Abstract: Presented is a heavy vehicle, such as a transport vehicle or civil engineering vehicle, of a mass greater than 500 metric tons and operable to generate a motive power. The vehicle includes tires of radial structure having a diameter greater than 3.5 meters, a front axle coupled to at least two tires, and at least one rear axle coupled to at least two tires and by which is transmitted at least part of the motive power. At least one of the axles includes at least four tires associated in pairs symmetrically on either side of the axle, and two associated tires have different axial widths.

Abstract: A load-bearing structure for a bearing support intended to be mounted on a rim inside a tire fitted on a vehicle to support the tread of the tire in the event of a loss of inflation pressure is provided. The load-bearing structure includes a base, a crown, and an annular body connecting the base and the crown. The body includes a plurality of partitions distributed regularly circumferentially, extending axially substantially from one side to the other of the body and radially from the base to the crown with a mean orientation relative to the radial direction of between 10 and 50 degrees, in that two circumferentially adjacent partitions exhibit contrary orientations relative to the radial direction and in that two adjacent partitions define with the base and/or the crown cavities in the form of triangles or trapezoids.

Abstract: A device for evaluating the appearance of the surface of a tire (P) comprising a color linear camera (1) comprising means (14, 15, 16) for separating the light beam (F) reflected by the surface of said tire (P) and entering the camera (1) into at least two base colors (R, G, B) of given wavelength, so as to direct the light beam to as many sensors (11, 12, 13) capable of obtaining a basic image in gray level (41, 42, 43) for each of the base colors, as many lighting means (21, 22, 23) as base colors, said lighting means being oriented so as to light the surface to be evaluated at different angles, characterized in that each of the lighting means (21, 22, 23) emits a colored light (R, G, B) that differs from that of the other lighting means, and the wavelength of which corresponds substantially to the wavelength of one of the base colors selected by the camera.

Abstract: Metal cord (C-1) having two layers (Ci, Ce) of 3+N construction, rubberized in situ, comprising an inner layer (Ci) formed from three core wires (10) of diameter d1 wound together in a helix with a pitch p1 and an outer layer (Ce) of N wires (11) N varying from 6 to 12, of diameter d2, which are wound together in a helix with a pitch p2 around the inner layer (Ci), wherein said cord has the following characteristics (d1, d2, p1 and p2 are expressed in mm): 0.20<d1<0.50; 0.20<d2<0.50; p1/p2?1; 5<p1<30; 10<p2<30; the inner layer is sheathed with a diene rubber composition called a “filling rubber” (12) which, for any length of cord of at least 2 cm, is present in the central channel (13) formed by the three core wires and in each of the gaps lying between the three core wires (10) and the N wires (11) of the outer layer (Ce); and the content of filling rubber in the cord is between 5 and 30 mg per g of cord.

Abstract: An airplane tire in which the carcass reinforcement comprises at least one inner layer (11, 12) wrapped around the bead core (15) from the inside to the outside to form a turn-up, and at least one outer layer (13, 14), axially outward within the sidewall (18) of any inner layer, the inner layer axially nearest the bead core being decoupled for at least part of its length, in the area adjacent to and radially outward of the bead core, from the turn-ups and carcass reinforcement layers which are axially outward of it, by at least one polymeric bead filler compound (16), whose radially outermost point C is termed the coupling point. The end of at least one turn-up is radially inward of the coupling point, and at least one turn-up, whose end is radially inward of the coupling point, is decoupled, for at least part of its length and on at least its axially outer face, from any other carcass reinforcement layer or from any other turn-up, by at least one polymeric bead filler compound.

Abstract: Method for inspecting a zone of the surface of a tire, said surface comprising markings in relief, wherein the three-dimensional profile of the surface to be inspected is determined, characteristic points on the surface to be inspected are located and these points are matched with the corresponding points originating from the three-dimensional data of a reference surface, so as to create a set of pairs of matched points, in an iterative manner, a first affine transformation function is sought, applied to the characteristic points of the reference surface, so that the value representing the sum of the distances between each of the characteristic points of the reference surface, which points are transformed with the aid of said first transformation function, and the points of the surface to be inspected that are matched with them, is minimal, and said first transformation function is applied to all of the points of the reference surface in order to obtain a transformed reference surface.

Abstract: Tire comprising a tread having a tread surface (11) and comprising a plurality of grooves (2) of generally circumferential orientation and of depth H, these grooves (2) defining a plurality of rubber elements (3, 30), at least one of which comprises a plurality of cavities (6), each cavity (6) of volume Vc of generally elongate shape with a total length Lc and being designed to communicate with a single groove (2) of generally circumferential orientation, each cavity (6) being extended all the way along its length Lc by an incision (80) which extends radially outwardly to emerge at the tread surface (11), this tire being such that the incision (80) comprises an incision portion (81) beginning at the cavity and forming an angle A of at least 10° with a line perpendicular to the tread surface and passing through the point of intersection of the incision with the cavity (6).

Abstract: Nanoparticles of functionalised, cross-linked vinyl polymer, usable as reinforcing filler in a polymeric matrix. The vinyl polymer is a copolymer of at least the following monomers, which are all copolymerisable by free-radical polymerisation: a non-aromatic vinyl monomer “A”; a monomer “B” bearing a function Z of formula ?Si—X, where X represents a hydroxyl or hydrolysable group; and a cross-linking monomer “C” which is at least bifunctional from the point of view of the polymerisation. The vinyl polymer is preferably a polymethacrylate, in particular a copolymer of methyl methacrylate (monomer A), trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (monomer B) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (monomer C), being in the form of nanobeads the diameter of which is of between 10 and 100 nm.

