Device for protecting a groove in a tread

摘要

A tire for a heavy goods vehicle, having a tread having a tread surface provided in the new state with at least one groove delimited by opposing side walls, this groove opening onto the tread surface in a discontinuous manner by way of a plurality of portions that are open towards the exterior of the tread, these open portions having two ends that are extended under the tread surface by channels having inlets connected to the ends of the open portions, these inlets to the channels having a mean surface area S. This tread is such that each open portion on the tread surface is provided at each of its ends with a closure device for partially closing the cross section of the inlets to the channels when the tire is running and for leaving a passage unclosed.

主权项

1. A tire for a heavy goods vehicle, comprising a tread comprising:
a tread surface adapted to come into contact with a road surface, in the new state at least one groove delimited by opposing side walls, these opposing side walls being connected together by a groove bottom,wherein the groove comprises, in the new state:
a plurality of open portions that are open towards the exterior of the tread and portions that form channels underlying the tread surface,
wherein each open portion comprises two ends and extends on either side of the ends thereof under the tread surface by the channels underlying the tread surface by inlets that are connected respectively to the ends of the open portions,
wherein these inlets to each channel underlying the tread having a mean cross-sectional surface area S,wherein at least one inlet to each channel underlying the tread is provided with a partial closure device for partially closing the cross section of the inlets to the channels underlying the tread while the tire is running and for leaving a passage unclosed,wherein a portion of the partial closure device is located within the inlet of the channel underlying the tread, and at least partially located in an adjacent open portion of the groove, and comprises at least one protuberance formed on at least one wall delimiting the groove, wherein the partial closure device closes at least 40% of the cross-sectional surface area S of the inlets to the channels and at most 70% of this cross-sectional surface area S.