With Electrical Conducting Means Patents (Class 152/152.1)
  • Patent number: 9972885
    Abstract: A long-distance radio frequency electronic identification tire structure is provided. When the production of the tire is completed and an electronic tag reading device is used for identification, an RFID chip of an ultra high frequency electronic tag of a main tire body receives and sends an electromagnetic wave signal generated by a far-field copper film antenna and the electronic tag reading device. The frequency band and the bandwidth of the electromagnetic wave signal are adjusted by a frequency band/bandwidth adjustment portion, and first and second field effect adjustment grooves of first and second field effect adjustment portions are configured to adjust the field effect when a tire bead bundle and a steel belt layer reflect the electromagnetic wave signal, so that the electronic tag reading device can read the identification code of the ultra high frequency electronic tag at a wide angle and a long distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Read Tag Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chi Ju Wu, Shirl Mei Chang, Alexander Chan, Chin Hsien Ting, Hsi Jui Chan
  • Patent number: 9919468
    Abstract: A tire rubber extruder automatic loading and management system is provided for continuous and automatic control of a rubber extrusion line. Batches of rubber slab material, whether for sidewall or tread, are connected in an automated manner to provide a continuous material stream for feeding a tread extruder supply conveyor within a tire manufacturing system. Joiner between adjacent slabs are implemented utilizing a stitched joint of material. Stitch pins are driven through both rubber slab layers to a specific depth into a clearance hole to create an optimized rubber mechanical adhesion zone. The result is a funnel shaped adhesion channel penetrating entirely through the layers of material perpendicular to the direction slab movement and tension. The resulting “rivet” like button structures are extremely strong, have no Impurities that could otherwise be added via adhesives, and can be formed in an automated manner within the available process cycle times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: Raymond P. Gatta, Wes Graham, Matthew L. Myers
  • Patent number: 9884462
    Abstract: A tire mountable apparatus and a method of fabricating a tire mountable apparatus is disclosed. The tire mountable apparatus includes a first layer, a second layer and a middle layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The tire mountable apparatus further includes an electrical device embedded in the middle layer of the tire mountable apparatus. The middle layer of the tire mountable apparatus completely surrounds the electrical device and is formed from a potting compound, The potting compound does not require exposure to heat, air, moisture, or light to clue and does not require solvent evaporation or outgassing of reaction products to cure. The tire mountable apparatus may be constructed by curing the potting compound between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Elizabeth Hotaling, Jay Clifford Sinnett
  • Patent number: 9844983
    Abstract: A vehicle tire pressure control system includes a road sensor configured to acquire road data regarding a road at an advanced location ahead of a current location of a vehicle; a pressure regulator configured to control the air pressure within a tire of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle; and a controller configured to control operation of the pressure regulator and vary the air pressure within the tire based on the road data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9841359
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to tire characterization systems and methods for combining direct tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and tire resonance analysis in indirect tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the extraction of tire characteristics to characterize other tire parameters. In embodiments, iTPMS and methods that utilize anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensed signals coupled to an electronic control unit (ECU) that may comprise circuitry and/or controllers to process the sensed signals using a resonance frequency analysis (RFA) technique can be combined with direct tire pressure sensor measurements from direct TPMS systems. Because direct TPMS systems deliver a precise value of a tire characteristic (for example, tire pressure), one of the unknown parameters that influence the resonance effects can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 9815343
    Abstract: A method for tire sensing includes providing a tire comprising (a) a tire body having an outer wall for contact with a surface and opposite side walls, and an inside surface and (b) at least one flexible strain gauge positioned along the inside surface of the tire body, wherein the at least one flexible strain gauge is positioned to sense tire deflections or strain. The method further includes sensing tire data indicate of the tire deflections using the at least one flexible strain gauge and communicating the tire data to a data acquisition system, control system, or computer system. The flexible strain gauge(s) may be soft dielectric capacitive sensors, soft resistive sensors, or soft capacitive/resistive sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Laflamme, Randall L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 9744814
