Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre for vehicle wheels comprising at least one structural element comprising a cross-linked elastomeric material obtained by cross-linking a cross-linkable elastomeric composition comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein said carbon nanotubes are obtained with an iron oxides and/or aluminium oxides based catalyst substantially free of Co, Ni and Mo.

Abstract: A process for building tyres employing a forming drum having circumferentially consecutive sectors that are radially movable between a contracted condition and an expanded condition in which the sectors are radially moved away from a geometric axis in order to define a radially external abutment surface. Each sector has circumferentially opposite coupling portions each having circumferential projections alternated with circumferential cavities. The projections of each sector are slidably engaged in the respective cavities of circumferentially adjacent sectors. From at least one of the projections, at least one support wing is extended having a first side and a second side that are respectively opposite. The first side coincides with a portion of the abutment surface and the second side at least partially overlaps one of the projections belonging to an adjacent sector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre (11) having an inner surface (111) and provided with at least one monitoring device (3) adhering to said inner surface (111), wherein said monitoring device (3) is made on a flexible support, and wherein the adhesion of said flexible support to said inner surface (111) is achieved through a decoupling element (4) interposed between said at least one monitoring device (3) and said inner surface (111) of the tyre (11).

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre has a tread band (8) comprising a plurality of grooves that form a tread pattern including a module (T) replicated along a circumferential direction of the tyre (1) and having a predetermined circumferential length (C1). The module (T) comprises a pair of circumferential grooves (20) arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre (1). Such circumferential grooves (20) extend along the circumferential direction of the tyre (1) for only part of said predetermined circumferential length (C1) and define between them a central portion (A) of tread band (8) having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width (A1).

Abstract: A plant for building tyres of at least two different models for vehicle wheels, includes at least a tyre building line, which in turn, includes: a plurality of work stations arranged according to a sequential series, each work station being adapted for building at least one structural component of each tyre and assembling at least one elementary component; at least one handling device for the tyres being processed on the respective forming supports associated to each work station; and at least one transfer device adapted for transferring the tyre being processed on its forming support from any first work station of the sequential series to any other second work station not adjacent thereto of the sequential series, so that the tyre being processed on its forming support only passes in the first and second work stations.

Abstract: A tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a support structure and a tread band arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the support structure. The support structure comprises a plurality of hybrid reinforcing cords (10). Each of the hybrid reinforcing cords (10) has at least two strands (20) twisted together with a predetermined twisting pitch. Each of said at least two strands (20) comprises at least one monofilament textile wire (21) and at least one multifilament textile yarn (22) comprising a plurality of textile filaments (22a). In any cross section of the hybrid reinforcing cord (10), said at least one monofilament textile wire (21) is at least partially embedded in the filaments (22a) of said at least one multifilament textile yarn (22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to elastomeric compositions for tyres and relative compounds, components and tyres comprising them, said compositions comprising an elastomeric polymer, a phenolic product, optionally already partially cross-linked, optionally an aldehyde and/or at least a methylene donor product and an oxidised carbon allotrope as a cross-linking catalyst. Advantageously, this catalyst is able to complete the cross-linking reactions of the phenolic resins in the conventional times and conditions of vulcanisation, or even more rapidly, providing mechanically stable compounds.

Abstract: A carcass sleeve is situated in a radially external position with respect to a toroidal forming drum, arranged in a first radially contracted operative condition. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration while the forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve. During shaping of the carcass sleeve, the forming drum is radially expanded up to a second radially expanded operative condition. Upon completed shaping, the carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum in the second operative condition. The forming drum, coupled to the shaped carcass sleeve, is arranged in proximity to at least one device for building at least one belt layer at a radially external position relative to the shaped carcass sleeve.

Abstract: Tyre (1) comprising a monitoring device (10) comprising an electronic unit (11) comprising a sensor for detecting at least one of the following physical quantities: temperature, pressure, acceleration, deformation; a processing unit; a transceiver; an electric power supplier (12) having a housing body (50), a first pole (22) and a second pole (24); an electric circuit (18) for connecting the two poles (22, 24) to the electronic unit (11); a flexible support (13) on which the electronic unit is fixed (11), wherein the housing body (50) is fixed onto the flexible support (13) at a first face (23), wherein the monitoring device (10) comprises a tab (26) integral with the flexible support (13) and folded so that a portion (27) of the tab is fixed to a second face (25) of the housing body (50), and wherein the electric circuit (18) comprises a connecting track (28) extending along the tab (26) up to electrically contact the second pole (24).

