WINTER TIRE STUD ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

An arrangement of studs are inserted into a tread portion of a tire. The arrangement includes a plurality of first studs protruding from an unworn tread portion for contacting a surface and a plurality of second studs embedded in the tread portion such that the second studs protrude from a worn tread portion as the tread portion wears against the surface.

Claims

1. An arrangement of studs inserted into a tread portion of a tire, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of first studs protruding from an unworn tread portion for contacting a surface; and a plurality of second studs embedded in the tread portion such that the second studs protrude from a worn tread portion as the tread portion wears against the surface.

2. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first studs have radially outermost flat tip ends for contacting the surface.

3. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first studs have radially outermost spherical tip ends.

4. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second studs have radially outermost flat tip ends for contacting the surface.

5. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second studs have radially outermost spherical tip ends.

6. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first studs have a cylindrical stump portion.

7. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first studs have radially outermost flat tip ends and the second studs have radially outermost spherical tip ends.

8. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first studs have radially outermost spherical tip ends and the second studs have radially outermost flat tip ends.

9. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of third studs embedded in the tread portion such that the third studs protrude from the worn tread portion as the tread portion wears against the surface, the third studs being embedded at a radial depth different from the second studs.

10. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the second studs is embedded at a first radial depth of the tread portion and the each of the third studs is embedded at a second radial depth of the tread portion, the first radial depth being less than the second radial depth.

11. A stud configuration for a tire tread comprising: a first plurality of studs disposed at a first radial depth of the tire tread; a second plurality of studs disposed at a second radial depth of the tire tread; and a third plurality of studs disposed at a third radial depth of the tire tread, the first radial depth being greater than the second radial depth and the second radial depth being greater than the third radial depth.

12. The stud configuration as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first plurality of studs, the second plurality of studs, and the third plurality of studs each have an identical construction.

13. The stud configuration as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first plurality of studs, the second plurality of studs, and the third plurality of studs each have a differing construction.

14. The stud configuration as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first plurality of studs each have a tip end with a first size, the second plurality of studs each have a tip end with a second size, and the third plurality of studs each have a tip end with the first size, the first size being larger than the second size.

15. The stud configuration as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first plurality of studs each have a tip end with a first size, the second plurality of studs each have a tip end with a second size, and the third plurality of studs each have a tip end with the first size, the second size being larger than the first size.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] The present invention will be better understood through reference to the following description and the appended drawings, in which:

[0067] FIG. 1 schematically represents an external perspective view of a first stud.

[0068] FIG. 2 schematically represents an external perspective view of a second stud.

[0069] FIG. 3 schematically represents a radial orthographic view of a tread for use with an arrangement of the first and second studs of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with the present invention.

[0070] FIG. 4 schematically represents a detailed radial orthographic view of another stud arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 5 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of part of the stud arrangement of FIG. 4.

[0072] FIG. 6 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of another part of the stud arrangement of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0073] The following is an explanation of a pneumatic or non-pneumatic tire assembly according to the present invention. The assembly may be similar to the pneumatic tire configurations disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,035,382, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/166,207 filed on Oct. 22, 2018, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 10,035,382 schematically represents a tire cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-section of a pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire may be a tire with studs embedded in a tread portion of the pneumatic tire.

[0074] The tire circumferential direction explained hereafter refers to the rotation direction (both rolling directions) of a tread surface of a studded tire 10 about a tire rotation axis. The radial direction of the tire refers a direction radiating about a direction extending orthogonally to/from the tire rotation axis. The radially outer side of the studded tire 10 may refer to the side away from the tire rotation axis in the radial direction of the studded tire. The tire width direction may be a direction parallel to the tire rotational axis, and the outer side in the tire width direction may refer to two sides away from a tire center line of the studded tire 10.

[0075] A studded tire 10, in accordance with the present invention, may include a carcass ply layer, a belt layer, and bead cores which serve as a frame for the studded tire. The studded tire 10 may further include a tread member 18, sidewall members, bead filler members, rim cushion members, and an innerliner member around the frame for the studded tire.

[0076] The carcass ply layer may be formed in a toroidal shape wound between a pair of circular ring-shaped bead cores, and may include rubber-coated organic fiber carcass ply members. The carcass ply layer may be configured from multiple carcass ply members or a single carcass ply member. The belt layer may be provided on the outer side in the tire radial direction of the carcass ply layer and configured from two belt members. The belt layer may be constructed of rubber-coated steel cords arranged at a predetermined angle, such as 20 to 30 degrees, relative to the tire circumferential direction. The inclination direction of the steel cords of the two layers of the belt members may be opposite each other.

