Pneumatic tire
09809064 · 2017-11-07
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B60C13/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60C15/0242
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60C2015/061
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60C15/06
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60C13/003
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B60C15/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60C13/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60C5/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A pneumatic tire, comprising at least sidewall portions and rim guards each provided at the corresponding sidewall portion, wherein: in a cross section in the width direction of the tire assembled with a prescribed rim, an outer contour line, of the rim guard, situated on the outer side in the tire radial direction than the radially outermost peak of the rim guard has an arcuate configuration of which the center of curvature is located on the external side of the tire; radius of curvature R of the outer contour line is in the range of 5 mm≦R≦40 mm; and provided that H represents a distance in the tire radial direction measured from the radially innermost peak to the outermost position in the tire radial direction of a rim flange, 2 mm≦H≦40 mm.
Claims
1. A tire-rim assembly of a pneumatic tire and a prescribed rim, the tire comprising at least sidewall portions and rim guards, the rim guards each being provided at the corresponding sidewall portion to protrude on the outer side in the tire width direction, wherein: in a cross section of the tire in the width direction thereof in a state where the tire has been assembled with the prescribed rim and inflated at prescribed internal pressure with no load thereon, each rim guard has at least one peak; an outer contour line, of the rim guard, situated on the outer side in the tire radial direction than the outermost peak in the tire radial direction of the at least one peak, has an arcuate configuration of which the center of curvature is located on the external side of the tire; radius of curvature R of the outer contour line is in the range of 5 mm≦R<8 mm; provided that H represents a distance in the tire radial direction measured from the innermost peak in the tire radial direction of the at least one peak of the rim guard to the outermost position in the tire radial direction of a rim flange, 10 mm<H≦40 mm; and in the cross section of the tire in the width direction thereof, an outer contour line of a portion, on the inner side in the tire radial direction than the innermost peak to the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange, of the rim guard is constituted exclusively of a curved configuration concaved from the outer side toward the inner side in the tire width direction.
2. The tire-rim assembly of claim 1, wherein the distance H in the tire radial direction is in the range of 10 mm<H≦20 mm.
3. The tire-rim assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pair of bead cores and a pair of bead fillers respectively provided on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the bead cores, wherein elastic modulus of the bead filler is in the range of 200% to 3000% of elastic modulus of the rim guard, and loss tangent of the bead filler is in the range of substantially 0% to 600% of loss tangent of the rim guard.
4. A tire-rim assembly of a pneumatic tire and a prescribed rim, the tire comprising at least sidewall portions, a pair of bead cores, a pair of bead fillers respectively provided on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the bead cores, and rim guards, the rim guards each being provided at the corresponding sidewall portion to protrude on the outer side in the tire width direction, wherein: in a cross section of the tire in the width direction thereof in a state where the tire has been assembled with the prescribed rim and inflated at prescribed internal pressure with no load thereon, each rim guard has at least one peak; an outer contour line, of the rim guard, situated on the outer side in the tire radial direction than the outermost peak in the tire radial direction of the at least one peak, has an arcuate configuration of which the center of curvature is located on the external side of the tire; radius of curvature R of the outer contour line is in the range of 5 mm≦R<10 mm; provided that H represents a distance in the tire radial direction measured from the innermost peak in the tire radial direction of the at least one peak of the rim guard to the outermost position in the tire radial direction of a rim flange, 10 mm<H≦40 mm; in the cross section of the tire in the width direction thereof, an outer contour line of a portion, on the inner side in the tire radial direction than the innermost peak to the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange, of the rim guard is constituted exclusively of a curved configuration concaved from the outer side toward the inner side in the tire width direction; and wherein, in the cross section of the tire in the width direction thereof in a state where the tire has been assembled with the prescribed rim and inflated at prescribed internal pressure with no load thereon, the outermost end in the tire radial direction of each bead filler is situated within a range in the tire radial direction defined, when the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange is regarded as a reference point, from a position 5 mm on the inner side in the tire radial direction of the reference point to a position 40 mm on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the reference point.
