Abstract: A process of manufacturing a pneumatic tire (300) with oppositely disposed annularly-shaped beads (324) for mounting on flange shoulders (304) of a wheel rim (302) with the opposed beads (324) spaced apart from one another by a distance “i”. The process comprises the steps of: forming a green tire assembly (308) including a tread (312), and a carcass (316) with a ply (320) and opposed sidewalls (318) that each include a radial inner-end bead portion (322) with one of the beads (324) and wherein each bead portion (322) is spaced apart from one another by a distance “f”. The green tire assembly (308) is cured by applying pressure thereto at an elevated temperature in a vulcanization mold (400). The process is characterized by the steps of spacing the opposed beads (324) apart from one another by a distance “g” which is substantially equal to the distance “f” therebetween when the green tire assembly (308) was formed.

Abstract: A radial ply, passenger vehicle tire has a tread with a substantially flat tread profile, a belt structure, and a carcass comprising two sidewalls, two beads and one or more plies. The one or more plies have a loaded shoulder ply radius that is smaller than the tire's unloaded shoulder ply radius. This design eliminates tread-lift and eliminates the need for decoupling grooves in the shoulder regions of the tread.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a crown-reinforcing insert which extends from under the tread substantially, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall of the tire. Apexes extend from the beads substantially, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall of the tire, thereby effecting a substantial, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, “overlap” between end portions of the crown-reinforcing insert and the apexes. Additionally, at least one belt extends from under the tread substantially into the sidewall, and the turn-ups of at least some of the plies extend quite high, such as at least one-third of the sidewall height, into the sidewall. This combination of features yields superior runflat performance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire, specifically to improvements to the bead region of tires designed for runflat operations. The improvements comprise the addition of cavities or indentation (126) on the surface of the bead (127) that contacts the wheel rim (128). In a first embodiment a series of circular cavities (126) are located on the radial innermost surface of the bead in the proximity of the bead toe. In a second embodiment, a continuous groove-like torus cavity (226) is located in the radially innermost surface of the bead in the proximity of the bead toe. The series of cavities or torus cavity increase the adherence of the bead to the rim as a small volume of air at a low pressure, significantly inferior to the atmospheric pressure (air vacuum situation) is trapped in the void spaces created by the cavities or torus cavity and the bead seat.

Abstract: A runflat radial ply tire (70) having a thread (72), a carcass (86) and a belt structure (74) radially located between the thread and the carcass has two sidewalls (80, 82) each reinforced with a circumferentially disposed wedge insert (50a?, 50b?) having a saw-tooth cross-sectional shape. The saw-tooth cross-sectional shape of each wedge insert (50a?, 50b?) is defined by a plurality of circumferentially disposed segments (52a–52e), each of which is separated from adjacent segments by circumferentially disposed grooves (54a–54d). During heavy loading of the tire, or during runflat operation, the radially loaded sidewall portions deform until the grooves (54a?–54d?) undergo closure.

Abstract: Programmable trimming for a transponder (102, 200, 400) capable of measuring one or more parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure) in an object (e.g., a tire, 104) and transmitting a data stream (FIGS. 3C, 4B) to an external reader/interrogator (106). The transponder typically operates in a passive mode, deriving its power (Vxx, Vcc, Vdd) from an RF interrogation signal received by an antenna system (210, 410), but can also operate in a battery-powered active mode. The transponder includes memory (238, 438) for storing measurements, calibration data, programmable trim settings (436), transponder II) and the like. The trim settings can be programmed in each transponder's EEPROM memory (436), and can be used to control operating characteristics of the transponder, such as modulation index, active/passive mode, current scaling for temperature, and current scaling for pressure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for post-cure correction (PCC), either partial or substantial, of various tire nonuniformities which have been detected during a tire manufacturing process by a tire uniformity machine (TUM), preferably testing a tire which has been nominally cooled down (i.e., nominally completed curing) after removal from a tire curing mold.

