Abstract: A method for controlling the deformation of a surface of a sail of a sailing boat during a direction change manoeuvre, includes arranging at least one inflatable batten into a respective seat formed on a side surface of the sail, the at least one batten being inflated at a predetermined working pressure as to impart to said at least one inflatable batten a bending stiffness having, with no bending load, a predetermined value, carrying out a manoeuvre, for changing the direction of the sailing boat, wherein in a first part of manoeuvre the at least one batten is subjected to the action of an increasing bending load, and in a second part of the manoeuvre, the bending load ends its action on the at least one batten, during the manoeuvre the mechanical properties of the at least one batten being changed so that as the bending load increases in the first part of the manoeuvre, the value of the bending stiffness of the at least one batten decreases considerably, and as the action of the bending load ends in the sec

Abstract: A method for determining the force at the hub of a wheel of a vehicle while traveling. The wheel includes a rim and at least one deformation sensor directly associated with the rim in at least one predetermined position and arranged according to at least one predetermined orientation. The method includes the steps of detecting at least one deformation component of the rim during travel through the at least one deformation sensor; applying to the at least one deformation component, during travel, a correlation parameter characteristic of the rim, between the force at the hub and the relative deformation of the rim to determine at least one force component at the hub correlated with the at least one deformation component of the rim.

Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, and sidewalls laterally applied to opposite sides of the carcass structure. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply with a first and second series of strip segments and a pair of annular reinforcing structures. In one embodiment, each of the pair of annular reinforcing structures includes a first annular insert having opposed axial surfaces and being positioned between respective lateral portions of the first series of strip segments and respective diverging lateral portions of the second series of strip segments. In this embodiment, no filling body is positioned between the respective lateral portions of the first series of strip segments and the respective diverging lateral portions of the second series of strip segments.

Abstract: A wheel having a controlled pressure includes a rim associated with a tank adapted to be filled with a fluid to a first pressure; a tyre mounted on the rim and having an inner volume inflated to an operating pressure at a reference temperature, the operating pressure being lower than the first pressure; and at least one valve assembly adapted to establish a communication between the tank, the inner volume of the tyre and the external environment. The valve assembly includes a command valve, an exhaust valve and a compensation valve operatively associated with each other. The command valve controls communication between the tank and the inner volume of the tyre. The exhaust valve is connected to the external environment, to the inner volume, to the command valve and to the compensation valve. The compensation valve is connected to the exhaust valve and the command valve.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure having at least one first carcass ply, a pair of circumferentially inextensible annular structures, a belt structure applied to the carcass structure, a tread band applied to the belt structure, and at least one pair of sidewalls applied to the carcass structure. The at least one first carcass ply includes a plurality of strip lengths each including at least two thread elements. Each strip length defines two side portions and a crown portion. The crown portions are disposed side-by-side along a circumferential extension of the tire. The side portions of each strip length partly cover or are partly covered by a side portion of at least one adjacent strip length. Each annular structure includes at least a first circumferentially inextensible annular insert formed by at least one first elongated element extending in concentric coils.

Abstract: Method of allowing control of a vehicle provided with at least two wheels in case of puncture of a tire, each wheel having a rim and a tire associated therewith, including the steps of inflating each tire to an operating pressure at a reference temperature; admitting a fluid compressed to a first pressure higher than the operating pressure of the tire at the reference temperature into at least one tank associated with at least one of the rims; bringing the tire into communication with the tank when the inner pressure of the tire is lower than the operating pressure by a predetermined first threshold value; measuring the inner pressure of the tire with a predetermined frequency; calculating a variation of the inner pressure in the time unit; generating an alarm signal when the variation of the inner pressure corresponds to a reduction and is higher than a predetermined value; and transmitting the alarm signal to the driver.

Abstract: A tyre for a wheel of a vehicle comprises a toroidal carcass provided with axially opposite sidewalls and beads for anchoring the tyre to a rim of the wheel, a tread band located crownwise on the carcass, comprising a surface with a plurality of hollows and grooves defining a raised tread pattern, and a belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread band, axially extending between the sidewalls. The tread band comprises at least first and second circumferential axially-contiguous portions arranged to contact a road surface. The first portion is formed of a first composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 40%-by-weight carbon black and at least some white filler, the second portion is formed of a second composition comprising a reinforcing filler having at least 20%-by-weight white filler, and the first composition is different from the second composition.

Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, belt structure, tread band, and at least one pair of sidewalls. The carcass structure includes at least one first carcass ply and at least two annular reinforcing structures. The at least one first carcass ply includes elongated sections circumferentially distributed around the tyre's geometric rotation axis. Each elongated section extends in a U-shaped configuration around a cross-section outline of the carcass structure to define two side portions and one crown portion. Each elongated section substantially lies in a plane parallelly offset relative to a meridian plane of the carcass structure. The crown portion of each elongated section is oriented, relative to a radial reference plane passing through a transition region between the crown portion and at least one corresponding side portion, at an angle having a different value from an inclination of the at least one corresponding side portion.

Abstract: A method for monitoring deformations in a tire of a vehicle wheel, the wheel including the tire and a rim, the method including: providing the wheel with at least two magnetic-field emitters mutually disposed so as to yield a composite magnetic field having one or more space portions where at least one component of the composite magnetic field is substantially null; disposing at least one main magnetic-field sensor substantially in one of the one or more space portions; monitoring variation of the at least one component of the composite magnetic field; and correlating the variation with tire deformations. At least one of the magnetic-field emitters is disposed in contact with the tire. A system for monitoring deformations in a tire of a vehicle wheel includes the wheel, the at least two magnetic-field emitters, and the at least one main magnetic-field sensor.

Abstract: Method of allowing control of a vehicle provided with at least two wheels in case of puncture of a tire, each wheel having a rim and a tire associated therewith, including the steps of inflating each tire to an operating pressure at a reference temperature; admitting a fluid compressed to a first pressure higher than the operating pressure of the tire at the reference temperature into at least one tank associated with at least one of the rims; bringing the tire into communication with the tank when the inner pressure of the tire is lower than the operating pressure by a predetermined first threshold value; measuring the inner pressure of the tire with a predetermined frequency; calculating a variation of the inner pressure in the time unit; generating an alarm signal when the variation of the inner pressure corresponds to a reduction and is higher than a predetermined value; and transmitting the alarm signal to the driver.

Abstract: A wheel having a controlled and compensated pressure includes a rim associated with a tank adapted to be filled with a fluid to a first pressure; a tyre mounted on the rim and having an inner volume inflated to an operating pressure, the operating pressure being lower than the first pressure; at least one valve adapted to regulate a communication between the tank and the inner volume of the tyre, the valve having at least one elastic element operatively associated with a closure member designed to open and close a port of the valve to bring the tank into communication with the tyre when the pressure of the tyre is lower than the operating pressure, the elastic element having an elastic constant showing a variation of 10% to 40% within a temperature range of about ?50° C. to about 50° C.

Abstract: A method of making a tire includes making a carcass structure; applying a belt structure, tread band, and at least one pair of sidewalls; and vulcanizing the tire. Making the carcass structure involves formation of at least one first carcass ply, including preparing and depositing at least one continuous strip element onto a toroidal support in alternating deposition sections. Each deposition section extends in a substantially U-shaped conformation against a profile in transverse section of the toroidal support or a previously deposited deposition section, substantially over an entire length of the section, to define two side portions, a crown portion, and two transition regions defined between the side and crown portions. The crown portions of the deposition sections are arranged consecutively in side-by-side relationship along a circumferential extension of the toroidal support.

Abstract: A method of making pneumatic tyres for vehicle wheels in which during building of the tyre on a toroidal support at least one step of a partial vulcanisation is introduced, the step enabling the overall production time to be reduced by lowering the overall time of the final moulding and vulcanisation step, while maintaining the features of the bead and the carcass ply/plies linked thereto as stated in the design specifications. More particularly, by building at least one carcass structure on the toroidal support and submitting the latter to a first vulcanisation step while exerting a pressure from the outside to the inside of the structure itself, an at least partly vulcanised carcass structure is obtained that is stable in its geometry and suitable for completing the tyre building. Subsequently, a second vulcanisation step accompanied by moulding of the tread band and the sidewalls allows a finished tyre in a more reduced overall period of time to be obtained.

