JP2005047446A - Pneumatic tire and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pneumatic tire and its manufacturing method capable of reducing noise without deteriorating characteristics of a tire. <P>SOLUTION: A physical property of a tread rubber layer 7, i.e., a tire constitution member extending over the whole periphery of the tire is varied in accordance with positions in a tire circumferential direction. For example, in the pneumatic tire, the pitch of a tread pattern is periodically fluctuated in the tire circumferential direction. The hardness (or modulus) of the tread rubber layer 7 is relatively made low at parts (area L<SB>1</SB>, L<SB>3</SB>) where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large and the hardness (or modulus) of the tread rubber layer 7 is relatively made high at parts (area L<SB>2</SB>, L<SB>4</SB>) where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively small. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire including a tire constituent member that extends over the entire circumference of the tire, such as a tread rubber layer, and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, enables noise reduction without deteriorating tire characteristics. The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire and a manufacturing method thereof.

  The pneumatic tire vibrates at a specific frequency (natural frequency) by an input from the road surface during traveling, which causes road noise. In particular, when vibration causes cavity resonance in the cavity of the tire, the noise increases. Thus, in order to prevent cavity resonance of the tire, members having a predetermined volume are disposed intermittently along the tire circumferential direction on the tire inner surface or rim outer circumferential surface, and the cross-sectional area of the cavity portion is changed in the tire circumferential direction. Such countermeasures have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). However, in order to change the cross-sectional area of the hollow portion in the tire circumferential direction, if a member is intermittently disposed along the tire circumferential direction on the tire inner surface or the rim outer circumferential surface, there is a problem that the tire uniformity deteriorates accordingly. is there.

On the other hand, in order to reduce pattern noise caused by a tread pattern, a pitch variation of the tread pattern is periodically changed in the tire circumferential direction to employ a so-called pitch variation. However, the pitch variation is effective in that the frequency of the pattern noise is dispersed. However, since the tread rigidity is high in the portion where the pitch is large, there is a disadvantage that the vibration in that portion becomes large. In addition, since the grip force at the time of running on a dry road surface is high at a portion where the pitch is large, there is a disadvantage that the cornering performance varies on the tire circumference and the steering stability is lowered. Furthermore, there is a drawback that the wet performance is lowered at a portion where the pitch is large.
JP 2001-113902 A JP 2002-120509 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire that can reduce noise without deteriorating tire characteristics and a method for manufacturing the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first pneumatic tire of the present invention is characterized in that the physical properties of a tire constituent member extending over the entire circumference of the tire are changed according to the position in the tire circumferential direction. . More preferably, the physical property of the tread rubber layer is changed according to the position in the tire circumferential direction.

  The second pneumatic tire of the present invention for achieving the above object is a pneumatic tire in which the pitch of the tread pattern is periodically changed in the tire circumferential direction, and the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large. In the portion, the hardness (or modulus) of the tread rubber layer is relatively low, and in the portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively small, the hardness (or modulus) of the tread rubber layer is relatively high. Is.

  Furthermore, the third pneumatic tire of the present invention for achieving the above object is a pneumatic tire in which the pitch of the tread pattern is periodically changed in the tire circumferential direction, and the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large. The friction coefficient (or tan δ) of the tread rubber layer is relatively high in the portion, and the friction coefficient (or tan δ) of the tread rubber layer is relatively low in the portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively small. It is what.

  On the other hand, in the first method for producing a pneumatic tire according to the present invention, two or more types of strip materials are extruded while being alternately arranged to form a sheet material having a width equal to the length of one round of the tire. By cutting along the width direction, the tire constituent member for one round of the tire is processed, and the tire constituent member is annularly arranged so that the strip material is arranged in the tire axial direction to form a green tire, The green tire is vulcanized.

  In the second method for producing a pneumatic tire according to the present invention, two or more kinds of strip materials are alternately arranged and spirally wound around a cylindrical rod, and the total width of the strip material is set to one round of the tire. The strip member is cut along the axial direction of the rod to process the tire constituent member for one round of the tire, and the strip member is arranged in the tire axial direction. As described above, the green tire is formed by being arranged in a ring shape, and the green tire is vulcanized.

  According to the first pneumatic tire of the present invention, by changing the physical properties of the tire constituent member extending over the entire circumference of the tire according to the position in the tire circumferential direction, the natural frequency is dispersed in a plurality of bands. Since the vibration level in the band is lowered, the noise and vibration of the tire can be reduced.

