Abstract: An improved method of shipping, storing, and changing very large tires having a removable tread belt mounted to a tire carcass which are typically used on very large vehicles such as earthmovers. By compressing both the tread belts and the tire carcasses, they can be shipped separately so that less shipping and storage space is required. Tire changing only requires changing the tire tread without removing the wheel or carcass from the very large vehicle making it economically feasible to store and change tread designs to accommodate a variety of very large tire/vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a sub forming an elastomeric extrusion into a bead apex filler and for applying the same to an annular bead (120) to form a bead/apex subassembly for use in the construction of a pneumatic tire. The apex filler (100) is formed from a triangular shaped extrusion (8) that is initially wrapped around a rotating mandrel (40) having a diameter of between about 50% to about 75% of the outer diameter of the annular bead to which the filler is attached. A helical former (50, 60) disposed around the mandrel causes the extrusion to move in a helical path as it traverses the mandrel. As the extrusion is removed from the mandrel, the extrusion is sufficiently uncoiled to relieve and compressive or tensile stresses. Then, the partially uncoiled extrusion is wrapped around the outer periphery of the bead to form a bead/apex filler subassembly (118) which is substantially without compressive or tensile stresses when mounted onto the tire being constructed.

Abstract: A tire assembly (200) having runflat capability comprises a tire (202) mounted to a rim (203) to provide a tire cavity (204) defined by a carcass circumferential inner surface (246), two sidewall inner surfaces (248A,248B) and the rim. The tire assembly (200) is characterized by having a platform (206) disposed circumferentially around the rim within the tire cavity and one or more hoops (208A-208C) disposed within the tire cavity (204) between the platform (206) and the carcass circumferential inner surface (246) so that under normal inflation the one or more hoops do not contact either the carcass circumferential inner surface (246) or the sidewall inner surfaces (248A,248B), but below a first runflat inflation pressure, the one or more hoops (208A-208C) contact and support the carcass circumferential inner surface (246).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire monitoring system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, preferably in combination with a tire pressurizing and regulating apparatus, comprises a transponder with a transmitting antenna mounted on the wheel for transmitting a signal indicating tire condition, one or more receivers with receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and circuitry for processing the received signals; the system characterized in that: circuitry for each transponder is on a printed circuit board within a protective housing coaxial to the hub of the wheel or wheel carrier; and each transmitting antenna is selected from the group comprising a partial loop antenna, a helical antenna, a circular dipole antenna, and a small coupling coil adjacent to an endless hoop antenna.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a toroidal shaped tire carcass having sidewalls and a tread. The tire carcass terminates at opposite bead regions for mounting on a tire rim. The tire has at least one of the sidewalls having a circumferentially extending continuous groove, and a non-rubber inlay ring secured within the continuous groove of the sidewall(s) to form a rim flange protector.

Abstract: A float assembly for a ball cock assembly for a flush tank of a toilet includes an inner float component which is a buoyant element operatively connected to a shutoff valve atop a standpipe supplying water to the tank. The inner float component is disposed in an outer float component which is in the general form of a container disposed within the flush tank so that its top edge is at a selected water level. In the tank-filling portion of a flush cycle, when the water rises to the selected level, the outer float component suddenly becomes filled with water, causing the inner float element to abruptly rise, shutting off the flow of water into the flush tank. In this manner, the buoyant element is caused to rise at a rate which is greater than a rate at which the water is rising in the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting segments from a long sheet of multilayered elastomeric material. An initial opening is formed in the sheet without severing reinforcing cords within the elastomeric sheet by a penetrator/separator. Two ultrasonic knives are inserted on either side of the penetrator/separator and positioned to cut the sheet at a small skive angle &agr; with respect to the plane of the sheet being cut. Then the knives are moved to opposite edges of the sheet of elastomeric material.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire with an aspect ratio of less than 50 has a ground contacting tread radially outward of a circumferential belt structure which in turn is radially ourtward of a carcass structure. The carcass structure has a pair of bead areas that include a bead foot compatible with a conventionally-shaped wheel rim having flanges with laterally extending portions. The carcass structure has a cord-reinforced elastomeric ply layer extend laterally between the two bead areas and radially inward of the belt structure. The tread area is directly connected to the bead areas without a sidewall. Rim flange protectors comprising a continuous circumferential elastomeric projection extend laterally outward from each bead/tread area and thereby radially outward of the rim flanges.

Abstract: An automated conveyance system moves green tires (24) with monorail carriers (18) to tire molding presses (40). Each monorail carrier (18) deposits a green tire (24) into an elevator system (31) which, in turn, transfers the green tire to within reach of a press loader (38) for tire press (40). The elevator system (31) also provides a buffer storage for the tires in process. In one embodiment, the green tire in the basket (28) is rotated about a vertical path through which the basket moves to within reach of the press loader. In another embodiment, the elevator system (31) can move the green tire by linear translation from the vertical path through which the basket moves to within reach of the loader (38).

