Abstract: This application discloses a tire comprising a circumferential tread including at least one tread element having a top surface, at least one edge, and at least one chamfered surface extending between the top surface and the edge. The chamfered surface is oriented at an angle relative to the top surface of the tread element that varies along the length of the chamfered surface. Alternatively, the chamfered surface may have a width and a height that vary along their respective lengths.

Abstract: A tire includes bead insulation compound that is formed by combining a rubber component, a bituminous hydrocarbon resin, and a processing oil that includes naphthenic oil.

Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an elastomeric casing and a tire cavity formed therein. A longitudinally-extending and approximately planar length of strip material is helically arranged within the tire cavity to pre-stress the length of strip material for usage of the pneumatic tire during under-inflated and non-inflated conditions. A method of making a run-flat pneumatic tire assembly is also included.

Abstract: A sensor system for obtaining data from an elastomeric article includes at least one wireless sensor. The sensor length-scales range from nano- to micro-scale devices that are small enough to avoid becoming occlusions within the article. The article may include sensors embedded within one of the materials of the article, a layer of sensors built into the article, and a string of sensors disposed within a component or embedded within a component of the article. The sensors may be configured to provide data related to one or more of temperature, pressure, sidewall flex, stress, strain and other parameters. The sensors may be LCD sensors, and/or conductive polymer sensors, and/or bio-polymer sensors and/or polymer diodes suitable for sensing data during the operation of the tire. A power circuit using energy generated by the tire may provide power to the sensors.

Abstract: A tire information management system used for a mining site including a sensor configured to measure the condition of a tire attached to each of a plurality of vehicles for transporting mineral resources. A tire information management apparatus is configured to receive, by radio, a measurement transmitted by the sensor, and to transmit, to one of the vehicles that the measurement comes from, deterioration restraint information for restraining progress of deterioration of the tire, in a case where the received measurement is not within an allowable range.

Abstract: A test machine for testing the tension or compression properties of a test specimen is provided. The test machine utilizes magnetic force to prevent the fixture of the machine from rotating while placing the test specimen in tension or under compression, which accordingly prevents the test specimen from rotating as well as the source of such rotation. Unintended forces are thereby minimized, enabling a user to obtain more accurate test results.

Abstract: A test machine for testing the physical properties of a test specimen is provided. The test machine includes a fixture that applies a first force on the test specimen in a first direction and utilizes magnetic force to bring about the rotation of a fixture to apply a second force on the test specimen in a second direction. The test machine can better simulate field applications where a material may experience, for example compression or tension at the same time it experiences a rotational moment.

Abstract: An insert for a tire mold is provided. In one embodiment, the insert has an elongated cylindrical body. The insert includes at least one channel portion with a plurality of channels disposed in a non-axial direction along the surface of the insert. The at least one channel portion extends from a first end of the insert. The insert may further include a reduced diameter portion with at least one axial groove disposed thereon.

Abstract: A patch and method for mounting an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire is provided wherein the monitoring device is potted directly to an attachment patch. A frame is built on an attachment patch and the electronic monitoring device is disposed inside the frame. An encapsulation material is poured into the frame and cured to encapsulate the monitoring device directly against the patch. The patch may then be connected to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A tire having a section height, a maximum section width, an upper section above the maximum section width, and a lower section below the maximum section width is provided. The tire includes a circumferential tread, a pair of sidewalls, a pair of bead regions each having a bead core, and at least one carcass ply extending circumferentially about the tire from one bead region to the other. The at least one carcass ply is wound outwardly about at least one of the bead cores and extends toward the tread to form a turn-up portion that terminates at a turn-up end. The turn-up portion includes a concave segment that begins in the bead region and ends short of the turn-up end or at the turn-up end.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an equatorial plane and a maximum section width is provided. The tire includes a tread portion having outer tread edges that define a tread arc therebetween, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions each of which has a bead core, at least one carcass ply extending circumferentially about the tire from one bead portion to the other and wound outwardly about the bead cores to form a pair of turn-up portions that each terminate at a turn-up, and at least one belt provided between the tread portion and the at least one carcass ply. When the tire is inflated to its specified inflated pressure, the tread portion has a profile that includes a central arc, a pair of intermediate arcs each of which intersects opposite edges of the central arc at a first intersection point, and a pair of outer arcs each of which intersects a respective intermediate arc at a second intersection point.

Abstract: A method of creating an air barrier on both sides of an innerliner splice on the inside surface of a green tire when a bladder release lubricant is being applied thereto to prevent contamination of the splice. High pressure air is directed through air nozzles on both sides of the innerliner splice just prior to and during the application of the lubricant. A pressure sensor detects high or low air pressure during the creation of the air barriers to stop the spray of lubricant should either situation be detected.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the light reflective properties of a sidewall of a pneumatic tire. The tire may include a pair of sidewalls radially extending from a central axis of rotation of the tire. The sidewalls may include an inner diameter and an outer diameter defining an external surface. At least one of the sidewalls may include an annular band formed on the external surface of the sidewall. The annular band may include a pair of spaced apart band edge surfaces, each including a first edge and a sinusoidal second edge that may help to reduce sidewall undulations and enhance the reflective properties of the sidewall, so that indicia formed on the annular band may be legible to a viewer. Additionally, the sidewalls may also include any type of indicia.

Abstract: A method of creating an air barrier on both sides of an innerliner splice on the inside surface of a green tire when a bladder release lubricant is being applied thereto to prevent contamination of the splice. High pressure air is directed through air nozzles on both sides of the innerliner splice just prior to and during the application of the lubricant. A pressure sensor detects high or low air pressure during the creation of the air barriers to stop the spray of lubricant should either situation be detected.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition having improved adhesion and adhesion retention properties with steel reinforcement includes up about 10 pbw of a compound selected from aminosilanes and/or mercaptosilanes per 100 parts of the rubber component in the rubber composition. The silane component can be incorporated into the rubber composition prior to curing. Composite structures and methods for providing the rubber composition also are provided.