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a rubber member constructed by a rubber ribbon winding body formed by spirally winding a rubber ribbon. The rubber ribbon includes a composite rubber ribbon which is formed by a non-conductive rubber, and a conductive rubber partly covering the non-conductive rubber. The composite rubber ribbon has a flat cross sectional shape and is gradually reduced in its thickness toward both ends. The conductive rubber has a cross sectional area which is equal to or less than 3% of a cross sectional area of the composite rubber ribbon, and forms a surface in one side and a surface in the other side in both ends of the composite rubber ribbon. The composite rubber ribbons that are adjacent in the width direction are partly overlapped, and a conductive route is provided by the conductive rubber connected between the composite rubber ribbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo Shimomura
  • Patent number: 9616718
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a pneumatic tire 2 from which static electricity is easily discharged. [Solution] The tire 2 includes penetration portions 8, an under tread 6, a belt 16, a carcass 16, and clinches 12. The carcass 16 includes a large number of cords aligned with each other, and a conductive topping rubber. The electric resistance Rc of the carcass which is represented by the following mathematical formula is less than 1.0×108?. Rc=?/g/(2×3.14×r)×L×10 In the mathematical formula, ? is the volume resistivity (?·cm) of the topping rubber of the carcass, g is the minimum thickness (mm) of the topping rubber, r is the distance (m) from the axis of the tire to an outer end, in the radial direction, of the clinch, and L is the length (m) of the carcass from an end of the reinforcing layer to the outer end, in the radial direction, of the clinch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Michio Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9586447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle tire comprising a tread portion and a package of reinforcement layers arranged underneath the tread portion. The tread portion comprises a tread base layer arranged underneath the tread layer, and at least one rubber member that extends in the radial direction of the tire from the ground contacting surface to the reinforcement package. The tread layer rubber composition has an electrical resistivity at room temperature of more than 108 ohm-cm, the tread base layer rubber composition of between 106 ohm-cm and 108 ohm-cm, the member rubber composition of less than 106 ohm-cm; and the rubber composition of at least one layer of the reinforcement package has a electrical resistivity at room temperature of less than 106 ohm-cm. The vehicle tire combines a low rolling resistance with improved conductivity to avoid build-up of static electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Apollo Tyres Global R&D B.V.
    Inventors: Evert-Jan Jitse Van Der Meulen, Peter Jaap Snel, Walter Johannes Maria Roerdink, Harmen Hepkema
  • Patent number: 9579934
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a conductive portion formed by a conductive rubber is provided in the tread rubber formed by a nonconductive rubber. The conductive portion has an outer skin portion and a projection portion. The outer skin portion is formed on a surface of the tread rubber, and extends to an inner side in a tire width direction from a side surface of the tread rubber so as to terminate at a position which goes beyond a contact end. The projection portion spirally extends from a position in an outer side than contact end so as to reach a position in an inner side in the tire width direction than the contact end, and protrudes to an inner side in a tire diametrical direction from the outer skin portion so as to terminate without reaching a bottom surface of the tread rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daiki Deguchi
  • Patent number: 9579860
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a pneumatic tire comprises a forming step of a tread rubber which includes a two-shot stage of simultaneously winding a first rubber ribbon constructed by a nonconductive rubber, and a second rubber ribbon constructed by a nonconductive rubber. In the two-shot stage, the first rubber ribbon and the second rubber ribbon which are adjacent to each other are spirally wound in such a manner as to come into contact with each other, and a ribbon winding position passes through an L-shaped route. A conductive rubber is partly provided in the first rubber ribbon in the winding process when the ribbon winding position passes through the L-shaped route. A conductive portion which spirally and continuously extends to the tread end from the ground-contacting surface and intermittently appears in the tire meridian cross section is formed by the conductive rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Inoue, Syuuichi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9566835