5. The tire-rim assembly of claim 4, wherein the distance H in the tire radial direction is in the range of 10 mm<H≦20 mm.
6. The tire-rim assembly of claim 4, wherein the radius of curvature R is in the range of 5 mm≦R≦8 mm.
7. The tire-rim assembly of claim 4, further comprising a pair of bead cores and a pair of bead fillers respectively provided on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the bead cores, wherein elastic modulus of the bead filler is in the range of 200% to 3000% of elastic modulus of the rim guard, and loss tangent of the bead filler is in the range of substantially 0% to 600% of loss tangent of the rim guard.
8. The tire-rim assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one peak of each rim guard protrudes on the outer side in the tire width direction than the rim flange.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
(2)
(3)
(4)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(5) A pneumatic tire of the present invention (which tire may occasionally be referred to simply as “tire” hereinafter) will be demonstratively described in detail with reference to the drawings hereinafter.
(6)
The tire 1 has a tread portion 2, a pair of sidewall portions 3 extending from respective side portions of the tread portion 2 toward the inner side in the tire radial direction, and a pair of bead portions 4 extending from the respective sidewall portions 3 toward the inner side in the tire radial direction, as shown in
(7) Further, the tire 1 has a pair of bead cores 5 embedded in the respective bead portions 4 (only the bead core on one side is shown in
(8) The radial carcass 6 of the tire 1 shown in
(9) Further, the radial carcass of the pneumatic tire of the present invention may be constituted of a plurality of plies, according to necessity, although
(10) The tire 1 has a bead filler 7 on the outer side in the tire radial direction of each bead core 5 embedded in the corresponding bead portion 4 in a region between the carcass main body 6a and the carcass folded-up portion 6b so that the bead filler 7 gradually decreases thickness thereof toward the outer side in the tire radial direction along the radial carcass 6. The bead filler 7 has a substantially triangular shape in
(11) The tire 1 further has: a rubber chafer 8 on the outer side in the tire width direction of the carcass folded-up portion 6b; and an annular rim guard 10 provided on the outer side in the tire radial direction than a rim line position RL set on a surface of the rubber chafer 8 such that the rim guard 10 protrudes on the outer side in the tire width direction and extends continuously in the tire circumferential direction. The rim guard 10 has a substantially triangular cross section with a single peak 10so in
(12)
(13) In the tire 1 shown in
(14) An imaginary line L1 is set to pass through the peak 10so of the rim guard 10 and be in parallel with the rotation axis of the tire and an imaginary line M is set to pass through the outermost position in the tire radial direction of a rim flange 20a of a rim 20 and be in parallel with the rotation axis of the tire, as shown in
(15) As described above, in the tire of the present embodiment, the outer contour line of the rim guard radially outer side portion 10a situated on the outer side in the tire radial direction than the outermost peak in the tire radial direction of the at least one peak of the rim guard 10 (the rim guard 10 has only one peak 10so in the example shown in the drawings) has an arcuate configuration of which the center of curvature is located on the external side of the tire; radius of curvature R of the outer contour line is 5 mm≦R≦40 mm; and provided that H represents a distance in the tire radial direction measured from the innermost peak in the tire radial direction of the at least one peak of the rim guard 10 (the rim guard 10 has only one peak 10so in the example shown in the drawings) to the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange, 2 mm≦H≦40 mm.
(16) An effect of the tire of the present embodiment will be described hereinafter.
(17) In the pneumatic tire 1, the larger radius of curvature R of the contour of the rim guard radially outer side portion 10a results in the larger volume of the rim guard portion. The larger volume of the rim guard portion results in the larger hysteresis loss in the rim guard caused by deformation force applied in the tire width direction. Accordingly, the larger radius of curvature R results in the larger hysteresis loss in the rim guard.
(18) On this basis, setting the radius of curvature R to be 40 mm or less can suppress an increase in volume of the rim guard radially outer side portion 10a and thus an increase in hysteresis loss in this rim guard portion, although the rim guard radially outer side portion 10a is then made somewhat susceptible to deformation.
