PNEUMATIC TYRE FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire having tread with a shoulder-side rib. An incision is formed in the shoulder-side profile rib and a tubular channel adjoins the incision and runs around it in an L-shape.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A pneumatic vehicle tire comprising: a tread with a shoulder-side tread rib delimited by a circumferential groove with an outer tread-rib surface lying in the tread periphery; the shoulder-side tread rib having a plurality of parallel tread ribs in plan view; the circumferential groove has ending transverse grooves; the transverse grooves are each provided with a groove base and an end flank which adjoins the groove base on the inside of the tread and continues to the outer surface of the tread rib surface (1a); the transverse grooves are provided, in each of which is a channel-incision combination (K) emanating from the outer surface of the profile rib and which opens out over the end flank into the respective transverse groove within the shoulder-side profile rib; and, an incision is formed in the shoulder-side profile rib with a width (b.sub.E) of from 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, and a tubular channel extends from the profile rib outer surface; the tubular channel extending over its entire extent adjoins the incision and runs around it in an L-shape, and wherein the channel has a channel end section which tapers towards the end flank (9).

18. The tire of claim 17, wherein the channel outside the channel end section has a diameter (d.sub.k) of 240% to 260% of the width (b.sub.E) of the incision (10).

19. The tire of claim 18, wherein the channel end section has the shape of a truncated cone.

20. The tire of claim 19, wherein the channel end section on the end flank has a diameter (d.sub.k*) of 95% to 105% of the width (b.sub.E) of the incision.

21. The tire of claim 20, wherein the channel is composed of the channel end section (11c), a channel section (11a) extending from the tread rib outer surface (1a) and a central channel section (11b), wherein the channel end section (11c) along with the central channel section (11b) forms the longer L-bar of the L-shape, and wherein the channel section (11a) which extends from the outer surface of the profile rib (1a) forms the shorter L-bar of the L-shape.

22. The tire of claim 21, wherein the central channel section (11b) and the channel end section (11c) form a common rotational body with a main axis (a.sub.k).

23. The tire of claim 22, wherein the main axis (a.sub.k) of the common rotational body, which is formed by the channel end section (11c) and the central channel section (11b), is at a depth (t.sub.k) determined in the radial direction of 55% to 65% of the maximum depth (t.sub.a) of the transverse groove.

24. The tire of claim 23, wherein the middle channel section (11b) and the channel end section (11c) each have a length (l.sub.b, l.sub.c) determined along the main axis (a.sub.k), and wherein the length (l.sub.c) of the channel end section (11c) is from 30% to 70%, in particular from 40% to 60%, preferably from 45% to 55%, of the length (l.sub.b) of the central channel section (11b).

25. The tire of claim 17, wherein the channel on the outer surface of the tread rib (1a) has a channel opening (11) which is at a distance (a.sub.1) of 2.0 from the shoulder-side circumferential groove (2) mm to 8.0 mm, in particular up to 5.0 mm, the distance (a.sub.1) being determined as the smallest possible distance between the shoulder-side circumferential groove (2) and the hole circle of the radially outer channel opening (11).

26. The tire of claim 17, wherein the channel-incision combination (K) with respect to a plane (E) which extends from a top view to the axial direction at an angle (?) of from 0? to 10?, in particular from 2? to 7?, and wherein a straight line (g.sub.1) and a straight line (g.sub.2) extending in the radial direction are formed symmetrically.

27. The tire of claim 26, in that the plane (E) traverses the transverse groove (3), viewed in plan view, in its longitudinal extension.

28. The tire of claim 27, wherein the end flank (9) of the transverse groove (3) consists of a radially inner end flank section (9a) directly adjoining the groove base (6) and a radially extending to the outer surface of the tread ribs (1a) outer end flank section (9b), via which the incision-channel combination (K) opens into the transverse groove (3), the radially outer end flank section (9b), viewed in the projected cross-section in the plane (E), facing the radial direction runs at an angle (?) from 0? to 10?, in particular from 3? to 7?, and wherein the radially inner end flank section (9a), viewed in the cross-section lying in the plane (E), runs in the shape of a circular arc and without kinks to the groove base (6) connects.

