Pneumatic Tyre Projections for Soft Surface Traction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pneumatic vehicle tires designed for light trucks and similar vehicles face challenges in maintaining good handling, traction, and braking properties on snow, slush, mud, and other soft surfaces while also needing protection from premature wear and damage.

Innovation Solution

The tire design features flat projections along the block flanks with 'traction edges' that improve traction on soft surfaces and stabilize the tread blocks, while also protecting against damage from sharp objects, without compromising water drainage capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If projections are formed along block flanks to improve traction on soft surfaces, then traction properties are improved, but water drainage capacity may be impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction propertiesVSAvoidwater drainage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The projection is designed with differentiated local properties: the first region (contact region) has a larger cross-section to provide traction edges for soft surfaces, while the second region (transition region) has a smaller cross-section to minimize interference with water drainage. This local variation in geometry allows the single projection structure to simultaneously improve traction while preserving water drainage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If projections are formed along block flanks to provide traction edges, then handling and braking properties are improved, but the tread block stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling and braking propertiesVSAvoidtread block stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The projection geometry is carefully controlled with specific parameter ranges: the distance from the block flank to the projection is 0.3-1.0 mm, the projection height is 1.5-2.5 mm, and the longitudinal extent is 4-20 mm. These optimized parameters ensure the projection provides sufficient traction edges while maintaining tread block stability through proper structural support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If projections extend closer to the block flank to provide more traction edges, then traction on soft surfaces is improved, but protection against water drainage impairment is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction on soft surfacesVSAvoidwater drainage impairment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The projection is designed with differentiated local properties: the first region (contact region) has a larger cross-section to provide traction edges for soft surfaces, while the second region (transition region) has a smaller cross-section to minimize interference with water drainage. This local variation in geometry allows the single projection structure to simultaneously improve traction while preserving water drainage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the projection cross-section is increased to enhance traction, then traction properties are improved, but water drainage capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction propertiesVSAvoidwater drainage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The projection is designed with differentiated local properties: the first region (contact region) has a larger cross-section to provide traction edges for soft surfaces, while the second region (transition region) has a smaller cross-section to minimize interference with water drainage. This local variation in geometry allows the single projection structure to simultaneously improve traction while preserving water drainage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3245077B1Pneumatic vehicle tyre
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3245077B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread with at least one block row (1, 2, 3) which runs around in the circumferential direction and is separated from further profile positives by at least one circumferential groove (7, 8), and the profile blocks (1a, 2a, 3a) of which are separated from one another in the circumferential direction by transverse grooves (4, 5, 6) and have block edges (10, 11, 12, 11', 12') which bound the at least one circumferential groove (7, 8) and transverse grooves (4, 5, 6) and extend at an angle (a) of 0° to 10° with respect to the radial direction. Projections (13, 14) are formed along block edges (10, 11, 12, 11', 12'), radially inside the block surface forming the tread surface, said projections (13, 14) having a surface (13a, 14a) which runs parallel to the block surface and having an edge extending parallel to the block edge (10, 11, 12, 11', 12') at a distance (a2) of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, from which edge an end face (13b, 14b), which bounds the projection (13, 14), runs as far as the groove base, said end face (13b, 14b) running at an angle with respect to the radial direction which is up to 7° larger than that of the respective block edge (10, 11, 12, 11', 12').