Vehicle Tyre Tread Pattern Homogeneous Pressure Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-performance tires face challenges in optimizing tread patterns to balance rolling resistance, lateral grip, braking performance, and water discharge without compromising safety on wet surfaces, with existing configurations often leading to inhomogeneous contact pressure distribution and increased rolling resistance.

Innovation Solution

A tire tread pattern featuring circumferential ribs with alternating long and short blind recesses and through-recesses, which promotes a homogeneous contact pressure distribution, reduces noise, and maintains structural integrity, while enhancing water discharge capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tread pattern includes grooves and notches to discharge water and prevent aquaplaning, then water discharge capability is improved, but rolling resistance increases due to inhomogeneous contact pressure distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater discharge capabilityVSAvoidrolling resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different regions within the tread pattern with distinct characteristics. Specifically, it designs circumferential ribs with varying depths (first ribs at greater depth, second ribs at lesser depth) and incorporates blind recesses at specific locations. This local differentiation allows certain areas to excel at water discharge while other areas maintain better contact pressure distribution, thereby reducing rolling resistance without compromising water discharge capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the tread pattern uses deep grooves and notches to enhance water discharge, then water discharge capability is improved, but lateral grip and braking performance deteriorate due to structural weakening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater discharge capabilityVSAvoidlateral grip and braking performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by strategically positioning blind recesses within specific circumferential ribs rather than uniformly across the entire tread pattern. The first circumferential ribs (at greater depth) contain blind recesses to facilitate water discharge, while the second circumferential ribs (at lesser depth) maintain stronger structural integrity for lateral grip and braking. This localized approach ensures water discharge enhancement without compromising overall structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the tread pattern into multiple circumferential ribs with different characteristics. By dividing the continuous tread structure into discrete rib segments (first ribs and second ribs at different depths), it allows each segment to perform specialized functions - some optimized for water discharge and others for maintaining grip and structural integrity, thereby resolving the contradiction between water discharge and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If the tread pattern is optimized for low rolling resistance with homogeneous contact pressure, then rolling resistance is reduced, but water discharge capability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling resistanceVSAvoidwater discharge capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality through the strategic placement of blind recesses within specific circumferential ribs. The varying depths of different rib groups create localized zones that promote homogeneous contact pressure distribution across the tread footprint, reducing rolling resistance, while the blind recesses in specific locations maintain effective water discharge channels. This localized differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3621823B1Tyre for vehicle wheels
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • EP3621823B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3621823B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3621823B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Tyre (1) for vehicle wheels comprises a tread band (2) on which there are formed - a pair of shoulder regions (7, 8) that are axially opposite one another; - at least a first circumferential rib (12) interposed between said pair of shoulder regions and delimited by a first pair of circumferential grooves (10, 11); - a plurality of first blind recesses (20), which are formed in said first circumferential rib (12) and have a first longitudinal extension, and - a plurality of second blind recesses (30), which are formed in said first circumferential rib (12) and have a second longitudinal extension that is smaller than said first longitudinal extension, - at least a second circumferential rib (15) interposed between said pair of shoulder regions and delimited by a second pair of circumferential grooves (13, 14), and; - a plurality of through-recesses (40), which are formed in said second circumferential rib (15) and extend between the grooves of said second pair of circumferential grooves.