    Abstract: A structure 11 for attaching an electronic component to the inner surface of a pneumatic tire includes: a case 13 which has a bottom plate 18 a side wall 19 and a lid 20 and in which the electronic component is mounted inside an inner space defined by these; and a rubber patch 12 disposed between the case 13 and the inner surface of the pneumatic tire. The rubber patch 12 has a bottom surface 14 to be attached to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire, and a front surface 15 provided on the opposite side from the bottom surface. A seating surface 17 having such a shape as to be capable of receiving the bottom plate 18 of the case 13 is formed in the front surface 15. The rubber patch 12 has a groove 21 in the front surface 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9517662
    Abstract: A diametrical conductive portion extending in a tire diametrical direction in a tire meridian cross section is provided at least in a nonconductive position in a side rubber portion which is constructed by a side wall rubber and a rim strip rubber, a conductive branch portion is provided so as to be branched from the diametrical conductive portion, extend to at least one in a thickness direction of the side rubber portion and pass through an inner portion of the side rubber portion, and the conductive branch portion is arranged at a position which sections at least half position in the thickness direction of the side rubber portion into an outer side in a tire diametrical direction and an inner side in the tire diametrical direction, and is formed by a conductive rubber which has a different hardness from a rubber hardness of the side rubber portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9499730
    Abstract: A rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a filler that contains carbon black and an inorganic filler, and a crosslinking system, wherein the inorganic filler content is greater than or equal to 5 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of elastomer, phr, and represents at most 50% as a weight fraction of the whole of the total filler of the composition, and wherein the carbon black includes at least one acetylene-derived carbon black, with a content of greater than 3 phr, the amount of acetylene-derived carbon black representing more than 50% of the carbon black present in the composition as a weight fraction, and wherein the composition contains a plasticizing oil or a plasticizing resin with a total content of plasticizing oil and plasticizing resin of less than 30 phr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE, S.A.
    Inventors: Aurelie Joseph, Jr., Benoit De Gaudemaris, Marc Sevignon
  • Patent number: 9431994
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator including a base part, a first support part fixed to the base part, a beam part fixed to the first support part, a weight part fixed to the beam part, a drive unit provided on the beam part, and an adjusting magnet movable on a main surface of the base part. Furthermore, the weight part is formed of a magnet or a magnetic body, and the beam part extends in a direction along the main surface of the base part. With this configuration, displacement of the resonance frequency generated due to variation in a manufacturing process can be adjusted easily. Even when the resonance frequency is displaced from desired resonance frequency due to variation in the manufacturing process of a power generating element, the displacement can be easily adjusted and maximum efficiency can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenori Katsumura, Hiroshi Kagata
  • Patent number: 9358840
    Abstract: Tire carrying heavy loads comprising a tread band having a plurality of grooves of transverse overall orientation, formed of at least three rubber materials: —a first material M1, in the median part of the tread band, having a secant modulus at 10% elongation measured at a temperature of 23° C. at least equal to 4.0 MPa and hysteresis losses tan(?)max greater than 0.19, —a second material M2, on the edge parts, having a secant modulus at 10% elongation, at 23° C., lower than the first material, and a hysteresis losses value tan(?)max lower than the first material and at least 0.15, —a third material M3, radially below the materials M1 and M2, having a hysteresis losses value tan(?)max lower than 0.12, —wherein first material M1 has a resistance to wear at least 15% better than the second and third materials, which have substantially the same resistance to wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERAL DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Bijaoui
  • Patent number: 9349281
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an air spring height sensor comprising a transmitter unit (102) for transmitting a height measuring signal, a receiver unit (101) for sensing a height signal, a carrier frequency switching unit (103), and an evaluation unit (200). The receiver unit and the transmitter unit are adapted for being mounted to opposing mounting elements (10, 20) of an air spring (1). The transmitter unit is switchable between different carrier frequencies (121, 122) of a height measuring signal. The evaluation unit comprises a frequency filter (213) being switchable between different carrier frequencies, wherein the carrier frequency switching unit is adapted for switching the carrier frequency of the frequency filter at a predetermined first point of time and the corresponding carrier frequency of the transmitter unit at a predetermined second point of time, wherein the first point of time is prior to the second point of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: STEMCO KAISER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lutz May
  • Patent number: 9333812