Abstract: An antenna comprises two elongate antenna segments (740, 740?, 862, 940, 970, 1208/1212, 1300, 1320, 1322/1324, 1360, 1360?, 1520, 1520?, 1520?, 1523, 1523?, 1620, 1720, 1820, 1920) which extend from first ends (742, 742?, 864, 942, 972, 1322e, 1362, 1362?, 1522, 1522?, 1522?, 1622, 1922)/(744, 744?, 868, 944, 974, 1324e, 1364, 1364?, 1524, 1524?, 1524?, 1624, 1924) connected to the antenna coupling coil in opposite directions to second ends (744, 744?, 868, 944, 974, 1322c, 1366, 1366?, 1524, 1524?, 1524?, 1624, 1924)/(742, 742?, 864, 942, 972, 1324c, 1368, 1368?, 1522, 1522?, 1522?, 1622, 1922) at least partially around the inner surface of the tire.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for conserving energy in a battery powered tag which comprises a battery, one or more sensors, and a transmitter. The tag may be used in a pneumatic tire monitoring system which senses and transmits tire pressure and temperature readings. The method fundamentally comprises: hibernating between transmissions by the transmitter; and reading at least one of the sensors after each of a plurality of sleep periods while hibernating. A hibernation period may be ended if one of the sensor readings, preferably tire temperature, is very low, and at least one of a plurality of qualification criteria is met.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mounting a transponder module (400, 702, 951, 1000, 1020, 1751, 1752, 1852, 1852?, 1951, 1951a) and a separate antenna (1520, 1520?, 1520?, 1620, 1720, 1820, 1920) to an inner surface (1504, 1504?, 1504?, 1704, 1804) of a pneumatic tire (312, 650, 1204, 1350, 1350?, 1550, 1550?, 1550?), and for coupling the transponder module to the antenna by coupling coils which are included with the transponder module (450, 760, 953, 1004, 1024) and the antenna (750, 750?, 866, 938, 968, 1538, 1538?, 1538?, 1638, 1638?, 1738, 1738?, 1838, 1838?, 1938). The transponder module mounting methods generally allow it to be inserted, removed, or accessed for maintenance at any time during the tire's life cycle, and allow sensing access to the tire's inner atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to the analysis of the performance and properties of electrochemical processes, and specifically, to electrolytic solutions and electrode processes. The invention discloses a device and a method for obtaining qualitative and quantitative information for the kinetics of the electrode reactions, the transport processes, the thermodynamic properties of the electrochemical processes taking place in the cell. When a deposition reaction takes place, the device provides also valuable information about the relationship between the current density and deposit properties including but not limited to the deposit color, luster, and other aspects of its appearance. The device disclosed herein typically is comprised of a multiplicity of cathodic or anodic regions where one or more electrochemical reactions take place simultaneously, but at a different rate.

Abstract: A simple method of handling thermomechanical coupling for temperature computation in a rolling tire. First, the sensitivity of the tire elastic response to changes in material stiffness is characterized using the “deformation index”. Then, using a commercial finite element program and an appropriate user subroutine, heat generation is expressed as a function of the local temperature using a simple algebraic expression involving the temperature dependent material properties and the deformation indices. Temperatures are computed using the finite element program with the coupling information contained in the user subroutine. The result is a non-iterative method for a fully-coupled thermomechanical analysis of a tire. The effects of compound changes on tire temperature distribution can also be estimated using the deformation index. The method applies to the energy loss and temperature calculations under both steady-state and transient conditions.

Abstract: At least first and second dissimilar tire components are placed on a false drum, and are subsequently transferred, en masse, to a building drum, in the following manner. The first tire component is placed on the false drum with the false drum stationary, using a vacuum device to pick up a free end of the first tire component and place it on the false drum. The vacuum in the false drum is turned on to grasp the first tire component, and the vacuum device is turned off to release the first tire component. A free end of the second tire component, previously picked up using a pickup device, is placed on the false drum. The step of placing the free end of the second tire component onto the false drum may be performed after the drum has been rotated slightly. The false drum is rotated to measure out the first and second tire components, and they are cut to a desired length. The at least two dissimilar tire components are then transferred to the building drum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stabilizing a tire building drum wherein the tire building drum has two ends, is permanently supported at a single cantilever support end, and the remaining end is a free end. The method comprises providing a free end support engaged with the free end to stabilize the tire building drum by restricting lateral movement of the free end; and freeing the free end by temporarily retracting the free end support when desired, e.g., to enable application of annular tire components on the tire building drum, or to enable removal of a built tire from the tire building drum. Preferably, the free end support allows rotation of the tire building drum while the free end support is engaged with the free end. A preferred embodiment uses overtravel of actuator linkages stopped against an extension stop to lock the free end support in place, engaged with the free end, to stabilize the tire building drum without requiring continued power input.

