PNEUMATIC VEHICLE TIRE

Abstract

A tread profile is divided into two parts in the axial direction (A) of the tire and has two axially adjacent profile block rows, each of which is formed from profile block elements that are arranged one behind the other over the circumference of the tire and are separated from one another by inclined grooves. The inclined grooves of one profile block row are configured to slope along the axial extent of the inclined grooves through the profile block row, starting from the other profile block row, such that the main direction of extent of the inclined grooves forms an angle of inclination relative to the axial direction (A). The inclined grooves of one profile block row have a direction of inclination which is oriented oppositely to that of the inclined grooves of the other profile block row when seen in the circumferential direction (U).

Claims

1. A rotationally directional tread profile of a tire of a commercial vehicle, the tire defining an axial direction (A) and the tread profile comprising: the tread profile being divided into first and second parts in the axial direction (A) of the tire; two axially adjacent profile block rows, each of which is formed from profile block elements that are arranged one behind the other over the circumference of the tire and are separated from one another by inclined grooves and thereby form a respective axial part of the extent of the tread profile; the inclined grooves of one profile block row being designed so as to slope along the axial extent of the inclined grooves through the profile block row, starting from the other profile block row, such that the main direction of extent of the inclined grooves forms an angle of inclination relative to the axial direction (A); the inclined groove of one of the profile block rows having a direction of inclination which is oriented oppositely to that of the inclined grooves of the other one of the profile block rows when viewed in the circumferential direction (U) and the angle of inclination of the inclined grooves of each of the profile block rows is formed such that the angle lies in a range of 2535; and, the inclined grooves of one of the profile block rows being formed along the axial extent of the inclined grooves through the respective profile block row, starting from the other profile block row, such that first and second segments are formed which are arranged one behind the other in an alternating manner, wherein, along the extent of the inclined grooves, the inclined grooves each form an angle of inclination, wherein the angle lies in a range of 10, with respect to the axial direction (A) in the first segments and an angle of inclination, wherein 60, with respect to the axial direction (A) in the second segments.

2. The tread profile of claim 1, wherein the beginning of extent of the inclined grooves of the first profile block row, the beginning being directed toward the second profile block row, is for each arranged offset in the circumferential direction (U) with respect to the position of the beginning of extent of the inclined grooves of the second profile block row, the beginning being directed toward the first profile block row.

3. A pneumatic vehicle tire of a commercial vehicle, the tire defining an axial direction (A) and comprising: a rotationally directional tread profile divided into first and second parts in the axial direction (A) of the tire; two axially adjacent profile block rows, each of which is formed from profile block elements that are arranged one behind the other over the circumference of the tire and are separated from one another by inclined grooves and thereby form a respective axial part of the extent of the tread profile; the inclined grooves of one profile block row being designed so as to slope along the axial extent of the inclined grooves through the profile block row, starting from the other profile block row, such that the main direction of extent of the inclined grooves forms an angle of inclination relative to the axial direction (A); the inclined groove of one of the profile block rows having a direction of inclination which is oriented oppositely to that of the inclined grooves of the other one of the profile block rows when viewed in the circumferential direction (U) and the angle of inclination of the inclined grooves of each of the profile block rows is formed such that the angle lies in a range of 2535; the inclined grooves of one of the profile block rows being formed along the axial extent of the inclined grooves through the respective profile block row, starting from the other profile block row, such that first and second segments are formed which are arranged one behind the other in an alternating manner, wherein, along the extent of the inclined grooves, the inclined grooves each form an angle of inclination, wherein the angle lies in a range of 10, with respect to the axial direction (A) in the first segments and an angle of inclination, wherein 60, with respect to the axial direction (A) in the second segments; and, the profile block elements of the first profile block row being each delimited in the circumferential direction (U) by two successive inclined grooves of the first profile block row and, between the two inclined grooves, being delimited in the direction of the second profile block row by a segment of a diagonal groove of the second profile block row, and wherein the profile block elements of the second profile block row are each delimited in the circumferential direction (U) by two successive inclined grooves of the second profile block row and, between the two inclined grooves, are delimited in the direction of the first profile block row by a segment of an inclined groove of the first profile block row.

4. The pneumatic vehicle tire of claim 3, wherein the inclined grooves of one profile block row are each formed with a first segment at the beginning of extent of the inclined grooves which faces the other profile block row.

5. The pneumatic vehicle tire of claim 3, wherein the inclined grooves of one profile block row are each formed with a first segment at that end of extent of the diagonal grooves which faces away from the other profile block row, the end being formed in a tire shoulder.

6. The pneumatic vehicle tire of claim 3, wherein the inclined grooves have an uneven number of segments formed from first and second segments along the extent of the inclined grooves.

