Breaker Or Belt Characterized By Its Dimensions Or Curvature Relative To The Carcass Or Any Other Part Of The Tire Patents (Class 152/538)
  • Patent number: 6460587
    Abstract: A tire having a crown, two sidewalls and two beads, a carcass reinforcement anchored in the two beads and a crown reinforcement, the crown reinforcement including radially, from inside outward, a working block with at least one ply of parallel cords of circular orientation and a protective block with at least one ply of parallel cords of elongation at rupture greater than that of the cords of the ply of circumferential orientation of the working block, characterized in that said ply of parallel cords of circumferential orientation is the radially outermost ply of said working block and in that the parallel cords of said ply of said protective block have a circumferential orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Yves Herbelleau
  • Publication number: 20020088523
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a breaker disposed radially outside the carcass crown and a band disposed radially outside the breaker and made of one or more cords laid at an angle of not more than 5 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction; the band cords are an organic fiber cord which has a single-twist structure, a cord thickness D of from 500 to 3200 dtex, a twist coefficient T of from 150 to 750 which is defined by the product of the square root of the cord thickness D and the twist number N (turn) per 10 cm length of the cord, and an elongation of from 4.0 to 8.0% under a tension of 2.7 g/dtex; the band cord count per 1 cm width of the band is in a range of from 5 to 25; and when the tire is not inflated and loaded with no tire load, a tensile force Ls of a band cord in the tire is in a range of from 4 to 25 N, and the total of the tensile forces LS of the band cords per 1 cm width of the band is in a range of from 50 to 250 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Shinichi Miyazaki, Kazumi Yamazaki, Osamu Toda
  • Publication number: 20020079037
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire which comprises a breaker disposed radially outside a carcass crown portion and made of cords laid at an angle of from 15 to 40 degrees with respect to the tire equator, and a band disposed radially outside of the breaker and comprising a full-width band ply extending over the substantially overall width of the breaker and made of at least one cord forming a small angle with respect to the tire equator, wherein a cord or cords of said full-width band ply existing in a tread crown region satisfy the following conditions: T>0.8; 0≦K+6.67T−21.7; 0≦45−10T−K; 0≦106.8−57.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Naoki Yukawa, Kazumi Yamazaki, Takashi Tanaka, Yasuo Wada, Makoto Hizume
  • Patent number: 6401778
    Abstract: A tire with radial carcass reinforcement having a maximum axial width S0 and including a crown reinforcement composed of at least two working crown plies of inextensible reinforcing elements, crossing from one ply to the next at angles of between 10° and 45° to the circumferential direction, the said plies having axial widths equal to at least 80% of the width S0, and arranged radially between the said working plies, an additional ply of reinforcing elements essentially parallel to the circumferential direction, the working plies having widths greater than the width of the additional ply by at least 16% of the width S0, and being on both sides of the equatorial plane and in the immediate axial extension of the additional ply coupled over an axial distance equal to at least 3% of the width S0, thereafter being separated by a section of rubber mix having a thickness of at least 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des establissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Guy Cluzel
  • Patent number: 6386256
    Abstract: A tire with radial carcass reinforcement, having a crown reinforcement embodying at least two working crown plies formed of inextensible cables, crossed from one ply to the next, forming angles of between 10° and 45° with the circumferential direction, characterized in that, in the absence of any ply formed of inextensible cables forming an angle greater than 45° with the circumferential direction, an additional, axially continuous, ply formed of undulating metallic elements oriented substantially parallel to the circumferential direction is placed radially between the working plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Andre Colom
  • Patent number: 6367527
    Abstract: A tire, the H/S form ratio of which is at most 0.6, formed radially from the inside to the outside by a triangulation ply of metal cables oriented at least 60°, two working crown plies formed of inextensible metal cables oriented at angles of between 10° and 45°, between which there is inserted a first additional ply of metallic elements which are oriented substantially parallel to the circumferential direction of the tire, a second additional ply being arranged, on either side of the tire, radially above the outermost working ply and substantially centered on the end of the first additional ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Guy Cluzel
  • Publication number: 20020033218
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a innerliner, a carcass, a belt, one or more cap layers and tread, in which the belt is comprised of at least two belt layers each containing rubberized metal or organic fiber monofilament cords, and a rubber gauge between the monofilament cords located in the adjacent belt layers is made 1.5-5 times of a diameter of the monofilament cord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Ohura
  • Patent number: 6343637
