Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for applying a mixture of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising a first extruder for processing a first compound and a second extruder for processing a second compound, wherein the outlet from the first extruder is in fluid communication with a first channel of a housing, and the outlet from the second extruder is in fluid communication with a second channel of the housing, wherein a gear pump is positioned in each channel, wherein a nozzle is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first channel and an outlet of the second channel.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a method for forming a tread on a green carcass comprising the steps of providing a tire building drum having a carcass thereon, applying a strip of a base compound continuously over one half of the carcass forming a first layer of base compound from the centerline of the carcass to a first lateral edge, applying a first tread cap compound over the base compound, applying a strip of a base compound continuously over the second half of the carcass forming a second layer of base compound from the centerline of the carcass to a second lateral edge, forming a chimney along an edge of the first tread cap compound, and applying a first tread cap compound over the second layer of the base compound.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a strip of elastomeric material to a surface, the apparatus comprising: a nozzle having an inlet in fluid communication with a pumping means, said nozzle having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface has a curved shape for mating engagement with an outer surface of a rotatable roller, said lower surface having an opening positioned for engagement with the roller outer surface.

Abstract: A cross-head die assembly for use with an extruder is described. The cross-head die assembly includes: an inlet section having an inlet for communicating flow from the extruder to one or more flow channels formed in a support block; and an outlet, a removably mounted die located at the outlet and in fluid communication with the one or more flow channels; said support block further comprising an interior slot extending from a first side of the support block to an outlet passageway; a removable cassette positioned in the interior slot, wherein the front end of the removable cassette is positioned to seal the outlet passageway of the slot so that the slot is isolated from the flow.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for manufacturing an air maintenance tire includes an air pumping tube assembly station constructing an air pumping tube sub-assembly, a tire preparation station for modifying a cured tire to accept the air pumping tube sub-assembly, an air pumping tube sub-assembly installation station and a pressure regulator installation station. The air pumping tube sub-assembly inserts into an elongate tire groove opening, facilitated by groove-spreading apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of assembling an elongate air pumping tube into an elongate tire sidewall groove includes engaging the tire sidewall outward surface with an impact wheel at an impact location proximally adjacent and above the elongate groove as the tire is rotated. The groove is thereby spread segment-by-segment for segment-by-segment synchronous insertion of the tube into the groove. The groove is closed segment-by-segment as each spread segment is returned to its original narrower dimension utilizing elastomeric material composition properties of the tire sidewall.

Abstract: A method of forming a layer of tire ply is disclosed. A first strip of ply is provided having a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords, having a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last two cords are spaced apart a distance X, wherein X is not equal to S. A second strip of ply is provided having a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords, having a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last two cords are spaced apart a distance Y, wherein Y is not equal to S. The lateral ends of the first and second strip are joined together in a lap joint. The first and second lateral ends are overlapped so that the spacing X partially or completely overlaps with the spacing Y.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making reinforced ply is described. The apparatus includes a cross-head die assembly for use with an extruder, the cross-head die assembly having: an inlet section having an inlet for receiving flow from the extruder; an upper support block removably connected to a first side of the interior section; and a lower block removably connected to a second side of the interior section. A first flow passage is located between the upper support block and the interior section and is in fluid communication with the inlet. A second flow passage is located between the interior section and the lower support block and is in fluid communication with the inlet. The cross-head die assembly further includes a removably mounted die located at an outlet end of the assembly.

Abstract: A tire has an elongate profiled sidewall groove extending into a first tire sidewall from an outward first sidewall surface. An elongate air tube is positioned within the elongate sidewall groove in contact with the groove sidewalls, the air tube having an external surface configuration corresponding with and seating within the internal sidewall configuration defining the sidewall groove. The air tube when subject to outward originating impinging force collapses from an expanded unstressed configuration into a collapsed configuration to allow the tube to insert through the groove entry opening and expand outwardly once within the sidewall groove to its unstressed configuration. The configuration of the groove sidewalls capture the air tube within the groove in its expanded unstressed configuration to prevent separation of the tube from the tire during use.

Abstract: A tire has an elongate profiled sidewall groove extending into a first tire sidewall from an outward first sidewall surface. An elongate air tube is positioned within the elongate sidewall groove in contact with the groove sidewalls, the air tube having an external surface configuration corresponding with and seating within the internal sidewall configuration defining the sidewall groove. The air tube when subject to outward originating impinging force collapses from an expanded unstressed configuration into a collapsed configuration to allow the tube to insert through the groove entry opening and expand outwardly once within the sidewall groove to its unstressed configuration. The configuration of the groove sidewalls capture the air tube within the groove in its expanded unstressed configuration to prevent separation of the tube from the tire during use.

Abstract: A tire has an elongate profiled sidewall groove extending into a first tire sidewall from an outward first sidewall surface. An elongate air tube is positioned within the elongate sidewall groove in contact with the groove sidewalls, the air tube having an external surface configuration corresponding with and seating within the internal sidewall configuration defining the sidewall groove. The air tube when subject to outward originating impinging force collapses from an expanded unstressed configuration into a collapsed configuration to allow the tube to insert through the groove entry opening and expand outwardly once within the sidewall groove to its unstressed configuration. The configuration of the groove sidewalls capture the air tube within the groove in its expanded unstressed configuration to prevent separation of the tube from the tire during use.

Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire, sidewalls, and a sidewall groove. The tire has a pneumatic cavity. The sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint of the tire. The sidewall groove is defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the tire sidewall. The sidewall groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the sidewall bending region when radially within the rolling tire footprint. An air passageway is defined by the sidewall groove and a cover strip. The air passageway resiliently deforms segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the sidewall groove when radially within the rolling tire footprint.

Abstract: A groove defined by groove sidewalls is positioned within the bending region of a tire sidewall. An elongate air tube positioned within the sidewall groove is in contacting engagement with the groove sidewalls and resiliently squeezes and collapses segment by segment as the groove constricts segment by segment within the rolling tire footprint. A longitudinally oriented projecting locking rib extends from a tube sidewall and registers within a complementary configured and located detent extending adjacent the groove to deter lateral movement of the tube within the groove after insertion. An annular projecting ridge extends from the groove for engaging the sidewalls of the air tube to deter an axial movement of the tube within the groove after insertion.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a continuous preparation ply of the type used to make vehicle tires from preparation ply sections having nonmetallic cords. An infeed conveyor successively feeds the preparation ply sections to a butt splicing machine that joins the ends of the two preparation ply sections to form a butt joint. A gum strip applier receives the continuous preparation ply from an outfeed conveyor and applies a gum strip over the butt joint. A method is provided for forming a continuous preparation ply by first automatically forming a butt joint, and thereafter automatically placing a gum strip on the butt joint.

Abstract: A tire for a self-inflating tire system includes an annular air tube-receiving groove formed within a tire carcass wall at a prescribed radial location. The groove has an access opening, a primary internal groove chamber dimensioned and profiled for close receipt of an annular air-pump tube. A secondary expansion chamber of the groove communicates with the internal groove chamber for operationally receiving a flattened air-pump tube extended portion during tire operation. A passageway is located at a prescribed outlet location along the annular air tube-receiving groove, the passageway extending from the groove to an axially inward terminal end within the tire carcass wall separated from a tire inner liner by a removable wall partition of reduced sectional thickness.

Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire, sidewalls, and a sidewall groove. The tire has a pneumatic cavity. The sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint of the tire. The sidewall groove is defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the tire sidewall. The sidewall groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the sidewall bending region when radially within the rolling tire footprint. An air passageway is defined by the sidewall groove and a cover strip. The air passageway resiliently deforms segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the sidewall groove when radially within the rolling tire footprint.

Abstract: A tire has an elongate profiled sidewall groove extending into a first tire sidewall from an outward first sidewall surface. An elongate air tube is positioned within the elongate sidewall groove in contact with the groove sidewalls, the air tube having an external surface configuration corresponding with and seating within the internal sidewall configuration defining the sidewall groove. The air tube when subject to outward originating impinging force collapses from an expanded unstressed configuration into a collapsed configuration to allow the tube to insert through the groove entry opening and expand outwardly once within the sidewall groove to its unstressed configuration. The configuration of the groove sidewalls capture the air tube within the groove in its expanded unstressed configuration to prevent separation of the tube from the tire during use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a blended rubber composition directly onto a tire building drum or core is described. The method includes the steps of extruding a first rubber compound through a main extruder and a main gear pump. A second rubber compound is extruded through a second extruder and into a second gear pump. The output from the second gear pump is fed into the main extruder. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound is varied by adjusting the speed of the main gear pump and the speed of the second gear pump. A continuous strip of rubber formed of said first compound and said second compound is layed directly onto a tire building machine to form a first layer of rubber having a first blend ratio. The speed of the main gear pump and the second gear pump is adjusted to obtain a second blend ratio of said first compound to said second compound, and then a strip of rubber formed of said second blend ratio is applied to the tire building drum or core.

Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire, sidewalls, and a sidewall groove. The tire has a pneumatic cavity. The sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint of the tire. The sidewall groove is defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the tire sidewall. The sidewall groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the sidewall bending region when radially within the rolling tire footprint. An air passageway is defined by the sidewall groove and a cover strip. The air passageway resiliently deforms segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the sidewall groove when radially within the rolling tire footprint.

Abstract: A groove defined by groove sidewalls is positioned within the bending region of a tire sidewall. An elongate air tube positioned within the sidewall groove is in contacting engagement with the groove sidewalls and resiliently squeezes and collapses segment by segment as the groove constricts segment by segment within the rolling tire footprint. A longitudinally oriented projecting locking rib extends from a tube sidewall and registers within a complementary configured and located detent extending adjacent the groove to deter lateral movement of the tube within the groove after insertion. An annular projecting ridge extends from the groove for engaging the sidewalls of the air tube to deter an axial movement of the tube within the groove after insertion.