Tire with apertured shoulder block for improved temperature control
View Patent ↗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 H B relative to the shoulder block and extends completely through the shoulder block along the axial direction. Each aperture has a radial overlap H L with the axial grooves. The ratio H L /H o is about 0.15 or less and the ratio of H B /H is in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.1.
1. A tire having a pair of shoulders and defining axial, radial, and circumferential directions, the tire comprising:
a circumferential groove of radial depth H o ;
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 H o , 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 H B relative to said shoulder block and extending completely through said shoulder block along the axial direction, each said aperture having a radial overlap H L with said axial grooves;
the ratio H L /H o is about 0.15 or less and the ratio of H B /H is in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.1; and
each said aperture defines a cross-sectional area A L each said shoulder block defines a cross-sectional area of B* H o , and the ratio of A L /(B* H o ) is in the range of about 0.007 to about 0.05.
2. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein for circumferential widths W of about 1 mm or more, the ratio of H/H o is in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.9.
3. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein for circumferential widths W of about 1 mm or more, the ratio of H/H o is in the range of about 0.7 to about 0.9.
4. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein each said aperture defines a cross-sectional area A L , each said shoulder block defines a cross-sectional area of B* H o , and the ratio of A L /(B* H o ) is in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.03.
5. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein the ratio of B/H o is in the range of about 1 to about 4.
6. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein the ratio of B/H o is in the range of about 2 to about 3.
7. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein the ratio H L /H o is about 0.1 or less.
8. A tire as in claim 7 , wherein the ratio of B/H o is in the range of about 2 to about 3.
9. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein the ratio of B/H o is in the range of about 1 to about 4.
10. A tire as in claim 9 , wherein each said aperture defines a cross-sectional area A L , each said shoulder block defines a cross-sectional area of B* H o , and the ratio of A L /(B* H o ) is in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.03.
11. A tire as in claim 10 , wherein each said shoulder block has no more than two said apertures.
12. A tire as in claim 11 , wherein said apertures are substantially circular in cross-section.
13. A tire as in claim 12 , wherein the tire has an outer radial surface, the tire further comprising a plurality of lamellae connecting said plurality of apertures with the outer radial surface of the tire.
14. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein each said shoulder block has at least two said apertures.
15. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein each said aperture is substantially circular in cross-section.
16. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein the tire has an outer radial surface, the tire further comprising a plurality of lamellae connecting said plurality of apertures with the outer radial surface of the tire.
17. A tire as in claim 1 , wherein the ratio of H B /H is about 1.0.