Abstract: A process for preparing a functionalized polybutadiene is provided. The process comprises the following steps: a) homopolymerising butadiene with a catalytic system based on at least one preforming conjugated diene, a salt of one or more rare earth metals of an organic phosphoric acid, an aluminium-containing alkylating agent, an alkylaluminium halide; b) adding a polyfunctional compound to the pseudo-living elastomer formed in step (a); and c) adding a functionalizing agent to the mixture formed in step (b). The total molar amount of aluminium in the polymerization medium is such that the (aluminium/rare earth salt) molar ratio has a value between 1 and 5 and the polymerization is carried out at a temperature between 40° C. and 90° C. A functionalized polybutadiene that can be obtained by the process, and a rubber composition containing the functionalized polybutadiene is also provided.

Abstract: A rolling assembly includes a tire having two beads, a rim and a flexible extender intended to provide the connection between one of the beads and the rim, the rim having a rim flange, the extender including an axially inner end, an axially outer end and a body oriented mainly axially and disposed between the axially outer end and the axially inner end, the axially inner end being fixed in place on the rim, the extender having an extender seat intended to receive a tire bead, the extender seat being extended axially towards the outside by a shoulder that axially fixes the tire bead in place, the tire bead having an axial width WB at the interface of the bead with the extender seat, characterized in that the rim flange extends axially under the bead by a distance S such that the ratio S/WB is greater than 0.1.

Abstract: The rubber composition comprises at least one resin based: (A1) on at least one aromatic compound comprising at least one aromatic ring bearing at least two functional groups, one of these functional groups being a hydroxymethyl functional group and the other being an aldehyde functional group or a hydroxymethyl functional group; and (A2) on at least one phenolic compound chosen from (A21) at least one aromatic polyphenol comprising at least one aromatic ring bearing at least two hydroxyl functional groups in the meta position with respect to one another, the two positions ortho to at least one of the hydroxyl functional groups being unsubstituted; and/or (A22) at least one aromatic monophenol comprising at least one six-membered aromatic ring bearing a single hydroxyl functional group, the two positions ortho to the hydroxyl functional group being unsubstituted or at least one position ortho to and the position para to the hydroxyl functional group being unsubstituted; and their mixtures.

Abstract: Tread (2) of a radial tire for a heavy vehicle. The tire alternatingly rolls in laden and unladen states on descent and ascent, respectively. Tread (2) has total width WT and comprises first median portion (21) having median width Wc, where 0.2WT?Wc?0.5WT. Tread (2) is axially delimited by second and third lateral portions (22, 23) having respective lateral widths (WS2, WS3) at least equal to 25% and at most equal to 40% of total width WT. Angle A51 of leading face (51) of every element in relief (31) of first median portion (21) is strictly greater than angle A61 of trailing face (61) of said element in relief (31). Angle (A52, A53) of leading face (52, 53) of every element in relief (32, 33) of each of the second and third lateral portions (22, 23) is strictly less than angle (A62, A63) of trailing face (62, 63) of said element in relief (32, 33).

Abstract: A tread (1) for a heavy-duty vehicle tyre, having a tread surface (10) and an undulating groove (2) formed therein, having, when new, external cavities (21) open onto the tread surface (10) and internal cavities (22) entirely situated there-beneath when new, these cavities (22) connected to cavities (21) by linking cavities (23), each external cavity (21) intersecting the tread surface (10) along a corner edge contour delimiting an opening (210) having two end regions (A1, A2) and a surface area Se measured on the tread surface (10). In each end region (A1, A2) at least one thin blade (41, 42) of rubbery material is formed which is secured to at least one of the walls delimiting the undulating groove to reduce the surface area of the opening (210) of each external cavity (21) viewed from the tread surface (10) when new.

