Abstract: Vehicle wheel, with symmetry of revolution, including a disc and a rim, the rim including a first and a second seat which seats are designed to receive and to hold a first and a second bead of the tire, each seat having a substantially frustoconical bottom locally coinciding with a cone of revolution coaxial with the rim and open towards the other seat, a safety hump extending the bottom of the seat towards the other seat, and an external lip extending the bottom of the seat in the direction away from the other seat, the maximum diameter of the first seat being less than the maximum diameter of the second seat, characterized in that each seat includes, on the side facing the other seat, an adjacent circumferential groove and in that the connecting region where the disc and the rim meet is connected to the said rim on the second seat side.

Abstract: A method of quantifying the utilization of a maximum grip potential of a tire running on the ground. At two distinct azimuth angles, at least two respective values are determined for a differential extension of the tread of the tire or for a shear of the tread that is homogeneous with said differential extension. The utilization is quantified with the help of a function of the two determined values.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies are provided for flash drying liquid materials using a variable die. A die and a die body are provided with an adjustably configured pressure regulating variable obstruction in the material flow path that allows control of the pressure applied to the material and consequent control of the temperature of the material as it enters the die. Optimizing pressure and temperature allows optimization of the flash drying process.

Abstract: A tire comprising at least one reinforcement structure of the carcass type anchored on either side of the tire in a bead, the base of which bead is intended to be mounted on a rim seat, the reinforcement structure extending circumferentially from the bead towards the sidewall, at least one arrangement of main cords along a substantially circumferential path being arranged substantially adjacent to the structure, the arrangement of the cords of the at least one arrangement being such that the number of main cords arranged on the axially inner side relative to the structure is greater than the number of main cords arranged on the axially outer side relative to the structure.

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

Abstract: Methods for determining the resonant frequency for interrogation of a resonant device include steps for generating and transmitting RF interrogation pulses of various bandwidths to energize one or more SAW resonator elements. Initial RF interrogation pulses have a relatively wide bandwidth, such that the general location of a resonant device's resonant frequency can be expediently determined. Then, interrogation pulses having smaller bandwidth pulses can be transmitted near the determined general location of resonance to further narrow the location of resonance. In some emodiments, one or more initial interrogation pulses are transmitted in the center of or at an expected value within a range of operation of a resonant device.

Abstract: A metallic body of carbon steel covered with an adhesive layer capable of adhering to a rubber matrix based on diene elastomer. The carbon content of the steel is between 0.35 and 1.2% by weight. The adhesive layer is formed of a metallic layer bearing aluminum oxides or hydroxides, which itself is covered with an organosilane film which is at least bifunctional, capable of ensuring, as coupling agent, the bond between the aluminum oxides or hydroxides on one hand, and the rubber matrix on the other hand.

Abstract: A method for the continuous measurement of the wear of a tire comprises the steps of measuring a capacitance or an electrical resistance within a tread pattern element of the tire, and deducing the height of the element with the aid of an equation relating the capacitance or resistance to the height, and devices for implementing the method.

Abstract: A tire includes, among the conventional tread pattern elements, at least one measuring element having a central zone and an encircling zone. In normal operation, the central zone 10 of a measuring element slides over the ground while, conversely, the tread as a whole does not slide over the ground. Measurements are carried out of the maximum adherence potential with the ground, at any moment, due to the central zone of a measuring element. In an alternative embodiment, the measuring element may comprise a circumferentially extending rib(s) or tread block(s) whose ground contact surface(s) is spaced at a lesser radial distance from the wheel axle than the spacing of the ground contact surfaces of the conventional tread blocks.