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 10 for use in aircraft landing applications is provided. The tire includes a breaker assembly 20, 20A, 20B having circumferentially extending layers of cord fabric and wear strips to enhance performance. In one embodiment, the wear strips are rubber and are provided as central portions 26, 44 of breaker layers 24, 40 with cord fabric extensions 30, 48 on either side. In a second embodiment, the wear strips are thin, narrow rubber strips 72 imposed between adjacent cord fabric breaker layers 56, 60, 64, 68. In a third embodiment, the wear strips are narrow cord fabric strips 92 imposed between adjacent cord fabric layers 80, 84, 88.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: John Joseph Slivka
  • Patent number: 6343636
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire which comprises a tread portion provided on each side of the tire equator with axial grooves extending axially inwardly from the tread edges, the axial grooves inclined to one direction with respect to the tire axial direction to form a non-directional tread pattern, and the inclination angle of the axial grooves to the tire circumferential direction is decreased from the axially outer end to the axially inner end thereof so as to have a minimum inclination angle &bgr;min of less than 45 degrees, and a maximum inclination angle of from 60 to 85 degrees. Preferably, the radially outermost belt ply has a cord angle a of 10 to 35 degrees to the tire equator and the axial grooves inclined in the reverse direction to the belt cords, and |&bgr;min−&agr;|≦25 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hanya, Mitsuhiro Wada, Naoki Yukawa
  • Publication number: 20020011297
    Abstract: At least one carcass ply (3) is formed by depositing a strip-like element (13) comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (13a) incorporated into a layer of elastomer material (13b), onto a toroidal support (11). Deposition of the strip-like element (13) takes place in alternated deposition sections (23, 24) each comprising two radially-extending side portions (23a, 24a, 23c, 24c) and a crown portion (23b, 24b) extending at a radially external position. The side portions of each deposition section (23, 24) are at least partly overlapped with side portions belonging to an adjacent deposition section. Associated with the carcass ply (3) are annular structures (4) comprising a circumferentially inextensible annular insert (32) axially external to an anchoring element (31). A belt structure (5), a tread band (8) and sidewalls (9) are combined with the thus formed carcass structure (2) to define a tire (1) to be submitted to a vulcanization step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: PIRELLI PNEUMATICI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Caretta, Fiorenzo Mariani
  • Patent number: 6330896
    Abstract: To assure a positive camber thrust for a radial-ply tire including a belt of four or more plies on a carcass with pad rubber interposed therebetween, the width of the outermost belt ply is increased over the width of the adjacent belt ply and the ratio of the difference found by subtracting the tread width from the maximum belt ply width to the difference between the maximum tire width and the tread width is not less than 0.1 and not more than 0.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakasai, Junichi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6321808
    Abstract: A run flat pneumatic tire includes a thin annular monolithic band embedded in the crown portion of the tire wherein the band has a helical cut extending between opposite band edges. The cut has an arcuate length between 45° and 360° and provides a circumferentially expandable band which enhances molding of the tire by enabling the band to expand during molding to minimize porosity and reduce entrapment of air between the band and tread rubber. Alternately, a pair of helically cut bands are joined by an intervening band of rubber and a reinforcing layer of reinforcing cords in a rubber skim may extend about the outer surface of the expandable band or bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Spragg, James M. Kirby, Edward G. Markow
  • Patent number: 6318429
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having in axial cross-section a highly curved tread is reinforced by a breaker assembly with improved resistance to breaker edge looseness. The breaker assembly includes one breaker ply which extends between two bead regions and has its edges disposed between a carcass main portion and a carcass turn-up portion. An improved single-stage method may be employed for building the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Corner, David Robert Watkins
  • Patent number: 6315019
    Abstract: A radial tire is provided with a metal belt comprising two load-bearing strips, respectively a first one and a second one, with reinforcing elements inclined in opposite directions in the two strips relative to the equatorial plane, and a pair of lateral bands radially superimposed on the ends of the second strip. The second strip has an axial width less than the first one and has edges staggered axially inwards with respect to the edges of the first strip. Each band comprises a single layer of circumferential metal reinforcing elements and has its axially external edge staggered axially inwards with respect to the edge of the second strip. A third strip with inclined reinforcing elements is arranged in the radially outermost position of the belt and covers at least two thirds of the width of each band. The pair of bands covers at least partially the two ends of the second strip in a diverging configuration relative to the two ends of the first strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Garlaschelli, Gaetano Lo Presti
  • Patent number: 6305450
