With Wear Indicating Feature Patents (Class 152/154.2)
  • Patent number: 11511567
    Abstract: A tyre comprises a tread portion having a land region including a ground contacting surface defined between a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge and a lateral groove including a first portion extending from the first vertical edge, a second portion extending from the second vertical edge, and a connection portion connecting therebetween. The connection portion is a portion between a first small edge protruding circumferentially from the first portion and a second small edge protruding toward a circumferentially opposite side to the first small edge. A length in the tyre circumferential direction of each of the first and second small edges is smaller than a maximum groove width of each of the first and second portions. At least a part of the connection portion has a raised bottom portion having a depth smaller than that of the lateral groove at the first and second vertical edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiki Horiguchi, Yoshiaki Kanematsu
  • Patent number: 11305582
    Abstract: A tire (1) comprises a tread (3), a crown with a crown reinforcement (2), two sidewalls (5), two beads (4), a carcass reinforcement (6) anchored to the two beads (4) and extending from one sidewall (5) to the other, the tread comprising (a) an elastomeric matrix which comprises predominantly one or more thermoplastic elastomers comprising at least one elastomer block and at least one thermoplastic block, and (b) a crosslinking system based on one or more peroxides. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: José-Carlos Araujo Da Silva, Benjamin Gornard
  • Patent number: 11298980
    Abstract: Tire (1) comprising a directional tread (2) comprising a plurality of blocks (5) extending continuously along an overall curvature C from one of the edges (3) towards the centre (4) of said tread, all or some of the blocks (5) of the tread comprising a median sipe (10) of length S extending along a curvature C? substantially identical to the curvature C of the block, each block (5) comprising a central zone at an angle ?1 such that 35°??1?65°, an edge zone at an angle ?3 such that 0°??3?10°, and an intermediate zone between the central zone and the edge zone at an angle ?2 allowing continuity between the three zones, at least some of the blocks (5) being designed with a block chamfer (15) provided at the trailing edge in the intermediate zone and/or the edge zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: David Mosnier, Michel Montarras, Yann Hye
  • Patent number: 11220139
    Abstract: Airplane tire with a tread wear indicator, with a circumferential ridge (4) of the tread (2) having an initial height H0 and an allowable remaining height HR. Wear indicator (6) comprises N cylindrical cavities (7) emerging on rolling surface (3) and independent of one another. The N cavities are divided into a first family of N1 wear cavities C1i (8) having respective initial depths P1i in pairs that are distinct and equal to i*(H0?HR)/N1, i being an integer number varying from 1 to N1, and into a second family of N2 positioning cavities C2j (9), j being an integer number varying from 1 to N2, each positioning cavity C2j having an initial depth P2j strictly greater than (H0?HR), such that only the N2 positioning cavities C2j (9) emerge on rolling surface (3) when height HR of circumferential ridge (4) is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Olivier Francois
  • Patent number: 11110755
    Abstract: A tread wear profile tool for determining wear of a tire is provided, the tool comprising: a body having: a substantially planar shape, at least one groove index member extending distally from the body, wherein the at least one groove index member includes at least one traction element wear gauge, at least one traction element measurement member oriented on a distal edge of the body, and a distal profile; a tire having: a tread having a radially outer profile, the tread having at least one groove, at least one traction element, and two shoulders; and wherein: the distal profile of the body is a negative of the radially outer profile of the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Samuel O. Givens
  • Patent number: 10919342
    Abstract: Tire comprising a directional tread that has two edges and a center. The tread comprises a plurality of blocks, each block extending continuously along an overall curvature C from one of the edges towards the center of the tread, forming a block central end provided with a central wall. Each block has a width WB and a length LB, this width increasing from the block central end in the direction of the edge. All or some of the blocks of the tread include a median sipe of length S and extending from the block central end along a curvature C? substantially identical to the curvature C of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: David Mosnier, Michel Montarras, Yann Hye
  • Patent number: 10821783
    Abstract: A visual wear indicating feature is incorporated into the tread pattern to provide progressive, incremental indications to the customer regarding the amount of useable tread remaining on the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryan J. Schimmoeller, Jeremy J. Jacobs, Daniel T. Strohscher, Kurt D. Utrup
  • Patent number: 10744825
    Abstract: A pneumatic tyre with a wear indicator may be manufactured by inserting rods of a mould into the tire tread during manufacturing. A mould may include at least seven rods extending in parallel in a direction of height on a same side of an object and connected to the object. The rods are arranged so multiple distances are left between the cross sections of the rods and a minimum of the multiple distances ?0.5 mm. In the direction of height, the cross section and/or the height of at least some of the rods varies so at a number of different height positions, the cross sections of the rods at those height positions define that number of different mirror-image symbols, of which mirror images are expressible by the wear indicator, one mirror-image symbol corresponding to one height position, with at least two different height positions and mirror-image symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventors: Niko Haanketo, Jyrki Hietasaari
