Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing a patented steel wire having a microstructure which is essentially pearlite with a very fine lamellar spacing between carbide and ferrite platelets which has good ductility and which can be drawn to develop high tensile strength, said process comprising the steps of:(1) heating a steel wire to a temperature which is within the range of approximately 850.degree. C. to about 1050.degree. C. for a period of at least about 2 seconds; wherein said steel wire is comprised of a microalloyed high carbon steel which consists essentially of about 97.03 to about 98.925 weight percent iron, from about 0.72 to about 0.92 weight percent carbon, from about 0.3 to about 0.8 weight percent manganese, from about 0.05 to about 0.4 weight percent silicon, and from about 0.005 to about 0.

Abstract: The subject invention discloses a process for preparing an initiator which contains a plurality of lithium atoms and which is particularly useful for initiating the polymerization of diolefin monomers into rubbery polymers; said process being comprised of reacting an alkyl lithium compound with an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing allylic, benzylic or aryl hydrogen atoms, wherein said process is conducted in the presence of a member selected from the group consisting of alkali metal alkoxides, alkali metal phenoxides, and chelating tertiary alkyl 1,2-ethylene diamines. After the initiators of this invention have been prepared they can be employed to initiate the polymerization of diolefin monomers into rubbery polymers. They can, of course, also be employed to initiate the copolymerization of diolefin monomers and vinyl aromatic monomers into rubbery polymers. These rubbery polymers can then be used in making tire tread compounds for automobiles and trucks.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing the rate of vulcanization of a sulfur rubber composition comprising heating a sulfur vulcanizable rubber composition to a temperature ranging from 100.degree. C. to 200.degree. C., said rubber composition, containing a sulfur vulcanizable rubber, a sulfenamide compound and a hydrated thiosulfate. Addition of the hydrated thiosulfate to a sulfur vulcanizable rubber and a sulfenamide compound significantly increases the rate of vulcanization of the rubber.

Abstract: Tire components are assembled on a tire building drum by laying a first liner on a surface of the drum, positioning first sidewall inserts below the cylindrical surface of the drum and around the drum at insert locations spaced from each end of the drum, laying a first carcass ply around the drum, positioning second inserts over the first ply at the insert locations, laying a second carcass over the first ply and the second inserts, positioning beads at each end of the drum, expanding the drum to increase the diameter of the cylindrical surface of the drum and provide shoulders at each end of the drum, turning edges of the first ply and the second ply over each of the beads, positioning a belt and tread assembly around the second ply, and contracting the drum for removal of the assembled tire components from the drum. The inserts are positioned in grooves extending radially inwardly in the outer surface of the building drum.

Abstract: Improved tires designed for use in an improved tire/vehicle system having two pneumatic front tires and two pneumatic rear tires are especially effective when utilized on vehicles with a suspension system having limited camber, as in a live axle suspension system. The tires include a support member which is molded to the inboard sidewall of one or more tires in the tire/vehicle system. The inboard sidewall of a tire provides improved lateral stiffness in the tire, for cornering, and functions similar to cambering in tire/vehicle systems where cambering is not possible or where camber adjustment is limited.

Abstract: A door and frame in a motor vehicle interior instrument panel or other trim panel is obscured to a vehicle occupant before deployment of an air bag located behind the trim panel. A trim element cover overlaps a joint between the door and frame. The trim element cover is able to self-heal small punctures or slits so that foam materials on an inner side of the panel are prevented from passing through the holes or slits. The frame is stronger relative to the opening due to a reinforcing element applied to the inside perimeter of the opening on the underside of the trim element.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a vacuum in a segmented tire mold includes an upper sidewall assembly and lower sidewall assembly, a plurality of radially moveable tread mold segments operable with the upper sidewall assembly and lower sidewall assembly to define a tire mold cavity. A conical actuating ring assembly surrounds the tire mold segments and engages the mold segments to provide radial movement of the mold segments. The apparatus includes a first seal between the conical actuating ring assembly and the lower mold assembly, as well as a second seal between the conical actuating ring and the upper sidewall assembly, thereby sealing the space defined by the tire mold so that a vacuum can be drawn on the tire mold cavity upon the closing of the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of organosilicon compounds of the formulaZ-Alk-S.sub.n -Alk-Z (I)in which Z is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl or phenyl;R.sup.2 is alkoxy of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or cycloalkoxy of 5 to 8 carbon atoms;Alk is a divalent hydrocarbon of 1 to 18 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 2 to 8; comprising reacting (A) a compound of the formula:Z-Alk-X (II)when X is Cl or Br; with (B) an ammonium hydrosulfide or alkali metal hydrosulfide and (C) sulfur;wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and an aqueous phase.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for preparing a latex of styrene-butadiene rubber which comprises (1) charging water, a soap system, a free radical generator, 1,3-butadiene monomer, and styrene monomer into a first polymerization zone; (2) allowing the 1,3-butadiene monomer and the styrene monomer to copolymerize in the first polymerization zone to a monomer conversion which is within the range of about 15% to about 40% to produce a low conversion polymerization medium; (3) charging the low conversion polymerization medium into a second polymerization zone; (4) charging an additional quantity of 1,3-butadiene monomer and an additional quantity of styrene monomer into the second polymerization zone; (5) allowing the copolymerization to continue until a monomer conversion of at least about 50% is attained to produce the latex of styrene-butadiene rubber. This technique can also be utilized to synthesize polybutadiene latex or nitrile rubber latex by emulsion polymerization with low levels of soap.