Abstract: A two-layer multi-strand cord (60) comprises an internal layer (CI) of the cord made up of J>1 internal strands (TI) and an external layer (CE) of the cord made up of L>1 external strands (TE). The cord satisfies the relationship 95?MC?175, where MC=(J×MI+L×ME)/(J+L); MI=200×cos4(?)×[Q×(D1/2)2×cos4(?)+N×(D2/2)2×cos4(?)]/[Q×(D1/2)2+N×(D2/2)2]; and ME=200×cos4(??)×[Q?×(D1?/2)2×cos4(??)+P?×(D2?/2)2×cos4(??)+N?×(D3?/2)2×cos4(??)]/[Q?×(D1?/2)2+P?×(D2/2)2+N?×(D3?/2)2], where D1, D1?, D2, D2?, and D3? are in mm, ? and ?? are the helix angle of each internal and external strand (TI), ? and ?? are the helix angle of each internal thread (F1, F1?), ?? is the helix angle of each intermediate thread (F2?) and ? and ?? are the helix angle of each external thread (F2, F3?).

Abstract: The method for organizing a group of several separate vehicles in a platoon includes an identification step (a) in order to identify the candidate vehicles that are to form the platoonp The method also includes an acquisition step (b) in order to acquire, for each candidate vehicle, at least one parameter associated with a tire of the candidate vehicle, such as the wet grip index of the tire tyre, referred to as the “tire parameter”. Subsequently, based on the tire parameter, a processing step (c) for determining the rank attributed to the particular candidate vehicle in the platoon and/or the inter-vehicle distance which, at a given speed, must separate the candidate vehicle in question from the vehicle immediately in front in the platoon.

Abstract: The method for the coextrusion of a complex profiled element made up of the assembly of profiled elements formed from distinct rubber compounds. A coextrusion machine comprises upstream and downstream extruders which deliver into an extrusion cavity. A first profiled element, formed of the first rubber compound, is created. The first profiled element comprises at least a first profiled-element portion which is intended to form a longitudinal insert, a base of which is in continuity of material with the first profiled element. A complex profiled element formed of the first and second rubber compounds is created. The insert is circulated between walls of a channel extend in a longitudinal direction between the upstream profiling blade and the downstream profiling blade and together form a concave surface open towards the inside of the extrusion cavity in such a way that the bringing-together of the lateral walls of the insert with the second compound takes place only in the downstream gap.

Abstract: A radial tire, notably for a passenger vehicle or van, has a very thin belt structure comprising a multilayer composite laminate of specific construction, with a first layer of rubber reinforced by circumferential textile reinforcers in the form of monofilaments or assemblies of monofilaments, preferably slightly heat-shrinkable, for example made of nylon or of polyester, this first layer radially (in the direction Z) surmounting two other layers of rubber, reinforced by high-strength steel monofilaments. The mean thickness of rubber, measured in the radial direction (Z), separating a first reinforcer from the second reinforcer which is closest to it, and that separating a second reinforcer from the third reinforcer which is closest to it, are both less than or at most equal to 0.35 mm.

Abstract: A rubber composition is based on at least an elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a crosslinking system and a crumb rubber, the said crumb exhibiting: an acetone extract of between 8% and 50% by weight; a chloroform extract such that the ratio of the chloroform extract to the acetone extract, expressed as percentage by weight, is less than 1.5, the chloroform extract exhibiting a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 10000 g/mol; and a content of plasticizer of greater than 8% by weight in the composition of the crumb.

Abstract: A continuous method for producing a diene elastomer is provided. The method comprises a polymerization reaction of a catalytic system with at least one conjugated diene monomer to be polymerized in solution in a solvent. The catalytic system is based on at least a rare earth organic salt and an alkylating agent, in at least two full polymerization reactors in series. A portion of the conjugated diene monomer to be polymerized is introduced into a polymerization reactor subsequent to the first polymerization reactor.

