Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
1
Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
2017P08315WO/Ju
09.26.2018
Description
Pneumatic vehicle tyre having a tread with spikes
The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread, which has
two shoulder
regions and a central tread region between said shoulder regions, wherein
spikes are
arranged in the profile positives of the tread, which spikes run in spike
tracks in an
encircling manner over the circumference of the tread, and wherein the spike
tracks are
assigned to spike zones, which likewise run in an encircling manner over the
circumference
of the tread, wherein at least one spike track is arranged in each spike zone,
wherein a spike
has a spike pin with an end portion projecting beyond the tread surface,
wherein said end
portion in a top view of the tread is non-circular and elongate and, in a
greatest extent,
defines a longitudinal axis, wherein a base spike zone having a spike, of
which the
longitudinal axis of the end portion of the spike pin assumes an angle a of 00
to +/-7 to the
axial direction, is positioned in the central tread region, and wherein the
base spike zone or
the base spike track divides the tread into a right tread half and into a left
tread half.
It is known to equip the running surface of pneumatic vehicle tires with
spikes in order to
achieve improved traction on snow-covered or icy roads.
Spikes are generally held in the spike holes of the tread of pneumatic vehicle
tires by a
combination of positive engagement and clamping. Conventional spikes usually
consist of a
spike body in which the spike pin is held with its end portion projecting over
the tread
surface.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
2
The improved traction is achieved in that the end portion of the spike pin
penetrates the
winter road layer during the rolling of the tire and leads to a mechanical
connection
between tire and road.
It is known from US 6374886 to equip a pneumatic vehicle tire with lamella
pins. The tire
traction properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions can be
influenced with the
aid of direction and design of the lamella pins.
EP 1199193 Al discloses a spike which, in top view, has a non-circular,
elongate spike root
and a non-circular, elongate spike upper part, wherein the spike root and the
spike upper
part are interlocked in relation to each other and therefore the longitudinal
axis of the spike
root encloses an angle differing from zero with the longitudinal axis of the
spike upper part.
Furthermore, it is known that different types of spike differing by the angle
of interlocking
are arranged in the tread. For optimum absorption of force, the spikes are
arranged in the
tread in such a manner that the longitudinal axes are turned from the axial
direction at the
same angles to the right in the left tire shoulder and to the left in the
right tire shoulder. In
the central tread region, the longitudinal axes of the spike upper part are
oriented
approximately axially.
In addition, it is known that the shoulder region of the tread particularly
during cornering
absorbs lateral or transversely directed forces and contributes significantly
to the lateral
guidance of the tire. Furthermore, it is known that elongate end portions of
spikes arranged
parallel to the axial direction of the tire are advantageous for traction.
The invention is based on the object of designing a pneumatic vehicle tire of
the type
mentioned at the beginning in such a manner that the performance of said tire
on a wintry
road is improved and the conflict of objectives between transmission of
traction force and
lateral guidance force is resolved to a greater degree.
The stated object is achieved according to the invention in that at least 2
further spike zones
having spikes are arranged in addition to the base spike zone in a tread half,
of which spikes
the longitudinal axes of the end portions of the spike pins assume greater
angles to the axial
direction the further axially outward the spike zone of the spike is
positioned, and in that
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
3
the longitudinal axes of the end portions of the spike pins of the spikes
positioned in said
further spike zones assume angles (3, y, 6 in a range from +/- 5 to +/- 90
with respect to
the axial direction.
It is essential to the invention that a "fanning out" of the angular size of
the spike pins of
the spikes arranged in the further spike zones is obtained from a base spike
zone arranged
in the central tread area in the direction of the tread shoulder. This means
that the
longitudinal axes of the end portions of the spike pins assume greater angles
with respect to
the axial direction, the further the spike is positioned in a further spike
zone arranged
further axially outward. At least one base spike zone is arranged in the
center of the tread
with a spike pin end portion arranged approximately transversely to the
circumferential
direction, through which traction forces can be optimally transmitted. The
further axially
outward a spike is arranged in one of the at least two further spike zones,
the greater the
angle of the longitudinal axis of the spike pin with respect to the axial
direction and is at
maximum +/-900. At an angle of +/- 900 in relation to the axial direction,
lateral guidance
forces can be optimally transmitted in the shoulder region. Since there is now
no abrupt
transition of the angles of the longitudinal axes of the spike pins across the
tread width, but
rather, according to the invention, there is a "harmonious" transition in a
plurality of steps
because of at least two further spike zones with spike pins each having
greater angles, the
transmission of force from lateral guidance and traction is more even over the
tread width.
