Abstract: An elastomeric suspension spring (14) usable for bearing the load of a motor vehicle, which exhibits both reduced creep and improved endurance in torsion and a suspension joint comprising this spring consists of a cross-linked rubber composition based on (phr: parts by weight per hundred parts of diene elastomer(s)): natural rubber in a quantity equal to or greater than 60 phr, a filler, and a sulfur cross-linking system comprising at least one cross-linking accelerator, and is such that said filler comprises, in a mass fraction greater than 55%: a carbon black, whose grade varies from 600 to 900, said composition comprising in this case a total quantity of filler of from 10 to 60 phr, or an inert white filler, said composition comprising in this case a total quantity of filler of from 10 to 30 phr, the cross-linking system comprising 0.7 to 1.2 phr of sulfur and being such that the mass ratio of sulfur to cross-linking accelerator(s) varies from 0.15 to 2.70.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing tires (P) using at least one core (N) used as a reference surface of the manufacture of the tires (P) by moving consecutively from one manufacturing station to another from the start of assembly through to vulcanisation, comprising a first line of stations, oriented in a horizontal direction XX?, capable of receiving the core whose axis of rotation rr? is oriented horizontally, and a second line of stations (200, 300, 300?), oriented in a horizontal direction YY?, perpendicular to the direction XX?, in which the stations are capable of receiving a core (N) whose axis rr? is oriented vertically. The first line of stations comprises a first (120) and a second (130) station for assembling the tire including member (121, 131) for grasping and driving the core (N) in rotation about a horizontal axis rr?, merged with the axis XX?, such members being placed opposite one another.

Abstract: A tire intended to be fitted on a vehicle bearing a heavy load, such as a lorry, construction vehicle and/or aircraft, which tire comprises a carcass reinforcement radially surmounted by a crown reinforcement and a tread. The crown reinforcement is composed of at least two plies of metallic reinforcement elements, which are parallel to each other within the respective ply and are crossed from one ply to the next, forming angles of between 10 and 35° with the circumferential direction. Disposed in each shoulder is an additional ply of reinforcement elements which are parallel to each other in the ply and are oriented radially. The axially inner edges of the additional shoulder ply are radially adjacent to at least one edge of one of the plies of the crown reinforcement. The axially outer edge of the additional shoulder ply is radially lower than the edge of the ply to which the additional shoulder ply is adjacent.

Abstract: A device designed for demounting a tire from a rim at least one of whose seats is inclined outwards, the device being in the form of an insert (4) of length (L) with three faces and whose cross-section in a transverse plane is triangular overall with a contour formed by two long sides (41, 42) and a short side (43), the angle between the long sides being close to the angle between the rim seats and the rotation axis, the length of the short side being essentially equal to the height of the projection of the outward-inclined rim seat, this insert (4) comprising on its face intended to come in contact with a bead seat at least one relief (421, 422) designed to interact with said bead seat (11) so as to keep the insert engaged with the bead.

Abstract: A cooling device (230) for a core (N) composed of plural elements which may be dismantled and forming in the configuration used for the assembly a stable surface of revolution having a continuous form, close to the final form of manufacture of a tire, the core being used as a reference surface for the manufacture of the tires from the start of assembly through to vulcanization. The cooling device includes members for grasping and holding the core and members for setting the core in rotation about its axis rr? placed in a horizontal position. A tub (233) is provided which contains refrigerated water, in which part of the surface of the core can be immersed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation random copolymers of butadiene and isoprene, essentially consisting of reacting a catalytic system in the presence of butadiene and isoprene and using, as catalytic system, a system based on at least:—a conjugated diene monomer,—an organic phosphoric acid salt of one or more rare earth metals,—an alkylating agent consisting of an alkylaluminium of the formula AlR3 or HAlR2, and—a halogen donor consisting of an alkylaluminium halide, said salt being in suspension in at least one inert, saturated and aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon solvent, which is included in said catalytic system, and the “alkylating agent:rare earth salt” molar ratio falls within a range of from 1 to 8, and performing the copolymerization reaction in an inert hydrocarbon polymerisation solvent or without solvent. These copolymers are in particular such that the butadiene and isoprene units which they comprise each have an elevated content of cis-1,4 linkages.

Abstract: A foam insert (5) designed to occupy the inner space formed by a tire (2) and a rim (3) equipped with an inflation valve (4), comprising a duct (53) whose walls are airtight and which passes through the inside of the volume of said foam insert (5), characterised in that a wick (56) is disposed inside the duct (53).

Abstract: A tyre suitable for extended-mobility travel includes sidewalls reinforced by a sidewall insert, namely an inner insert in the inner sidewall, and an outer insert in the outer sidewall. The inserts are made of rubber composition enabling the sidewalls to bear a load corresponding to part of the weight of the vehicle in a situation in which the inflation pressure is substantially reduced or zero. The inner sidewall, and more particularly the insert of this inner sidewall, has a substantially higher modulus of extension than the outer sidewall (and more particularly than the insert of this outer sidewall). The outer insert is subdivided into at least two zones; the inner insert can comprise one or more zones, but always fewer than the number of zones of the outer insert.