Further, rigidities of the sidewall portions adequately decrease in this case, whereby a magnitude of deformation borne by the sidewall portions increases and a magnitude of deformation borne by the tread portion decreases in the tire as a whole accordingly, to successfully reduce hysteresis loss in the tread portion.
The aforementioned two hysteresis loss-reducing effects synergistically reduce rolling resistance of the tire.
Yet further, a decrease in weight of the rim guard contributes to reduction of rolling resistance, as well as reduction of production cost, of the tire. In this connection, setting the radius of curvature R to be at least 5 mm ensures a good rim-protecting effect by the rim guard.
Accordingly, it is possible to reduce rolling resistance of the tire as a whole without adversely affecting the rim-protecting effect by the rim guard by setting the radius of curvature R to be within the aforementioned range.
(19) Yet further, it is possible to reduce rolling resistance of the tire as a whole without adversely affecting the rim-protecting effect by the rim guard by setting the distance H in the tire radial direction to be 2 mm≦H≦40 mm in the pneumatic tire 1. Specifically, it is possible to avoid an excessive increase in volume of the rim guard, i.e. decrease mass of the rim guard portion, and adequately decrease rigidities of the sidewall portions to increase deformation thereof and thus reduce deformation of the tread portion having a large volume accordingly by setting the distance H in the tire radial direction to be H≦40 mm. Tire weight can be also reduced in this case. These effects synergistically contribute to further reduction of rolling resistance of the tire.
(20) In this connection, it is possible to prevent a trouble in assembling the tire with a rim from occurring, with ensuring a good rim-protecting effect by the rim guard, by setting the distance H in the tire radial direction to be H≧2 mm.
(21) It is also possible to suppress falling deformation of the bead portions to reduce rolling resistance of the tire by setting the distance H in the tire radial direction to be H≧2 mm. Setting the radius of curvature R of the outer contour line of the rim guard to be 5 mm≦R≦40 mm, in particular, facilitates deformation in the tire side portions on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the rim guard and thus suppresses deformation of the tread portion and the bead portions. In this connection, also setting the distance H in the tire radial direction to be 2 mm≦H≦40 mm in the tire is further advantageous because then falling deformation of the bead portions can be even better suppressed.
(22) The radius of curvature R is preferably 15 mm or less (5 mm to 15 mm) and more preferably 10 mm or less (5 mm to 10 mm) in the pneumatic tire of the present invention because then rolling resistance of the tire as a whole can be further reduced.
(23) The distance H in the tire radial direction is preferably 20 mm or less (2 mm to 20 mm) and more preferably 10 mm or less (2 mm to 10 mm) in the pneumatic tire of the present invention.
(24) Setting the distance H in the tire radial direction to be in the aforementioned range prevents the volume of the rim guard from increasing excessively and thus successfully reduces rolling resistance of the tire as a whole. In this connection, the distance H in the tire radial direction is preferably 5 mm or more (5 mm to 40 mm) because then the rim guard firmly supports the bead portions to suppress falling deformation of the bead portions, which can further reduce rolling resistance of the tire as a whole.
(25) The outermost end 7ro in the tire radial direction of each bead filler 7 is preferably situated within a range in the tire radial direction defined, when the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange is regarded as a reference point, from a position 5 mm on the inner side in the tire radial direction of the reference point to a position 40 mm on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the reference point.
(26) In the case of the conventional tire in which a radius of curvature R of the outer contour line of a rim guard exceeds 40 mm, positioning the outermost end 7ro in the tire radial direction of each bead filler 7 within a range in the tire radial direction defined, when the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange is regarded as a reference point, between the reference position and a position 40 mm on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the reference point will result in too much deformation, i.e. too much hysteresis loss, at the rim guard portion, thereby increasing rolling resistance of the tire. In contrast, in the present invention in which the radius of curvature R of the outer contour line of the rim guard is equal to or smaller than 40 mm, positioning the outermost end 7ro in the tire radial direction of each bead filler 7, when the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange is regarded as a reference point, on or below the position 40 mm on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the reference point i) well decreases the weight of each bead filler which is generally a high rigidity, high hysteresis member and thus reduces hysteresis loss in the bead filler and ii) facilitates eccentric deformation and thus reduces hysteresis loss of the tread portion, with suppressing an increase in hysteresis loss in the rim guard portion, thereby successfully reducing rolling resistance of the tire as a whole.
