Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for detecting air leaks in tires and in a tire testing machine. Each of the tires is mounted on the tire testing machine; inflated with an air flow from an inflation system to a first pressure; and maintained at the first pressure by continued supply of air from the inflation system into the tire. The flow of the continued supply of air is measured with a calorimetric flow sensor calibrated to output a sensor signal having a full scale value corresponding to an identical model tire mounted on the tire testing machine with no air leaks in the model tire or the testing machine. The flow of the continued supply of air is compared with an averaged flow for previously measured tires mounted on the tire testing machine with no air leaks in the tires or the testing machine. A control signal indicating an air leak is outputted if the sensor signal is 20% to 80% of the full scale value.

Abstract: The innermost carcass ply of a runflat tire (50) having a radial carcass ply is a discontinuous ply (52) that includes two portions (52a, 52b) each disposed within one of the sidewalls (43, 45). In one embodiment, each of the two discontinuous ply portions is composed of two layers (64, 66) of cross-biased cords (65, 67) which are disposed be-tween the two wedge inserts (58b, 59b) in each side-wall. In another embodiment, the two portions (72a, 72b) of the discontinuous ply (72) are composed of wavy metal cords. In athird embodiment, a runflat tire incorporating either embodiment of the discontinuous ply (92a, 92b) is built using the locked, tie-in construction for the carcass ply.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling multiple tire components onto one or more tire building drums at a work station of a tire building system is disclosed. A first inner set of measuring drums is located at a first loading position between a second outer set of measuring drums at a second loading position. Tire components are loaded onto the first and second sets of measuring drums at the first and second loading positions. The first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second loading positions into first and second ready positions, respectively. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second ready positions into first and second transfer positions, respectively, where the tire components are transferred to the one or more tire building drums. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are retracted away from the first and second transfer positions, respectively, to the first and second ready positions.

Abstract: Method to identify and remove machine contributions from tire uniformity measurements made on a tire uniformity machine by synchronizing and averaging together multiple measurements of tire uniformity made on a single test tire that is re-mounted between measurements in a randomly determined orientation relative to a rim reference mark on the rim of the tire uniformity machine. A cross-correlation function is calculated for each measurement relative to the first measurement, and an angular shift is determined from each cross-correlation function. The angular shifts are used to synchronize the measurements so that they can be averaged together. The resulting average test tire uniformity data has both machine contribution and random measurement noise minimized. An average machine contribution data set is determined by synchronizing and subtracting the average test tire uniformity data from each test tire uniformity measurement data set, then averaging together the resulting data sets.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for molding a tire (110) with an expandable bead molding ring assembly (250) having a two-stage movement from a retracted and disengaged state, to a radially expanded state, to an expanded and engaged state for molding a tire bead (112b). The two-stage movement is accomplished using a simple assembly of easily manufactured parts, and is driven by a simple continuous downward (axially outward) movement (320) of a hub (209) of a mold press (220). A combination of annular elements with springs converts the hub movement to the desired two-stage movement of segments (254, 256) of a segmented bead molding ring (252). Frustraconical cam surfaces (258, 266) are used to divide axially directed forces (420a, 420b) from the mold press movement (320) into radial force components (410a, 410b) and axial force components (415a, 415b) for causing corresponding radial movements (310) and axial movements (315) during the two stage movement.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) incorporates a plurality of parallel-aligned, tread-stiffening support members (23) typically disposed laterally between the tread (12) and the ply structure (16). The support members (23) inhibit lateral and circumferential tread lift during runflat operation. Support members (23) can each be a monolithic rib (22) made of a fiber reinforced plastic material. An alternative layered rib (24) has two outer layers (40, 44) of a fiber reinforced plastic material while the central layer (42) is an elastomer.

Abstract: A compact plasma accelerator having components including a cathode electron source, an anodic ionizing gas source, and a magnetic field that is cusped. The components are held by an electrically insulating body having a central axis, a top axial end, and a bottom axial end. The cusped magnetic field is formed by a cylindrical magnet having an axis of rotation that is the same as the axis of rotation of the insulating body, and magnetized with opposite poles at its two axial ends; and an annular magnet coaxially surrounding the cylindrical magnet, magnetized with opposite poles at its two axial ends such that a top axial end has a magnetic polarity that is opposite to the magnetic polarity of a top axial end of the cylindrical magnet. The ionizing gas source is a tubular plenum that has been curved into a substantially annular shape, positioned above the top axial end of the annular magnet such that the plenum is centered in a ring-shaped cusp of the magnetic field generated by the magnets.

