NOISE REDUCING TREAD

Abstract

The tread has a primary groove which is provided with a plurality of closing devices including flexible fences. At least one first flexible fence has a thickness t1 and extends from a groove bottom. At least one second flexible fence has a thickness t2 and extends from one groove sidewall toward the other. The second flexible fence forms an angle A1 between an imaginary line connecting a free end of the second flexible fence and a bottom edge of the second flexible fence and an imaginary line extending from the free end of the top edge in a tire radial direction. A width wb1 of the first flexible fence is at most equal to 45% of a width WB of the primary groove, and a width wb2 of the second flexible fence at the bottom edge is at most equal to 40% of the width WB.

Claims

1. A tread for a tire having a contact face intended to come into contact with ground during rolling and comprising at least one primary groove having depth D and delimited by two opposite groove sidewalls, these groove sidewalls being axially connected by a groove bottom, the primary groove being provided with a plurality of closing devices including at least two flexible fences, at least one first flexible fence having thickness t1 and extending from the groove bottom in a radially outward direction of the tire, and at least one second flexible fence having thickness t2 and extending from one groove sidewall toward the other groove sidewall, each the closing device covering at least equal to 70% of sectional area of the primary groove and being disposed such that at least one closing device is always located in the primary groove within a contact patch, the second flexible fence having a bottom edge extending along and apart from the groove bottom and a top edge extending substantially parallel to the contact face, the second flexible fence being shaped so as to form an angle A1 between an imaginary line connecting a free end of the top edge of the second flexible fence and a free end of the bottom edge of the second flexible fence and an imaginary line extending from the free end of the top edge in a tire radial direction, a width wb1 of the first flexible fence at the groove bottom is at most equal to 45% of a width WB of the groove bottom of the primary groove, and wherein a width wb2 of the second flexible fence at the bottom edge is at most equal to 40% of the width WB of the groove bottom of the primary groove.

2. The tread according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible fence and the second flexible fence do not overlap in a circumferential direction.

3. The tread according to claim 1, wherein the angle A1 is between 25 and 25.

4. The tread according to claim 1, wherein the closing device includes one first flexible fence and two second flexible fences and each of the second flexible fences extends from each of opposite groove sidewalls.

5. The tread according to claim 1, wherein the width wb1 of the first flexible fence at the groove bottom of the primary groove is at most equal to 40% of the width WB of the groove bottom of the primary groove, and the width wb2 of the second flexible fence at the bottom edge is at most equal to 30% of the width WB of the groove bottom of the primary groove.

6. The tread according to claim 1, wherein the thickness t1 of the first flexible fence is different from the thickness t2 of the second flexible fence.

7. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Other characteristics and advantages of the disclosure arise from the description made hereafter in reference to the annexed drawings which show, as nonrestrictive examples, the embodiments of the disclosure.

[0038] In these drawings:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a tread for a tire according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion indicated as II in FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along line in FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0045] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENTS

[0046] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below referring to the drawings.

[0047] A tread 1 for a tire according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a tread 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing a portion indicated as II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along line in FIG. 1.

[0048] The tread 1 is a tread for a tire having dimension 225/45R17 and comprises a contact face 2 intended to come into contact with the ground during rolling, a plurality of primary grooves 3 extending in a tire circumferential direction indicated as XX. The primary grooves 3 are delimited by two groove sidewalls 31, 32 facing each other and being connected by a groove bottom 33. The primary groove 3 has a width WF at a level of the contact face 2 and a depth D (as shown in FIG. 3). The groove bottom 33 has a width WB which is narrower than the width WF at the level of contact face 2.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 1, a contact patch 5 has a contact patch length L in a tire circumferential direction when the tire with the tread 1 is mounted onto its standard rim and inflated at its nominal pressure and its nominal load is applied. According to ETRTO Standard Manual 2015 the standard rim for this size is 7.5 J, the nominal pressure is 250 kPa and the nominal load is 615 kg.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, in the primary groove 3, a plurality of closing devices 4 is provided. The closing device 4 comprises one first flexible fence 41 and two second flexible fences 42 for dividing an air column created with the ground and the primary groove 3 in the contact patch 5 during rolling. Each closing device 4 is spaced from each other by distance P in the tire circumferential direction in the primary groove 3. The distance P is shorter than the contact patch length L such that at least one closing device 4 in each primary groove 3 is always located in the contact patch 5 during rolling.

