Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified crumb rubber particle having carbon to silicon bonds created by the reaction of the unsaturation in the crumb rubber particle and silicon hydride, with or without the use of a catalyst. Bound silicon content ranges from about 0.1% to 10% by weight. The silicon-modified crumb rubber can be used as is or a reinforcing filler in formulations. Typically the silicon-modified crumb rubber is used in up to 25% by weight of the total rubber present in virgin rubber compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a transverse component (Fy) of a resultant of forces exerted through the roadway (3) on an area of contact (2) of a tire (1). The transverse component (Fy) is deduced from at least one measurement of the angular circumferential deformation in at least one first side wall (4) of the tire (1) at a first fixed point (B) in space which is located at an azimuth (?) along the circumference of the tire (1).

Abstract: A method of forecasting the comfort performance in a vehicle equipped with a test mounted assembly in a selected position, traveling at speed V over smooth ground, with a maximum speed Vmax, by establishing a vehicle transfer function where the assembly has a tire with N substantially identical irregularities on its circumference, regularly distributed to excite the vehicle in a range of frequencies, measuring the forces at the wheel center, and multiplying the forces by the vehicle transfer function to forecast the noise and vibrations.

Abstract: A monohydroxysilane polysulfide of the formula: in which the radicals R, which may be identical or different, are hydrocarbon groups preferably comprising from 1 to 15 carbon atoms; the radicals R′, which may be identical or different, are divalent linking groups preferably comprising from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; x is greater than or equal to 2. This hydroxysilane is in particular a bis-(propyidimethylsilanol) polysulfide. A process for obtaining such a hydroxysilane by alcoholysis and/or hydrolysis of a halogenated organosilane, followed by a sulfuration stage. Use of this hydroxysilane as a coupling agent.

Abstract: A resilient tire that supports a load without internal air pressure includes a ground contacting tread portion and sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire. A reinforced annular band is disposed radially inward of the tread portion. The band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of said membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of said shear layer so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold and a process for molding a tread 11 and a tire having a tread, the tread including a running surface 12, lateral surfaces 13, axial recesses 15 opening axially on to at least one of the lateral surfaces, the process including steps of inserting into the uncured tread projections 5 which mold the axial recesses 15, and of then removing them from the vulcanized tread, the process being characterized in that the projections 5 are inserted in the direction of the thickness of the tread 11 and are removed in the direction of the width of the tread 11.

Abstract: A multi-layer cable having an unsaturated outer layer, usable as a reinforcing element for a crown reinforcement of a tire, comprising a core of diameter d0 surrounded by an intermediate layer (C1) of four or five wires (N=4 or 5) of diameter d1 wound together in a helix at a pitch p1, this layer C1 itself being surrounded by an outer layer (C2) of P wires of diameter d2 wound together in a helix at a pitch p2, P being less by 1 to 3 than the maximum number Pmax of wires which can be wound in one layer about the layer C1, this cable having the following characteristics (d0, d1, d2, p1 and p2 in mm): (i) 0.10≦d0<0.50; (ii) 0.25≦d1<0.40; (iii) 0.25≦d2<0.40; (iv) for N=4: 0.40<(d0/d1)<0.80; for N=5: 0.70<(d0/d1)<1.10; (v) 4.8 &pgr;(d0+d1)<p1<p2<5.6&pgr;(d0+2d1+d2); and (vi) the wires of layers C1 and C2 are wound in the same direction of twist.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tire whose crown contains a ply of circumferentially oriented cords. That ply is so arranged that in sensitive zones, as, for example, at the side ends of the adjacent crown reinforcing ply, the laying pitch of the circumferentially oriented cords is markedly increased. That considerably lessens the risk of damage to the circumferentially oriented cords in those zones.

Abstract: The present invention is a pneumatic tire and wheel system comprising: a wheel including a rim; mechanically secured to which is an annular insert and a pneumatic tire including an interior space; and a lubricant release system for release of lubricant into the interior space of the tire. The lubricant release system comprises: a sensor for sensing tire conditions; a transmitter for sending a first signal to; a computer for assessing the signal and sending a second signal to; an actuator mechanically secured to the wheel. The actuator includes: a receiver for receiving the signal; a reservoir for containing lubricant; an expulsion mechanism for expelling lubricant; and a power source for powering the expulsion mechanism.

