber blocks (7) and the second rubber blocks (8) are arranged in an alternating sequence one behind the other in the circumferential direction U, wherein a first rubber block (7) is respectively made to extend in the axial direction A up to a position in the axial region of extent of two second rubber blocks (8) arranged one behind the other and ends at a distance from the flank (4) of the second profile strip (1), wherein a second rubber block (8) is respectively made to extend in the axial direction A up to a position in the axial region of extent of two first rubber blocks (7) arranged one behind the other and ends at a distance from the flank (3) of the first profile strip (1).