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a hose (100) including an inner liner (104) and a carcass (106) having at least one ply (108a, 108b, 108c, 108d or 108e) disposed in surrounding relationship with the inner liner (104) and an outer cover (300) about the carcass (106). The monitoring apparatus includes an electronic hose tag (310) connected to the hose (100) for measuring the vibration of the hose. In another embodiment, the hose includes at least one sensing element (112) helically wound about the inner liner (104) and an inner sensing element monitoring circuit (404) with a microprocessor (500) connected thereto for determining whether there is a discontinuity in the inner sensing element (112) and thus a worn through area of the inner liner (104). An alarm signal can be transmitted with transmitter structure (430) to a remote receiver (654).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an increased load carrying capacity (extended load index) but compatible with conventional, commercially available wheel rims, has a modified carcass ply line. The pneumatic tire (746) has a tread area (712) and a carcass structure (728) including two bead areas (750a,750b), at least one cord-reinforced elastomeric ply (730) extending through sidewalls (726a,726) between the bead areas (750a,750b) and the tread area (712), and a belt structure (718) between the tread area (712) and the carcass structure (728). The tire (746) has bead areas (750a,750b) containing a triangular shaped beads so that the ply line (PL′″) that causes the bead areas to better secure the tire to the rim during high stress conditions.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transponder (200) capable of measuring parameters associated with an object and transmitting data to an external reader/interrogator (106, 400). In use with a pneumatic tire (104), the transponder measures temperature and pressure within the tire. The transponder includes circuitry (226) for controlling windows of time (WT and WP) during which real-time temperature and pressure measurements are made, and for storing (236) calibration data, transponder ID number and the like, and for transmitting this information in a data stream (FIG. 3C) to the reader/interrogator. An excessive temperature condition may also be sensed (MTMS 218) and included in the data stream. The circuitry of the transponder is preferably implemented on a single IC chip (204), using CMOS technology, with few components external to the IC chip. The transponder is preferably passive, deriving its operating power from an RF signal provided by the exernal reader/interrogator.

Abstract: A method for selecting one or more sets of experimental tires of one construction based on the residual forces on each axle and the position that each individual tire is mounted to a vehicle. The method selects sets of tires where predefined limits relating to the residual forces on the front and rear axles are met. The advantage of this method is the ability to select matched sets of tires from a larger group of experimentally built tires so that the performance of the matched set(s) will behave as randomly chosen sets from uniform production runs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved bead wire letoff assembly and method of operation that controls the tension of wire being pulled from a wire spool mounted to the bead wire letoff assembly. The improved wire letoff assembly can accurately control the rotational speed of the wire spool and incorporates a cam plate and tension arm linkage to control the braking force applied to the wire spool.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply runflat tire 1000 for a vehicle has a tread 1012, a carcass 1022 comprising at least one radial ply 1030 and two sidewalls 1016 each reinforced by a circumferentially disposed crescent-shaped wedge insert. Each insert has an elastomeric porous section 1042 embedded in an elastomeric stiffer layer 1044 of the insert 1040. When the tire is normally inflated, the porous section 1042, and hence the insert as a whole, is flexible, thereby providing comfortable driving characteristics. Under runflat (deflated tire) conditions, the pores in the porous section 1042 collapse, and the porous section 1042 stiffens, and hence the insert as a whole becomes stiff enough to support the load of the vehicle.

Abstract: A dual output capacitance interface circuit (100) based on switched capacitor circuits and charge subtraction technique provides both voltage output (104) and frequency output (106). The circuit is programmable independently with sensitivity and offset adjustment, and is insensitive to fixed stray capacitance. Temperature compensation methods are described.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an increased load carrying capacity (extended load index) but compatible with conventional, commercially available wheel rims, has a modified carcass plyline. The tire has a tread area, a carcass structure including two bead areas each comprising a bead, at least one cord-reinforced elastomeric ply extending between the two bead areas, and two sidewalls, one sidewall extending between the tread area and each bead area.

Abstract: The rotation of a pneumatic tire is monitored by a self powered tire revolution counter. A piezoelectric (“piezol”) element is mounted in the tire in a manner so as to be subjected to periodic mechanical stresses as the tire rotates and to provide periodic pulses in response thereto. The output of the piezo element is utilized by revolution counting circuitry to count rotations of the tire, as well as by power circuitry to power the revolution counting circuitry.

Abstract: A temperature-sensor is implemented with a temperature-sensitive component of an IC chip which functions as a radio frequency transponder capable of measuring parameters associated with an object and transmitting data to an external reader/interrogator. In use with a pneumatic tire, the transponder measures temperature and pressure within the tire. The transponder includes circuitry for controlling windows of time during which real-time temperature and pressure measurements are made, and for storing calibration data, transponder ID number and the like, and for transmitting this information in a data stream to the reader/interrogator. An excessive temperature condition may also be sensed and included in the data stream.

Abstract: A self-contained tire-manufacturing cell (100) has linked build, cure, and force-measurement equipment. Each tire is tagged (personalized), such as with a bar code, so that it can be traced through the system, including which one of a number of build drums it was built upon, which one of a number of mold cavities it was cured in and which one of a number of force variation testing machines it was tested on. The system performs force, measurements upon each tire after curing, in near real time after the tire is produced, and displays this information in a graphical symbolic format (300), from which process variations can readily be ascertained by the operator. In an exemplary embodiment, the force measurements are presented to the operator in the form of a polar plot (300), each circular band or ring of which is associated with an individual tire.