US 10,513,152 B2Granted

Method for providing a vehicle tyre with studs, and a studded tyre for a vehicle

AssigneeNokian Renkaat Oyj

InventorsTommi Ajoviita, Mikko Liukkula, Esko Kukkonen, Jukka Alajuuma

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method for installing a stud in a tyre. The method includes identifying a stud hole for the stud in the tyre; imaging the vicinity of at least the stud hole, whereby information is received about the pattern in the vicinity of the stud hole, and using the received information to determine [i] the stud type suitable for the stud suitable in the stud hole and/or [ii] the suitable stud orientation of the stud suitable in the stud hole. The method includes providing a stud and installing it in a stud hole. The stud type of the stud is the same as the suitable stud type of a stud suitable in the stud hole; and/or the stud is installed in the stud hole in such a way that the main direction of the stud is parallel with the suitable stud orientation. Further a tyre studded by the method.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for installing a stud in a tire including a tread configured to come into rolling contact with a support during use, and tread bars separated by grooves and forming said tread, the method comprising:

identifying a stud hole for said stud in the tire;
imaging the vicinity of at least said stud hole by an imaging device comprising a laser scanner to identify a pattern, information being received about the pattern in the vicinity of the stud hole, a depth or a height of the pattern being smaller than a depth of the grooves in the tire, the depth or the height of the pattern being smaller than 1 mm, the pattern extending to a first distance from the stud, the first distance being at least 5 mm and not greater than 20 mm;
using said received information to determine [i] a stud type suitable for said stud hole and [ii] a suitable stud orientation of the stud suitable for said stud hole;
[A]
providing a stud which comprises a first end, extends in a longitudinal direction thereof from the first end, has a shape deviating from a circle, in at least one cross-sectional plane transverse to the longitudinal direction, at least said cross-sectional plane determining a main direction for the stud, and
installing said stud having the shape deviating from the circle in said stud hole such that the main direction of the stud is parallel with said determined suitable stud orientation;
and/or
[B]
providing a stud having the determined suitable stud type suitable for said stud hole, and
installing said stud having the determined suitable stud type in said stud hole.

7 more elements

A studded tire comprising:

a tread configured to come into rolling contact with a support during use;
tread bars separated by grooves and forming said tread;
a first stud in a first tread bar;
at least a second stud in said first tread bar or another tread bar;
a first pattern in the vicinity of the first stud;
and
a second pattern in the vicinity of the second stud,
wherein a depth or a height of the first pattern and a depth or a height of the second pattern is smaller than a depth of the grooves of the tire,
the depth or the height of the first pattern is smaller than 1 mm,
the depth or the height of the second pattern is smaller than 1 mm,
the first pattern extends to a first distance from the stud, the second pattern extends to a second distance from the second stud, the first and second distances being at least 5 mm and not greater than 20 mm,
the second pattern deviating from the first pattern in its appearance and/or orientation with respect to the directional circumferential direction of the studded tire, and
a stud type of the first stud is different from a stud type of the second stud, and/or
a main direction of the first stud differs from a main direction of the second stud.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/627,883Filed 20 Jun 2017
Priority: FI 2016553027 Jun 2016
Published: US 2017/0368889 A128 Dec 2017
Granted: 24 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B60C 11/1625
Of plug form, e.g. made from metal, textile: arrangements thereof in the tread patterns, e.g. irregular
B29D 30/66
Unvulcanised treads, e.g. on used tyres; Retreading: moulding treads on to tyre casings, e.g. non-skid treads with spikes
B60C 11/16
Anti-skid inserts, e.g. vulcanised into the tread band: of plug form, e.g. made from metal, textile
B60C 11/1656
With special shape of the plug-body portion, i.e. not cylindrical: concave or convex, e.g. barrel-shaped