This has a positive effect on the winter performance of the pneumatic vehicle
tire and the
conflict of objectives between transmission of traction force and lateral
guidance force is
resolved to a greater degree.
"Shoulder region" means the profiled tread region that extends axially outward
from the
outermost circumferential groove, which does not have to run exclusively in
the
circumferential direction but can also have a zigzag shape.
The "base spike zone" with one or more base spike tracks is always arranged in
the central
tread region and can lie in the geometric center or outside said geometric
center of the
tread.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
4
When it is described that "a spike is arranged further axially outward", it is
meant that this
spike is positioned on a spike track which is arranged in a spike zone which
is further
axially outward.
A positive angle (+) means the rotation of the longitudinal axis clockwise
from the axial
direction.
A negative angle (-) means the rotation of the longitudinal axis
counterclockwise from the
axial direction.
A "spike zone" has at least one spike track, but the spike zone can also
contain a plurality of
spike tracks. In the same spike zone, all of the longitudinal axes of the end
portions of the
spike pins of the spikes have the same spike angle, which can be in the same
direction or
alternating in opposite directions.
It is advantageous if all of the spikes in the tread have the same geometry.
All of the spikes
in the tread are therefore of the same type of spike. The tire tread can be
equipped with
spikes using a simple machine which does not have to be able to distinguish
between two or
more types of spike. Therefore, the production is simple and inexpensive.
The same "type of spike" means that spike pins and spike bodies of the same
geometry are
assembled in such a way that all of the spikes have the same geometry within
the general
production spread.
In a spike zone, all of the longitudinal axes of the end portions of the spike
pins assume
angles of equal size to the axial direction. Said angles can have the same
sign (in the same
direction), but also positive and negative signs. Angles in the same direction
per spike track
.. are particularly expedient for directional tires. Alternating opposing
angles per spike track
are particularly useful for symmetrical non-directional and asymmetrical non-
directional
tires that do not have a predetermined running direction, because the lateral
guidance and
traction components can thus be divided symmetrically.
In order to improve the winter properties, it is expedient to use a large
number of spike
tracks so that the spikes are not placed too close to one another in the same
spike track and
would possibly ineffectively engage in the scratch track of the previous
spike. It is therefore
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
expedient from the aspect of production and performance to combine a plurality
of spike
tracks into one "spike zone". In the same spike zone, all of the longitudinal
axes of the end
portions of the spike pins of the spikes have the same angle with respect to
the axial
direction, which can be in the same direction or alternately in opposite
directions.
5
In one specific embodiment of the invention, the in each case at least two
further spike
tracks are arranged in each of the two tread halves, wherein, in particular in
the case of
symmetrical directional tread profiles, all of the angles of the longitudinal
axes of the end
portions of the spike pins are positive with respect to the axial direction in
the one tread
half and all angles are negative in the other tread half. The longitudinal
axes of the end
portions of the spikes are always oriented in the same direction in a spike
track, that is to
say all are either positive or all negative. In addition, the longitudinal
axes of the end
portions are all positive in the one tread half and all negative in the other
tread half. In this
way, a balanced winter performance over the tread width is obtained, in
particular in the
case of symmetrical directional tread profiles. A uniform and symmetrical
distribution of
the spike angles and thus a harmonious driving behavior can be generated.
In another embodiment of the invention, the in each case at least two further
spike zones are
arranged in each of the two tread halves, wherein, in particular in the case
of asymmetrical
tread profiles, the angles of the longitudinal axes of the end portions of the
spike pins with
respect to the axial direction in a spike track are of the same size, but have
positive and
negative signs in an alternating manner over the circumference of said spike
track. By this
means, a uniform transmission of force is ensured even in the case of
asymmetrical tread
profiles.