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread rubber provided in an outer side of a carcass layer in a tread portion. the tread rubber has a cap portion which is formed by a non-conductive rubber and constructs a ground-contacting surface, a base portion which is provided in an inner side in the tire diametrical direction of the cap portion, and a conductive portion which is formed by a conductive rubber and extends in a thickness direction of the tread rubber so as to reach a bottom surface of the tread rubber from the ground-contacting surface. A thickness of the conductive portion is made relatively large in a center portion in the thickness direction of the tread rubber, and the thickness of the conductive portion is made relatively small in both end portions in the thickness direction of the tread rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Nagai
  • Patent number: 9290069
    Abstract: A tire inner liner-based estimation system and method for a vehicle includes a tire pressure sensor mounted to a vehicle tire for detecting a measured tire air cavity pressure; a vehicle speed sensor mounted to provide a measured vehicle speed; a tire identification device mounted to the tire for conveying a tire identification; a tire inner liner deflection sensor mounted to detect and measure a loaded inner liner radius. An estimation of an inner liner-based parameter is iteratively made from the measured tire pressure and the loaded inner liner radius measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Kanwar Bharat Singh
  • Patent number: 9289957
    Abstract: A tread rubber 2G comprises a base portion 9 made of electrically non-conductive rubber compounding silica and having a width substantially equal to a width of the tread reinforcing-cord layer 7; a conducting portion 11 made of the electrically conductive rubber, covering a radially outer surface of the base portion 9 and extending in the axial direction of the tire, and protruding both end portions 11a and 11b outwardly from the base portion 9 so as to connect the both end portions with tire members Ty electrically conducted to a rim J at a state of mounting the tire on the rim; and a cap portion 10 made of electrically non-conductive rubber compounding silica and disposed outside the conducting portion 11 in the radial direction of the tire and forming a major part of a ground contact surface 2a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kuroki
  • Patent number: 9193221
    Abstract: A tire comprising a crown reinforcing belt formed of a plurality of reinforcing plies (13, 14) superposed on one another, each reinforcing ply comprising mutually parallel threads coated in a weakly electrically conducting rubber compound and making a given angle with the said circumferential direction, characterized in that one strand of electrically conducting thread (20) passes right through the belt at a given point, and in that a first free end (21) of the said strand runs along the radially external face of the said belt and that the second free end of the said strand (22) runs along the radially internal face of the said reinforcing belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Henri Hinc, Jean-Marie Dettorre
  • Patent number: 9139051
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread rubber which is formed by a nonconductive rubber and includes a conductive portion. The conductive portion comprises a first, second, third and fourth conductive portions. The first conductive portion extends radially inward from the ground-contacting surface and reaches a cap portion. The second conductive portion is provided continuously in the first conductive portion, extends to one side in the tire width direction between the cap portion and a base portion, and reaches a carcass layer. The third conductive portion is connected to the second conductive portion, extends radially inward from an outer surface of the base portion, and reaches the bottom surface of the tread rubber. The fourth conductive portion is provided continuously in the third conductive portion, extends to another side in the tire width direction along the bottom surface, and reaches the carcass layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9138953
    Abstract: Tread rubber is provided with a base rubber section formed by helically winding a first electrically non-conductive rubber strip, a cap rubber section formed by helically winding a second electrically non-conductive rubber strip, and a conduction section penetrating through the base rubber section and the cap rubber section and extending in the radial direction. The conduction section is composed of: a first electrically conductive winding section consisting of a first electrically conductive rubber strip which is wound within the base rubber section so as to be superposed on the first electrically non-conductive rubber strip; and a second electrically conductive winding section consisting of a second electrically conductive rubber strip which is wound within the cap rubber section so as to be superposed on the second electrically non-conductive rubber strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kuroki
  • Patent number: 9105982
