TIRE COMPRISING A TREAD

Abstract

A tire comprises a tread provided with two edges (25A, 25B) and with a center (C) dividing it into two parts of equal width with sets of blocks (21A, 21B). Each set of blocks (21A, 21B) comprises three zones: at the edge (211), at the center (213) and intermediate (212). Each set of blocks (21A, 21B) comprises a set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) which extends over at least the edge zone (211) and the central zone (213) of the set of blocks (21A, 21B). The width LC1 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) over the edge zone (211) is different from the width LC2 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) over the intermediate zone (212), the widths LC1 and LC2 being comprised between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A tire comprising a directional tread (20), the tread (20) comprising two edges (25A, 25B) and a center (C) dividing the tread into two parts of substantially equal width, the tread (20) comprising, on one of the two parts of the tread, a plurality of sets of blocks (21A, 21B), each set of blocks (21A, 21B) comprising at least one block, each set of blocks (21A, 21B) extending from one of the edges (25A, 25B) of the tread toward the center (C) of the tread (20) with a non-zero curvature, each set of blocks (21A) comprising an edge zone (211) near an edge of the tread, a central zone (213) near the center of the tread, and an intermediate zone (212) between the edge zone (211) and the central zone (213), each set of blocks (21A) comprising a set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) comprising at least one chamfer, the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) extending over the edge zone (211), the central zone (213) and the intermediate zone (212) of the set of blocks (21A), wherein a width LC1 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) over the edge zone (211) is different from a width LC2 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) over the intermediate zone (212), wherein the widths LC1 and LC2 are between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, a width of a chamfer corresponding to a distance between a radially outermost point of the chamfer and a radially innermost point of the chamfer in the groove, projected onto a tread surface of the tread, measured in a circumferential direction.

13. The tire according to claim 12, wherein the width LC2 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) over the intermediate zone (212) is greater than the width LC1 of the set of chamfers over the edge zone (211).

14. The tire according to claim 12, wherein a difference in width LC2-LC1 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) between the intermediate zone (212) and the edge zone (211) is at least 0.3 mm.

15. The tire according to claim 12, wherein the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) extends in the central zone (213) of the set of blocks (21A) with a width LC3.

16. The tire according to claim 15, wherein the width LC2 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) in the intermediate zone (212) is greater than the width LC1 of the set of chamfers in the edge zone (211) and than the width LC3 of the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) in the central zone (213).

17. The tire according to claim 12, the set of blocks comprising a leading-edge face (26) and a trailing-edge face (27), wherein the set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) extends at the leading-edge face of the set of blocks (21A).

18. The tire according to claim 17, wherein the set of blocks (21A) comprises another set of chamfers extending at the trailing-edge face of the set of blocks (21A).

19. The tire according to claim 12, wherein the set of blocks (21A) comprises a sipe (29) extending along a length of the set of blocks (21A), the sipe (29) being at least partially chamfered.

20. The tire according to claim 12, wherein the set of blocks (21A) comprises at least three blocks (211A, 212A, 213A), a first block (211A) referred to as an edge block near an edge (25A) of the tread, a third block (213A) referred to as a central block near the central zone, and a second block (212A) referred to as an intermediate block positioned between the edge block (211A) and the central block (213A), wherein the set of blocks (211A, 212A, 213A) comprises a set of chamfers (26A, 26B, 26C) comprising at least three chamfers, a first chamfer referred to as an edge chamfer (26A) of width LC1, extending in the edge block, a second chamfer referred to as an intermediate chamfer (26B) of width LC2, extending in the intermediate block (26B), a third chamfer (26C), referred to as a central chamfer, of width LC3, extending in the central block (26C), the width LC1 of the edge chamfer (26A) being different from the width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer (26B), and the width LC3 of the central chamfer (26C) being different from the width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer (26B), the widths LC1, LC2, LC3 being comprised between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, and wherein the width LC2 of the set of chamfers (26B) in the intermediate zone (212A) is greater than the width LC1 of the set of chamfers (26A) in the edge zone (211A) and than the width LC3 of the set of chamfers (26C) in the central zone (213A).