29. The tire of claim 17, wherein the transverse groove, viewed in plan view, has a main section (3a) running in sections inside and in sections outside the ground contact area and a main section (3a) adjoining the end of the main section (3a) on the inside of the tread Tapering section (3b) in which the end flank (9) is formed and which continuously narrows on the outer surface of the profile rib (l.sub.a) from the main section (3a) to the incision (10).

30. The tire of claim 29, wherein the main section (3a) has a width (b a) of 3.0 mm to 7.0 mm within the ground contact area on the outer surface of the tread rib (l.sub.a).

31. The tire of claim 30, wherein the tapered section (3b) at the level of the outer surface of the tread rib (1a) has a width (b.sub.b) of from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm, preferably at most 2, at its tread inner end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0022] Further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, which schematically shows one nonlimiting embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a circumferential section of a shoulder-side profile rib of a tread of a pneumatic vehicle tire with an embodiment variant of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the detail Z.sub.2 of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged section along the line in FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view according to the viewing direction indicated in FIG. 2 by the Peil S.sub.4;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged oblique view cut away along the line V-V in FIG. 2; and

[0028] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged section along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Pneumatic vehicle tires designed according to the invention are tires for motor vehicles, in particular for multi-lane motor vehicles, as well as preferably radial tires for passenger cars, vans or light trucks (light trucks with GVW?7.5 tons).

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a circumferential section of a shoulder-side profile rib 1. The lateral edge of the ground contact area (determined with a tire mounted on a standard rim, load at 70% of the maximum load capacity, internal pressure 85% of the standard pressure, according to ETRTO standards) is indicated by a dashed line 1.

[0031] The tread is preferably asymmetrical in relation to the tire equatorial plane, so that in the second shoulder-side tread area, not shown, a shoulder-side tread rib is formed, the configuration of which deviates from that of the shoulder-side tread rib 1 shown and the pneumatic vehicle tire being mounted on a vehicle in such a way that the shoulder-side profile rib 1 shown is arranged toward the inside of the vehicle.

[0032] The shoulder-side tread rib 1 has a tread rib outer surface 1a located on the tread periphery and a width b.sub.PR determined in the axial direction within the ground contact area at the tread periphery, and is on the inside of the tread from a shoulder-side circumferential groove that is indicated in FIG. 2, which is designed in the respective intended profile depth, which for passenger cars, vans or light trucks is usually 6.5 mm to 8.5 mm.

[0033] Furthermore, the shoulder-side profile rib 1 is provided over its circumferential extent with a plurality of shoulder-side transverse grooves 3 running parallel to one another in plan view, which extend beyond the lateral edge (line 1) of the ground contact area and inside the shoulder-side profile rib 1 at a distance determined in the axial direction the shoulder-side circumferential groove 2 ends. The end of each transverse groove 3 on the inside of the tread is adjoined by a channel-incision combination K formed in the shoulder-side profile rib 1.

[0034] The further configuration of the shoulder-side transverse grooves 3 is explained below with reference to a single transverse groove 3 with an associated channel-incision combination K and with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

[0035] According to FIG. 2, the channel-incision combination K, the configuration of which will be discussed in detail later, is in relation to a plane E which extends from a top view to the axial direction at an angle ? of 0? to 10?, in particular of 2? to 7?, and extending straight line g.sub.1 and a straight line g.sub.2 extending in the radial direction (FIG. 3) are formed symmetrically.

[0036] The transverse groove 3 is designed in such a way that the plane E, viewed in plan view, crosses the transverse groove 3 in its longitudinal extent, so that the plane E defines the direction of extent of the transverse groove 3. The transverse groove 3 has, within the ground contact area, a length l.sub.QR of 45% to 65%, in particular 50% to 60%, of the width b.sub.PR of the shoulder-side tread rib 1, determined on the outer surface of the tread rib 1 and related to the plane E and projected in the axial direction. The transverse groove 3, viewed in plan view, is composed of a main section 3a running in sections inside and in sections outside the ground contact area, a tapering shoulder section 3c located outside the ground contact area and a tapering section 3b adjoining the tread inside end of the main section 3a. Furthermore, the transverse groove 3 on the tread rib outer surface 1a has two groove edges 4, 5 which extend beyond the ground contact area and which each extend over the main section 3a, the tapered section 3b and the shoulder section 3c.