7. The pneumatic vehicle tire of claim 3, wherein the inclined grooves have four to eight segments formed from first and second segments along the extent of the inclined grooves.

8. The pneumatic vehicle tire of claim 3, wherein the profile block elements of one profile block row are each extended axially inward, beyond the equatorial plane - of the tire, toward the other profile block row in the axial direction (A), in each case starting from the tire shoulder, and end there.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a segment of the circumference of a tread profile of a commercial vehicle tire for construction applications in plan view;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the tread profile of FIG. 1 in a sectional view as per section II-II in FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the tread profile of a commercial vehicle tire from FIG. 1 in an alternative embodiment; and,

[0020] FIG. 4 shows the tread profile of FIG. 3 in a sectional view as per section IV-IV in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pneumatic commercial vehicle tire for use on loose underlying surfaces and on firm road surfaces, having a tread profile which is divided into two in the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire. The equatorial plane - of the pneumatic vehicle tire is depicted in FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the tread profile is divided axially into two by the formation of two profile block rows 1 and 2, which are arranged adjacent to one another in the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire. In a known manner, profile block row 1 is in this case formed, in the circumferential direction U of the pneumatic vehicle tire, from profile block elements 3 arranged in a manner distributed over the circumference and spaced apart from one another by diagonal grooves 5. In a known manner, profile block row 2 is formed, in the circumferential direction U, from profile block elements 4, which are arranged in a manner distributed one behind the other over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire and which are separated from one another in each case by diagonal grooves 6. In the circumferential direction U of the pneumatic vehicle tire, each profile block element 3 of profile block row 1 is in this case delimited by a diagonal groove 5 in each of the two orientations of the circumferential direction U. Likewise, each profile block element 4 of profile block row 2 is delimited by a diagonal groove 6 in each of the two orientations of the circumferential direction U. As illustrated in FIG. 2 by the example of profile block row 2, the profile block elements 4 and 3 are delimited outward in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire in each case by a radially outer surface 13, which forms the road contact surface.

[0022] The profile block elements 4 of profile block row 2 extend in the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire in a direction toward profile block row 1 as far as a tip 8, which is formed on the respective profile block element 4 at a distance a from the equatorial plane -. The profile block elements 3 of profile block row 1 extend in the axial direction A in a direction toward profile block row 2 as far as a tip 7, which is formed on the respective profile block element 3 at a distance a from the equatorial plane -. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the profile block element 4 of profile block row 2 in each case extends in the axial direction A toward profile block row 1, between the tips 7 of two profile block elements 3 arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, beyond the equatorial plane - as far as the tip 8 of profile block element 4. Likewise, profile block elements 3 extend in the axial direction A toward profile block row 2, in each case between the tips 8 of two profile block elements 4 of profile block row 2 which are adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction U, beyond the equatorial plane - as far as the tip 7 of profile block elements 3. Thus, the profile block elements 4 and 3 are configured so that the axial extent thereof overlaps in the axial direction A by the amount (2a).

[0023] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the diagonal grooves 5 in this case extend outward in the axial direction A from the axial position of the adjoining tip 7 of profile block element 3, through profile block row 1, beyond the equatorial plane -, into the tire shoulderillustrated on the left in FIG. 1as far as the flank delimiting profile block row 1and thus the tread profileaxially toward the outside.

[0024] As can be seen in FIG. 1, diagonal grooves 6 in this case similarly extend outward in the axial direction A from the axial position of the adjoining tip 8 of profile block element 4, through profile block row 2, beyond the equatorial plane -, as far as the flank delimiting profile block row 2 and thus the tread profile in the tire shoulderillustrated on the right in FIG. 1axially toward the outside.

[0025] In this case, the diagonal grooves 5 are configured to extend outward in the axial direction A from the axial position of the tips 7 of the adjoining profile block element 3 as far as the flank of the profile block elements 3in the tire shoulder illustrated on the left in FIG. 1which delimits the profile block elements 3 and thus profile block row 1 and the tread profile in the axial direction A to the from the end of extent facing away from the equatorial plane - and thus from profile block row 2, and, in this case, they extend with a main direction of extent along a straight line g.sub.2 which encloses an angle of inclination a with respect to the axial direction A. Likewise, the diagonal grooves 6 are configured to extend outward in the axial direction from the axial position of the tip 8 of the adjoining profile block element 4 as far as the flank of the profile block elements 4in the tire shoulder illustrated on the right in FIG. 1which delimits the profile block elements 4 and thus profile block row 2 and the tread profile in the axial direction A to the from the end of extent facing away from the equatorial plane - and thus from profile block row 1, and, in this case, they extend with a main direction of extent along a straight line g.sub.1 which encloses an angle of inclination a with respect to the axial direction A. The angle of inclination is in each case configured such that 2535, for example, such that =30. Here, the main direction of extent g.sub.1 is in each case the straight line g.sub.1 which connects the points of the center line of diagonal groove 6 which are measured in the radially outer surface 13 in the axial position of the tip 8 and in the axial position of the flank delimiting the profile block elements 4 toward the outside. Likewise, the main direction of extent g.sub.2 is the straight line which connects the points of the center line of diagonal groove 5 which are measured in the radially outer surface 13 in the axial position of the tip 7 and in the axial position of the flank delimiting the profile block elements 3 toward the outside.

