Abstract: A pneumatic race tire has an elastomeric casing with a tread in the crown portion thereof, a pair of bead areas and a body ply carcass extending continuously between the bead areas and through the sidewalls and crown portion. A continuous thin annular band formed of a high strength, lightweight material such as metal, fiberglass, a composite material or the like is located radially inwardly of the tread and between the tread and body ply carcass to enhance tire performance by reducing the thickness of the tread area.

Abstract: A method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire and adhering an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner includes the step of providing a patch having a cover and a layer of uncured rubber. The patch is placed at a selected area of the innerliner of a green tire before the green tire is cured. At least a portion of the patch is removed after the tire is cured to provide a prepared area at the selected area of the tire. The electronic monitoring device is then adhered to the prepared area.

Abstract: A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner includes a monitoring device and a patch. The monitoring device includes at least one sensing element that is adapted to sense a condition of the pneumatic tire. The monitoring device also includes a first electrical pad connected to the sensing element. The monitoring device and first electrical pad are preferably encapsulated in an encapsulation material. The patch is adapted to carry the monitoring device and mount the monitoring device on the innerliner of the tire. An antenna is embedded within the patch and a second electrical pad is connected to the antenna. The monitoring device is disposed on the patch in a manner such that the first and second electrical pads are aligned to provide electrical coupling between the pads. The antenna is in communication with the sensing element through the electrical coupling between the pads.

Abstract: A mold for a pneumatic tire includes a plurality of mold sections that cooperate to form an annular mold. Each of the mold sections has a body with an inner surface. The body defines at least one longitudinal groove that opens at the inner surface. The body defines at least one longitudinal groove that opens at the inner surface. The groove has a mouth and a body with the width of the mouth being smaller than at least the largest width of the body. In one embodiment of the invention, the groove has a female dovetail cross section. The grooves in the mold sections cooperate to form a continuous, 360 degree groove about the tire mold. A plurality of die ribs are slidingly disposed in the grooves. Each die rib has a base that corresponds with the cross section of the groove. Thus, the die rib in the above-embodiment has a male dovetail cross section that is configured to slide within the groove.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an electronic monitoring device to a pneumatic tire includes the steps of providing a green tire and attaching the electronic monitoring package to an anchoring patch. The anchoring patch having the electronic monitoring package is then mounted to the green tire and cured during the green tire cure process. A battery is then provided and a direct electrical connection between the electronic monitoring package and battery is then formed by plugging the battery into the electronic monitoring package. The electronic monitoring package may also be mounted in the green tire itself and cured with the green tire. The battery is connected to the electronic monitoring package after the cure process.

Abstract: A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material includes an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber. The monitoring device has at least a pressure sensor and an antenna. A damming element is carried by the encapsulation body in an adjustable manner such that the damming element contacts the pressure sensor of the monitoring device when the monitoring device is disposed within the encapsulation chamber. The damming element prevents the pressure sensor from being clogged with the encapsulating material when the monitoring device is encapsulated. The antenna of the monitoring device is held in a channel formed in the body when the monitoring device is disposed within the encapsulation chamber. The connection between the antenna and the body holds the monitoring device in a floating disposition in the encapsulation chamber. The damming element is in the form of a tube that also helps carry the monitoring device in the floating disposition.

Abstract: A band element for mounting in the crown portion of a pneumatic tire to provide run flat ability to the tire in the event of loss of air pressure and to provide increased puncture resistance is formed of flat strips of tape having fibers embedded in a resin matrix which in one embodiment are twisted and then pultruded to provide a rectangular cross sectional configuration. The twisted tape is wrapped about a mandrel and forms either the only layer, or the intermediate layer of a composite band in combination with inner and outer layers of flat tape or wound filament fibers, whereby the fibers in the tape extend across the central axis of the band to reduce interlaminar sheer. In another embodiment, a plurality of dimples or depressions are formed in the individual tape layers to extend a plurality of the fibers across the layer boundaries to reduce interlaminar sheer.