EP2720886A1 - Tyre comprising audible wear indicators - Google Patents

Tyre comprising audible wear indicators

Info

Publication number
EP2720886A1
EP2720886A1 EP12738494.9A EP12738494A EP2720886A1 EP 2720886 A1 EP2720886 A1 EP 2720886A1 EP 12738494 A EP12738494 A EP 12738494A EP 2720886 A1 EP2720886 A1 EP 2720886A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tire
threshold
projections
projection
wear
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12738494.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Antoine Paturle
Jean-Jacques Azam
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France
Original Assignee
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland, Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France filed Critical Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland
Publication of EP2720886A1 publication Critical patent/EP2720886A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60C—VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES
    • B60C11/00—Tyre tread bands; Tread patterns; Anti-skid inserts
    • B60C11/24—Wear-indicating arrangements
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T152/00—Resilient tires and wheels
    • Y10T152/10—Tires, resilient
    • Y10T152/10027—Tires, resilient with wear indicating feature

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tire provided with sound wear indicators. It applies in particular, to be restricted to tires for vehicles of any type, tourism or trucks.
  • Document FR 2 937 902 discloses a tire comprising, in addition to the aforementioned legal wear indicators, equally divided sound wear indicators constituted by sound cavities. Each cavity is delimited in part by two strips arranged at the bottom of a groove of the tire. Each cavity is shaped so as to be closed by the ground in a substantially watertight manner so as to temporarily trap air as it passes through the contact area of the tire with the ground. Under the effect of the deformation of the tire in the contact area, this air trapped in the cavity compresses and then suddenly relaxes at the exit of the contact area and therefore the cavity opens. This expansion of the air causes a specific noise that appears only when the tire is worn beyond a certain threshold. Thus, even if the driver does not regularly oblige to visually inspect the surface condition of his tires, he is informed of the excessive wear of his tires when, while driving, the specific noise is detected.
  • the sound cavities because of the arrangement of the barrettes in the grooves, can degrade the performance of the tire with respect to a tire without such sound cavities, especially in terms of evacuation of water by the grooves and therefore adhesion, mainly because of the large number of strips used to delimit the different cavities. This degradation of the water evacuation performance is even greater than the wear of the tire is advanced.
  • the design of the tire and its mold is complex, especially because of the large number of barrettes used to delimit the different cavities.
  • a witness is located at the same position as an element of the sculpture such as an open cutout opening into the cavity defined by the two barrettes, T the cavity does not emit the expected noise, because it is not closed so as to trap air, and thus does not detect wear.
  • a barette is located at the same position as a particular zone of the mold, such as the joint between two sectors, the barette is weakened mechanically by the numerous openings and closures of the mold during the many tire firing. . If, in addition, we want to respect the equi-distribution of the witnesses, it is then difficult, if not impossible, to conceive empirically a tire in which all the wear indicators satisfy these constraints of interaction with the elements of sculpture and of mold.
  • the invention aims in particular to provide a tire with sound wear indicators having little influence on the performance and design of the tire.
  • the subject of the invention is a tire comprising at least:
  • the projections of first threshold are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.
  • the inventors have discovered that the first threshold projections are sufficient to cause a characteristic noise during the rolling of the tire once the first wear threshold of the tire reaches.
  • the inventors put forward the hypothesis that this noise is generated by at least two distinct physical phenomena having a synergistic effect.
  • the noise is generated by the impact of the protrusion on the ground.
  • an air plug is likely to form in the groove upstream of the projection because of the significant relative speed between the tire. tire and the air into which the tire enters. Air is thus trapped temporarily in a space between this cap and the projection during the passage of this space in the contact area of the tire with the ground. Under the effect of the deformation of the tire in the contact area, this air trapped in this space compresses and then slackens abruptly at the exit of the contact area when the tread leaves the contact with the ground at the same time. rear of the tire.
  • each wear indicator consisting of a single projection and not two projections forming a cavity closed to air during its passage in the contact area of the tire with the ground, with an equal number of wear indicators, the number of projections disposed in the groove or grooves is divided by two. This limits the potential loss of performance generated by the projections. The adhesion performance of the tire is therefore relatively little impacted.
  • the projections being arranged in the grooves, the noise emitted through the projections is amplified relative to sonic wear indicators that would be arranged elsewhere in the tread.
  • the noise emitted is amplified by a horn formed by the tire and the ground once the sound wear indicator has passed the contact area.
  • This amplification effect flag is maximum when the projections are preferably arranged axially in a central portion of the tread.
  • the central portion of the tread means the region of the tread extending axially, that is to say parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire, over substantially half the width of this tread. rolling under the nominal conditions of load and pressure and centered relative to the central median plane of the tire.
  • the noise emitted beyond the first wear threshold has remarkable frequency characteristics.
  • the spectral analysis of the noise emitted beyond the wear threshold shows, in the frequency domain, a Dirac comb that can easily be identified among all the parasitic noises such as tire rolling noise. , the wind, the noise of the engine or the sound of the kinematic chain associated therewith. It will be possible to use a method for detecting the wear of the tire according to the invention as described in application PCT / FR2010 / 052584. Alternatively, other methods may be used.
  • a processing unit and one or more detection microphones are used, connected to a processing unit able to detect noise among the rolling noise and to inform the driver of the wear of his tires.
  • each projection is situated substantially at the same angular distance from the two projections which are adjacent to it, whether they are arranged in the same groove or not.
  • the equi-distributed projections have two by two the same angular difference.
  • this single projection is considered circumferentially equi-distributed. Indeed, in this case, the adjacent projections are formed by the projection itself.
  • the protrusions of the tire according to the invention are distinguished from anti-chippings gum loaves intended to prevent the chippings to lodge in the grooves of tires for vehicle type heavyweight. Indeed, unlike these rubber bars, the projections of the tire according to the invention have as their main function a sound function and not an "anti-gravel" function.
  • the number of sets of projections corresponding to a determined wear threshold is generally between 2 and 30.
  • the tire according to the invention comprises patterns comprising no projection.
  • the circumferential width of a gum protrusion is generally between 2 and 15 mm (millimeters), and preferably between 3 and 10 mm. These values are suitable for the generation of adequate rolling noise.
  • the circumferential position of a projection may be considered to be that corresponding to the median position of its circumferential width.
  • the projections are in rubber and molded with the rest of the tire.
  • a wear threshold of the tire more advanced than the first wear threshold is a legal wear threshold.
  • the first threshold protrusions make it possible to warn the driver in advance of the next attainment of the legal wear threshold.
  • the tire comprises two protrusions of first circumferentially successive threshold arranged at the bottom of the same groove.
  • the tire comprises two protrusions of first circumferentially successive threshold arranged at the bottom of different grooves.
  • the tire comprises a set of first threshold projections arranged at the bottom of different grooves, each first threshold projection of the assembly being substantially axially aligned with each other first threshold projection of the assembly.
  • the tire may comprise at least one protrusion of legal threshold per groove and preferably several protrusions of legal threshold per groove.
  • the tire comprises a set of projections legal threshold arranged at the bottom of different grooves, each legal threshold projection of the assembly being substantially aligned axially with each other projection legal threshold of all.
  • the tire comprises two legal threshold protrusions arranged at the bottom of different grooves and offset axially relative to each other.
  • the projection or projections of the same threshold are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.
  • the projections of this threshold behave as the first threshold projections.
  • the noise emitted by the projections of this threshold therefore has, in the frequency domain, analogous to the noise generated by the first threshold projections, remarkable frequency characteristics.
  • the spectral analysis of this noise shows, in the frequency domain, similar to the noise generated by the first threshold projections, a Dirac comb that can be easily identified.
  • all the projections are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.
  • the projections are arranged so that, irrespective of the wear of the tire, two circumferentially successive protrusions of the same groove and the groove delimit an open space to the air during the passage of the two projections in the groove. tire contact area with the ground.
  • each circumferential groove has a predetermined depth and the height of each projection of each threshold is substantially equal to the difference between the predetermined depth of the groove and the wear threshold.
  • the projection or projections extend partially transversely to the bottom of the furrow or grooves so that the tire comprises at least one fluidic passage channel between the or the projections and at least one wall delimiting the furrow (s). .
  • the fluidic passage makes it possible to avoid, that beyond the most advanced threshold, the protrusions define a closed cavity during their passage in the contact area of the tire with the ground.
  • Such a cavity because of the noise it would produce, would destroy the equi-distribution of the projections and modify the characteristics of the noise generated by the projections.
  • the fluid passage improves the evacuation of water through the grooves and therefore the performance of the tire.
  • one or all the projections may also extend transversely over the entire width of a circumferential groove, the distribution of the projections being preferably performed so as not to create sound cavity between two successive projections. It has indeed been found that the sound effect generated by a projection is significantly greater when this projection extends transversely over the entire width of a circumferential groove.
  • the circumferential groove is closed by the ground at the level of the protrusion of rubber, which delimits an upstream space and a downstream space of this groove, without communication between them at the level of the gum protrusion. It is found that this significantly increases the sound effect.
  • each projection for example of first threshold may comprise at least one cavity formed in the projection, the cavity being shaped so as, beyond the first threshold:
  • the cavity does not extend to the bottom of the circumferential groove, the volume of this small cavity being typically significantly less than 250 mm 3 (cubic millimeters), for example less than 150 mm 3 .
  • Such a cavity is sound.
  • the noise it generates, although limited, is added to the noise generated by the projections and gives an amplified noise compared to a projection without a cavity.
  • the cavity makes it possible to visually distinguish the first threshold projection from the legal wear indicator.
  • each projection of a threshold is circumferentially separated from each projection of another threshold.
  • each projection of a threshold is contiguous to a projection of another threshold, which has the advantage that these two projections do not define between them a closed cavity capable of disturbing the detection of the expected noise.
  • a projection corresponding to a determined wear threshold is not contiguous to another projection, it is typically also a wear indicator for the higher wear thresholds.
  • a projection is contiguous to another projection corresponding to a higher wear threshold, when the latter threshold of wear is reached, the two contiguous projections form a single projection, forming a witness of unique wear corresponding to this threshold (and not two juxtaposed witnesses).
  • the tire comprises at most 12 protrusions, preferably at most 8 protrusions, each able to come into contact with the ground during their respective passage in the contact area of the tire with the ground at beyond a second wear threshold, more advanced than the first threshold.
  • the tire comprises at most 4 first threshold protrusions and, preferably, at most 3 first threshold protrusions.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tire in a new state according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2A schematically illustrates a developed tread the tire of Figure 1;
  • Figure 2B schematically illustrates a developed tread of a variant of the tread of Figure 2A;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tire of Figure 1 in a worn state beyond a first predetermined radial wear threshold
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tire of Figure 1 in a worn state beyond a second predetermined radial wear threshold
  • FIG. 5A is similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates a developed tread of a tire according to a second embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 5B schematically illustrates a developed tread of a variant of the band of FIG. 5A;
  • Figure 6 is similar to Figure 2 and illustrate a developed tread of a tire according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 8 is a top view of a tread of the tire of Figure 7;
  • Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of a new tire according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 10 is an axial sectional view in a plane passing through a groove of a tread of the tire of Figure 9 worn to a first wear threshold;
  • Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of a new tire according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 12 is an axial sectional view in a plane passing through a groove of a tread of the tire of Figure 11 worn to a first wear threshold.
