Pneumatic Tyre Tread Groove Base Elevation Curvature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic vehicle tire designs with basic elevations in tread grooves suffer from stiffness jumps and impaired water drainage capacity, which affect durability and handling properties on various road surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The top surface of the basic elevations in the tire grooves curves radially inward, extending to the tread periphery with a U-shaped depression, reducing stiffness jumps and enhancing water drainage by maintaining a high groove void volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If basic elevations are formed in tread grooves to increase tread rigidity, then handling properties improve, but water drainage capacity is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The basic elevation is segmented into a base part at the groove bottom and side parts on the groove flanks, with the top surface curved radially inward. This segmentation allows the elevation to provide structural support while maintaining open groove sections for water drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The top surface of the basic elevation is designed with radial inward curvature, creating a rounded, dome-like shape rather than a flat surface. This curvature reduces the volume of the basic elevation compared to a flat top design, thereby preserving more groove void volume for water drainage while still providing adequate tread support.
2Stability of the object's composition
If basic elevations extend to the tread periphery to stabilize the tread, then stability improves, but stiffness jumps occur
Solution Approach 1:
The radially inward curved top surface creates a gradual transition in height across the basic elevation, avoiding abrupt stiffness changes. The curved profile distributes the structural support function more evenly, reducing localized stiffness jumps while maintaining overall tread stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The basic elevation provides localized support where needed (at the groove base and connected to groove flanks) while the curved top surface reduces material in areas where full support is not required. This local optimization maintains stability while reducing overall rigidity increases.
3Ease of manufacture
If the top surface of basic elevations is flat and extends to tread periphery, then manufacturing is simplified, but groove void volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The radially inward curved top surface is designed to be compatible with standard tire molding processes. The curvature follows the natural radial orientation of tire construction, allowing the curved surface to be formed during vulcanization without requiring complex additional manufacturing steps.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a pneumatic tire for vehicles with a profiled tread having grooves (5) extending at an angle (α) of 0° to 70° to the axial direction, the grooves having two groove flanks (7) and a groove base (8), and base elevations (10) located at the groove base (8) and connected to the groove flanks (7), each of which is bounded by two end faces (10b, 10c) and radially by a top surface (10a). The base elevations are designed to reduce stiffness discontinuities more effectively than before, while simultaneously improving the water drainage capacity of the grooves. This is achieved by the top surface (10a) of the base elevations (10), viewed in cross-section and longitudinal section through the respective groove (5), curving radially inwards and extending along the groove flanks (7) either to the periphery of the tread or ending in front of it at a distance of up to 2.0 mm determined in the radial direction.