    Abstract: An apparatus transmits and/or receives radio waves in the UHF band and is configured for installation in an elastic structure. The apparatus includes at least one electronic component and an antenna embedded in the elastic structure. The antenna is connected to the electronic component and includes at least one filament configured to be plastically deformable and/or elastically deformable. The filament is helically wound to a predetermined antenna length (L) and defines an antenna winding turns density per cm of the antenna length. The antenna length (L) is between 4 cm and 10 cm and the antenna winding turns density lies in a range of 5 to 15 winding turns per cm of the antenna length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Fleck, Siegfried Reck
  • Patent number: 9090133
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire that can desirably prevent generation of static electricity between the road face and the tire, while maintaining a low rolling resistance, so that the safety in use is further improved. In pneumatic tire of the present invention, each of tread rubber, breaker rubber and sidewall rubber that are respectively formed on a tread section, a breaker section and a sidewall section has a volume resistivity of 1×108 ?·cm or more, with a conductive layer having a volume resistivity smaller than 1×108 ?·cm and a thickness in a range from 0.2 to 2.0 mm being formed between a carcass ply forming the carcass and the sidewall rubber, and at least either conductive layer or a rubber cement layer that is formed so as to be made in contact with conductive layer and has a volume resistivity lower than that of the tread rubber is exposed to the surface of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru Uchida, Takao Wada, Tomoaki Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9070069
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for providing an RFID device for integration into a tire. A printed circuit board (PCB) is provided with a pair of asymmetric arms forming notches in opposed ends of the PCB. Helically wound antenna elements are positioned in the notches such that the ends of the asymmetric arms are positioned adjacent the nearest approach of the individual helically wound antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: MICHELIN RECHERCHE et TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Jay Clifford Sinnett
  • Patent number: 9028630
    Abstract: In the invention, at least a tire outer circumferential side portion of a tread portion is formed of a non-conductive rubber layer. The non-conductive rubber layer is formed by winding and laminating a non-conductive rubber ribbon along a tire circumferential direction. A conductive layer is provided on an outer circumference of the non-conductive rubber ribbon, and the conductive layer continuously and spirally extends along the tire circumferential direction, and is exposed on a tread surface from a bottom surface of the non-conductive rubber layer toward a tire outer circumferential side. Accordingly, an electricity generated in a vehicle body is discharged to a road through the conductive layer. Since the conductive layer is scattered within the non-conductive rubber layer and exposure on the tread surface is preferably secured, it is possible to achieve an excellent conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Asayama, Eiji Azuma
  • Publication number: 20150114534
    Abstract: Tire having at least one carcass reinforcement, a tread, a belt reinforcer having a first and a second end and: a reinforcing ply, having a transverse half-width L2, having a reinforcing polymer layer between two layers of coating rubber, at least one hooping ply, surmounting the reinforcing ply, having a transverse half-width L1, and filamentary reinforcing elements, parallel two by two, forming an angle at most equal to 7° with respect to the circumferential direction, the tire having at least one layer of edge uncoupling rubber, positioned at least radially between the hooping ply and the reinforcing ply and positioned at at least one transverse end of the belt reinforcer, the layer of edge uncoupling rubber having a total length between 10 and 40 mm and a thickness between 0.2 and 1.2 mm, having at least one reinforcing ply, and at at least one end of the belt reinforcer, the half-widths L1 and L2 are different, and manifest a difference (L1?L2) between 5 and 10 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE, S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Huyghe, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150090380
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus comprising an air power feature engaged with a tire or an air power feature engaged with a wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Brian D. Steenwyk, Stephen M. Vossberg, Stephen J. Presutti
  • Patent number: 8960251
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire designed so that when a hook and loop fastener is fitted to the tire internal face of a pneumatic tire furnished with an inner liner layer consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer composition of a blend of thermoplastic resin and elastomer, or a thermoplastic resin, the hook and loop fastener can easily follow the elongation of the inner liner layer and is free from damaging of the inner liner layer. There is disclosed a pneumatic tire furnished on its internal face with an inner liner layer (7) consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer composition composed of thermoplastic resin and elastomer, or a thermoplastic resin, characterized in that integral forming of a multiplicity of interlocking elements (8) protruding on the hollow side of the tire is effected on the surface of the inner layer (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8960245