  The physical properties to be changed in the tire circumferential direction include the thickness, density, hardness, modulus, viscoelasticity (tan δ) of the tire constituent member, the material and physical properties of the reinforcing material, and the like. In particular, it is preferable to change the physical properties of the tread rubber layer having a large influence on noise and vibration according to the position in the tire circumferential direction. Even when the cord driving density of the carcass layer is changed in the tire circumferential direction and the viscoelasticity (tan δ) of the sidewall rubber layer is changed in the tire circumferential direction, the frequency of noise and vibration is dispersed, and the tire Noise and vibration can be reduced. Further, when the thickness and viscoelasticity (tan δ) of the inner liner layer are changed in the tire circumferential direction, the riding comfort can be improved.

  According to the second pneumatic tire of the present invention, when the pitch variation is adopted, the tread rubber layer has a relatively low hardness (or modulus) at a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large, and the tread pattern By making the hardness (or modulus) of the tread rubber layer relatively high at a portion where the pitch of the tread is relatively small, the tread rigidity can be made substantially uniform regardless of the size of the pitch. Therefore, vibration can be reduced without deteriorating the pattern noise improved by the pitch variation. Moreover, by setting the hardness (or modulus) to cancel the variation in grip force due to the size of the pitch, the cornering performance is made uniform on the tire circumference and the steering stability is improved. And pattern noise are compatible.

  According to the third pneumatic tire of the present invention, when the pitch variation is adopted, the friction coefficient (or tan δ) of the tread rubber layer is relatively increased in a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large, In a portion where the pitch of the pattern is relatively small, the friction coefficient (or tan δ) of the tread rubber layer is made relatively low, that is, the friction coefficient (or tan δ) that cancels the variation in wet performance due to the size of the pitch. By setting, the wet performance can be improved without deteriorating the pattern noise improved by the pitch variation.

  In the present invention, the pitch of the tread pattern is the length of the minimum repeating unit of the land portion forming the tread pattern. It is preferable that the pitch of the tread pattern fluctuates in 2 to 4 periods on the entire circumference of the tire.

  On the other hand, according to the first method for producing a pneumatic tire of the present invention, two or more types of strip materials are extruded while being alternately arranged to form a sheet material having a width equal to the length of one round of the tire. By cutting the material along the width direction, the tire constituent member for one round of the tire is processed, and the tire constituent member is annularly arranged so that the strip member is arranged in the tire axial direction to form a green tire. Thus, the pneumatic tire described above can be easily manufactured.

  Further, according to the second method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire of the present invention, two or more kinds of strip materials are alternately wound around a cylindrical rod, and the total width of the strip material is set to the tire 1. The length of the tire is equal to the length of the circumference, and the strip material is cut along the axial direction of the rod to process the tire constituting member for one circumference of the tire so that the strip constituting material is arranged in the tire axial direction. Since the green tire is formed in an annular shape, the above-described pneumatic tire can be easily manufactured.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a half sectional view showing a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a development view showing a tread pattern thereof, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the pneumatic tire.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a tread portion, 2 is a sidewall portion, and 3 is a bead portion. As shown in FIG. 1, a carcass layer 4 is mounted between a pair of left and right bead portions 3 and 3. The carcass layer 4 is wound up around the annular bead core 5 embedded in the bead portion 3 from the tire inner side to the outer side. On the other hand, a plurality of belt layers 6 are embedded on the outer peripheral side of the carcass layer 4 in the tread portion 1. A tread rubber layer 7 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the belt layer 6 over the entire circumference of the tire.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of main grooves 11 extending in the tire circumferential direction and a plurality of horizontal grooves 12 extending in the tire width direction are formed in the tread portion 1, and ribs 13 and blocks are formed by the main grooves 11 and the horizontal grooves 12. 14 is partitioned.

In the pneumatic tire described above, the physical properties of the tread rubber layer 7 (tire component member) vary depending on the position in the tire circumferential direction. In FIG. 3, the tread rubber layer 7 is divided into four regions L _{1 to} L ₄ along the tire circumferential direction, and the physical properties of these regions L _{1 to} L ₄ are alternately different. As a result, the tire natural frequencies measured in the regions L _{1 to} L ₄ are dispersed in a plurality of bands and the vibration level in each band is lowered, so that the noise and vibration of the tire can be reduced.

  When a pitch variation is adopted for the tread pattern, it is also effective to change the physical properties of the tread rubber layer 7 according to the pitch variation. In FIG. 2, P is the pitch of the smallest repeating unit of the land portion forming the tread pattern. Pitch variations are formed by increasing or decreasing the length of the pitch P in 2 to 4 cycles along the entire circumference of the tire.

For example, the pitch P is relatively a large portion region L _1, L _3, if the pitch P is relatively small portion is a region L _2, L _4, the pitch P is relatively large region L _1, In L ₃ , the hardness (or modulus) of the tread rubber layer 7 is relatively low, and in the regions L ₂ and L ₄ where the pitch P is relatively small, the hardness (or modulus) of the tread rubber layer 7 is relatively high. . When changing the hardness, the JIS-A hardness of the high hardness part should be +2 to +10 points of the JIS-A hardness of the low hardness part. When the modulus is changed, the 100% modulus of the high modulus portion is preferably set to 110 to 300% of the 100% modulus of the low modulus portion.

