Abstract: The present invention is an improved tire design including a continuous annular band or a belt formed of a plurality of relatively flat rigid plates embedded in the rubber between the tread and body plies. The plates are curved to conform to the radius of the tire and are pivotally linked or otherwise pivotally connected together thereby creating a flexible annular belt that is extremely stiff in the in-plane or steering torsional direction due to the engagement of the side edges of the adjacent plates when experiencing an in-plane or steering torsional force but flexible in the radial direction due to the pivotal connection between the adjacent plates.

Abstract: An EPDM flashing composition comprises 100 parts by weight of an elastomeric polymer comprising from about 85 to 100 parts by weight of at least one ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer having up to about 2 percent by weight crystallinity and from 0 to about 15 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer having more than 2 percent by weight crystallinity; from about 40 to 120 parts by weight of a filler selected from the group consisting of reinforcing and non-reinforcing materials and mixtures thereof, per 100 parts of the polymer; from about 40 to 105 parts by weight of a processing material and mixtures thereof, per 100 parts of the polymer; and from about 0.5 to 6 parts by weight of a cure package, per 100 parts of the polymer, the cure package comprising from about 0.1 to 1.25 parts by weight sulfur and from 0.4 to 5 parts by weight of at least one sulfur vulcanizing accelerator and being devoid of hexasulfides and thioureas.

Abstract: A bonding pad for securing a waterproof membrane to a roof deck without requiring any penetration of the membrane. The pad has a base member of EPDM with a thin bottom coating of a nonwoven polyester fabric. An EPDM tape having adhesive on both sides is secured to the top surface of the base member. A rigid attachment plate and fastener secure the base member and EPDM tape to the roof deck with the top layer of adhesive securing the membrane to the pad. Preferably the EPDM tape comprises two separated strips forming an air flow channel therebetween with the attachment plate being located with the channel. A primer coat is applied to the top layer of adhesive on the EPDM tape after an adhesive release paper is removed prior to securing the membrane to the bonding pad.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating various tire profiles. A linear-linear-rotary table carries a non-contacting probe that sequentially scans the entire outer surface of a tire. The non-contacting probe collects measurement data which is transferred to a processor to generate an average cross-sectional tire profile or a high definition cross-sectional tire profile of the tire being measured. The processor, in conjunction with the non-contacting probe, provides an automatic ranging feature which eliminates the need to manually adjust the non-contacting probe prior to the collection of measurement data.

Abstract: An apparatus and related methods for capturing a digital foot print image of a tire and for extrapolating load-deflection curves of the tire is presented. A frame carries a test pod that is coupled to a tire to perform various tests. In one application, a loading plate couples the tire to a transparent plate on the test pod where a camera captures a digital gray-scale image of the tire foot print. A processor converts the gray-scale image into a pressure map wherein each pixel of the digital image is correlated to a pressure value. In another application, the loading plate couples the tire to a sliding cover plate on the test pod, wherein the loading plate is incremented through a plurality of load values at predetermined inflation pressures. By using two inflation pressures, the processor extrapolates further load-deflection curves for the tire at other inflation pressures. The apparatus also provides a unique way for imparting camber on the tire during the above tests.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining lateral tire tread stiffness includes a holding fixture that is coupled to a loading fixture. The holding fixture includes a frame on which is mounted a rotary table that carries the tire tread specimen to be tested. The loading fixture includes a loading plate that can apply a normal loading force and a lateral loading force to the tire tread specimen. A processor receives data from a monitoring device which provides an indication of the deformation of the tire tread specimen as a lateral load is applied thereto. The processor also receives data from a load cell which monitors the amount of force applied to the tread specimen and correlates this data with the displacement data to determine stiffness properties of the tread specimen. The processor also controls the angular position of the rotary table to further analyze the tread stiffness of particular tire tread geometry.

Abstract: A pneumatic passenger tire has an aspect ratio of greater than 50%, having bead portions with a height of not less than 30% of the tire section height, but no greater than the height of the maximum section width of the tire, and a pair of crescent-shaped sidewall inserts on either side of the belt package, disposed axially inward of the carcass structure, wherein the sidewall insert has a first inner end located at a position between 15% and 45% of height H of the bead portions, and a second outer end which extends to an axial position of not less than 40% of a half width of the outermost belt, as measured from the lateral edge of the belt toward an equatorial plane EP of the tire. The tire construction has sidewall insert is comprised of a sulfur-vulcanizable rubber compound having high compressive flex fatigue, high modulus and low hysterisis subsequent to vulcanization.

Abstract: An asphaltic compound according to the invention includes from about 70 to about 45 parts by weight of asphalt; from about 15 to about 25 parts by weight of a polymer modifier for said asphalt; from about 15 to about 25 parts by weight of a filler; and, from about 0.1 to about 5 parts by weight of a dispersing agent. The dispersing agent can be selected from the group consisting of stearic acid, tri(dioctyl) pyrophosphate titanate, tri(dioctyl) pyrophosphate-O, neoalkoxy tridodecylbenzenesulfonyl titanate, lecithin, aluminum stearate, maleic anhydride-modified ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, maleic anhydride grafted propylene-ethylene copolymer, ethoxylated alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A composite recovery board (10) includes a foam core (11) selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanurate and polyurethane materials and mixtures thereof; a facer (15), applied to one major surface (13) of the foam core and formed from a sheet selected from the group consisting of reinforced polymer material and reinforced cellulosic material, wherein the polymer material and cellulosic material are reinforced with a material selected from the group consisting of glass strands, glass fibers, and mixtures thereof and, gypsum board (14), applied to the opposite major surface (12) of the foam core. A method of reroofing a roof includes applying composite recovery boards of the present invention to a roof deck; and, applying a weather protective layer over the recovery boards.

Abstract: A method of preparing polymetalated compositions and the use of such polymetalated compounds as catalysts in polymerization reactions are described. The process comprises reacting (A-1) an allenic compound of the formula R.sup.2 --CH.dbd.C.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an aliphatic group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms with (A-2) an organometallic compound R.sup.o M in a mole ratio of about 1:2 to about 1:6 wherein R.sup.o is a hydrocarbyl group and M is an alkali metal.A method of preparing a hydrocarbon-soluble polymetalated compositions also is described, and this process comprises the steps of(A) preparing an intermediate by reacting (A-1) an allenic compound of the formula R.sup.2 --CH.dbd.C.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an aliphatic group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms with (A-2) an organometallic compound R.sup.o M in a mole ratio of about 1:2 to about 1:6 wherein R.sup.