Abstract: A system is provided for placement of noise attenuating foam along an inside surface of a tire to attenuate cavity noise. The system can be used with tires of various sizes and shapes such that different foam sizes may be utilized. The system provides for automating the process of foam placement in a manner that allows for consistent placement of the foam during e.g., tire manufacture.

Abstract: A heavy truck tire tread (2) having a longitudinal direction (LgD), a lateral direction (LtD), a tread depth direction (TdD), a ground contact surface (CS) and a pair of opposing tread shoulders (3, 4) spaced apart along the lateral direction is provided. The tread has a shoulder zone (SZ, SZ?) adjacent each tread shoulder of the pair of opposing tread shoulders, the shoulder zones consisting of blocks (5, 6) adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction and separated by lateral grooves (7, 8). A center zone (CZ) is defined between the shoulder zones. The center zone is decoupled from both shoulder zones by at least one longitudinal sipe (11) or groove, and each lateral groove (7) in a shoulder zone (SZ) is directly connected to an opposite lateral groove (8) in the opposite shoulder zone (SZ?) by a lateral sipe (10) of the center rib.

Abstract: The tire has a carcass reinforcement which has at least one layer and a crown reinforcement that is capped radially by a tread. The tire also includes a layer P of polymer compounds in contact with at least one working crown layer and in contact with the carcass reinforcement. The elastomer compounds forming the calendering layer, radially outermost with respect to the crown of the tire, of the carcass reinforcement layer have a relative density of sulfur bridges of less than 5%. The elastomer compounds forming the layer P have a relative density of sulfur bridges of less than 5%. The elastomer compounds are compositions based on at least one diene elastomer selected from the group of polybutadienes (BRs), synthetic polyisoprenes (IRs), natural rubber (NR), isoprene copolymers, butadiene copolymers with the exception of butadiene-nitrile copolymers (NBRs), apart from diene elastomers bearing carboxyl functions, and mixtures of these diene elastomers.

Abstract: A shear band that may be used e.g., in a non-pneumatic tire is provided. The shear band uses interlaced reinforcing elements positioned within a shear layer of elastomeric material. A variety of configurations may be used to create the interlaced positioning of the reinforcing elements including e.g., a horizontal diamond or vertical diamond configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a molding element for a mold used for manufacturing a tread of a tire having a plurality of contacting element, a plurality of grooves and a connecting member connecting two side faces of adjacent contacting elements, the molding element having a molding surface and a rib for forming the groove between adjacent contacting elements and at least two rib side faces, the rib having a notching portion, a guiding member made of a material different from a material of the molding element being received in the notching portion and has two opposite side faces and a top face configured to form a part of a bottom of the groove, a distal end of the rib projecting member has a chamfered surface facing to an obliquely upward direction for guiding the connecting member toward the guiding slit.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprises a reinforcing filler and a diene elastomer bearing imidazole functional groups along the chain which are randomly distributed along the chain. Such a composition exhibits an improved compromise in certain properties such as stiffness in the cured state and hysteresis.

Abstract: A method for determining the aerodynamic moment of resistance Maero-EM of a wheel arranged on an axis, by measuring the value of the mechanical power Pm to be applied to the wheel in order to maintain it in rotation at a constant speed ?, the said wheel being equipped with a rotational-drive means and with a device for picking off and/or recording the numerical values of the said mechanical power and those of the rotational speed. The wheel is protected by a removable cap and is subjected to a flow of air.

Abstract: A tire is provided with a tread comprising a rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a crosslinking system and a polymethyl methacrylate thermoplastic resin, the polymethyl methacrylate thermoplastic resin exhibiting a Vicat point, measured according to Standard ISO 306: 2013 B50, within a range extending from 60° C. to 100° C.

Abstract: The screw is intended for the extrusion or mixing of elastomers or plastic products. It comprises: a support, at least one sleeve having at least one relief projecting from an external face of the sleeve, and at least one split annular securing member, the member being clamped between the sleeve and the support in a radial direction with respect to an axis of the screw so as to secure the sleeve rigidly to the support. The member and the sleeve have frustoconical faces in mutual contact.

Abstract: Tire carrying heavy loads comprising a tread band having a plurality of grooves of transverse overall orientation, formed of at least three rubber materials: —a first material M1, in the median part of the tread band, having a secant modulus at 10% elongation measured at a temperature of 23° C. at least equal to 4.0 MPa and hysteresis losses tan(?)max greater than 0.19, —a second material M2, on the edge parts, having a secant modulus at 10% elongation, at 23° C., lower than the first material, and a hysteresis losses value tan(?)max lower than the first material and at least 0.15, —a third material M3, radially below the materials M1 and M2, having a hysteresis losses value tan(?)max lower than 0.12, —wherein first material M1 has a resistance to wear at least 15% better than the second and third materials, which have substantially the same resistance to wear.