[0026] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the main direction of extent g.sub.1 of profile block row 2 and g.sub.2 of the profile block rows 1 slope in opposite directions to one another along their extent in the circumferential direction U of the pneumatic vehicle tire. The diagonal grooves 5 and 6 thereby form a V-shaped profile.

[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the diagonal grooves 5 are formed from first segments 9 and second segments 10 arranged one behind the other in an alternating sequence along the axial extent of the grooves, starting from the axial position of the tip 7 to the end of extent of the groovesformed in the left-hand shoulder in FIG. 1. Likewise, the diagonal grooves 6 are formed from first segments 11 and second segments 12 arranged one behind the other in an alternating sequence along the axial extent of the grooves, starting from the axial position of the tip 8 to the end of extent of the groovesformed in the right-hand shoulder in FIG. 1.

[0028] Each diagonal groove 5 is formed such that, along its extent, it slopes in such a way that it encloses an angle of inclination y with respect to the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire in the first segment 9 and encloses an angle of inclination with respect to the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire in the second segment 10. The extent and thus the angles of inclination and are in each case measured in the radially outer surface 13, along the center line of the respective diagonal groove 5. In the first segment 9 and in the second segment 10, the inclination chosen is in each case configured with the same slope orientation as the main direction of extent g.sub.2 of diagonal groove 5.

[0029] Similarly, each diagonal groove 6 is formed such that, along its extent, it slopes in such a way that it encloses an angle of inclination with respect to the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire in the first segment 11 and encloses an angle of inclination with respect to the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire in the second segment 12. The extent and thus the angles of inclination and are in each case measured in the radially outer surface 13, along the center line of the respective diagonal groove 6. In the first segment 11 and in the second segment 12, the inclination chosen is in each case configured with the same slope orientation as the main direction of extent g.sub.1 of diagonal groove 6.

[0030] Here, the angles of inclination and chosen are 10< and <60. For example, the angle chosen for is =15 and that for is =50.

[0031] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the diagonal groove 6 is in each case formed with a first segment 11 between the axial position of the tips 8 and 7 at the beginning of extent of the diagonal groove. Likewise, diagonal groove 5 is in each case formed with a first segment 9 between the axial position of the points 7 and 8 at the beginning of extent of the diagonal groove. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the diagonal grooves 5 and 6 are likewise each formed with a first segment 11 and 9, respectively, at the end of extent of the grooves, which is formed in the region of the tire shoulder. Along the extent of the diagonal grooves, the diagonal grooves 5 and 6 are thus formed with an uneven number of first and second segments arranged one behind the other and each begin and end with a first segment 11 or 9, respectively.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, the transverse grooves 5 and 6 are each formed with five segments arranged one behind the other in the axial direction A.

[0033] In FIG. 1, the envisaged direction of rotation D of the vehicle tire during forward travel is indicated by an arrow.

[0034] The first segment 11, which is formed between the axial positions of the tips 7 and 8, and the directly adjoining second segment 12 of diagonal groove 6 each form, with their groove wall arranged ahead of diagonal groove 6 in the direction of rotation D, that flank of the profile block element 3 adjoining in the region of the extent of diagonal groove 6, between the tips 7 and 8, which faces diagonal groove 6 and, with their groove wall which follows on in the direction of rotation D, form that flank of the profile block element 4 delimited by diagonal groove 6 which faces diagonal groove 6. Outside the axial segments formed between the tips 7 and 8, the two groove walls of the diagonal grooves 6 each form the flanks of the two profile block elements 4 delimited by diagonal groove 6, which flanks are directed toward the respective diagonal groove 6 in the circumferential direction U.

[0035] The first segment 9, which is formed between the axial positions of the tips 7 and 8, and the directly adjoining second segment 10 of diagonal groove 5 each form, with their groove wall arranged ahead of diagonal groove 5 in the direction of rotation D, that flank of the profile block element 4 adjoining in the region of the extent of diagonal groove 5, between the tips 7 and 8, which faces diagonal groove 5 and, with their groove wall which follows on in the direction of rotation D, form that flank of the profile block element 3 delimited by diagonal groove 5 which faces diagonal groove 5. Outside the axial segments formed between the tips 7 and 8, the two groove walls of the diagonal grooves 5 each form the flanks of the two profile block elements 3 delimited by diagonal groove 5, which flanks are directed toward the respective diagonal groove 5 in the circumferential direction U.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 2 using the example of a diagonal groove 6, the diagonal grooves 5 and 6 are each formed with a profile depth T, measured in the radial direction R, which, starting from the radially outer surface 13, extends as far as the groove base 14 delimiting the respective diagonal groove 5 or 6 in the radially inward direction. The profile depth T is configured such that 12 mmT25 mm, for example such that T=19 mm.

