Abstract: A curing mold includes an upper mold portion having a plurality of upper and lower sections radially translatable between open and closed positions, wherein each of the lower sections are positioned adjacent one of the upper sections to form a plurality of pairs of upper and lower sections. The tire mold also includes a pin extending from a first section of each pair of sections, and an aperture extending within a second section of each pair of sections, the aperture including an opening and positioned for receiving a portion of the pin extending from the corresponding first section when the mold is in a substantially closed position. Particular embodiments of the present invention also include a first plurality of radially translatable sections arranged to form an expandable ring and one or more first synchronization members extending between adjacent sections of the first plurality of sections.

Abstract: A tire patch for repairing an associated vehicle tire includes a patch body configured to overlay a portion of the associated vehicle tire, and a plurality of reinforcements received at least partially within the patch body, each reinforcement of the plurality having a first ending and a second ending, wherein the plurality of reinforcements are arranged to provide a staggered arrangement of the first endings.

Abstract: A device for preparing a flat profiled element from an elastomeric thermoplastic gel includes: an extruder with at least one feed and a discharge; an extruder die having section configured to be suitable for a profile of the flat profiled element; a liquid cooling bath with a free surface for receiving and cooling the flat profiled element as the flat profiled element is discharged from the extruder die; and a flat moving support for receiving the flat profiled element. The free surface of the liquid cooling bath is arranged in an immediate vicinity of an outlet of the extruder die. Additionally, an angle of inclination of a plane of the extruder die to a horizontal plane is between 20 and 70 degrees.

Abstract: A laminated product (1) that forms a deformable cellular structure, comprising: an upper band (2) and a lower band (3) both oriented in the same main direction (X); and between the two bands and connecting the latter in zones (4a, 4b) referred to anchoring zones, a series (5A, 5B, 5C) that extends in the direction X, of cylindrical structures (5) referred to connecting cylindrical structures that are non-touching in the direction X. Each connecting cylindrical structure (5) comprises a plurality of preferably concentric elementary cylinders (5a, 5b) having their generatrix oriented along an axis Y perpendicular to the direction X, said elementary cylinders being fitted one inside the other and interconnected to one another in each anchoring zone (4). Said elementary cylinders are especially composite cylinders comprising fibres embedded in a resin matrix.

Abstract: A tire curing mold capable of operating between open and closed positions includes a first plurality of translatable sections, the sections translatable between open and closed positions and one or more first side plates positioned for engagement with the first plurality of translatable sections when the sections are in the closed position. The tire curing mold also includes a first mold back ring slidably engaging the first plurality of sections and slidably attached to a first base plate, and a first plurality of displacement members extending between the first base plate and the first mold back ring, the one or more displacement members applying a closing force against the first mold back ring to force the first plurality of translatable sections into the closed position.

Abstract: Methods of repairing tire portions have steps that include removing at least part of the damaged portion of the tire to form an aperture or opening through the tire; forming one or more grooves in the tire adjacent to and extending from the aperture; placing at least one repair reinforcement within each of the one or more grooves; placing a patch on the tire to cover the aperture and each repair reinforcement; and, applying material to fill the remainder of the opening.

Abstract: A device for producing a gas plasma by ionisation of a gas using a microwave source of determined nominal power (Pn), includes a magnetron 7 receiving its electric energy from a supply circuit. The device is characterized in that the power (Pd) delivered by the supply circuit to the magnetron 7 is no more than one quarter of the nominal power (Pn) of the magnetron 7.

Abstract: A tire tread comprising a plurality of grooves opening on to a running surface, each groove having an average orientation and being defined by facing walls, these walls being connected together by a groove bottom, each groove being defined geometrically by a transverse profile obtained by intersecting said groove by a section plane substantially transverse to the average direction of the groove, the transverse profile of a plurality of grooves having variable curvatures, the variation of said curvatures in the section plane being mathematically continuous. A tire provided with such a tread.

Abstract: A tire for a two-wheeled motorcycle includes a continuous carcass-type reinforcement structure, having reinforcement elements and anchored on each side to a bead. Each bead extends radially by a sidewall, which meets up radially with a tread. Under the tread is a crown reinforcement structure including at least one working layer, and which does not comprise any circumferentially oriented reinforcement elements. Over the profile of the tire in a radial plane, in its part outside of the two points of tangency of the curvilinear abscissa of the carcass-type reinforcement structure with perpendiculars to the axis of rotation at least one layer of working reinforcement elements is at least partially radially to the inside of the part of the carcass-type reinforcement structure radially to the outside of the two points of tangency.