    Abstract: A tire (1) for motor-vehicle wheels comprises a tread band (10) and a belt structure (6), the tread band being molded with a raised pattern having a circumferential groove (11). In the absence of load and inflating pressure, the tire is characterized in that the belt structure in a cross-section of the tire has an axial profile comprising three distinct portions, first (14) and second (15) side portions and one central portion (16) interposed between the side portions. The side portions are concave at a radially internal position, in which the concavity is defined for each portion by a respective center and a respective radius of curvature. The central portion is concave at a radially external position where the concavity center of the central portion lies in the center line plane of the circumferential groove, in which the depth of the radially external concavity is canceled under the effect of the normal inflating pressure of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Romano Guermandi
  • Patent number: 6267165
    Abstract: The belts of the reinforcing structure of a pneumatic tire are reinforced with high strength, light weight aramid cords having a linear density of 420 to 1100 dTex, the cords having a twist of 315 to 551 TPM (8 to 14 TPI). In alternative embodiments, overlay material may be incorporated into the belt reinforcing structure. An illustrated embodiment of the tire has a belt reinforcing structure comprising a folded belt folded around a cut belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Walter Kevin Westgate, Charles Elmer Hamiel, Robert John Boehlefeld
  • Publication number: 20010008158
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire and a method for manufacturing the same, a device for forming a band of radial tire, and a method of and device for forming a belt-band-tread rubber assembly. The pneumatic tire including a belt arranged on the radially outer side or a carcass, and a band arranged on the radially outer side of the belt and composed of continuous one to several organic fiber cords wound spirally and approximately parallel to the circumferential direction of the tire. The radial tire manufacturing method including the steps of laminating the predetermined number of belt plies on a belt drum or belt ring for forming a belt, and winding one to several organic fiber cords continuously and spirally in the cicumferential direction of the belt on the outer surface of the formed belt in order to form a band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: YOSHIHIDE KOJIMA, HIROAKI SAKUNO, MASAO TAKAMI, KATSUNORI KADOWAKI, YOSHINOBU MIYANAGA
  • Patent number: 6250352
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire comprises a tread portion curved convexly such that the maximum cross section width TW of the tire lies between the tread edges, a carcass ply of cords arranged radially at an angle of 70 to 90 degrees to the tire equator, and a belt ply of at least one cord laid at an angle of 0 to 35 degrees disposed radially outside the carcass ply in the tread portion. When the tire is mounted on a standard rim and inflated from 10% of a standard inner pressure to 100% thereof, the tread portion swells such that the amount of swelling is larger in a shoulder region than a crown region of the tread portion. The carcass cord tension Tcs in the shoulder region is 2.0 to 3.8 times the carcass cord tension Tcc in the crown region, and the belt cord tension Tbs in the shoulder region is 1.2 to 2.0 times the belt cord tension Tbc in the crown region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6192952
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire capable of effectively controlling the occurrence of wandering phenomenon when being used in vehicles such as passenger car, small-size truck, truck, bus and the like is provided, in which a second tread zone contacting with a mountain side of a slant road surface is arranged so as to project toward a side of a first tread zone contacting with a flat road surface and camber thrust of the radial tire is increased by the second tread zone during the running on ruts and the like under loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6145560
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire comprises a radial carcass, a main cross belt and a tread portion, in which the main cross belt is formed by laminating at least three rubberized cord layers so that the cords in each layer are parallel to each other but the cords between the adjoining layers are crossed with each other and extend in opposite directions with respect to an equatorial line of the tire. In such a tire, a pair of cushion rubbers are arranged between the adjoining rubberized cord layers constituting the main cross belt at their both end portions by setting a position relation between mutual cushion rubbers at both belt ends to an optimum value to thereby prevent or control the occurrence of the belt end separation failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Yamada, Hiroshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 6131632
    Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire has an aspect ratio of not more than 80% and comprises a radial carcass; a belt comprising a first ply, a second ply and a third ply disposed in this order from the radially inside to the outside; the second ply being widest and the axial width BW thereof being in the range of from 1.00 to 2.00 times the section height H of the tire; a first rubber thickness d1 measured from the first belt ply's edge to the carcass being in the range of from 1.0 to 5.0 mm; a second rubber thickness d2 measured from the third belt ply's edge to the second belt ply being more than the first rubber thickness d1; an axial distance W1 of the first belt ply's edge from the second belt ply's edge and an axial distance W2 of the third belt ply's edge from the second belt ply's edge satisfying the following condition: 0<=W1-W2<=5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Fukumoto, Takako Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6125899