21. The tire according to claim 12, wherein a composition of the rubbery material of the blocks has a glass transition temperature Tg comprised between −40° C. and −10° C. and a complex dynamic shear modulus G* comprised between 0.5 MPa and 2 MPa, the measurements being taken at a temperature of 60° C. under simple alternating sinusoidal shear stress with a peak-to-peak amplitude equal to 0.7 MPa and a frequency equal to 10 Hz.

22. The tire according to claim 12, wherein the tire (10) has a 3PMSF winter certification, the certification being indicated on a sidewall (30A) of the tire.

Description

[0039] The present invention will be understood better upon reading the detailed description of embodiments that are given by way of entirely non-limiting examples and are illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a tyre according to the prior art;

[0041] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a partial cross section of a tyre according to another prior art;

[0042] FIG. 3 is a detailed partial view of a tread, when new, of a tyre according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a set of blocks of the tread of FIG. 3;

[0044] FIG. 5 is a view in cross section of the block of FIG. 4, on a plane of section A-A;

[0045] FIG. 6 is a view in cross section of the block of FIG. 4, on a plane of section B-B;

[0046] FIG. 7 is a view in cross section of the block of FIG. 4, on a plane of section C-C;

[0047] FIG. 8 is a detailed partial view of a tread, when new, of a tyre according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0048] The invention is not limited to the embodiments and variants presented and other embodiments and variants will become clearly apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0049] In the various figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references.

[0050] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a tyre 10 according to the prior art. This tyre 10 comprises a tread 20 and two sidewalls 30A, 30B (of which just one is depicted here), said tread 20 and said sidewalls 30A, 30B covering a carcass 40 (which is not depicted in FIG. 1). FIG. 2 more particularly details the carcass 40 of a tyre 10 according to the prior art. This carcass 40 thus comprises a carcass reinforcement 41 made up of threads 42 coated with rubber composition, and two beads 43 each comprising annular reinforcing structures 44 (in this instance bead wires) which hold the tyre 10 on a rim (the rim is not depicted). The carcass reinforcement 41 is anchored in each of the beads 43. The carcass 40 additionally comprises a crown reinforcement comprising two working plies 44 and 45. Each of the working plies 44 and 45 is reinforced by filamentary reinforcing elements 46 and 47 which are parallel within each layer and crossed from one layer to the other, making angles comprised between 10° and 70° with the circumferential direction X.

[0051] The tyre further comprises a hoop reinforcement 48 arranged radially on the outside of the crown reinforcement. This hoop reinforcement 48 is formed of reinforcing elements 49 that are oriented circumferentially and wound in a spiral. The tyre 10 depicted in FIG. 2 is a “tubeless” tyre. It comprises an “inner liner” made of a rubber composition impervious to the inflation gas, covering the interior surface of the tyre.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a detailed partial view of a tread 20 according to the invention. The tread 20 here is as new. This tread 20 comprises two tread parts 20A, 20B of substantially equal width W/2. Each tread part 20A, 20B respectively comprises a plurality of sets of blocks 21A, 21B. The sets of blocks succeed one another in a circumferential direction. More particularly, one set of blocks belongs to a pattern M of pitch P. This pattern M is repeated n times on the circumference of the tyre. This repeat may be an “iso-dimensional” repeat. The tread is then said to be monopitch. As an alternative, this repeat may occur with different magnification factors. The tread is then said to be multipitch.

[0053] Each set of blocks 21A, 21B extends respectively from one of the edges 25A, 25B of the tread 20 as far as the central axis C with a non-zero curvature. The central axis C thus comprises an alternation of blocks 21A, 21B originating respectively from the edges 25A, 25B of the tread 20. The tread 20 here is said to be directional, which means to say that the blocks 21A, 21B are specifically arranged to optimize the behavioural characteristics of the tyre depending on a predetermined sense of rotation. This sense of rotation is conventionally indicated by an arrow on the sidewall of the tyre (arrow labelled R in FIG. 3).