  • Patent number: 10704631
    Abstract: There is provided a configuration in which an association between a location of each brake shoe of a railway vehicle and each abrasion detection tag is easily learned, and system implementation and management are simplified. A brake shoe abrasion detection system of a railway vehicle includes a computer that receives data of a signal read by a reader from at least one abrasion detection RF tag attached to each of a plurality of brake shoes of the railway vehicle passing the reader. The computer determines an association between a plurality of the signals and the plurality of brake shoes based on an order that the reader reads the plurality of signals from a plurality of the abrasion detection RF tags attached to the plurality of brake shoes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshi Sato, Takehiro Nishimura, Akihiko Tada, Takao Sekiya, Takashi Miyazaki, Kazutsuna Ikeda, Masayuki Mitsue, Yuta Yoshimatsu
  • Patent number: 10696103
    Abstract: Provided are a tire abrasion confirmation system, a method thereof, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program. That is, according to the present invention, while tire information on the tire mounted on the vehicle is stored in the server, a server confirms an abrasion degree of a tire according to a correlation between a driving distance of a vehicle according to air pressure information of the tire and GPS information based on data on the air pressure information of the tire transmitted from the vehicle, the driving distance of the vehicle, and the like and the GPS information transmitted from a terminal positioned in the vehicle and provides the confirmed abrasion degree of the tire, thereby preventing accidents caused by abrasion of the tire in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SK PLANET CO., LTD.
    Inventor: GiDong Lee
  • Patent number: 10520394
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to devices, systems, and methods for indicating degradation in a component having one or more elastomeric elements. For example, a degradation indicator can include an indicator element in communication with at least a portion of the one or more elastomeric elements, wherein the indicator element is configured to show visible degradation or damage when a specific and predetermined condition of the one or more elastomeric elements is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventor: David M. Catanzarite
  • Patent number: 10377102
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire carcass configured to receive the tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-cured tire tread including a tread body and a detachable connector. The connector is arranged within a thickness of the tread between a top void portion and a bottom void portion and extending across a width of the top void portion and of the bottom void portion. The detachable connector is configured to separate from the tread upon application of a separation force. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass, bonding the tire tread to the tire carcass, and removing the detachable connector from the top void portion after the step of bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: E. Bruce Colby, Metodi L. Ikonomov, Cesar E. Zarak, Michael Widmyer, Dimitri G. Tsihlas
  • Patent number: 10336026
    Abstract: A method for increasing effective skid depth on a retreaded tire is provided along with a retreaded tire assembly. A kit for increasing effective skid depth of a retreaded tire is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: E Bruce Colby, Cesar Enrique Zarak
  • Patent number: 10155296
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides a polishing pad and a monitoring system for monitoring the polishing pad. The polishing pad includes a bottom layer, a polishing layer disposed on the bottom layer, and a plurality of mark structures disposed on the bottom layer and in the polishing layer to have a top surface coplanar with the polishing layer to indicate consumption level of the polishing layer. The monitoring system includes an acquisition module, a memory module, and a determining module connected to both the acquisition module and the memory module. The determining module, the acquisition module, and the memory module are configured to monitor the consumption level of the polishing layer and to recognize that the polishing pad needs to be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignees: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION, SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chao Shi
  • Patent number: 10102616
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure provide a method and system for surface wear determination. According to one implementation, an image of an object surface is captured via an input device. A surface pattern is detected from the captured image and object data associated with the object surface is identified based on the detected pattern. Additionally, a surface wear value of the object surface is determined based on the object data and surface pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ent. Services Development Corporation LP
    Inventors: Joseph Miller, Jonathan David Gibson, Allen J. Chon
  • Patent number: 9962999
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire tread that maintains a good level of water drainage performance up to the final stage of wear of a tread part formed with a plurality of flexible fences which are disposed inside at least one main groove extending from the bottom surface of the main groove and obstructing at least 70% of the cross-sectional area of the main groove, the flexible fences comprising an inside portion having a connecting part which is connected to the main groove, and an outside portion which is radially outside a predetermined height D1 from the bottom surface of the main groove, and the average angle of inclination of the inside portion with respect to a line perpendicular to the surface of the tread part in contact with the road surface is greater than the average angle of inclination of the outside portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUES S.A.