    Abstract: In a heavy duty pneumatic radial tire, at least one carcass layer is provided between right and left bead portions and at least two belt layers formed of steel cords which exhibit a breaking elongation of 4% or less are arranged in an outer periphery of the carcass layer in a tread portion. The belt layers are composed of at least one upper belt layer (A) and at least one lower belt layer (B). The upper belt layer (A) has a belt width that is 0.6 times or less a carcass line maximum width SW of the carcass layer at a tire section and the lower belt layer (B) has a belt width such that both end portions thereof extend to tread shoulder portions. An inclination angle of the steel cords of the lower belt layer (B) relative to a tire circumferential direction is set to be larger than that of the upper belt layer (A). A ratio (Mb.sub.2 .multidot.N.sub.2)/( Mb.sub.1 .multidot.N.sub.1) of a product of a bending rigidity Mb.sub.2 per steel cord of the lower belt layer (B) and the number N.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Norio Ohmoto
  • Patent number: 6116311
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a breaker disposed radially outside a carcass and having a cord angle of not less than 10 degrees, and a band disposed between the carcass and the breaker and having a cord angle of less than 10 degrees, the breaker having a double-layered cord structure comprising a radially outer layer and a radially inner layer between which the cord inclination is reversed, the band being made of spiral windings of at least one cord; and the breaker is preferably formed by continuously winding at least one cord zigzag around the radially outside of the band plural times, in each turn the tape being bent at the axial edges of the breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ueyoko, Kazuki Numata, Tsuneyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6082426
    Abstract: A tire with radial carcass reinforcement 1, having a crown reinforcement 3 aving at least two working crown plies 32, 34 made of inextensible cables, crossed from one ply to the other and forming angles of between 10.degree. and 45.degree. with the circumferential direction, characterized in that in the absence of any ply formed of inextensible cables forming an angle greater than 45.degree. with the circumferential direction, an additional, axially continuous, ply 33 formed of metallic elements oriented substantially parallel to the circumferential direction, is placed radially between the working plies 32, 34, having an axial width L.sub.33 at least equal to 1.05 times the axial width of the widest working crown ply L.sub.32, L.sub.34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Andre Colom
  • Patent number: 6079463
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a breaker-belt disposed radially outside a carcass, and a band-belt disposed radially outside the breaker-belt and having organic fiber cords laid in substantially parallel with the tire equator. In the meridian section of the tire which is mounted on a standard rim and inflated to 0.5% of a standard inner pressure, the tread has a triple radius profile and the band-belt having a variable ply number accommodated to the triple radii of the tread such that the number of plies throughout more than sixty percent (60%) of the axial width of the parts of the tread having the first, second and third radii of curvature, respectively, are different from each other. The tread profile is composed of a central part of a radius R1, a pair of middle parts of a radius R2, and a pair of shoulder parts of a radius R3. For example, the ply number N1 in the central part is 0, the ply number N2 in the middle parts is 1, and the ply number N3 in the shoulder parts is 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Minami, Toshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 6058996
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a breaker belt disposed radially outside the carcass having at least two cross plies of high elastic modulus cords laid at an inclination angle of from 15 to 30 degrees with respect to the tire equator, and a band belt disposed radially outside the breaker belt and comprising a full-width band and a pair of axially spaced edge bands, wherein the full-width band is made of low elastic modulus organic fiber cords arranged substantially parallel to the tire equator. The edge bands are made of high modulus organic fiber cords arranged substantially parallel to the tire equator, whereby the high speed durability and cornering performance are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5996662
    Abstract: A radial "heavy vehicle" tire, of H/S form ratio of at most 0.60, with a wn reinforcement (2) composed of at least two crossed working plies (21, 22), and at least one ply (20) of circumferential cables arranged above the carcass ply (1) and a tread (10) of width L, characterized in that there is arranged, between the ply of circumferential cables (20) and the first, radially innermost, working ply (21), a layer of rubber mix (4) of low modulus of extension, of constant thickness of between 2 and 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin--Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Guy Cluzel
  • Patent number: 5879484
    Abstract: A run flat pneumatic tire is reinforced by a thin annular composite band imbedded in the crown portion of the tire in combination with a plurality of radial cords or plies in its sidewalls which have freedom in shear with respect to one another. The band is formed by a plurality of layers of material strips wherein each strip is wound in a helical pattern, with adjacent strips being wound at reverse angles to each other. Each layer is formed under sufficient pressure and at an elevated temperature whereby the band is prestressed in tension which decreases the maximum stress at the footprint area of the tire. The invention furthermore incorporates the method of imparting the prestress on the annular band during its manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Spragg, Edward G. Markow, Thomas W. Bell
