JP2866636B2 - Heavy duty pneumatic tires - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heavy-duty pneumatic tire capable of improving snow column shearing force and edge effect in a vertical groove and improving ice and snow performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In winter tires, such as snow tires and studless tires, for running on icy and snowy roads, a block pattern generally defined on a tread surface by vertical and horizontal grooves. Are formed, and the performance on snow is enhanced by the shearing force (snow column shearing force) received from the snow column that is bitten into the groove and squeezed. On the other hand, for the performance on ice, the tread portion is formed of a soft rubber material to increase the adhesive frictional force with an ice road surface and to form sipes in each block.

[0003] This siping has an effect (edge effect) of improving the road surface friction coefficient by the edge scratching an icy road surface. However, when the number of sipings, the siping length, and the like are excessive, the block rigidity is excessively reduced. On the other hand, the edge effect has been impaired and the ground contact area has been reduced.

[0004] Therefore, in order to improve the ice and snow performance at a higher level, not only siping but also a higher contribution to the ice and snow performance by the vertical groove is required.

That is, according to the present invention, while the block is provided with a Z-shaped siping, the vertical main groove is formed by a zigzag groove having a predetermined deflection angle and a narrow portion and a wide portion disposed between the zigzag portions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heavy-duty pneumatic tire capable of imparting a high snow column shear force and an edge effect, particularly to a vertical main groove, and greatly improving ice and snow performance.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a heavy duty pneumatic tire according to the present invention extends continuously in the circumferential direction on a tread surface and has a groove width of 4.0 mm or more and 20.0 mm or more. A vertical groove having the following vertical main groove and a vertical sub-groove having a groove width of 2.0 mm or more and less than 4.0 mm, and a plurality of sections which divide the vertical grooves into a plurality of blocks by crossing the vertical grooves. And each block is provided with:
A single opening extending in one vertical groove and a second opening opening in the other vertical groove are provided, and the siping extends from the first opening into the block. Between the extending first siping piece and the second siping piece extending into the block from the second opening, the first and second siping pieces are bent and the first opening and the second A central inclined portion inclined and connected to an imaginary reference straight line connecting the opening, and a length J of a parallel component of the first and second siping pieces parallel to the reference straight line;
By making the sum of J1 and J2 (J1 + J2) larger than the length J of the reference straight line, the first and second siping pieces have a substantially Z-shape having an overlapping portion where the parallel components overlap. the circumferential main grooves forms a zigzag, and the zigzag
Four sets, each of which is located diagonally across the bend
A groove wall bending point of one block in the block, among the distance between the groove wall bending point of another block located diagonally of the block, the middle point between the groove wall bending points of the smallest block The zigzag center line K connected by a straight line has an angle α of 9 to 15 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction, and the vertical main groove has a wide portion between the zigzag portions and a groove width X2 on the tread surface of the wide portion. The groove width X1 on the tread surface has a smaller narrow portion than the maximum width XM2 of the groove width X2 of the wide portion and the minimum value Xm1 of the groove width X1 of the narrow portion.
the m1 / XM2 characterized that it has a 0.5 to 0.8
I have. It is.

In the block, the inclination angle β of the vertical main groove with respect to the circumferential direction of the groove wall surface is changed within an angle range of 5 to 70 degrees, and the inclination angle β is maximized at the central position in the circumferential direction of the block. It is preferable to obtain high snow column shear force and edge effect while maintaining high block strength.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a pneumatic tire for heavy load 1 (hereinafter referred to as tire 1) is a winter tire having a tire size of 11R22.5 in this example, and has bead portions 3, 3 on both sides through which a bead core 2 passes, and each bead. Sidewall portion 4 extending radially outward from tire portion 3
And a tread portion 5 connecting between the upper ends thereof. A carcass 6 is bridged between the bead portions 3 and 3 on the tire 1, and a belt layer 7 is circumferentially wound around the carcass 6 and inside the tread portion 5.

The carcass 6 is formed from one or more carcass plies in which carcass cords are arranged at an angle of 70 to 90 ° with respect to the tire equator C. Then, the bead portion 3 is turned around from the inside to the outside around the bead core 2 and locked. As the carcass cord, an organic fiber cord made of nylon, polyester, rayon, aromatic polyamide fiber or the like, or an inorganic fiber cord made of steel fiber or the like can be used. In this example, the carcass 6
Shows a steel carcass cord formed from one carcass ply 6A in which carcass cords are arranged at an angle of about 90 °.

