Patent Description:
Tyres provided with a "closed pattern technology" are well known in the art.

Conventional truck or bus tyre pattern is featuring a geometry with one or more longitudinal grooves having a width that ranges from <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters. The "closed pattern technology" provides to reduce the width of one or more tread grooves, resulting in a groove width that generically ranges from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM> millimeters, with the aim of improving tyre rolling losses.

Tyre rolling losses are due to tyre cyclic deformation under rolling and depend on rubber strain, material viscoelasticity and rubber volumes, according to the following known relation (wherein RRc is the Rolling resistance coefficient): <MAT>.

According to the standard practice, a closed pattern design of the tread allows to reduce rolling resistance by increasing tread compression stiffness and reducing rib/block deformation in loading/rolling. As way of example, in <FIG> a graph is shown, wherein each portion of the graph below a groove imagine numbered by I. , respectively corresponding to little, medium and big grooves, refers to the void ratio of the specific kind of groove. In the present specification, grooves are defined "little" if their width is equal to about <NUM>, "medium" if their width is equal to about <NUM>, and "big" if their width is equal to about <NUM>. In the graph, the growing of the rolling resistance passing from little to big grooves (groove images I. ) is shown by line A, wherein the interrupted line B represents the decreasing of the stiffness passing form little to big grooves.

In order to assess how such technical effects could be achieved, it should be considered that ribs are subject to vertical pressure during rolling of the tyre. Due to rubber Poisson's effect, the deformed shape of the ribs will expand in a direction perpendicular to the direction of compression, thus contributing to the global rolling resistance of the tyre.

In closed patterns, tyre compression stiffness is increased by reducing the distance of grooves' walls, which causes interlocking deformations of opposite faces of groove during rolling of the tyre (<FIG>).

One of the trade-off of the closed pattern design is an increase of the ply-steer effect, which has a negative impact on tyre wear and irregular wear. In particular, the rolling resistance coefficient RRc associated to a closed pattern tyre is about <NUM>% lower than that of a standard pattern tyre.

Generally, a tyre crown structure is made with multiple layers of plies bonded together to realize multi-ply systems, which twist and bend when subjected to simple tensile load. The result is a combination of bending, shearing and stretching of the laminate.

Moreover, when the tyre is in a condition of free rolling, the toroidal shape of tyre becomes flat at the contact patch, so lateral and longitudinal shear stresses are generated in the contact area (tread blocks). In addition, in plane, shear also occurs due to change in belt tension at contact patch. Such shear stresses, applied to the individual tread blocks, cause coupled reaction forces, resulting in an aligning torque.

Thus, tyres generate measurable lateral force and self-aligning moment under straight rolling condition. Ply steer side force is an inherent property of a belted radial tyre, which is the nonzero side force at zero slip angles.

Pulling forces that stretch the belt package (causing ply-steer) are generated at the inflation stage, then tyre loading/bending is relaxing the belt tension. The higher is the tyre bending, the higher is the belt relaxation and consequently the lower are the ply-steer forces. The closed pattern stiffens the tyre crown and constrains the tyre bending, thus leading to lower belt relaxation and higher ply-steer forces.

<CIT> relates to a tire with a radial carcass reinforcement intended to be fitted to vehicles carrying heavy loads and traveling at sustained speed, such as trucks.

<CIT> is aimed to solve the problem of suppressing asymmetrical deformation of run-flat radial tires with a comparatively large tire cross-section height during run-flat running, and of increasing durability during run-flat running.

<CIT> discloses a pneumatic tire capable of achieving steering stability, noise performance, and on-snow performance. The tire comprises circumferential sipes (<NUM>, <NUM>) continuously extending in the tread circumferential direction and having a width comprised between <NUM> to <NUM>, to ensure the edge component against the side force direction, and improve the on-snow performance during cornering.

<CIT> discloses a tire for use in a heavy load vehicle such as a truck, which tire exhibits good performances in both fuel efficiency and drainage thanks to the presence of narrow grooves.

<CIT> discloses a tire with a radial carcass reinforcement, intended to be fitted to vehicles that carry heavy loads and drive at sustained speeds. The tire has a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of inextensible reinforcing elements, crossed from one layer to the other making angles of between <NUM>° and <NUM>° with the circumferential direction.

In order to evaluate the impact of tread geometry on ply-steer effect, a FEM simulation has been run using two different pattern geometries of the tread: standard and closed pattern. The results of such simulation are shown in attached <FIG> and <FIG>, and clearly show that closed pattern geometry leads to a negative incrementation of the ply-steer effect.

The technical problem posed and solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a tyre which allows overcoming the disadvantages mentioned above with reference to the known art.

