Pneumatic Tyre Tread Block Stiffness and Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing design of pneumatic vehicle tires with V-shaped oblique grooves and microgrooves is prone to deformation during rolling, leading to suboptimal power transmission to the ground, especially on icy and snowy roads, due to small-volume edge block segments that easily bend.

Innovation Solution

The oblique grooves are offset in the circumferential direction, forming angles of 90° to 110° with each other, and the incisions and microgrooves are oriented parallel to the inner tread groove portions, enhancing the stiffness and reducing the tendency of block segments to tilt, ensuring constant contact with the ground for improved power transmission and drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the oblique grooves are arranged at angles of 30° to 60° to the circumferential direction, then the drainage capability is improved, but the edge block segments become small-volume and easily deformed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage capabilityVSAvoidstability of edge block segments
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the angular parameter of the oblique grooves from the conventional 30°-60° to 45°-75° relative to the circumferential direction. This parameter modification increases the volume and stability of the edge block segments while preserving adequate drainage capability through the optimized groove configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the incisions and microgrooves are oriented at angles up to 35° to the axial direction, then the water film drainage is improved, but the block segments become soft and prone to bending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater film drainageVSAvoidstiffness of block segments
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the orientation parameters of the incisions and microgrooves, changing their angle relative to the axial direction from up to 35° to a range of 0°-30°. This parameter adjustment increases the stiffness of the block segments while maintaining effective water film drainage through the optimized groove arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of moving object

If the edge block segments are small-volume, then the tread pattern is compact, but the power transmission to the ground is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of edge block segmentsVSAvoidpower transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tread pattern, specifically increasing the volume of the edge block segments by modifying the oblique groove angles to 45°-75° relative to the circumferential direction. This volume increase enhances the power transmission capability to the ground while maintaining an compact overall tread design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3708388B1Pneumatic tyre
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3708388B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3708388B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle pneumatic tire with a directional tread profile having oblique grooves (7) extending in a V-shape across the tread width and intersecting in the area of ​​the tread center, wherein in each half of the tread at least two of these connecting grooves (8) extend between the circumferentially successive oblique grooves (7), which together with the oblique grooves (7) define parallelogram-shaped central profile blocks (1) in plan view, wherein the central profile blocks (1) are provided with incisions (3) with a width of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm and with micro-grooves (5) that are shallower than the incisions (3) and have a depth and width of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, wherein the incisions (3) and the micro-grooves (5) extend parallel to each other in each profile block (1).The V-shaped inclined grooves (7) running towards each other and intersecting each other are offset from each other in the circumferential direction and their inner groove sections (7a) which define the middle profile blocks (1) enclose an angle (γ) of 90° to 110° with respect to the center lines (mSR) of the inclined grooves (7), whereby the cuts (3) and microgrooves (5) in the middle profile blocks (1) extend parallel to the inner groove sections (7a) of the inclined grooves (7) with respect to their center lines (mE, mMR).