[0037] The groove edges 4, 5 have an edge section 4a or 5a running in the main section 3a and an edge section 4b or 5b running in the tapered section 3b. When viewed from above, the edge sections 4a, 5a run straight and to the axial direction at an angle ? (edge section 4a) or ? (edge section 5a), the angles ?, ? each being from 0? to 10?, in particular from 2? to 7?, and wherein the edge sections 4a, 5a in the illustrated embodiment are inclined in the same direction with respect to the axial direction. When viewed from above, the edge sections 4b and 5b also run straight and to the axial direction at an angle ? (edge section 4b) or ? (edge section 5b), the angles ?, ? each being from 15? to 30? and where the edge sections 4b, 5b are inclined in opposite directions to one another with respect to the axial direction in such a way that they approach one another in the direction of the shoulder-side circumferential groove 2. The angle ? and the angle ? can differ from one another, in particular by up to 10?.

[0038] The main section 3a has, in each case within the ground contact area, a length l.sub.a determined on the profile rib outer surface 1a, referred to the plane E and projected in the axial direction, of from 70% to 90%, and in particular from 75% to 80%, of the length l.sub.QR of the transverse groove 3, a maximum depth to determined in the radial direction (FIG. 4) of from 75% to 100%, in particular a maximum of 95%, of the profile depth and a width b a determined as the smallest possible distance between the edge section 4a and the edge section 5a of 3.0 mm to 7.0 mm. The length l.sub.a is also related to the tread inside end of that edge section 4a, 5a which is further inside the tread. The main section 3a is characterized by a groove base 6 and two groove flanks 7, one of which starts from the edge section 4a and the other from the edge section 5a, and which, viewed in cross section perpendicular to the associated edge section 4a, 5a, to the radial direction at an angle of from 0? to 5?.

[0039] The tapered section 3b narrows at the level on the outer surface of the tread ribs 1a starting from the main section 3a continuously in the direction of the shoulder-side circumferential groove 2 and has a width b.sub.b of from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm, preferably of from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm, determined between the ends of the edge sections 4b and 5b on the inside of the tread, at most 2.0 mm. As FIG. 2 shows, in particular in combination with FIG. 4, the tapering section 3b is delimited by two lateral flanks 8 and one end flank 9. The lateral flanks 8 start from the edge sections 4b, 5b, adjoin the groove flanks 7 and run, viewed in cross section perpendicular to the associated edge section 4b, 5b, to the radial direction at an angle of from 0? to 5?, and in particular of at least 2?. The end flank 9 extends between the flanks 8, adjoins the groove base 6 and, as a continuation of this, extends to the outer surface of the ribbed profile 1a.

[0040] According to FIGS. 4 and 6, the end flank 9 is composed of a radially inner end flank section 9a directly adjoining the groove base 6 and a radially outer end flank section 9b. As FIG. 6 shows, the radially inner end flank section 9a, viewed in the cross section lying in the plane E (see position of the section line VI-VI in FIG. 2), runs in the shape of a circular arc and adjoins the groove base 6 without kinks. The radially outer end flank section 9b, viewed in the cross-section projected into the plane E, runs straight to the radial direction and at an angle ? of 0? to 10?, and in particular 3? to 7?.

[0041] As FIGS. 4 to 6 show together, the already mentioned channel-incision combination K is formed from a tubular channel 11 with a circular cross-section and an incision 10 opening into this, the incision 10 and the channel 11 together open into the tapered section 3b of the transverse groove 3 and, in accordance with the mentioned symmetrical configuration of the channel-incision combination K, and both the channel 11 and the incision 10 are symmetrical with respect to the plane E (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0042] The incision 10 starts from the outer surface 1a of the profile rib, runs in the radial direction into the interior of the shoulder-side profile rib 1, opens into the tapering portion 3b via the radially outer end flank portion 9b and has two incision walls 10a aligned in the radial direction and a constant width b.sub.E (FIG. 3) from 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular from 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm, the width b.sub.E being made smaller than the already mentioned width b.sub.b belonging to the tapered section 3b (FIG. 2).

[0043] According to FIGS. 5 and 6, the tubular channel 11 runs between the profile rib outer surface 1a and the tapered section 3b, the channel 11 being formed in the interior of the profile rib 1 over its entire extent adjacent to the incision 10, so that it has, as viewed in the plane E lying cross sectionally (see FIG. 6, section line VI-VI from FIG. 2), roughly an L-shape.