Abstract: A tire (1) comprising, viewed in meridian section, two beads (12) with generatrices which are inclined towards the outside, the upturn (130) of said reinforcement (13) being formed by the lateral (30) and radially inner (32) sides of a wedge-shaped profiled element (3) of high Shore A hardness and having an end located firstly axially to the outside of a straight line P2 perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passing through the center of gravity of the annular anchoring element (14) and secondly axially to the inside and radially to the outside of the straight line P1 passing through said center of gravity and forming with the axis of rotation an angle of between 30° and 60°, and the ratio e1/e2 of the thickness e1 between the carcass reinforcement upturn (130) and the annular anchoring element (14) to the thickness e2 between the carcass reinforcement upturn (130) and the outer wall of the bead, measured on the straight line P1, satisfying the relationship: 0.05≦e1/e2<1.0.

Abstract: A method for verifying the compatibility of the components of a wheel, having the following steps of: identifying each of the components of the assembly by means of an electronic label; after mounting the assembly, verifying at least two of these labels by checking the mutual compatibility of the components corresponding to the identification elements received by a management unit; detecting any situation in which at least one of the components is incompatible with one or more of the other components, and generating a suitable signal in the event of incompatibility. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method, this device comprising an identification element combined with each of the components of the assembly that it is desired to verify, a data transmission means, the management unit being capable of identifying any condition of incompatibility of at least one of the components of an assembly and of generating a signal in the event of a condition of incompatibility.

Abstract: Toric membrane M used as a support means for the tread of a tire P and forming together with the said tire P and its mounting rim J an assembly that can roll when the tire P suffers a loss of pressure, the said membrane M being expandable, capable of filling the internal cavity of the tire P, consisting of an airtight interior layer (10), a crown reinforcement (14) comprising two crossed plies (141, 142), two carcass half-plies (111, 112) anchored in each bead B reinforced by a reinforcement ring (2) and a cap (17) reinforced by a hopping armature (16), the crown reinforcement (14) being detached from the interior layer (10) and from the edges of the carcass half-plies (111, 112) which are on either side of the equatorial plane XX′ and are connected by at least one connecting ply (15).

Abstract: A method for predicting the comfort performance (noise, vibrations) in the cabin of a vehicle fitted with a prototype suspension system when the vehicle is rolling at a given speed on a rolling apparatus made of at least one obstacle, consisting of obtaining an overall transfer function for the vehicle fitted with a reference suspension system, measuring the forces that act at the attachment points of a prototype system, and calculating the noise and vibration outputs by multiplying the overall transfer function by the forces acting at the attachment points of a prototype system.

Abstract: An inner tire used in a dual-chambered tire is provided by an inner tire in which an exterior sidewall of tire provides for two annular rows of overlapping raised facets that extend above the exterior surface of the tire. Each facet defines a right angle with respect to the adjacent sidewall of the tire and provides for an elevated surface having a substantially uniform height with respect to the underlying tire exterior surface. The facets further define a plurality of gaps and passageways that have a constant height and through which pressurized air may flow during the inflation of the outer tire. The air gaps and air passageways defined by the facets have a sufficient depth that the resulting passageways do not collapse when the pressurized inner tire is in engagement with the pressurized outer tire.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assessing the range of a motor vehicle run-flat system comprising at least for each wheel a tire casing, a deflation alarm and means supporting the running tread of the tire casing when the casing is deflated, which method, from the instant the deflation alarm has detected a predetermined deflating threshold, includes the steps of: periodically measuring the distance covered and a parameter C(t) characteristic of the running conditions; determining on the basis of C(t) and the measured distance over &Dgr;t a quantity characteristic of potential elementary damage of the system during the elapsed time &Dgr;t; calculating an estimate of the global damage by combining the calculated elementary damage levels since the start of flat running; and transmitting to the vehicle driver a quantity related to that estimate of the flat running system global damage.