CA3079896C

CA3079896C - Pneumatic vehicle tyre

Info

Publication number: CA3079896C
Application number: CA3079896A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jan Schlittenhard; Claudia Bauer
Original assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 2017-11-30
Filing date: 2018-09-11
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-11
Also published as: EP3717281B1; EP3717281A1; DE102017221582A1; WO2019105624A1; CA3079896A1; RU2737076C1

Abstract

A pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread with profile blocks is provided. The profile blocks are separated in a circumferential direction by transverse channels, and are crossed with sipes extending substantially parallel to the transverse channels. The profile blocks are provided with a number of micro-sipes, which extend parallel to the transverse channels and to the sipes. At least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edges is made up of sections which run in an angled manner relative to one another. At least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edges delimits the profile block at an elevated edge region which, in relation to the level of the rest of the profile block surface, has a height of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm and which has a width from 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm. The sipes and micro-sipes are composed of a number of sections angled relative to one another.

Description

Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
2017P05372W0/Ju 09.06.2018 Description Pneumatic vehicle tyre The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread with at least one profile block row which has profile blocks or is structured in the manner of profile blocks, wherein the profile blocks are separated from one another in a circumferential direction by transverse channels which extend at an angle < 45 to the axial direction, wherein each profile block on the transverse channel side and at the tread periphery is delimited by profile block edges and is crossed with a number of sipes extending parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse channels, which sipes have a width of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, and wherein in each case at least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edges is made up of sections which run in an angled manner with respect to one another.
A pneumatic vehicle tyre with a tread configured in such a way is known, for example, from EP 3 098 089 Al. Profile block rows with profile blocks are provided on the shoulder side, said profile block rows being separated from one another in the circumferential direction by transverse channels, wherein, in each shoulder-side profile block, the two profile block edges running on the transverse channel side each have a zigzag-shaped profile in order to improve the traction properties of the pneumatic vehicle tyre on an icy underlying surface. Every second transverse channel continues from the rows of shoulder blocks in the direction of the center of the tread as an inclined channel.
Profile blocks which are located in the center of the tread and are delimited by said inclined channels each have only one profile block edge with a zigzag-shaped profile.
A pneumatic vehicle tyre having a further tread with profile block rows, the profile blocks of which are each provided with a multiplicity of sipes crossing the profile blocks, is known from DE 10 2005 029 873 Al. The profile blocks which follow one another in the Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08

2 circumferential direction in a profile block row have, on the transverse channel side, profile block edges with a zigzag-shaped profile.
Although the known designs of profile blocks with profile block edges with a zigzag-shaped profile improve the performance of the tyre on snow, said profile block edges with a zigzag-shaped profile have little effect on an icy underlying surface. The invention is therefore based on the object of further improving the winter suitability and the winter driving characteristics of a pneumatic vehicle tyre of the type mentioned at the beginning;
in particular, the intention is to considerably improve the braking and traction characteristics and the lateral control on a snow-covered underlying surface and at the same time to improve the ice friction and adhesion on an icy underlying surface covered in particular with a thin layer of water, a thin snow covering or hoarfrost.
The stated object is achieved according to the invention in that the or at least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edge(s), which is made up of sections which run in an angled manner with respect to one another, delimits the profile block at least in sections at an elevated edge region which, in relation to the level of the rest of the profile block surface, has a height of from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm in a radial direction and which has, on its upper side, a width of from 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread with at least one profile block row which has profile blocks or is structured in the manner of profile blocks. The profile blocks are separated from one another in a circumferential direction by transverse channels which extend at an angle < 45 to the axial direction, where each profile block on the transverse channel side, and at the tread periphery, is delimited by profile block edges and is crossed with a number of sipes extending parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse channels. The sipes have a sipe width of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, and in each case, at least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edges is made up of first sections which run in a first angled manner with respect to one another. At least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edges, which is made up of the first sections which run in the first angled manner with respect to one another, delimits the profile block at least in sections at an elevated edge region which, Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-21 2a in relation to the level of the rest of the profile block surface, has a height of from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm in a radial direction and which has, on its upper side, an elevated edge region width of 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm. The profile blocks of the profile block row are provided with a number of micro-sipes extending parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse channels and to the sipes and are crossed by said micro-sipes, wherein the micro-sipes have a micro-sipe width of <0.4 mm, a minimum micro-sipe width of 0.2 mm and a micro-sipe depth of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, and the sipes and the micro-sipes are each composed of a number of second sections running in a second angled manner relative to one another.
The elevated edge regions bring about a particularly advantageous higher edge pressure of the profile blocks both on an icy underlying surface and on a snow-covered underlying surface. On wet ice, the elevated edge pressure brings about an improved wiping effect under the block edge. If there is a thin covering of snow on ice, this also helps to wipe away snow. As a result, the block surface is no longer so greatly -contaminated" by snow crystals and can thus bring about better rubber/ice friction. This effect is present even with hoarfrost on an icy underlying surface. The elevated edge regions on profile block edges, which have sections running in an angled manner with respect to one another, particularly also improve the braking characteristics and the lateral control characteristics on snow, in particular because of the greater edge length compared to profile block edges with a rectilinear profile. The angled, for example serrated or corrugated, design of said profile block edges has the effect that said edge generally penetrates the snow only in sections and therefore the Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-21