Abstract: The tire (70) of the invention incorporates a carcass ply cord material (93) with variable modulus of elasticity to provide an active sidewall structure (82a, 82b). The variable modulus cord material is incorporated in the axially outwardmost ply (90) of a carcass (80) having two plies (88, 90) separated by elastomeric inserts (89a, 89b) in the sidewalls (82a, 82b). The outer ply cord material (93) provides an increased modulus of elasticity with an increase in elongation. The inner ply cords (91) have a modulus that substantially exceeds that of the outer ply cords (93) under normal loads in the inflated mode. Thus, the inner ply (88) dominates the structural response of the sidewalls (82a, 82b) at normal loads in the inflated mode. Under severe sidewall deflection, such as when the tire is uninflated, the outer ply cord (93) is elongated, increasing its modulus of elasticity and thus, shifting the load from the axially inwardmost ply (88) to the axially outwardmost ply (90).

Abstract: An extensional rheometer comprises a rotatable primary wind up drum and one or more secondary rotatable windup drums wherein a sample is attached to the primary windup drum and each secondary windup drum. Counter rotation of the primary windup drum and each secondary drum causes each affixed sample to stretch until rupture. The load response on each primary and secondary windup drum set caused by a stretching sample is measured with a load sensing device. Environmental control may be provided for testing samples under different conditions.

Abstract: A false drum servers used in the manufacture of tires having a hollow cylindrical drum with a perforated surface on the drum through which air is drawn. The drawn air creating a suction surface for holding flat or sheet materials that are to be cut before transferring onto a tire building drum. When smaller pieces of flat materials are being held on the drum, the perforations that are not covered allow air to flow freely into the drum, thereby reducing the suction adhering effect of the perforated surface. The present invention provides methods and apparatus for varying the amount of perforated area through which air can be drawn into the drum, thereby changing the amount of suction adhering surface area of the perforated drum.

Abstract: According to the invention, a pneumatic tire and method of manufacturing the pneumatic tire having improved tire uniformity characteristics is disclosed. The carcass reinforcement ply has a plurality of reinforcement cords embedded in a matrix material that can be rendered plastic and non-plastic to, respectively, permit and restricts reorientation of the reinforcement cords after the tire has been at least partially vulcanized. The method includes the steps of rendering the matrix material plastic, reorienting one or more reinforcement cords without their being stretched beyond their elastic limits, and then rendering the matrix material non-plastic. The reorientation can occur while the tire is still in the tire mold or when the tire is still hot from the tire mold and at a temperature of at least the deflection temperature by applying a force for reorienting the reinforcement cords.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for improving vehicle steering performance and robustness of that performance through control of non-uniformities in the vehicle's tires, wheels and tire/wheel assemblies as a way to overcome the tendency of many vehicle types to undergo “steering performance loss.” While minimizing lateral force variations (e.g., couple imbalance), a controlled amount of radial and/or tangential force variation is induced in one or more tire/wheel assemblies by means of mass non-uniformity, dimensional non-uniformity, and/or stiffness non-uniformity. For mass non-uniformity, the preferred method includes imparting a controlled amount of excess mass to tires, especially in the tread region, by means, for example, of a heavy splice, an extra fabric piece, or a sector of a tire component having excess mass. The excess mass is meridionally symmetric so as to induce static but not couple imbalance, thereby imparting a “residual static imbalance” (RSI) to the tire.

Abstract: Methods for improving vehicle steering performance and robustness of that performance include control of non-uniformities in the vehicle's tires, wheels and tire/wheel assemblies as a way to overcome the tendency of the steering systems in certain vehicle types to undergo “steering performance loss.” While minimizing lateral force variations (e.g., couple imbalance), a controlled amount of radial and/or tangential force variation is induced in one or more tire/wheel assemblies by means of mass non-uniformity, dimensional non-uniformity, and/or stiffness non-uniformity. For dimensional non-uniformity, the preferred method is to impart a controlled amount of dimensional non-uniformity (preferably radial runout) to the tire and/or the wheel in at least one of the tire/wheel assemblies, followed by statically and dynamically balancing all of the vehicle's tire/wheel assemblies.

