TREAD PROFILE OF A VEHICLE TYRE

Abstract

Tread profile of a vehicle tire with profile elements (1,12,13,14,15,6) separated from one another by grooves (7,8,9,10,23), wherein the profile elements (13,14,1,12) separated by a groove (9,7) are outwardly delimited in the radial direction R by a radially outer surface (16) forming the ground contact area and toward the groove (9,7) respectively by a profile element flank forming a groove wall (17,18), wherein a rubber rib (20,19) extending in the extension direction of the groove (9,7) is respectively formed in the profile element flanks which delimit the groove (9,7) and each form a different groove wall (17,18) of the groove (9,7), wherein the rubber rib (19) formed in one groove wall (17) is formed in a different radial position of the vehicle tire than the rubber rib (20) formed in the other groove wall (18), wherein the two rubber ribs each (19,20) extend over the entire extension length of the profile element flank and wherein each of these two rubber ribs (19,20) respectively extends along its entire extension length from that profile element flank in which it is formed into the groove (9,7) in the direction of the other profile element flank up to at least the middle of the groove width in this radial position of the groove (9,7) and ends there in the groove (9,7) at a distance d2 from the profile element flanks.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A tread profile of a vehicle tire comprising: a plurality of profile elements separated from one another by a plurality of grooves; the profile elements are outwardly delimited in a radial direction R by a radially outer surface to form a ground contact area and by a profile element flank toward a groove of the plurality of grooves to form a groove wall; the plurality of grooves are inwardly delimited in the radial direction R by a groove base and a groove wall on both sides of the groove base respectively, the groove wall extends in the radial direction R starting from the groove base to the radially outer surface of the profile element; a plurality of rubber ribs extend in an extension direction of the plurality of grooves and are formed in the profile element flanks that delimit the groove and each form a different groove wall of the groove; a rubber rib of the plurality of rubber ribs is formed in one groove wall is formed in a different radial position of the vehicle tire than a second rubber rib of the plurality of rubber ribs formed in a second groove wall; the rubber rib and the second rubber rib extend over an entire extension length of the profile element flank and each respectively extend along its entire extension length from that profile element flank in which it is formed into the groove in the direction of the other profile element flank up to at least the middle of the groove width in this radial position of the groove and ends there in the groove at a distance d.sub.2 from the profile element flanks.

14. The tread profile of claim 13, the grooves are formed with a groove depth T measured in the radial direction R, starting from the groove base to the radially outer surface of the adjacent profile elements and the two rubber ribs are formed within a radial extension range of the extension height H.sub.1=T/2 measured radially outward starting from the groove base.

15. The tread profile of claim 13, the two rubber ribs are each formed in a radial position outside of a height H.sub.2=3 mm measured radially outward starting from the groove base.

16. The tread profile of claim 13, the two rubber ribs are each formed at their extension end pointing to the other profile element flank with a cross-sectional plane formed perpendicular to the extension direction of the groove with a semicircular—rounded sectional contour.

17. The tread profile of claim 13, the grooves formed with a radial extension section of the extension height H.sub.3 measured in the radial direction R, in which the two groove walls formed by the profile element flanks extend parallel in the cross-sectional planes formed perpendicular to the extension direction of the grooves, this extension section is the narrowest radial extension section of the groove in which the groove width B is made constant with 2 mm≤B≤4 mm, and wherein the two rubber ribs are formed inside this radial extension section.

18. The tread profile of claim 17, the grooves are formed with a radially outer extension section which extends radially outward to the radially outer surface in which the groove is formed along its radially outward extension with increasing groove width B.

19. The tread profile of claim 13, the plurality of grooves are circumferential grooves.

20. The tread profile of claim 13, the profile elements delimiting the groove are each part of a profile strip, wherein in particular the profile elements of at least one profile strip are profile block elements of a profile block row.

21. The tread of claim 13, the rubber rib and the second rubber rib are formed at a distance d1 from each other with 1 mm≤d.sub.1≤3 mm.

22. The tread profile of claim 13, each of the two rubber ribs is formed with its extension end (21) pointing away from its profile element flank at a distance d.sub.2 from the other profile element flank with 1 mm≤d.sub.2≤2 mm.