Abstract: A method for monitoring deformations in a tyre of a vehicle wheel, the wheel including the tyre and a rim, the method including: providing the wheel with at least two magnetic-field emitters mutually disposed so as to yield a composite magnetic field having one or more space portions where at least one component of the composite magnetic field is substantially null; disposing at least one main magnetic-field sensor substantially in one of the one or more space portions; monitoring variation of the at least one component of the composite magnetic field; and correlating the variation with tyre deformations. At least one of the magnetic-field emitters is disposed in contact with the tyre. A system for monitoring deformations in a tyre of a vehicle wheel includes the wheel, the at least two magnetic-field emitters, and the at least one main magnetic-field sensor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle includes a moving station associated with the rim and a fixed station associated with the vehicle. The moving station includes a device for measuring the deformations in at least one predetermined direction, a unit for supplying power to the measuring device, and a device for enable the unit to supply the power. The fixed station receives information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim includes enabling the moving station, activating the moving station to measure the deformations, and receiving information related to the deformation measurements. A related wheel for a vehicle includes a tyre, a rim, and the moving station.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing elastomeric components of a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes feeding a continuous elongated element from a delivery member by exerting a feeding pressure inside the delivery member, rotating a building support around a geometrical rotation axis of the support, carrying out controlled relative displacements between the delivery member and the support to form a tyre component, stopping the feeding of the elongated element when formation of the tyre component is complete, and exerting a counter-pressure inside the delivery member after stopping the feeding. Rotating the support assists circumferential distribution of the elongated element on the support. Carrying out controlled relative displacements assists transverse distribution of the elongated element on the support. The tyre component is defined by a plurality of coils laid in a pre-established deposition pattern depending on a predetermined cross-section outline to be given to the tyre component.

Abstract: A tire for a wheel of a vehicle includes a casing structure, a belt structure, and a tread band. A tread band pattern includes a central zone, two intermediate zones, and two shoulder zones. Each of the zones extends between planes that are substantially parallel to an equatorial plane of the tire. Each intermediate zone includes first and second sequences of pairs of transversal grooves. The first sequence pairs are alternated with the second sequence pairs. The grooves of the two sequences are inclined relative to each other. The first sequence grooves extend from first ends, at respective axially intermediate planes, to second ends, at predetermined first distances from selected second sequence grooves. The second sequence grooves extend from third ends, at respective axially inner planes, to fourth ends, at predetermined second distances from selected first sequence grooves. Intermediate zones include a zigzag rib. Shoulder zones include additional transversal grooves.

Abstract: A method for designing a tyre includes defining at least one profile of the tyre based on a group of predefined dimensional constraints; defining at least one additional profile of the tyre based on predefined dimensional values of structural parts of the tyre; defining, within a cross-section of the tyre, shapes of the structural parts of the tyre; and approximating each shape by filling with a respective basic component depending on a function of the respective structural part. A method for producing at least one tyre includes obtaining information from a client's processing system; supplying the information to a manufacturer's processing system; obtaining manufacturing instructions based on the information; and manufacturing the at least one tyre using the manufacturing instructions. The manufacturer's processing system is connected to a computer-controlled tyre factory via a communications link. The at least one tyre is manufactured at the computer-controlled tyre factory.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing components for a tire being worked is provided. The apparatus includes a toroidal support for carrying the components of a tire being worked. The toroidal support has an outer surface substantially matching an inner shape of the tire. The apparatus also includes means for feeding at least one elongated element through at least one delivery member disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the toroidal support. The apparatus also includes means for circumferential distribution arranged to drive the toroidal support in rotation around a geometric axis of rotation of the toroidal support so that the at least one elongated element is circumferentially distributed on the toroidal support.

Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, and sidewalls. The carcass structure includes at least one first and second carcass ply and a pair of annular reinforcing structures. The carcass plies are formed of strip sections extending in a substantially U-shaped conformation, including at least two parallel thread elements at least partly coated with elastomer material. The at least one first (second) carcass ply includes a first (third) and second (fourth) series of strip sections arranged in mutually-alternating sequence along a circumferential extension of the carcass structure. The annular reinforcing structures include first and second primary portions. The first (second) primary portion includes an axially-inner side turned towards end flaps of the strip sections of the first (third) series and an axially-outer side turned towards end flaps of the strip sections of the second (fourth) series.