B - Operations – Transporting – 60 – C
Patent
B - Operations, Transporting
60
C
B60C 9/00 (2006.01) B60C 5/14 (2006.01) B60C 9/02 (2006.01) B60C 19/00 (2006.01) F16F 15/32 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2392324
The invention relates to methods for improving vehicle steering performance and robustness of that performance through control of non-uniformities in the Vehicle's tires, wheels and tire/wheel assemblies as a way to overcome the tendency of the steering systems in certain vehicle types to undergo "steering performance loss." While minimizing lateral force variations (e.g., couple imbalance), a controlled amount of radial and/or tangential force variation is induced in one or more tire/wheel assemblies by means of mass non-uniformity, dimensional non-uniformity, and/or stiffness non- uniformity. For stiffness non-uniformity, the preferred method comprises imparting a controlled amount of stiffness non-uniformity to the tire in at least one of the tire/wheel assemblies, followed by statically and dynamically balancing all of the vehicle's tire/wheel assemblies. The stiffness non-uniformity comprises one or more sectors of the tire having a different (less or preferably more) stiffness than the remainder of the tire. All tire non-uniformities imparted according to the invention are preferably distributed meridionally symmetrically about the equatorial plane of the tire, so as to induce tangential and/or radial force variations but not lateral force variations. Beneficial tangential and/or radial force variations will result from the operation of such a tire, ever if the tire/wheel assembly is balanced by weights added to the wheel. The stiffness non-uniformity is preferably imparted in the tire by means of one or more heavy splices, and/or extra pieces of fabric applied to the carcass or tread; and/or sectors of tire components having different stiffness. Synergistic beneficial effects result from combinations of the various forms of beneficial mass, stiffness, and dimensional non- uniformity.
Croissant Bernard
Koeune Thierry
Kunsch Romain
Michel Edouard
Sim & Mcburney
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
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