This problem is solved by a tyre according to claim <NUM>. Preferred features of the present invention are object of the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a tyre comprising a carcass, an external tread portion provided with a closed pattern design and at least one high elongation (HE) belt, applied as a single cord or as a strip of multiple cords, in particular arranged between bias working belts, is provided.

In the present application, the expression "High Elongation Belt" refers to a belt characterized by a stiffness module variable as a function of strain. In particular, the stiffness module is directly proportional to the strain, that means the stiffness module is low for little strain, and higher for higher strain.

This allows the cord (or cords) to expand during the vulcanization process and to ensure high stiffness modulus during operation. The steel cord (or cords) guarantees such technical effect, thanks to the geometry of the strand.

For better clarity, a High Elongation Belt is a belt embedding a cord provided with a stiffness module variable between about <NUM> MPa (low modulus, from <NUM> to about <NUM>% of strain or elongation) and <NUM>. <NUM> MPa (high modulus, for strain higher than about <NUM>%), said cord having an elongation at break between <NUM>% and <NUM>%. The elongation at break being measured on a sample extracted from a vulcanized tyre.

A plurality of known types of High Elongation Belt are currently available.

According to the invention, the at least one High Elongation Belt could be applied as a single cord or as a strip of multiple cord, for example six or nine cords.

To this extent, the above stiffness properties are not due to the belt itself, but to the single cord configuration that makes up the belt (i.e. the plurality of single cords arranged parallel to each other or the strips of six or nine cords arranged also parallel to each other).

The application of at least one High Elongation Belt, preferably a system comprising one or at most two high elongation belts, provides great advantages with respect to the traditional belt construction.

The latter traditional kind of construction, with reference to low profiles truck or bus tyre, usually provides the posing of one or two longitudinal 'wavy belts', also known as 'waved belts', applied as a strip of plurality of calendered cords (preferably nine cords) with a certain 'posing angle', or 'belt cord angle', θ. Moreover, the edges of such a strip need to be protected with an additional overlap of belt strip, to avoid durability issues.

Furthermore, during the construction of conventional (wavy) tyre, after the wrapping of the nine cords strip, an additional complete turn of the strip is added at the beginning and at the end of the wrapping, in order to avoid the lasting of free cords: in this way, a turn on edge is realized.

Belt strip application angle and the presence of the turn on edge affect ply-steer forces by increasing them, since an increasing of the thickness between the crossing belts (turn on edges) and also a residual belt cord angle θ is provided.

On the contrary, the at least one high elongation belt of the claimed invention is applied as a single cord strip. The switching from a strip of plurality of cords to a single cord strongly reduces the belt cord angle θ, and moreover avoids the need of a turn on edge (no free edges).

In particular, the at least one high elongation belt is applied at <NUM>°, as a longitudinal belt. Advantageously, a lower asymmetry of the belt package, due to a low belt cord angle θ of the HE application, will result in a lower ply-steer force.

The comparative Table <NUM> provided below shows the main differences, regarding parameters such as axial width A and belt cord angle θ (the angle comprised between the cord and the longitudinal direction L shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), between a prior art belt system and a preferred embodiment of belt system according to the claimed invention provided with one high elongation belt, the two compared belt systems having the same closed pattern and comprising four belts (numbered <NUM> to <NUM>):.

The letters L and R reported near the belt cord angle values in Table <NUM> correspond respectively to the Left or Right direction according to which the amplitude of the concerned belt cord angle is measured, starting from the circumferential direction. R corresponds to an angle measured clockwise starting from the circumferential direction, whereas L corresponds to an angle measured counterclockwise starting from the circumferential direction.

In the attached <FIG>, experimental data (wear energy in several tyre pattern points) are reported, showing how ply-steer forces change from the above cited prior art belt system (in particular a wavy tyre) and the preferred embodiment of belt system according to the claimed invention (High Elongation tyre), which reference is made in Table <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the portion of abscissa axis ranging from about -<NUM> a <NUM> refers to the lateral position of the considered points onto the tread. <FIG> clearly shows that average slip angle, for fixed lateral force (Fy=<NUM>), is higher for the prior art wavy tyre, which means the prior art tyre is associated to higher ply-steer forces for a slip angle equal to <NUM>°.

Therefore, the combination of a closed pattern technology with the at least one high elongation belt according to the claimed tyre configuration allows to obtain a low ply-steer force, and thus low wear and irregular wear performances of the tyre.

That is, the application of at least one high elongation belt to a closed pattern tyre allows to neutralize the negative effects provided by the closed pattern, and to enjoy only the positive effects thereof.

Other advantages, features and modes of employ of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of example and not of limitation.

Reference will be made to the Figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:.