Abstract: A tread (1) comprising a plurality of grooves of longitudinal and transverse general orientation (2b, 2c, 31, 32), the grooves of longitudinal orientation comprising main grooves (2b, 2c) of depth G and secondary grooves (31, 32) of depth G? less than the depth G of the main grooves, the central part (C) of the tread, defined axially by two grooves of longitudinal orientation, and of a width of between 0.25 and 0.5 times the width W of the tread, being provided with at least one main groove (2c) of longitudinal orientation and of average depth G. The depth G? of the secondary grooves (31, 32) is between 0.4 and 0.6 times the depth G of the main grooves (2b, 2c). The transverse grooves (5c) of the ribs of the central part (C) comprise over at most half of their length a connecting bridge (6c), the surface radially to the outside of which is at a distance Hc from the running surface of between 0.4 and 0.8 times the depth G of the main grooves.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a metal cable having two layers (Ci, Ce) of construction M+N, comprising an inner layer (Ci) having M wires of diameter d1 wound together in a helix at a pitch p1, M varying from 2 to 4, and an outer layer (Ce) of N wires of diameter d2, wound together in a helix at a pitch p2 around the inner layer (Ci), the method comprising the following steps performed in line: a step of assembling the M core wires by twisting to form the inner layer (Ci) at a point of assembling; downstream of the point of assembling of the M core wires, a step of sheathing the inner layer (Ci) with a diene rubber composition called “filling rubber”, in the raw state; a step of assembling the N wires of the outer layer (Ce) by twisting around the inner layer (Ci) thus sheathed; and a step of twist balancing. Also disclosed is a device for implementing such a method.

Abstract: A vehicle of motorcycle type comprising at least two axle systems each equipped with a mounted assembly consisting of a wheel and a tire. Each of the tires comprises, in each sidewall, at least one additional layer of reinforcing elements forming with the circumferential direction an angle of between 20° and 60°, the orientation of the reinforcing elements of the additional layer in a sidewall being symmetrical to the orientation of the reinforcing elements of the additional layer in the other sidewall in relation to the equatorial plane, the angle formed by the plane comprising a reinforcing element of an additional layer with a radial plane comprising the radially inner end of said reinforcing element being oriented in the direction of rotation of the mounted assembly corresponding to the forward movement of the vehicle in the rear tire and in the opposite direction in the front tire.

Abstract: Film having liquid-water, grease, gas and water-vapour barrier properties, comprising a PVA film grafted on the surface with a fatty acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing a rare-earth organophosphate in the form of a gel that can be used as is for the preparation of a “preformed” catalyst system intended, in particular, for the cis-1,4 stereospecific polymerization of conjugated dienes.

Abstract: A mold includes at least one axial member carrying at least one sidewall molding surface for molding a sidewall of a tire, radial segments each carrying at least one surface for molding a tread of the tire and locking surfaces for connecting the axial member with the radial segments. First radial and axial locking surfaces which are displaceable and carried by the axial member cooperate with second radial and axial locking surfaces. The sidewall molding surface is integral with a fixed portion of the axial member. The first radial and axial locking surfaces are integral with at least one locking member mounted in the axial member and are movable relative to the fixed portion.

Abstract: Assembly drum of variable diameter D, intended for the manufacture of a tire blank, the drum having a generally cylindrical laying surface (2) provided with circular grooves (3) arranged axially in a zone intended to receive profiled elements of great thickness, said groove (3) containing elastic circumferential bodies (4). When the drum D is moved to a first laying diameter, a mechanical means moves the elastic body (4) radially apart from the bottom of the groove, so as to align the radially outer surface of the elastic body (4) with the laying surface of the drum (2).

Abstract: Dental implant drill holes and the shape of a dental implant superstructure are chosen by creating a computer model giving jawbone structural details, gum surface shape information and proposed teeth or dental prosthesis shape information. The computer model shows the bone structure, gum surface and teeth images properly referenced to one another so that implant drill hole positions can be selected taking into consideration proper positioning within the bone as well as proper positioning with respect to the dental prosthesis. Similarly, manufacture of the dental implant superstructures used for fixed dental prosthesis or overdentures can be designed based on knowledge of the actual implant positions referenced to an image of the gum surface and proposed dental prosthesis.

Abstract: A tire comprising a carcass reinforcement radially surmounted by a crown reinforcement comprising at least one layer of reinforcements, the tire furthermore comprising a bielastic reinforcing element extending circumferentially and comprising a bielastic fabric, the bielastic reinforcing element being, at least in part, radially adjacent to a portion of at least one reinforcing layer of the crown reinforcement, in the immediate proximity of an axial end of this reinforcing layer of the crown reinforcement.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and apparatus for stitching the interior surface of a tire, the steps of the method including rotating the tire about a central rotational axis, applying a force to maintain the tire in a substantially radial fixed position relative to a stitching wheel; applying a predetermined force to the interior surface of the tire with the stitching wheel, the stitching wheel contacting the interior surface of the tire while the tire is rotating; and, mechanically translating the stitching wheel laterally across the interior of the tire during tire rotation.