Commercial Vehicle Tyre Tread Depth Indicator Rib
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current methods for checking the tread depth of commercial vehicle tires are hindered by aerodynamic covers, making it difficult to visually verify the presence of legally required tread depth indicators, especially when only a small portion of the tire circumference is exposed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a rib on the groove base of shoulder-side circumferential grooves that runs over at least 90% of the tire's circumference, serving as an additional tread depth indicator, which is visible even under aerodynamic covers, and combining it with local profile depth indicators for easy and reliable tread depth assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If aerodynamic covers are installed to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the visibility of tread depth indicators is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tread depth indication function is segmented into two independent systems: traditional local indicators distributed in circumferential grooves and a new continuous rib indicator in the shoulder groove. This segmentation ensures that even if aerodynamic covers block some local indicators, the continuous rib provides an alternative visible indication path.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structure acts as an intermediary element that translates the hidden tread depth information into a visible form. By forming the rib on the groove base and providing an indicator surface at a specific height, it mediates between the covered tread depth and the visible indication, allowing tread depth assessment without direct line of sight to traditional indicators.
2Reliability
If multiple local tread depth indicators are distributed over the circumference, then measurement reliability is improved, but the ease of visual checking is reduced when wheels are partially covered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional distribution of discrete indicators along the groove to a two-dimensional continuous indicator structure. The rib extends circumferentially around the tire with its indicator surface providing a continuous visual reference, adding a dimensional aspect that makes the indicator visible from multiple angles and positions, thereby improving ease of visual checking while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator surface of the rib can be provided with contrasting coloring or material properties that make it visually distinct from the surrounding tire structure. This allows the indicator surface to stand out and be easily identified by visual inspection, improving ease of operation for tread depth checking.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
Commercial vehicle tires with a tread (1) having circumferential grooves (2, 2') whose depth corresponds to the intended tread depth, which are bounded by two opposing groove flanks (4) and a groove base (5) connecting them and are provided with a number of local tread depth indicators (7) distributed over their circumference, wherein two of these circumferential grooves are shoulder-side circumferential grooves (2);At least at the base of the grooves (5) of the shoulder-side circumferential grooves (2), leaving lateral groove base sections, a rib (6) is provided, extending over at least 90% of its circumference and forming a further tread depth indicator, which has rib flanks (6a) merging into the groove base (5) and an indicator surface (6b) on the rib surface, wherein the local tread depth indicators (7) are connections of the rib (6) to at least one of the groove flanks (4), wherein those circumferential grooves (2, 2') on whose groove base such a rib (6) forming a further tread depth indicator runs have a width (b1) at the tread periphery of at least 8.0 mm.