  • FIG. 1 a tire in the new state according to a first embodiment of the invention, designated by the general reference 10.
  • the tire 10 is intended for a passenger vehicle.
  • the tire 10 is substantially of revolution about an axis.
  • the tire 10 comprises a tread 12 of shape substantially toroidal and whose outer surface is provided with sculptures 14.
  • the tread 12 comprises two grooves 16 circumferential and parallel, hollowed on the surface of the tire, of predetermined depth H when the tire 10 is new.
  • the depth H of these grooves 16 is of the order of 8 mm and their width is of the order of 10 mm.
  • the tire comprises TUS sound wear indicators indicating a first wear threshold SS.
  • Each audible wear indicator TUS consists of a protrusion of rubber 17, referred to as the first threshold protrusion, arranged transversely to the bottom of the groove 16 in which it is located and extending radially from the bottom of this groove 16.
  • each projection 17 has a predetermined height h s substantially equal to the difference between the depth H of the grooves 16 and the threshold SS.
  • the tire 10 comprises TUL wear indicators (the TUL designation, instead of TUS indicating a second wear threshold SL which corresponds to the legal wear threshold of the tire).
  • Each wear indicator TUL consists of a protrusion of rubber 18, called second threshold projection, arranged transversely to the bottom of the groove 16 in which it is located and extending radially from the bottom of this groove 16.
  • the second threshold SL is reached after the first threshold SS.
  • the threshold SL is more advanced than the threshold SS.
  • the threshold SL is reached when the wear of the tire is greater than the wear for which the threshold SS is reached. In this case, the height h s is greater than the height h L.
  • the threshold SS corresponds to wear beyond which the tire has performance that can be degraded on a wet coating.
  • the threshold SL corresponds to a wear beyond which the tire no longer complies with the legal requirements.
  • each projection 17 of first threshold is circumferentially separated from each projection 18 of second threshold SL. In other words, the projections 18 and 17 do not touch each other.
  • the height of the projections 17, 18 is smaller than the depth of the grooves 16 so that each witness TUS, TUL includes a space above projections 17, 18, that is to say at the top of the projections 17, 18. Thus, even when the tread is in contact with a flat and smooth ground, the ground does not come into contact with the projections 17, 18.
  • the projections 17, 18 are arranged so that, regardless of the radial wear of the tire 10, two circumferentially successive projections 17, 18 of the same groove 16 and the groove 16 define an open space to the air during their passage in the area of contact of the tire 10 with the ground.
  • the pairs of projections 17, 18 concerned comprise two projections 17, two projections 18 or a projection 18 and a projection 17.
  • the distance separating two projections 17,18 circumferentially successive in the same groove 16 is greater than a predetermined distance, here the length of the contact area, so that, even beyond one of the threshold SS and / or SL, the projections 17, 18 and the groove 16 form a space that remains open to air during their passage in the area of contact of the tire 10 with the ground.
  • Figure 2A There is shown in Figure 2A a developed diagram of the tread of the tire of Figure 1.
  • the tire 10 comprises sets of projections 17, 18 respectively of first and second threshold SS, SL arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16.
  • each set of first threshold projections SS comprises two projections 17 and each SL second projection assembly includes two projections 18.
  • Each projection 17, 18 of each assembly is substantially axially aligned with each other projection 17, 18 of the assembly.
  • the projections 17 of the first threshold SS are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire 10, as well as the projections 18 of the second threshold SL. Thus, beyond each threshold SS, SL, during the rotation of the tire, the projections 17, 18 enter at a constant time interval in contact with the ground when the tire rolls at a substantially constant speed.
  • the projections 17 and 18 are equally distributed circumferentially on the tire 10. Thus, beyond the threshold SL, during the rotation of the tire, the projections 17 and 18 enter a constant time interval in contact with the ground when the tire rolls at a substantially constant speed.
  • the tire 10 comprises 12 projections 17, 18 and 6 projections 17.
  • two circumferentially successive projections 18 are arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16 and offset axially with respect to one another so that the projections 18 of second threshold SL are not circumferentially equi-distributed.
  • the wear of the tread 12 of the tire 10 shown in FIG. 3 is 6 mm, that is to say greater than the threshold SS, in other words greater than the distance separating, when the tire 10 is nine, the top of the projections 17 of the surface of the tread 12. In view of the wear greater than SS, the top of the projections 17 is at the same level as the surface of the tread 12.
  • the wear of the tire is below the threshold SL, that is to say lower than the distance separating, when the tire 10 is new, the top of the projections 18 of the surface of the tread 12.
  • the top of the projections 18 is at a lower level than that of the tread at this stage of wear.
  • each projection 17 has a height less than the height h s .
  • the height is less than 2.2 mm and is 2 mm for a wear of 6 mm. This height is equal to the difference between the depth of each groove 16 and the wear of the tire 10.
  • each projection 17 of the first threshold SS is arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire 10 with the ground. She then emits a sound. Between the thresholds SS and SL, each projection 18 of second threshold SL is not in contact with the ground because of the space between the top of each projection 18 and the ground.
  • FIG. 4 There is shown in Figure 4 the tire 10 of Figures 1 and 2 worn beyond the threshold SL.
  • the wear of the tread 12 of the tire 10 shown in FIG. 4 is 7 mm, that is to say greater than the threshold SL, but also at the threshold SS, ie greater than the distance separating when the tire 10 is new, the top of the projections 18 of the surface of the tread 12. Taking into account the wear greater than the second threshold SL, the top of the projections 18, but also that of the projections 17, is at same level as the surface of the tread 12.
  • each projection 17 and 18 has a height less than the height h L.
  • the height is less than 1, 6 mm and is 1 mm for a wear of 7 mm. This height is equal to the difference between the depth of each groove 16 and the wear of the tire 10.
  • each projection 18 of second threshold SL is arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire 10 with the ground.
  • each projection 17 of the first threshold SS is arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire 10 with the ground.
  • Figure 5A a developed diagram of the tread 12 of a tire according to a second embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.
  • first circumferentially successive threshold SS are arranged at the bottom of the same groove 16. All the projections 17 of the first threshold SS are arranged at the bottom of the same groove 16.
  • the tire comprises at most 4, and preferably at most 3 projections 17 of first threshold SS.
  • two circumferentially successive projections 18 are arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16 and offset axially with respect to each other so that the projections 18 of second threshold SL are not circumferentially equi-distributed.
  • FIG. 6 shows a developed diagram of the bearing 12 of a tire according to a third embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.
  • the tire 10 has 4 projections 17 of the first threshold SS and 8 projections 18 of the second threshold SL.
  • Two protuberances 17 of first circumferentially successive SS threshold are arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16.
  • Two protrusions 18 of second threshold circumferentially successive and circumferentially located between two projections 17 of first threshold are arranged at the bottom of two different grooves 16.
  • Two protrusions 18 of second threshold circumferentially circumferentially and circumferentially located on either side of the same projection 17 of the first threshold are arranged at the bottom of the same groove 16.
  • Each groove 16 is delimited by an axial wall 24 forming the bottom of the groove 16 and two radial walls 25 forming the sides of the groove 16.
  • the projections 18 of the tire according to the fourth embodiment extend only partially. between the two radial walls 25 so that the tire 10 comprises at least one channel 26 for fluid passage between each projection 18 and one of the walls 25 delimiting each groove 16.
  • the channel 26 allows the flow of air or water water flowing through the furrows 16.
  • each projection 17 of each TUS control is contiguous to a projection 18 of a control TUL.
  • FIG. 10 which shows the tire according to the sixth embodiment with a wear corresponding to the threshold SS
  • the two witnesses TUS and TUL thus form a single TUS-TUL wear indicator consisting of a projection 28 arranged at the bottom of the groove 16.
  • the projection 28 has a general staircase shape and comprises first and second parts of rubber 30, 32 forming respectively the projections 17, 18.
  • Each first and second portion 30, 32 respectively has a radially outer surface 34, 36 intended to come into contact with the ground during the passage of the projection 28 in the contact area of the tire 10 with floor.
  • the radial dimension of the surface 34 is greater than the radial dimension of the surface 36.
  • the height h s of the first part 30 is greater than the height h L of the second part 32.
  • each projection 17 comprises a small sound cavity 38 formed in the projection 17.
  • the cavity 38 is formed in the second portion 32 of the wear indicator. TUS-TUL.
  • the sound cavity 38 is shaped so as to open radially outwardly of the tire 10 and so as to be closed by the ground so as to substantially sealed during its passage in the area of contact of the tire 10 with the ground.
  • any distribution of the projections of each threshold may be considered as long as the projections are equi-distributed circumferentially around the tire.
  • a cavity may also be provided in the first threshold projections when these are circumferentially separated from the second threshold projections.
  • the tread may include more than two grooves.
  • the projections may be of variable or constant contact section. [098] The projections may extend partially to the bottom of the furrow (s) and delimit a fluidic passage channel without the protrusions of the legal wear indicators does not extend partially to the bottom of the furrow (s) and delimits a fluidic passage , and vice versa.
  • the tire may comprise more than two wear thresholds.
  • the tire may include several thresholds less advanced than the legal wear threshold.
  • the projection or projections are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.

Abstract

The tyre (10) comprises: a projection (17), known as the first threshold projection, extending radially from the bottom of a circumferential groove (16) of the tyre (10), the projection (17) being designed to come into contact with the ground as it passes through the contact patch of the tyre (10) via which the tyre (10) contacts the ground once a first tyre wear threshold has been crossed; - another projection (18) extending radially from the bottom of a circumferential groove (16) of the tyre (10), said other projection (18) being designed to come into contact with the ground as it passes through the contact patch of the tyre (10) via which the tyre (10) makes contact with the ground once tyre wear has crossed another threshold indicating a more advanced state of wear than the first wear threshold. The projection or projections (17) associated with the first threshold are evenly circumferentially distributed about the tyre (10).

Description

Pneumatique comprenant des témoins d'usure sonores  Pneumatic tire with sound wear indicators
[01] La présente invention concerne un pneumatique muni de témoins d'usure sonores. Elle s'applique notamment, s'en s'y restreindre, aux pneumatiques pour véhicules de tout type, tourisme ou poids lourds. [01] The present invention relates to a tire provided with sound wear indicators. It applies in particular, to be restricted to tires for vehicles of any type, tourism or trucks.
[02] A mesure qu'un pneumatique roule sur un sol, sa bande de roulement qui est en contact avec le sol s'use par frottement. Pour des raisons évidentes de sécurité, il est important de remplacer un pneumatique avant que l'usure de sa bande de roulement ne soit trop importante et risque d'impacter ses performances, en particulier son adhérence sur les routes mouillées.  [02] As a tire rolls on a ground, its tread that is in contact with the ground wears by friction. For obvious safety reasons, it is important to replace a tire before its tread wear is too great and may impact its performance, particularly its grip on wet roads.