It is expedient if a tread half has 3 to 15 further spike tracks which lie in
spike zones. This
number of additional spike tracks enables a particularly harmonious "fanning
out" of the
angles of the end portions in a plurality of stages over the width of the
tread. This is
expedient because a particularly harmonious driving behavior can thus be
produced.
It is advantageous if the base spike zone has one or two base spike tracks
which are
arranged in the central region of the tread, and in that the angles of the
longitudinal axes of
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
6
the end portions of the spike pins are approximately identical in the two base
spike tracks.
"Approximately" means here within the scope of production tolerance. These
spikes in the
basic track(s) contribute particularly to excellent braking and traction
properties, since they
are maximally designed for longitudinal transmission of force.
A refinement of the invention is advantageous, in which the base spike zone
has one or two
base spike tracks which are arranged in the central region of the tread, and
in which the
longitudinal axes of the end portions of the spike pins of the spikes of the
further spike
zones assume angles in a range of +/- 50 - +/- 12 with respect to the axial
direction in the
central tread region and in a range of +/- 12 - +/-900 with respect to the
axial direction in
the shoulder region. This resolves the conflict of objectives between traction
and lateral
guidance to a particularly great extent. Due to the dynamic shifting of load
during
cornering, a longer "ground contact area" arises at the outer shoulder, as a
result of which
the greatly inclined spikes that are important for the lateral guidance come
into their own in
particular. When driving straight ahead with a symmetrical "ground contact
area",
particularly the only slightly inclined central spikes come completely into
their own.
In an advantageous refinement of the invention, 7 spike zones are arranged in
the tread, of
which spike zones three further spike zones are arranged in the left tread
half, three further
spike zones are arranged in the right tread half and one base spike zone
having two spike
tracks is arranged in the central region of the tread, and in that the
longitudinal axes of the
end portions of the spike pins of the spikes assume angles of the following
ranges with the
axial direction, as viewed from the left to the right over the tread: 30 to
90 , 12 to 30 , 5
to 12 , 0 to +1-7 , 0 to +1-7 , -5 to -12, -12 to -30 , -30 to -90 or
vice versa, namely: -
30 to -90 , -12 to -30 , -5 to -12 , 0 to +/- 7 , 0 to +/- 7 , 5 to 12 ,
12 to 30 , 30 to
90 , wherein the angles become greater the further axially outward the spike
is arranged
because this is the only way to ensure that the greatly inclined spikes that
are important for
the lateral guidance are located in the shoulder blocks. In this embodiment,
the 6 further
spike zones preferably each have a spike track.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, 7 spike zones are arranged in the
tread, of
which spike zones three further spike zones are arranged in the left tread
half, three further
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
7
spike zones are arranged in the right tread half and the base spike zone
having one base
spike track is arranged in the central region of the tread, and the
longitudinal axes of the
end portions of the spike pins of the spikes assume angles of the following
ranges with the
axial direction, as viewed from the left to the right over the tread: +45 ,
+15 , +7 , 00, -7 , -
15 , -45 or vice versa, namely: -45 , -15 , -7 , 0 , 7 , 15 , 45 . In this
embodiment, the 6
further spike zones preferably each have a spike track.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, 7 spike zones are arranged
in the tread,
of which spike zones three further spike zones are arranged in the left tread
half, three
further spike zones are arranged in the right tread half and the base spike
zone having one
base spike track is arranged in the central region of the tread, and the
longitudinal axes of
the end portions of the spike pins of the spikes assume angles of the
following ranges with
the axial direction, as viewed from the left to the right over the tread: +/-
45 , +/- 15 , +/-
70, 0 , +/- 70, +/- 15 , +/- 450, wherein, in one spike track, the signs of
the angles of the
longitudinal axes of successively arranged spikes alternate. In this
embodiment, the 6
further spike zones preferably each have a spike track.
