Tyre Tread Incision Layout to Delay Block Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Competition tires, particularly those used in rally events, are prone to cracks and tears due to aggressive surfaces and high temperatures, reducing their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
The tire design incorporates elongated incisions with blind ends and specific dimensioning points that limit the development of cracks by positioning the incision ends away from the tire edges, enhancing heat exchange and force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional tyre treads with lateral grooves and sipes are used, then water evacuation capability is provided, but the tyre generates harmful factors including bacterial growth, unpleasant odours, and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The tread blocks are divided into multiple segments by longitudinal incisions that extend partially through the tread block thickness. These incisions create separate tread segment elements that can independently deform and evacuate water, improving water evacuation while reducing the continuous surface that harbors bacteria and generates noise
Solution Approach 2:
The incisions create local variations in the tread block structure, with different segments having different deformation characteristics. This local differentiation allows certain segments to optimize water evacuation while others minimize noise and bacterial growth, addressing multiple harmful factors simultaneously
2Reliability
If transverse grooves and sipes are incorporated into the tread pattern, then water evacuation is improved, but the structural integrity and strength of the tread blocks are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tread block is segmented into multiple elements through longitudinal incisions, creating a modular structure where each segment maintains structural integrity while collectively providing enhanced water evacuation. The segmentation allows water to be channeled through multiple pathways without compromising the overall strength of individual tread segments
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding more transverse grooves that cut across the tread block (one-dimensional approach), the invention uses longitudinal incisions that create depth-wise segmentation (three-dimensional approach). This dimensional change allows water evacuation functionality to be added without significantly compromising the planar strength of the tread block surface
3Reliability
If the tyre tread pattern includes multiple grooves and sipes, then water evacuation capability is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation is achieved through incisions of controlled depth rather than complete through-grooves, reducing the complexity of manufacturing. The incisions can be created using standard tyre manufacturing techniques without requiring additional complex tooling or multi-step processes, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving enhanced water evacuation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tyre comprising a tread comprising a so-called elongate incision (82) made in a tread block (20) and comprising: - a central portion (84) arranged between sizing points (94, 96) defining the slender direction (Ei) of the elongate incision (82), - an elongation portion (86, 88) arranged between one of the sizing points (94, 96) and one of the blind ends (90, 92). The central portion (84) and the elongation portion (86, 88) are arranged such that, when moving along the elongate incision (82) from the elongation portion (86, 88) towards the central portion (84), the direction of movement changes relative to the slender direction (Ei) when passing through the sizing point (94, 96) defining the slender direction (Ei). The ratio between the curvilinear lengths of the elongation portion (86, 88) and of the central portion (84) is strictly less than 1.0.