[03] On connaît du document FR 2 937 902 un pneumatique comprenant, en plus des témoins d'usure légaux précités, des témoins d'usure sonores équirépartis constitués par des cavités sonores. Chaque cavité est délimitée en partie par deux barettes disposées au fond d'un sillon du pneumatique. Chaque cavité est conformée de manière à être fermée par le sol de manière sensiblement étanche de façon à emprisonner temporairement de l'air lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol. Sous l'effet de la déformation du pneumatique dans l'aire de contact, cet air emprisonné dans la cavité se comprime puis se détend brutalement à la sortie de l'aire de contact et que par conséquent la cavité s'ouvre. Cette détente de l'air provoque un bruit spécifique qui n'apparaît que lorsque le pneumatique est usé au-delà d'un certain seuil. Ainsi, même si le conducteur ne s'oblige pas régulièrement à inspecter visuellement l'état de surface de ses pneumatiques, il est informé de l'usure excessive de ses pneumatiques lorsque, en roulant, le bruit spécifique est détecté.  [03] Document FR 2 937 902 discloses a tire comprising, in addition to the aforementioned legal wear indicators, equally divided sound wear indicators constituted by sound cavities. Each cavity is delimited in part by two strips arranged at the bottom of a groove of the tire. Each cavity is shaped so as to be closed by the ground in a substantially watertight manner so as to temporarily trap air as it passes through the contact area of the tire with the ground. Under the effect of the deformation of the tire in the contact area, this air trapped in the cavity compresses and then suddenly relaxes at the exit of the contact area and therefore the cavity opens. This expansion of the air causes a specific noise that appears only when the tire is worn beyond a certain threshold. Thus, even if the driver does not regularly oblige to visually inspect the surface condition of his tires, he is informed of the excessive wear of his tires when, while driving, the specific noise is detected.
[04] Toutefois, les cavités sonores, du fait de l'agencement des barettes dans les sillons, peuvent dégrader les performances du pneumatique par rapport à un pneumatique dépourvu de telles cavités sonores, notamment en termes d'évacuation de l'eau par les sillons et donc d'adhérence, principalement en raison du nombre important de barettes servant à délimiter les différentes cavités. Cette dégradation des performances d'évacuation de l'eau est d'autant plus grande que l'usure du pneumatique est avancée.  [04] However, the sound cavities, because of the arrangement of the barrettes in the grooves, can degrade the performance of the tire with respect to a tire without such sound cavities, especially in terms of evacuation of water by the grooves and therefore adhesion, mainly because of the large number of strips used to delimit the different cavities. This degradation of the water evacuation performance is even greater than the wear of the tire is advanced.
[05] En outre, la conception du pneumatique et de son moule est complexe, notamment en raison du nombre important de barettes servant à délimiter les différentes cavités. En effet, dans le cas où un témoin est situé à la même position qu'un élément de la sculpture tel qu'une entaille ouverte débouchant dans la cavité délimitée par les deux barettes,T la cavité n'émet pas le bruit attendu, car elle n'est pas fermée de façon à emprisonner l'air, et ne permet donc pas de détecter l'usure. D'autre part, si une barette est située à la même position qu'une zone particulière du moule, telle que le joint entre deux secteurs, la barette est fragilisée mécaniquement par les nombreuses ouvertures et fermetures du moule au cours des nombreuses cuissons de pneumatiques. Si, de plus, on veut respecter l'équi-répartition des témoins, il est devient alors difficile, voire impossible, de concevoir empiriquement un pneumatique dans lequel tous les témoins d'usure satisfassent ces contraintes d'interaction avec les éléments de sculpture et de moule. [05] In addition, the design of the tire and its mold is complex, especially because of the large number of barrettes used to delimit the different cavities. Indeed, in the case where a witness is located at the same position as an element of the sculpture such as an open cutout opening into the cavity defined by the two barrettes, T the cavity does not emit the expected noise, because it is not closed so as to trap air, and thus does not detect wear. On the other hand, if a barette is located at the same position as a particular zone of the mold, such as the joint between two sectors, the barette is weakened mechanically by the numerous openings and closures of the mold during the many tire firing. . If, in addition, we want to respect the equi-distribution of the witnesses, it is then difficult, if not impossible, to conceive empirically a tire in which all the wear indicators satisfy these constraints of interaction with the elements of sculpture and of mold.
[06] L'invention a notamment pour but de fournir un pneumatique muni de témoins d'usure sonores ayant peu d'influence sur les performances et la conception du pneumatique.  [06] The invention aims in particular to provide a tire with sound wear indicators having little influence on the performance and design of the tire.
[07] A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un pneumatique comprenant au moins :  [07] For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a tire comprising at least:
- deux saillies, dites de premier seuil, circonférentiellement successives, chacune de ces saillies s'étendant radialement à partir du fond d'un sillon circonférentiel du pneumatique et étant agencée de façon à entrer en contact avec le sol lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol au-delà d'un premier seuil d'usure du pneumatique;  two projections, said first threshold, circumferentially successive, each of these projections extending radially from the bottom of a circumferential groove of the tire and being arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage in the contact area of the tire with the ground beyond a first wear threshold of the tire;
- une autre saillie s'étendant radialement à partir du fond d'un sillon circonférentiel du pneumatique, ladite autre saillie étant agencée de façon à entrer en contact avec le sol lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol au-delà d'un seuil d'usure du pneumatique plus avancé que le premier seuil d'usure;  another projection extending radially from the bottom of a circumferential groove of the tire, said other projection being arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire with the ground at the a wear threshold of the tire more advanced than the first wear threshold;
pneumatique dans lequel: in which:
les saillies de premier seuil sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique.  the projections of first threshold are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.
[08] De façon surprenante, les inventeurs ont découvert que les saillies de premier seuil suffisent à provoquer un bruit caractéristique lors du roulage du pneumatique une fois le premier seuil d'usure du pneumatique atteint. Les inventeurs avancent l'hypothèse selon laquelle ce bruit est généré par au moins deux phénomènes physiques distincts ayant un effet synergique. D'une part, une fois le premier seuil d'usure atteint, le bruit est généré par l'impact de la saillie sur le sol. D'autre part, une fois le seuil d'usure atteint, lorsque le pneumatique roule sur le sol, un bouchon d'air est susceptible de se former dans le sillon en amont de la saillie en raison de l'importante vitesse relative entre le pneumatique et l'air dans lequel le pneumatique pénètre. De l'air est donc emprisonné temporairement dans un espace compris entre ce bouchon et la saillie lors du passage de cet espace dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol. Sous l'effet de la déformation du pneumatique dans l'aire de contact, cet air emprisonné dans cet espace se comprime puis se détend brutalement à la sortie de l'aire de contact lorsque la bande de roulement quitte le contact avec le sol à l'arrière du pneumatique. [08] Surprisingly, the inventors have discovered that the first threshold projections are sufficient to cause a characteristic noise during the rolling of the tire once the first wear threshold of the tire reaches. The inventors put forward the hypothesis that this noise is generated by at least two distinct physical phenomena having a synergistic effect. On the one hand, once the first wear threshold is reached, the noise is generated by the impact of the protrusion on the ground. On the other hand, once the wear threshold is reached, when the tire rolls on the ground, an air plug is likely to form in the groove upstream of the projection because of the significant relative speed between the tire. tire and the air into which the tire enters. Air is thus trapped temporarily in a space between this cap and the projection during the passage of this space in the contact area of the tire with the ground. Under the effect of the deformation of the tire in the contact area, this air trapped in this space compresses and then slackens abruptly at the exit of the contact area when the tread leaves the contact with the ground at the same time. rear of the tire.
[09] Dans l'invention, chaque témoin d'usure étant constitué d'une seule saillie et non pas de deux saillies formant une cavité fermée à l'air lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol, à nombre égal de témoins d'usure, le nombre de saillies disposées dans le ou les sillons est divisé par deux. On limite donc la perte potentielle de performance générée par les saillies. Les performances d'adhérence du pneumatique sont donc relativement peu impactées.  [09] In the invention, each wear indicator consisting of a single projection and not two projections forming a cavity closed to air during its passage in the contact area of the tire with the ground, with an equal number of wear indicators, the number of projections disposed in the groove or grooves is divided by two. This limits the potential loss of performance generated by the projections. The adhesion performance of the tire is therefore relatively little impacted.
[010] Du fait du nombre réduit de saillies, la conception du pneumatique et de son moule est également rendue plus simple car, chaque témoin ne formant pas une cavité fermée, il n'est pas nécessaire d'éviter les interactions avec les autres éléments de sculpture ou du moule du pneumatique.  [010] Because of the reduced number of projections, the design of the tire and its mold is also made simpler because, each control does not form a closed cavity, it is not necessary to avoid interactions with other elements. carving or tire mold.
[011] Les saillies étant disposées dans les sillons, le bruit émis grâce aux saillies est amplifié par rapport à des témoins d'usure sonores qui seraient disposés ailleurs dans la bande de roulement. Le bruit émis est amplifié par un pavillon formé par le pneumatique et le sol une fois le témoin d'usure sonore ayant passé l'aire de contact. Cette amplification par effet pavillon est maximale lorsque les saillies sont préférentiellement disposées axialement dans une partie centrale de la bande de roulement. On entend par partie centrale de la bande de roulement la zone de la bande de roulement s'étendant axialement, c'est-à-dire parallèlement à l'axe de rotation du pneumatique, sur sensiblement la moitié de la largeur de cette bande de roulement dans les conditions nominales de charge et de pression et centrée relativement au plan médian central du pneumatique.  [011] The projections being arranged in the grooves, the noise emitted through the projections is amplified relative to sonic wear indicators that would be arranged elsewhere in the tread. The noise emitted is amplified by a horn formed by the tire and the ground once the sound wear indicator has passed the contact area. This amplification effect flag is maximum when the projections are preferably arranged axially in a central portion of the tread. The central portion of the tread means the region of the tread extending axially, that is to say parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire, over substantially half the width of this tread. rolling under the nominal conditions of load and pressure and centered relative to the central median plane of the tire.
[012] Même si le conducteur ne s'oblige pas régulièrement à inspecter visuellement l'état de surface de ses pneumatiques, il sera informé du franchissement du seuil d'usure lorsque, en roulant, le bruit caractéristique sera détecté. [012] Even if the driver does not regularly oblige to inspect visually the surface condition of its tires, it will be informed of the crossing of the wear threshold when, rolling, the characteristic noise will be detected.
