Abstract: A method for determining a load exerted on a tire, fitted on a vehicle, during running of the vehicle on a rolling surface, is disclosed. The method includes acquiring a first signal comprising a first signal portion representative of a radial deformation; measuring an amplitude of the radial deformation in the first signal portion; estimating a rotation speed of the tire corresponding to the radial deformation; estimating an inflation pressure of the tire corresponding to the radial deformation; and deriving the load exerted on the tire from the amplitude, the rotation speed, and the inflation pressure. The first signal portion is representative of the radial deformation to which a first tread area portion of the tire is subjected during passage of the first tread area portion through a contact region between the tire and the rolling surface. A system for determining the load exerted on the tire is also disclosed.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition includes at least one diene elastomeric polymer, at least one salt or oxide of a transition metal belonging to groups IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA, or VIIIA of the Periodic Table, at least one vulcanization accelerator, sulphur or derivatives thereof, and at least one reinforcing filler. The elastomeric composition is substantially free of zinc or derivatives thereof. A tire for a vehicle wheel including at least one component including the elastomeric composition and a tread band for a tire including the elastomeric composition are also disclosed. The at least one diene elastomeric polymer may include a glass transition temperature lower than 20° C. The at least one salt of a transition metal may be an organic or inorganic metal salt. The at least one oxide of a transition metal may include one or more of: cobalt oxide; cerium oxide; molybdenum oxide; manganese oxide; and iron oxide.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing elastomeric components of a tire for a vehicle wheel includes feeding a continuous elongated element from a delivery member by exerting a feeding pressure inside the delivery member, rotating a building support around a geometrical rotation axis of the support, carrying out controlled relative displacements between the delivery member and the support to form a tire component, stopping the feeding of the elongated element when formation of the tire component is complete, and exerting a counter-pressure inside the delivery member after stopping the feeding. Rotating the support assists circumferential distribution of the elongated element on the support. Carrying out controlled relative displacements assists transverse distribution of the elongated element on the support. The tire component is defined by a plurality of coils laid in a pre-established deposition pattern depending on a predetermined cross-section outline to be given to the tire component.

Abstract: A method for cutting a ribbon of rubber-coated fabric includes dragging a free end of the ribbon past a working position of a punching device, forming a notch between two adjacent reinforcing cords of the ribbon using the punching device, moving a counter-blade of the punching device away from the working position, inserting at least one cutting blade through the notch, and performing first and second cuts of the ribbon. An associated apparatus includes a punching device and a cutting device. The punching device includes an incision tool, an abutting counter-blade, and control devices for moving the incision tool and the abutting counter-blade toward and away from the ribbon. The cutting device includes at least one cutting blade and a control device for moving the at least one cutting blade toward and away from the ribbon.

Abstract: A first carcass ply (3) is formed by depositing onto a toroidal support (11), strip-like lengths (13) cut to size from a continuous strip-like element and each comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (14) incorporated into a layer of elastomer material (17). The strip-like lengths are laid down sequentially in mutual circumferential side by side relationship, to form side portions (25) partly superposed on each other and crown portions (24) in mutual circumferential side by side relationship. Associated with the carcass ply (3) are annular structures (4) comprising a first and a second circumferentially inextensible annular inserts (27, 28) and an elastomer filling (29) interposed therebetween. A second carcass ply (31) is made in superposed position to the first carcass ply (3) and the annular structures (4). A belt structure (5), a tread band (8) and sidewalls (9) are combined with the carcass structure (2) thus formed, to define a tire (1) to be vulcanized.

Abstract: A method for reducing tire microsliding includes defining a rotation point and rotating a cross section profile about it. A cross section of a radially-external reference profile of a tread band includes a first rectilinear segment near at least one circumferential rib of a first shoulder portion. The first rectilinear segment extends axially outward beyond a corresponding shoulder edge point. A cross section profile of the at least one circumferential rib of the first shoulder portion includes a second rectilinear segment. The rotation point is on the first rectilinear segment, either the corresponding shoulder edge point itself or axially outward of it. The cross section profile of the first rectilinear segment is rotated to define the cross section profile of the second rectilinear segment, so that an axially-inner end of the second rectilinear segment is closer to the carcass structure than an axially-inner end of the first rectilinear segment.

