Abstract: A tire T as a workpiece mounted on a rotary table 2 is imaged by using floodlight means 10 for applying white slit light and a color CCD camera 20 for imaging a portion illuminated by the slit light while it is turned, the coordinates and brightness of the tire T are detected from the obtained image data by coordinate computing means 31 and brightness computing means 33, and the 3-D coordinate data and color image of the tire T are re-formed from the obtained shape data and brightness data of the tire T by shape image forming means 32 and appearance image forming means 34 and compared with tire appearance and shape data prestored in tire information storage means 35 to judge whether the appearance and shape of the tire T are acceptable or not.

Abstract: To form a fine slit having a width of 0.1 mm or less in each piece of a piece type tire mold, a plate-like shim member 44 having a width of 0.1 mm or less is inserted into a rubber mold 40A when a piece 40 is to be produced, a molten metal such as aluminum is injected into a plaster mold 40B to which the shim member 44 has been transferred and solidified to cast the piece 40, and the shim member 44 is removed from the piece 40 to which the shim member 44 has been transferred to form a slit having a width of 0.1 mm or less in the piece 40.

Abstract: A 3-D solid model of a tire vulcanizing mold is constructed on CAD, lamination models the optimum value of the pitch of which is determined in consideration of molding accuracy and processing time are created by dividing this model in a predetermined lamination direction, slice data for each layer corresponding to the lamination pitch of each segment are created, a sector mold of the tire vulcanizing mold is manufactured by a powder sintering method based on the slice data, and the density of a sintered body is controlled by adjusting the output of a laser beam or the exposure time of the laser beam applied to the powders to provide a density distribution on the plane and in the depth direction of a mold element for each layer so as to obtain a tire vulcanizing mold having a hybrid structure.

Abstract: When feedback control is carried out to ensure that the drive torque of an electric motor for driving each wheel of a vehicle should be equal to a motor torque instruction value, micro-vibration is applied to each tire by superposing a micro-vibration signal to a drive signal for the above electric motor to change the slip ratio-friction characteristics themselves of the tire to control friction force between the tire and the surface of a road, thereby controlling the running performance of the vehicle.

Abstract: Semi-circular cover members 17 and 17 having a spring function for opening and closing the openings of pores 15S are provided on the cavity inner wall side of a porous air vent 15 in order to close the openings of the above pores 15S while a small space remains between the above cover members 17 and 17 and the openings of the pores 15S of the porous air vent during vulcanization, whereby the occurrence of the occlusion of the above pores 15S is reduced and stains adhered to the cavity inner wall side of the mold 10 are removed by physical means such as a blast treatment while the above cover members 17 and 17 are closed at the time of cleaning to remove the stains of the above mold 10. Further, the above openings are opened as required to allow a cleaning liquid 24 go into the above pores 15S to clean the above mold 10 and remove stains in the pores 15S.

Abstract: Since a flexible coupling 10 is constituted such that a drive-side plate 11 and an intermediate plate 13 are interconnected by first connection members 14A to 14D having a rubber member in such a manner that they can move in a direction perpendicular to a direction for interconnecting pin members 15a and 15b for mounting the above first connection members 14A to 14B, and the intermediate plate 13 and a driven-side plate 12 are interconnected by second connection members 16A to 16D having the same constitution as the above first connection members 14A to 14D and arranged perpendicular to the above first connection members 14A to 14D in such a manner that they can move in a direction perpendicular to the above direction, torque on the drive side can be transmitted to the driven side efficiently with simple constitution and the flexible coupling can be easily mounted.

Abstract: A method for estimating accurately and stably the change of forces exerted on the tire or change of contact condition with the ground of the tire and an apparatus for putting it in operation.

Abstract: In a semiconductive member having a coating film containing a conductive agent formed on the surface of a substrate such as an elastic material, or a semiconductive member having an elastic material as a substrate containing a conductive agent, the conductive agent is coated with an ion-containing resin or a resin having high charge attenuation properties.

Abstract: A non-rotary case to which the motor stator of an inwheel motor is fixed is connected to a knuckle which is a part around the wheel of a vehicle by a first elastic member, a rotary case to which the rotor of the motor is fixed and rotatably connected to the non-rotary case through a bearing is connected to the wheel by a second elastic member so as to float-mount the inwheel motor to parts around the wheel.

Abstract: An in-wheel motor system, wherein the rotating side case 3b of an in-wheel motor 3 is connected to a wheel 2 by a flexible coupling 10 comprising a plurality of hollow disk-like plates 11A to 11C and direct-acting guides 12A and 12B, the non-rotating side case 3a of the motor 3 is connected to a knuckle 5 by a damping mechanism 20 for connecting the non-rotating side case 3a of the motor to the knuckle 5 which is a frame dress-up part of the vehicle, comprising two plates 26 and 27 whose moving directions are limited to the vertical direction of the vehicle by direct-acting guides 21 and which are interconnected by first spring elements 22 which move in the vertical direction of the vehicle and dampers 25 with a spring element, each comprising a damper 23 and a second spring element connected to the damper 23 in series and arranged parallel to the first spring elements 22, whereby the drive force of the in-wheel motor 3 can be transmitted to the wheel 2 without fail and the road holding properties of a vehicl

Abstract: An uniformity inspection line 1 comprises a decision-only line 2 having first UF machines 2M exclusive for the measurement of the uniformity of a tire 12 sorted and distributed on an automatic sorting line 21 and a correction-only line 3 having second UF machines 3M for the correction and re-measurement of the uniformity characteristics of a tire having uniformity characteristics outside specific values measured on the above decision-only line 2. Since the measurement of uniformity and the correction and re-measurement of uniformity characteristics are performed in different systems, uniformity inspection can be carried out efficiently even when the number of tires whose uniformity characteristics are to be corrected is varied.