Abstract: Disclosed are expandable bladders for use in curing presses for rubber compositions such as pneumatic tires. The bladders are a crosslinked elastomer comprising an isobutylene rubbery polymer. The bladder composition includes corn oil which improves the release characteristics of the cured bladder from a tire innerliner cured in contact with said bladder. The improved release characteristics have been observed to allow rubber compositions such as tires to be molded with fewer defects caused during release of the bladder from the tires or caused by abraded or deformed bladders. The use of corn oil also has been observed to increase the useful life time of the bladder allowing more tires to be cured without changing bladders. A preferred isobutylene rubbery polymer is a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene. The bladder compositions have also been observed to have an enhanced flexibility due to the corn oil.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a block design suited for off-road use, modified to improve rolling resistance and noise properties when used on paved surfaces, has a tread design having angled lateral grooves between the blocks in each circumferential row of blocks in the tread. Narrow grooves separate the blocks in several of the rows of blocks, and tie bars are present in the lateral grooves separating blocks in other rows of blocks. Void areas in the shoulder area of the tire enhance traction in mud and sand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparation of a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement through the utilization of a high purity organosilane disulfide.Pneumatic tires having treads prepared by such process are provided.

Abstract: A bellows type air spring having a circular lobed body member with an inner an outer rubberized fabric reinforcing ply and a bead ring at each end. The turn up portion at each end of the fabric layers is wrapped around the bead ring with the turn up portion of the inner ply extending axially inwardly from the bead ring a substantial distance beyond the end of the turn up portion of the outer ply on both ends of the spring to provide longer flex life and prevent premature cracking of the body member in the areas of the end bead rings. The manufacturing method involves the use of an inner fabric ply that is substantially longer in the axial direction than the outer ply instead of using both inner plies of the same axial length.

Abstract: A carcass for an elastomeric drive belt having at least one layer of wire reinforcement made up of two cables spirally wound on each side of a mid-circumferential plane, one in the S direction and the other in the Z direction.

Abstract: Partially oriented yarns (POY), when processed into short fibers and used as a fiber reinforcement in an elastomer, have been found to demonstrate reduced crack propagation in the elastomer. POY reinforced elastomers can be used in tires to replace cord reinforced components, and for example, can be used in the tread base of a tire, obviating the need for an overlay ply. In one embodiment it has been found that the properties of a fiber reinforced elastomer can be optimized by using a mixture of partially oriented fibers and fibrillated pulp fibers, such as pulped high modulus rigid rod liquid crystalline fibers, as the fiber reinforcement.

Abstract: A cured rubber tire has adhered thereto a layer of heated and mixed, productive urethane composition fluid sidewall material which has been flowed from a nozzle into a groove in the sidewall of a shaped tire. The tire is rotated under the nozzle a distance equal to the circumferential length of the groove so that the ends of the layer may be joined after which the flow of productive urethane composition sidewall material is terminated.

Abstract: A plurality of helically wound tire beads are made by winding them on a forming wheel at two predetermined tension levels. The tension levels are generated by a braking pulley and metallic particle brake in conjunction with a programmable logic controller. The first few turns of wires are made at a relatively low tension level. Subsequent turns are made at a higher tension level. The lower tension level contributes to longer life of the forming wheel assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to bis-(2,5-polythio-1,3,4-thiadiazoles), a method for their preparation and their use in rubber compounds. Use of these compounds provide for excellent vulcanization of rubbers and result in an improved final rubber vulcanizate possessing good physical properties.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for automatically spraying a mist of mold release into the space between a tire and a bladder in a tire molding machine so that the mold release covers the outer surface of the bladder or the interior surface of the tire and does not get onto the walls of the mold.