The belt layer 7 includes a plurality of belt plies,
In the present example, the innermost first belt ply 7A in which a steel belt cord is inclined at a cord angle of about 60 ± 10 ° with respect to the tire equator C, and a belt cord with respect to the tire equator C, for example. The second to fourth belt plies 7B, 7C and 7D are inclined at a small cord angle of 30 ° or less, and the cord angles or the inclination directions of the cords are changed so that the belt cords cross each other between the plies. I overlap.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tread surface 5S, which is the outer surface of the tread portion 5, is divided by a vertical groove G extending continuously in the circumferential direction and a horizontal groove Y extending in a direction intersecting the vertical groove G. Block pattern is formed.

The vertical groove G includes a vertical main groove G1 having a groove width of 4.0 mm or more and 20.0 mm or less, and a vertical auxiliary groove G2 having a groove width of 2.0 mm or more and less than 4.0 mm. In this example, the vertical groove G has three vertical main grooves G1 and two vertical sub-grooves G1.
2 and two narrow vertical sub-grooves G3 having a groove width of less than 2.0 mm, and the vertical main grooves G1 and the vertical sub-grooves G2 are alternately arranged. . In the present application, the groove width of the vertical groove G and the horizontal groove Y is defined as the shortest distance from one groove wall to the other groove wall on the tread surface 5S.

The vertical main groove G1 is a zigzag groove having the deepest groove depth Hg1 of the vertical groove G and the horizontal groove Y. In this embodiment, the vertical main groove G1 is located on the tire equator C. The vertical main groove G1a passing therethrough and the vertical main grooves G1b outside both sides thereof
Are provided. The vertical sub-groove G2 is provided between the middle and outer vertical main grooves G1a and G1b, and the narrow vertical sub-groove G3 is provided between the outer vertical main groove G1b and the tread edge Te. .

In the present embodiment, the vertical sub-grooves G2 and the narrow vertical sub-grooves G3 are formed as zigzag grooves having a substantially constant groove width, but may be formed by changing the groove width. The minimum width and the maximum width are defined as the above ranges. The groove depth of the vertical sub-groove G2 and the narrow vertical sub-groove G3 is the same as the groove depth H of the vertical main groove G1.
g1 or less, and in this example, it is formed to 10 to 13 mm. The narrow vertical sub-groove G3 may be formed by the vertical sub-groove G2.

Here, when all the vertical grooves G are formed by the vertical main grooves G1, the ratio is the ratio of the total area Ss of the groove areas formed by the vertical grooves G and the horizontal grooves Y to the total area So of the tread surface 5S. When the sea area ratio Ss / So becomes excessive, the wear resistance and uneven wear resistance in addition to the performance on ice and the dry running performance are remarkably reduced. Conversely, when all the vertical grooves G are formed by the vertical sub-grooves G2. , It is difficult to obtain the required snowiness and drainage. Therefore, it is necessary to use the vertical main groove G1 and the vertical sub-groove G2 together, and it is particularly preferable to alternately arrange a total of five or more of the vertical main groove G1 and the vertical sub-groove G2.

Further, the arrangement of each of the vertical main grooves G1 in the tread central region Tc having a high contact pressure defined as a width region of 0.6 times the tread width TW between the tread edges Te, Te can be performed on snow. It is preferable in terms of enhancing the properties and drainage.

The tread surface 5S has a convex curve such as an arc centered on the tire equatorial plane in a meridional section of the tire, and the tread edge Te corresponds to the tread surface 5S.
It is defined as the intersection between S and the outer surface of the sidewall portion. In this example, in order to improve the wandering performance, the tread surface 5S has a tapered shoulder structure in which both end portions are formed with slopes. Therefore, the tread edge Te is formed by the intersection of the slope and the sidewall portion outer surface. .
In addition, the tread portion 5 can adopt a round shoulder structure in which both end portions of the tread surface 5S are formed of an arc surface in addition to the square shoulder structure in which the slope is removed. The tread edge Te is constituted by an intersection or a contact point with the outer surface of the sidewall portion.

A plurality of horizontal grooves Y are provided between the vertical grooves G, and between the outermost vertical groove G and the tread edge Te.
Is formed in the row of the block B. At this time, since the vertical main groove G1 intersects the horizontal groove Y at the zigzag bending point position, the bending point position becomes substantially unclear.