[0054] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, each set of blocks 21A, 21B comprises a single block. As an alternative, the set of blocks may comprise a number of blocks greater than or equal to 2. In each set of blocks, the blocks are then separated by at least one groove. This groove extends in an axial direction or in an oblique direction having both a non-zero component in the circumferential direction and a non-zero component in the axial direction.

[0055] It will be noted that the blocks have a maximum height at least equal to 5.5 mm and at most equal to 9 mm. As a preference, the maximum height of the blocks is at most equal to 7.5 mm. This maximum height is measured for the blocks at the central axis C. It corresponds to the distance between a tread surface 23 of the tread and a bottom surface 24. The maximum height of a block corresponds to the maximum depth of the grooves delimiting this block.

[0056] What is meant by a “tread surface” 23 of a tread 20 is the surface that groups together all the points of the tyre that will come into contact with the ground under normal running conditions. These points that will come into contact with the ground belong to the contact faces of the blocks. For a tyre, the “normal running conditions” are the use conditions defined by the ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) standard. These use conditions specify the reference inflation pressure corresponding to the load-bearing capacity of the tyre as indicated by its load index and its speed rating. These use conditions can also be referred to as “nominal conditions” or “working conditions”.

[0057] What is meant by “bottom surface” 24 is a theoretical surface passing through the radially interior points of the grooves of the tread 20. It thus delimits the boundary between the tread 20 and the carcass 40 of the tyre. This bottom surface 24 extends between a first edge 25A and a second edge 25B of the tread 20.

[0058] Remember that what is meant by an “edge” 25A, 25B of the tread 20 is the respective boundaries between the tread 20 and the sidewalls 30A, 30B. These two edges 25A, 25B are distant from one another by the value W corresponding to the width of the tread 20. These two edges 25A, 25B are situated at equal distances from the central axis C.

[0059] It will also be noted that a winter certification 3PMSF is marked on at least one of the sidewalls 30A, 30B of the tyre.

[0060] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the set of blocks 21A of FIG. 3. This set of blocks 21A is delimited by a contact surface 23, a bottom surface 24 and lateral faces 26, 27, 28. Among these lateral faces, a distinction is made between a leading-edge face 26, a trailing-edge face 27 and a central face 28. The contact surface 23, the bottom surface 24, the leading-edge face 26, the trailing-edge face 27, the central face 28 and the edge 25A delimit the total volume VT of rubbery material contained in the set of blocks 21A.

[0061] One method for determining the total volume VT of rubbery material contained in the set of blocks 21A would be to make full use of the capabilities of 3-D scanners able to directly digitize the volume of a complex object. An example of such a scanner is, for example, the WOLF & BECK TMM-570 metrology machine that employs a laser probe.

[0062] The set of blocks 21A here is divided chiefly into three zones, comprising an edge zone 211, an intermediate zone 212 extending the edge part 211, a central zone 213 extending the intermediate zone 212. Each of the zones of the set of blocks 21A here has a main direction of extension specific to it. Thus, the edge zone 211 mainly extends overall parallel to the axial direction Y. The central zone 213 is steeply inclined with respect to the axial direction Y and the intermediate zone 212 has an inclination that is comprised between the inclination of the edge zone 211 and the inclination of the central zone 213. The set of blocks 21A therefore exhibits a non-zero overall curvature.

[0063] Each set of blocks 21A comprises a set of chamfers 26A, 26B, 26C. This set of chamfers here comprises an edge chamfer 26A extending over the edge zone 211, an intermediate chamfer 26B extending over the intermediate zone 212, and a central chamfer 26C extending over the central zone 213. The edge chamfer 26A, the intermediate chamfer 26B and the central chamfer 26C follow-on from one another in the axial direction and extend over the leading-edge face of the set of blocks. The edge chamfer 26A, the intermediate chamfer 26B and the central chamfer 26C have respective widths LC1, LC2, LC3. What is meant by the width of the chamfer is the mean width of this chamfer in the selected zone of the set of blocks. These widths LC1, LC2, LC3 are comprised between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