3 edge pressure increases more strongly at certain points and the extent of the penetration of the elevated edge regions into snow is further increased. This effect therefore significantly improves the "milling effect" of these block edges.
An embodiment is preferred in which the elevated edge region has a constant height and a constant width over its extent length, and therefore the higher edge pressure can act substantially unifoimly over the profile block width. It is also advantageous if the elevated edge region runs over all sections of the profile block edge.
Furthermore, an embodiment is particularly preferred in which the elevated edge region has a width of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm on its upper side and, at its base, an in particular constant width which corresponds at least to its width on the upper side, in particular is 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm larger than this width. The elevated edge regions, which are particularly effective with new tyres, can thus produce a particularly good milling effect on a snow-covered underlying surface.
It is also particularly preferred if the elevated edge region merges with the level of the other profile block surface via flank surfaces which run in the radial direction or via obliquely inclined, for example convexly rounded, flank surfaces. Measures of this type are advantageous for an optimum distribution of the pressure effective because of the elevated edge regions.
The profile block edge which delimits the elevated edge region and is composed of sections running in an angled manner relative to one another can be configured in diverse ways.
Embodiments having sections with a zigzag-shaped, trapezoidal, stepped or wavy profile are particularly preferred since such sections can be configured in a simple manner with a uniform sequence of the sections.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the profile blocks of the profile block row are provided with a number of micro-sipes extending parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse channels and to the sipes and are preferably crossed by said micro-sipes, wherein the micro-sipes have a width of <0.4 mm, in particular a width of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm and a Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08

4 depth of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. Micro-sipes are particularly advantageous for particularly good removal of the water film that forms on an icy or snow-covered underlying surface when the tyre rolls off the latter.
Preferably, a micro-sipe runs in each case adjacent to the elevated edge region, followed in each case by a sipe. This measure particularly effectively assists the removal of the water film mentioned on an icy or snow-covered underlying surface.
In this context, it is also advantageous and preferred if at least one micro-sipe, in particular two micro-sipes, runs or run in each case between the sipes.
Particularly good gripping characteristics on a snow-covered underlying surface can be achieved with an embodiment in which the sipes and the micro-sipes are each composed, in a top view of the profile block, in particular in the same or similar manner as the profile block edge, of a number of sections running in an angled manner relative to one another.
In a further preferred refinement, the sipes have sections which have a greater width than the other sections. These sections extend in particular parallel to transverse-channel-side profile block edges and have a width which is 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm larger than the width of the remaining sections of said sipes and is at most 1.2 mm. In the wider sections, snow can particularly readily accumulate to increase the snow-snow friction.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sipes and the micro-sipes in a top view have end sections extending parallel to the transverse-channel-side profile block edges and otherwise sections which run along base-free trapezoids which adjoin one another, face in an alternating manner to the one and to the other profile block edge, are preferably equal-sided and are designed to at least substantially correspond or to correspond, wherein the trapezoids which are directly adjacent to one another have common trapezoidal leg sections. The trapezoidal shape of the sections, the sipes and the micro-sipes is particularly advantageous for good grip on ice and snow, both when braking and under traction loading.
Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08 In this embodiment, it is furthermore expedient if all or some of the trapezoidal leg sections are connected to one another by connecting sections, which are those sections which have a greater width than the remaining sections. It is precisely these sections that are particularly favorable for the formation of a particularly advantageous snow-snow friction, wherein it