[013] En outre, comme les saillies de premier seuil sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement autour de la bande de roulement du pneumatique, le bruit émis au-delà du premier seuil d'usure présente des caractéristiques fréquentielles remarquables. En effet, l'analyse spectrale du bruit émis au-delà du seuil d'usure fait apparaître, dans le domaine fréquentiel, un peigne de Dirac que l'on peut facilement identifier parmi tous les bruits parasites tels que le bruit de roulement du pneumatique, le vent, le bruit du moteur ou le bruit de la chaîne cinématique qui y est associée. On pourra utiliser un procédé de détection de l'usure du pneumatique selon l'invention tel que décrit dans la demande PCT/FR2010/052584. En variante, d'autres procédés peuvent être utilisés.  [013] In addition, since the first threshold projections are equi-distributed circumferentially around the tread of the tire, the noise emitted beyond the first wear threshold has remarkable frequency characteristics. Indeed, the spectral analysis of the noise emitted beyond the wear threshold shows, in the frequency domain, a Dirac comb that can easily be identified among all the parasitic noises such as tire rolling noise. , the wind, the noise of the engine or the sound of the kinematic chain associated therewith. It will be possible to use a method for detecting the wear of the tire according to the invention as described in application PCT / FR2010 / 052584. Alternatively, other methods may be used.
[014] De préférence, on utilise une unité de traitement et un ou plusieurs microphones de détection, reliés à une unité de traitement apte à détecter le bruit parmi le bruit de roulement et à informer le conducteur de l'usure de ses pneumatiques.  [014] Preferably, a processing unit and one or more detection microphones are used, connected to a processing unit able to detect noise among the rolling noise and to inform the driver of the wear of his tires.
[015] Par « saillies équi-réparties circonférentiellement », on entend que chaque saillie est située sensiblement à la même distance angulaire des deux saillies qui lui sont adjacentes, qu'elles soient agencées dans le même sillon ou non. En d'autres termes, les saillies équi-réparties présentent, deux à deux, le même écart angulaire. Dans le cas d'une unique saillie, cet unique saillie est considérée comme équi-répartie circonférentiellement. En effet, dans ce cas, les saillies adjacentes sont formées par la saillie elle-même.  By "circumferentially equi-distributed projections" it is meant that each projection is situated substantially at the same angular distance from the two projections which are adjacent to it, whether they are arranged in the same groove or not. In other words, the equi-distributed projections have two by two the same angular difference. In the case of a single projection, this single projection is considered circumferentially equi-distributed. Indeed, in this case, the adjacent projections are formed by the projection itself.
[016] Les saillies du pneumatique selon l'invention se distinguent de pains de gomme anti-gravillons destinés à empêcher les gravillons de se loger dans les sillons de pneumatiques pour véhicule de type poids-lourd. En effet, contrairement à ces pains de gomme, les saillies du pneumatique selon l'invention ont pour fonction principale une fonction sonore et pas une fonction « anti-gravillon » . Le nombre d'ensembles de saillies correspondant à un seuil d'usure déterminé est compris généralement entre 2 et 30.  [016] The protrusions of the tire according to the invention are distinguished from anti-chippings gum loaves intended to prevent the chippings to lodge in the grooves of tires for vehicle type heavyweight. Indeed, unlike these rubber bars, the projections of the tire according to the invention have as their main function a sound function and not an "anti-gravel" function. The number of sets of projections corresponding to a determined wear threshold is generally between 2 and 30.
[017] Il est de préférence d'au plus 10 et de façon très préférée de 8 à 10 ensembles pour un véhicule de tourisme. Il est généralement d'au plus 22 et de façon préférée de 12 à 20 ensembles pour un véhicule utilitaire poids lourd. Optionnellement, on utilisera des ensembles à saillies unique. Le nombre de saillies du pneumatique sera donc alors de préférence inférieur ou égal à 20, voire 10 alors que le nombre de ces pains anti-gravillons est supérieur à 50 et de préférence supérieur à 100. Les saillies ne sont pas agencées sur chaque motifs de sculpture du pneumatique selon l'invention contrairement aux pains anti-gravillons qui sont agencés sur chaque motif de scultpure. Ainsi, le pneumatique selon l'invention comprend des motifs ne comprenant aucune saillie. [017] It is preferably at most 10 and very preferably 8 to 10 sets for a passenger vehicle. It is generally at most 22 and preferably 12 to 20 sets for a heavy duty utility vehicle. Optionally, one will use sets with single projections. The number of projections of the tire will then preferably be less than or equal to 20, even 10 while the number of these anti-chipping loaves is greater than 50 and preferably greater than 100. The protrusions are not arranged on each pattern of sculpture of the tire according to the invention unlike anti-chipping loaves which are arranged on each pattern of scultpure. Thus, the tire according to the invention comprises patterns comprising no projection.
[018] La largeur circonférencielle d'une saillie de gomme est généralement comprise entre 2 et 15 mm (millimètres), et de préférence comprise entre 3 et 10 mm. Ces valeurs conviennent pour la génération d'un bruit de roulement adéquat.  [018] The circumferential width of a gum protrusion is generally between 2 and 15 mm (millimeters), and preferably between 3 and 10 mm. These values are suitable for the generation of adequate rolling noise.
[019] La position circonférentielle d'une saillie pourra être considérée comme étant celle correspondant à la position médiane de sa largeur circonférentielle.  [019] The circumferential position of a projection may be considered to be that corresponding to the median position of its circumferential width.
[020] De préférence, les saillies sont en gomme et venue de moulage avec le reste du pneumatique.  [020] Preferably, the projections are in rubber and molded with the rest of the tire.
[021] Avantageusement, un seuil d'usure du pneumatique plus avancé que le premier seuil d'usure est un seuil d'usure légal.  [021] Advantageously, a wear threshold of the tire more advanced than the first wear threshold is a legal wear threshold.
[022] Ainsi, les saillies de premier seuil permettent d'avertir le conducteur de façon anticipée de la prochaine atteinte du seuil d'usure légal .  [022] Thus, the first threshold protrusions make it possible to warn the driver in advance of the next attainment of the legal wear threshold.
[023] Dans un mode de réalisation, le pneumatique comprend deux saillies de premier seuil circonférentiellement successives agencées au fond d'un même sillon.  [023] In one embodiment, the tire comprises two protrusions of first circumferentially successive threshold arranged at the bottom of the same groove.
[024] Dans un autre mode de réalisation, le pneumatique comprend deux saillies de premier seuil circonférentiellement successives agencées au fond de sillons différents.  [024] In another embodiment, the tire comprises two protrusions of first circumferentially successive threshold arranged at the bottom of different grooves.
[025] Dans un mode de réalisation, le pneumatique comprend un ensemble de saillies de premier seuil agencées au fond de sillons différents, chaque saillie de premier seuil de l'ensemble étant sensiblement alignée axialement avec chaque autre saillie de premier seuil de l'ensemble.  [025] In one embodiment, the tire comprises a set of first threshold projections arranged at the bottom of different grooves, each first threshold projection of the assembly being substantially axially aligned with each other first threshold projection of the assembly. .
[026] Toutes les caractéristiques précédentes relatives à la répartition des saillies de premier seuil peuvent également s'appliquer aux saillies des autres seuils.  [026] All the preceding characteristics relating to the distribution of the projections of first threshold can also be applied to the projections of the other thresholds.
[027] En particulier, le pneumatique peut comprendre au moins une saillie de seuil légal par sillon et de préférence, plusieurs saillies de seuil légal par sillon.  [027] In particular, the tire may comprise at least one protrusion of legal threshold per groove and preferably several protrusions of legal threshold per groove.
[028] Dans une variante, le pneumatique comprend un ensemble de saillies de seuil légal agencées au fond de sillons différents, chaque saillie de seuil légal de l'ensemble étant sensiblement alignée axialement avec chaque autre saillie de seuil légal de l'ensemble. [028] In a variant, the tire comprises a set of projections legal threshold arranged at the bottom of different grooves, each legal threshold projection of the assembly being substantially aligned axially with each other projection legal threshold of all.
[029] Dans une autre variante, le pneumatique comprend deux saillies de seuil légal agencées au fond de sillons différents et décalées axialement l'une par rapport à l'autre.  [029] In another variant, the tire comprises two legal threshold protrusions arranged at the bottom of different grooves and offset axially relative to each other.
[030] De préférence, la ou les saillies d'un même seuil sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique.  [030] Preferably, the projection or projections of the same threshold are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.
[031] Une fois le seuil d'usure atteint, les saillies de ce seuil, par exemple des témoins d'usure légaux, se comportent comme les saillies de premier seuil. Le bruit émis par les saillies de ce seuil présente donc, dans le domaine fréquentiel, de façon analogue au bruit généré par les saillies de premier seuil, des caractérisitiques fréquentielles remarquables. L'analyse spectrale de ce bruit fait apparaître, dans le domaine fréquentiel, de façon analogue au bruit généré par les saillies de premier seuil, un peigne de Dirac que l'on peut facilement identifier.  [031] Once the wear threshold is reached, the projections of this threshold, for example legal wear indicators, behave as the first threshold projections. The noise emitted by the projections of this threshold therefore has, in the frequency domain, analogous to the noise generated by the first threshold projections, remarkable frequency characteristics. The spectral analysis of this noise shows, in the frequency domain, similar to the noise generated by the first threshold projections, a Dirac comb that can be easily identified.
[032] Avantageusement, toutes les saillies sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique.  [032] Advantageously, all the projections are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.
[033] Ainsi, l'analyse spectrale du bruit généré par les saillies au-delà du seuil le plus élevé fait apparaître un seul peigne de Dirac.  [033] Thus, the spectral analysis of the noise generated by the projections beyond the highest threshold shows a single Dirac comb.
[034] Optionnellement, les saillies sont agencées de manière que, quelle que soit l'usure du pneumatique, deux saillies circonférentiellement successives d'un même sillon et le sillon délimitent un espace ouvert à l'air lors du passage des deux saillies dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol.  [034] Optionally, the projections are arranged so that, irrespective of the wear of the tire, two circumferentially successive protrusions of the same groove and the groove delimit an open space to the air during the passage of the two projections in the groove. tire contact area with the ground.
[035] Avantageusement, lorsque le pneumatique est neuf, chaque sillon circonférentiel présente une profondeur prédéterminée et la hauteur de chaque saillie de chaque seuil est sensiblement égale à la différence entre la profondeur prédéterminée du sillon et le seuil d'usure.  [035] Advantageously, when the tire is new, each circumferential groove has a predetermined depth and the height of each projection of each threshold is substantially equal to the difference between the predetermined depth of the groove and the wear threshold.
[036] De façon optionnelle, la ou les saillies s'étendent partiellement transversalement au fond du ou des sillons de sorte que le pneumatique comprend au moins un canal de passage fluidique entre la ou les saillies et au moins une paroi délimitant le ou les sillons.  [036] Optionally, the projection or projections extend partially transversely to the bottom of the furrow or grooves so that the tire comprises at least one fluidic passage channel between the or the projections and at least one wall delimiting the furrow (s). .
[037] Ainsi, dans le cas où une saillie se trouve trop près d'une autre saillie, le passage fluidique permet d'éviter, qu'au-delà du seuil le plus avancé, les saillies ne délimitent une cavité fermée lors de leur passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol. Une telle cavité, à cause du bruit qu'elle produirait, détruirait l'équi-répartition des saillies et modifierait les caractéristiques du bruit généré par les saillies. [037] Thus, in the case where a protrusion is too close to another projection, the fluidic passage makes it possible to avoid, that beyond the most advanced threshold, the protrusions define a closed cavity during their passage in the contact area of the tire with the ground. Such a cavity, because of the noise it would produce, would destroy the equi-distribution of the projections and modify the characteristics of the noise generated by the projections.