Further, in the present invention, positioning the outermost end 7ro in the tire radial direction of each bead filler 7 on or above the position 5 mm on the inner side in the tire radial direction of the reference point ensures satisfactorily high rigidity of the bead portion on the inner side in the tire radial direction of the reference point, as compared with the rigidity of the bead portion at the outermost position in the tire radial direction of the rim flange, thereby well suppressing deformation, i.e. hysteresis loss, of the bead portion.
(27) Elastic modulus of the bead filler (E.sub.B) applicable to the pneumatic tire of the present invention is preferably in the range of 200% to 3000% of elastic modulus of the rim guard (E.sub.R).
(28) Elastic modulus (E.sub.B) of the bead filler ≧200% of elastic modulus (E.sub.R) of the rim guard ensures satisfactory high rigidity of the bead portion, suppresses deformation of the bead portion, and thus reduces hysteresis loss in the bead portion. Elastic modulus (E.sub.B) of the bead filler >3000% of elastic modulus (E.sub.R) of the rim guard, however, increases rigidity of the sidewall portion too much, thereby possibly increasing hysteresis loss in the tread portion. It is therefore possible to further reduce rolling resistance of the tire as a whole by setting a ratio of E.sub.B with respect to E.sub.R to be in the aforementioned range. In this connection, a higher ratio of E.sub.B with respect to E.sub.R within the aforementioned range is more preferable in terms of ensuring satisfactory high rigidity. Accordingly, setting the ratio of E.sub.B with respect to E.sub.R to be in the range of 1000% to 2000% is particularly preferable for the same reasons as described above.
(29) Loss tangent of the bead filler (tan δ.sub.B) applicable to the pneumatic tire of the present invention is preferably in the range of 0% to 600% (exclusive of 0% and inclusive 600%) of loss tangent of the rim guard (tan δ.sub.R). Loss tangent (tan δ.sub.B) of the bead filler ≦600% of loss tangent (tan δ.sub.R) of the rim guard suppresses an excessive increase in hysteresis loss in the bead filler, thereby successfully further reducing rolling resistance of the tire as a whole.
(30) In this connection, a smaller ratio of tan δ.sub.B with respect to tan δ.sub.R within the aforementioned range is more preferable in terms of rolling resistance (the smaller tan δ.sub.B results in the less hysteresis loss). Accordingly, setting the ratio of tan δ.sub.B with respect to tan δ.sub.R to be in the range of 20% to 300% is particularly preferable for the same reasons as described above.
(31) The rim guard may be provided in only one of the bead portions in the pneumatic tire of the present invention, although a pair of the rim guards 10 are provided in a pair of the bead portions 4, respectively, in the pneumatic tire 1 according to the one example of the present invention shown in
EXAMPLES
(32) The present invention will be described further in detail by Examples hereinafter without being restricted thereto by any means.
(33) Test tires of Examples 1 to 20 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were prepared and each subjected to the following evaluations in order to confirm the effect of the present invention.
(34) The relevant characteristics of each test tire, together with the evaluation results thereof, are shown in Table 1 below.
(35) “Radial position of the outermost end in tire radial direction of bead filler” of item D in Table 1 represents a radial distance between the radially outermost end of the bead filler and the radially outermost position of a rim flange as a reference point and is expressed by a positive/negative number when the radially outermost end of the bead filler is on the outer/inner side in the tire radial direction of the reference point.
(36) (1) Rolling Resistance Test
(37) Each of the pneumatic test tires (225/45R17) was assembled with a prescribed rim (7.5 J) prescribed by JATMA's tire standards, whereby a pneumatic tire-rim assembly was prepared. The pneumatic test tire thus assembled with the rim was mounted on a vehicle under the conditions of internal pressure: 230 kPa and load: 4.41 kN and subjected to a rolling resistance test described below.
