Heavy Vehicle Tyre Tread with Hidden Cavities for Wear Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heavy vehicle tire treads face irregular wear patterns before new grooves are formed, leading to reduced tread rigidity and increased rolling resistance, which affects performance and fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of fine ribs oriented at an angle of at least 40 degrees with the main direction of hidden cavities, which locally modify the tread's stiffness and promote more even wear by extending along the side walls of these cavities, and the use of inclined top parts to connect incisions with the running surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grooves are made opening onto the running surface when new, then drainage performance is improved, but tread rigidity and wear performance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is segmented into multiple parts: a first part opening onto the running surface when new, and a second part hidden underneath. This segmentation allows the groove to provide drainage when needed while maintaining tread integrity during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove transitions from a two-dimensional surface feature to a three-dimensional structure by extending underneath the running surface. This allows the groove to maintain strength on the surface while providing drainage capacity in the subsurface dimension.
2Reliability
If grooves extend through the thickness of the tread, then drainage capacity is improved, but tread strength and regularity of wear are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure has different properties at different locations: the first part at the surface provides drainage access, while the second part underneath provides additional capacity. Each part is optimized for its specific function and location.
Solution Approach 2:
The hidden second part of the groove is pre-formed underneath the running surface, ready to become functional as the tread wears. This preliminary preparation ensures that drainage capacity increases progressively and regularly as the tire wears.
3Reliability
If multiple grooves are produced in the tread, then drainage performance is improved, but quantity of strip material is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The second part of the groove is nested underneath the first part, creating a hierarchical structure. This nesting allows the groove system to provide extensive drainage capacity while using less material than multiple surface grooves would require.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Tread (1) for a heavy goods vehicle tyre, having a total thickness corresponding to the thickness of the material undergoing wear during rolling, this tread (1) having, in a new state, a rolling surface (10) for contacting a road surface when rolling, and comprising at least one hidden cavity (2) for forming a new groove opening onto the tread surface (10) after a predetermined partial wear, the hidden cavity (2) comprising two opposite side walls (21, 22) interconnected via a radially inner bottom (23) and via a radially outer top portion (24), the top portion (24) of the hidden cavity (2) being provided with a plurality of fine ridges (25), the height of which extends radially inwards of the hidden cavity (2) from the top portion (24) delimiting the hidden cavity (2).