Further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be
described in more
detail on the basis of the drawings, which illustrate schematic exemplary
embodiments. In
the drawings,
fig. 1 shows a top view of a tread portion of a first pneumatic vehicle tire
according to the
invention;
fig. 2 shows a top view of a tread portion of a second pneumatic vehicle tire
according to
the invention;
fig. 3 shows a top view of a tread portion of a third pneumatic vehicle tire
according to the
invention.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
8
Fig. 1 shows a top view of a tread section of a first pneumatic passenger
vehicle tire
according to the invention. The tread profile of said passenger vehicle tire
is symmetrical
and directional. The tread portion is representative of the entire tread. The
tread has two
shoulder regions la, lb and a central tread region 2 between said shoulder
regions la, lb.
Spikes 4 are arranged in the profile positives 3 of the tread, which spikes
run in an
encircling manner in spike tracks Si, 52, 53, 5B, 5-1, 5-2, 5_3 over the
circumferential direction
UR of the tread. The spike tracks 51, 52, 53, 5B, 5-1, 5_2, 5_3 are assigned
to spike zones 101,
102, 103, 10B, 10_1, 10_2, 10_3, the zone boundaries of which are shown in
dashed lines. The
spike zones 101, 102, 103, 10B, 10_1, 10_2, 10_3 have a certain axial width
and are arranged in
an encircling manner over the circumference of the tread. In this exemplary
embodiment, a
spike zone 101, 102, 103, 10B, 10_1, 10_2, 10_3 in each case contains only a
single spike track
Si, 52, 53, 5B, 5-1, 5-2, 5_3. All of the spikes 4 are of the same type of
spike and therefore
have the same geometry. A spike 4 has a spike pin with an end portion 6
projecting beyond
the tread surface, wherein said end portion 6 in a top view of the tread is
non-circular and
elongate and, in a greatest extent, defines a longitudinal axis 7. A base
spike zone 10B
having a base spike track 5B with a spike 4, of which the longitudinal axis 7
of the end
portion 6 of the spike pin assumes an angle a of approximately 00 to the axial
direction aR,
is positioned in the central tread region 2. Said base spike track 5B divides
the tread into a
right tread half 8 and into a left tread half 9.
Three further spike zones 101, 102, 103, 10_1, 10_2, 10_3 each having a spike
track Si, 52, 53,
5-1, 5-2, 5-3 having spikes 4 are arranged in addition to the base spike track
5B in each tread
half 8, 9, of which spikes the longitudinal axes 7 of the end portions 6 of
the spike pins
assume greater angles (3, y, 6 in each case to the axial direction aR the
further axially
outward the spike zone of the spike 4 is positioned. The spikes 4 of each
spike zone 101,
102, 103, 10B, 10_1, 10_2, 10_3 are in the same direction with respect to the
angles which the
longitudinal axes 7 of the end portions 6 of the spike pins assume with the
axial direction
aR, i. e. said spikes are oriented either positively or negatively in a spike
zone 101, 102, 103,
10B, 10_1, 10_2, 10-3. The longitudinal axes 7 of the end portions 6 of the
spike pins of the
spikes 4 positioned on said further spike tracks Si, 52, 53, Si, 5_2, 5_3
assume angles (3, y, 6 in
a range from 50 to 900 with respect to the axial direction aR. Therefore, the
number and
arrangement of the spike tracks Si, 52, 53, 54, 5-2, 5_3 and the orientation
and size of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
9
angles (3, y, 6 of the longitudinal axes 7 of the end portions 6 of the spike
pins are arranged
minor-symmetrically with respect to the base spike track 5B in the tread.
Therefore, 7 spike zones and 7 spike tracks 51, 52, 53, 5u, 5-1, 5-2, 5_3 are
arranged in the
tread, of which spike zones and spike tracks three further spike zones 101,
102, 103 each
having a further spike track Si, 52, 53 are arranged in the left tread half 9,
three further spike
zones 10_1, 10_2, 10_3 each having a further spike track Si, 5_2, 5_3 are
arranged in the right
tread half 8 and a base spike zone 10B having a base spike track 5B is
arranged in the central
region 2 of the tread. The longitudinal axes 7 of the end portions 6 of the
spike pins of the
spikes 4 assume angles of the following ranges with the axial direction, as
viewed from the
left to the right over the tread: 450, 150, 50, 00, _50, 4-0, _
) 45 . Therefore, the
longitudinal
axes 7 of the left tread half 9 are minor-symmetrical to the longitudinal axes
7 of the right
tread half 8, and the angles with respect to the axial direction aR become
greater, the further
axially outward the spike 4 is arranged.