23. The tread profile of claim 13, the rubber rib is formed with an extension width h measured in the radial direction R of the tire with 1.5 mm≤h≤3 mm.

24. The tread profile of claim 13, the pair of rubber ribs is formed, at a constant distance d.sub.1 from one another along the extension of the groove, with a wavy—changed profile of the radial position.

25. The tread profile of claim 13, the rubber rib having a radial thickness and a first radial height, the second rubber rib having the radial thickness of the rubber rib and a second radial height and the rubber rib and the second rubber rib separated by a radial distance d.sub.1.

Description

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9. In the figures,

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a circumferential section of a tread profile of a vehicle tire in plan view,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail view II of the plan view of FIG. 1,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the tread profile of FIG. 1 in a sectional view according to section III-III of FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the tread profile of FIG. 1 in a sectional view according to section IV-IV of FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the tread profile of FIG. 1 in a sectional view according to section V-V of FIG. 1,

[0029] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged detail view of detail VI-VI of FIG. 1,

[0030] FIG. 7 shows the tread profile of FIG. 1 in a sectional view according to section VII-VII of FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 8 shows the tread profile of FIG. 1 in a sectional view according to section VIII-VIII of FIG. 1, and

[0032] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective representation of the section of the tread profile of FIG. 1 with an alternative design of the rubber ribs of a circumferential groove.

[0033] FIGS. 1 to 8 show a tread profile of the pneumatic vehicle tire of a commercial vehicle. The tread profile is—as shown in FIG. 1—formed with the circumferential ribs 1, 6 arranged next to one another in the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire and each spaced apart from one another by circumferential grooves 7, 8, 9, 10, 23 and extending over the entire circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire, and profile block rows 2, 3, 4, 5. The two circumferential ribs 1 and 6 are formed in the two tire shoulders and thus form the profile strips of the tire shoulders. In the axial direction A

[0034] between the two circumferential ribs 1 and 6, the profile block rows 2, 3, 4 and 5 are formed, which form the central profile strips.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the profile block row 2 is separated from the circumferential rib 1 in the axial direction A by the circumferential groove 7. The profile block row 2 and the profile block row 3 are separated from one another in the axial direction A by the circumferential groove 8. The profile block row 3 and the profile block row 4 are separated from one another in the axial direction A by the circumferential groove 9. The profile block row 4 and the profile block row 5 are separated from one another in the axial direction A by the circumferential groove 10. The profile block row 5 and the circumferential rib 6 are separated from one another in the axial direction A by the circumferential groove 23.

[0036] The profile block rows 2, 3, 4 and 5 are each formed in a known manner from profile block elements which are arranged one behind the other over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire and are each separated from one another by transverse grooves 11.

[0037] The profile block row 2 is formed from profile block elements 12 which are arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction U over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire and are separated from one another by transverse grooves 11. The profile block row 3 is formed from profile block elements 13 which are arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction U over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire and are separated from one another by transverse grooves 11. The profile block row 4 is formed from profile block elements 14 which are arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction U over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire and are each separated from one another by transverse grooves 11. The profile block row 5 is formed from profile block elements 15 which are arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction U over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire and are separated from one another by transverse grooves 11.

[0038] The transverse grooves 11 of the profile block row 2 extend from the circumferential groove 7 through the profile block row 2 to the circumferential groove 8. The transverse grooves 11 of the profile block row 3 extend from the circumferential groove 8 through the profile block row 3 to the circumferential groove 9. The transverse grooves 11 of the profile block row 4 extend from the circumferential groove 9 through the profile block row 4 to the circumferential groove 10. The transverse grooves 11 of the profile block row 5 extend from the circumferential groove 10 through the profile block row 5 to the circumferential groove 23.

[0039] The circumferential ribs 1 and 6 and the profile block elements 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the profile block rows 2, 3, 4 and 5 are—as shown by the example of the profile block elements 13 and 14 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4—are outwardly delimited in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire by a radially outer surface 16 forming the road contact surface.

