Abstract: A tire sidewall having a surface with a distinctive design pattern is described. The pattern has a plurality of ridges 20 of similar cross-sectional shapes of varying sizes, each ridge 20 being substantially parallel to an adjacent ridge 20. The pattern has a plurality of parallel ridges 20 extending in a direction between 45.degree. and 0.degree. relative to the radial direction. The ridges 20 of the pattern vary in size or depth and are preferably arranged in a repeating pattern varying from small to large to small sizes or depths. The preferred patterns have at least three distinct sizes or depths of ridges arranged in a sinusoidal or a sawtooth configuration and have a variation in cross sectional height of at least 0.010 in preferably 0.015 of an inch between consecutive sizes.

Abstract: An improved tire sidewall 12 for a tire 10 has an annular outer surface 11, the annular outer surface 11 having a design pattern having a first pattern 15 and a second pattern 17. The second pattern 17 is superimposed over a portion of ridges 20 of the first pattern 15. The improvement has the ridges 20 of the first pattern 15 within a sidewall sector 13 defined by parallel planes passing through a plane (T) parallel to the equatorial plane of the tire 10 and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the annular tire sidewall 12 to form lines 21 all having the same slope (x/y). Preferably the ridges 20 have a substantially triangular cross section having an included angle of about 100.degree. at the apex. The sectors 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D can be any portion of the tire sidewall 12, preferably the sectors 13 being quadrants, halves, or the whole annular surface 11. The resulting patterns yield a decorative sidewall 12 having unique contrasting light and dark appearance.

Abstract: A method for correcting the conicity value in a pneumatic tire based on the average conicity value is used in combination with correcting for lateral force variation, and/or radial run-out variation, and/or radial force variation characteristics of a pneumatic tire by grinding the tread surface. The correcting of the conicity value is accomplished by grinding either the shoulder regions of the tire tread or the central region of the tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silica-filled rubber compositions containing dialkyleneamide polysulfides of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is independently selected from alkylene groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms and x is an integer of from 2 to 7.

Abstract: This invention discloses a rubber composition having a high modulus and excellent processability which is comprised of a blend of (1) at least one elastomer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, synthetic polyisoprene rubber, natural rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene-styrene rubber, nitrile rubber, carboxylated nitrile rubber, and EPDM rubber, (2) at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer containing an aliphatic spacer, wherein the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer exhibits no apparent crystalline to nematic transition, wherein the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer exhibits nematic order above its glass transition temperature, and wherein the glass transition temperature of the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is within the range of 20.degree. C. to 180.degree. C., and (3) carbon black.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hose construction containing a fluoroplastic barrier. The hose comprises (1) an inner core comprising (a) acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and (b) from 0.05 to 25 phr of unsubstituted or substituted phenol salts of 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5,4,0]undecene-7; (2) a barrier layer comprised of a terpolymer derived from tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride, wherein said barrier layer is directly adhered to said inner core; and (3) an elastomeric cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an elongated body of elastomeric material includes a tensioned wire which is oscillated in a generally up and down motion while traversing through the elastomeric material. The wire acts as a cutting blade and prepares the cut surface of the elastomeric material to improve splices. The wire is suspended between a pair of pivotally mounted arms so that the wire oscillates as the arms are rocked by an eccentric mounted to a rotating shaft. The cutter wire passes through the body of elastomeric material at an angle relative to the plane in which the body of elastomeric material lies. The body of elastomeric material is secured in place by clamp segments which conform themselves to the cross-sectional shape of the body. The cutter wire is traversed through the elastomeric material on a cutter frame which is moved by a ball screw driven by a variable speed electric motor.

Abstract: A method for analyzing tire uniformity including a force machine, the method including the steps of measuring radial and lateral forces of a tire, generating radial and lateral waveforms from measurements of the radial and lateral forces of the tire, and calculating the first and second derivatives of the waveforms, preferably using a point-to-point slope calculation. The derivatives may be represented in terms of peak-to-peak pounds force per square seconds, in terms of frequency spectrum, in terms of maximum rate of change, or in terms of root mean squares. The derivatives are then compared to predetermined uniformity specifications, and tires not falling with the specifications are removed. Tangential forces may also be analyzed.