Abstract: A tire for heavy equipment of the heavy-vehicle, agricultural or construction machinery type, includes a carcass reinforcement surmounted radially by a crown reinforcement, itself covered radially by a tread, the tread being connected to two beads by two sidewalls. The tread is formed, at least in its radially outward part, of an expanded elastomer mix whose specific gravity is less than 02.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for minimizing and compensating for cracking in piezoelectric devices so as to maintain long term functionality of the devices. Compensation for cracking is achieved by applying solid conductive electrodes over the entire surface of the piezoelectric device and extending the electrodes beyond the perimeter of the piezoelectric device. In this way electrical connections are maintained even in the presence of cracking. Cracking of the piezoelectric device is limited by minimizing the local bending moment of the piezoelectric device by way of applying insulative support materials that may vary in thickness.

Abstract: A fixing element (470) that enables an electronic unit (440) to be fixed on the inside of a tire-wheel assembly, on the tubular insert (433) of an inflation valve (430) of the tire-wheel assembly, the fixing element comprising: an interface piece (471) comprising means to establish a connection with the tubular insert of the valve and a housing (488) for a seal (460); at least one container (473) holding or designed to hold the electronic unit; and at least one attachment piece(472) that enables elastic coupling between the interface piece and the container. A method for mounting an electronic unit (440) on a tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tire for a two-wheeled motorized vehicle includes a carcass-type reinforcement structure, having reinforcement elements anchored on each side to a bead. Each bead extends radially by a sidewall, which meets up radially with a tread. Under the tread is a crown reinforcement structure including at least one working layer of working reinforcement elements, and a layer of circumferentially oriented reinforcement elements disposed radially to the outside of the carcass-type reinforcement structure. Over the profile of the tire in a radial plane, radially to the outside of the two points of tangency of the curvilinear abscissa of the carcass-type reinforcement structure with perpendiculars to the axis of rotation, at least one layer of working reinforcement elements is at least partially radially to the inside of the part of the carcass-type reinforcement structure radially to the outside of the two points of tangency.

Abstract: Control of running conditions, and particularly physical parameters of tires are recommended to increase automobile safety. A sensor according to the invention is used to determine various factors such as the temperature or pressure of tires. The sensor is a hybrid resonant passive structure that may be integrated in the vehicle ground connection, and particularly in the rubber of the tire when it is manufactured.

Abstract: Steering control system for a land vehicle with at least four steered wheels (1AvG, 1AvD, 1ArG, 1ArD), the system comprising one actuator per steered wheel (3AvG, 3AvD, 3ArG, 3ArD). The system comprises a control member (2) available to a driver and delivering a demanded steering angle (?), a steering control unit (4) which, by way of input variable, uses at least the said demanded steering angel (?) to determine a steering control angle for operating the said actuator, and means (5) for detecting a lock-up of one of the steered-wheel actuators, which are capable of delivering an alarm signal identifying an actuator that has locked up.

Abstract: A method to cure a non-uniform rubber article uses one or more high thermal diffusivity pins in a mold to direct heat to the cure-limiting parts of the article to reduce the total cure time in the mold and increase the uniformity of the cure of the article. Reductions in cure time of up to 20% or more are achieved without substantially changing the function or degrading the performance of the article. The method is particularly useful for curing tires and treads for tires. Finite element analysis or thermocouple probes can used to determine the cure-limiting part(s) for the tire or tread. Using this knowledge, one or more of the high thermal diffusivity pins are located in the mold at positions to transfer heat into the cure-limiting part(s).

Abstract: Device for manufacturing the tread of a tire, said tread comprising a plurality of relief tread elements of height h whose radially outer surface is designed to be in contact with the ground when the tire is rolling on the road surface, comprising a rotary support suitable for supporting a base strip (MB) forming a receiving surface (S), an extrusion die (1) comprising a plurality of extrusion nozzles whose outlet channels are oriented radially approximately perpendicular to the receiving surface (S), at least two compound supply means, each feeding into one or more separate extrusion nozzles, and means for positioning and moving the extrusion die relative to the receiving surface (S).

Abstract: An aircraft tire inflated to high pressure and including a tread and a crown reinforcement in the form of composite textile cables which form at least one twin ply of two layers of crossed elements obtained by winding, in a zigzag around a cylindrical support and from one edge of the crown reinforcement to the other, a strip of at least one reinforcement until the two layers of crossed elements form angles of opposing directions of between 8° and 30° with the circumferential direction.