Abstract: Device for handling (102) a green tire (24), comprises a supporting structure and at least one hook (106) mounted to rotate with respect to the supporting structure between a gripping position and a disengaged position, about a horizontal axis (18) running outside of the hook.

Abstract: A tire comprising a reinforcing structure of the carcass type and comprising under the tread strip a crown reinforcing structure comprised of at least one layer of reinforcing elements. At least the surface of the tread strip comprises a first polymer compound extending at least into the region of the equatorial plane and at least one second polymer compound having physicochemical properties that differ from those of the first polymer compound, the crown reinforcing structure comprising at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements which are distributed in the transverse direction with a variable pitch and the pitch between the circumferential reinforcing elements being at a minimum in the region of the layer of circumferential reinforcing elements that radially face the ends of the first compound.

Abstract: A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement, composed of at least one layer of metal reinforcing elements, the said tire comprising a crown reinforcement, itself topped radially by a tread, the said tread being joined to two beads via two sidewalls. The metal reinforcing elements of at least one layer of the carcass reinforcement are cords exhibiting, in the “permeability” test, a flow rate of less than 20 cm3/min and at least one layer of the carcass reinforcement is provided, on at least one face, with textile threads and at least the layer of elastomeric mixture, radially external to the bead wire and in contact with the latter, is an elastomeric mixture based on natural rubber or on synthetic polyisoprene and on a reinforcing filler conferring high cohesion.

Abstract: A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting tread portion, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of the tread portion, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the reinforced annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The reinforced annular band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of the membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of the shear layer, and a longitudinal compression modulus of a second membrane is at least equal to the longitudinal tensile modulus of a first membrane so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes.

Abstract: Interface disc for a vehicle wheel, comprising: at least one substantially central attachment element designed to allow the said disc to be attached to a wheel; a plurality of substantially radial arms connected to the attachment elements and extending radially outwards from a substantially central portion of the said disc as far as a substantially peripheral portion of the said disc; an energy absorption surface collaborating with the said arms and configured to form a wall between the said substantially central portion of the disc and its substantially peripheral portion; at least one circumferential reinforcing element collaborating with the said arms and the modulus of which is substantially higher than that of the energy absorption element.

Abstract: Presented is a heavy vehicle, such as a transport vehicle or a civil engineering vehicle, of a mass greater than 500 metric tons. The vehicle is fitted with tires of radial structure having a diameter greater than 3.5 meters and an axial width greater than 37 inches. The vehicle has a front steering axle provided with at least two tires and at least one rear axle provided with at least four tires for transmitting at least part of motive power. The rear axle has at least two trailing arms each associated with two tires.

Abstract: A method of laying cords of a carcass-type reinforcement structure on a tire, consisting of arranging at least two filaments on a tire blank so that at least one first and one second filament form on one hand, at the level of the crown and the sidewalls, a series of transverse portions extending substantially from one bead of the tire to the other, in which a single laying head is used which permits substantially simultaneous laying of said at least first and second filaments. The head is advantageously arranged relative to the blank of the tire such that the filaments form at least a portion of substantially parallel paths relative to each other. The sections of substantially parallel paths are preferably applied substantially between the crown and the beads.

Abstract: A method of controlling uniformity during tire manufacture includes the steps of selecting a target attribute and assigning a target value thereto, measuring the target attribute in a subject tire at a first rotational speed approximating highway speed and measuring in the subject tire indicator attributes a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. The indicator attributes are condensed via a multivariate process to determine which attributes are the most strongly related to the target attribute. Next, a plurality of predictors for the target attribute is determined, each predictor having components including at least one indicator attribute. From the plurality of predictors, at least one best predictor is selected.

Abstract: A process for demounting a tire P, and a tread-bearing support S internal thereto, from an integral mounting rim J, which comprises first and second rim seats, the two rim seats being inclined towards the outside and extended axially to the outside by projections of low height. The process includes the steps of inserting, into a lubricated gap between the toe of the first bead Bo and the corresponding rim seat, a demounting insert I in the form of a portion of a circular ring of triangular meridian section of small dimensions, and then ejecting the first bead Bo from the rim J before or simultaneously with the ejection of the tire/support assembly.

Abstract: The tread of a rib type tire is modified to provide draft angles in lateral grooves of selected ribs to compensate the tire's residual aligning torque (RAT). This allows the vehicle to have straight ahead motion with no steering pull. The draft angles are achieved by inclining the radial centerline of the lateral grooves to be sloped forward on one side of the midcircumferential plane and sloped backward on the other side of the midcircumferential plane. The centerline draft angle results in tread blocks sloped forward and backward during forward motion of the vehicle. The sloping tread blocks produces an effective rolling radius change on selected ribs of the tread pattern. Effective rolling radius of selected ribs is a concept introduced to explain the physical relationships that exist in the contact patch of the tire with the ground surface.