[038] En outre, le passage fluidique améliore l'évacuation de l'eau par les sillons et donc les performances du pneumatique.  [038] In addition, the fluid passage improves the evacuation of water through the grooves and therefore the performance of the tire.
[039] Toutefois, une ou toutes les saillies peuvent aussi s'étendre transversalement sur toute la largeur d'un sillon circonférentiel, la répartition des saillies étant de préférence réalisée de façon à ne pas créer de cavité sonore entre deux saillies successives. On a en effet trouvé que l'effet sonore généré par une saillie est notablement plus important lorsque cette saillie s'étend transversalement sur toute la largeur d'un sillon circonférentiel. Lorsque cette saillie de gomme vient en contact avec le sol (le pneumatique étant usé au au moins jusqu'au niveau du seuil d'usure correspondant), le sillon circonférentiel se trouve fermé par le sol au niveau de la saillie de gomme, qui délimite un espace amont et un espace aval de ce sillon, sans communication entre eux au niveau de la saillie de gomme. On constate que ceci augmente notablement l'effet sonore.  [039] However, one or all the projections may also extend transversely over the entire width of a circumferential groove, the distribution of the projections being preferably performed so as not to create sound cavity between two successive projections. It has indeed been found that the sound effect generated by a projection is significantly greater when this projection extends transversely over the entire width of a circumferential groove. When this rubber protrusion comes into contact with the ground (the tire being worn at least to the level of the corresponding wear threshold), the circumferential groove is closed by the ground at the level of the protrusion of rubber, which delimits an upstream space and a downstream space of this groove, without communication between them at the level of the gum protrusion. It is found that this significantly increases the sound effect.
[040] Une, ou chaque saillie de gomme peut être pleine, c'est à dire ne pas comprendre de cavité. Alternativement chaque saillie, par exemple de premier seuil peut comprendre au moins une cavité ménagée dans la saillie, la cavité étant conformée de façon à, au-delà du premier seuil:  [040] One, or each protrusion of gum can be full, ie do not understand cavity. Alternatively each projection, for example of first threshold may comprise at least one cavity formed in the projection, the cavity being shaped so as, beyond the first threshold:
- déboucher radialement vers l'extérieur du pneumatique, et  - to open radially towards the outside of the tire, and
- être fermée par le sol de manière sensiblement étanche lors de son passage dans l'aire du contact du pneumatique avec le sol.  - Be closed by the ground substantially sealed during its passage in the area of contact of the tire with the ground.
[041] Typiquement, la cavité ne s'étend pas jusqu'au fond du sillon circonférentiel, le volume de cette petite cavité étant typiquement notablement inférieur à 250 mm3 (millimètres cube), par exemple inférieur à 150 mm3. [041] Typically, the cavity does not extend to the bottom of the circumferential groove, the volume of this small cavity being typically significantly less than 250 mm 3 (cubic millimeters), for example less than 150 mm 3 .
[042] Une telle cavité est sonore. Le bruit qu'elle génère, quoique limité, vient s'ajouter au bruit généré par les saillies et donne un bruit amplifié par rapport à une saillie dépourvue de cavité.  [042] Such a cavity is sound. The noise it generates, although limited, is added to the noise generated by the projections and gives an amplified noise compared to a projection without a cavity.
[043] En outre, la cavité permet de distinguer visuellement la saillie de premier seuil du témoin d'usure légal.  [043] In addition, the cavity makes it possible to visually distinguish the first threshold projection from the legal wear indicator.
[044] Enfin, une telle cavité ne pénalise pas les performances du pneumatique ni ne complique sa conception. [044] Finally, such a cavity does not penalize the performance of the pneumatic and does not complicate its design.
[045] Dans un mode de réalisation, chaque saillie d'un seuil est séparée circonférentiellement de chaque saillie d'un autre seuil.  [045] In one embodiment, each projection of a threshold is circumferentially separated from each projection of another threshold.
[046] Dans un autre mode de réalisation, chaque saillie d'un seuil est accolée à une saillie d'un autre seuil, ce qui présente l'avantage ces deux saillies ne définissent pas entre elles de cavité fermée susceptible de perturber la détection du bruit attendu.  [046] In another embodiment, each projection of a threshold is contiguous to a projection of another threshold, which has the advantage that these two projections do not define between them a closed cavity capable of disturbing the detection of the expected noise.
[047] En outre, on réduit le nombre des emplacements des saillies de premier et deuxième seuils. Les performances d'adhérence du pneumatique sont donc relativement peu, voire pas impactées par les témoins d'usure.  [047] In addition, the number of locations of the first and second threshold projections is reduced. The adhesion performance of the tire is therefore relatively little or not impacted by the wear indicators.
[048] Lorsque une saillie, correspondant à un seuil d'usure déterminé n'est pas accolée à une autre saillie, elle constitue typiquement également un témoin d'usure pour les seuils d'usure plus élevés. Par contre, si une saillie est accolée à une autre saillie correspondant à un seuil d'usure plus élevé, lorsque ce dernier seuil d'usure est atteint, les deux saillies accolées ne forment plus qu'une saillie unique, formant donc un témoin d'usure unique correspondant à ce seuil (et non pas deux témoins juxtaposés).  [048] When a projection corresponding to a determined wear threshold is not contiguous to another projection, it is typically also a wear indicator for the higher wear thresholds. By cons, if a projection is contiguous to another projection corresponding to a higher wear threshold, when the latter threshold of wear is reached, the two contiguous projections form a single projection, forming a witness of unique wear corresponding to this threshold (and not two juxtaposed witnesses).
[049] Dans un mode de réalisation, le pneumatique comprend au plus 12 saillies, de préférence au plus 8 saillies, aptes à rentrer chacune en contact avec le sol lors de leur passage respectif dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique avec le sol au-delà d'un deuxième seuil d'usure, plus avancé que le premier seuil.  [049] In one embodiment, the tire comprises at most 12 protrusions, preferably at most 8 protrusions, each able to come into contact with the ground during their respective passage in the contact area of the tire with the ground at beyond a second wear threshold, more advanced than the first threshold.
[050] Dans un autre mode de réalisation, le pneumatique comprend au plus 4 saillies de premier seuil et, de préférence, au plus 3 saillies de premier seuil.  [050] In another embodiment, the tire comprises at most 4 first threshold protrusions and, preferably, at most 3 first threshold protrusions.
[051] Dans les modes de réalisation précédents, on limite autant que possible le nombre de témoins d'usure sonores et donc leur influence sur les performances d'adhérence du pneumatique.  [051] In the previous embodiments, it limits as much as possible the number of sound wear indicators and therefore their influence on the tire adhesion performance.
[052] L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple non limitatif et faite en se référant aux dessins dans lesquels :  [052] The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the drawings in which:
- la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un pneumatique dans un état neuf selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention; - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tire in a new state according to a first embodiment of the invention;
la figure 2A illustre schématiquement une bande de roulement développée du pneumatique de la figure 1 ; Figure 2A schematically illustrates a developed tread the tire of Figure 1;
la figure 2B illustre schématiquement une bande de roulement développée d'une variante de la bande de roulement de la figure 2A;  Figure 2B schematically illustrates a developed tread of a variant of the tread of Figure 2A;
la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du pneumatique de la figure 1 dans un état usé au-delà d'un premier seuil d'usure radial prédéterminé;  Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tire of Figure 1 in a worn state beyond a first predetermined radial wear threshold;
la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du pneumatique de la figure 1 dans un état usé au-delà d'un deuxième seuil d'usure radial prédéterminé;  Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tire of Figure 1 in a worn state beyond a second predetermined radial wear threshold;
la figure 5A est analogue à la figure 2 et illustre une bande de roulement développée d'un pneumatique selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention; - la figure 5B illustre schématiquement une bande de roulement développée d'une variante de la bande de la figure 5A;  FIG. 5A is similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates a developed tread of a tire according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5B schematically illustrates a developed tread of a variant of the band of FIG. 5A;
la figure 6 est analogue à la figure 2 et illustrent une bande de roulement développée d'un pneumatique selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention;  Figure 6 is similar to Figure 2 and illustrate a developed tread of a tire according to a third embodiment of the invention;
la figure 7 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1 d'un pneumatique selon un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention;  Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
la figure 8 est une vue de dessus d'une bande de roulement du pneumatique de la figure 7;  Figure 8 is a top view of a tread of the tire of Figure 7;
la figure 9 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1 d'un pneumatique neuf selon un cinquième mode de réalisation de l'invention;  Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of a new tire according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;
- la figure 10 est une vue en coupe axiale dans un plan passant par un sillon d'une bande de roulement du pneumatique de la figure 9 usé jusqu'à un premier seuil d'usure; - Figure 10 is an axial sectional view in a plane passing through a groove of a tread of the tire of Figure 9 worn to a first wear threshold;
la figure 11 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1 d'un pneumatique neuf selon un sixième mode de réalisation de l'invention;  Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of a new tire according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;
- la figure 12 est une vue en coupe axiale dans un plan passant par un sillon d'une bande de roulement du pneumatique de la figure 11 usé jusqu'à un premier seuil d'usure. - Figure 12 is an axial sectional view in a plane passing through a groove of a tread of the tire of Figure 11 worn to a first wear threshold.
[053] On a représenté sur la figure 1 un pneumatique à l'état neuf selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, désigné par la référence générale 10. Le pneumatique 10 est destiné à un véhicule de tourisme. Le pneumatique 10 est sensiblement de révolution autour d'un axe.  [053] There is shown in Figure 1 a tire in the new state according to a first embodiment of the invention, designated by the general reference 10. The tire 10 is intended for a passenger vehicle. The tire 10 is substantially of revolution about an axis.
[054] Le pneumatique 10 comprend une bande de roulement 12 de forme sensiblement toroïdale et dont la surface externe est munie de sculptures 14. En particulier, la bande de roulement 12 comprend deux sillons 16 circonférentiels et parallèles, creusés à la surface du pneumatique, de profondeur H prédéterminée lorsque le pneumatique 10 est neuf. La profondeur H de ces sillons 16 est de l'ordre de 8 mm et leur largeur est de l'ordre de 10 mm. [054] The tire 10 comprises a tread 12 of shape substantially toroidal and whose outer surface is provided with sculptures 14. In particular, the tread 12 comprises two grooves 16 circumferential and parallel, hollowed on the surface of the tire, of predetermined depth H when the tire 10 is new. The depth H of these grooves 16 is of the order of 8 mm and their width is of the order of 10 mm.