Abstract: A device for laying reinforcement cords (41) of a tire. The device is formed of a first frame (1) comprising a motor-driven shaft (10) with an axis XX?, the motor-driven shaft (10) supporting a reference form on which the blank (4) of the tire rests. The first frame (1) itself is mounted rotatably about an axis ZZ? on a second frame (2) in such a manner that the axis ZZ? has a point of intersection with the axis of rotation XX? and belongs to the equatorial plane (E) of the blank (4) or of the reference form on which the blank rests. A third frame (3) is rigidly connected to the second frame (2), the third frame (3) supporting an apparatus (13) for laying the lengths of cords (41) by projection of the lengths of cords directly into their final position on the receiving surface formed by the tire blank (4).

Abstract: The resistance to unseating of at least one tire mounted on a mounting rim and inflated to a predetermined pressure is determined by mounting the tire/rim unit on a vehicle in a steering axle position. The vehicle is set in motion in a straight path and stabilized at a predetermined speed. The steering wheel is then rotated to impose a steering angle which is maintained so that the vehicle travels along a circular trajectory arc. If the tire does not unseat, increases in the steering angle are made periodically so that the vehicle travels in progressively tighter circular trajectory arcs until either the tire becomes unseated or the steering wheel reaches its terminal stop.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring heat into a product, such as a tire, formed at least in part by molding is provided. The apparatus includes a mold that has a central axis with a forming surface disposed radially outward from the central axis. A heating conduit is included and is at least partially located radially outward from the forming surface of the mold. The heating conduit is configured for use with a gas, such as saturated steam, in order to effect heat transfer to the forming surface of the mold. The heating conduit extends helically with respect to the central axis in order to allow condensation formed in the heating conduit to be drained therefrom via the force of gravity. A drainage connector may be in communication with the exit of the heating conduit and have a lower longitudinal axis than the heating conduit to allow condensation to drain more easily therefrom.

Abstract: A system (1?) formed of a wheel comprising a rim (3?) equipped with an inflation valve (4?), a tire (2?) mounted on said rim of said wheel, and an airtight cellular foam insert (5?) placed inside the volume defined by the internal wall of the tire (2?) and the rim of the wheel (3?). The foam insert (5?) is disposed in a first compartment (A), in communication with the atmosphere via a duct (44?, 46?), and isolated from the rest of the space inside the tire casing by a device (302?) ensuring the airtight seal between the wall of said first compartment (A) and an element of the internal wall of the rim or the casing, in such a way as to form a second airtight compartment (B) communicating with the inflation valve (4?) and inflated to tire utilisation pressure. The duct for providing communication with the atmosphere (44?, 46?) is equipped with a closing device (45?) which adopts the closed position during travel and is capable of being brought into the open position between two travel phases.

Abstract: An assembly (1) formed of a wheel comprising a rim (3) equipped with an inflation valve (4), a tire (2) mounted on said rim (3) of said wheel, and a foam insert (5) placed inside the volume defined by the internal wall of the tire (2) and the wheel rim (3). The foam insert (5) is disposed in a first compartment (A) in communication with the atmosphere via a duct (36) and isolated in airtight manner by a flexible membrane (51) from the rest of the space (B) inside the tire casing, which space forms a second compartment (B) in communication with the inflation valve (4, 41) and designed to be inflated to the utilisation pressure of the tire.

Abstract: A safety assembly (1) for a tire allowing running at reduced pressure. A rim (2) is equipped with a valve, and a tire (4) is mounted on the rim. A structural support (3) rests on the rim (2) and is enclosed in the space between the rim and the internal wall of the tire. The two axially opposed ends (31, 32) of the base (30) of the support (3) form an airtight joint with the part of the rim (2) on which they rest. The space between the rim (20) and the base of the support (30) and situated between the two airtight joints communicates with atmospheric pressure by means of a duct (26).

Abstract: A process is described for obtaining from an “FCC” initial C5 fraction which is enriched with isoprene and purified and usable for the selective polymerization of isoprene. A process is also described for obtaining an isoprene homopolymer from a polymerization medium comprising isoprene and at least one methyl butene, such as said “FCC” C5 fraction which is enriched with isoprene and purified. The process of obtaining the final fraction from the initial C5 fraction includes: a catalytic hydrogenation reaction of said initial C5 fraction by a palladium-based catalyst, which produces an intermediate C5 fraction comprising n-pentenes in a mass ratio which is less than 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire for a two-wheeled motorized vehicle and more particularly a motorcycle. Such a tire comprises a carcass-type reinforcement structure, formed of reinforcement elements and anchored on each side of the tire to a bead whose base is intended to be fitted on a rim seat, each bead being extended radially towards the outside by a sidewall, the sidewalls meeting up radially towards the outside with a tread, and comprising under the tread a crown reinforcement structure consisting of at least one layer of reinforcement elements known as a working layer.

Abstract: A method and a device for testing a run-flat tire support. At least one measurement representing at least one internal or external dimension of the support representing the effective internal diameter of said support is performed. Such measurement is performed while at least one part of the radially internal surface of the support is subjected to radial centrifugal stresses.