Abstract: A plant for producing types of tyres different from each other includes a manufacturing unit including a plurality of work stations, devices for transfer and movement of the tyres being produced, and a vulcanizing unit including vulcanizing moulds for the tyres being produced. Each work station is designed to assemble at least one corresponding structural component on at least one type of tyre being produced. The devices for transfer and movement operate between the work stations and provide selective movement for each of the types of tyres being produced in proximity to corresponding work stations. The plant may also include a central processing unit. The central processing unit may control the devices for transfer and movement to coordinate processing stages for each type of tyre in the manufacturing unit and in the vulcanizing unit. Additionally, the plant may include holding stations associated with at least some of the work stations.

Abstract: A method for determining the roughness of a tyre rolling surface by the steps of providing a first signal representative of the motion of at least one point of the tyre during rolling of the surface and processing the first signal for providing an output indicative of the roughness of the rolling surface of the tyre.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a tire fitted to a vehicle includes detecting data from the tire, sending the data to a central processing unit using a predetermined telecommunications protocol, causing automatic processing of the data by the central processing unit to obtain at least one value for an index characterizing the tire during use of the tire, and sending the at least one value to a receiving unit. The data from the tire includes a code identifying the tire and at least one item of data regarding a state of the tire. A system for monitoring a tire includes a device for detecting data from the tire and a central processing unit. The central processing unit causes automatic processing of the detected data and generates at least one value for an index characterizing the tire during use of the tire.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a tire includes providing an elastomeric layer on an outer surface of a toroidal support, manufacturing the tire on the toroidal support provided with the elastomeric layer, introducing the tire supported on the toroidal support into a moulding cavity, introducing a fluid under pressure into a space defined between the toroidal support and an inner surface of the tire in order to press an outer surface of the tire against walls of the moulding cavity, and curing the tire. The elastomeric layer forms an inner circumferential surface of the tire. The process further includes causing an electrical current to flow in at least one heating element provided to the outer surface of the toroidal support so as to obtain at least partial precuring of the elastomeric layer. A toroidal support for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a tread band extending circumferentially around the carcass structure, a belt structure circumferentially located between the carcass structure and the tread band, and at least one pair of sidewalls applied to the carcass structure in axially opposite positions. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply. Ends of the carcass structure are fastened to a pair of annular reinforcing elements, wherein each annular reinforcing element is incorporated in a respective bead of the tire includes at least one cord. The at least one cord includes at least one preformed metallic thread element.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing tires by disposing an uncured elastomeric material on a substantially rigid toroidal support so as to form a green tire. The green tire and the toroidal support are then disposed within a vulcanization mold in which a molding cavity is defined, so as to mold and cure the green tire. The molding cavity includes at least a portion in which molding and curing are carried out at a constant volume. The disposition of the elastomeric material onto the rigid toroidal support is carried out by controlling the volume distribution of the elastomeric material onto the toroidal support, so as to fit a predetermined curve of excess material volume, i.e., a curve showing a difference between the volume distribution of the material forming the green tire and the available volume in the portion of the molding cavity adapted for molding and curing the green tire at constant volume, versus a predetermined, e.g. radial, direction.

Abstract: A method of moulding and curing tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of disposing a tire being processed on a toroidal support, enclosing the tire and the toroidal support inside a moulding cavity defined in a vulcanization mould, pressing the outer surface of the tire against the moulding cavity walls, and administering heat to the tire to cause molecular crosslinking of the tire. The pressing step includes the steps of compressing side portions of the tire between the moulding cavity walls and the outer surface of the toroidal support, concurrently with the closing step, and imposing an expansion to a radially-outer portion of the tire to bring the radially-outer portion of the tire against the walls of the moulding cavity.