  Accordingly, the tread rigidity can be made substantially uniform regardless of the size of the pitch P, and therefore vibration can be reduced without deteriorating the pattern noise improved by the pitch variation. Moreover, by setting a hardness (or modulus) that cancels the variation in grip force caused by the size of the pitch P, the cornering performance is made uniform on the tire circumference, and the steering stability is improved. Compatibility with pattern noise becomes possible.

The pitch P is relatively a large portion region L _1, L _3, if the pitch P is relatively small portion is a region L _2, L _4, the pitch P is relatively large region L _1, In L ₃ , the friction coefficient (or tan δ) of the tread rubber layer 7 is made relatively high, and in the regions L ₂ and L ₄ where the pitch P is relatively small, the friction coefficient (or tan δ) of the tread rubber layer 7 is made relatively. make low. When changing the friction coefficient, the friction coefficient of the high friction coefficient portion is preferably set to 110 to 300% of the friction coefficient of the low friction coefficient portion. When tan δ is changed, tan δ in the high tan δ portion is preferably set to 110 to 300% of tan δ in the low tan δ portion. Here, tan δ is measured using a viscoelastic spectrometer (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) under the conditions of a temperature of 60 ° C., a frequency of 20 Hz, an initial strain of 10%, and a dynamic strain of ± 2%.

  Thus, by setting the friction coefficient (or tan δ) so as to cancel the variation in wet performance caused by the size of the pitch P, the wet performance is improved without deteriorating the pattern noise improved by the pitch variation. be able to.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the pneumatic tire of this invention is demonstrated. The method for producing the pneumatic tire is not particularly limited, but the following two production methods are recommended in consideration of tire productivity.

  FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C show an example of a method for manufacturing the pneumatic tire. In FIG. 4 (a), an extruder 21 extrudes strip materials X and Y having different physical properties while alternately arranging them to form a sheet material 22 having a width equal to the length L of one tire circumference. . The strip material X and the strip material Y may be in a state where the ends are abutted with each other, or may be in a state where the ends are overlapped. And the tire structural member 23 (for example, tread rubber layer) for 1 round of a tire as shown in FIG.4 (b) is processed by cut | disconnecting the sheet | seat material 22 along the width direction. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the tire constituent member 23 is annularly arranged so that the strip materials X and Y are arranged in the tire axial direction to form a green tire 24. Thereafter, the green tire 24 is formed. Vulcanize. Thereby, a pneumatic tire in which the physical properties of the tire constituent member change in the tire circumferential direction can be easily obtained.

  Fig.5 (a)-FIG.5 (c) show the other manufacturing method of the said pneumatic tire. In FIG. 5A, strip materials X and Y having different physical properties are wound around a cylindrical rod 31 that is rotatably supported while being alternately arranged. The strip material X and the strip material Y may be in a state where the ends are abutted with each other, or may be in a state where the ends are overlapped. Here, the total winding width of the strip materials X and Y is made equal to the length L of one tire circumference. Then, the strip members X and Y are cut along the axial direction of the rod 31, and the cut pieces are opened, whereby the tire constituting member 33 (for example, tread rubber) for one turn of the tire as shown in FIG. Layer). Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the tire constituent member 33 is annularly arranged so that the strip materials X and Y are arranged in the tire axial direction to form a green tire 34, and then the green tire 34 is formed. Vulcanize. Thereby, a pneumatic tire in which the physical properties of the tire constituent member change in the tire circumferential direction can be easily obtained. In particular, the latter manufacturing method has an advantage that the degree of freedom in processing the tire constituent member is higher than that of the former manufacturing method.

  In the pneumatic tire manufacturing method described above, it is preferable that two types of strip materials having different physical properties are alternately arranged, and 4 to 8 strip materials are arranged in the width direction of the tire constituent member to be obtained. In particular, two types of strip materials having different physical properties may be alternately arranged, and four strip materials may be arranged in the width direction of the tire constituent member. Thereby, a more excellent frequency dispersion effect can be obtained with a small number of members.

  In a pneumatic tire adopting a tire size of 205 / 65R15 and a pitch variation having a two-cycle variation in a tread pattern, a conventional example and an example in which only the physical properties of the tread rubber layer were varied were manufactured. As the rubber composition constituting the tread rubber layer, rubber compositions A and B shown in Table 1 were used. In the conventional example, rubber composition A was used for the tread rubber layer, and in the examples, rubber compositions A and B were used for the tread rubber layer. In Examples, the rubber composition B was disposed in a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern was relatively large, and the rubber composition A was disposed in a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern was relatively small.

