Tyre Tread Profile Stiffness and Wear Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing tread profile design of vehicle tires with radially raised profile block elements separated by a profile groove leads to uneven transverse stiffness, resulting in one-sided loading, high non-uniform abrasion, and reduced lateral force transmission, especially during tire flattening.

Innovation Solution

A tread profile design where the transverse stiffness of adjacent profile block elements is modified along the profile groove, with an additional narrow groove formed along the groove base to provide uniform support and decouple the elements, allowing even load distribution and increased lateral force transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a single stepped elevation is formed in the profile groove to support the first profile block element, then the first profile block element receives additional support in its extension area with lower transverse rigidity, but the second profile block element receives no support and experiences one-sided loading leading to non-uniform abrasion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransverse rigidity of first profile block elementVSAvoiduniformity of load distribution and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support functions for both profile block elements into a single integrated groove structure. The groove base features two stepped elevations at different heights that work together within one groove to simultaneously support both the first and second profile block elements, eliminating the need for separate grooves and achieving uniform load distribution across both elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove base is designed with spatially varying properties through stepped elevations at different heights. The first stepped elevation supports the first profile block element while the second stepped elevation supports the second profile block element, creating locally adapted support characteristics that address the different rigidity requirements of each element along the profile groove.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the transverse stiffness of the first profile block element is increased from the first transverse groove to the second transverse groove, then the first profile block element becomes more stable, but the second profile block element experiences decreasing transverse stiffness and requires additional support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransverse stiffness profile of first profile block elementVSAvoidtransverse rigidity of second profile block element
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The groove base features stepped elevations at different heights positioned at different locations along the profile groove. The first stepped elevation corresponds to the first profile block element with increasing transverse stiffness, while the second stepped elevation corresponds to the second profile block element with decreasing transverse stiffness, providing locally adapted support that compensates for the stiffness variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If profile block elements are separated by a profile groove to allow independent deformation, then mobility is improved, but lateral force transmission between adjacent elements is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility of profile block elementsVSAvoidlateral force transmission between profile block elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The groove base acts as an intermediary structure that connects the first and second profile block elements. Through the stepped elevations formed in the groove base, lateral forces can be transmitted between the separated profile block elements while still allowing independent deformation, thus mediating between the need for mobility and force transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2230103B1Bearing surface profile of a vehicle pneumatic tyre
Publication Date: 2011.11.02 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP2230103B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2230103B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2230103B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The tread profile has two profile blocking elements (11,12), where an additional narrow groove (17) is formed with a groove depth longitudinal to the total extension of the tread groove (7) in the groove base (10). The groove extends from the diagonal groove (15) in the direction of another diagonal groove in an extending area (18) longitudinal to the tread groove in radial extension of the tread groove at the groove wall of the tread groove.