[0051] The closing device 4 comprises one first flexible fence 41 having a thickness of t1 and extending from the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3 in a radially outward direction of the tire and two second flexible fences 42 having a thickness of t2 and extending from one of the groove sidewalls 31, 32 of the primary groove 3 toward the opposite groove sidewall 32, 31 of the same primary groove 3. Each the closing device 4 covers at least equal to 70% of the cross sectional area of the primary groove 3, while radially outermost portion of each the flexible fences are radially inwardly offset from the level of the contact face 2, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0052] The width (axial length) wb1 of the first flexible fence 41 at the groove bottom 33 is set at most equal to 45% of the width (axial length) WB of the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3. In the first embodiment, this width wb1 of the first flexible fence 41 at the groove bottom 33 is equal to 4.0 mm, which is 34% of the width WB of the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3.

[0053] The second flexible fence 42 has a bottom edge 422 and a top edge 421. The bottom edge 422 axially extends in parallel to the groove bottom 33 at a level upwardly spaced from the groove bottom 33 defining an axially extending narrow gap therebetween. The top edge 421 axially extends substantially parallel to the contact face 2 at a level downwardly spaced from the contact face 2. In the present embodiment, a free or distal end of the top and bottom edges 421, 422 are radially aligned.

[0054] The width (axial length) wb2 of the second flexible fence 42 at the bottom edge 422 is set at most equal to 40% of the width (axial length) WB of the groove bottom 33. In this first embodiment, this width wb2 of the second flexible fence 42 at the bottom edge 422 of the same second flexible fence 42 is equal to 2.4 mm, which is 20% of the width WB of the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, between a free or distal end side edge of the second flexible fence 42 and a side edge of the first flexible fence 41, a radially extending narrow gap is formed. Thus, the first flexible fence 41 and the second flexible fence 42 are shaped so as not to overlap in a circumferential direction.

[0056] Further, the second flexible fence 42 is shaped so as to form an angle A1 between an imaginary line connecting the free ends of the top edge 421 and bottom edge 422 and an imaginary line extending from a free end of the top edge 421 in a tire radial direction. In this first embodiment, since the free ends of the top edge 421 and bottom edge 422 are radially aligned, this angle A1 is 0 and not shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0057] The tread 1 has the same structure as the conventional tread except for an arrangement regarding the closing device 4 and is intended to be applied to a conventional pneumatic radial tire and other non-pneumatic tire. Thus, description of the internal construction of the tread 1 will be omitted.

[0058] The primary groove 3 is provided with the plurality of closing devices 4 each covering at least equal to 70% of the radial sectional area of the primary groove 3 and being disposed such that at least one closing device 4 is always located in the contact patch 5. Therefore, the length of the air column formed by the primary groove 3 in the contact patch 5 is shifted to a length whose groove resonance peak is outside of the frequency audible range for the human ear. Thus, groove resonance due to air column resonance of the primary groove 3 can be harmless.

[0059] The second flexible fence 42 of the closing device 4 is provided so as to have the bottom edge 422 facing to the groove bottom 33 and the width wb1 of the first flexible fence 41 at the groove bottom 33 is at most equal to 45% of the width WB of the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3. Satisfactory space for drainage can be maintained even with reduced groove depth with wear in which the first flexible fence 41 becomes difficult to bend with hydrodynamic pressure of the water. As a result, drainage capability of the primary groove 3 with reduced groove depth can be improved. This width wb1 of the first flexible fence 41 at the groove bottom 33 is preferably at most equal to 40% of the width WB of the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3.

[0060] The width wb2 of the second flexible fence 42 of the closing device 4 at the bottom edge 422 is at most equal to 40% of the width WB of the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3. Therefore, it is possible to avoid occurrence of cracking during molding and demolding of the second flexible fence 42, in particular around an area where the bottom edge 422 of the second flexible fence 42 is connected to the groove sidewall 31, 32 as enough flexibility of the second flexible fence 42 during molding and demolding is secured. As a result, productivity of the tread 1 is maintained. This width wb2 of the second flexible fence 42 at the bottom edge 422 is preferably at most equal to 35%, more preferably at most equal to 30% of the width WB of the groove bottom 33 of the primary groove 3.

[0061] The first flexible fence 41 and the second flexible fence 42 do not overlap in a circumferential direction. Manufacturing of the tread 1 with the closing device 4 (the flexible fences 41, 42) becomes easier, as both the first and the second flexible fences 41, 42 can be manufactured with simple tool, for example with the molding element as described in WO2013/076233, thus productivity of the tread can further be improved.