  • Patent number: 5879483
    Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire comprises a carcass, a tread strip, and a breaker arrangement arranged between the carcass and the tread strip. The breaker arrangment includes at least two breaker plies which have threads or cords which serve as load-carrying members and extend at an angle to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire. A breaker cover surrounds the breaker arrangement at least in the region of the breaker arrangement's axial side edges. The breaker cover has at least one cover ply consisting of threads or cords which extend at least substantially in the circumferential direction of the tire. The breaker cover is formed of a helically wound strip bandage. At least one respective ply separating cushion layer is present in each of the two axial side regions of the breaker arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: SP Reifenwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Gerresheim, Werner Lang, Bernd Lowenhaupt, Hans-Joachim Winter
  • Patent number: 5863362
    Abstract: The tire of this invention has a belt package with a combination of a steel refinforced inner belt ply and an aromatic polyamide reinforced outer belt ply. The breaking strength, tensile modulus, secant modulus and other material properties for the reinforcing members in each belt ply are defined. The strength per unit width of the aromatic polyamide reinforced ply is made to be within zero to 30 percent greater than the strength per unit width of the steel reinforced belt ply. The tire of this invention has angles of the aromatic polyamide reinforcing members from the mid-plane greater than the angles of the steel reinforcing members from the same mid-plane by 1 to 8 degrees. High impact endurance values are disclosed to be a function of the tensile modulus, breaking strengths and belt ply widths for each ply as well as a function of the composite shear stiffness values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Dean Bradley Creech
  • Patent number: 5849118
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire capable of effectively controlling the occurrence of wandering phenomenon when being used in vehicles such as passenger car, small-size truck, truck, bus and the like is provided, in which a second tread zone contacting with a mountain side of a slant road surface is arranged so as to project toward a side of a first tread zone contacting with a flat road surface and camber thrust of the radial tire is increased by the second tread zone during the running on ruts and the like under loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5795418
    Abstract: A pneumatic motorcycle tire provided with a spiral belt and a pair of axially spaced reinforcing layers radially inside of the belt to improve the cornering stability and straight running stability of a motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigehiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5783004
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire in which the tread face is curved convexly so that the maximum cross-section width of the tire lies between axial edges of the tread portion includes a belt, and the belt comprises at least three plies, wherein the radially inner ply and radially outer ply are made of the same strip of rubberized parallel cords having a strip width of from 85 to 105% the tread width, and the middle ply is made of a strip of rubberized cords having a strip width which is different from that of the inner and outer plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigehiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5759314
    Abstract: A bias tire includes a reinforcement member disposed between a first carcass and an additional carcass in the crown region of the tire for restricting the circumferential growth of the tire. The reinforcement member includes a plurality of cords oriented at zero degrees. The total circumferential strength of the reinforcement member is about 20 to 250% of the circumferential strength of the carcass plies. The reinforcement member, first carcass, and additional carcass are formed on a tire building drum as a green tire component in a method of making the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Alex Southarewsky
  • Patent number: 5746853
    Abstract: A radial tire has a crown reinforcement (3) having at least two work crown lies (31, 32) of crossed inextensible metal cords, making angles of between 10.degree. and 45.degree. with the circumferential direction XX', and two limiting blocks (40) each composed of at least one ply of metal cords oriented at an angle of between 0.degree. and 10.degree., the blocks (40) being arranged in two separate regions on either side of the equatorial plane XX' and radially between the carcass reinforcement (1) and the radially outermost work crown ply (32). The two limiting blocks (40) are axially joined together by an additional reinforcement (41) which is composed of at least one ply of circumferentially oriented textile or metal cords and is centered on the equatorial plane XX', its tensile rigidity being at most equal to 0.5 times the tensile rigidity of the most extensible ply of the limiting blocks (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin Cie
    Inventor: Laurence Burlacot
  • Patent number: 5738740