[0077] The tread member 18 may be disposed on an outer side in the tire radial direction of the belt layer. The sidewall members may be connected to two sides of the tread member 18 to form two sidewalls. The tread member 18 may be configured from two layers of rubber, an upper tread member disposed on an outer side in the tire radial direction, and a lower tread member disposed on an inner side in the tire radial direction. The rim cushion members may be disposed at inner sides in the tire radial direction of the sidewall members and come into contact with a rim on which the studded tire 10 may be fitted. A bead filler material may be disposed between a portion of the carcass ply layer before the carcass ply layer is wound around the bead cores and a portion of the carcass ply layer. The innerliner member may be disposed on an inner surface of the studded tire 10 adjacent a tire cavity region that is filled with gas enclosed by the studded tire and the rim. The studded tire 10 may have this tire structure or any other suitable structure, pneumatic and/or non-pneumatic.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of a first stud 50 for use with the present invention. The first stud 50 may include a radially outer flat tip end 52 and a base 54 for partially inserting into corresponding recesses in the tread member 18. The base 54 may thus be partially embedded inside a stud pin installation hole in the tread portion 18 of the studded tire 10 in which it is installed. The first stud 50 may be secured to the studded tire 10 by side surfaces of the stud pin installation hole pressing and clamping onto part of the base 54 (See FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0079] The base 54 may include a bottom portion 58 and a cylindrical stump portion 56 radially interconnecting the bottom portion and the tip end 52. The bottom portion 58 may be located at the radially opposite end of the tip end 52. The first stud 50 may thus be formed from the bottom portion 58, the stump portion 56, and tip end 52 in that radial ascending order.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows an external perspective view of a smaller second stud 150 for use with the present invention. The second stud 150 may include a radially outer spherical tip end 152 and a base 154 for partially inserting into corresponding recesses in the tread member 18. The base 154 may thus be partially embedded inside a stud pin installation hole in the tread portion 18 of the studded tire 10 in which it is installed. The second stud 150 may be secured to the studded tire 10 by side surfaces of the stud pin installation hole pressing and clamping onto part of the base 154 (See FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0081] The base 154 may include a bottom portion 158 and a cylindrical stump portion 156 radially interconnecting the bottom portion and the tip end 152. The bottom portion 158 may be located at the radially opposite end of the tip end 152. The first stud 150 may thus be formed from the bottom portion 158, the stump portion 156, and tip end 152 in that radial ascending order.

[0082] FIG. 3 shows a radial orthographic view of the tread portion 18 for use with a first arrangement 21 of the first and second studs 50, 150 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with the present invention. The first arrangement 21 provides pairs of studs, each pair having one first stud 50 and one second stud 150.

[0083] FIG. 4 shows a radial orthographic view of another tread portion 118 for use with a second arrangement 22 of the first and second studs 50, 150 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with the present invention. The second arrangement 22 provides triplets of studs, each triplet having three first studs 50 or three second studs 150. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each triplet 50 or 150 may have the three studs 50 or 150 disposed at differing radial depths beneath a radially outer surface 122 of the tread 118. Further, the triplets may be disposed such that the tip ends 52 or 152 protrude radially outside of the mass of the tread portion 118 (FIG. 5).

[0084] Alternatively, the triplets may be disposed such that the tip end 52 or 152 of only the radially outer most studs 50 or 150 protrude radially outside of the mass of the unworn tread portion 118 (FIG. 6). The other two tip ends 52 or 152 may be at a radial depth such that the tip ends 52 or 152 are embedded in the mass of the tread portion 118 until the tread portion 118 wears over time and use of the studded tire 10. The arrangement 22 thus allows the radially inner studs 50 or 150 to take over as the radially outer studs are worn away. Thus, brand new effective studs 50 or 150 may appear at a certain mileage/wear of the tread 118.

[0085] The arrangements 21, 22 of such studs 50, 150, according to the present invention, have been described above in exemplary detail. However, a tire, a stud, and/or arrangement according to the present invention may not be limited to the above examples and may be modified and given various substitutions in accordance with the spirit and the scope of the present invention.