[0040] The transverse grooves 11 and the circumferential grooves 7, 8, 9, 10 and 23 are inwardly delimited in a known manner in the radial direction R by a respective groove base 22 and on both sides of the groove base 22 respectively by a groove wall which extends from the groove base 22 to the radially outer surface 16 outward in the radial direction R and thereby forms the respective flank of the profile element delimited by the transverse or circumferential groove, which flank points toward the transverse or circumferential groove.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 using the example of the circumferential groove 9, the circumferential grooves 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are delimited on both sides of the groove base 22 with groove walls 17 and 18 which extend from the groove base 22 in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire outwardly to the radially outer surface 16 and end there. Using the example of circumferential groove 9, the groove wall 17 forms the respective flanks of profile block elements 13 of the profile block row 3 delimited by circumferential groove 9, and the groove wall 18 forms the flanks of the profile block elements 14 of the profile block row 4 delimited on the other side by the circumferential groove 9.

[0042] The circumferential groove 9 is formed with a groove depth T, which corresponds to the profile depth, measured starting from the radially outer surface 16 of the profile block elements 13 and 14 delimited by the circumferential groove 9 in the radial direction R inward to the deepest point of the groove base 22.

[0043] In FIGS. 2 to 5, the formation of a circumferential groove according to the invention is shown and explained using the example of a circumferential groove 9 which separates a profile block row 3 from a profile block row 4.

[0044] The groove walls 17 and 18 are formed in the cross-sectional planes, which are formed perpendicularly to the main extension direction of the circumferential groove 9, and, in the case of circumferential grooves, are those sectional planes which contain the tire axis, along a radial extension section of the extension height H.sub.3 measured in the radial direction R.sub.3 with sectional contours running parallel to one another. The groove walls 17 and 18 are formed in this extension section of the extension height H.sub.3 at a distance B from one another, which forms the groove width in this extension section. The extension section of span height H.sub.3 is formed with a width B, which is between 2 mm≤B≤4 mm.

[0045] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, H.sub.3=T is chosen.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, within a radial extension section of height H.sub.1=T/2, which is measured radially outward starting from the groove base 22, a rubber rib 19 extending over the entire circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire is formed in the groove wall 17, which delimits the profile block element row 13, which rubber rib rises into the circumferential groove 9 starting from the groove wall 17 in the direction of the groove wall 18 and extends with its elevation in the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire to more than half the groove width and thus over a position at a distance B/2 from the groove wall 17 and ends there with its extension end 21 pointing to the groove wall 18 at a distance d.sub.2 from the groove wall 18. In an analogous manner, within this radial extension section of height

[0047] H.sub.1=T/2, which is measured radially outward starting from the groove base 22, a rubber rib 20 extending over the entire circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire is formed in the groove wall 18, which delimits the profile block element row 14, which rubber rib rises into the circumferential groove 9 starting from the groove wall 18 in the direction of the groove wall 17 and extends with its elevation in the axial direction A of the pneumatic vehicle tire to more than half the groove width and thus over a position at a distance B/2 from the groove wall 18 and ends there with its extension end 21 pointing to the groove wall 17 at a distance d.sub.2 from the groove wall 17. The rubber ribs 19 and 20 extend along the entire extension of the circumferential groove 9 with their main extension direction in the circumferential direction U of the vehicle tire. The rubber rib 19 extends respectively along the entire extension of the profile block element flank, formed by the groove wall 17, of a profile block element 13. The rubber rib 20 extends respectively along the entire extension of the profile block element flank, formed by the groove wall 18, of a profile block element 14. The distance d.sub.2 is formed with d.sub.2<B/2.

[0048] Both rubber ribs 19 and 20 are each formed with a rib width h measured in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire along their entire extension in the circumferential direction U of the pneumatic vehicle tire. The rib width h of the rubber rib 19 is formed in the groove wall 17 at its maximum value. The rib width h of the rubber rib 20 is formed in the groove wall 18 at its maximum value.

[0049] The two rubber ribs 19 and 20 formed in the circumferential groove 9 are positioned offset from one another in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rubber rib 20 is thus positioned in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire outside of the position of the rubber rib 19, with the two rubber ribs 19 and 20 being positioned offset from one another in such a way that, despite the axial overlapping of their extension ends in the region of the center of the groove width, they are positioned at a distance d.sub.1 from one another. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rubber rib 19 positioned closer to the groove base 22 is positioned at a distance H.sub.2 from the groove base 22 measured in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire, with the distance H.sub.2 being measured in the groove wall 17.