Abstract: A method for cutting a ribbon of rubber-coated fabric includes dragging a free end of the ribbon past a working position of a punching device, forming a notch between two adjacent reinforcing cords of the ribbon using the punching device, moving a counter-blade of the punching device away from the working position, inserting at least one cutting blade through the notch, and performing first and second cuts of the ribbon. An associated apparatus includes a punching device and a cutting device. The punching device includes an incision tool, an abutting counter-blade, and control devices for moving the incision tool and the abutting counter-blade toward and away from the ribbon. The cutting device includes at least one cutting blade and a control device for moving the at least one cutting blade toward and away from the ribbon.

Abstract: Process for producing tyres, in which the crosslinking of a composition is carried out, this composition comprising: (a) an elastomeric polymer containing epoxide groups, and (b) an oligomer of a fatty acid. On heating, the elastomeric material reaches a high degree of crosslinking without the addition of conventional crosslinking agents, with crosslinking times contained within limits that are acceptable for industrial use. These compositions are particularly suitable for the production of tread bands.

Abstract: An expandable bladder for manufacturing pneumatic tyres is used in combination with a vulcanisation apparatus including, for example, a mould having a plurality of sidewall plates and tread sectors that, when the mould is closed, delimit a moulding cavity suitable for housing the green pneumatic tyre to be cured. The expandable bladder includes an elastomeric material obtained by curing an elastomeric composition which includes at least one butyl rubber and at least one compound having at least one double bond and an at least partially fluorinated alkyl or polyoxyalkylene chain.

Abstract: A metal cord includes at least one preformed elementary metal wire. The metal cord has an elongation at break, measured on the bare cord, higher than or equal to 3%, preferably 4% to 6%; an elongation at break, measured on the rubberized and vulcanized cord, which differs in an amount not higher than or equal to 15%, preferably 2% to 10% with respect to the elongation at break measured on the bare cord; a part load elongation, measured on the bare cord, higher than or equal to 0.4%, preferably 0.5% to 1.5%; a part load elongation, measured on the rubberized and vulcanized cord, which differs in an amount not higher than or equal to 15%, preferably 0.5% to 10%, with respect to the part load elongation measured on the bare cord.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a cornering angle of a tyre fitted on a vehicle during running of the vehicle on a rolling surface. The tyre has an equatorial plane. In the method, the length of the contact region between the tyre and the rolling surface is estimated, the length being measured at a distance from the equatorial plane; the load exerted on the tyre is estimated; a camber angle to which the tyre is subjected, is estimated; and the cornering angle is derived from the camber angle, tyre load and contact region length.

Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes at least one metallic reinforcing cord comprising a single strand of elementary filaments preformed by sinusoidal waving and wound together. The number of filaments is greater than or equal to 3 and less than or equal to 8. A diameter of each filament is greater than or equal to 0.12 mm and less than or equal to 0.35 mm. A linear density of the at least one reinforcing cord is greater than or equal to 0.18 g/m and less than or equal to 4.0 g/m. A value of a breaking-stress integral of the at least one reinforcing cord is greater than or equal to 5,000 J/m3. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the at least one reinforcing cord in a tire for front-mounting may be distributed with a variable density while, in a tire for rear-mounting, the density may be constant.

Abstract: A method for determining the force at the hub of a wheel of a vehicle while traveling. The wheel includes a rim and at least one deformation sensor directly associated with the rim in at least one predetermined position and arranged according to at least one predetermined orientation. The method includes the steps of detecting at least one deformation component of the rim during travel through the at least one deformation sensor; applying to the at least one deformation component, during travel, a correlation parameter characteristic of the rim, between the force at the hub and the relative deformation of the rim to determine at least one force component at the hub correlated with the at least one deformation component of the rim.