Tire with apertured shoulder block for improved temperature control
AssigneeMichelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
InventorRobert C. Radulescu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tire is provided having a plurality of shoulder blocks separated by axial grooves and located along at least one side of the tire. Apertures extend through the shoulder blocks to connect with a circumferential groove. The apertures are located within a certain radial position relative to the axial grooves. Each aperture has a bottom positioned at a radial depth HB relative to the shoulder block and extends completely through the shoulder block along the axial direction. Each aperture has a radial overlap HL with the axial grooves. The ratio HL/Ho is about 0.15 or less and the ratio of HB/Ho is in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.1.
Claims18
A tire having a pair of shoulders and defining axial, radial, and circumferential directions, the tire comprising:
- a circumferential groove of radial depth Ho;
- a plurality of axial grooves of radial depth H and circumferential width W;
- a plurality of shoulder blocks located circumferentially about at least one shoulder of the tire and having a height equal to radial depth Ho, said shoulder blocks defined by said circumferential groove and said axial grooves, wherein said axial grooves separate adjacent said shoulder blocks, each said shoulder block having a circumferential length B, and
- a plurality of apertures positioned in said plurality of shoulder blocks,
- wherein at least one aperture is located within each said shoulder block, each said aperture having a bottom positioned at a radial depth HB relative to said shoulder block and extending completely through said shoulder block along the axial direction, each said aperture having a radial overlap HL with said axial grooves,
- wherein the ratio HL/Ho is about 0.15 or less and the ratio of HB/Ho is in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.