Abstract: A tread and tire for a multipurpose agricultural machine, that improves field traction while ensuring a satisfactory compromise with wear under engine torque and vibratory comfort on the road having a tread having a plurality of lugs distributed in a first row extending axially from a first axial end of the tread and in a second row extending axially from a second axial end of the tread, the second row differing from the first row by a symmetry relative to the equatorial plane of the tire followed by a rotation about the rotation axis of the tire, each row having an alternation of long lugs and of short lugs. The axially inner end face of a first long lug of a row of lugs is separated from the trailing lateral face of the second long lug of the symmetrical row of lugs, closest to the axially inner end face of the first long lug, by an end groove with a width at least equal to 10% and at most equal to 100% of the lug height.

Abstract: Tire components including bead area components and sidewall supports for a run-flat pneumatic tire that are constructed of a material based upon a cross-linkable rubber composition. The cross-linkable rubber composition includes, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr)* between 10 phr—and 90 phr—of a polyisoprene rubber and between 10 phr—and 90 phr of a polybutadiene rubber. The rubber composition further includes between 60 phr and 100 phr of a thermal carbon black having a nitrogen surface area of between 5 m2/g and 15 m2/g and a DBP absorption of between 30 cm3/100 g and 55 cm3/100 g. The rubber composition is cured with a sulfur curing system.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing near-field optical probes including at least one organo-mineral material with an organic part and a mineral part, the method including steps of irradiating at least partially the organo-mineral material with a radiation beam to polymerize the organic part in the irradiated areas, and polycondensing the mineral part by sol-gel process. Also disclosed are near-field optical probes and AFM and SNOM systems using the probes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diene rubber composition reinforced with an inorganic filler comprising a thermoplastic polymer bearing, at at least one end, a silanol or silyl ether functional group. The presence of the functional thermoplastic polymer makes it possible to improve the compromise of performances, which are the handling and the grip, of a tyre having a tread that is based on such a composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functionalized diene elastomer composed a) of a specific block copolymer functionalized, at the chain end or in the middle of the chain, by a tin functional group, b) of a specific block copolymer star-branched by tin and c) of a content of less than 15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the functionalized diene elastomer, of a specific non-tin-functional block copolymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power conversion system comprising a transformer comprising first, second, and third inductive coupling elements, a first power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the first coupling element, a second power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the second coupling element, an output arranged to receive a voltage from the third coupling element. In use, the voltage across the first coupling element and the voltage across the second coupling element are arranged to induce a voltage in the third coupling element. The system also comprises a control arrangement arranged to independently control the operation of the first and second power supplies.

Abstract: A clamp for a choke is provided, the clamp comprising a component configured to hold a choke and at least one electrical connector receiving element for receiving one or more electrical connectors of a choke. The clamp is fitted to the choke and then the assembly is fitted into a device, such as a chassis.

Abstract: A vulcanizing mould for moulding and vulcanizing a tire, comprising a moulding surface extending circumferentially in the mould, and comprising two end strips of patterns arranged respectively close to two edges of the moulding surface and at least one intermediate strip of patterns positioned between the two end strips of patterns. At least one end strip comprises patterns belonging to a first pattern type and the patterns of the first pattern type have a width which is less than the width of the patterns belonging to the other pattern types of the end strip, and the patterns of the first pattern type are grouped at least in twos on first segments of the mould. The patterns of the end strip not belonging to the first pattern type belong to second segments, each second segment comprising just one pattern of the said end strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a radial carcass reinforcement, consisting of at least one layer of reinforcing elements anchored in each of the beads by an upturn around a bead wire, said carcass reinforcement upturn being reinforced by at least one layer of reinforcing elements or stiffener. According to the invention, the reinforcing elements of at least one stiffener are non-wrapped metal cords with saturated layers, having, in what is called the permeability test, a flow rate of less than 5 cm3/min and the thickness of the polymer blends separating the stiffener from the end of the carcass reinforcement upturn is strictly less than 3.5 mm.

Abstract: Noise-reducing device intended to be added to a groove of the tread of a tire comprising an elastic sole preferably extending in a given longitudinal direction, wherein the said sole on one of its faces comprises one or several flexible walls the planes of which run substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a radial carcass reinforcement, consisting of at least one layer of reinforcing elements anchored in each of the beads by an upturn around a bead wire, said carcass reinforcement upturn being reinforced by at least one layer of reinforcing elements or stiffener, the radially outer end of which is radially on the outside of the end of the upturn. According to the invention, the reinforcing elements of at least one stiffener are non-wrapped metal cords with saturated layers, having, in what is called the permeability test, a flow rate of less than 5 cm3/min and the distance between the radially outer end of the stiffener and the end of the carcass reinforcement upturn is less than 5 mm.

