Abstract: Method and apparatus for conducting indoor hydroplaning tests on a tire. A tire is supported by a frame above a test surface and a load is applied to the tire tread against the test surface. A stream of high pressure fluid is discharged from a nozzle against an area of contact of the tire tread and the test surface. A device detects a change in the loaded contact of the tire as the pressure of the fluid stream increases which provides an indication that hydroplaning is beginning to occur in comparison with a previously tested tire under actual driving conditions.

Abstract: A system (10) for measuring the dynamic orientation of the plane of a wheel (12) on a vehicle (14). The system (10) includes a test surface (16) which rotates with the wheel (12) and a orientation-determining device (18) which is unattached to the vehicle (14). The test surface (16) is positioned in a plane corresponding to the plane of the wheel (12) and the orientation-determining device (18) determines the orientation of the plane of the test surface (12) at a specific point of time while the vehicle is being driven. A processor (20) receives output signals from the orientation-determining device (18) and converts the output signals into data corresponding to the orientation of the wheel plane for the specific instant in time.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly may be configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The body includes a device that predictably orients the monitoring assembly when the assembly is floating in the liquid. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.

Abstract: A method and device whereby green tire components are on-line controlled as to quality, dimensions and structure by means of electric resistance measurements.

Abstract: A method for indoor wear testing tires includes the steps of characterizing a vehicle and a wear test course and combining the characterized data to create input data for an indoor wear test machine. The input data allows the indoor wear test machine to accurately simulate an outdoor wear test course for the characterized vehicle. The method allows multiple wear test courses to be used with a single characterized vehicle and allows a single wear test course to be used with multiple characterized vehicles. The method allows tires to be wear tested in relatively short time periods in the controlled environment of the indoor laboratory. In addition, the method is relatively easy to set up and perform.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly is configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The protective body is liquid-tight and includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the substrate and sensors, a cushion, and a skin on the outside of the cushion. The protective body is substantially spherical allowing the assembly to roll about the inside of a tire without being permanently connected to the tire. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.

Abstract: A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material includes an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber. The monitoring device has at least a pressure sensor and an antenna. A damming element is carried by the encapsulation body in an adjustable manner such that the damming element prevents the pressure sensor from being clogged with the encapsulating material when the monitoring device is encapsulated.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a body having a plurality of main body cords. The tire includes an upper section above the maximum section width and a lower section below the maximum section width. The modulus of the body cords is configured to be larger in the lower section than in the upper section. This modulus ratio decreases the rolling resistance of the tire. The increased modulus in the lower section is achieved by providing intermediate body cords disposed between the main body cords. In another embodiment, the increased modulus is achieved by changing the material and/or size of the cords in the lower section.

Abstract: An integral one-piece end plate and bracket combination is formed of a high strength plastic and is mounted in an airtight sealing engagement with an open end of a flexible elastomeric sleeve which forms the fluid pressure chamber of an air spring. The end plate includes a semi-circular wall which extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the air spring and a semi-circular opening. The bracket includes an upstanding wall perpendicular to the semi-circular wall of the end plate and a half dome-shaped wall, which together with the upstanding wall, forms an auxiliary fluid chamber which is in fluid communication through the semi-circular opening with the main fluid chamber of the flexible sleeve. The upstanding wall includes attachments for securing the bracket and end plate to a support structure which aligns with a longitudinal axis of the air spring.

Abstract: An air actuator adapted to be located between a pair of spaced members for moving said members with respect to each other includes a hollow body formed of an expandable non-reinforced polyurethane. The body has an ellipsoidal shape and terminates in a pair of curved closed ends and has an interior pressure cavity for receiving and discharging a pressurized fluid for expanding and contracting the body. The body is formed of at least two half members of the non-reinforced polyurethane by either a pair of longitudinal seams extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body or a single circumferential seam. An air tube connector is mounted in one of the closed ends of the body for connecting the interior cavity to a source of pressurized air.

Abstract: A method of designing a tread unit that may be repeated in succession about the circumference of a tire to produce an acoustically acceptable tread pattern. The impact of an initial design of a tread unit on a road surface is simulated so that a determination of the number of pulses contained in the impact may be made. An analysis is then performed, based on the number of pulses, as to whether the tread unit design satisfies a predetermined acoustic criteria. If the tread unit design satisfies the acoustic criteria, it may be incorporated into the tire tread pattern. Otherwise, the method may be repeated with a modified tread unit design until the predetermined acoustic criteria is satisfied.

Abstract: A tire testing machine (10) comprising a movable simulated road surface (14), an axle (16) including a bearing surface (22) around which a tire/wheel assembly (T) can rotate; and a frame (18) which supports the axle (16) in a non-rotatable but vertically floatable manner relative to the simulated road surface (14) whereby the tire/wheel assembly (T) can be loaded in rolling engagement against the simulated road surface (14). The frame (18) comprises tie members (26) which extend from the axle (16) to a stationary support (28) in a geometrically sturdy (e.g., triangular) arrangement and non-damping piston members (30) which are interposed between the tie members (26) and the stationary support (28). The geometrically sturdy arrangement of the tie members (26) can be an isosceles triangular arrangement and the simulated road surface (14) can comprise the outer circumferential surface of a road wheel (20).

Abstract: An indoor tire testing apparatus has a rotatable road wheel with an abrasive surface and a tire support mechanism for rotatably supporting and moving a tread of a tire into contact with the abrasive surface. A vacuum chamber having a pair of nozzles is located adjacent the area of contact between the abrasive surface and tire tread. A movably mounted shroud is formed by a plurality of metal panels and forms a chamber for receiving a tire therein during testing. Temperature and moisture is controlled within the shroud interior and vacuum chamber through a duct connected to the shroud. A plurality of brushes partially close open sides in the vacuum chamber and shroud to prevent the escape of powder and particles from within the chambers. The vacuum nozzles remove the powder and particles to a remote location to prevent their dispersion into the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A first stage tire building drum for building a run flat tire has a cylindrical central portion for receiving the strip components thereon for fabricating a first stage body ply carcass and has a pair of bead receiving areas adjacent the central portion for receiving bead rings thereon. The central portion and bead areas preferably are formed by a plurality of moveable arcuate segments. A spacer or sleeve is formed by a plurality of arcuate segments and is mounted on the center of the cylindrical drum portion and forms a pair of adjacent recesses. The spacer has a smooth outer cylindrical surface. The spacer has a height equal to the thickness of run flat tire sidewall inserts and a width equal to the distance between the inside edges of the opposed sidewall inserts.

Abstract: A method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire and adhering an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner includes the step of providing a patch having a cover and a layer of uncured rubber. The patch is placed at a selected area of the innerliner of a green tire before the green tire is cured. At least a portion of the patch is removed after the tire is cured to provide a prepared area at the selected area of the tire. The electronic monitoring device is then adhered to the prepared area.