Abstract: The coextrusion installation is intended to generate a profiled element for a tire tread by extruding a sublayer made of first elastomeric compound, an overlayer made of second elastomeric compound for forming the tread pattern blocks, and inserts made of third elastomeric compound. The installation includes pre-scrapers followed by scrapers for deepening the embedding trenches, injectors for injecting an insert at the bottom of each embedding trench, and then a covering wall which allows the streams of the second elastomeric compound to meet by filling the embedding trench in question and by covering the corresponding insert so as to embed the said insert at a predetermined embedding depth.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include pneumatic tires having improved snow performance. Said tires include a cap ply extending at least partially across a full width of at least one of the belt plies and having a rupture force greater than 210 N per 15 mm of cap ply width. A shoulder rib includes a compliance groove or sipe extending primarily in a circumferential direction and to a depth equal to or less than 75% of the skid depth. The lateral sipes and grooves are arranged to provide an average lateral feature spacing of less than 15 mm. The average inclination angle for the lateral grooves is greater than 6 degrees in the shoulder ribs and is greater than 20 degrees in the central ribs. A longitudinal non-lateral sipe edge density is greater than 21.1 micrometers/mm2. A longitudinal lateral sipe edge density for all lateral sipes is greater than 5.5 micrometers/mm2.

Abstract: Tire comprising major grooves with a depth at least equal to 4 mm and with a width at least equal to 1 mm. The radially outermost working layer (41) comprises at least one undulation (412). The undulation (412) is such that the undulation (412) portion of the working layer (41) represents at least 10% of the surface of the working layer (41), has an amplitude of at least 1 mm and is radially on the outside of the points of the working layer (41) that are in line with the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest (412). All the layers of material (3, 6, 7) making up the radial stack of the crown structure (S) have mean surfaces parallel to that of the radially outermost working layer (41).

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 100?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(??)+N?×(D2?/2)2×cos4(??)]/[Q?×(D1?/2)2+N?×(D2?/2)2], where D1, D1?, D2, D2? 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?), and ? and ?? are the helix angle of each external thread (F2, F2?).

Abstract: A reinforced product, which can be used in particular for the reinforcing of a finished rubber article, comprises one or more textile or metallic reinforcing threads, the said thread or threads being covered individually or collectively with a sheath comprising a sheathing composition comprising one or more block copolymers comprising at least one polyamide block and at least one polyolefin block, the sheathed thread or threads being themselves embedded in a rubber composition.

Abstract: Crown of a tire for a heavy vehicle that is desensitized to attacks. The tire (1) comprises tread (2) having a median degree of surface siping TLC, expressed in m/m2, equal to the ratio between the cumulative length LDC of the cuts (21), present in a median portion of tread of axial width WC, and the median area AC of the radially outer surface (23) of the tread (2), and protective reinforcement (4) comprising at least two protective layers (41, 42) that are formed of elastic metallic reinforcers and have a maximum breaking strength Rmax, expressed in daN/m, such that the median degree of surface siping TLC of tread (2) is at least equal to 5 m/m2 and a coupling ratio CC, equal to the ratio between the maximum breaking strength Rmax and the median degree of surface siping TLC, is at least equal to 18 000 daN.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: An adapter for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation (YY?), the rolling assembly comprising a tyre having two beads, and a rim having two rim bead seats, for each bead, provides the connection between the bead and the rim, the said adapter comprising an axially inner end connected to the rim, an axially outer end comprising an outer reinforcing element and intended to come into contact, via a substantially radial axially inner face, or bearing face, with a bead, a body connecting the axially outer end to the axially inner end so as to form a single piece, comprising at least one main reinforcement providing the connection between the outer reinforcing element and the inner reinforcing element, and comprising a substantially axial adapter seat intended to come into contact with a bead.

Abstract: A set of moulding elements, designed to be inserted into a mould for moulding a tyre, comprises: at least one first moulding element (1) and one second moulding element, each moulding element extending in a main moulding-element direction (EM) between two ends (3) of the moulding element with one of the ends (3) of the first moulding element connecting to one of the ends (3) of the second moulding element along an axis (MA), which is substantially perpendicular to the main moulding-element axis (EM).

Abstract: A device (10) for securing an electronic member to a wall of a tire casing comprises a base (11) that is able to be secured to the wall (2) of a tire casing, a retaining wall (12), connected to the base (11), the interior surfaces (14, 15) of which define a volume (13) able to accommodate the electronic member, and a clamping system (20) for clamping the retaining wall (12), able to prevent any extraction of the electronic member. The securing device (10) is such that the retaining wall (12), which is able to deform elastically, comprises an opening (18) that allows the electronic member to be extracted and inserted. The retaining wall (12) on its external surface (17) has a retaining device (19) for the clamping system (20). Finally, the clamping system (20) is a single-use system.

Abstract: A process for the continuous synthesis of a diene elastomer is provided. The synthesis is conducted by means of n reactors r1 to rn, considered to be continuous stirred-tank reactors, which are equipped with an internal stirring system. The reactors are arranged in series, n varying from 2 to 15, preferably from 2 to 9. The reactor r1 is fed by an input solution comprising a solvent, one or more monomer(s), an anionic polymerization initiator chosen from lithium amides and a polar agent. The conversion by weight C1 in the first reactor is less than 70%, and the total conversion by weight Cn at the outlet of the reactor rn is greater than or equal to 70%.

