Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a belt reinforcing structure comprising a folded belt ply and a spirally wound structure extending transversely between the folded edges of folded portions of the folded belt ply. No cut belts are used in the assembly. In an illustrated embodiment, both the folded belt ply and the spirally wound ply are reinforced with aramid cords. Also, a plurality of spirally wound plies can be used.

Abstract: A medium pneumatic truck tire (10), has a belt package (18) comprising a plurality of belt plies (20, 22, 24, 26). The tread (16) of the tire is 200 to 380 mm wide (8 inches to 15 inches). In the shoulder area (31) of the tire, an overlay strip (32) is abutted against belt edge (34) of top belt (26) and is disposed over belt edge (33) of the adjacent belt (24). The overlay strip (32) is applied in two layers, and the reinforcing cords (38) therein have an angle of about 0.degree. with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire (10). The overlay strip (32) is about 51 mm (2 inches) wide and has an overlap splice of about 40 mm (1.5 inches). The overlay strip (32) overlaps belt edge (36) by 15 to 20 mm (0.5 to 0.75 inch).

Abstract: A method of preparing a ply of composite material by applying an adhesive to a textile material comprising greige cords, so as to achieve an acceptable bond between the cords an elastomeric matrix, while not significantly altering the properties of the cords, is provided. The textile material comprises warp cords and weft cords; the weft cords are used to convey the warp cords through a heat setting oven without applying substantial tension to the warp cords, so as to not change their stress-strain properties. In the illustrated embodiment, the warp cords comprise aramid having a linear density of 500 to 3600 Denier and a twist multiplier of 5 to 8. The cords can be used in a crown reinforcing spirally wound overlay structure of a tire.

Abstract: Reinforcing material which does not have a melting point which is compatible with the processing temperature of an elastomer can be incorporated into the elastomer in the form of melt blown fibers. In the method of the invention, melt blown fibers are made by melting a reinforcing material in an extruder, and extruding the reinforcing material through a die comprising many small holes, while simultaneously blowing air or nitrogen, under high pressure, through the die holes, and collecting the resulting material on rotating rolls. The fibers thus formed are mixed into an elastomer using conventional mixing means. A composite made by the method is also provided.

Abstract: A cut resistant pneumatic tire is provided. The tire has a monofilament wire structure embedded in or under its tread or sidewall, and is used in off the road applications such as mining. The monofilament wire has a diameter of 0.4 to 1.2 mm and is made of brass plated steel. The wire may be woven or may have a spring link configuration. Two monofilament wires may be twisted together, and when two such wires are used, the total diameter is 0.8 to 1.4 mm.

Abstract: A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction has an annular aqua channel and curved lateral grooves which direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The pitch boundaries between the portions of the tire on either side of the aqua channel may be skewed. The curved lateral grooves and the skewing reduce noise properties of the tire. In addition, the lugs may have rounded or radiused leading and trailing edges, and a leading groove wall angle of about 5.degree. and a trailing groove wall angle of about 1.degree., which are believed to reduce noise and irregular wear. The lugs contain slots which change direction within the lug and tie bars in the slots at each point where the slots change direction. The tread has non-skid depth of 0.75 to 1 cm (0.030 to 0.40 inch) and a ratio of non-skid to tie bar depth of 0.42.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided having good rolling resistance properties without sacrificing traction. The tire has a tread that contains 2 to 15 phr thermoplastic reinforcing polymer as a replacement for 5 to 25 phr carbon black.

Abstract: A method of blending a hydrophilic polymer into an elastomer matrix, and products made thereby, are provided. In the illustrated method, a hydrophilic polymer is mixed with an elastomeric base polymer. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic polymer forms fibers in a resulting elastomeric matrix. An elastomeric matrix interspersed with hydrophilic polymer made according to the invention can be used in reinforced elastomeric products such as tires.

Abstract: A continuous method for the in-situ polymerization of plastic in an elastomeric material in a form suitable for reinforcing the elastomeric material is provided. The method comprises feeding elastomer and a monomer or monomer precursor of a reinforcing material into a mixing device, mixing the elastomer and the monomer or monomer precursor vigorously, initiating polymerization, and causing the monomers to continue to polymerize until the polymer solidifies when the melting point of the polymer produced exceeds the mixing temperature of the elastomer, terminating polymerization.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a block design suited for off-road use modified to improve rolling resistance and noise properties when used on paved surfaces has a tread design having angled lateral groove between the blocks in each circumferential row of blocks in the tread. Narrow grooves separate the blocks in several of the rows of blocks, and tie bars are present in the lateral grooves separating blocks in other rows of blocks. Void areas in the shoulder area of the tire enhance traction in mud and sand.

Abstract: A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction has an annular aqua channel and curved lateral grooves which direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The pitch boundaries between the portions of the tire on either side of the aqua channel may be skewed. The curved lateral grooves and the skewing reduce noise properties of the tire. In addition, the lugs may have rounded or radiused leading and trailing edges, and a leading groove wall angle of about 5.degree. and a trailing groove wall angle of about 1.degree., which are believed to reduce noise and irregular wear. The lugs contain slots which change direction within the lug and tie bars in the slots at each point where the slots change direction. The tread has non-skid depth of 0.75 to 1 cm (0.030 to 0.40 inch) and a ratio of non-skid to tie bar depth of 0.42.