[0037] The diagonal grooves 5 and 6 are formed with a groove width B of 10 mmB30 mm, measured perpendicularly to the respective direction of extent in the individual segment.

[0038] FIG. 1 also shows an embodiment in which the groove width B is formed so that the width B increases axially from the inside outward toward the tire shoulder along the extent of the respective diagonal groove 5 or 6, wherein, for example, the minimum width of each diagonal groove 5 or 6 is B=15 mm and the maximum width is B=20 mm.

[0039] FIG. 2 also shows an embodiment with reference to a diagonal groove 6, in which the diagonal grooves 5 and 6 are each formed, on both sides of the groove base 14, with groove walls 15 and 16, respectively, which each form the flank delimiting the adjoining profile block elementhere profile block element 4. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the groove walls 15 and 16 can be formed so as to enclose an angle of inclination with respect to the radial direction R in the respective segment in section planes perpendicular to the extent of the diagonal groove, wherein the selected angle of inclination of groove wall 15 in one embodiment is smaller than the angle of inclination of groove wall 16.

[0040] As can be seen in FIG. 1, each diagonal groove 5 opens into diagonal groove 6 at the axial position of the tip 7 of profile block element 3, which adjoins diagonal groove 5, at the axial distance (2a) from the end of extent of diagonal groove 6, the end being formed by the tip 8 of profile block element 4 and facing profile block row 2. Likewise, each diagonal groove 6 opens into diagonal groove 5 at the axial position of the tip 8 of profile block element 4, which adjoins the diagonal groove 6, at the axial distance (2a) from the end of extent of diagonal groove 5, the end being formed in the axial position of the by the tip 7 of profile block element 3 and facing profile block row 1.

[0041] Thus, the respective ends of extent of diagonal grooves 6 and 5, the ends each facing the other profile block row, are arranged offset with respect to one another both in the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire and in the circumferential direction U of the pneumatic vehicle tire.

[0042] FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment, in which fine decorative grooves 17 are additionally formed in the radially outer surface 13 only in profile block elements 3 and 4, the decorative grooves extending through the respective profile block element 3 and 4 when viewed in the circumferential direction U of the pneumatic vehicle tire and opening into the two diagonal grooves 5 and 6 delimiting the respective profile block elements 3 and 4. Here, the decorative grooves are formed with a depth T.sub.D and a width B.sub.D, measured in the radially outer surface 13, where T.sub.D=3 mm and B.sub.D=5 mm. In this caseas can be seen in FIG. 3along their extent from diagonal groove 5 to diagonal groove 5, the decorative grooves 17 are aligned with a main direction of extent, the directional component of which in the circumferential direction U is greater than the directional component in the axial direction A. In this case, the decorative grooves 17 in profile block row 4 are formed, along their extent, with a direction of inclination which is opposite to the direction of inclination of the main direction of extent g.sub.1 of the diagonal grooves 6. Likewise, the direction of inclination of the decorative grooves 17 of profile block 3 is here formed, along their extent, with a direction of inclination which is opposite to the direction of inclination of the main direction of extent g.sub.2 of the diagonal grooves 5.

[0043] In one embodiment, the pneumatic commercial vehicle tire is a pneumatic commercial vehicle tire with a tread width of 240 mm to 280 mm, measured in the axial direction A.

[0044] In one embodiment, the pneumatic commercial vehicle tire is a pneumatic commercial vehicle tire of dimensions 315/80R22.5. In another embodiment, the pneumatic commercial vehicle tire is a pneumatic commercial vehicle tire of dimensions 295/80R22.5. In another embodiment, the pneumatic commercial vehicle tire is a pneumatic commercial vehicle tire of dimensions 13R22.5.

[0045] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

Part of the Specification

[0046] 1 Profile block row [0047] 2 Profile block row [0048] 3 Profile block element [0049] 4 Profile block element [0050] 5 Diagonal groove [0051] 6 7 Diagonal groove [0052] 7 Tip [0053] 8 Tip [0054] 9 First segment [0055] 10 Second segment [0056] 11 First segment [0057] 12 Second segment [0058] 13 Radially outer surface [0059] 14 Groove base [0060] 15 Groove wall [0061] 16 Groove wall [0062] 17 Decorative groove