Therefore, in the present application, the zigzag degree of the vertical main groove G1 is defined as follows. That is, as described on behalf of the outer vertical main groove G1b in FIG.
2 sets it across the (meaning bent portion of the zigzag)
In the four blocks B1 to B4 that are located diagonally , the groove wall bending point P1 of one block B1 and the groove wall bending point P2 of the block B2 that is located diagonally to this block B1.
And the length of the distance LB between the groove wall bending points P3 and P4 of the remaining blocks B3 and B4 is compared, and the distance between the groove wall bending points on the minimum side of the distances LA and LB is compared. The zigzag line by connecting the center point N of
It is defined as a zigzag center line K of the vertical main groove G1. The angle α of the zigzag center line K with respect to the circumferential direction is restricted to a range of 9 to 15 degrees. Note that the groove wall bending points P1 to P4 correspond to the respective blocks B facing the zigzag portion 10.
Means vertices 1 to B4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical main groove G1b shown in FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vertical main groove G1b.
A wide portion 12 having a groove width X2 between 0 and 10;
A narrow portion 11 having a groove width X1 smaller than the groove width X2, a maximum value XM2 of the groove width X2 of the wide portion 12, and a minimum value of the groove width X1 of the narrow portion 11; Xm1
Is set to 0.5 to 0.8.

That is, the blocks B1 and B4 will be described as a representative. The vertical main groove G1b is formed between the blocks B1 and B4 in this example by the narrow portion 11 at the center and the wide portion 12 outside the central portion. The narrow portion 11 and the wide portion 12
Is formed by forming at least one, preferably each groove wall surface Bs of both blocks B, from a plurality of bent surfaces Si. In this embodiment, the inclination angle β of each bent surface Si with respect to the circumferential direction is in the range of 5 to 70 degrees, and the inclination angle β
Is the maximum angle at the central position in the circumferential direction of the block B.

Here, the narrow portion 11 and the wide portion 12 are relative divisions according to the groove width, and the narrow portion 11 has a minimum width of the vertical main groove G1 between the zigzag portions 10 and 10. The minimum value corresponds to the minimum value Xm1 of the groove width of the narrow portion 11. Wide section 12
Can be defined as the portion having the maximum value of the groove width of the vertical main groove G1, and this maximum value coincides with the maximum value XM2 of the groove width of the wide portion 12.

The minimum value Xm1 is in the range of 4.0 mm or more and the maximum value XM2 is in the range of 20.0 mm or less, and the ratio Xm1 / XM2 is restricted to the range of 0.5 to 0.8. .

As described above, the vertical main groove G1 in which the narrow portion 11 and the wide portion 12 are provided between the zigzag portions 10 and 10 has a smaller size of the snow caught in the groove than the groove having a constant width. For example, the snow column shearing force can be greatly improved, for example, the compression ratio to snow can be increased.
In addition, the vertical main groove G1 has a deflection angle α extending at a zigzag degree of 9 to 15 degrees, and further, the groove wall surface Bs is formed by a plurality of bent surfaces Si between the zigzag portions 10 and 10. The snow column shearing force is exerted on traction and braking in a well-balanced manner, and the performance on snow can be improved. In addition, since the axial edge component in the vertical main groove G1 increases, the edge effect increases, and the performance on ice can be improved.

Here, when the angle α is less than 9 degrees, and when the ratio X
When m1 / XM2 is larger than 0.8, the effect of improving the performance on snow and the performance on ice becomes difficult to exert. The angle α is 15
When the ratio is larger than the degree, and when the ratio Xm1 / XM2 is less than 0.5, the drainage property and the soil removal property are impaired, the stone is caught, etc., and the risk of chipping, which is a starting point of uneven wear, is increased. Becomes

When the groove wall surface Bs includes a curved surface Si having an inclination angle β of less than 5 degrees, the effect of improving the performance on snow and the performance on ice is impaired by the curved surface Si.
When the inclination angle β includes a curved surface Si larger than 70 degrees, stress is concentrated on the curved surface Si, which is likely to cause damage, and also causes a decrease in drainage property, earth discharging property, and the like. Absent. In addition, since the bending surface Si1 having the maximum inclination angle β receives a high stress, it is preferable to dispose the bending surface Si1 at the central position in the circumferential direction of the block B, which is excellent in rigidity and strength, in order to suppress damage and increase the height of the snow column. It is preferable for obtaining the shearing force and the edge effect.

The lateral groove Y extends at a shallow angle with respect to the tire axial direction. In this example, the lateral groove Y is a linear groove, and the angle of the groove center with respect to the tire axial direction is 30 degrees or less, preferably 20 degrees or less. It is more preferable that the angle be 15 degrees or less in terms of grip performance. The lateral groove Y may be formed in a curved shape or a broken line shape. At this time, the angle of a straight line connecting the groove centers at both ends is defined as the range.