    Inventor: Gael Roty
  • Patent number: 9956825
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire including: a groove formed in a tread, the groove having a groove bottom and groove side surfaces arising from the groove bottom; and a projection projecting from the groove bottom, wherein the projection includes a low-step portion located at a low position with reference to the groove bottom and a high-step portion located at a high position with reference to the groove bottom, the low-step portion has a first-side inclined surface inclined in a depth direction of the groove along a first groove side surface of the groove and a second-side inclined surface inclined in the depth direction of the groove along a second groove side surface of the groove, and the first-side inclined surface and the second-side inclined surface are inclined in different directions from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shingo Kuwano
  • Patent number: 9862237
    Abstract: A regroovable tread profile of a pneumatic vehicle tire includes a regrooving indicator formed with an additional indent in the base of the depression in the form of a blind hole lying transversely in relation to the main direction of extent (U) of the groove and having a length of extent (A2) and an indent depth (B), where (B) is formed such that B<A2 and B<A1 and B<L and with a depth of extent (T2) where T2>T1, which is measured starting from the groove base inward in the radial direction (R) to the base bounding the indent radially inwardly. The depth of extent (T1) forms the measure for the minimum regrooving depth and the depth of extent (T2) forms the measure for the maximum regrooving depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Hoffmann, Alexander Wuest, Amelia Olga Goncalves Ankiewicz, Tim Tkocz, Anastassia Pokutta-Paskaleva
  • Patent number: 9834042
    Abstract: A method for determining the profile depth of a tread of a pneumatic vehicle tire wherein the tread has a wear indicator. The wear indicator has an incision extending in the radial direction of the tire. The incision has a length visible on the tread and the length becomes shorter as wear increases. The wear indicator has two reference marks at a distance from each other. The distance is configured to remain constant and visible throughout the tread wear. A photo of the incision and the reference marks is generated via an application program of a mobile phone having a camera and an image screen. A current profile depth is calculated from the distance of the reference marks and the length of the incision via the application program. The current profile depth and/or a remaining profile depth are displayed until a minimal profile depth is reached on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Bogenschuetz
  • Patent number: 9649889
    Abstract: An autonomous, plug-in and sacrificial wear sensing system including at least one wearable sensor, autonomous energy supply and means for remote radio-frequency communication. The system includes a tubular tread wear indicator body embedded within a tire tread element. The indicator body is centered within the tread element and is shaped in the form of a tube. The sensor element operably changes in at least one electromagnetically measurable physical parameter as the tread element wears radially inward. The system provides a full tread wear system including the algorithm for signal and data processing, buffering and decision making routines to remotely provide vehicle driver or owner with current tire wear status, tire type—vehicle—season match and with real-time estimation of remaining tire life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Marc Engel, Dusan Lednik, Piotr Orlewski, Bart Wakefield Kimble, Krzysztof Florian Jakubiak
  • Patent number: 9440496
    Abstract: Tread for a tire for a heavy goods vehicle of total thickness E and of total volume V, having at least one continuous groove comprising: at least two wearing layers in the thickness of the tread, each having a thickness at most equal to 75% of the total thickness E of the tread, a plurality of external cavities and a plurality of internal cavities positioned radially and entirely on the inside of the tread surface in the new state, each internal cavity being connected to an external cavity by a connecting channel, and having a total voids volume Vc at least equal to 7% and at most equal to 12% of a volume equal to the sum of the total volume V and of the total voids volume, and having an effective voids volume Ve for each wearing layer less than the total voids volume Vc, and satisfying the equation: 0.4 St<Ve<0.8 St, wherein 0.4 and 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Denis Hidrot, Stéphanie Cambon, Richard Audigier
  • Patent number: 9423436
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-destructively determining the wear resistance of an ultra-hard polycrystalline structure after being coupled to a downhole tool using capacitance measurements. The apparatus includes a capacitance measuring device having a positive and negative terminal, a leached component comprising a polycrystalline structure that has been coupled to a downhole tool, a first wire, and a second wire. The first wire electrically couples the positive terminal to a surface of the leached component and the second wire electrically couples the negative terminal to a surface of the downhole tool. The capacitance is measured for the leached component one or more times and compared to a calibration curve that shows a relationship between capacitance values and wear resistance, thereby allowing determination of an estimated wear resistance for the polycrystalline structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: VAREL INTERNATIONAL IND., L.P.