Rolling resistance was determined for evaluation, by running the aforementioned pneumatic test tire on an iron drum surface (diameter: 1.7 m) of a drum tester at 80 km/hour, then allowing the tire to travel by inertial force and measuring rolling resistance from deceleration of the tire. More specifically, each rolling resistance value was calculated as an index value relative to the corresponding evaluation result “100” of Comparative Example 1, for evaluation. The evaluation results thus calculated are shown in Table 1. The smaller index value represents the smaller rolling resistance, i.e. the better fuel efficiency.
(38) (2) Measurement of Mass of Tire
(39) The mass of each pneumatic test tire prior to being assembled with a rim was measured. Specifically, the mass value of the tire was calculated as an index value relative to the corresponding evaluation result “100” of Comparative Example 1, for evaluation. The evaluation results thus calculated are shown in Table 1. The smaller index value represents the better effect of reducing tire weight.
(40) (3) Rim Protection Performance Test
(41) Each of the pneumatic test tires was assembled with a prescribed rim (7.5 J) prescribed by JATMA's tire standards, whereby a pneumatic tire-rim assembly was prepared. The pneumatic test tire thus assembled with the rim was then subjected to a rim protection performance test described below in a state where the tire was not inflated (i.e. at internal pressure: 0 kPa) to simulate a situation in which the tire-rim assembly is in storage.
(42) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comp. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Comp. Comp. Ex. Ex. Ex. Items Ex. 1 Ex. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 7 8 9 A Cross sectional shape of rim *Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri guard B Radius of curvature (R mm) of 50 40 15 10 20 8 5 3 8 8 8 8 outer contour line of rim guard C Distance H (mm) 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 50 40 20 10 D Radial position (mm) of the 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 outermost end in tire radial direction of bead filler Performances Rolling resistance index 100 98 96 95 97 95 96 99 100 98 97 95 Mass index 100 99 98 98 99 97 95 94 101 99 98 97 Rim protection performance 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 97 103 102 101 100 index Comp. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Items Ex. 10 Ex. 4 11 12 13 14 15 Ex. 16 Ex. 17 18 19 20 A Cross sectional shape of rim Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri Tri *Trape Tri Tri Tri Tri guard B Radius of curvature (R mm) of 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 outer contour line of rim guard C Distance H (mm) 2 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 8 12 15 D Radial position (mm) of the 30 30 50 40 10 −5 −7 10 30 30 30 30 outermost end in tire radial direction of bead filler Rolling resistance index 96 99 99 97 93 94 99 94 94 94 95 95 Mass index 95 94 100 98 95 92 93 96 96 97 97 97 Rim protection performance 100 98 102 100 100 100 100 101 100 100 100 100 index *Tri = substantially triangular *Trape = substantially trapezoidal
(43) It is understood from the results shown in Table 1 that the Example test tires each having the radius of curvature R of the outer contour line and the distance H set in the appropriate ranges, respectively, can reduce weight and rolling resistance thereof with maintaining a good rim-protecting effect by a rim guard.
(44) Further, it is understood that the Examples test tires each having the radius of curvature R of the outer contour line set in the further appropriate or a preferable range can further reduce rolling resistance thereof.
(45) Yet further, it is understood that the Examples test tires each having the distance H set in the further appropriate or a preferable range can further reduce rolling resistance thereof.
(46) Yet further, it is understood from the results shown in Table 1 that the Examples test tires in each of which the outermost end in the tire radial direction of a bead filler was situated at a preferable position in the tire radial direction can further reduce rolling resistance thereof.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
(47) The pneumatic tire according to the present invention can reduce rolling resistance thereof with ensuring a good effect of protecting a rim by a rim guard.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
(48) 1 Pneumatic tire 2 Tread portion 3 Sidewall portion 4 Bead portion 5 Bead core 6 Carcass 6a Carcass main body 6b Carcass folded-up portion 7 Bead filler 7ro Outermost end in tire radial direction of bead filler 8 Rubber chafer 10 Rim guard 10a Rim guard radially outer side portion 10so Peak of rim guard 20 Rim 20a Rim flange 30 Flat plate 31 Iron plate CL Tire equatorial plane