Tire Heat Exchange Features
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a pneumatic tire comprising an axis of operational rotation; a tread defining a cylindrical exterior surface extending both along and around the axis; a first sidewall defining a first sidewall exterior surface; a first shoulder region defining a first shoulder exterior surface; a heat exchange feature on the first shoulder region adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface; a second sidewall defining a second sidewall exterior surface; a second shoulder region defining a second shoulder exterior surface; and a heat exchange feature on the second shoulder region adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface. The heat exchange features on the first and second shoulder regions may be adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation; or the heat exchange features on the first and second shoulder regions may be adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation.
10 Citations
35 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A pneumatic tire comprising:
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an axis of operational rotation, said operational rotation being either clockwise or counter-clockwise; a tread defining a substantially cylindrical exterior surface extending both along the axis and around the axis, said tread comprising a tread pattern defined by a tread feature; a first sidewall defining a first sidewall exterior surface; a first shoulder region defining a first shoulder exterior surface, said first shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said first sidewall; a heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire; a second sidewall defining a second sidewall exterior surface; a second shoulder region defining a second shoulder exterior surface, said second shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said second sidewall; a heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire; and wherein, a) said heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation;
orb) said heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of cooling a tread of a pneumatic tire comprising:
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providing a pneumatic tire, said pneumatic tire comprising, an axis of operational rotation, said operational rotation being either clockwise or counter-clockwise; a tread defining a substantially cylindrical exterior surface extending both along the axis and around the axis, said tread comprising a tread pattern defined by a tread feature; a first sidewall defining a first sidewall exterior surface; a first shoulder region defining a first shoulder exterior surface, said first shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said first sidewall; a heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire; a second sidewall defining a second sidewall exterior surface; a second shoulder region defining a second shoulder exterior surface, said second shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said second sidewall; a heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire; and wherein, a) said heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation;
orb) said heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation; subjecting said tire to operational rotation, said operational rotation being either clockwise or counter-clockwise; during said operational rotation, moving a first quantity of air with said heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region to the tread of the tire; cooling said tread with said first quantity of air; during said operational rotation, moving a second quantity of air with said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region to the tread of the tire; and cooling said tread with said second quantity of air. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A pneumatic tire comprising:
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an axis of operational rotation, said operational rotation being either clockwise or counter-clockwise; a tread defining a substantially cylindrical exterior surface extending both along the axis and around the axis, said tread comprising a tread pattern defined by a plurality of tread features, said tread features defined by a rib, a groove, slot, a block, or a sipe; a first sidewall defining a first sidewall exterior surface; a first shoulder region defining a first shoulder exterior surface, said first shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said first sidewall; a plurality of heat exchange features on said first shoulder region, wherein each heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire, said heat exchange features on said first shoulder region defined by a rib, a groove, slot, a block, or a sipe, said plurality of heat exchange features on said first shoulder region, being adapted to move air from the first shoulder region to the tread during clockwise operational rotation, and being adapted to move air from the first shoulder region to the tread during counter-clockwise operational rotation; a second sidewall defining a second sidewall exterior surface; a second shoulder region defining a second shoulder exterior surface, said second shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said second sidewall; a plurality of heat exchange features on said second shoulder region, wherein each heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire, said heat exchange features on said second shoulder region defined by a rib, a groove, slot, a block, or a sipe, said plurality of heat exchange features on said second shoulder region, being adapted to move air from the second shoulder region to the tread during clockwise operational rotation, and being adapted to move air from the second shoulder region to the tread during counter-clockwise operational rotation; and wherein, a) said heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation;
orsaid heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation; and b) the heat exchange features on said first shoulder region gradually transition into the tread features;
orthe heat exchange features on said second shoulder region gradually transition into the tread features.
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35. A pneumatic tire comprising:
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an axis of operational rotation, said operational rotation being either clockwise or counter-clockwise; a tread defining a substantially cylindrical exterior surface extending both along the axis and around the axis, said tread comprising a tread pattern defined by a plurality of tread features, said tread features defined by a rib, a groove, slot, a block, or a sipe; a first sidewall defining a first sidewall exterior surface; a first shoulder region defining a first shoulder exterior surface, said first shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said first sidewall; a plurality of heat exchange features on said first shoulder region, wherein each heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire, said heat exchange features on said first shoulder region, are defined by a rib, a groove, slot, a block, or a sipe, have a directional bias, are curved, are integrally connected with, and transition into, analogous tread features, and during operational rotation in a first direction, said plurality of heat exchange features on said first shoulder region move air from the first shoulder region into one or more slots or grooves of the tread pattern, and during operational rotation in a second direction opposite said first direction, said plurality of heat exchange features on said first shoulder region do not move air from the first shoulder region into one or more slots or grooves of the tread pattern, and a second sidewall defining a second sidewall exterior surface; a second shoulder region defining a second shoulder exterior surface, said second shoulder region being defined by an area between said tread and said second sidewall; a plurality of heat exchange features on said second shoulder region, wherein each heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to modify air flow over an exterior surface of the tire, said heat exchange features on said second shoulder region are defined by a rib, a groove, slot, a block, or a sipe, have a directional bias, are curved, are integrally connected with, and transition into, analogous tread features, and during operational rotation in a first direction, said plurality of heat exchange features on said second shoulder region move air from the second shoulder region into one or more slots or grooves of the tread pattern; and during operational rotation in a second direction opposite said first direction, said plurality of heat exchange features on said second shoulder region do not move air from the second shoulder region into one or more slots or grooves of the tread pattern; and wherein, said heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during clockwise operational rotation;
orsaid heat exchange feature on said first shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation, and said heat exchange feature on said second shoulder region is adapted to move air during counter-clockwise operational rotation.
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Specification