Spreading noise generated by load supporting elements

Claim 2

In an apparatus provided with a plurality of surface-engaging design cycles located on a curved face of the apparatus, said design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner, an improved arrangement in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the rounded fractional portions of the curved face represented by the different lengths corresponding to three different terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series, whereby the character of the sound emitted when the design cycles move against a surface is altered.

Claim 3

In a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tire being provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner, an improved tread arrangement in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the different lengths corresponding to three different times of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series, whereby the character of the sound emitted when the tire rotates against a road surface is altered.

Claim 4

In a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tire being provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner, an improved tread arrangement in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the different lengths corresponding to three different times of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series, whereby the character of the sound emitted when the tire rotates against a road surface is altered.

Claim 5

A tread for a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tread comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the different lengths corresponding to three different terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series, whereby the character of the sound emitted when the tire rotates against a road surface is altered.

Claim 6

A tread for a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tread comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the different lengths corresponding to three different terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series, whereby the character of the sound emitted when the tire rotates against a road surface is altered.

Claim 7

A tire provided with a tread having a plurality of load supporting elements placed about the circumference of said tire, said tread comprising: a plurality of repeating design cycles placed continuously about the circumference of said tire, said design cycles having at least two different pitch lengths and arranged about said tread so as to provide a plurality of not less than three harmonic segments, the design cycle lengths in each of said harmonic segments having a different period, the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the different periods of the three harmonic segments corresponding to three different terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series, each of said harmonic segment periods corresponding to a different frequency in the sound spectrum.

Claim 8

A tire provided with a tread having a plurality of load supporting elements placed about the circumference of said tire, said tread comprising: a plurality of repeating design cycles placed continuously about the circumference of said tire, said design cycles having at least two different pitch lengths and arranged about said tread so as to provide a plurality of not less than three harmonic segments, the design cycle lengths in each of said harmonic segments having a different period, the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the different periods of the three harmonic segments corresponding to three different terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series, each of said harmonic segment periods corresponding to a different frequency in the sound spectrum.

Claim 9

A tire provided with a tread having a plurality of load supporting elements placed about the circumference of said tire, said tread comprising: a plurality of repeating design cycles placed continuously about the circumference of said tie, said design cycles having at least two different pitch lengths and arranged about said tread so as to provide a plurality of not less than three harmonic segments, the design cycle lengths in each said harmonic segment having a different period, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three periods being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three periods being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three periods occupying at least one-half of the circumference of the tire, each of said three harmonic segment periods corresponding to a different frequency in the sound spectrum, the remainder of the circumference unoccupied by said three segments comprising additional design cycle lengths having a plurality of additional periods each smaller than the periods of said three segments, the sum of any of the additional periods which are substantially identical being less than the period of the smallest of said three harmonic segments.

Claim 10

A tire provided with a tread having a plurality of load supporting elements placed about the circumference of said tire, said tread comprising: a plurality of repeating design cycles placed continuously about the circumference of said tie, said design cycles having at least two different pitch lengths and arranged about said tread so as to provide a plurality of not less than three harmonic segments, the design cycle lengths in each said harmonic segment having a different period, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three periods being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three periods being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three periods occupying at least one-half of the circumference of the tire, each of said three harmonic segment periods corresponding to a different frequency in the sound spectrum, the remainder of the circumference unoccupied by said three segments comprising additional design cycle lengths having a plurality of additional periods each smaller than the periods of said three segments, the sum of any of the additional periods which are substantially identical being less than the period of the smallest of said three harmonic segments.

Claim 11

In a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tire being provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner, an improved tread arrangement in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three lengths occupying at least one-half the circumference of the tire, said tire tread comprising one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lengths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 12

In a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tire being provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner, an improved tread arrangement in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three lengths occupying at least one-half the circumference of the tire, said tire tread comprising one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lengths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 13

A tread for a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tread comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three lengths occupying at least one-half the circumference of the tread, said tread comprising one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lengths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 14

A tread for a tire adapted to rotate around an axis, the tread comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending tread design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three lengths occupying at least one-half the circumference of the tread, said tread comprising one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lengths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 15

In an apparatus provided with a plurality of surface-engaging design cycles located on a curved face of the apparatus, said design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner, an improved arrangement in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three lengths occupying at least one-half the curved face of the apparatus, said face comprising one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lengths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 16

In an apparatus provided with a plurality of surface-engaging design cycles located on a curved face of the apparatus, said design cycles defining a dimensional parameter varying in a predetermined manner, an improved arrangement in which: the design cycles are divided into a plurality of not less than three complete modulation cycles of different lengths, the relative difference between the largest and second largest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the seventh and eighth terms of the harmonic series and the relative difference between the second largest and smallest of said three lengths being at least as great as the relative difference between the eighth and ninth terms of the harmonic series, the sum of said three lengths occupying at least one-half the curved face of the apparatus, said face comprising one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lengths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 17

A tire, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sum of said three different terms is greater than one-half.