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread rubber formed by a nonconductive rubber and a side wall rubber formed by the nonconductive rubber. An outer surface of the side wall rubber is provided with a band-like diametrical conductive portion which is formed by a conductive rubber and extends along a tire diametrical direction. An outer end of the diametrical conductive portion is exposed to a ground-contacting surface or is connected to a conductive rubber member which is exposed to the ground-contacting surface. An inner end of the diametrical conductive portion is exposed to a rim contact region or is connected to a rim strip rubber formed by the conductive rubber. A narrow groove is formed by depressing an outer surface of the diametrical conductive portion and extends in a tire diametrical direction in a side wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Yonetsu
  • Patent number: 8963688
    Abstract: A product management system and method for reading electronic identification tags from a vertical stack of tires. Each tire has an electronic identification tag secured at a position to operative to electronically transmit data to an antenna element positioned internally within a toroidal opening of each tire in the stack. An elongate read wand is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation within the aligned toroidal openings of the tires. The antenna element is carried by the read wand and is thus positioned by the read wand to receive an electronic transmission from each electronic identification tag in the aligned tire stack. The read wand may be ceiling-mounted, floor mounted, or hand held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: John Michael Fenkanyn, Joseph Paul Batcho, Sr., Mario Vincent Orosa, Jennifer Kaye Flowers
  • Patent number: 8928472
    Abstract: A member for attachment to tire includes a functional object in suspension in a soft substance of very high deformability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Martine Borot, Jonathan Champredonde
  • Publication number: 20150000808
    Abstract: The collapse of conductive terminal rubber strips is prevented while a conductive terminal portion is formed stably to have an exposure width of 5 mm or less. The conductive terminal portion is formed by continuously winding the terminal strips formed of a conductive rubber toward an outward radial direction from a tread conductive layer to a tread ground contacting surface. The terminal strip is sequentially wound while shifting a position at a pitch D of a distance in a tire axial direction while the terminal strip goes around such that the conductive terminal portion constitutes a trapezoidal cross section in which a width (Wa) of an upper base is smaller than a width (Ws) of the terminal strip and a width (Wb) of a lower base is larger than the width (Ws) of the terminal strip. The width (Wa) of the upper base is within a range of between 2 mm and 5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Mafune
  • Publication number: 20140367008
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire whereby primarily rolling resistance is minimized and noise is minimized. This pneumatic tire tread rubber (5) comprises: a cap part (50) which is formed of non-conductive rubber and configures a grounding surface; a base part (51) which is disposed on the inner side of the cap part (50) in a tire radial direction (RD); and conductive parts (52) which are disposed in both of a pair of lateral end parts which are at ends of the cap (50) in a tire width direction, traverse the inner part of the cap (50) while avoiding a location which covers the grounding surface, and form shapes which connect the grounding surface with the bottom surface (50b) of the cap part (50) in the tire meridian cross-section. The conductive parts (52) are provided with extended sites (52b) which branch off outward to the tire width direction (WD) from conductive paths (52a) which connect the grounding surface with the bottom surface (50b) of the cap part (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8905096
    Abstract: A tread rubber includes a cap portion formed by a nonconductive rubber, a base portion formed by a nonconductive rubber, and a conductive portion formed by a conductive rubber. A rubber hardness of the cap portion is higher than a rubber hardness of the base portion. The base portion is segmented in a tire width direction. A rubber forming the cap portion is filled in a recess at a segmented position. The conductive portion has a first portion which is provided in an outer side of the segmented position and extends to an inner side in the tire diametrical direction from the ground surface, and a second portion which is provided continuously in the first portion and extends in the tire width direction so as to run into the side surface or the bottom surface of the tread rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8887776