[055] Le pneumatique comprend des témoins d'usure sonores TUS indiquant un premier seuil d'usure SS. La profondeur de chaque sillon 16 lorsque le seuil SS est atteint est fixée à 2,2 mm, ce qui correspond à un seuil SS=5,8 mm. Chaque témoin d'usure sonore TUS est constitué d'une saillie de gomme 17, dite saillie de premier seuil, agencée transversalement au fond du sillon 16 dans laquelle elle est située et s'étendant radialement à partir du fond de ce sillon 16. Lorsque le pneumatique est neuf, chaque saillie 17 présente une hauteur prédéterminée hs sensiblement égale à la différence entre la profondeur H des sillons 16 et le seuil SS. [055] The tire comprises TUS sound wear indicators indicating a first wear threshold SS. The depth of each groove 16 when the threshold SS is reached is set at 2.2 mm, which corresponds to a threshold SS = 5.8 mm. Each audible wear indicator TUS consists of a protrusion of rubber 17, referred to as the first threshold protrusion, arranged transversely to the bottom of the groove 16 in which it is located and extending radially from the bottom of this groove 16. When the tire is new, each projection 17 has a predetermined height h s substantially equal to the difference between the depth H of the grooves 16 and the threshold SS.
[056] Le pneumatique 10 comprend des témoins d'usure TUL (l'appellation TUL, au lieu de TUS indiquant un deuxième seuil d'usure SL qui correspond au seuil d'usure légal du pneumatique). La profondeur de chaque sillon 16 lorsque le seuil SL est atteint est fixée à 1 ,6 mm, ce qui correspond à un seuil SL=6,4 mm. Chaque témoin d'usure TUL est constitué d'une saillie de gomme 18, dite saillie de deuxième seuil, agencée transversalement au fond du sillon 16 dans laquelle elle est située et s'étendant radialement à partir du fond de ce sillon 16. Lorsque le pneumatique est neuf, chaque saillie 18 présente une hauteur prédéterminée hL=1 ,6mm sensiblement égale à la différence entre la profondeur H des sillons 16 et le seuil SL. [056] The tire 10 comprises TUL wear indicators (the TUL designation, instead of TUS indicating a second wear threshold SL which corresponds to the legal wear threshold of the tire). The depth of each groove 16 when the threshold SL is reached is set at 1, 6 mm, which corresponds to a threshold SL = 6.4 mm. Each wear indicator TUL consists of a protrusion of rubber 18, called second threshold projection, arranged transversely to the bottom of the groove 16 in which it is located and extending radially from the bottom of this groove 16. When the pneumatic is new, each projection 18 has a predetermined height h L = 1, 6mm substantially equal to the difference between the depth H of the grooves 16 and the threshold SL.
[057] Le deuxième seuil SL est atteint après le premier seuil SS. En d'autres termes, le seuil SL est plus avancé que le seuil SS. Le seuil SL est atteint lorsque l'usure du pneumatique est supérieure à l'usure pour laquelle le seuil SS est atteint. En l'espèce, la hauteur hs est supérieure à la hauteur hL. [057] The second threshold SL is reached after the first threshold SS. In other words, the threshold SL is more advanced than the threshold SS. The threshold SL is reached when the wear of the tire is greater than the wear for which the threshold SS is reached. In this case, the height h s is greater than the height h L.
[058] Ainsi, dans ce mode de réalisation, le seuil SS correspond à une usure au-delà de laquelle le pneumatique présente des performances pouvant être dégradées sur un revêtement mouillé. Le seuil SL correspond lui à une usure au-delà de laquelle le pneumatique n'est plus conforme aux exigences légales.  [058] Thus, in this embodiment, the threshold SS corresponds to wear beyond which the tire has performance that can be degraded on a wet coating. The threshold SL corresponds to a wear beyond which the tire no longer complies with the legal requirements.
[059] Chaque saillie 17 de premier seuil est séparée circonférentiellement de chaque saillie 18 de deuxième seuil SL. En d'autres termes, les saillies 18 et 17 ne se touchent pas. [060] Lorsque le pneumatique 10 est neuf, comme cela est représenté sur la figure 1 , la hauteur des saillies 17, 18 est plus petite que la profondeur des sillons 16 de sorte que chaque témoin TUS, TUL comprend un espace situé au-dessus des saillies 17, 18, c'est-à-dire au sommet des saillies 17, 18. Ainsi, même lorsque la bande de roulement est en contact avec un sol plan et lisse, le sol n'entre pas en contact avec les saillies 17, 18. [059] Each projection 17 of first threshold is circumferentially separated from each projection 18 of second threshold SL. In other words, the projections 18 and 17 do not touch each other. [060] When the tire 10 is new, as shown in Figure 1, the height of the projections 17, 18 is smaller than the depth of the grooves 16 so that each witness TUS, TUL includes a space above projections 17, 18, that is to say at the top of the projections 17, 18. Thus, even when the tread is in contact with a flat and smooth ground, the ground does not come into contact with the projections 17, 18.
[061] Les saillies 17, 18 sont agencées de manière que, quelle que soit l'usure radiale du pneumatique 10, deux saillies 17, 18 circonférentiellement successives d'un même sillon 16 et le sillon 16 délimitent un espace ouvert à l'air lors de leur passage dans l'aire du contact du pneumatique 10 avec le sol. Selon la répartition des témoins TUS, TUL, les couples de saillies 17, 18 concernés comprennent deux saillies 17, deux saillies 18 ou bien une saillie 18 et une saillie 17. En l'espèce, la distance séparant deux saillies 17,18 circonférentiellement successives d'un même sillon 16 est supérieure à une distance prédéterminée, ici la longueur de l'aire de contact, pour que, même au-delà d'un du seuil SS et/ou SL, les saillies 17, 18 et le sillon 16 forment un espace qui reste ouvert à l'air lors de leur passage dans l'aire du contact du pneumatique 10 avec le sol.  [061] The projections 17, 18 are arranged so that, regardless of the radial wear of the tire 10, two circumferentially successive projections 17, 18 of the same groove 16 and the groove 16 define an open space to the air during their passage in the area of contact of the tire 10 with the ground. According to the distribution of the controls TUS, TUL, the pairs of projections 17, 18 concerned comprise two projections 17, two projections 18 or a projection 18 and a projection 17. In this case, the distance separating two projections 17,18 circumferentially successive in the same groove 16 is greater than a predetermined distance, here the length of the contact area, so that, even beyond one of the threshold SS and / or SL, the projections 17, 18 and the groove 16 form a space that remains open to air during their passage in the area of contact of the tire 10 with the ground.
[062] On a représenté sur la figure 2A un schéma développé de la bande de roulement du pneumatique de la figure 1 .  [062] There is shown in Figure 2A a developed diagram of the tread of the tire of Figure 1.
[063] Le pneumatique 10 comprend des ensembles de saillies 17, 18 respectivement de premier et deuxième seuil SS, SL agencées au fond de sillons différents 16. En l'espèce, chaque ensemble de saillies de premier seuil SS comprend deux saillies 17 et chaque ensemble de saillies de deuxième seuil SL comprend deux saillies 18. Chaque saillie 17, 18 de chaque ensemble est sensiblement alignée axialement avec chaque autre saillie 17, 18 de l'ensemble.  [063] The tire 10 comprises sets of projections 17, 18 respectively of first and second threshold SS, SL arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16. In this case, each set of first threshold projections SS comprises two projections 17 and each SL second projection assembly includes two projections 18. Each projection 17, 18 of each assembly is substantially axially aligned with each other projection 17, 18 of the assembly.
[064] Les saillies 17 de premier seuil SS sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique 10, de même que les saillies 18 de deuxième seuil SL. Ainsi, au-delà de chaque seuil SS, SL, lors de la rotation du pneumatique, les saillies 17, 18 entrent à intervalle de temps constant en contact avec le sol lorsque le pneumatique roule à vitesse sensiblement constante. Le pneumatique 10 comporte NES=3 ensembles comprenant chacun deux saillies 17 et NEL=3 ensembles comprenant chacun deux saillies 18. [064] The projections 17 of the first threshold SS are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire 10, as well as the projections 18 of the second threshold SL. Thus, beyond each threshold SS, SL, during the rotation of the tire, the projections 17, 18 enter at a constant time interval in contact with the ground when the tire rolls at a substantially constant speed. The tire 10 has NE S = 3 sets each comprising two projections 17 and NE L = 3 sets each comprising two projections 18.
[065] Les saillies 17 et 18 sont également équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique 10. Ainsi, au-delà du seuil SL, lors de la rotation du pneumatique, les saillies 17 et 18 entrent à intervalle de temps constant en contact avec le sol lorsque le pneumatique roule à vitesse sensiblement constante. Le pneumatique 10 comprend 12 saillies 17, 18 et 6 saillies 17. [065] The projections 17 and 18 are equally distributed circumferentially on the tire 10. Thus, beyond the threshold SL, during the rotation of the tire, the projections 17 and 18 enter a constant time interval in contact with the ground when the tire rolls at a substantially constant speed. The tire 10 comprises 12 projections 17, 18 and 6 projections 17.
[066] On a représenté sur la figure 2B une variante de la bande de roulement de la figure 2A.  [066] There is shown in Figure 2B a variant of the tread of Figure 2A.
[067] Dans cette variante, deux saillies 18 circonférentiellement successives sont agencées au fond de sillons 16 différents et décalées axialement l'une par rapport à l'autre de sorte que les saillies 18 de deuxième seuil SL ne sont pas équi- réparties circonférentiellement.  [067] In this variant, two circumferentially successive projections 18 are arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16 and offset axially with respect to one another so that the projections 18 of second threshold SL are not circumferentially equi-distributed.
[068] On a représenté sur la figure 3 le pneumatique 10 de la figure 1 usé au- delà du seuil SS.  [068] There is shown in Figure 3 the tire 10 of Figure 1 worn beyond the SS threshold.
[069] L'usure de la bande de roulement 12 du pneumatique 10 représentée sur la figure 3 est de 6 mm, c'est-à-dire supérieure au seuil SS, autrement dit supérieure à la distance séparant, lorsque le pneumatique 10 est neuf, le sommet des saillies 17 de la surface de la bande de roulement 12. Compte tenu de l'usure supérieure à SS, le sommet des saillies 17 est au même niveau que la surface de la bande de roulement 12.  [069] The wear of the tread 12 of the tire 10 shown in FIG. 3 is 6 mm, that is to say greater than the threshold SS, in other words greater than the distance separating, when the tire 10 is nine, the top of the projections 17 of the surface of the tread 12. In view of the wear greater than SS, the top of the projections 17 is at the same level as the surface of the tread 12.
[070] L'usure du pneumatique est inférieure au seuil SL, autrement dit inférieure à la distance séparant, lorsque le pneumatique 10 est neuf, le sommet des saillies 18 de la surface de la bande de roulement 12. Le sommet des saillies 18 est à un niveau inférieur que celui de la bande de roulement à ce stade de l'usure.  [070] The wear of the tire is below the threshold SL, that is to say lower than the distance separating, when the tire 10 is new, the top of the projections 18 of the surface of the tread 12. The top of the projections 18 is at a lower level than that of the tread at this stage of wear.
[071] Au-delà du seuil SS, chaque saillie 17 présente une hauteur inférieure à la hauteur hs. Ici, la hauteur est inférieure à 2,2 mm et vaut 2 mm pour une usure de 6 mm. Cette hauteur est égale à la différence entre la profondeur de chaque sillon 16 et l'usure du pneumatique 10. [071] Beyond the threshold SS, each projection 17 has a height less than the height h s . Here, the height is less than 2.2 mm and is 2 mm for a wear of 6 mm. This height is equal to the difference between the depth of each groove 16 and the wear of the tire 10.
