Abstract: This disclosure includes methods and apparatus for forming a non-pneumatic tire carcass comprising an inner hub, an outer band, and a plurality of spokes. The method includes arranging the inner hub, the plurality of spokes, and the outer band to form a curing assembly arranged in a first arrangement within a forming apparatus, where the inner hub is arranged concentrically within a radially inner annular side of the outer band and the plurality of spokes are arranged between the outer band and the inner hub. The plurality of spokes are forced in opposite radial directions from the first arrangement and to a second arrangement, where each spoke of the plurality of spokes is forced in a curing position against the inner hub and towards the outer band in a curing arrangement. The plurality of spokes are then cured to each of the inner hub and outer band.

Abstract: A tread (12) for a heavy truck tire is provided that has a bottom surface (14), a shoulder rib (16), and a sacrificial rib (20) located outboard from the shoulder rib (16) in a width direction. A decoupling void (30) is located between the shoulder rib (16) and the sacrificial rib (20). A decoupling void sipe (32) is in the shoulder rib (16) and opens at the shoulder rib upper surface (18) and at the decoupling void (30). The decoupling void sipe (32) extends in the thickness direction and is closer to the bottom surface (14) than the decoupling void (30) in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A method of curing spokes (10) is provided in which first molds of a first (14) and second series (16) of molds are placed into a platen, and force and heat applied. The platen (12) is opened and the first mold (1(1)) of the first series (14) is moved relative to the platen while the position of the first mold (1(2)) of the second series (16) is kept the same relative to the platen. Force and heat are applied to the molds. The platen (12) is opened, and the first mold (1(1)) of the first series is removed while the second mold (2(1)) of the first series is kept within the platen. A cured spoke is removed from the first mold of the first series.

Abstract: A method of assembling spokes into a non-pneumatic tire (10) is provided in which a shear band (16) is located outward from a hub (12) in a radial direction. A segment (20) is present that has a plurality of spokes (22), and both inner and outer radial bonding ends (24, 26). The plurality of spokes (22) engage both of these bonding ends (24, 26). The outer radial bonding end (24) is attached to the shear band (16) using adhesive (28), and the inner radial bonding end (26) is attached to the hub (12) using adhesive (28). This segment (20) extends less than 360 degrees about the central axis (14) in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spoke (12) for a non-pneumatic tire is provided that involves providing a first form (14) and a second form (16), where first and second components (18, 20) of the spoke are placed on the first form (14). A third component (22) of the spoke is placed on the second form (16). The first and second components are transferred to the second form (16). The first component, the second component, and the third component are transferred from the second form to a mold (48). Further, the first component, the second component, and the third component have heat and pressure applied thereto for curing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spoke (12) for a non-pneumatic tire is provided that involves providing a first form (14) and a second form (16), where first and second components (18, 20) of the spoke are placed on the first form (14). A third component (22) of the spoke is placed on the second form (16). The first and second components are transferred to the second form (16). The first component, the second component, and the third component are transferred from the second form to a mold (48). Further, the first component, the second component, and the third component have heat and pressure applied thereto for curing.

Abstract: This disclosure includes methods and apparatus for forming a non-pneumatic tire carcass comprising an inner hub, an outer band, and a plurality of spokes. The method includes arranging the inner hub, the plurality of spokes, and the outer band to form a curing assembly arranged in a first arrangement within a forming apparatus, where the inner hub is arranged concentrically within a radially inner annular side of the outer band and the plurality of spokes are arranged between the outer band and the inner hub. The plurality of spokes are forced in opposite radial directions from the first arrangement and to a second arrangement, where each spoke of the plurality of spokes is forced in a curing position against the inner hub and towards the outer band in a curing arrangement. The plurality of spokes are then cured to each of the inner hub and outer band.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for flexibly attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. This can include attaching a trailer mounting bracket to a trailer and attaching a bi-modulus bending member to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration at a bracket end of the bi-modulus bending member. The bi-modulus bending member includes a bending element set configured to elastically buckle when a lateral force component exceeds a threshold force, and the bi-modulus bending member is configured to return to a straightened configuration after buckling and bending to a buckled configuration when the threshold force is removed.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for mounting a trailer skirt to a trailer. This includes attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer, the trailer skirt configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt. In certain embodiments, such methods are accomplished using a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus, the apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer and a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, where in the cantilevered configuration, the skirt-supporting member is configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. Embodiments of the methods include attaching a skirt-supporting member to a trailer in a cantilevered configuration, and operably coupling a trailer skirt to the skirt-supporting member to provide a sliding coupling between the trailer skirt and the skirt-supporting member. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer, a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, and a skirt channel configured to slidingly couple the skirt-supporting member to the trailer skirt.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for mounting a trailer skirt to a trailer. This includes attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer, the trailer skirt configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt. In certain embodiments, such methods are accomplished using a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus, the apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer and a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, where in the cantilevered configuration, the skirt-supporting member is configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for flexibly attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. This can include attaching a trailer mounting bracket to a trailer and attaching a bi-modulus bending member to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration at a bracket end of the bi-modulus bending member. The bi-modulus bending member includes a bending element set configured to elastically buckle when a lateral force component exceeds a threshold force, and the bi-modulus bending member is configured to return to a straightened configuration after buckling and bending to a buckled configuration when the threshold force is removed.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. Embodiments of the methods include attaching a skirt-supporting member to a trailer in a cantilevered configuration, and operably coupling a trailer skirt to the skirt-supporting member to provide a sliding coupling between the trailer skirt and the skirt-supporting member. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer, a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, and a skirt channel configured to slidingly couple the skirt-supporting member to the trailer skirt.