As shown in this example, the vertical main groove G1 and the vertical sub-groove G2
When the horizontal groove Y is arranged between the horizontal groove Y and the horizontal groove Y, the width of the horizontal groove Y is continuously increased at a substantially constant ratio from the opening end on the vertical main groove side to the opening end of the vertical auxiliary groove G2. It is preferable to include Thereby, the vertical main groove G1 and the vertical sub-groove G2
Can suppress uneven wear of the block B caused by being adjacent to the block B.

Each of the blocks B has a siping 1 connecting the vertical grooves G, G in order to obtain necessary performance on ice.
5 are provided. The siping 15 has a kerf shape that substantially closes the groove width when grounding. In this example, the sipe width is 0.3 to 1.5 mm and the sipe depth is the groove of the vertical main groove G1. 0.4 to 0.7 of depth Hg1
It is doubled and equal to or less than the groove depth of the vertical sub-groove G2. Note that one siping 15 is formed for each block. However, if the number of sipings exceeds one, the rigidity of the block as a heavy duty tire is insufficient and the block is broken.

As shown schematically in FIG. 4, the siping 15 comprises a first siping piece 15a extending into the block B from a first opening 19 opened by one vertical groove G.
The second extending from the second opening 20 opened by the other vertical groove G
Of the siping pieces 15b,
It has a substantially Z-shape composed of a central inclined portion 15c connecting between 5b. The central inclined portion 15c has an angle θ1 of 30 to 83 degrees with respect to a virtual reference straight line VL connecting between the openings 19 and 20.
In this example, the reference straight line VL is disposed substantially parallel to the lateral groove Y at ± 5 degrees or less.

Further, in the siping 15, the sum (J1 + J2) of the lengths J1 and J2 of the parallel components of the siping pieces 15a and 15b parallel to the reference straight line VL is larger than the length J of the reference straight line VL. Thus, an overlapping portion 16 where the parallel components overlap is formed.

Such a substantially Z-shaped siping 15 is
Since the axial edge component increases, performance on ice can be greatly improved. Moreover, even if a shearing force acts on the block B in a direction perpendicular to the siping 15, the siping 15
The block pieces Bf and Br divided by the above mesh with each other, and the opening of the siping 15 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent damages such as chipping of the blocks and the like, and to prevent a decrease in block rigidity and a decrease in ground contact area, thereby improving the performance on ice and the steering stability on dry road surfaces.

Further, due to the mutual engagement of the small block pieces Bf and Br, the block B1 falls down substantially uniformly in the tire circumferential direction as a whole during running, and the contact pressure of the block B1 can be made uniform. Therefore, uneven wear such as heel and toe wear due to siping can be suppressed, and wear resistance can be improved.

For this reason, the length V of the overlapping portion 16
It is desirable that the respective ratios (V / J1) and (V / J2) of the lengths J1 and J2 of the parallel components of the siping pieces 15a and 15b be 0.1 to 0.9, respectively. If 0.1
If it is less than 0.9, the effect becomes insufficient and cracks are apt to be formed at the bottom of the siping. Is too small, and cracks are likely to occur at the intersection of the siping bottom and the like. Therefore, from such a viewpoint, the intersection angles θ2 and θ3 are 1
6 degrees or more, more preferably 24 degrees or more, and the upper limit is 7 degrees
It is good to be 0 degrees or less.

In the siping 15, the siping pieces 15a and 15b and the central inclined portion 15c may be formed as straight lines, respectively.
It is preferable that 15b be formed as a horizontally long S-shaped curve 30 as shown by a dashed line in FIG. At this time, the siping piece 15a has a convex portion 25 extending from the opening 19 and protruding toward the block small piece Br, and a concave portion 26 connected to the convex portion 25 and concave toward the block small piece Br. The siping piece 15b extends from the opening 20 and has a small block B
A convex portion 25 protruding toward the f side and a concave portion 26 connected to the convex portion 25 and concave toward the block piece Bf are provided.
As a result, the meshing effect between the block pieces Bf and Br is further enhanced, and the edge effect is increased. Further, the intersection angles of the openings 19 and 20 of the siping 15 with the vertical groove G and the intersection angles θ2 and θ3 at the inner end are increased, respectively, which also helps to prevent damage such as cracks.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A tire having the structure of FIG.
2.5 tires were prototyped based on the specifications in Table 1, and the ice and snow performance of each test tire was tested and compared. In addition, as shown in Table 2, the tire structure is common to each tire, and tread patterns of the tires of Comparative Examples 1 to 5 are shown in FIGS.