    Abstract: In order to improve the endurance of the crown reinforcement (3) of a tyre, he H/S form ratio of which is at most 0.6, the latter is formed radially from the inside to the outside by a triangulation ply (31) of metal cables oriented at at least 60.degree. and two working crown plies (32, 34) formed of inextensible metal cables oriented at angles of between 10.degree. and 45.degree., between which there is inserted an additional ply (33) of metallic elements oriented substantially parallel to the circumferential direction of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Guy Cluzel
  • Patent number: 5711829
    Abstract: The radial pneumatic passenger car tire of this invention has three belt plies. The inner and outer plies are constructed essentially the same having the same cord material disposed at an angle of approximately 15 to 20 degrees. The belt reinforcing members in the inner and outer plies can be of a textile cord material or preferably are of a nylon monofilament material. The middle ply of the three belt plies has reinforcing members at an opposed cord angle to the other plies of approximately -15 to -20 degrees. The middle ply is made with reinforcing members being either of textile cords or preferably metallic cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Pollard, Michel A. deReynal
  • Patent number: 5707462
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a radially innermost belt ply having an axial width of from 0.8 to 1.2 times the tread width, a carcass with turnup portions having a radially outer end at a height of not more than 0.15 times the tire section height H, and a short fiber reinforcing layer having a thickness of from 0.3 to 1.0 mm disposed along the axially outer surface of the carcass in each of a pair of sidewall portions between the axial outer edge of the radially innermost belt ply and the radially outer end of the carcass turnup portion. The short fiber reinforcing layer is a compound of: 100 parts by weight of a base rubber compound containing 40 to 70 parts by weight of butadiene rubber and 60 to 30 parts by weight of natural rubber and/or isoprene rubber; 10 to 30 parts by weight of short fiber; and not more than 30 parts by weight of carbon black whose iodine number is in the range of from 30 to 90 mg/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Tadao Matsumoto, Maiko Okada
  • Patent number: 5685928
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for use in heavy duty vehicles comprises a belt having a particular structure wherein a rubberized strip containing one or more cords is slantly extended from one of both side edges of the belt toward the other side edge with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire and continuously extended substantially zigzag in a circumferential direction of the tread while bending at each side edge of the belt at different inclination angles of the strip with respect to the equatorial plane in each of side regions of the belt before and after the bending at the side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Toyoda
  • Patent number: 5685927
    Abstract: A run-flat radial ply pneumatic tire 10 has a carcass structure reinforced with pairs of elastomeric sidewall fillers 42,46,48 and at least three bead cores 26,26' and 37. At least one bead core 37 lies axially between the lateral edges of the tread 12 and extends radially inwardly of the tread 12 and reinforcing belts 36 and radially outwardly of the first and second bead cores 26,26' and a carcass reinforcing structure 30. In several embodiments improved wet traction tread designs are employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Philip Stuart Hammond, Thomas Reed Oare, Gary Edwin Tubb, William Marcellus Buckler, Jr., Robert Allen Losey
  • Patent number: 5662751
    Abstract: The tire of this invention has a belt package with a combination of a steel refinforced inner belt ply and an aromatic polyamide reinforced outer belt ply. The strength per unit width of the aromatic polyamide reinforced ply is made to be within 30 percent greater than the strength per unit width of the steel reinforced belt ply. The tire of this invention has angles of the aromatic polyamide reinforcing members from the mid-plane greater than the angles of the steel reinforcing members from the same mid-plane by 1 to 8 degrees. High impact endurance values are disclosed to be a function of the difference in bending stiffness values for each ply as well as a function of the composite shear stiffness values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Dean Bradley Creech
  • Patent number: 5662752
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a belt and a tread disposed radially outside of a toroidal carcass extending between a pair of beads, wherein the belt comprises at least one circumferential belt layer having rubber coated reinforcing elements extending substantially along the circumferential direction of the tire and at least one inclined belt layer having rubber coated reinforcing elements extending at an angle with respect to the tire equatorial plane, wherein at least one said inclined belt layer is protruded radially outwardly at the center portion in the widthwise direction of the belt with respect to its both side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Nakano
  • Patent number: 5660654
    Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire has a belt comprising first, second and third plies disposed in this order from the carcass to the radially outside thereof, each belt ply being made of steel cords laid parallel with each other, the inclining direction of the cords with respect to the tire equator of the first ply being the same as that of the second ply, but reverse to the inclining direction of the third ply, the first belt ply cord angle being 35 to 80 degrees, the second belt ply cord angle being 15 to 30 degrees, and the third belt ply cord angle being 15 to 30 degrees, whereby the belt satisfies (A) the total of the second belt ply strength and the third belt ply strength is 3.4 to 10.0 times the first belt ply strength, and/or (B) the second belt ply strength is in the range of from 1.05 to 2.0 times the third belt ply strength, wherein the strength of each belt ply is defined as the total tensile strength of belt cords in a predetermined unit width of the belt ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5647929