Abstract: Steering control system with variable ratio, comprising a control member (2) available to a driver to act on the vehicle steering, the said control member being able to be manoeuvred within a maximum range (?max) between a stop to the left and a stop to the right and delivering a requested steering signal (?) quantified in terms of amplitude and direction, the said steering system comprising at least one actuator (3) for acting on the steering angle of the at least one steered wheel, the said steering system comprising a controller (4) using as input variables at least the speed of the vehicle (V) and the said requested steering signal (?) in order to determine, for each of the actuators, a control angle (?) according to which the actuator is controlled for the steering, comprising a first unit (41) for determining, at least according to the speed of the vehicle (V) and preferably according to the maximum transverse acceleration (?y max) of the vehicle, a maximum steering (?max) on the single steered wheel on

Abstract: The present invention concerns an adhesive composition that can be used to bond textile fibers adhesively to a cross-linkable rubber composition, textile fibers sized by means of the said adhesive composition, a composite comprising the textile fibers and a cross-linked rubber composition that is permeable to light, and a tire body whose sidewalls comprise the composite. An adhesive composition according to the invention comprises an aqueous thermosetting phenolic adhesive containing at least one diene elastomer and at least one organic pigment. This adhesive composition is the reaction product the aqueous thermosetting phenolic adhesive and an aqueous pigmentary dispersion containing the organic pigment.

Abstract: A tire is provided, on a surface thereof, an applicaiton having a top layer exposed to the air and a bottom layer in contact with the tire. The top layer can be a rigid element and/or a marking covering, or a device for measuring or monitoring the tire. The bottom layer is a foam having a void ratio of at least 40%, a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, and a density ranging from 0.02 g/cm3 to 0.5 g/cm3.

Abstract: A tire reinforcement structure having parallel threads is made by providing a substantially toroidal rotatable form and a reinforcement-constructing an apparatus disposed adjacent the form. At a forming section of the apparatus a group of multiple parallel threads is formed. The group of threads is fed to a joining section where the threads are embedded in an elastomeric composition to form a strip which is fed to a cutting section where the strip is successively cut into portions. The strip portions are successively fed to a depositing section which successively deposits the portions of the strip along a predetermined trajectory onto the surface of the rotating form. The strip portions are formed in situ at the form and are deposited directly onto the form from the depositing section.

Abstract: Fluid distribution plate (1) for a fuel cell assembly, comprising a first plate (11) made of an electrically conductive material impermeable to all the fluids used in a fuel cell assembly, said distribution plate having a useful section (S) which is the surface over which the gases used by the electrochemical reaction are distributed, said useful section (S) being bordered all around by a peripheral section (P), said first plate having a given thickness e1 in the peripheral section and a smaller thickness e2 in the useful section so as to form a recess from the side facing the outer face and so as to have a flat inner surface, a flexible graphite foil (11C) being applied against said first plate (11) over the entire surface of the recess, the visible face of the flexible graphite foil having a distribution channel (111) for one of the fluids, said network being formed completely in the graphite foil.

Abstract: A method of determining a friction coefficient ? in a contact area of a tire on a road. Fixed points are selected that lie at different azimuths along a circumference of at least one bead of the tire. A shear stress value is measured at each of the fixed points while the tire is rolling on the road. The measured shear stress values are processed to determine the friction coefficient ?.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cross-linkable or cross-linked rubber composition having improved hysteresis properties in the cross-linked state which is useful for the manufacture of treads for tires. The rubber composition of the present invention comprises at least one diene elastomer having a molar ratio of units originating from conjugated dienes which is greater than 30% and comprising carboxylic acid functions along its chain, and a reinforcing inorganic filler. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing such a cross-linkable or cross-linked rubber composition as well as to a tire having reduced rolling resistance and a tread for a tire where the tread comprises the rubber composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of securing a tire-based unit (24) of a tire condition sensing system (12) to a rim (60) and an associated apparatus (62) are provided. The method comprising the steps of: positioning a mounting bracket (124) on the rim (60); positioning a self-pierce rivet (140, 200) against the mounting bracket (124), so that a portion of the mounting bracket (124) is interposed between the self-pierce rivet (140, 200) and the rim (60); pressing the self-pierce rivet (140, 200) against the mounting bracket (124) and toward the female mold portion of the press, so as to pierce a portion of the mounting bracket and to deep draw a portion of the rim into the female mold portion to secure the mounting bracket relative to the rim; removing the rim and secured mounting bracket from the press; and attaching the tire-based unit (24) to the mounting bracket (124).