5 has proven particularly advantageous in this context if in those sipes which run closest to the transverse-channel-side profile block edges, only the connecting sections located in each case closer to the transverse-channel-side profile block edges are those sections which have a greater width than the remaining sections.
Further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of the schematic drawing, which illustrates exemplary embodiments. In the drawing, fig. 1 shows an enlarged top view of two profile blocks of a tread of a pneumatic vehicle tyre with a design variant of the invention, fig. la shows a sectional illustration along the line Ia-Ia of fig. 1, fig. 2 to fig. 5 each show further design variants of the invention in an illustration analogous to fig. 1.
Pneumatic vehicle tyres according to the invention are particularly readily suitable for use under winter driving conditions, particularly on snow or ice, and are tyres of radial design, preferably for passenger cars, vans or light trucks.
Fig. 1 to fig. 5 show top views of in each case two profile blocks 1, illustrated in a simplified form, which belong in particular to a profile block row encircling in the circumferential direction of a tread of a pneumatic vehicle tyre. Profile block rows with profile blocks designed according to the invention can be arranged on the tread edge side or shoulder side or in the central region of the tread. If the profile block row is arranged in the central region of the tread, said profile block row is conventionally delimited laterally by circumferential channels which run in the circumferential direction of the tread and which Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08

6 are not illustrated. The profile blocks of a profile block row running on the shoulder side are conventionally delimited on the tread inner side by channels which are likewise generally circumferential channels or sections of circumferential channels, but may also be channel sections of inclined channels, or the like, running in the direction of the center of the tread. Profile blocks 1 directly following one another in the circumferential direction are separated from one another by a respective transverse channel 2. In profile block rows running in the central tread region, the transverse channels 2 conventionally extend at an angle of < 450, and, in shoulder-side profile block rows, conventionally at an angle of <
30 to the axial direction of the tread. Within a profile block row, the transverse channels 2 run parallel or substantially parallel to one another.
In the embodiments shown in fig. 1 and fig. 4, each profile block 1 is delimited along the one transverse channel 2 by a profile block edge 3 having a zigzag-shaped profile, and with respect to the second transverse channel 2 by a profile block edge 4 running rectilinearly. In the embodiments shown in fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 5, each profile block 1 is delimited in the circumferential direction along the one transverse channel 2, which delimits said profile block 1, by a profile block edge 5 which runs trapezoidally over the majority of its extent, as will be described in even more detail below. The second profile block edge 5' of said profile blocks 1 runs rectilinearly.
In the examples shown, the profile block edge 3 running in a zigzag shape in fig. 1 and fig.
4 is composed in an alternating manner of longer sections 3a and shorter sections 3b, each of which enclose an obtuse angle with one another that is of the order of 100 to 130 . The zigzag shape itself is not the subject matter of the invention and can be undertaken in any way and in particular in one of the known ways. Each section 3a, 3b is joined by a block flank which runs in the radial direction or substantially in the radial direction, delimits the profile block 1, and therefore also the transverse channel 2, and has block flank sections (not shown) adjoining the longer and the shorter sections 3a, 3b.
In the embodiments shown in fig.2, fig.3 and fig. 5, the profile block edge 5 has end sections 5a and sections 5b, 5c running parallel to the second profile block edge 5' and resulting in base-free trapezoids which are lined up in a row, are preferably equal-sided and Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08