[0062] The closing device 4 comprises one first flexible fence 41 and two second flexible fences 42 extending from the opposite groove sidewalls 31, 32. It is possible to effectively cover major part of the cross sectional area of the primary groove 3 by the closing device 4, while maintaining good productivity of the tread 1 with the flexible fences 41, 42 as closing device 4, as the sectional area covered by each flexible fence 41, 42 can be reduced using simple tool for manufacturing the tread 1 with the flexible fences 41, 42 as the closing device 4.

[0063] A tread 21 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described referring to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The constitution of this second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment other than the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thus description will be made referring to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0064] In the second embodiment, the closing device 24 comprises one first flexible fence 241 having a thickness of t1 and extending from the groove bottom 233 of the primary groove 23 and two second flexible fences 242 having a thickness of t2 and extending from each of the opposite groove sidewalls 231, 232. Two second flexible fences 242 are offset each other in a circumferential direction in the primary groove 23. The first flexible fence 241 is placed at a position circumferentially between two second flexible fences 242, 242 and circumferentially offset from both of the second flexible fences 242 in the primary groove 23. The thickness t1 of the first flexible fence 241 is thinner than the thickness t2 of the second flexible fence 242, as shown in FIG. 4. The first and the second flexible fences 241, 242 partly overlap in a circumferential direction. The first and the second flexible fences 241, 242 cover at least equal to 70% of the cross sectional area of the primary groove 23, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0065] The first flexible fence 241 has an upwardly tapered trapezoid shape. The width wb1 of the first flexible fence 241 at the groove bottom 233 of the primary groove 23 is set at most equal to 45% of the width WB of the groove bottom 233. The first flexible fence 241 radially extends to a level substantially equal to that of the contact face 22. This width wb1 of the first flexible fence 241 at the groove bottom 233 is equal to 4.5 mm, which is 38% of the width WB of the groove bottom 233 of the primary groove 23.

[0066] A bottom edge 2422 of the second flexible fence 242 extends obliquely upwardly from the groove sidewall 231, 232 so as to form a triangular space thereunder. A top edge 2421 of the second flexible fence 242 extends substantially parallel to the contact face 22 at a level below the contact face 22. The width wb2 of the flexible fence 242 at the bottom edge 2422 (length of the bottom edge 2422 in tire axial direction) is set at most equal to 40% of the width WB of the groove bottom 233. In this second embodiment, this width wb2 of the second flexible fence 242 at the bottom edge 2422 is equal to 3.5 mm, which is 30% of the width WB of the groove bottom 233 of the primary groove 23.

[0067] The second flexible fence 242 is shaped so as to form an angle A1 between an imaginary line connecting a free or distal ends of the top edge 2421 and the bottom edge 2422 and an imaginary line extending in a tire radial direction. In this second embodiment, this angle A1 is 10.

[0068] The angle A1 may be between 25 and 25. If the angle A1 is less than 25 or more than 25, there is a risk that cracking of the second flexible fence during molding and demolding occurs in particular an area where the bottom edge of the second flexible fence is connected with the groove sidewall even width wb2 of the second flexible fence at the bottom edge is limited to at most equal to 40% of the width WB of the groove bottom of the primary groove. By setting this angle A1 between 25 and 25, productivity of the tread is maintained. This angle A1 is preferable between 20 and 20, more preferably between 18 and 18.

[0069] The thickness t1 of the first flexible fence 241 is thinner than the thickness t2 of the second flexible fence 242. It is possible to have easier bending of the first flexible fence 241 even with reduced groove depth, which results further improvement on drainage capability. Both the thickness t1 of the first flexible fence 241 and the thickness t2 of the second flexible fence 242 is preferably less than or equal to 1.5 mm, more preferably between 1.0 mm and 0.2 mm, and a gap between two thicknesses t1 and t2 is preferably less than or equal to 1.0 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 0.5 mm.

[0070] A tread 51 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described referring to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The constitution of this third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment other than the arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, thus description will be made referring to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0071] In the third embodiment, the closing device 54 comprises one first flexible fence 541 having thickness t1 and extending from the groove bottom 533 of the primary groove 53 and two second flexible fences 542 having the thickness t2 and extending from each of the opposite groove sidewalls 531, 532. The thickness t1 of the first flexible fence 541 is thicker than the thickness t2 of the second flexible fence 542, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, between the free or distal end of the second flexible fence 542 and the side edge of the first flexible fence 541, a radially extending narrow gap is formed. Thus, the first flexible fence 541 and the second flexible fence 542 are shaped so as not to overlap in a circumferential direction. The first and the second flexible fences 541, 542 cover at least equal to 70% of the sectional area of the primary groove 53, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0073] The first flexible fence 541 has an upwardly tapered trapezoid shape. The width wb1 of the first flexible fence 541 at the groove bottom 533 of the primary groove 53 is set at most equal to 45% of the width WB of the groove bottom 533. The first flexible fence 541 radially extends to a level substantially equal to the contact face 52. In this third embodiment, this width wb1 of the first flexible fence 541 at the groove bottom 533 is equal to 7.4 mm, which is 35% of the width WB of the groove bottom 533 of the primary groove 53.