In the test, the test tires were measured at 7.50 × 22.
5 rims (internal pressure 8.0 kgf / cm ² ), 2/2
-D was mounted on all wheels of a vehicle (load capacity of 10 tons) and performed as follows.

Ice / Snow Performance As a snow / ice performance, a braking test and a start test are performed. As a braking test, a braking distance is examined by applying a lock sudden braking at a speed of 30 km / h on an icy road, It is indicated by an index. The larger the value, the shorter the braking distance and the better the ice and snow braking performance. In the start test, the vehicle is started or accelerated during running on the icy and snowy road, and the traction performance at that time is indicated by an index with the comparative example 1 being 100 based on the driver's feeling. The larger the value, the better the traction performance and the better the starting performance.

[0039]

[Table 1]

[0040]

[Table 2]

As shown in Table 1, Example 1 employs both a Z-shaped siping and a zigzag vertical main groove having a narrow portion and a wide portion. And the edge effect can be greatly improved, and the ice and snow performance can be enhanced.

[0042]

Since the present invention is configured as described above,
Snow column shearing force and edge effect can be greatly improved, and ice and snow performance can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a developed view showing the tread pattern.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagram showing a vertical main groove.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an exaggerated siping.

FIG. 5 is a development view showing a tread pattern of a tire of a comparative example shown in Table 1.

FIG. 6 is a developed view showing a tread pattern of a tire of a comparative example shown in Table 1.

FIG. 7 is a developed view showing a tread pattern of a tire of a comparative example shown in Table 1.

FIG. 8 is a development view showing a tread pattern of a tire of a comparative example shown in Table 1.

9 is a developed view showing a tread pattern of a tire of a comparative example shown in Table 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5S tread surface 10 zigzag portion 11 narrow portion 12 wide portion 15 siping 15a first siping piece 15b second siping piece 15c central inclined portion 16 overlapping portion 19 first opening 20 second opening B, B1, B2 , B3, B4 Block Bs Groove wall surface G Vertical groove G1, Ga, Gb Vertical main groove G2 Vertical sub groove LA, LB Distance between groove wall bending points N Central point P1, P2, P3, P4 Groove wall bending point VL Virtual Reference straight line Y lateral groove

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-254406 (JP, A) JP-A-7-1919 (JP, A) JP-A-2-310109 (JP, A) JP-A-4-87806 (JP) JP-A-7-215017 (JP, A) JP-A-62-181904 (JP, A) JP-A-59-199306 (JP, A) JP-A-7-37710 (JP, A) 3-10913 (JP, A) JP-A-4-173407 (JP, A) JP-A-62-50206 (JP, A) JP-A-2-254003 (JP, A) European Patent Application Publication 671288 (EP, A) 1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60C 11/00-11/24

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vertical main groove extending continuously in the circumferential direction and having a groove width of 4.0 mm or more and 20.0 mm or less, and a vertical auxiliary groove having a groove width of 2.0 mm or more and less than 4.0 mm on the tread surface. A vertical groove having a groove, and a plurality of horizontal grooves which divide the vertical groove into a plurality of blocks by traversing the vertical groove, wherein each block is opened by one of the vertical grooves.
And one siping extending in series with a second opening opened by the other vertical groove, wherein the siping includes a first siping piece extending from the first opening into the block, Between the second opening and the second siping piece extending into the block through the first and second openings.
And a central inclined portion which is bent and inclined and connected to an imaginary reference straight line connecting the first opening and the second opening, and the reference of the first and second siping pieces is provided. The sum of the lengths J1 and J2 of parallel components parallel to the straight line (J1
+ J2) is greater than the length J of the reference straight line, so that the first and second siping pieces have a substantially Z-shape having an overlapping portion where the parallel component overlaps, Make zigzag and bend this zigzag
Four sets of four blocks each located diagonally across the part
A groove wall bending point of a block in the click, the center point between these, the groove wall bending point smallest block of the distance between the groove wall bending point of another block located diagonally of the block And a zigzag center line K connecting the straight lines with each other has an angle α of 9 to 15 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction. A ratio between the maximum value XM2 of the groove width X2 of the wide portion and the minimum value Xm1 of the groove width X1 of the narrow portion is smaller than the groove width X1 on the tread surface than the width X2. A pneumatic tire for heavy loads, wherein Xm1 / XM2 is 0.5 to 0.8. 2. In one block, the inclination angle β of the vertical main groove with respect to the circumferential direction of the groove wall surface varies within an angle range of 5 to 70 degrees and reaches a maximum angle at a central position in the circumferential direction of the block. The pneumatic tire for heavy loads according to claim 1, wherein: