With Means Enabling Restricted Operation In Damaged Or Deflated Condition Patents (Class 152/516)
  • Patent number: 11938764
    Abstract: An air deflector that is at least partially disposable within a tubeless tire of a bicycle wheel includes a body. The body includes at least one wall defining an air input end and an air output end of the body. The body is attachable to a valve of the tubeless tire at the air input end, such that when air is introduced into the body via the valve, at least some of the air is deflectable by one or more walls of the at least one wall out of the body at the air output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David Morse, Louis Brown, Miguel Navarro Baeza
  • Patent number: 11504999
    Abstract: A rim (3) for a rolling assembly has a flexible extender, the rim having an axis of rotation DD?, said rim having a rim seat (31) extended axially towards the outside by a rim flange (32), said rim flange (32) having a first portion (321) that is oriented substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation DD? and situated radially on the outside with respect to said rim seat (31), said first portion (321) being extended radially and axially towards the outside by a connecting portion, characterized in that the radial height measured between the intersection point between the line of the rim seat and the line of the first portion, and the end of the radially outermost portion of the rim flange (32) is less than 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MAXION WHEELS U.S.A. LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Walser, Bertrand Vedy
  • Patent number: 11207926
    Abstract: One of sidewalls of a pneumatic tire is engraved with a two-dimensional code on a side rubber surface. The two-dimensional code is formed of a dot pattern made up of two types of gray scale elements distinguishable from each other by irregularities on the surface. The side rubber has a thickness at an engraving position of the two-dimensional code from 110 to 150% the average thickness of the entire side rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Takayuki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10688835
    Abstract: A run-flat tire comprises a tread portion, sidewall portions, bead portions, and a carcass ply extending between the bead portions. The sidewall portions are each provided therein with a sidewall reinforcing rubber layer having a crescent-shaped cross sectional shape and disposed on the axially inside of the carcass ply. The sidewall portions are each provided in the axially outer surface thereof with a rim protector which projects radially outward most on the radially outside of the radially inner edge of the sidewall reinforcing rubber layer. The bead portions are each provided therein with an axially inside core and an axially outside core between which each radially inner edge portion of the carcass ply is secured. When measured along a normal line drawn normally to the carcass ply from an apex of the rim protector, the thickness of the sidewall reinforcing rubber layer is in a range of from 29% to 35% of the thickness of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okagawa, Kosuke Nakano, Tomoyuki Kujime, Naoki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10227480
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are rubber compositions comprising at least one rubber, titanium oxide filler and a whey protein component, and related methods as well as tire components containing the rubber compositions disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Galizio, Amy M. Randall, Melissa Clark
  • Patent number: 9446632
    Abstract: Provided is a core (10A), in which split pieces (10P) adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction are coupled by a coupling pin (11), an axial direction of which is disposed in a width direction of the split pieces (10P), at a radial inner circumferential side thereof, and split surfaces (10a, 10b) formed by both of the split pieces (10P, 10P) include a first load receiving surface (10c) and a second load receiving surface (10d) having a predetermined angle with respect to a radial direction at a radial outer circumferential side from the coupling pin (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeyama, Hiromichi Yamamoto, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 9440494
    Abstract: An airless tire has a wheel portion and a webbing extending from the wheel portion towards an axis of rotation of the airless tire. The diameter of an annular outer surface of the wheel portion varies along an axial direction of the airless tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Asper
  • Patent number: 9321312
    Abstract: An airless tire has a wheel portion and a webbing extending from the wheel portion towards an axis of rotation of the airless tire. The stiffness of the webbing varies along an axial direction of the airless tire. The diameter of an annular outer surface of the wheel portion varies along an axial direction of the airless tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert W. Asper
  • Patent number: 8978720
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 including a cylindrical annular structure 10; a rubber layer 11 that will become a tread portion, provided along a circumferential direction of the annular structure 10, on an outer side 10so of the annular structure 10; and a carcass portion 12 including fibers covered with rubber, provided on both sides 2S in a direction parallel to a center axis (Y-axis) of a cylindrical structure 2 including the annular structure 10 and the rubber layer 11. In a meridian cross-sectional view of the structure 2, an outer side 11so of the rubber layer 11 and the outer side 10so of the annular structure 10 have the same form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kodama, Susumu Imamiya
  • Patent number: 8905101
    Abstract: A run flat tire where: the ratio of the cross-sectional height on the inner side in the radial direction to the cross-sectional height on the outer side in the radial direction, having the maximum tire width in a state inflated to an air pressure as a boundary; the inclination angle of the outer wall in the upper region of the side wall portion; the curving form of the tread surface; the position of the carcass folded over end; the height of the bead filler; the relationship between the thickness of the outer side rubber taken on a line normal to the rim line and the maximum thickness of the outer side rubber in an upper region of the bead portion; and the relationship of the thickness of the inner side rubber and the thickness of the outer side rubber taken on a line normal to the rim line are stipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 8800623
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to a tire support system including a plurality of support sectors. The plurality of support sectors when connected forms an annular support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventors: William W. Gardetto, Michael D. Marquart
  • Patent number: 8733413
    Abstract: A runflat assembly including a plurality of arcuate components interconnectable to fit around a vehicle wheel. Each component includes a rubber body with a steel support member located within the body, which when mounted on a wheel defines a support ring around the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Tyron International Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Mitchell Glazebrook
  • Patent number: 8726959
    Abstract: Tire support rings mounted within a tubeless tire to prevent the tire from collapsing upon the occurrence of a leak in the tire and to support a vehicle until the leak can be repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Von Jackson
  • Patent number: 8720511
    Abstract: A run flat tire which comprises a ply layer (4) disposed extending toroidally between a pair of bead cores and comprising ply coating rubber and ply cords, an inner liner layer (5) disposed circumferentially at an inner side of the ply layer, side reinforcing rubber layers (6) having an approximately crescent-shaped cross section and disposed in side portions of the tire between the ply layer and the inner liner layer and rubber sheets (7) disposed extending at interface of the ply layer and the side reinforcing rubber layer, wherein relations of t90>tp10 and t10<ts90 are satisfied when characteristic values of vulcanization obtained in accordance with JIS K6300-2 are represented by tp10 and tp90 for the ply coating rubber, ts10, and ts90 for the side reinforcing rubber and t10 and t90 for the rubber for a sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8689842
    Abstract: A tire insert attachment apparatus includes a pin attached to a first part of the insert and extending into a second part of the insert to engage an actuator that draws the bolt into the second part. The actuator includes a tool engagement head that transmits rotational motion of a tool to a translator via a converter, the converter transforming the rotational motion of the head into linear motion imparted on the translator. The translator can be a rack and pinion setup or can be a thread arrangement. Preferably, the head rotates a worm, which rotates a pinion that has threads formed on an inner surface and engaging mating threads on the pin, the pin taking the form of a bolt, such as an eyebolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hutchinson, SA
    Inventors: Charles Tabone, Larry Stuck, Gerard Tavin, Paul Ardovini
  • Patent number: 8684055
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an explosion-proof security tire for vehicles. The tire includes an outer tire, a split rim, a L-shaped sealing ring, a combined support loop and a valve core. The combined support loop includes a plurality layers of support rings they are sleeved by layer on layer and fixed with the rim. The size of the tire can increased by the combined support loop so as to furthest shorten the distance between the inner wall of the outer tire and the outer wall of the combined support loop at a normal pressure of tire. At the moment that the tire is burst, the combined support loop can support the outer tire quickly and effectively, and control the change of acting radius of the tire in a minimum range so as to ensure the basic performance of the tire and to prevent accidents caused by sudden control loss of running direction and avoid potential security risks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Xiaoyin Wu, Dazhong Wu
  • Patent number: 8679272
    Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an elastomeric casing and a tire cavity formed therein. A longitudinally-extending and approximately planar length of strip material is helically arranged within the tire cavity to pre-stress the length of strip material for usage of the pneumatic tire during under-inflated and non-inflated conditions. A method of making a run-flat pneumatic tire assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 8646502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a run-flat device for attaching a tubeless mounted assembly for a motor vehicle, and to such a mounted assembly incorporating said device. A device (30) according to the invention includes: a tire support structure (30), to be mounted around a rim having a plurality of pieces and comprising a reinforcing frame, and a bead lock means for locking the beads against the rim edge and connecting the support structure to the beads. According to the invention, the frame comprises an axial belt having at least one pair of ends opposite each other, separated by a connecting axial interstice, and connected therebetween by detachable connecting means (35, 36) for locking the belt, the support structure being radially split on both sides on the right of each interstice to enable the manual mounting of the device inside the casing by the gradual insertion therein of the structure, temporarily free of the connecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Olivier Marsaly, Bruno Pelletier, Sébastien Mathieu, Stéphane Auvray
  • Publication number: 20140034206
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a rubber composition for a sidewall reinforcing layer of a run-flat tire having superior elastic modulus, low heat build-up property and elongation at break with a good balance and being capable of improving run-flat performance, and the run-flat tire. The present invention provides a rubber composition for a sidewall reinforcing layer of a run-flat tire containing predetermined amounts of carbon black having a iodine absorption number of 50 mg/g or less, silica having a BET specific surface area of 170 m2/g or less, phenol resin and/or modified phenol resin and methylene group-donating compound based on 100 parts by mass of diene rubber component, and the run-flat tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi MIZUNO
  • Patent number: 8622107
    Abstract: The heat resistance of carcass cords is enhanced, whereby the runflat durability is enhanced. A pneumatic tire has a carcass 6 and a tread-reinforcing cord layer 7 disposed radially outward of the carcass, the carcass 6 comprising a carcass ply 6A in which carcass cords 20 of aramid fiber are arranged at an angle of 45 to 90° with respect to the tire circumferential direction and are covered with a topping rubber, preferable carcass cords 20 have a two-bundle twisted structure that two bundles of first-twisted filaments are subjected to final twist, and preferable carcass cords 20 have a twist factor T of 0.5 to 0.7 represented by the equation (1): T=N×?{square root over ({(0.125×D/2)/?})}×10?3??(1) in which N is the number of final twists per 10 cm, D is a total nominal dtex (fineness) of a cord, and ? is a specific gravity of a cord material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8618198
    Abstract: A rubber composition for a sidewall reinforcing layer and a run-flat tire reduces heat build-up, enhances elongation at break at high temperature, and increases run-flat durability, while maintaining good rigidity. The composition contains a rubber component including tin-modified BR (a) and/or BR (b) modified by a compound of formula (1) wherein R1, R2, and R3 may be the same as or different from one another and each represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a silyloxy group, an acetal group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, or a derivative thereof; R4 and R5 may be the same as or different from each other and each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and n denotes an integer; and an alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate, wherein an amount of the alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate is 3-10 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoji Imoto
  • Patent number: 8596319
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire provided with run-flat reinforcing layers 10 in left and right sidewall portions 2 that enable run-flat traveling. A tread reinforcing layer 12 formed from a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition including a blend of a thermoplastic resin component and an elastomer component is provided on an inner side of a tread portion 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Mori
  • Publication number: 20130312890
    Abstract: Provided are: a rubber laminate having high adhesion between a rubber member including a non-diene rubber and a rubber member including a diene rubber; a run-flat tire obtained by using the rubber laminate, having high adhesion between a side-reinforcing rubber layer and an inner liner, with excellent run-flat durability; and a pneumatic tire including a color layer having high adhesion force to a side rubber while being excellent in stain resistance. The rubber laminate is obtained by laminating a rubber member A including a non-diene rubber and a rubber member B including a diene rubber on each other, the rubber member A and the rubber member B containing a vulcanization accelerator of the same type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Iwata, Norihisa Kano, Kazuhiro Maekawa, Jeeyoung Oh
  • Patent number: 8590586
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a carcass comprising a reinforcing ply structure extending between a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewalls, a tread, a belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of the carcass and radially inward of the tread, and an insert located in each sidewall. Each sidewall is located radially outward of one of the pair of bead portions. Each insert has a first segment constructed of a first material and a second segment constructed of a second material. The first material has a different stiffness than the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Bing Jiang
  • Patent number: 8578987
    Abstract: A run-flat tire (12) comprising: a crown; two sidewalls (40); two beads (50) each one comprising at least one annular reinforcing structure (60); a carcass reinforcement (71, 72) anchored in each of the beads by wrapping it around the annular reinforcing structure so as to form an incoming portion (711) extending from the crown through the sidewalls towards the bead and a wrapped-around portion (712); and at least one sidewall insert (80); at least one sidewall of the tire further comprising at least one additional sidewall reinforcement (90) positioned axially on the inside of the carcass reinforcement and extending radially at least between a radial height H1 of 30 mm, H1 being measured from the radially innermost point of the annular reinforcing structure; and a radial height H2 equal to 30% of the height H of the tire; and a layer (110) of polymeric composition positioned between the additional sidewall reinforcement and the carcass reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: François Hottebart
  • Patent number: 8573272
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a carcass, a tread, a belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of the carcass and radially inward of the tread, and an insert located in each sidewall. Each insert comprises a plurality of separate rib members. The carcass includes a reinforcing ply structure extending between a pair of bead portions and a pair of sidewalls. Each sidewall is located radially outward of one of the pair of bead portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Damien Albert Ghislain Schreurs, Michael Spiro Markoff, Massimo Di Giacomo Russo, Anne Therese Peronnet-Paquin, David Gilbert Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 8567465
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass with a reinforcing ply structure extending between a pair of bead portions and a pair of sidewalls, a tread, a belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of the carcass and radially inward of the tread, and two inserts. Each insert is located in each sidewall. Each sidewall is located radially outward of one of the pair of bead portions. Each insert has a first material and a second material. The first material has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Bing Jiang
  • Patent number: 8561661
    Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an elastomeric casing and a tire cavity formed therein. A longitudinally-extending and approximately planar length of strip material is helically arranged within the tire cavity to pre-stress the length of strip material for usage of the pneumatic tire during under-inflated and non-inflated conditions. A method of making a run-flat pneumatic tire assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 8544515
    Abstract: Negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) or auxetic are used to make lightweight wheels and runflat tires. The NPR tires can be tailored and functionally-designed to optimally meet the runflat requirements for both military and commercial vehicles. NPR-runflat tires may be fabricated using standard materials and simple manufacturing processes, resulting in low-cost and high-volume production. In preferred embodiments the runflat tire designs are fully compatible with Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS), while providing a performance equivalent to current military vehicle solutions but at half the weight. An auxetic wheel according to the invention comprises a line defining an axis of rotation; and a plurality of concentric rings of unit cells surrounding the axis, each unit cell being constructed of a plurality of members defining a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: MKP Structural Design Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng-Dong Ma, Yuanyuan Liu, Xiaoming Liu, Ce Sun, Yushun Cui
  • Publication number: 20130248072
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a height from a turned-up edge of a carcass layer is not more than 10 mm, a distance from a tire outer surface to the carcass layer is not less than 50% of the total gauge, a height of the bead filler is from 50% to 80% of a tire cross-section height, a cross-sectional area ratio VB/VR of the bead filler to a side reinforcing layer is not less than 0.4 and not more than 0.6, a hardness HsB of the bead filler is not less than 65 and not more than 80, and the hardness HsR of the side reinforcing layer is not less than 75 and not more than 85, a size relationship between the hardness HsB and the hardness HsR is HsB?HsR, a value TB of tan ? is not more than 0.06, and a value TR of tan ? is not more than 0.05.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 8528612
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful inner structural supporter type run flat tire having enough structural strength for controlling the steering wheel to some extent when the tire goes flat and having easy structure for installing to the rim wheel. A wheel 10 has a flange 11 with a bead part of a tubeless tire fitted thereto and a container 12 having a diameter smaller than that of the flange 11, and comprises a rim valve for adjusting the air pressure of the tubeless tire, and a second rim valve for adjusting air pressure in an inner tire 20. The inner tire 20 is stored in the container 12. While the inner tire 20 is stored in the container 12, the tubeless tire 30 is fitted to the flange of the tire wheel 10, air is fed into the inner tire 20 via the second rim valve until the air pressure reaches a predetermined value, so the inner tire 20 is inflated inside the tubeless tire 30, and an inner tire is provided as the inner tire in the outer tubeless tire space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20130220507
    Abstract: A ballistic resilient run-flat tire device, kit and method for manufacturing the same are presented for providing a vehicle a capability of traveling for at least 30 miles at 30 miles per hour, after the device has been compromised as of result of exposure due to ballistic ordinance rifle shots such as 7.62×39 mm and 7.62×54 R or air loss from road hazard punctures. The device includes a tire carcass and a polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass that defines an inflatable hollow chamber within the ballistic resilient run-flat tire. The tire carcass has an annular tread, sidewalls, and beads. The polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass defining a hollow chamber provides additional protection along the sidewalls and tread of the tire carcass. The kit includes the un-interconnected elements of the device. The method includes the steps of curing, discharging, filling, injecting, introducing, mounting, obtaining, and preparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ARNCO
    Inventors: Robert P. ROSE, Larry R. CARAPELLOTTI, Joseph M. CAMPO
  • Publication number: 20130206304
    Abstract: A run flat tire for use with a conventional wheel supporting an outer tire. First and second semi-circular shaped subassemblies inter-engage around an annular surface of the wheel, each of the subassemblies exhibiting an outer support ring adapted to engage a deflated inner surface of the outer tire in a run flat condition. The subassemblies exhibit stamped metal bodies and include stiffening beads for increased strength. Each of the subassemblies also includes a semi-circular shaped body cap exhibiting a flat band in end profile and which is secured to inner support locations associated with the spaced apart sides of the main body. Each of the subassemblies includes an innermost rim mounting ring secured to the wheel surface and exhibiting a cross sectional profile matching a selected wheel rim design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph G. Russell, II, Joseph G. Russell, SR.
  • Patent number: 8469071
    Abstract: A run flat tire in which the maximum tire width position when the tire is in an inflated state, the inclination angle formed by the line S? tangent to the tire outer wall in the tire shoulder region, the curving form of the tread surface, the relationship between the thickness Ga of the outer side rubber taken on a line X normal to the rim line and centered on the carcass layer 5 and the maximum thickness Gb of the outer side rubber in an upper region of the bead portion 2, the relationship of the thickness Gc of the inner side rubber taken on a line X normal to the rim line and centered on the carcass layer 5 and the thickness Ga of the outer side rubber are each stipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 8453691
    Abstract: An automotive wheel used to substantially reduce energy loss due to tire flex and energy loss from a conventional drive train. The wheel includes a wheel hub, two sidewalls, an inner low pressure pneumatic chamber with hub protector, and an outer tread ring with inner tread wall and semi-rigid outer tread, containing an elastic band. The hub can contain an electric hub motor. The pneumatic chamber and a porous restraint band position the outer tread ring and enable the wheel to simulate an energy efficient high pressure pneumatic when, experiencing little deformation when under smooth road conditions. When road conditions are rough, the sidewalls and the outer tread ring temporarily flex in response to the increased road forces, simulating a low pressure conventional tire having ample space for deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Glenn Arthur Morrison
  • Patent number: 8434533
    Abstract: A load-bearing structure for a bearing support intended to be mounted on a rim inside a tire fitted on a vehicle to support the tread of the tire in the event of a loss of inflation pressure is provided. The load-bearing structure includes a base, a crown, and an annular body connecting the base and the crown. The body includes a plurality of partitions distributed regularly circumferentially, extending axially substantially from one side to the other of the body and radially from the base to the crown with a mean orientation relative to the radial direction of between 10 and 50 degrees, in that two circumferentially adjacent partitions exhibit contrary orientations relative to the radial direction and in that two adjacent partitions define with the base and/or the crown cavities in the form of triangles or trapezoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A., E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Loïc Albert, Xavier Brouwers, Guy Cagneaux, Fabien Mondini, Sébastien Rigo, Peter Szekely, Adam J. Van Der Lelij, Damien Van Der Zyppe
  • Publication number: 20130075004
    Abstract: In a pneumatic run flat tire in which an inner side reinforcing rubber layer having a falcated cross-section is disposed in a side wall portion, dynamic elastic moduli E?10A, E?10B, and E?10C and values T10A, T10B, and T10C of a tan ? at 60° C. of rubber compositions of each region of the inner side reinforcing rubber layer are configured so as to satisfy the relationships E?10A<E?10B<E?10C, E?10A?4.0 MPa, T10A<T10B<T10C, and T10A?0.06. Dynamic elastic moduli E?20A, E?20B, and E?20C at 60° C. of rubber compositions of each region of the outer side rubber layer are configured so as to satisfy the relationships E?20B<E?20A?E?20C and E?20C/E?20B?1.6. Furthermore, the dynamic elastic modulus ratios E?20A/E?10A and E?20C/E?10C are configured so as to satisfy the relationships 0.6?E?20A/E?10A?1.0 and 0.6?E?20C/E?10C?1.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD
    Inventor: Kenji Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20130075003
    Abstract: A pneumatic run flat tire includes an inner side reinforcing rubber layer having a falcated cross-section and an outer side reinforcing rubber layer having a center of gravity position in a meridian cross-section that is positioned inward in a tire radial direction of a tire maximum width position disposed in a side wall portion. Volumes of the inner side reinforcing rubber layer and the outer side reinforcing rubber layer are each different on a vehicle inner side and a vehicle outer side when mounted on a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD
    Inventor: Kenji Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20130014875
    Abstract: The present invention provides a run flat tire and system adapted for alignment around a wheel and inside a tire. The run flat tire and system comprises one or more arcuate portions configured and arranged so as to be releasably aligned and connected to form a run flat device suitable for installation around a tire rim drop center. The invention further comprises one or more insert or encapsulated portions (corresponding to one or more arcuate portions) made of a relatively strong or stiff material, and one or more corresponding outer portions of a relatively soft or lower durometer material. In one aspect, outer portion(s) are molded around or directly on corresponding encapsulated portion(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: HUTCHINSON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Khaled Khatib
  • Patent number: 8322391
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flat running device to be fitted on a tubeless mounted assembly for an automobile, and to such a mounted assembly including said device. The flat running device (30) of the invention comprises: an annular bearing structure (31) comprising a ring having a radially outside bearing face (31a) for bearing a flat-running tire cover (20), and at least one tightening belt (32) surrounding the ring so as to maintain the same substantially in contact with a running rim (10), at least one radial reinforcement (31b) being formed in the bearing face, the tightening belt(s) being applied on said reinforcement and being recessed relative to the bearing face. According to the invention, the bearing structure includes a means (33) for locking it in this hollow (11) by mounting the same so as to bear against a side wall (11b) of the hollow, a radially inner face (31c) of the locking means being adapted so as to conform to the axial profile of the bottom (11a) of said hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Stéphane Auvray, Stéphane Mouton
  • Publication number: 20120267024
    Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition for a sidewall reinforcing layer and a run-flat tire that reduce heat build-up, enhance elongation at break at high temperature, and increase run-flat durability, while maintaining good rigidity. The composition contains a rubber component including tin-modified BR (a) and/or BR (b) modified by a compound of formula (1); and an alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate, wherein an amount of the alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate is 3-10 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component: wherein R1, R2, and R3 may be the same as or different from one another and each represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a silyloxy group, an acetal group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, or a derivative thereof; R4 and R5 may be the same as or different from each other and each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and n denotes an integer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Yoji IMOTO
  • Patent number: 8281836
    Abstract: Provided is a run flat tire having an enhanced ride comfort in running on general road surfaces and an enhanced driving stability on snowy road surfaces at the time when the tire is not punctured, as well as an enhanced maneuverability, particularly starting ability, on icy road surfaces in run-flat running where the tire is punctured. Three belt layers (8, 9, 10) are disposed on an outer circumferential side of a carcass layer (6) in a tread portion (4). In addition, as to the three belt layers, the cord angle ? of the innermost belt layer (8) with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire is set at 15° to 30°, the cord angle ? of the intermediate belt layer (9) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at not less than 40°, and the cord angle ? of the outermost belt layer (10) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at 35° to 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Sugitani, Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8281835
    Abstract: A run-flat support assembly for a wheel rim of a pneumatic tired wheel and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tubular support structure is positioned in a tire cavity of the pneumatic tired wheel and coupled to the wheel rim to turn concurrently with an axis of rotation of the wheel rim. A skeletal structure is disposed within the tubular support structure. Circumferentially spaced linkages are displaceably secured to respective mounting races of a body of the skeletal structure. Each of the circumferentially spaced linkages is adapted to plastically fail at a pre-determined moment load in a run-flat condition, thereby pivoting relative to the respective mounting race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Dynamic Runflats, Inc.
    Inventor: William W. Gardetto
  • Patent number: 8261792
    Abstract: An airbag device for a vehicle tire capable of stabilizing the vehicle timely when the tire is exploding or being punctured suddenly to avoid potential accidents and to ensure driving comfort. The airbag device comprises a resilient outer ring installed between the tire and the wheel hub, and an inner ring serving to support the resilient outer ring. The resilient outer ring and the inner ring are compressed between the tire and the wheel hub under normal tire air pressure, and a space serving to increase driving comfortability and keep the outer ring from contacting the inner surface of the tire tread is designed between the resilient outer ring and the inner surface of the tire tread. When the tire is exploding or the air pressure of the tire is lost, the resilient outer ring is capable of bouncing instantly to support the weight of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Liang Fan
  • Publication number: 20120168051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a run-flat tire employing a rubber composition capable of improving processability without reducing the durability during run-flat traveling. More specifically, the present invention relates to a run-flat tire comprising a bead filler 7 and a pair of side-reinforcing rubber layers 8. At least one of the bead filler 7 and the side-reinforcing rubber layer 8 employs a rubber composition obtained by adding 3 to 10 parts by mass of sulfur and 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of a low-molecular-weight conjugated diene-based polymer (B) having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 10,000, to 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (A) containing at least a natural rubber or polyisoprene rubber and having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 150,000 to 2,000,000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeaki Matsuo, Koji Masaki
  • Publication number: 20120160388
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply runflat tire is described. The tire has a carcass structure having at least one radial carcass ply, two bead regions, two sidewalls, each sidewall having an upper sidewall portion that connects to the shoulders and being reinforced by an insert, a belt structure between the tread and the carcass, and an air impermeable inner liner formed of a butyl rubber located radially inward of the carcass structure wherein the air impermeable inner liner extends from a first shoulder region to a second shoulder underneath the crown portion of the tire, and does not extend from the shoulder to the bead portion of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
    Inventors: Christian Jean-Marie Kaes, Gary Robert Burg, Neil Phillip Stuber, Brian Richard Koch, Christopher David Dyrlund, Laurent Luigi Domenico Colantonio
  • Publication number: 20120145299
    Abstract: Disclosed is a run-flat tire having greatly increased run-flat endurance. The disclosed run-flat tire is provided with: a carcass (6) extending from a tread section (2) through a sidewall portion (3) to a bead core (5) of a bead portion (4); and a side-reinforcement rubber layer (9) that has a crescent-shaped cross-section and is disposed inside the carcass (6) in the sidewall portion (3). A heat-conducting rubber (11) having a coefficient of thermal conductivity of not less than 0.3 W/(m·K) is disposed on the inner cavity surface (12) of the tire. At least part of said heat-conducting rubber (11) is disposed in a side-reinforcement rubber layer projection area (T) where the side-reinforcement rubber layer (9) is projected onto the inner cavity surface (12) of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Hidehiko Hino, Masahiro Hanya
  • Patent number: 8196629
    Abstract: A run-flat support system and method for installing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the run-flat support system includes a torque assembly removably coupled to a split wheel rim of a pneumatic tired wheel. Support segments are adapted for attachment to the torque assembly in order to support the pneumatic tired wheel in a flat condition such as an under-inflated condition or deflated condition. Lateral support structures, which may include the form of a wedge, are secured to the support segments to provide a bead lock between beads of the interior side walls of the pneumatic tired wheel and the split wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Dynamic Runflats, Inc.
    Inventor: William W. Gardetto
  • Publication number: 20120132338
    Abstract: A run flat tire where: the ratio of the cross-sectional height on the inner side in the radial direction to the cross-sectional height on the outer side in the radial direction, having the maximum tire width in a state inflated to an air pressure as a boundary; the inclination angle of the outer wall in the upper region of the side wall portion; the curving form of the tread surface; the position of the carcass folded over end; the height of the bead filler; the relationship between the thickness of the outer side rubber taken on a line normal to the rim line and the maximum thickness of the outer side rubber in an upper region of the bead portion; and the relationship of the thickness of the inner side rubber and the thickness of the outer side rubber taken on a line normal to the rim line are stipulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20120103494
    Abstract: A reinforcing rubber layer having a falcated cross-section disposed on an inner side in a tire width direction of the carcass layer in a side wall portion. An angle ?, with respect to the total tire width SW and a tire cross-section height SH, satisfies a relationship (SH/SW×6+3)°???(SH/SW×6+8)°. Additionally, a height H1 of a bead filler is from 15 to 35% of the tire cross-section height SH and a height H2 of a maximum thickness position of the reinforcing rubber layer is from 35 to 55% of the tire cross-section height SH.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsurou Shinzawa