7 are designed to substantially correspond, wherein the trapezoids which are directly adjacent to one another have common trapezoidal leg sections 5b. The trapezoidal leg sections 5b enclose angles with one another, in a top view, of in particular 1100 to 160 , and the sections 5c in each case connecting said trapezoidal leg sections 5b run parallel to the lateral end sections 5a of the profile block edge 5 in the embodiment shown.
The profile block 1 therefore has block flank sections (not shown) which delimit the transverse channel 2, are adjacent to the sections 5a, 5b, 5c and run in the radial direction or substantially in the radial direction.
The profile block edges 3 and 5 and, in the embodiments shown, also the profile block edges 4, 5', delimit each profile block 1 at edge regions 6 which are elevated compared to the remaining profile block surface. As fig. la shows, the elevated edge regions 6 are narrow, rib-like elevations which, in the embodiments shown, run over the entire extent, accordingly over all of the sections 3a, 3b and 5a, 5b and Sc, of the profile block edges 3 and 5, respectively, and over the entire extent of the profile block edges 4, 5' and, compared to the level of the remaining profile block surface, have a height h which is 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, in particular up to 0.3 mm, and is the same size in all profile blocks 1 of a profile block row. The elevated edge regions 6 have a width b of 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, on their upper side. The transition of the elevated edge regions 6 to the profile block surface takes place, for example, as shown in fig. la, via inclined flank surfaces 6a, alternatively also via flank surfaces which run in the radial direction or are designed to be convexly rounded in cross section, and therefore the elevated edge regions at their base, at the level of the profile block surfaces, have a width b' which corresponds at least to the width b, and in particular is greater by 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm than the width b. In an alternative embodiment, those profile block edges which delimit the profile blocks 1 laterally, for example with respect to circumferential channels, are also provided with elevated edge regions, as illustrated and described.
In all of the embodiments, as will be explained in more detail below, the profile blocks 1 are provided with sipes 7 (fig. 1, fig. 2), with sipes 7' (fig. 3), with sipes 7 and micro-sipes 8 (fig. 4) or with sipes 7' and micro-sipes 8 (fig. 5), wherein the sipes 7, 7' and micro-sipes 8 extend parallel or substantially parallel to the profile block edges 3, 4, 5' and 5 and cross the Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08

8 profile blocks 1. The sipes 7, 7' differ from the micro-sipes 8 in terms of their width, their depth and their depth profile. The width of the sipes 7, 7 on the profile block surface is 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular up to 0.9 mm, wherein the sipes 7 have an in particular constant width of up to 0.6 mm and the sipes 7' have sections with a smaller width and sections with a larger width, as will be described in even more detail below.
The micro-sipes 8 have a width that is smaller than 0.4 mm and is preferably 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. The depth of the micro-sipes 8 is 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. The sipes 7, 7', on the other hand, have a depth which, at the shallowest points of the sipes 7, 7', is at least 20% of the profile depth, which conventionally corresponds to the greatest depth of main channels of the tread, generally of circumferential channels. In addition, the sipes 7, 7' have a depth at their deepest points which can correspond to the profile depth, but is preferably at least 1.6 mm less than the profile depth. In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, there are three sipes 7 or 7' in each profile block, wherein the number of sipes 7, 7' is at least two and can be in particular up to seven, preferably up to five.
In all of the exemplary embodiments, the sipes 7, 7' also have end sections 7a, 7'a which are rectilinear and run parallel to the profile block edges 4, 5'. Between the end sections 7a, 7'a, the sipes 7, 7' have sections 7b, 7c and 7'b, 7'c which run substantially analogously to the profile block edges 5 of the profile blocks 1 shown in figs 2, 3 and 5 and each run overall and in a top view along base-free trapezoids which adjoin one another, face in an alternating manner in the one and in the other circumferential direction or in an alternating manner to the one and to the other profile block edge 3, 4 or 5, 5', are equal-sided and are designed to substantially correspond. The trapezoids which are directly adjacent to one another have common trapezoidal leg sections 7b, 7'b which, in a top view, enclose an angle with one another of in particular 1100 to 160 . The sections 7c, 7'c connect the trapezoidal leg sections 7b, 7'b and run parallel to the end sections 7a, 7'a.
In the embodiments shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 4, the sipes 7 have a constant width over their course. In the design variants shown in fig. 3 and fig. 5, all or certain sections 7'c connecting the trapezoidal leg sections 7'b have a greater width than the trapezoidal leg sections 7'b and the end sections 7'a. The width of said connecting sections 7'c is preferably Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08