    Inventors: Federico Bellin, Vamsee Chintamaneni
  • Patent number: 9355346
    Abstract: A wearing part, preferably for a vehicle, contains a wear indicator whose appearance changes depending on a wear condition of the wearing part. The wear indicator contains a multidimensional pattern that is disposed on the wearing part such that different levels of the pattern are exposed depending on the wear condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventor: Matthias Butz
  • Patent number: 9221224
    Abstract: The present invention comprises tire treads having sipes or other voids formed of non-curable inserts, as well as methods for forming sipes or other voids within a tread using non-curable inserts and apparatus for performing the same. Such methods include providing an uncured tread having a width and a thickness bounded by an outer side and a bottom side. Such methods further include providing a strip of non-curable material, the strip having a width and a length. Furthermore, such methods include inserting the strip of non-curable into the tread thickness from the tread outer side and to a predetermined depth within the tread thickness to form a void-forming insert within the tread thickness. Finally, these methods include curing the tread with the non-curable strip arranged within the tread thickness. The inserts may be folded, which may occur as the strips are inserted into the tread or prior to such insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Rey, Christian Albert Beccavin, Almira Aleckovic
  • Patent number: 9168793
    Abstract: A tire with improved resistance to sidewall damage such as splitting or puncture is provided. More particularly, the present invention provides a tire with tread features positioned along the sidewall in a manner that improves the protection of the sidewall against damage when contacting obstacles during operation of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: MICHELIN RECHERCHE et TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Fang Zhu, Drew R. Howlett, Craig Jurs
  • Patent number: 8985166
    Abstract: Bare can be prevented from occurring in a wear indicator. A pneumatic tire has a wear indicator 5 at the groove bottom of a main groove 2 formed in a tread surface 1 and extending in the circumferential direction. The wear indicator 5 is formed in the surface thereof with at least one recess 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Sato
  • Patent number: 8960246
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a plurality of main grooves extending along a tire circumferential direction, and shoulder lateral grooves extending to an outer side in a tire width direction from a shoulder main groove positioned in an outermost side in the tire width direction among the main grooves, the main grooves and the shoulder lateral grooves being arranged on a tread surface, wherein a depression is formed on a wall surface of a land portion facing to the shoulder lateral groove, in a state in which it is not exposed to a surface of the land portion, and wherein the depression is formed in such a manner that a height of the depression in a depth direction of the shoulder lateral groove is reduced toward an inner side in the tire width direction, and an exposure length of the depression becomes longer in accordance with a progress of an abrasion of the land portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Shimomura, Toshiyuki Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20150034222
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire may include a support structure having an inner circumferential portion configured to be associated with a hub. The tire may further include a tread portion associated with an outer circumferential portion of the support structure. The tire may also include at least one sensor associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion and configured to generate signals indicative of at least one characteristic associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion. The tire may further include a receiver associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion and configured to receive signals from the at least one sensor. The tire may also include a transmitter associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion and configured to transmit the signals to a location remote from the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: KEVIN L. MARTIN, Matthew J. Behmlander, Jeremy R. Hammar, David J. Colantoni, Stephen J. Pierz, Trent J. Cleveland
  • Patent number: 8892298
    Abstract: A method for detecting a wear condition of a tire utilizes tread pattern elements included on the tire. The elements are adapted to generate first and second acoustic footprint noises (BEA1, BEA2), with one of the first and second acoustic footprint noises being characteristic of the wear condition of the tire. According to the method, a parent frequency spectrum, which is capable of forming a frequency spectrum of one of the first and second acoustic footprint noises, and a child frequency spectrum, which is capable of forming a frequency spectrum of the other of the first and second acoustic footprint noises, are selected from a frequency spectrum of an acoustic signal acquired from the tire. Two detection confidence indices are determined. If each detection confidence index meets a predetermined condition, a warning is emitted indicating that tire wear has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Antoine Paturle, Antoine Ducloux
  • Patent number: 8881573