これら試験タイヤについて、以下の測定条件により、車内騒音、操縦安定性、ウェット性能をを評価し、その結果を表２に示した。

These test tires were evaluated for vehicle interior noise, steering stability, and wet performance under the following measurement conditions, and the results are shown in Table 2.

Vehicle noise:
Each test tire is mounted on a passenger car with a pressure of 220 kPa and a displacement of 2500 cc, a microphone is installed at the position of the driver's driver's seat window side ear, and the vehicle interior noise (frequency of 0 to 500 Hz) when traveling on a rough road surface at a speed of 50 km / h Range and a frequency range of 500 to 1.5 kHz). The evaluation results are shown as an index with the conventional example being 100. The smaller the index value, the smaller the noise.

Steering stability:
Each test tire was mounted on a passenger car with an air pressure of 220 kPa and a displacement of 2500 cc, and a feeling evaluation was performed on steering stability by five panelists. The evaluation results are shown as an index with the conventional example being 100. The larger the index value, the better the steering stability.

Wet Performance Each test tire was mounted on a passenger car having a displacement of 2500 cc with an air pressure of 220 kPa, and a feeling evaluation was performed on wet performance (braking performance) by five panelists. The evaluation results are shown as an index with the conventional example being 100. A larger index value means better wet performance.

この表２から判るように、実施例のタイヤは車内騒音、操縦安定性、ウェット性能の評価において、従来例よりも良好な結果が得られた。

As can be seen from Table 2, the tires of the examples obtained better results than the conventional examples in the evaluation of the vehicle interior noise, the steering stability, and the wet performance.

It is a meridian half section view showing a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a development view showing a tread pattern of the pneumatic tire of FIG. 1. It is a side view of the pneumatic tire of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st process of the manufacturing method of the pneumatic tire of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd process of the manufacturing method of the pneumatic tire of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd process of the manufacturing method of the pneumatic tire of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st process of the other manufacturing method of the pneumatic tire of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd process of the other manufacturing method of the pneumatic tire of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd process of the other manufacturing method of the pneumatic tire of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tread part 2 Side wall part 3 Bead part 4 Carcass layer 5 Bead core 6 Belt layer 7 Tread rubber layer 11 Main groove 12 Lateral groove 13 Rib 14 Block 21 Extruder 22 Sheet material 23, 33 Tire component 24, 34 Green tire 31 Rod X, Y strip material

Claims (9)

A pneumatic tire in which the physical properties of tire constituent members extending over the entire circumference of the tire are changed according to the position in the tire circumferential direction. A pneumatic tire in which the physical properties of the tread rubber layer are changed according to the position in the tire circumferential direction. In a pneumatic tire in which the pitch of the tread pattern is periodically changed in the tire circumferential direction, the hardness of the tread rubber layer is relatively lowered in a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large, and the pitch of the tread pattern is A pneumatic tire with a relatively high hardness of the tread rubber layer in a relatively small part. In a pneumatic tire in which the pitch of the tread pattern is periodically changed in the tire circumferential direction, the modulus of the tread rubber layer is relatively lowered in a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large, and the pitch of the tread pattern is A pneumatic tire with a relatively high modulus of the tread rubber layer in a relatively small part. In a pneumatic tire in which the pitch of the tread pattern is periodically changed in the tire circumferential direction, the friction coefficient of the tread rubber layer is relatively increased in a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large, and the pitch of the tread pattern is increased. A pneumatic tire in which the coefficient of friction of the tread rubber layer is relatively low in a portion where is relatively small. In a pneumatic tire in which the pitch of the tread pattern is periodically changed in the tire circumferential direction, tan δ of the tread rubber layer is relatively increased in a portion where the pitch of the tread pattern is relatively large, and the pitch of the tread pattern is A pneumatic tire having a relatively low tan δ of the tread rubber layer in a relatively small portion. The pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the pitch of the tread pattern fluctuates in 2 to 4 cycles along the entire circumference of the tire. Two or more types of strip materials are alternately arranged and extruded to form a sheet material having a width equal to the length of one tire, and the sheet material is cut along the width direction so that a tire for one tire A pneumatic tire manufacturing method in which a component member is processed, the tire component member is annularly arranged so that the strip members are arranged in the tire axial direction, a green tire is formed, and the green tire is vulcanized. Two or more types of strip materials are alternately arranged and spirally wound around a cylindrical rod, the total width of the strip material is made equal to the length of one round of the tire, and the strip material is arranged in the axial direction of the rod. A tire constituting member for one round of the tire is processed by cutting along the tire, and the tire constituting member is annularly arranged so that the strip material is arranged in the tire axial direction, thereby forming a green tire, and the green tire A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire for vulcanizing the tire.

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