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. The shear layer formed from a rubber composition having a very low hysteresis reinforced with silica.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing webs (1) that are intended to be involved in the makeup of a reinforcing ply (2) for a pneumatic tyre (20), said method comprising a preparation step (a), during which a plurality of straight-thread strips (7, 107, 207), which are each formed of a plurality of continuous reinforcing threads (4) that are embedded in a layer of rubber (5), are prepared, a butt-joining step (b), during which said straight-thread strips (7, 107, 207) are butt-joined in pairs to form a straight-thread ply (3), then a cutting step (c), during which the straight-thread ply (3) is inserted into a cutter (8) and the straight-thread ply (3) is severed transversely so as to form webs, wherein, in said method, the frontal width (W3) of the straight-thread ply (3) that is produced during the butt-joining step (b) and then inserted into the cutter (8) is equal to or greater than 50%, equal to or greater than 75%, equal to or greater than 80%, or even equal to or greater than 90%,

Abstract: A method of detecting a leak from a tire of a vehicle, the tire including a member for measuring the pressure and the temperature having a driving operating mode and a stationary operating mode, comprising determining that the vehicle is stationary; and then launching the stationary operating mode to detect when the vehicle is stationary the presence or the absence of a leak of inflating gas from the tire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical assistance device (1) for a wheelchair (100) having a seat (103) and at least one rear wheel (104, 105) having a tyre (110), the electrical assistance device (1) comprising: at least one motor (2) having a rotor (22) connected to a pinion (4) designed to mesh with a complementary toothset of the tyre (110), and a mobile arm (6) connecting said motor (2) to the wheelchair (100). The mobile arm (6) allows said motor (2) to be manoeuvred between an engaged position in which the pinion (4) is in contact with the complementary toothset of said tyre (110), a disengaged position in which the pinion (4) is not in contact with the complementary toothset of said tyre (110) and a transport position in which the pinion (4) is distanced from the tyre (110) and retracted beneath the seat (103).

Abstract: A tire comprising a plurality of cavities formed on each of the first and second tire sidewalls. The cavities are extending longitudinally from a cavity opening up to a predetermined distance in the radial middle portion, wherein each cavity comprises a bottom surface and at least one cavity sidewall surface extending from the bottom surface to the cavity opening, said bottom surface and at least one sidewall surface defining an unpressurised cavity space. At least one of the tire cavities comprises at least one structural element extending outwardly from at least one of the cavity surfaces.

Abstract: A method for managing a powertrain (3) of a motor vehicle (1) comprises the following steps: (a) determining a predictive rolling resistance coefficient (Crr) for at least one tyre (10) of the motor vehicle (1); and (b) adapting the operation of the powertrain (3) according to the predictive rolling resistance coefficient (Crr) in order notably to optimize the energy consumption of the motor vehicle (1).

Abstract: A tire tread (10) having one or more grooves (201, 202), one or more split bridges (24) arranged in each groove (201, 202), wherein the one or more split bridges (24) having a narrow gap (26) arranged along the width of the corresponding split bridge (24) and extending fully across the length and height of the corresponding split bridge (24), a top side of the one or more split bridges (24) is arranged closest to an outer side (16) of the tread (10), at least a portion of the top side is spaced apart from the outer side (16) of the tread (10) in a direction of a depth of the groove (201, 202) by a variable distance, and a bottom side of the one or more split bridges (24) is spaced apart from a bottom of the groove (201, 202) to form a void between the corresponding split bridge (24) and the bottom of the groove (201, 202).

Abstract: The present invention provides an annular beam of monolithic construction of one homogeneous material and a related efficient, low-cost non-pneumatic tire. Specific geometric design, combined with nonlinear elastomer physical properties, enable the suppression of all reinforcing belts, continuous fibers, or other strengthening layers in the annular beam. The annular beam consists of at least two bands that are continuous in the circumferential direction and connected by a web geometry. The non-pneumatic tire consists of the annular beam, a ground contacting portion, a central wheel, and a plurality of web spokes that connect the wheel and beam. When the tire is loaded to a design load against a flat surface over a design contact length, a contact area of essentially uniform pressure is produced, while the load is transmitted from the beam to the hub via tension in the web spokes. The tire can be economically manufactured.