Abstract: A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction is provided. The tread is divided into two annular portions, each annular portion comprising a plurality of block elements separated by lateral grooves. The block elements extend continuously from a shoulder area of the tire to a mid portion of the tread. The block elements have substantially circumferentially aligned notches in leading and trailing groove walls, wherein each notch is defined laterally by a narrow bridge of rubber. The tread has curved lateral grooves to direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The pitch boundaries between annular portions of block elements may be skewed. The curved lateral grooves and the skewing reduce noise properties of the tire.

Abstract: Use of ultrasonic stimulation together with a pressure sensitive piezoelectric material in a sensor makes it possible to obtain three dimensional pressure measurements on an object in one operation. A piezoelectric material which is manufactured with a conductive surface on both sides, and shear orientation (i.e. piezo voltage produced by pressure on the material is sensitized in a single axis of the shear plane), and generates a proportional voltage when stretched or compressed (and tension and compression is sensed by the generation of opposite polarity voltages), makes it possible to measure normal forces by ultrasonic stimulation, and shear forces by the generation of piezo voltages, using the same sensor. In a preferred embodiment, multiple sensors are disposed in a high density array, and the various axes for the three dimensional measurements are obtained by varying the orientation of each sensor relative to an adjacent sensor.

Abstract: A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction has an annular aqua channel and lateral grooves which direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The aqua channel has an extended U-shape wherein a wall of the aqua channel closer to a shoulder of the tire has a steeper incline than the side of the aqua channel closer to the center of the tire. The aqua channel may have a step between its shoulder side and its center side wherein the center side is higher by a distance d. In one illustrated embodiment, a center tread portion of the tire, bounded by an aqua channel and a center groove, and two lateral grooves, comprises a single block element.

Abstract: A radial ply tire (10) has a belt assembly (21) of at least two belt plies (22, 23). At least one of the belt plies has at least one folded portion (24, 25), such that there is at least one folded portion of a belt ply on each lateral side of the belt assembly. A spirally wound strip (26) of a cord reinforced elastomer extends transversely between the folded portions (24, 25).

Abstract: A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction has two annular aqua channels and curved lateral grooves which direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The pitch boundaries between the portions of the tire on either side of the aqua channels may be skewed. The curved lateral grooves and the skewing reduce noise properties of the tire. In addition, the lugs may have rounded or radiused leading and trailing edges, and a leading groove wall angle of about 5.degree. and a trailing groove wall angle of about 1.degree., which are believed to reduce noise and irregular wear. The lugs contain slots which change direction within the lug and tie bars in the slots at each point where the slots change direction. The tread has non-skid depth of 0.75 to 1 cm (0.030 to 0.40 inch) and a ratio of non-skid to tie bar depth of 0.42.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with carbon fiber cord reinforcement wherein the carbon fiber cords have a round cross sectional shape and a twist per inch (TPI) of 1.2 to 1.6 turns per inch (TPI) is provided. Preferably, the carbon fiber cords are coated with an RFL or epoxy/RFL adhesive. It is also preferred that carbon fiber cords having an S twist and carbon fiber cords having a Z twist be used in the same reinforcing plies in the tire. Especially preferred is the incorporation of carbon fiber cords in a folded belt.

Abstract: In order to increase the modulus properties of a rubber compound it is desirable to achieve control of the cure morphology within a rubber matrix. The placement of curatives in a rubber matrix can be controlled by incorporating the curatives into a carrier and mixing the carrier with a rubber compound. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier can be made having the morphology of a short fiber, and the curatives can be oriented like a short fiber.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for detecting ply defects in a pneumatic tire, measurements on the tire are obtained at two levels of tire inflation, and the data obtained in the two measurements are compared. Broken reinforcement cords in the tire cause changes in the peaks of the data obtained at the two inflations that are out of proportion when compared to data changes observed in non-damaged tires. The apparatus of the invention provides means for inflating tires to predetermined pressures and has displacement sensors for measuring peaks and valleys in the sidewall of a tire. The apparatus may also include a computer for collecting data, analyzing data, and providing a signal when a defective tire is recognized.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having two different bead diameters has handling, ride and treadwear advantages. The tire is made so that the rho.sub.m of the longer sidewall and the rho.sub.m of the shorter sidewall are equal. The rho.sub.m of the longer sidewall is made equal to the rho.sub.m of the shorter sidewall by establishing a belt profile wherein the amount of drop at a belt edge is specified to give a mold drop of 0.30 to 0.33 of estimated tire deflection, applying an inflated shape prediction formula to calculate the inflated belt profile and varying the value of rho.sub.m until the drop at the end of the belt closely matches a specified value, using the cosine law to specify the change in belt angle with radius, choosing a shoulder point under the belt edge that allows a 0.050 inch wedge between the bottom of the belt and the top of the carcass ply and varying the slope of the ply at the shoulder point until the inflated ply line passes through the Y-max location at rho.sub.m.