[0064] FIG. 5 illustrates a view in cross section of the set of blocks 21A of FIG. 4, on a plane of section A-A in the edge zone 211 at the edge chamfer 26A. The edge chamfer 26A forms an inclined plane which extends between a first point A and a second point B. The first point A corresponds to the intersection between the edge chamfer 26A and the tread surface 23 of the tread. The second point B corresponds to the intersection between the edge chamfer 26A and a lateral wall delimiting the edge zone 211. The edge chamfer 26A is defined by a height, a width and by an angle of inclination measured with respect to the circumferential direction X. The height of the edge chamfer 26A corresponds to the distance between the first point A and the second point B in a radial projection, which is to say in a projection onto the axis Z. The height of the edge chamfer 26A here is comprised between 0.5 and 1 mm. The width LC1 of the edge chamfer 26A corresponds to the distance between the first point A and the second point B in a circumferential projection, which is to say in a projection onto the axis X. As already indicated, the width LC1 of the edge chamfer 26A here is comprised between 1.5 and 2 mm. The angle of inclination of the edge chamfer 26A is comprised between 30 degrees and 50 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction X.

[0065] FIG. 6 illustrates a view in cross section of the set of blocks 21A of FIG. 4, on a plane of section B-B in the intermediate zone 212 at the intermediate chamfer 26B. The intermediate chamfer 26B forms an inclined plane which extends between a first point A′ and a second point B′. The first point A′ corresponds to the intersection between the intermediate chamfer 26B and the tread surface 23 of the tread. The second point B′ corresponds to the intersection between the intermediate chamfer 26B and a lateral wall delimiting the intermediate zone 212. The intermediate chamfer 26B is defined by a height, a width and by an angle of inclination measured with respect to the circumferential direction X. The height of the intermediate chamfer 26B corresponds to the distance between the first point A′ and the second point B′ in a radial projection, which is to say in a projection onto the axis Z. The height of the intermediate chamfer 26B here is comprised between 0.5 and 1 mm. The width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer 26B corresponds to the distance between the first point A′ and the second point B′ in a circumferential projection, which is to say in a projection onto the axis X. As already indicated, the width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer 26B here is comprised between 1.5 and 2 mm. The angle of inclination of the intermediate chamfer 26B is comprised between 30 degrees and 50 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction X.

[0066] FIG. 7 illustrates a view in cross section of the set of blocks 21A of FIG. 4, on a plane of section C-C in the central zone 213 at the central chamfer 26C. The central chamfer 26C forms an inclined plane which extends between a first point A″ and a second point B″. The first point A″ corresponds to the intersection between the central chamfer 26C and the tread surface 23 of the tread. The second point B″ corresponds to the intersection between the central chamfer 26C and a lateral wall delimiting the central zone 213. The central chamfer 26C is defined by a height, a width and by an angle of inclination measured with respect to the circumferential direction X. The height of the central chamfer 26C corresponds to the distance between the first point A″ and the second point B″ in a radial projection, which is to say in a projection onto the axis Z. The height of the central chamfer 26C here is comprised between 0.5 and 1 mm. The width LC3 of the central chamfer 26C corresponds to the distance between the first point A″ and the second point B″ in a circumferential projection, which is to say in a projection onto the axis X. As already indicated, the width LC3 of the central chamfer 26C here is comprised between 1.5 and 2 mm. The angle of inclination of the central chamfer 26C is comprised between 30 degrees and 50 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction X.

[0067] As a preference, the width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer 26B over the intermediate zone 212 is different from the width LC1 of the edge chamfer 26A over the edge zone 211. Advantageously, the difference in width LC2-LC1 of the set of chamfers between the intermediate zone 212 and the edge zone 211 is at least 0.3 mm.

[0068] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer 26B is greater than the width LC1 of the edge chamfer 26A in the edge zone 211 and than the width LC3 of the central chamfer 26C in the central zone 213.

[0069] In FIG. 4, the edge chamfer 26A, the intermediate chamfer 26B and the central chamfer 26C extend at a leading-edge face of the set of blocks 21A. Said set of blocks 21A also comprises a trailing-edge face. Another set of chamfers extends over said trailing-edge face. As a preference, the other set of chamfers has a width that is constant over the set of blocks 21A.