    Abstract: A method for detecting wear of a tire involves at least one sonic wear gauge emitting an acoustic footprint noise that includes several acoustic footprint elementary frequency components. An acoustic signal that includes the acoustic footprint noise is acquired, with the acoustic signal including several elementary frequency components acquired in the frequency domain. Several series of elementary frequency components are enumerated, with each enumerated series forming some part of the acoustic footprint elementary frequency components. An acoustic footprint series is determined and, if a confidence index determined based on a local confidence index is greater or less than a predetermined threshold, an alert regarding the wear of the tire is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Antoine Paturle, David Mosnier
  • Publication number: 20140326375
    Abstract: The pneumatic tire includes a belt layer that is formed by laminating a pair of cross belts and a circumferential reinforcing layer. Additionally, the pneumatic tire 1 includes a plurality of circumferential main grooves, and a plurality of land portions partitioned and formed by the circumferential main grooves in a tread portion. Also, the pneumatic tire includes a mark on a buttress portion in order to determine the time for renewal of the tire. Also, an outermost circumferential main groove is on an outer side in a tire width direction of the circumferential reinforcing layer. Also, a groove bottom gauge t of the outermost circumferential main groove and a distance D in a tire radial direction from a predetermined intersection point A to the mark have a relationship such that ?1.0?D/t?1.0, taking the outer side in the tire radial direction to be positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Okabe
  • Publication number: 20140290813
    Abstract: A regroovable treat profile of a pneumatic vehicle tire includes a regrooving indicator formed with an additional indent in the base of the depression in the form of a blind hole lying transversely in relation to the main direction of extent (U) of the groove and having a length of extent (A2) and an indent depth (B), where (B) is formed such that B<A2 and B<A1 and B<L and with a depth of extent (T2) where T2>T1, which is measured starting from the groove base inward in the radial direction (R) to the base bounding the indent radially inward. The depth of extent (T1) forms the measure for the minimum regrooving depth and the depth of extent forms the measure (T2) for the maximum regrooving depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Jens Hoffmann, Alexander Wuest, Olga Goncalves Ankiewicz, Tim Tkocz, Anastassia Pokutta-Paskaleva
  • Patent number: 8833410
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread strip configured in such a way that, beyond a predetermined radial wear threshold, at least one pair of first and second sounding cavities is exposed. Each first and second sounding cavity is arranged respectively in a first and second circumferential groove of the tread strip. Each sounding cavity of the pair is connected to the other sounding cavity of the pair by a sounding channel formed in the tread strip. Each cavity of the pair and the associated channel: open radially to the outside of the tyre, and are configured so that they are closed by a ground surface in a substantially airtight manner as they pass through a contact patch where the tyre makes contact with the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Antoine Paturle
  • Publication number: 20140246134
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire capable of significantly increasing the possibility that the tire can be recycled as a base tire for a retreaded tire without so much sacrificing a product life of the tire prior to retreading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Hironaka, Masayuki Kurebayashi
  • Patent number: 8803673
    Abstract: A measurement system scans the given surface of a tire component (e.g., a brush-finished tread or buffed tire casing) to electronically measure data points corresponding to vertical and horizontal coordinates along the given surface. Associated computer processors electronically calculate the slope at a plurality of different locations by determining the degree of steepness (e.g., rise over run, angle or grade) between selected ones of the first and second coordinates and electronically comparing at least one slope-based parameter to one or more predetermined levels to determine a characterization defining one or more of surface adhesion fitness, finishing brush wear level and brush bristle placement location. Slope may be determined between every adjacent pair of data points or between selected data points (e.g., identified local maximum and minimum). The at least one-slope based parameter compared to the predetermined levels may correspond to the slopes themselves or to a calculated average slope value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin
    Inventor: Bruce E. Carney
  • Patent number: 8770240
    Abstract: Tire comprising a tread having a tread surface (11) and comprising a plurality of grooves (2) of generally circumferential orientation and of depth H, these grooves (2) defining a plurality of rubber elements (3, 30), at least one of which comprises a plurality of cavities (6), each cavity (6) of volume Vc of generally elongate shape with a total length Lc and being designed to communicate with a single groove (2) of generally circumferential orientation, each cavity (6) being extended all the way along its length Lc by an incision (80) which extends radially outwardly to emerge at the tread surface (11), this tire being such that the incision (80) comprises an incision portion (81) beginning at the cavity and forming an angle A of at least 10° with a line perpendicular to the tread surface and passing through the point of intersection of the incision with the cavity (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Patrick Bervas, Jean-Claude-John Faure, Hideaki Takano, Ludovic Greverie