Abstract: An expandable tire building drum, having alternating fixed (226, 326, 426) and expanding (228, 328, 428) segments (e.g., 24 of each) in a center section (220, 320, 420) of the drum. The expanding segments are axially-extending and circumferentially spaced from one another, and are contoured (have recesses, or grooves) to accommodate tire components such as sidewall inserts. Two different mechanisms for expanding the center section are described. A first mechanism includes two wedge elements (358) which are axially moveable away from one another to expand the center section. Ramp elements (348) associated with the expanding segments (328) may thus be moved radially outward. Rubber bands (358) provide a restoring force for collapsing the center section. A second mechanism includes two guide rings (458) which are axially moveable towards one another for expanding the center section, and away from one another to collapse the center section.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for molding a tire (110) with a radially expandable bead molding ring (252). When expanded, the bead molding ring has a circumferentially continuous radially outward-facing surface (259) for molding the bead. The bead molding ring comprises a plurality of segments (254, 256), half of the segments being first segments (254) that are complementary to, and circumferentially alternated with second segments (256). The first segments are wedge shaped, having circumferentially lateral faces (255) that converge towards the radially outward-facing bead molding surface of the bead molding ring, the first segment lateral faces being planar and oriented in the axial direction; and the second segments have lateral faces (257) that are complementary to the first segment lateral faces, such that radially outward movement of the first segments (254) causes radially outward movement of the second segments (256). Guide rods (260) restrict first and second segments to radial movement (310) only.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a locked bead type of tire construction where the turnup ends (242a, 242b) of the carcass plies (242) are tuned up around an elastomeric torus (246a, 246b) located outwardly from and adjacent to the bead cores (244a, 244b) so that the locked end sections (250a, 250b) of the plies are folded back and placed radially inward of the bead cores so they are anchored chored between the bead cores and the turnup ends of the carcass plies.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire (86, 104) having a tread (106), a carcass (96, 108) with two sidewalls (88a, 88b, 116a, 116b), a radial ply structure (98, 110), and a belt structure (103, 117) located radially between the tread and the radial ply structure. Each sidewall is reinforced with at least one wedge insert (89a, 89b, 118a, 118b, 120a, 120b) which comprises alternating regions (90a, 90b, 122a, 122b) of flexible material and layers (91a, 91b, 124a, 124b) of stiffer material. The layer (91a, 91b, 124a, 124b) of stiffer material constrain the lateral expansion of the wedge insert (89a, 89b, 118a, 118b, 120a, 120b) during runflat operation to provide good riding comfort during normal inflation operation and good sidewall reinforcement during runflat operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (300) having a tread (312), and a carcass (316) with a ply (320), oppositely disposed sidewalls (318) extending radially-inwardly from opposite sides of tread (312) and including an inner radial-end bead portion (322) with an annulus made of bead wire (344a) and with the ply (320) extending between and looped about each of the beads (324). Each of the beads (324) includes a rubber filler annulus (347) forming a bead member (348) with the bead wire annulus (344) associated therewith. The bead member (348) has a substantially circular transverse cross-section. Each of the beads (324) includes a thermoplastic cover (349) disposed in surrounding relationship the bead member (348) thereof.

Abstract: Fabric treatment layers (130a, 130b, 132a, 132b) are deployed in the sidewall regions of a runflat tire (100) having a metal-reinforced first ply (120). In one embodiment, parallel cord, reinforced fabric treatment layers (130a, 130b, 132a 132b) sandwich the metal forced first ply (120) and inhibit buckling of the reinforcing cords (70) of the first ply during runflat operation when the ply cords or wires are bearing compression loads. In another embodiment, a single woven fabric treatment layer (170a, 170b) is disposed in each sidewall region (152,154) at a location immediately axially inward of the metal-reinforced first ply (160).