[0074] The bottom edge 5422 of the second flexible fence 542 axially extends in substantially parallel to the groove bottom 533 at a level upwardly spaced from the groove bottom 533 defining an axially extending narrow gap therebetween. The top edge 5421 of the second flexible fence 542 axially extends substantially parallel to the contact face 52 at the level of the contact face 52.

[0075] The width wb2 (axial length) of the second flexible fence 542 at the bottom edge 5422 is set at most equal to 40% of the width WB of the groove bottom 533. In this third embodiment, this width wb2 of the second flexible fence 542 at the bottom edge 5422 is equal to 6.3 mm, which is 30% of the width WB of the groove bottom 533.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, between the free or distal end of the second flexible fence 542 and the side edge of the first flexible fence 541, radially obliquely extending narrow gaps are formed. Thus, the first flexible fence 541 and the second flexible fence 542 are shaped so as not to overlap in a circumferential direction.

[0077] The second flexible fence 542 is shaped so as to form an angle A1 between an imaginary line connecting the free ends of the top edge 5421 and the bottom edge 5422 of the second flexible fence 542 and an imaginary line extending from the free end of the top edge 5421 in a tire radial direction. In this third embodiment, this angle A1 is 15.

[0078] The thickness t1 of the first flexible fence 541 is thicker than the thickness t2 of the second flexible fence 542. Therefore, it is possible to have a regular wear of the first flexible fence 541 with tread wear by increased bending rigidity of the first flexible fence 541 relative to the second flexible fence 542.

[0079] The disclosure is not limited to the examples described and represented and various modifications can be made there without leaving its framework.

Examples

[0080] In order to confirm the effect of the present disclosure, one type of pneumatic tire of Example to which the present disclosure is applied and other type of pneumatic tire of Reference were prepared. An internal construction of these tires other than tread was typical radial tire construction for passenger car tire.

[0081] The Example was a pneumatic tire having a tread as described in the above first embodiment. The Reference was a pneumatic tire having a tread same as the Example but provided without closing device in a primary groove. Both tires were mounted onto a rim of 7.5J17, and inflated to 220 kPa.

[0082] Noise Test:

[0083] Unused test tires were mounted onto all four wheels of a 1,400 cc front-wheel drive vehicle. On a straight pass surface conform to standard ISO 10844: 2011, so-called coast-by noise in accordance with standard ISO 13325 at a speed of 80 km/h during coasting with engine cut-off and at neutral gear position was measured. The results are shown in table 1. In this table 1, results are represented by a gap of weighted sound pressure level in decibel (dB(A)) over the Reference (Reference=0 dB(A)), lower the value indicates better the noise performance.

[0084] Hydroplaning Test:

[0085] Unused test tires were mounted onto all four wheels of a 1,400 cc front-wheel drive vehicle. On a straight pass asphalt surface provided with a pool filled with approximately 8 mm deep water, a speed at which one of two driving wheels reaches 10% slip ratio during passage of the pool was measured. The results are shown in table 1 also. In this table 1, results are represented by an index of 100 for the Reference, higher the number indicates better the hydroplaning performance.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example Reference Noise performance (dB(A)) 2.1 0.0 Hydroplaning performance (index) 99 100

[0086] As seen from table 1, the Example tire shows important improvement on noise performance while maintaining equivalent hydroplaning performance.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0087] 1, 21, 51 tread [0088] 2, 22, 52 contact face [0089] 3, 23, 53 primary groove [0090] 31, 231, 531 groove sidewall of the primary groove [0091] 32, 232, 532 groove sidewall of the primary groove [0092] 33, 233, 533 groove bottom of the primary groove [0093] 4, 24, 54 closing device [0094] 41, 241, 541 first flexible fence [0095] 42, 242, 542 second flexible fence [0096] 421, 2421, 5421 top edge of the second flexible fence [0097] 422, 2422, 5422 bottom edge of the second flexible fence contact patch