  • Patent number: 8775017
    Abstract: A method for wear control of vehicle tires, includes: detecting deformation of an inner surface of a first tire by means of a first sensor; determining a first level of wear of the first tire; detecting a deformation of an inner surface of a second tire by means of a second sensor; determining a second level of wear of the second tire; comparing the first and second levels of wear with each other; and generating a notification signal representative of the comparison. Also disclosed is a system for wear control of vehicle tires, a method of determining the wear of a tire and a system for determining the wear of a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Brusarosco, Federico Mancosu
  • Publication number: 20140174613
    Abstract: A tyre includes a first-threshold projection and a second-threshold projection. The first-threshold projection extends radially from a bottom of a circumferential groove of the tyre. The first-threshold projection is arranged such that, once the tyre has exceeded a first wear threshold, the first-threshold projection comes into contact with a ground surface as the first-threshold projection passes through a contact area in which the tyre contacts the ground surface. The second-threshold projection extends radially from a bottom of a circumferential groove of the tyre. The second-threshold projection is arranged such that, once the tyre has exceeded a wear threshold indicative of a more advanced wear than the first wear threshold, the second-threshold projection comes into contact with the ground surface as the second-threshold projection passes through a contact area in which the tyre contacts the ground surface. A plurality of threshold projections may be evenly distributed circumferentially about the tyre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Antoine Paturle, Jean-Jacques Azam
  • Publication number: 20140166168
    Abstract: An autonomous, plug-in and sacrificial wear sensing system including at least one wearable sensor, autonomous energy supply and means for remote radio-frequency communication. The system includes a tubular tread wear indicator body embedded within a tire tread element. The indicator body is centered within the tread element and is shaped in the form of a tube. The sensor element operably changes in at least one electromagnetically measurable physical parameter as the tread element wears radially inward. The system provides a full tread wear system including the algorithm for signal and data processing, buffering and decision making routines to remotely provide vehicle driver or owner with current tire wear status, tire type—vehicle—season match and with real-time estimation of remaining tire life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Marc Engel, Dusan Lednik, Piotr Orlewski, Bart Wakefield Kimble, Krzysztof Florian Jakubiak
  • Publication number: 20140130948
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread with at most 30 channels distributed substantially evenly circumferentially about the tyre. Each channel is arranged so that, beyond a predetermined wear threshold, the channel satisfies the following conditions: (A) the channel opens into a tread pattern element of the tyre, and (B) the channel includes a mouth opening radially to outside of the tyre and is delimited by at least two edge corners that come into contact with a ground surface as the edge corners pass through a contact patch in which the tyre is in contact with the ground surface, in which a circumferential distance separating the edge corners from one another is greater than or equal to 2 mm, and preferably is greater than or equal to 4 mm. Before the predetermined wear threshold is reached, at least one of the conditions (A) and (B) is not met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: Antoine Paturle
  • Publication number: 20140124108
    Abstract: A tyre includes two sets of acoustic (sonic) wear indicators associated with two wear thresholds. Noise is generated when each wear threshold is exceeded. Each wear indicator of each set of wear indicators is axially aligned with each other wear indicator of that set of wear indicators. A number of sets of wear indicators associated with each wear threshold is different from a number of sets of wear indicators associated with each other wear threshold. The sets of wear indicators associated with each wear threshold are evenly distributed circumferentially about the tyre. Each wear indicator is formed of a projection of rubber extending from a bottom portion of a circumferential groove of the tyre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Antoine Paturle
  • Patent number: 8695655
    Abstract: A tire tread 2 for a vehicle tire has a plurality of tread elements 10 extending radially outwardly from a tread base 24 to a radially outer surface. Each tread element 10 is defined by adjacent grooves 12, 14. The tread 2 has at least one tread element 10 projecting from the tread base 24 and having one or more tread wear indicators TWI 20. Each TWI 20 is located at the intersection of two grooves 12, 14 adjacent or integral to the at least one tread element 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Andre Cuny, Peter Johann Cornelius Maus