Abstract: A tyre, which has an improved grip on wet ground, includes a tread formed of at least a rubber composition. The rubber composition includes: 20 to 100 phr of a first diene elastomer bearing at least one SiOR function, with R being hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical, and with phr referring to parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer; 100 to 160 phr of a reinforcing inorganic filler; and a plasticizing system. The plasticizing system includes: a content A of between 5 and 60 phr of a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg above 20° C.; and a content B of between 5 and 60 phr of a liquid plasticizing agent. A total content A+B is greater than 45 phr. The rubber composition optionally includes 0 to 80 phr of a second diene elastomer.

Abstract: Tubeless tire in the form of a torus open radially inwards with an outer wall and an inner wall, characterized in that at least part of the inner wall is covered with a self-sealing layer comprising a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer having a Shore 0 hardness of less than 35.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to an apparatus for casting a portion of a tire, and, more specifically, to an apparatus that has a cap and an outer ring that are rotatably attached to a fixed portion of the molding apparatus for centrifugally molding the spokes of a non-pneumatic tire from polyurethane or some other suitable material. The cap and outer ring have separate rotatable attachments to the apparatus and are not otherwise connected to each other, so they are free to rotate without obscuring the pouring slot of the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilation well with hurricane-resistant function for a building comprising an inclined roof (11), intended to be adapted to said building in such a way as to extend over its entire height, communicating towards the exterior of the building at the peak of the roof, and having at least one lateral opening (3, 4) communicating with the inside volume of the building, characterised in that it further comprises a cap (5) which may be adjustable in height and/or removable at the top of the well.

Abstract: Provided herein is an optical turbulence device configured for insertion between the target collimator and the sensor unit being tested, which simulates a turbulence effect. The turbulence device for imparting wavefront aberrations to a projected radiation beam includes an optical phase element for altering the optical phase of a radiation beam. The optical phase element includes a plurality of active areas disposed on a surface of the phase element. The plurality of active areas includes a plurality of variations for imparting wavefront aberrations to a radiation beam, thereby altering optical phase of the beam. The device further includes a driving mechanism coupled to the optical phase element for transitioning the optical phase element between a plurality of positions, thereby exposing a different active area of the optical phase element to the radiation beam. The optical phase element is configured to be positioned at an intermediate focal plane of an inverting a focal optical assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functionalized diene elastomer composed: a) of a diene elastomer functionalized, at the chain end or in the middle of the chain, by a tin functional group, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before functionalization and a polydispersity index before functionalization of less than or equal to 1.3, b) of a diene elastomer star-branched with a tin compound, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before star-branching and a polydispersity index before star-branching of less than or equal to 1.3, and c) of a content of less than 15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the functionalized diene elastomer, of a non-tin-functional diene elastomer, the said diene elastomers a), b) and c) being, before optional functionalization or optional star-branching, the same in nature.

Abstract: A tire tread having a layered design is provided. In a first layer of the tread, sipes extend transversely to provide traction in the first stage of the wear life of the tread. In a second layer of the tread, the width of the sipes along the circumferential direction is increased to provide for improved traction in a second stage of the wear life. The increased width is provided by a void that opens to a circumferential groove only along one end. Because the void opens only along one end, a decrease in acoustical effects such as drive by noise can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention comprises tire treads having sipes or other voids formed of non-curable inserts, as well as methods for forming sipes or other voids within a tread using non-curable inserts and apparatus for performing the same. Such methods include providing an uncured tread having a width and a thickness bounded by an outer side and a bottom side. Such methods further include providing a strip of non-curable material, the strip having a width and a length. Furthermore, such methods include inserting the strip of non-curable into the tread thickness from the tread outer side and to a predetermined depth within the tread thickness to form a void-forming insert within the tread thickness. Finally, these methods include curing the tread with the non-curable strip arranged within the tread thickness. The inserts may be folded, which may occur as the strips are inserted into the tread or prior to such insertion.

Abstract: Reinforced rubber composition based at least (a) on an elastomeric matrix comprising natural rubber as the predominant diene elastomer, (b) on a reinforcing filler comprising carbon black in a weight fraction of more than 50% relative to the total weight of the filler, and (c) on a compound belonging to the families of hydrazides or hydrazones or to the family of amines, wherein the carbon black is dispersed in the elastomeric matrix with a Z value of greater than or equal to 80. This rubber composition is intended, for example, for the manufacture of a semi-finished rubber product intended for a tyre of motor vehicles.