[0050] The extension width h of the rubber ribs 19, 20 is chosen with 1.5 mm≤h≤3 mm. The distance d.sub.1 between the adjacent rubber ribs 19, 20 is chosen with

[0051] 1 mm≤d.sub.1≤3 mm. The distance d.sub.2 between the rubber rib 19 or 20 and the respectively opposite groove wall 18 or 17 is formed with 1 mm≤d.sub.2>2 mm.

[0052] The extension height H1 is formed with H1 T/2. The extension height H.sub.2 is formed with

[0053] H.sub.2≤3 mm. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, H.sub.2=3 mm is chosen.

[0054] In FIGS. 6 to 8, the formation of a circumferential groove according to the invention is shown and explained using the example of a circumferential groove 7 which separates a circumferential rib 1 formed in one tire shoulder from the profile block row 2. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 to 8, the circumferential groove 7 is also formed with a groove depth T in this exemplary embodiment. Likewise, with this design, within an extension section of the extension height H.sub.3 measured in the radial direction R starting from the groove base 22, the two groove walls 17 and 18 are formed in the sectional planes perpendicular to the main extension direction of the circumferential groove 7 with a sectional contour profile of the groove walls 17 and 18 oriented parallel to one another at a constant distance and thus with a substantially constant groove width B. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the extension height H.sub.3

[0055] is formed with H.sub.3<T. Radially outside the extension section of the extension height H.sub.3, the circumferential groove 7 is formed with a continuously increasing groove width B along the radial extension of the circumferential groove 7 up to the radially outer surface 16 of the adjacent circumferential rib 1 and the adjacent profile block row 2.

[0056] As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, within the extension section of the extension height H.sub.1 and within the extension section of the extension height H.sub.3, in an analogous manner, a rubber rib 19 is formed in the groove wall 17 and a rubber rib 20 is formed in the groove wall 18, which ribs—as already indicated in connection with the other exemplary embodiments—are formed with the rib width h, at a distance d.sub.1 from each other and at a distance d.sub.2from the respective opposite groove wall. The rubber rib 19 arranged closer to the groove base 22 is arranged at a distance H.sub.2 from the groove base 22 measured in the radial direction R of the pneumatic vehicle tire. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the radially outer rubber rib 20 is formed with at least half of its rib width h measured in the radial direction R still within the extension section of the extension height H.sub.3.

[0057] In the exemplary embodiments illustrated above, the rubber ribs 19 and 20 are each formed along their entire extension over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire in a constant radial position of the tire with a rib width h formed in the radial direction, at their distance d.sub.1 from each other and at a distance d.sub.2 from the respective opposite groove wall.

[0058] An alternative design of the rubber ribs 19 and 20 is shown in FIG. 9 using the example of a circumferential groove 9. In this design, too, the rubber ribs 19 and 20 are formed along their entire extension direction over the circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire at a constant distance d.sub.1 from each other, with a constant rib width h, measured in the radial direction R, in the groove wall, at a constant distance d.sub.2 from the opposite groove wall, at a minimum distance H.sub.2 from the groove base 22 and within the extension section of the extension height H.sub.1 and within the extension section of the extension height H3. However, with this design, the radial position of the rubber ribs 20 and 19 changes along their extension over the entire circumference of the pneumatic vehicle tire. In the exemplary embodiment shown, as can be seen in FIG. 9, this pair of rubber ribs 19 and 20 arranged one above the other is formed with a profile of their radial positioning that runs in a wavy shape along the extension of the vehicle tire.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0059] (Part of the description) [0060] 1 Circumferential rib [0061] 2 Block row [0062] 3 Block row [0063] 4 Block row [0064] 5 Block row [0065] 6 Circumferential rib [0066] 7 Circumferential groove [0067] 8 Circumferential groove [0068] 9 Circumferential groove [0069] 10 Circumferential groove [0070] 11 Transverse groove [0071] 12 Profile block element [0072] 13 Profile block element [0073] 14 Profile block element [0074] 15 Profile block element [0075] 16 Radially outer surface [0076] 17 Groove wall [0077] 18 Groove wall [0078] 19 Rib [0079] 20 Rib [0080] 21 Extension end [0081] 22 Groove base