Abstract: A device for inspecting tires of large dimensions, in particular for civil engineering vehicles, comprises: a rotationally driven tire support (10) designed to support a tire (20) to be inspected in position so that its axis of rotation is substantially horizontal, said support comprising means for rotating the supported tire; an ultrasound inspection device (1) provided with an inspection head (5) that is freely mounted radially and axially, a module (8) for retrieving and processing echo data retrieved during inspection phases, and a system for controlling the movement of the inspection head (5) inside the tire to be inspected, in particular along the inner wall of the crown area of said tire to be inspected.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a gap reducer and a method of mounting the gap reducer to a vehicle. Such method includes attaching operably a bi-modulus bending member to a first vehicle in a cantilevered configuration along a vertical side of the first vehicle, where a cantilevered end of the bi-modulus bending member is arranged to extend within a gap arranged between the first vehicle and a second vehicle when the first and second vehicles are coupled. The bi-modulus bending member comprises an elongate bending element configured to elastically buckle and bend to a buckled configuration when a force component exceeds a threshold buckling force, and to elastically return to an unbuckled configuration when the force component is reduced below the threshold buckling force. A gap reducer panel is operably coupled to the bi-modulus bending member, the gap reducer panel having a length extending primarily in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a pair of annular bead areas (12), a pair of sidewalls, and a crown portion wherein a carcass ply (22) wraps around a radial inner side (RSj,2o) of each bead ring (20), for each bead area (12) a first layer of rubber material (30) is arranged radially inward from both the bead ring radial inner side (RSi,2o) and the carcass ply (22) and a second layer of rubber material (40) is arranged radially inward from the first layer of rubber material (30), each of the first layer of rubber material (30) and the second layer of rubber material (40) extending substantially across a full width (W20) of the corresponding bead ring (20), each of the first and second layer of rubber material (30, 40) having a modulus of elongation, where the modulus of elongation of the second layer of rubber material (40) is equal to or greater than substantially 125% of the modulus of elongation of the first layer of rubber material (30).

Abstract: This disclosure includes methods and apparatus for forming a non-pneumatic tire carcass comprising an inner hub, an outer band, and a plurality of spokes. The method includes arranging the inner hub, the plurality of spokes, and the outer band to form a curing assembly arranged in a first arrangement within a forming apparatus, where the inner hub is arranged concentrically within a radially inner annular side of the outer band and the plurality of spokes are arranged between the outer band and the inner hub. The plurality of spokes are forced in opposite radial directions from the first arrangement and to a second arrangement, where each spoke of the plurality of spokes is forced in a curing position against the inner hub and towards the outer band in a curing arrangement. The plurality of spokes are then cured to each of the inner hub and outer band.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a tire tread having tread blocks (24) each defined by a pair of lateral grooves (20) each being asymmetric whereby a first portion (26) of a trailing side (TS24) the tread block is inclined and extends to a peak (28), and whereby a recess (38) projects into tread block below the first portion. Each tread block also includes a sipe (22) extending into the tread thickness from the outer, ground-engaging side of the tread, where the sipe is generally inclined relative to the direction of the tread thickness, such that as the sipe extends into the tread thickness from the outer, ground-engaging side, the sipe extends towards the trailing side (TS24) of the corresponding tread block, the sipe including a groove (40) arranged along the sipe within the tread thickness and spaced below the outer, ground-engaging side of the tread. The groove being asymmetric relative to a centerline (CL22) of the sipe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include pneumatic tires having improved snow performance. Said tires include a cap ply extending at least partially across a full width of at least one of the belt plies and having a rupture force greater than 210 N per 15 mm of cap ply width. A shoulder rib includes a compliance groove or sipe extending primarily in a circumferential direction and to a depth equal to or less than 75% of the skid depth. The lateral sipes and grooves are arranged to provide an average lateral feature spacing of less than 15 mm. The average inclination angle for the lateral grooves is greater than 6 degrees in the shoulder ribs and is greater than 20 degrees in the central ribs. A longitudinal non-lateral sipe edge density is greater than 21.1 micrometers/mm2. A longitudinal lateral sipe edge density for all lateral sipes is greater than 5.5 micrometers/mm2.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a pneumatic tire having improved high speed limits while generally maintaining wear, traction, and handling performance. Said tires include a cap ply extending substantially across a full width of at least one of the belt plies and being arranged at least partially within each shoulder, the cap ply forming a layer of elastomeric material reinforced with a plurality of elongate reinforcements spaced apart in an array, the cap ply being characterized as having a rupture force greater than 210 N per 15 mm of the cap ply width. In each shoulder area of said tires, the tread is characterized as being flatter and having a greater tread thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparation of a continuous composite element formed of reinforcement fibers impregnated with a resin that includes photo-initiators for curing. Reinforcement fibers are pulled through a vacuum chamber (110) and then a vertical impregnation chamber (122) where impregnation with the resin occurs. The elongate composite is then deposited onto a rotating wheel of conformation (140). During rotation, a radiation source (146) such as e.g., LEDs (light emitting diodes) are used to activate the photo-initiators and provide at least partial curing of the resin. From the wheel of conformation, the continuous composite element is passed along a vertical course (148) where additional radiation sources (150) activate the photo-initiators and provided additional curing.

Abstract: Metal or metallized reinforcer, at least the surface of which is at least partially metallic, at least said metallic part being coated with a polybenzoxazine, the repeat units of which comprise at least one unit corresponding to the formulae (I) or (II): in which: Z1 represents an at least divalent, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic bonding group comprising at least one carbon atom and optionally at least one heteroatom selected from O, S, N and P; X1 and X2, which are identical or different, represent O or S; Ar1 and Ar2, which are identical or different, represent a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group; Z2 represents O or (S)n, the symbol “n” representing an integer equal to 1 or greater than 1. Use of such a reinforcement for the reinforcement of a rubber article, in particular a motor vehicle tyre.