The dimensions, as well as thicknesses and curvatures, shown in the Figures introduced above are to be understood as purely exemplary and are not necessarily shown in proportion. Moreover, as said, in said Figures some layers/components of the tyre may have been omitted, for a clearer illustration of aspects of the present invention.

Hereinafter, several embodiments and variations of the invention will be described, with reference to the Figures introduced above.

Moreover, the different embodiments and variants described in the following are possibly employed in combination, when they are compatible.

An improved tyre according to the present invention provides a new belt construction in combination with a closed pattern design of the tread, in order to balance ply-steer trade off and enhance rolling resistance RRc and wear performances, so to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art tyre having a closed pattern design.

As just said, the tyre according to the present invention comprises an external tread portion provided with two or more grooves designed to realize a closed pattern. With reference to <FIG>, a preferred embodiment of tyre <NUM> comprises a tread portion <NUM> provided with two or more grooves <NUM>, the grooves <NUM> extending according to a circumferential direction L around said tread portion <NUM>.

The axial width Wg of at least one of said grooves <NUM>, measured according to an axial direction A parallel to an axis of rotation R of the tyre <NUM> and orthogonal to said circumferential direction L, ranges from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM> millimeters, in particular is lower than, or at least equal to, <NUM> millimeters.

The axial width Wg of said groove <NUM> is substantially constant over the full depth of the groove. By substantially it is meant that the groove walls might have a slinght inclination of between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees with respect to the orthogonal plane in the point they intersect the tread rolling surface.

The radial depth Dg of at least one of said grooves <NUM>, measured according to a radial direction of the tyre <NUM>, ranges from <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters, preferably <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters.

In a preferred embodiment at least one of said grooves <NUM> is the groove closest to the tyre equatorial plane CL (or centerline CL) in a tyre axial direction.

The tyre equatorial plane CL is the plane dividing the tread portion <NUM> into two eqally wide portions.

In another preferred embodiment two of said grooves <NUM> are the grooves closest to the tyre equatorial plane CL (or centerline CL) in a tyre axial direction.

In another preferred embodiment two of said grooves <NUM> are the grooves closest to the tyre equatorial plane CL (or centerline CL) in a tyre axial direction, wherein the two grooves <NUM> are disposed on both sides, one on each side, of the tyre equatorial plane CL (or centerline CL) in a tyre axial direction.

In another preferred embodiment one, two or three of said grooves <NUM> are disposed on both sides of the tyre equatorial plane CL (or centerline CL) in a tyre axial direction.

The advantage of said grooves <NUM> being in the central area of the pattern, i.e. in an area closer to the equatorial plane CL, is that the stiffness of the tread pattern is thereby increased, resulting in an improved rolling resistance.

In a preferred embodiment said grooves <NUM> are positioned within a maximum axial distance from the equatorial plane CL that corresponds to <NUM>% of the axial width W<NUM>, W<NUM>, W<NUM>, W<NUM> of the widest tread belt <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The tyre <NUM> according to the invention further comprises a carcass <NUM> (which may include one or more inner body plies), and at least one high elongation belt. The at least one high elongation belt is applied radially, as a single cord strip, externally to the carcass <NUM>.

According to particular embodiments of the invention, the at least one high elongation belt is applied onto the most radially external side of an inner body ply of the tyre. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, a tyre comprising a plurality of belts radially superimposed to each other is provided, comprising one high elongation belt which corresponds to the second belt, starting from the carcass and going towards the tread portion.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in <FIG>, the tyre <NUM> comprises four belts, in particular a first, a second, a third and a fourth belt, starting from the carcass <NUM> and going towards the tread portion <NUM>, respectively denoted by the numerical references <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably, each of the four belts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is applied in such a manner to define a respective belt cord angle, denoted in <FIG> with the references θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>, θ<NUM> and θ<NUM> respectively, and more preferably each of said belt cord angle θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>, θ<NUM> is different from the other ones.

At least one of said first, second, third and fourth belt <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is a high elongation belt, applied as a single cord strip and having a belt cord angle equal to <NUM>°. That is, the high elongation belt is configured as a longitudinal belt.

In particular, the single cord strip is spirally applied, and thanks to such a kind of application the obtainment of a belt cord angle equal to <NUM>° is facilitated. Preferably, the value of each belt cord angle θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>, θ<NUM> ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°, measured with respect to the circumferential axis L.

More specifically, the belt cord angle is the lowest angle (having a positive or negative value of amplitude, wherein a positive amplitude is measured according to a clockwise direction, and a negative amplitude is measured according to a counterclockwise direction) comprised between the circumferential axis L and the cords main extension axis. As way of example, in <FIG> belt cord angles θ<NUM> and θ<NUM> are shown having an amplitude equal to about <NUM>°, according to a counterclockwise direction.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG> ad 1A, the second belt <NUM> is provided as a high elongation belt, applied as a single cord strip and being configured to define, as already said, a second belt cord angle θ<NUM> equal to <NUM>°.

