Abstract: A method of marking a tire to indicate both the taper vector direction and the plane of the radial force first harmonic (RF1H) vector, whereby the tire, with its axis positioned vertically, is marked with a single mark in the RF1H plane and on the positive-taper side, i.e. on the taper vector out side, by a marking head fitted to a multiple-axis device for so moving the marking head as to cooperate selectively with one or other of two shoulders of the tire.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 1997
Date of Patent:
May 18, 1999
Assignee:
Bridgestone Corporation
Inventors:
Giancarlo Scarpetti, Paolo Piacente, Roberto Matteo, Maurizio Copparoni
Abstract: The reduction of hysteresis in a silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric compound is produced by mixing diene monomer and optionally monovinyl aromatic monomer with a lithium amine initiator and, optionally, a modifier; effecting polymerization conditions; terminating polymerization with an amino group producing terminator to form an amine functionalized diene elastomer; compounding the amine functionalized diene elastomer with an amorphous silica filler and a vulcanization agent; and, effecting vulcanization. A pneumatic tire tread stock incorporating the vulcanized elastomer compound exhibits improved reduced hysteresis, or highly balanced wet traction, rolling resistance, snow/ice traction, and mechanical strength when compounded with silica filler and vulcanized, in the tire.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 11, 1997
Date of Patent:
February 2, 1999
Assignee:
Bridgestone Corporation
Inventors:
David F. Lawson, Hideo Takeichi, William L. Hergenrother, Thomas J. Lynch, James Oziomek
Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing curing bladders (2), whereby a curing mold (3) defines, via a first (4) and second (5) half mold and an inner core (6), an inner molding chamber (7) and an outer injection chamber (34) communicating with the inner chamber (7) and consisting of a variable-volume chamber of an injection cylinder (59); the outer chamber (34) being fed with a mass (35) of heated uncured rubber which is injected into the inner chamber (7) with the mold (3) closed and, when cured, is extracted from the mold (3) by opening the inner chamber (7) and extracting the inner core (6).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 9, 1991
Date of Patent:
May 10, 1994
Assignee:
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
Inventors:
Marco Franzini, Fabrizio Giovannucci, Attilio Pomenti, Gordon M. Tomlinson
Abstract: A method and device for producing vehicle tire bead-bead filler assemblies (2), whereby green elastomeric material is injected, by means of an externally-cooled distribution tank (38), into a number of annular chambers (22) defined by two half molds (6, 7) closed about a substantially cylindrical inner core (8); an inner portion of each chamber (22) being occupied by a respective bead (3) preassembled onto the core (8), and an outer portion (32) of each chamber (22) constituting the molding chamber of a respective bead filler (4).