[0070] In FIG. 4, the set of blocks 21A comprises a sipe 29 extending along the length of said set of blocks 21A. As a preference, the sipe 29 is at least partially chamfered.

[0071] FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment in which the set of blocks 21A comprises three blocks 211A, 212A, 213A. The first block 211A, referred to as an edge block, is positioned near the edge 25A of the tread. A second block 212A, referred to as an intermediate block, is positioned in the continuation of the edge block 211A. A third block 213A, referred to as a central block, is positioned in the continuation of the intermediate block 212A. The intermediate block 212A is therefore positioned between the edge block 211A and the central block 213A. The edge block 211A is separated from the intermediate block 212A by a first groove 221. The intermediate block 212A is separated from the central block 213A by a second groove 222. The first groove 221 and the second groove 222 here extend mainly in an oblique direction. This oblique direction has both a component in the circumferential direction X and a component in the axial direction Y. As an alternative, the first groove 221 and/or the second groove 222 extends (extend) only in the circumferential direction X. In addition, the edge block 211A here comprises an edge chamfer 26A of width LC1. The intermediate block 212A comprises an intermediate chamfer 26B of width LC2. The central block 213A comprises a central chamfer 26C of width LC3.

[0072] The width LC1 of the edge chamfer is different from the width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer and the width LC3 of the central chamfer is different from the width LC2 of the intermediate chamfer. The widths LC1, LC2, LC3 are comprised between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, and the width LC2 of the set of chamfers in the intermediate zone is greater than the width LC1 of the set of chamfers in the edge zone and than the width LC3 of the set of chamfers in the central zone.

[0073] For the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, each set of blocks 21A is formed from a rubbery material. In one preferred embodiment, the composition of this rubbery material has a glass transition temperature comprised between −40° C. and −10° C. and preferably between −35° C. and −15° C. and a shear modulus measured at 60° C. comprised between 0.5 MPa and 2 MPa, and preferably between 0.7 MPa and 1.5 MPa.

[0074] In one preferred embodiment, the composition of the rubbery material of the sets of blocks is based on at least: [0075] an elastomer matrix comprising more than 50% by weight of a solution SBR bearing a silanol functional group and an amine functional group; [0076] 20 to 200 phr of at least one silica; [0077] a coupling agent for coupling the silica to the solution SBR, [0078] 10 to 100 phr of a hydrocarbon-based resin having a Tg of greater than 20° C.; [0079] 15 to 50 phr of a liquid plasticizer.

[0080] The solution SBR in this preferred embodiment is a copolymer of butadiene and styrene, prepared in solution. The characteristic feature thereof is that it bears a silanol functional group and an amine functional group. The silanol functional group of the solution SBR bearing a silanol functional group and an amine functional group may for example be introduced by hydrosilylation of the elastomer chain by a silane bearing an alkoxysilane group, followed by hydrolysis of the alkoxysilane functional group to give a silanol functional group. The silanol functional group of the solution SBR bearing a silanol functional group and an amine functional group may equally be introduced by reaction of the living elastomer chains with a cyclic polysiloxane compound as described in EP 0 778 311. The amine functional group of the solution SBR bearing a silanol functional group and an amine functional group may for example be introduced by initiating polymerization using an initiator bearing such a functional group. A solution SBR bearing a silanol functional group and an amine functional group may equally be prepared by reacting the living elastomer chains with a compound bearing an alkoxysilane functional group and an amine functional group according to the procedure described in patent application EP 2 285 852, followed by hydrolysis of the alkoxysilane functional group to give a silanol functional group. According to this preparation procedure, the silanol functional group and the amine functional group are preferably situated within the chain of the solution SBR, not including the ends of the chain. The reaction producing the hydrolysis of the alkoxysilane functional group borne by the solution SBR to give a silanol functional group may be carried out according to the procedure described in patent application EP 2 266 819 A1 or else by a step of stripping the solution containing the solution SBR. The amine functional group can be a primary, secondary or tertiary amine functional group, preferably a tertiary amine functional group.

[0081] The invention is not limited to the embodiments and variants presented and other embodiments and variants will become clearly apparent to a person skilled in the art.