Abstract: The tire of the invention incorporates an active nylon flipper in each bead region. The flipper is active in the sense that it actively absorbs differential shearing strains that arise between each turnup end of the ply and each rigid metal bead during heavy-duty service. In conjunction with each of the two flippers, a chipper protects the portion of the ply lying closest to the wheel rim when the tire is mounted. A nylon patch overlaps the respective end of each chipper, the turnup end of the ply, and the radially outermost part of each flipper. The shearing modulus of the nylon material of each flippers and each patch is intermediate between the shearing moduli of the adjacent materials, which thus distributes and absorbs shearing stresses in ways that reduce the tendency of the turnup ends and the radial most part of the chippers to separate from the adjacent tire structures during heavy-duty operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for constrained post cure inflation (CPCI), for improvement of tire uniformity, footprint shape factor, and tread wear. The method comprises the steps of: (1) initiating the method on a tire after the tire has been removed from a tire curing mold (preferably while the tire is still hot); (2) providing 360 degree circumferential tread restraint which holds the tread in an ideal tread shape, concentric to the axis of rotation and nominally perpendicular to the equatorial plane; (3) sealingly holding the beads concentric to, and equidistant from, the axis of rotation, and symmetrically spaced about the equatorial plane; and (4) inflating the tire to a controlled pressure, and holding the controlled pressure for a controlled time while the tread is restrained and the beads are sealingly held.

Abstract: A method for monitoring pressure with a transponder (200, 604) capable of measuring temperature data (NT) and pressure data (NP) in an object (e.g., a tire, (104)) and transmitting a data stream (FIG. 3C) to an external reader/interrogator (106, 400). The transponder includes a memory (238) for storing measurements, calibration data (662), transponder ID number and the like. Since the transponder combines temperature and pressure information in the “pressure” data, the ratio NT/NP is a direct indicator of pressure-only, and is also relatively insensitive to transponder power variations. The calibration method employs a calibration chamber (602) containing reference pressure (614) and temperature (612) sensors. The transducer to be calibrated is placed in the chamber and exposed (652) to a number of predetermined temperatures and pressures (as measured by the reference sensors) at a number of calibration points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire construction and method of correcting one or more tire uniformity characteristics. A tire has two beads and a carcass reinforcement ply having reinforcement cords. The method is characterized by the steps of A) forming a portion of the tire with a material (typically a thermoplastic), that can be rendered plastic (such as by heating) and rendered non-plastic (such as by cooling), which, in turn, respectively, permits and restricts reorientation of the reinforcement cords; B) rendering the material plastic, after the tire has been vulcanized, to permit one or more of the reinforcement cords to be reoriented; C) reorienting one or more reinforcement cords with respect to other rein-forcement cords or tire components; and D) rendering the material non-plastic, to restrict further reorientation of adjacent reinforcement cords. Reorientation of the cords can be achieved without stretching them beyond their elastic limit.

Abstract: A method for applying a plurality of reinforcement belts upon a toroidal tire carcass (50). First and second reinforcement belts (56, 60) are first wrapped around the tire carcass. Then a first belt assembly (68) of a third reinforced belt (69) with elastomeric wedges (72a, 72b) embedded into side edges (70a, 70b) of the third belt is wrapped around the second belt (60) so that the side edges (62a, 62b) of the second belt are spaced from the side edges (70a, 70b) of the third belt. An outer belt (74) and a tread (80) are applied about the third belt, and the tire carcass is ready to be cured in a tire mold.

Abstract: According to the invention, a liner is provided for use with a substantially undeformable teatcup shell (40), for forming a two-chambered teatcup, by means of which milk is extracted from a teat (Z) in a suction milking process through a milking vacuum provided during a milking phase, and the teat is massaged during a rest phase, wherein the liner comprises a head part (12) that is substantially rotationally symmetrical relative to its longitudinal axis and a barrel part (14) that is connected to the head part (12) by means of a transitional part (22), the barrel part (14) is flexible, surrounds the teat and reacts to alternating changes in pressure during the milking and rest phases by changing its form, the head part (12) is formed as an annular tube (16), which forms an insertion opening (18) for the teat (Z), and which ensures sealing relative to the milking vacuum and the best possible grip of the liner to the teat without excessively constricting the teat during both the milking and the rest phases, the

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply passenger tire (10) having a tread (12), a casing with two sidewalls (20), two radial plies (38, 40) extending from and wrapped about two annular beads (26) and a belt reinforcement structure (36) located radially between the tread and the plies. Inner ply (38) is reinforced with essentially inextensible metal cords and is designed to carry a compressive load during runflat operation. Outer ply (40) is reinforced with organic-fiber cords designed to withstand tensile stresses during runflat operation. A circumferentially deployed insert (42) is disposed between the inner and outer radial plies (38, 40) in each sidewall (20) adjacent to the shoulder of the tread. The metal cords (41) of inner ply (38) have compressive-load-hearing capacity which reduces the mass of the insert material (42). The metal cords (41) also have thermal conductivity properties that dissipate heat buildup from both ply (38) and insert (42).