In particular, the tyre <NUM> comprises a first belt <NUM>, defining a first belt cord angle θ<NUM> ranging from <NUM>° to <NUM>°; a second high elongation belt <NUM>, defining a second belt cord angle θ<NUM> equal to <NUM>°; a third belt <NUM>, defining a third belt cord angle θ<NUM> ranging from <NUM>° to <NUM>°; and a fourth belt <NUM>, defining a fourth belt cord angle θ<NUM> ranging from <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

According to the invention, the ratio between the angles of the belts with respect to the first belt cord angle θ<NUM> is defined as follows:.

According to a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the first belt <NUM> defines a first belt cord angle θ<NUM> equal to <NUM>°, the second belt <NUM> defines a second belt cord angle θ<NUM> equal to <NUM>°, the third belt <NUM> defines a third belt cord angle θ<NUM> equal to <NUM>°, and the fourth belt <NUM> defines a belt cord angle θ<NUM> equal to <NUM>°.

Instead, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, only the first belt <NUM> is a high elongation belt, being applied as a single cord strip and defining, according to such an embodiment, a first belt cord angle θ<NUM> equal to <NUM>°.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, both the first and the second belts <NUM>, <NUM> are high elongation belts, being applied as a single cord strip and defining, respectively, a first θ<NUM> and a second θ<NUM> belt cord angle equal to <NUM>°.

Referring again to the preferred embodiment of tyre <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, each of said first, second, third and fourth belt <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> has a respective width W<NUM>, W<NUM>, W<NUM>, W<NUM>, measured according said axial direction A, which ranges from <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said width could range from <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ratio between said width W<NUM>, W<NUM>, W<NUM> of the second, third and fourth belt <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with respect to said width W<NUM> of the first belt <NUM> is defined as follows:.

In particular, the first belt <NUM> has a first width W<NUM> equal to <NUM> millimeters, the second belt <NUM> has a second width W<NUM> equal to <NUM> millimeters, the third belt <NUM> has a third width W<NUM> equal to <NUM> millimeters, and the fourth belt <NUM> has a fourth width W<NUM> equal to <NUM> millimeters.

As visible in <FIG>, the four belts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are radially superimposed to each other in such a manner to realize a sandwich structure or belt system. In particular, the first belt <NUM> is at an innermost position and the fourth belt <NUM> is at an outermost position with respect to the other belts <NUM>, <NUM>. According to such an embodiment, the second belt <NUM> is interposed between the first <NUM> and the third belt <NUM>, whereas the third belt <NUM> is interposed between the second belt <NUM> and the fourth belt <NUM>.

The tyre according to the embodiments above disclosed is particularly intended to be a truck or bus tyre.

Claim 1:
A tyre (<NUM>), comprising:
- a carcass (<NUM>);
- at least one high elongation belt (<NUM>), being applied as a single cord strip radially externally to said carcass (<NUM>),
said high elongation belt (<NUM>) embedding a cord provided with a stiffness module variable between about <NUM> MPa for a strain value of said cord ranging from <NUM> to about <NUM>% and <NUM> MPa for a strain value of said cord higher than about <NUM>%; and
- an external tread portion (<NUM>), provided with two or more grooves (<NUM>) extending according to a circumferential direction (L) around said tread portion (<NUM>),
wherein the axial width (Wg) of both said grooves (<NUM>), measured according to an axial direction (A) parallel to an axis of rotation (R) of said tyre (<NUM>) and orthogonal to said circumferential direction (L), is lower than, or at least equal to, <NUM> millimeters.
the tyre (<NUM>) comprising a first belt (<NUM>), a second belt (<NUM>), a third belt (<NUM>) and a fourth belt (<NUM>), each having a respective belt cord angle (θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>, θ<NUM>), wherein at least one of said first, second, third and fourth belt (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is a high elongation belt (<NUM>) applied as a single cord strip and having a belt cord angle (θ<NUM>) equal to <NUM>°,
wherein the ratio between the angles of the belts with respect to the first belt cord angle (θ<NUM>) is defined as follows:
- The second belt cord angle (θ<NUM>) equals to <NUM>°;
- The third belt cord angle (θ<NUM>) equals to <NUM>% - <NUM>%, preferably to <NUM>% of the first belt cord angle (θ<NUM>) and
- the fourth belt cord angle (θ<NUM>) equals to <NUM>% - <NUM>%, preferably to <NUM>% of the first belt cord angle (Θ<NUM>),