Fig. 2 shows a top view of a tread portion of a second pneumatic passenger
vehicle tire
according to the invention. The tread profile of said passenger vehicle tire
is asymmetrical
and non-directional.
The tread portion is representative of the entire tread. The tread has two
shoulder regions
la, lb and a central tread region 2 between said shoulder regions la, lb.
Spikes 4 are
arranged in the profile positives 3 of the tread, which spikes run in an
encircling manner in
spike tracks 5B, 1-6 over the circumference of the tread. The spike tracks 5B,
1-6 are assigned
to spike zones 10B, 1-6, the zone boundaries of which are shown in dashed
lines. The spike
zones 10B, 1-6 have a certain axial width and are arranged in an encircling
manner over the
circumference of the tread. In this exemplary embodiment, a spike zone 10B, 1-
6 in each case
contains only a single spike track 5B, 1-6. All of the spikes 4 are of the
same type of spike
and therefore have the same geometry. A spike 4 has a spike pin with an end
portion 6
projecting beyond the tread surface, wherein said end portion 6 in a top view
of the tread is
non-circular and elongate and, in a greatest extent, defines a longitudinal
axis 7. A base
spike zone 10B having a base spike track 5B with a spike 4, of which the
longitudinal axis 7
of the end portion of the spike pin assumes an angle a of approximately 00 to
the axial
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
direction aR, is positioned in the central tread region 2. Said base spike
track 5B divides the
tread into a right tread half 8 and into a left tread half 9.
Three further spike zones 101-6 each having a spike track 51_6 with spikes 4
are arranged in
5 addition to the base spike zone 10B having a base spike track 5B in each
tread half, of which
spikes the longitudinal axes 7 of the end portions 6 of the spike pins assume
greater angles
+/-13, +/- y, +/-6 in each case to the axial direction aR, the further axially
outward the spike
zone 101_6 of the spikes 4 is positioned. The spikes 4 of each spike track 5B,
1-6 are of the
same size with respect to the angles which the longitudinal axes 7 of the end
portions 6 of
10 the spike pins assume with the axial direction aR, but are oriented
positively and negatively
successively in an alternating manner in the tire circumferential direction
UR.
7 spike zones 10B, 1-6 and 7 spike tracks 5B, 1-6 are arranged in the tread,
of which spike
zones and spike tracks three further spike zones 101-3 each having a spike
track 51_3 are
arranged in the left tread half 9, three further spike zones 104_6 each having
a spike track 54-
6 are arranged in the right tread half 8 and one base spike zone 10B having a
base spike
track 5B is arranged in the central region 2 of the tread. The longitudinal
axes 7 of the end
portions 6 of the spike pins of the spikes 4 assume angles of the following
ranges with the
axial direction, as viewed from the left to the right over the tread: +/-450,
+/- 15 , +/- 5 , 00
,
+/-50, +/-15 , +/-45 .
Fig. 3 shows a top view of a tread portion of a third pneumatic vehicle tire
according to the
invention. The tread portion of fig. 3 differs from the tread portion of fig.
2 in that one of
the further spike zones 101_6, namely the spike zone 103 has two spike tracks
53a, 3b with
spikes 4. In the same spike zone, all of the longitudinal axes 7 of the end
portions 6 of the
spike pins of the spikes 4 have the same angle, here +/- 50 with respect to
the axial direction
aR, which is alternately opposite in each spike track 53a, 3b.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
CA 03084851 2020-06-05
11
List of reference signs
......... la Shoulder region
lb ............ Shoulder region
2 ............. Central tread region
3 ............. Profile positive
4 ............. Spike
........ 5B Base spike track
51,2-n ....... Further spike track
6 ............. End portion
7 ............. Longitudinal axis
8 ............. Right tread half
........ 9 Left tread half
10B ........... Base spike zone
101,2 n ....... (Further) spike zone
.............. Angle
........ aR Axial direction
UR ............ Circumferential direction
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-05