    Abstract: A pneumatic motorcycle tire provided with a spiral belt and a pair of axially spaced reinforcing layers radially inside of the belt to improve the cornering stability and straight running stability of a motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigehiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5637163
    Abstract: In a heavy duty pneumatic radial tire, when the belt is comprised of not less than three main belt layers, a belt layer other than a belt layer adjacent to a carcass is a narrow-width rigidity reinforcing layer, or when the belt is comprised of not less than four main belt layers, a belt layer adjacent to the carcass and a belt layer other than a belt layer adjacent to the belt layer are narrow-width rigidity reinforcing layers. Such a narrow-width rigidity reinforcing layer has given width and inclination cord angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5637162
    Abstract: A radial pneumatic tire comprises a pair of axially spaced apart beads. A radially reinforced carcass extends between and is secured at opposite end portions to the beads. The carcass includes a plurality of parallel extending reinforcing members. Each of the reinforcing members is disposed in a radial plane. A tread is located radially outward of a crown portion of the carcass. The tread is for engagement with a ground surface. A belt reinforcement package is disposed between the carcass and the tread. The carcass and belt package have particular profiles when the tire is properly inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Rhyne, Daniel G. Osborne
  • Patent number: 5630892
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle comprises a carcass ply extending between two bead regions and passing through a tread region which extends between two tread contact edges, a tread region reinforcing breaker radially outwards of the carcass in the tread region and a ground contacting tread surface curved in the axial direction wherein the curvature of the outer tread surface when the tire is mounted on its design wheel rim and normally inflated has a continuously decreasing radius from a point P which is at a distance SP in the axial direction from the tire circumferential center line equal to 20% of the distance from the tread center to the adjacent tread contact edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
    Inventors: Arthur R. Williams, Nigel G. Nock, David H. Clarke
  • Patent number: 5630893
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle comprises a carcass ply extending between two bead regions and passing through a tread region which extends between two tread contact edges, a tread region reinforcing breaker radially outwards of the carcass in the tread region and a ground contacting tread surface curved in the axial direction wherein the outer surface of the widest breaker ply when the tire is mounted in its design wheel rim and normally inflated has a curved shape in the tire axial direction and has a continuously decreasing radius from a point B to the adjacent edge of the breaker wherein point B is at a distance SP in the axial direction from the tire circumferential centerline equal to 20% of the distance from the tread center to the adjacent tread contact edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
    Inventors: Arthur R. Williams, Nigel G. Nock, David H. Clarke
  • Patent number: 5593523
    Abstract: A radial tire for motorcycles which comprises: a carcass ply of organic fiber cords arranged radially at an angle of 70 to 90 degrees to the tire equator and turned up around bead cores to form two turned up portions and a main portion therebetween; and a belt disposed radially outside the carcass and inside a tread, wherein the radial height Ht of the radially outer edge of each carcass turned up portion is 0.5 to 1.2 times the radial height of the tread edge, both from the bead base. The belt is composed of three pieces, two lateral pieces and a central piece therebetween, each piece being made of at least one spirally wound cord having an elastic modulus of not less than 600 kgf/sq. mm and formed by winding spirally a ribbon of rubber in which the at least one cord is embedded. The width of the central piece of the belt is 0.1 to 0.6 times the tread width. The central piece is differed from at least one of the lateral pieces in respect of cord specification and/or cord arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiko Suzuki, Itsuo Yasui, Sadaaki Naito
  • Patent number: 5591284
    Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire including a tread region reinforced by a breaker strip assembly comprising at least three breaker plies of fabric of parallel metallic cords in which the cords of the radially innermost first ply and those of the third ply are inclined at a relatively small angle with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire, wherein the cords of the second ply, disposed radially between the first and third plies, are the only cords inclined at an inclination angle with respect to the equatorial plane in the range of 40.degree. to 85.degree., and wherein the cords of the first and third plies are inclined in opposite directions to each other and have inclination angles with respect to the equatorial plane in the range of 5.degree. to 40.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Dunlop France SA
    Inventor: Yves Gaudin