[072] Lorsque le pneumatique 10 est usé au-delà du seuil SS, chaque saillie 17 de premier seuil SS est agencée de façon à entrer en contact avec sol lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique 10 avec le sol. Elle émet alors un son. Entre les seuils SS et SL, chaque saillie 18 de deuxième seuil SL n'est pas au contact avec le sol du fait de l'espace existant entre le sommet de chaque saillie 18 et le sol.  [072] When the tire 10 is worn beyond the threshold SS, each projection 17 of the first threshold SS is arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire 10 with the ground. She then emits a sound. Between the thresholds SS and SL, each projection 18 of second threshold SL is not in contact with the ground because of the space between the top of each projection 18 and the ground.
[073] On a représenté sur la figure 4 le pneumatique 10 des figures 1 et 2 usé au-delà du seuil SL. [074] L'usure de la bande de roulement 12 du pneumatique 10 représentée sur la figure 4 est de 7 mm, c'est-à-dire supérieure au seuil SL, mais également au seuil SS, autrement dit supérieure à la distance séparant, lorsque le pneumatique 10 est neuf, le sommet des saillies 18 de la surface de la bande de roulement 12. Compte tenu de l'usure supérieure au deuxième seuil SL, le sommet des saillies 18, mais également celui des saillies 17, est au même niveau que la surface de la bande de roulement 12. [073] There is shown in Figure 4 the tire 10 of Figures 1 and 2 worn beyond the threshold SL. [074] The wear of the tread 12 of the tire 10 shown in FIG. 4 is 7 mm, that is to say greater than the threshold SL, but also at the threshold SS, ie greater than the distance separating when the tire 10 is new, the top of the projections 18 of the surface of the tread 12. Taking into account the wear greater than the second threshold SL, the top of the projections 18, but also that of the projections 17, is at same level as the surface of the tread 12.
[075] Au-delà du seuil SL, chaque saillie 17 et 18 présente une hauteur inférieure à la hauteur hL. Ici, la hauteur est inférieure à 1 ,6 mm et vaut 1 mm pour une usure de 7 mm. Cette hauteur est égale à la différence entre la profondeur de chaque sillon 16 et l'usure du pneumatique 10. [075] Beyond the threshold SL, each projection 17 and 18 has a height less than the height h L. Here, the height is less than 1, 6 mm and is 1 mm for a wear of 7 mm. This height is equal to the difference between the depth of each groove 16 and the wear of the tire 10.
[076] Lorsque le pneumatique 10 est usé au-delà du seuil SL, chaque saillie 18 de deuxième seuil SL est agencée de façon à entrer en contact avec sol lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique 10 avec le sol. De même, lorsque le pneumatique 10 est usé au-delà du seuil SL, chaque saillie 17 de premier seuil SS est agencée de façon à entrer en contact avec sol lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique 10 avec le sol.  [076] When the tire 10 is worn beyond the threshold SL, each projection 18 of second threshold SL is arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire 10 with the ground. Similarly, when the tire 10 is worn beyond the threshold SL, each projection 17 of the first threshold SS is arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire 10 with the ground.
[077] On a représenté sur la figure 5A un schéma développé de la bande de roulement 12 d'un pneumatique selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention. Les éléments analogues à ceux représentés sur les figures précédentes sont désignés par des références identiques.  [077] There is shown in Figure 5A a developed diagram of the tread 12 of a tire according to a second embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.
[078] A la différence du pneumatique selon premier mode de réalisation, deux saillies 17 de premier seuil SS circonférentiellement successives sont agencées au fond d'un même sillon 16. Toutes les saillies 17 de premier seuil SS sont agencées au fond d'un même sillon 16. Le pneumatique comprend au plus 4, et de préférence, au plus 3 saillies 17 de premier seuil SS.  [078] Unlike the tire according to the first embodiment, two protrusions 17 of first circumferentially successive threshold SS are arranged at the bottom of the same groove 16. All the projections 17 of the first threshold SS are arranged at the bottom of the same groove 16. The tire comprises at most 4, and preferably at most 3 projections 17 of first threshold SS.
[079] On a représenté sur la figure 5B une variante de la bande de roulement de la figure 5A.  [079] There is shown in Figure 5B a variant of the tread of Figure 5A.
[080] Dans cette variante, deux saillies 18 circonférentiellement successives sont agencées au fond de sillons 16 différents et décalées axialement l'une par rapport à l'autre de sorte que les saillies 18 de deuxième seuil SL ne sont pas équi- réparties circonférentiellement.  [080] In this variant, two circumferentially successive projections 18 are arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16 and offset axially with respect to each other so that the projections 18 of second threshold SL are not circumferentially equi-distributed.
[081] On a représenté sur la figure 6 un schéma développé de la bande de roulement 12 d'un pneumatique selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention. Les éléments analogues à ceux représentés sur les figures précédentes sont désignés par des références identiques. [081] FIG. 6 shows a developed diagram of the bearing 12 of a tire according to a third embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.
[082] A la différence du deuxième mode de réalisation, le pneumatique 10 comporte 4 saillies 17 de premier seuil SS et 8 saillies 18 de deuxième seuil SL.  [082] Unlike the second embodiment, the tire 10 has 4 projections 17 of the first threshold SS and 8 projections 18 of the second threshold SL.
[083] Deux saillies 17 de premier seuil SS circonférentiellement successives sont agencées au fond de sillons 16 différents. Deux saillies 18 de deuxième seuil SL circonférentiellement successives et circonférentiellement situées entre deux saillies 17 de premier seuil sont agencées au fond de deux sillons 16 différents. Deux saillies 18 de deuxième seuil SL circonférentiellement successives et circonférentiellement situées de part et d'autre d'une même saillie 17 de premier seuil sont agencées au fond du même sillon 16.  [083] Two protuberances 17 of first circumferentially successive SS threshold are arranged at the bottom of different grooves 16. Two protrusions 18 of second threshold circumferentially successive and circumferentially located between two projections 17 of first threshold are arranged at the bottom of two different grooves 16. Two protrusions 18 of second threshold circumferentially circumferentially and circumferentially located on either side of the same projection 17 of the first threshold are arranged at the bottom of the same groove 16.
[084] On a représenté sur les figures 7 et 8 un pneumatique selon un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention. Les éléments analogues à ceux représentés sur les figures précédentes sont désignés par des références identiques.  [084] There is shown in Figures 7 and 8 a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.
[085] Chaque sillon 16 est délimité par une paroi axiale 24 formant le fond du sillon 16 et deux parois radiales 25 formant les côtés du sillon 16. A la différence du pneumatique selon le premier mode de réalisation dans lequel les saillies 18 s'étendent intégralement transversalement entre les deux parois radiales 25, c'est-à- dire d'une paroi radiale 25 à l'autre du sillon 16 qui les contient, les saillies 18 du pneumatique selon le quatrième mode de réalisation ne s'étendent que partiellement entre les deux parois radiales 25 de sorte que le pneumatique 10 comprend au moins un canal 26 de passage fluidique entre chaque saillie 18 et une des parois 25 délimitant chaque sillon 16. Le canal 26 permet l'écoulement de l'air ou bien de l'eau circulant dans les sillons 16.  [085] Each groove 16 is delimited by an axial wall 24 forming the bottom of the groove 16 and two radial walls 25 forming the sides of the groove 16. Unlike the tire according to the first embodiment in which the projections 18 extend integrally transversely between the two radial walls 25, that is to say from one radial wall 25 to the other of the groove 16 which contains them, the projections 18 of the tire according to the fourth embodiment extend only partially. between the two radial walls 25 so that the tire 10 comprises at least one channel 26 for fluid passage between each projection 18 and one of the walls 25 delimiting each groove 16. The channel 26 allows the flow of air or water water flowing through the furrows 16.
[086] On a représenté sur la figure 9 un pneumatique selon un cinquième mode de réalisation de l'invention. Les éléments analogues à ceux représentés sur les figures précédentes sont désignés par des références identiques.  [086] There is shown in Figure 9 a tire according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.
[087] A la différence du pneumatique selon les précédents modes de réalisation, chaque saillie 17 de chaque témoin TUS est accolée à une saillie 18 d'un témoin TUL.  [087] Unlike the tire according to the previous embodiments, each projection 17 of each TUS control is contiguous to a projection 18 of a control TUL.
[088] En référence à la figure 10 sur laquelle on a représenté le pneumatique selon le sixième mode de réalisation avec une usure correspondant au seuil SS, les deux témoins TUS et TUL forment donc un unique témoin d'usure TUS-TUL constitué d'une saillie 28 agencée au fond du sillon 16. La saillie 28 présente une forme générale en escalier et comprend des première et deuxième parties de gomme 30, 32 formant respectivement les saillies 17, 18. Chaque première et deuxième partie 30, 32 présente respectivement une surface radialement externe 34, 36 destinée à entrer en contact avec le sol lors du passage de la saillie 28 dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique 10 avec le sol. La cote radiale de la surface 34 est supérieure à la cote radiale de la surface 36. En d'autres termes, la hauteur hs de la première partie 30 est supérieure à la hauteur hL de la deuxième partie 32. [088] Referring to Figure 10 which shows the tire according to the sixth embodiment with a wear corresponding to the threshold SS, the two witnesses TUS and TUL thus form a single TUS-TUL wear indicator consisting of a projection 28 arranged at the bottom of the groove 16. The projection 28 has a general staircase shape and comprises first and second parts of rubber 30, 32 forming respectively the projections 17, 18. Each first and second portion 30, 32 respectively has a radially outer surface 34, 36 intended to come into contact with the ground during the passage of the projection 28 in the contact area of the tire 10 with floor. The radial dimension of the surface 34 is greater than the radial dimension of the surface 36. In other words, the height h s of the first part 30 is greater than the height h L of the second part 32.
[089] On a représenté sur les figures 11 et 12 un pneumatique selon un septième mode de réalisation de l'invention. Les éléments analogues à ceux représentés sur les figures précédentes sont désignés par des références identiques.  [089] There is shown in Figures 11 and 12 a tire according to a seventh embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.
[090] A la différence du pneumatique selon le sixième mode de réalisation, chaque saillie 17 comprend une petite cavité sonore 38 ménagée dans la saillie 17. En l'espèce, la cavité 38 est ménagée dans la deuxième partie 32 du témoin d'usure TUS-TUL.  [090] Unlike the tire according to the sixth embodiment, each projection 17 comprises a small sound cavity 38 formed in the projection 17. In this case, the cavity 38 is formed in the second portion 32 of the wear indicator. TUS-TUL.
[091] Au-delà du seuil SS et, de préférence également au-delà du seuil SL, la cavité sonore 38 est conformée de façon à déboucher radialement vers l'extérieur du pneumatique 10 et de façon à être fermée par le sol de manière sensiblement étanche lors de son passage dans l'aire du contact du pneumatique 10 avec le sol.  [091] Beyond the threshold SS and, preferably also beyond the threshold SL, the sound cavity 38 is shaped so as to open radially outwardly of the tire 10 and so as to be closed by the ground so as to substantially sealed during its passage in the area of contact of the tire 10 with the ground.