Abstract: An in-wheel motor system, wherein the non-rotating side case of a motor and the knuckle of a motor are connected to each other by a buffer mechanism 10 having plates 11 and 12 interconnected by a linear guide 15 with springs composed of a linear guide 13 consisting of a linear bearing 13A and a rod 13B and spring members 14 and 14 moving in the vertical direction of a vehicle and integrated with the linear guide 13 and a damper 16 moving in the vertical direction of the vehicle and interconnecting the plates 11 and 12. Thus, the motor can be securely float mounted to a part around the wheel of the vehicle and the buffer mechanism 10 can be easily assembled.

Abstract: For manufacturing the laminated mold comprising the laminate (11) being formed of a plurality of thin sheets (11a) laminated on each other, laminate the thin sheets with the excess portions of respective thin sheets exceeding the profile of the tire crown portion on the side of contacting with the tire stepping face left, then remove the excess portions, form the sector mold by placing the laminate (11) with the excess portions removed in the holder, form the laminated mold having the annular read pattern by arranging a plurality of the sector mold in a peripheral direction of the tire so as to suppress formation of the stepped shape appearing on the tire profile comparing with the one as originally intended.

Abstract: For manufacturing the laminated mold comprising the laminate (11) being formed of a plurality of thin sheets (11a) laminated on each other, laminate the thin sheets with the excess portions of respective thin sheets exceeding the profile of the tire crown portion on the side of contacting with the tire stepping face left, then remove the excess portions, form the sector mold by placing the laminate (11) with the excess portions removed in the holder, form the laminated mold having the annular read pattern by arranging a plurality of the sector mold in a peripheral direction of the tire so as to suppress formation of the stepped shape appearing on the tire profile comparing with the one as originally intended.

Abstract: An in-wheel motor system having a flexible coupling for transmitting the drive torque of a motor to a wheel. The flexible coupling 10 simple in structure and easily assembled comprises a motor-side plate (11A) mounted to the rotating side case of the motor, a wheel-side plate (11C) mounted to the wheel or a hub, an intermediate plate (11B) disposed between these two plates (11A) and (11C), a first rubber member (12a) of generally rectangular shape in plan view which connects the motor-side plate (11A) to the intermediate plate (11B) in such a manner that they can move relative to each other in a direction (direction B) orthogonal to their connection direction (direction A), and a second rubber member (12b) formed in the same manner as the first rubber member (12a) which connects the intermediate plate (11B) to the wheel side plate (11C) in such a manner that they can move relative to each other in the direction A orthogonal to the direction B.

Abstract: A tire sensor device comprising sensor modules 20A to 20D, each comprising a sensor, a communication module having a communication function and a power regenerating circuit, and an antenna; and a base station comprising an internal communication device for communication with the sensor modules 20A to 20D, an information processing device for processing tire information signals from the sensor modules, an external communication device for communicating with a car control device 40 on the car body side and a power source. The sensor modules 20A to 20D and the base station 30 are arranged in the tire and constitute an intra-tire LAN. Tire information signals transmitted from the sensor modules 20A to 20D are processed by the base station 30 and transmitted to the car control device 40 so that appropriate tire information can be obtained and the size and power consumption of the sensor device can be reduced.

Abstract: The frequency of an information signal indicative of a-vibration of a wheel detected by an acceleration sensor mounted to a wheel; or a change in the pressure of a gas in a tire detected by a pressure sensor installed in the tire, is analyzed. The band value of the obtained vibration spectrum or pressure change spectrum is detected, and a vibration level or pressure change level at the detected frequency band is compared with: a vibration level table showing the relationship between road friction coefficient ? and vibration level; or a pressure change level table showing the relationship between road friction coefficient ? and pressure change level, to estimate a road friction coefficient ?. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the value of road friction coefficient ? accurately and improve the safety of a car.

Abstract: An X-ray tire inspection apparatus comprising X-ray tubes 2a and 2b for applying an X-ray to a tire 10, installed right above the opposite ends of the tire 10 conveyed by a roll conveyor 1, and X-ray line sensors 4a and 4b arranged in the space between adjacent rolls 1R and 1R below the above roll conveyor 1 at positions corresponding to the above X-ray tubes 2a and 2b, respectively, wherein transmission X-ray images of left half and right half portions of the tire 10 are taken by the X-ray line sensors 4a and 4b and combined by tire internal image inspection means 5 to obtain a transmission X-ray composite image of the whole tire 10. Therefore, even a tire having a low aspect ratio can be internally inspected accurately and efficiently.

Abstract: The output level of vibration of a portion below the spring of a vehicle detected by a sensor, and its frequency is converted to obtain the frequency spectrum of the vibration level. Next, an operation is carried out on at least two vibration levels, at different frequency bands. The computed value is compared with a master curve showing the frequency spectrum of vibration level stored in vibration level storage to estimate the condition of a road surface so as to estimate the running state of the vehicle. Further, the running state of each tire including air pressure is detected from the vibration level of the portion below the spring to estimate the running state of the vehicle. Thereby, a multi-function sensing system is constructed for estimating the condition of a road surface or the running state of the tire with one sensor.

Abstract: A screw 12 for an extruder 10 rotatably supported on the cylinder of the extruder and carrying roll-heated rubber material supplied from a hopper port 13s provided at the rear part of the cylinder 11, wherein the height of the portion of the flight portion 12z of the screw 12 located below the hopper port 13s is set lower than the height of the flight portion 12a on the downstream side of the screw 12, whereby the pulsation of extruded matter can be reduced while maintaining a high discharge rate.