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a nonconductive tread rubber constructing an outer surface of a tread portion, a nonconductive side wall rubber constructing an outer surface of a side wall portion, and a rim strip rubber constructing an outer surface of a bead portion. The pneumatic tire has a conductive sheet formed by a conductive rubber. The conductive sheet reaches the rim strip rubber from the tread rubber while passing between a carcass and the side wall rubber, and terminates without being exposed to the outer surface of the bead portion. The rim strip rubber is partitioned into a nonconductive rubber portion and a conductive rubber portion, and the conductive rubber portion is connected to the conductive sheet and is exposed to a bead bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Asayama
  • Publication number: 20140299241
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire capable of reducing rolling resistance and discharging static electricity generated during running, wherein each of a tread rubber, a breaker rubber, and a sidewall, respectively, has a volume specific resistivity of 1×108 ?·cm or more, the pneumatic tire further including a conduction rubber embedded in the tread part so as to be at least partially exposed to a surface of the tread part, a coating rubber disposed on the upper part of the breaker part, a bead part rubber, and side part electroconductive rubber electrically connecting the conduction rubber to the beat part rubber, wherein each of the conduction rubber, the bead part rubber, the coating rubber and the side part electroconductive rubber has a volume specific resistivity of less than 108 ?·cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Tetsuya KUNISAWA, Keiichi NAKADERA
  • Publication number: 20140296413
    Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition for tires which provides both adhesion to fiber cords and conductivity even when an inexpensive conductive carbon black is used, and thus achieves a balanced improvement in conductivity, handling stability, fuel economy, elongation at break, adhesion to fiber cords, processability, and tire durability; and a pneumatic tire including the composition. The composition includes, per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component: 1.0-3.5 parts by mass of sulfur with an iron content of 30 ppm or less, calculated as the net sulfur content in the sulfur; and 0.5-15 parts by mass of conductive carbon black having a DBP of 300 ml/100 g or more and an iron content of 60 ppm or more, the composition having a total net sulfur content of 1.0-6.0 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and a volume resistivity of 1.0×108 ?·cm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya MIYAZAKI, Soh ISHINO
  • Publication number: 20140283964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle tire comprising a tread portion and a package of reinforcement layers arranged underneath the tread portion. The tread portion comprises a tread layer, a tread base layer arranged underneath the tread layer, and at least one rubber member that extends in the radial direction of the tire from the ground contacting surface to the reinforcement package. The tread layer rubber composition has an electrical resistivity at room temperature of more than 108 ohm-cm, the tread base layer rubber composition of between 106 ohm-cm and 108 ohm-cm, the member rubber composition of less than 106 ohm-cm; and the rubber composition of at least one layer of the reinforcement package has a electrical resistivity at room temperature of less than 106 ohm-cm. The vehicle tire combines a low rolling resistance with improved conductivity to avoid build-up of static electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Apollo Tyres Global R&D B.V.
    Inventors: Evert-Jan Jitse Van Der Meulen, Peter Jaap Snel, Walter Johannes Maria Roerdink, Harmen Hepkema
  • Patent number: 8833409
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tire body having a crown portion and a pair of sidewalls. At least one reinforcing belt is disposed in the crown portion of the tire. A tag is carried by the reinforcing belt. In one embodiment, the tag is disposed in the location of one of the reinforcing cords that is disposed in the reinforcing belt. In another embodiment, the tag is disposed at the splice of the reinforcing belt. An alternative version of the tire has the tag carried in a depression formed in the outer surface of the tire sidewall. The tag may be encapsulated with an encapsulation material that is also disposed in the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: James P. Kleckner
  • Publication number: 20140238562
    Abstract: A tire has a tread rubber and a conductive portion. The conductive portion is formed so as to connect the ground surface and a side surface of a side end portion of the tread rubber in a tire meridian circle cross section. The conductive portion having a rubber hardness which is different from the tread rubber, and has a stem portion and a plurality of branch portions. The stem portion heads for an inner side in the tire width direction from the side surface of the side end portion of the tread rubber so as to terminate at an inner portion of the tread rubber. The plurality of branch portions are branched from a plurality of positions of the stem portion so as to head for an outer side in the tire width direction and be exposed to an outer surface of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Hana
  • Patent number: 8815032