Claim 18

A tire, as claimed in claim 4, comprising additional harmonic segments in addition to said three segments, none of the additional harmonic segments having a period substantially identical to the period of any one of said three segments.

Claim 19

A tire, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the denominators of said three different terms include both odd and even integers.

Claim 20

A tire, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said three different terms comprise consecutive terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 21

A tire, as claimed in claim 4, comprising said three segments and additional segments in which the design cycle lengths have a plurality of predetermined periods each smaller than the periods in said three segments, the sum of any of the additional periods which are substantially identical being less than the period of the smallest of said three harmonic segments.

Claim 22

A tire, as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein the number of harmonic segments is at least as large as a number equal to the circumference of the tire measured in centimeters divided by 44.704, but not less than three.

Claim 23

A tire, as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein substantially the entire circumference of the tire is divided into a plurality of harmonic segments and the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the segments correspond to terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 24

A tire, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sequence in which said harmonic segments is arranged is different than the sequence in which the corresponding terms of said harmonic series is arranged.

Claim 25

A tire, as claimed in claim 15, wherein substantially all said terms are within the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 26

A tire, as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein the total number of segments is proportional to: ##EQU9## wherein NP is the number of design cycles LP is the maximum pitch length SP is the minimum pitch length.

Claim 27

A tire, as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein the second largest of said three segments is more than half of the largest of said three segments, and the smallest of said three segments is more than half of the second largest of said three segments.

Claim 28

A tire, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tire is divided into a plurality of harmonic segments and the rounded fractional portions of the segments extending over at least 90 percent of the circumference correspond to terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 29

A tire, as claimed in claims 4, 5, 9, 10, 13 or 20 wherein each of said three harmonic segments has a length substantially equal to one complete period of variation of the design cycles.

Claim 30

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 1, wherein the sum of said three different terms is greater than one-half.

Claim 31

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 1, comprising additional modulation cycles in addition to said three cycles, none of the additional modulation cycles having a length substantially identical to the length of any one of said three cycles.

Claim 32

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 1, wherein the denominators of said three different terms include both odd and even integers.

Claim 33

An article, as claimed in claim 24, wherein said three different terms comprise consecutive terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 34

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 1, and further comprising one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lenths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 35

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3, 1, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the number of modulation cycles is at least as large as a number equal to the circumference of the tire measured in centimeters divided by 44.704, but not less than three.

Claim 36

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3, 6 or 7, wherein substantially the entire circumference is divided into a plurality of modulation cycles and the rounded fractional portions of the circumference represented by the cycles correspond to terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 37

An article, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sequence in which cycles are arranged is different than the sequence in which the corresponding terms of said harmonic series is arranged.

Claim 38

An article, as claimed in claim 28, wherein substantially all said terms are within the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 39

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3, 1, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the total number of modulation cycles is proportional to ##EQU10## wherein NP is the number of design cycles LP is the maximum dimensional parameter value SP is the minimum dimensional parameter value.

Claim 40

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3, 1, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the second largest of said three cycles is more than half of the largest of said three cycles, and the smallest of said three cycles is more than half of the second largest of said three cycles.

Claim 41

An article, as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the article is divided into a plurality of modulation cycles, and the rounded fractional portions of the cycles extending over at least 90 percent of the circumference correspond to terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 42

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3, 1, 6, 7, or 8, wherein each design cycle comprises a load-bearing element and an adjacent groove and wherein the load-bearing element defines the dimensional parameter.

Claim 43

An article, as claimed in claims 2, 3, 1, or 7, wherein the design cycles are located in a plane perpendicular to the axis, wherein the intersection of the plane with the outer perimeter of the cycles defines arcs of a circle, wherein each design cycle comprises a load-bearing element and an adjacent groove, and wherein the dimensional parameter is defined by a portion of the load-bearing element extending along the circle.

Claim 48

A method, as claimed in claim 36, wherein the sum of said three different terms is greater than one-half.

Claim 49

A method, as claimed in claim 36, and further comprising the step of adding additional modulation cycles in addition to said three cycles, none of the additional modulation cycles having a length substantially identical to the length of any one of said three cycles.

Claim 50

A method, as claimed in claim 36, wherein the denominators of said three different terms include both odd and even integers.

Claim 51

A method, as claimed in claim 40, wherein said three different terms comprise consecutive terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 52

A method, as claimed in claim 36, and further comprising the step of adding one or more additional complete modulation cycles having one or more additional lengths shorter than any of said three lengths, the sum of any of the additional lengths which are substantially identical being less than the smallest of said three lengths.

Claim 55

A method, as claimed in claim 44, wherein the sequence in which cycles are arranged is different than the sequence in which the corresponding terms of said harmonic series is arranged.

Claim 56

A method, as claimed in claim 44, wherein substantially all said terms are within the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series.

Claim 59

A method, as claimed in claim 36, and further comprising the step of dividing the tire into a plurality of modulation cycles, and arranging the rounded fractional portions of the cycles extending over at least 90 percent of the circumference to correspond to terms of the group consisting of the first nine terms of the harmonic series.