  • Patent number: 8700364
    Abstract: Methods of using computer based models for simulating the physical behavior of webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Michael Timothy Looney, Lei Li, Mark David Whaley, Stephen Joseph Lange
  • Publication number: 20140041774
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a solid tyre (10?) comprising a plurality of circular layers of elastic material overlapping in the radial direction, said layers forming, proceeding from the centre towards the periphery of the tyre, an internal portion or heel (11), an intermediate portion or middle (12) and an external portion or tread (13), wherein, between said intermediate portion or middle (12) and said external portion or tread (13) a layer is interposed of indication of excessive wear (17), having a different colour with respect to that of said tread (13) and made of a material, or a mixture of materials, identical to that of said tread (13), except for the components needed to obtain a different colour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: TRELLEBORG WHEEL SYSTEMS ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: GIANLUCA ABBATI, GIANLUCA MELORO, DINESH GUNASEKARA, ROBERTO ZAMPIERI
  • Publication number: 20130333458
    Abstract: A tire performance indicator for a tire includes at least one tread wear indicator region structured and arranged in a tread region of the tire and at least one performance symbol guide structured and arranged approximate a sidewall region of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Matthew LAMB, Robort LIU
  • Patent number: 8584721
    Abstract: A tire having a rotation timing indication hole of the invention has a rotation timing indication hole comprising a multi-step hole provided in a tire tread, and respective steps of the hole have different contours from each other. Since the contour of the hole changes when the tire is worn, the rotation timing of the tire can be recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensaku Fujii, Takehiko Murata
  • Publication number: 20130263984
    Abstract: A tire comprising a tread having a running surface, and at least one groove of generally circumferential orientation and a plurality of relief elements, each of which has a contact face with a transverse width Lt and lateral walls, at least one being provided with a plurality of devices for attenuating resonance noise, being formed in a relief element and comprising a cavity of elongate shape having a total length Lc and a total volume Vc, opening onto a lateral wall, having a total length Lc which is greater than the transverse width Lt, and a geometry comprising several cavity portions connected together, wherein the length Lc equal to the sum of the lengths of all the cavity portions, being extended over the whole of its length Lc by a sipe extending radially outwards opening onto the running surface, this tread being such that the sum Ly of the lengths projected in the transverse direction of each cavity is at least 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Patrick Bervas, Jean-Claude Faure
  • Publication number: 20130228255
    Abstract: Bare can be prevented from occurring in a wear indicator. A pneumatic tire has a wear indicator 5 at the groove bottom of a main groove 2 formed in a tread surface 1 and extending in the circumferential direction. The wear indicator 5 is formed in the surface thereof with at least one recess 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Sato
  • Publication number: 20130206291
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tire tread for a passenger vehicle comprising a tread surface designed to come into contact with a ground when this tire is running. The tread comprises at least one internal cavity of elongate overall shape with a total length LC and width WC and a sipe less than 2 mm wide beginning partly or totally on the cavity. The sipe extends the cavity over the whole of the length LC while extending radially outwards in order to emerge on the tread surface. The cavity comprises a bottom and two lateral walls surrounding this bottom and extending in the length LC of the cavity. The bottom comprises a message intended for an observer of the tire and the message is at a distance from at least one lateral wall of the cavity, the distance between the message and the said lateral wall being at least equal to 5% of the width WC of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Hélène Emorine, Sylvain Petitjean, William License
  • Publication number: 20130199681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for designing a curing mould for a tyre comprising at least one audible wear indicator, including the following steps (200-210): an initial population is defined, comprising a mould model having at least one characteristic relating to the wear indicator, a modified population is generated, comprising at least one mould model having at least one characteristic relating to the wear indicator produced by modifying at least one characteristic of at least one mould model of the initial population, at least one performance indicator is determined for each mould model in an evaluation population comprising at least one mould model of the modified population, based on at least one characteristic of each mould model of the evaluation population, one or more mould models of the evaluation population are selected on the basis of the performance indicator or indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: David Mosnier, Antoine Paturle