    Abstract: A process for producing a tread for a tire with a radially inner layer composed of a first rubber material and with a radially outer second layer composed of a second rubber material and forming the ground-contact surface of the pneumatic tire. The first rubber material has higher electrical conductivity than the second rubber material, and where, in a form of a web axially dividing the second layer around the periphery of the tire, the first rubber material extends radially outwards through the second layer as far as the ground-contact surface. A ply of the first and second layers are constructed radially one on the other, on a rotationally symmetric construction surface, on one of the two axial sides of the web to be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Frerichs
  • Publication number: 20140224392
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having a circumferential electrically non-conductive (relatively electrically non-conductive) rubber tread which contains an electrically conductive (relatively electrically conductive) rubber strip extending from an electrically conductive underlying tread base rubber layer (underlying the tread) through the rubber tread to its running surface. The rubber strip contains a dispersion of carbon nanotubes to provide its electrical conductivity and to thereby provide a path of least electrical resistance through the tread to its running surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Ling Du, Xiaoping Yang, Carl Trevor Ross Pulford
  • Publication number: 20140196822
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a pneumatic tire 2 from which static electricity is easily discharged. [Solution] The tire 2 includes penetration portions 8, an under tread 6, a belt 16, a carcass 16, and clinches 12. The carcass 16 includes a large number of cords aligned with each other, and a conductive topping rubber. The electric resistance Rc of the carcass which is represented by the following mathematical formula is less than 1.0×108?. Rc=?/g/(2×3.14×r)×L×10 In the mathematical formula, ? is the volume resistivity (?·cm) of the topping rubber of the carcass, g is the minimum thickness (mm) of the topping rubber, r is the distance (m) from the axis of the tire to an outer end, in the radial direction, of the clinch, and L is the length (m) of the carcass from an end of the reinforcing layer to the outer end, in the radial direction, of the clinch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Michio Hirayama
  • Patent number: 8776850
    Abstract: A fixing element (470) that enables an electronic unit (440) to be fixed on the inside of a tire-wheel assembly, on the tubular insert (433) of an inflation valve (430) of the tire-wheel assembly, the fixing element comprising: an interface piece (471) comprising means to establish a connection with the tubular insert of the valve and a housing (488) for a seal (460); at least one container (473) holding or designed to hold the electronic unit; and at least one attachment piece (472) that enables elastic coupling between the interface piece and the container. A method for mounting an electronic unit (440) on a tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., TRW Automotive U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Botte, Xavier Huchard, Julien Moynet, José-Philippe Valente
  • Patent number: 8763658
    Abstract: A tire having an internal surface includes an electronic device and an anchoring body mounted on the internal surface for engagement between the electronic device and the internal surface of the tire, wherein the anchoring body includes a crosslinked elastomeric material obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition including a synthetic diene rubber, preferably in an amount of from 20 to 80 phr, and a halogenated butyl rubber, preferably in an amount of from 80 to 20 phr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Nahmias Nanni, Luisa Montinaro
  • Publication number: 20140174612
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a carcass ply and a side wall rubber provided in outer sides of the carcass ply. The carcass ply has joint portions obtained by overlapping end portions of ply members so as to join. At least one of the joint portions is provided with a rubber tape. The rubber tape is interposed between the end portions of the ply members and is exposed to a surface of the carcass ply. A topping rubber of the carcass ply and the side wall rubber are formed by a nonconductive rubber. The rubber tape is formed by a conductive rubber. A conductive route getting to the rubber tape from a ground-contacting surface is formed in a tread portion. A conductive route getting to the rubber tape from an outer surface of a bead portion is formed in the bead portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8695654
    Abstract: A tire of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, includes a tread for rolling on a driving surface and a plate-shaped sensor element that is mounted on the tread. The plate-shaped sensor element is mounted so as to be oriented essentially perpendicular to the adjacent tread area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Manfred Ellmann
  • Publication number: 20140083582
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread and two sidewalls are located on two sides of the tread. The tread has multiple tread grooves defined therein and a safety face protrudes from the inner end of one of the tread grooves. A sensing device is located in the tread and has a sensing line which is located beneath the safety face and emits wireless signals when the sensing line is exposed after the safety face is worn out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: YA-TING HSU, Yen-Hao Hsu