Abstract: Sintering device comprising a laser source, the light power of which is capable of selectively melting successive layers of metal powders, and a reference plate on which the first metal powder layer is deposited and which serves as a base for the construction of an object, characterized in that the said plate comprises one or more recesses, the shape of which is determined so as to make the said recesses capable of receiving inserts of a given shape.

Abstract: Tire having a tread comprising at least two grooves of generally circumferential orientation, a plurality of transverse grooves (6), each transverse groove culminating in openings into two circumferential grooves, the circumferential and transverse grooves having appropriate cross sections for allowing, when running, a flow of liquid present on the road surface, a plurality of closing devices located in these grooves, each closing device closing at least partly the cross section of a groove, each closing device delimiting, with one end of a transverse groove, a length of groove LR of between half and three-quarters of the length of circumferential groove in contact, the length measured under nominal conditions of load and pressure, this tire being characterized in that each closing device is designed to flex and open the section of groove in which it is placed, under the action of a flow of liquid so as to allow the said liquid to flow when running on a water-covered road surface.

Abstract: A tire testing apparatus and method for detecting anomalies in the surface of a tire is disclosed. A high voltage probe having a conductive spring electrode is placed adjacent a portion of a tire surface such that the conductive spring electrode is compressed against the surface of the tire. Relative motion is imparted between the high voltage probe and the surface of the tire. An electrical discharge occurs between the high voltage probe and a reference electrode at the location of an anomaly on the surface of the tire. The apparatus and method are configured to determine a precise azimuthal and radial position on the tire of the electrostatic discharge. The conductive spring electrode can have a length sufficient to ensure contact with a given point on the tire surface during a charge cycle for the high voltage probe at increased tire surface speeds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a masterbatch in the liquid phase based on one or more diene elastomers and on one or more fillers which do not coagulate spontaneously with the said latex, comprising the following successive stages: preparation of a stable and homogeneous aqueous dispersion (C) by mixing one or more diene elastomer latexes (A) with one or more stable aqueous dispersions (B) of one or more fillers which do not coagulate spontaneously with the said latex and which are partially hydrophobized, homogenization of the aqueous dispersion (C), coagulation within the aqueous dispersion (C) of the diene elastomer latex with the fillers which do not coagulate spontaneously with the said latex by supplying mechanical energy, recovery of the coagulum, then drying the recovered coagulum in order to obtain the masterbatch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition comprising a styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR), a polybutadiene (BR), an unsaturated thermoplastic styrene (TPS) copolymer and a reinforcing filler. The invention also relates to the use of such a composition for the manufacture of a tire tread that has improved properties in terms of wear resistance, while retaining a very good level of grip on wet ground.

Abstract: Preparation of a masterbatch of diene elastomer and silica including preparing at least one silica dispersion in water; bringing into contact and mixing an elastomer latex and the aqueous silica dispersion in the presence of a metal salt having an at least divalent metal element, in order to obtain a coagulum; and recovering the coagulum and drying same in order to obtain the masterbatch. The metal cation molar ration, defined as the number of moles of metal cations of the metal salt per BET unit area of the silica, is between 9.375*10?7 and 1.875*10?5 mol/m2.

Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing a tire tread comprising a molding surface able to mold a tread surface of the tread of the tire and at least one bar of length L and of width W able to mold a groove in the tread. The bar comprises two lateral faces extending along the length of the bar and projecting from the molding surface and an upper face connecting the said lateral faces. The mold comprises in the bar at least two cavities respectively opening onto the two lateral faces of the bar without opening onto the upper face of this bar. These cavities overlap in the width of the bar. The mold further comprises a first element added into the bar beforehand, this first element separating the two cavities in the length of the bar.

Abstract: A shear band that may be used e.g., in a non-pneumatic tire is provided. The shear band uses interlaced reinforcing elements positioned within a shear layer of elastomeric material. A variety of configurations may be used to create the interlaced positioning of the reinforcing elements including e.g., a horizontal diamond or vertical diamond configuration.

Abstract: A sealing device forming an annular band intended to be associated with a rim for a wheel designed to accept a tire, the rim having a rim bottom extended by two flanges, the device being adapted to be fitted in such a way as to cover at least the rim bottom. The annular band comprises at least one elastomeric material comprising at least one copolymer thermoplastic elastomer containing blocks of polystirene and polyisobutylene, and a polybutene oil. Also disclosed is a mounted assembly having a wheel comprising a rim associated with a sealing device and of a tubeless tire. In addition, a method is disclosed for fitting a sealing device onto a rim.