[092] L'invention ne se limite pas aux modes de réalisation décrits précédemment.  [092] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.
[093] On pourra envisager n'importe quelle répartition des saillies de chaque seuil du moment que les saillies sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement autour du pneumatique.  [093] Any distribution of the projections of each threshold may be considered as long as the projections are equi-distributed circumferentially around the tire.
[094] On pourra également ménager une cavité dans les saillies de premier seuil lorsque celles-ci sont circonférentiellement séparées des saillies de deuxième seuil.  [094] A cavity may also be provided in the first threshold projections when these are circumferentially separated from the second threshold projections.
[095] On pourra combiner les caractéristiques des différents modes de réalisation précédemment décrits dès lors qu'elles sont compatibles les unes avec les autres.  [095] We can combine the characteristics of the various embodiments described above when they are compatible with each other.
[096] La bande de roulement pourra comprendre plus de deux sillons.  [096] The tread may include more than two grooves.
[097] Les saillies peuvent être à section de contact variable ou constante. [098] Les saillies pourront s'étendre partiellement au fond du ou des sillons et délimiter un canal de passage fluidique sans que les saillies des témoins d'usure légaux ne s'étende partiellement au fond du ou des sillons et ne délimite un passage fluidique, et vice-versa. [097] The projections may be of variable or constant contact section. [098] The projections may extend partially to the bottom of the furrow (s) and delimit a fluidic passage channel without the protrusions of the legal wear indicators does not extend partially to the bottom of the furrow (s) and delimits a fluidic passage , and vice versa.
[099] Le pneumatique pourra comprendre plus de deux seuils d'usure. En particulier, le pneumatique pourra comprendre plusieurs seuils moins avancés que le seuil d'usure légal. Pour chacun de ces seuils, la ou les saillies sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique.  [099] The tire may comprise more than two wear thresholds. In particular, the tire may include several thresholds less advanced than the legal wear threshold. For each of these thresholds, the projection or projections are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1 . Pneumatique (10), caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend au moins: 1. Pneumatic tire (10), characterized in that it comprises at least:
- deux saillies (17), dites de premier seuil (SS), circonférentiellement successives, chacune de ces saillies s'étendant radialement à partir du fond d'un sillon circonférentiel (16) du pneumatique (10), et étant agencée de façon à entrer en contact avec le sol lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique (10) avec le sol au-delà d'un premier seuil d'usure (SS) du pneumatique (10);  two circumferentially successive projections (17), said first threshold (SS), each of these projections extending radially from the bottom of a circumferential groove (16) of the tire (10), and being arranged in such a way as to contacting the ground during its passage through the contact area of the tire (10) with the ground beyond a first wear threshold (SS) of the tire (10);
- une autre saillie (18) s'étendant radialement à partir du fond d'un sillon circonférentiel (16) du pneumatique (10), ladite autre saillie (18) étant agencée de façon à entrer en contact avec le sol lors de son passage dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique (10) avec le sol au-delà d'un seuil d'usure (SL) du pneumatique (10) plus avancé que le premier seuil d'usure (SS);  another projection (18) extending radially from the bottom of a circumferential groove (16) of the tire (10), said other projection (18) being arranged to come into contact with the ground during its passage in the contact area of the tire (10) with the ground beyond a wear threshold (SL) of the tire (10) more advanced than the first wear threshold (SS);
pneumatique (10) dans lequel:  tire (10) in which:
- les saillies (17) de premier seuil (SS) sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique (10).  - The projections (17) of first threshold (SS) are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire (10).
2. Pneumatique (10) selon la revendication 1 , dans lequel un seuil d'usure (SL) du pneumatique (10) plus avancé que le premier seuil d'usure (SS) est un seuil d'usure légal.  2. A tire (10) according to claim 1, wherein a wear threshold (SL) of the tire (10) more advanced than the first wear threshold (SS) is a legal wear threshold.
3. Pneumatique (10) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les deux saillies (17) de premier seuil (SS) circonférentiellement successives sont agencées au fond d'un même sillon circonférentiel (16).  3. A tire (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two circumferentially successive first threshold (SS) protrusions (17) are arranged at the bottom of the same circumferential groove (16).
4. Pneumatique (10) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les deux saillies (17) de premier seuil (SS) circonférentiellement successives sont agencées au fond de sillons circonférentiels (16) différents.  4. A tire (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two circumferentially successive first threshold (SS) protrusions (17) are arranged at the bottom of different circumferential grooves (16).
5. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un ensemble de saillies (17) de premier seuil (SS) agencées au fond de sillons circonférentiels (16) différents, chaque saillie (17) de premier seuil (SS) de l'ensemble étant sensiblement alignée axialement avec chaque autre saillie (17) de premier seuil (SS) de l'ensemble.  A tire (10) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a set of first threshold projections (17) arranged at the bottom of different circumferential grooves (16), each projection (17) of the first threshold (SS). ) of the assembly being substantially axially aligned with each other projection (17) of the first threshold (SS) of the assembly.
6. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la ou les saillies (17) d'un même seuil (SS) sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique (10). 6. A tire (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or projections (17) of the same threshold (SS) are equi-distributed circumferentially on the tire (10).
7. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel toutes les saillies (17, 18) sont équi-réparties circonférentiellement sur le pneumatique (10). A tire (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein all the projections (17, 18) are circumferentially equi-distributed on the tire (10).
8. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les saillies (17, 18) sont agencées de manière que, quelle que soit l'usure du pneumatique, deux saillies circonférentiellement successives d'un même sillon (16) et le sillon (16) délimitent un espace ouvert à l'air lors du passage des deux saillies dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique (10) avec le sol.  8. A tire (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections (17, 18) are arranged such that, irrespective of the wear of the tire, two circumferentially successive protrusions of the same groove (16 ) and the groove (16) delimit an air-open space during the passage of the two projections in the contact area of the tire (10) with the ground.
9. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel, lorsque le pneumatique (10) est neuf, chaque sillon circonférentiel (16) présente une profondeur prédéterminée (H) et la hauteur (hs) de chaque saillie (17, 18) de chaque seuil (SS, SL) est sensiblement égale à la différence entre la profondeur prédéterminée (H) du sillon (16) et le seuil d'usure (SS, SL). Tire (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when the tire (10) is new, each circumferential groove (16) has a predetermined depth (H) and the height (h s ) of each protrusion (17, 18) of each threshold (SS, SL) is substantially equal to the difference between the predetermined depth (H) of the groove (16) and the wear threshold (SS, SL).
10. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la ou les saillies (17, 18) s'étendent partiellement transversalement au fond du ou des sillons (16) de sorte que le pneumatique (10) comprend au moins un canal (26) de passage fluidique entre la ou les saillies (17, 18) et au moins une paroi (28) délimitant le ou les sillons (16).  A tire (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more projections (17, 18) extend partially transversely to the bottom of the groove (s) (16) so that the tire (10) comprises at least one channel (26) for fluidic passage between the at least one projection (17, 18) and at least one wall (28) delimiting the at least one furrow (16).
1 1 . Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel, chaque saillie (17) de premier seuil (SS) comprend au moins une cavité (38) ménagée dans la saillie (17), la cavité (38) étant conformée de façon à, au-delà du premier seuil (SS):  1 1. A pneumatic tire (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each first threshold projection (17) (SS) comprises at least one cavity (38) formed in the projection (17), the cavity (38) being shaped so as to, beyond the first threshold (SS):
- déboucher radialement vers l'extérieur du pneumatique (10), et  - opening radially outwardly of the tire (10), and
- être fermée par le sol de manière sensiblement étanche lors de son passage dans l'aire du contact du pneumatique (10) avec le sol.  - Be closed by the soil substantially tight during its passage in the area of contact of the tire (10) with the ground.
12. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 1 1 , dans lequel chaque saillie (17) d'un seuil (SS) est séparée circonférentiellement de chaque saillie (18) d'un autre seuil (SL).  A tire (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein each projection (17) of a threshold (SS) is circumferentially separated from each projection (18) of another threshold (SL).
13. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 1 1 , dans lequel chaque saillie (17) d'un seuil (SS) est accolée à une saillie (18) d'un autre seuil (SL).  13. A tire (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1, wherein each projection (17) of a threshold (SS) is contiguous to a projection (18) of another threshold (SL).
14. Pneumatique (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant au plus 12 saillies (17, 18), de préférence au plus 8 saillies (17, 18), aptes à rentrer chacune en contact avec le sol lors de leur passage respectif dans l'aire de contact du pneumatique (10) avec le sol au-delà d'un deuxième seuil d'usure (SL), plus avancé que le premier seuil (SS). Tire (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at most 12 projections (17, 18), preferably at most 8 protrusions. (17, 18), each able to come into contact with the ground during their respective passage in the contact area of the tire (10) with the ground beyond a second wear threshold (SL), plus advanced than the first threshold (SS).
15. Pneumatique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant au plus 4 saillies (17) de premier seuil (SS) et, de préférence, au plus 3 saillies (17) de premier seuil (SS).  15. A tire according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at most 4 projections (17) of first threshold (SS) and, preferably, at most 3 projections (17) of first threshold (SS).
EP12738494.9A 2011-06-15 2012-06-15 Tyre comprising audible wear indicators Withdrawn EP2720886A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1155235A FR2976520B1 (en) 2011-06-15 2011-06-15 PNEUMATIC COMPRISING MONOBARETTE SOUNDS OF WEAR
PCT/FR2012/051341 WO2012172261A1 (en) 2011-06-15 2012-06-15 Tyre comprising audible wear indicators

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EP2720886A1 true EP2720886A1 (en) 2014-04-23

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EP (1) EP2720886A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2014516868A (en)
CN (1) CN103608193A (en)
BR (1) BR112013030731A2 (en)
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JP6118029B2 (en) * 2012-03-02 2017-04-19 東洋ゴム工業株式会社 Pneumatic tire
FR2999997B1 (en) 2012-12-21 2015-02-06 Michelin & Cie VEHICLE COMPRISING MEANS FOR DETECTING NOISE GENERATED BY A TIRE
FR3015036B1 (en) 2013-12-18 2016-01-22 Michelin & Cie METHOD OF ACOUSTICALLY DETECTING THE CONDITION OF ROAD AND TIRE
DE102016000526B4 (en) * 2015-02-05 2024-03-21 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Method for detecting the wear of wearing tires of a vehicle and vehicle with wearing tires
US20190375236A1 (en) * 2016-11-11 2019-12-12 Nansin Co., Ltd. Caster structure
FR3058930A1 (en) 2016-11-21 2018-05-25 Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin METHOD FOR MONITORING AND / OR MONITORING THE USE OF A TIRE

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WO2012172261A1 (en) 2012-12-20
CN103608193A (en) 2014-02-26
FR2976520B1 (en) 2014-05-09
FR2976520A1 (en) 2012-12-21
US20140174613A1 (en) 2014-06-26
BR112013030731A2 (en) 2016-12-06

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