Abstract: A tyre (1) for motorcycles comprises a carcass structure (2), a belt structure (10) applied in radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure (2), a tread band (11) applied in radially outer position with respect to the belt structure (10), wherein the carcass structure (2) comprises at least one carcass ply (3). The carcass ply (3) comprises a plurality of reinforcing cords (20) comprising a first end (21) and a second end (22) twisted together, wherein the first end (21) is a hybrid yarn (23) comprising a plurality of first filaments (24) mixed with a plurality of second filaments (25), wherein the filaments of the plurality of first filaments (24) are made from a single material having a first modulus and wherein the filaments of the plurality of second filaments (25) are made from a single material having a second modulus different from the first modulus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (II): CB-O-ROS-GC-Zn (II) where CB represents the white filler, O represents one or more oxygen bridge bonds, ROS represents an organo-silane residue, GC represents one or more coordinating groups forming a chelate with zinc in ionic form represented by linear, branched or cyclic alkyl chains, comprising one or more heteroatoms inside or at the end of the alkyl chain, and Zn represents zinc in ionic form coordinated with the coordinating groups, a process for the preparation thereof, and the use thereof in the vulcanisation process of elastomeric compounds.

Abstract: Process and an apparatus for applying noise-reducing elements to a tyre for vehicle wheels that has a radially inner surface with a service area and having a circumferential dimension. The process determines the position in circumferential direction of the service area on the radially inner surface of the tyre, determines the position in circumferential direction of a target area on the radially inner surface of the tyre based on the position in circumferential direction of the service area, and applies a noise-reducing element at the target area. The position in circumferential direction of the service area is determined by circumferentially inspecting the radially inner surface of the tyre starting from a reference position, detecting the angular position of the service area with respect to the reference position and determining the position in circumferential direction of the service area based on the angular position and on the circumferential dimension of the radially inner surface of the tyre.

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre (1) has a tread band (1) comprising a plurality of grooves that form at least part of a tread pattern including a module (T) replicated along a circumferential direction and having a predetermined circumferential length (Cl). The module (T) comprises a pair of circumferential grooves (20) arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre (1). Such circumferential grooves (20) extend along the circumferential direction for at least part of said predetermined circumferential length (Cl) and define between them a central annular portion (A) of tread band (8) having a void to solid ratio substantially equal to zero and a predetermined axial width (Al).

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre for vehicle wheels comprising at least one structural element comprising a cross-linked elastomeric material obtained by cross-linking a cross-linkable elastomeric composition comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein said carbon nanotubes are obtained with an iron oxides and/or aluminium oxides based catalyst substantially free of Co, Ni and Mo.

Abstract: A method for controlling the thickness of a continuous elongated element made of elastomeric material, applied according to coils wound on a forming support, includes: advancing a head end of the continuous elongated element toward the forming support; subjecting, during the advancement, the continuous elongated element to a first stretching with a first stretch coefficient before applying on the forming support; and subjecting, during the advancement, the continuous elongated element to a second stretching with a second stretch coefficient during the application on the forming support. During the first stretching, a span of the continuous elongated element adjacent to the head end is stretched with a supplementary stretch coefficient greater than the first stretch coefficient, in a manner so as to confer, also to the span adjacent to the head end, a stretch and a section similar or substantially equivalent to those of the rest of the continuous elongated element.

Abstract: There are disclosed a plant and a process for building different types of green tyres, the process comprising: a) building a carcass structure of a green tyre; b) building a crown structure of a green tyre; wherein at least one between the building of the carcass structure and the building of the crown structure comprises: c) providing at least one first feeding unit of a first elementary semi-finished product and one second feeding unit of a second elementary semi-finished product, the at least one first and one second elementary semi-finished products being different to one another; d) building at least one portion of a structural component of the tyre being processed starting from at least one of the first and second elementary semi-finished products, in one work station fed by the first and second feeding units of the first and second elementary semi-finished products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a vulcanisable elastomeric compound for tyres, characterised by the use of a particular vulcanisation-activating filler and by the methods of adding additives, in particular the compatibilising agent (silane), which occurs only after completion of the reaction between the activating filler comprising zinc and the fatty acid (stearic acid). The present process, advantageous in itself due to the possible reduction of the times and of the energy required for vulcanisation, allows preparing compounds which, with the same performances compared to the traditional ones, can have a reduced zinc content, and consequently a lower release thereof from tyres during use at an environmental level.

Abstract: A plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, comprises a sleeve building area (A) in which devices for obtaining carcass sleeves (12) operate, a crown building area (B) in which devices for obtaining crown structures (7) operate and a shaping station (14) tor shaping each carcass sleeve (12) according to a toroidal configuration.