[0044] The channel 11 is composed of a channel section 11a, a central channel section 11b and a tapering channel end section 11c. The channel section 11a starts from the profile rib outer surface 1a, has a circular channel opening 11 on this, forms the shorter L-bar of the L-shape, runs, viewed in the cross-section lying in the plane E, slightly curved, in particular semi-U-curved in shape (FIG. 6), and has a diameter d.sub.k (FIG. 6) of 170% to 300%, in particular from 220% to 280%, preferably from 240% to 260%, of the width b.sub.E (FIG. 3) of the Incision 10. The channel opening 11 has a distance a.sub.1 (FIG. 2) from the shoulder-side circumferential groove 2 of 2.0 mm to 8.0 mm, in particular up to 5.0 mm, the distance a1 being the smallest possible distance between the shoulder-side circumferential groove 2 and the hole circle of the channel opening 11 is determined. The channel section 11b and the channel end section 11c run radially inside the incision 10, form the longer L-beam of the L-shape and furthermore form a body of revolution with a main axis a.sub.k (FIG. 6), which extends in a radial direction depth t.sub.k of 45% to 75%, in particular from 50% to 70%, particularly preferably from 55% to 65%, of the maximum depth to (FIG. 4) of the main section 3a of the transverse groove 3 is located. The channel section 11b likewise has the already mentioned diameter d.sub.k and also a length l.sub.b determined along the main axis a.sub.k (FIG. 6). The channel end section 11c is designed in the form of a truncated cone, has a channel opening 11 located on the radially outer end flank section 9b of the end flank 9 of the transverse groove 3 and a length l.sub.c determined along the main axis a.sub.k (FIG. 6), the length l.sub.c being from 30% up to 70%, in particular from 40% to 60%, preferably from 45% to 55%, of the length l.sub.b (FIG. 6). The channel end section 11c narrows continuously starting from the channel section 11b to the tapering section 3b of the transverse groove 3, has a diameter d.sub.k at the channel section 11b and a diameter d.sub.k* (FIG. 5) of 95% to 105%, in particular 100%, at the channel opening 11, of the width b.sub.E of the incision 10.

[0045] The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment described.

[0046] The tapering section 3a and the shoulder section 3c of the transverse groove 3 are optional, where in this embodiment the main section 3a of the transverse groove 3 is preferably continued on the outside of the tread, that is to say it is lengthened. The transverse groove 3 can be provided on the groove flanks with chamfers (inclined surfaces) which are implemented in a particularly known manner. Furthermore, in addition to the transverse grooves 3, further transverse grooves can be provided in the shoulder-side profile rib. The tread can also have a shoulder-side profile rib in each shoulder, which is designed as described.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS (PART OF THE DESCRIPTION)

[0047] 1 shoulder-side profile rib [0048] 1a outer surface of the tread ribs [0049] 2 shoulder-side circumferential groove [0050] 3 shoulder-side transverse groove [0051] 3a main section [0052] 3b taper section [0053] 3c shoulder section [0054] 4 groove edge [0055] 4a edge section [0056] 4b edge section [0057] 5 groove edge [0058] 5a edge section [0059] 5b edge section [0060] 6 groove bottom [0061] 7 groove flank [0062] 8 side flank [0063] 9 end flank [0064] 9a radially inner end flank section [0065] 9b radially outer end flank section [0066] 10 incision [0067] 10a incision wall [0068] 11 channel [0069] 11a channel section [0070] 11b channel section [0071] 11c channel end section [0072] 11 channel opening [0073] 11 channel opening [0074] a.sub.1 distance [0075] a.sub.k main axis [0076] b.sub.a, b.sub.b, b.sub.E, b.sub.PR width [0077] d.sub.k, d.sub.k* diameter [0078] E plane [0079] g.sub.1, g.sub.2 straight line [0080] K channel-incision combination [0081] l line (lateral edge of the ground contact area) [0082] l.sub.a, l.sub.b, l.sub.QR length [0083] t.sub.a, t.sub.k maximum depth [0084] S.sub.4 arrow (viewing direction) [0085] Z.sub.2 detail [0086] ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ? angles