9 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm greater than the width of the other sections 7'a, 7'b of the sipes 7' and at most 1.2 mm.
In the preferred embodiments which are illustrated, wider sections are at least those sections 7'c which are each closer to the profile block edges 5', 5 in the sipes 7' running adjacent to the profile block edges 5' and 5. In the other sipes 7', all connecting sections 7'c are preferably wider sections, as described.
In the two embodiments of profile blocks 1 that are shown in figures 4 and 5, a micro-sipe 8 runs in each case adjacent to the profile block edges 5', 5, between the sipes 7, 7' there are in each case at least one micro-sipe 8, and there is preferably two micro-sipes 8 between individual or all of the sipes 7, 7'. The micro-sipes 8 have an analogous profile to the sipes 7, 7' in a top view and therefore have end sections 8a running parallel to the profile block edges 5', trapezoidal leg sections 8b and connecting sections 8c.
The invention is not restricted to the design variants illustrated and described. In particular, it is possible to provide sipes and micro-sipes which, instead of a trapezoidal profile, have a zigzag-shaped, stepped or wavy profile.
Date Recue/Received Date 2020-04-08 List of reference signs 1 ............. Profile block 2 ............. Transverse channel 3, 4, 5', 5 ... Profile block edge

10 3a, 3b .. Section 5a, 5b, 5c .... Section 6 ............. Edge region 6a ............ Flank surface 7,7' .......... Sipe 7a, 7h, 7c .. Section Ta, 7'b, 7`c .. Section 8 ............. Micro-sipe 8a, 8b, 8c .... Section b, b' ......... Width h .......... Height Date RecueReceived Date 2020-04-08

Claims

Patent claims

1. A pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread with at least one profile block row which has profile blocks or is structured in the manner of profile blocks, wherein the profile blocks are separated from one another in a circumferential direction by transverse channels vvhich extend at an angle < 45 to the axial direction, vvherein each profile block on the transverse channel side and at the tread periphery is delimited by profile block edges and is crossed with a number of sipes extending parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse channels, which sipes have a sipe width of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm, and wherein in each case at least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edges is made up of first sections which run in a first angled manner with respect to one another, wherein the or at least one of the transverse-channel-side profile block edge(s), which is made up of the first sections which run in the first angled manner with respect to one another, delimits the profile block at least in sections at an elevated edge region which, in relation to the level of the rest of the profile block surface, has a height of from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm in a radial direction and which has, on its upper side, an elevated edge region width of from 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm, wherein the profile blocks of the profile block row are provided with a number of micro-sipes extending parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse channels and to the sipes and are crossed by said micro-sipes, wherein the micro-sipes have a micro-sipe width of <0.4 mm, a minimum micro-sipe width of 0.2 mm and a micro-sipe depth of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, and wherein the sipes and the micro-sipes are each composed of a number of second sections running in a second angled manner relative to one another.

2. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elevated edge region has a constant height and the elevated edge region width is constant over its extent length.

3. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the elevated edge region extends over all of the first sections of the profile block edge.

4. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elevated edge region width comprises a first constant width of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm on its upper side and, at its base, a second constant width which corresponds at least to the first constant width on the upper side, the second constant width being 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm larger than the first constant width.

5. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elevated edge region merges with the level of the other profile block surface via flank surfaces which run in the radial direction or via obliquely inclined flank surfaces.

6. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the profile block edge which delimits the elevated edge region and is composed of the first sections which run in the first angled manner relative to one another has a zigzag-shaped, trapezoidal, stepped or wavy profile.

7. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a micro-sipe runs in each case adjacent to the elevated edge region, followed by a sipe.

8. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 1 or 7, wherein at least one micro-sipe runs in each case between the sipes.

9. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sipes and the micro-sipes are each composed in the same or similar manner as the profile block edge.

10. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the second sections of the sipes has a greater width than the other ones of the second sections.

11. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one of the second sections with the greater width extends parallel to the transverse-channel-side profile block edges.

12. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least one second section with the greater width has a width which is 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm larger than the width of the remaining second sections of said sipes and is at most 1.2 mm.

13. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the sipes and the micro-sipes have end sections extending parallel to the transverse-channel-side profile block edges and at least some of the second sections which run along base-free trapezoids which adjoin one another, face in an alternating manner to the one and to the other profile block edge, wherein the trapezoids which are directly adjacent to one another have common trapezoidal leg sections.

14. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 13, wherein the number of second sections are equal sided and designed to at least substantially correspond.

15. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein all or some of the trapezoidal leg sections are connected to one another by the at least one of the second sections with the greater width than the remaining second sections.

16. The pneumatic vehicle tyre as claimed in claim 15, wherein in those sipes which run closest to the transverse-channel-side profile block edges, the second section located in each case closer to the transverse-channel-side profile block edges is the at least one second section having the greater width than the remaining sections.