Abstract: A repaired elastomer article having a cut or crack entirely therethrough. A treating agent is located about the cut portion on the inner surface of the article and an amine curable polymer or prepolymer layer resides over said treating agent. A cured elastomeric patch resides over said curable polymer. Since the amine curable polymer cures at ambient temperatures, the repair of the elastomer article can occur on site. The invention is especially useful in the repair of tires.

Abstract: A tire curing apparatus in which a number of mobile curing units, each designed to house a respective green tire, are selectively and independently fed along a loop circuit having at least two parallel branches, the ends of which branches are connected to a common section extending through a station for loading and unloading tires on and off respective curing units; each curing unit incorporating a mold for a respective green tire, a closed pneumatic circuit designed to receive, at the loading/unloading station, a given supply of curing medium under pressure, a fan device for force circulating the curing medium supply inside the pneumatic circuit, and individual elements for heating both the mold and the curing medium supply.

Abstract: An off-the-highway vehicle tire employing long and short lugs alternately disposed about the periphery in a substantially symmetric manner whereby lugs from each side of the tire strike the ground substantially simultaneously thereby minimizing side forces.

Abstract: A method and device whereby an automatic device for feeding and setting beads onto a tire building drum provides for the loose hanging of two beads and, after centering them in relation to a first axis through expansion of a hanging and automatic centering device, provides for transferring them parallel with the aforementioned first axis and coupled with respective annular transfer and setting bodies, which bodies are spaced a given adjustable distance apart and are transversely mobile between a first position, coaxial with the first axis, and a second position coaxial with a second axis coincident with the drum axis; the feeding and setting device being designed to move along the second axis for positioning the beads on the drum.

Abstract: Cured rubber compositions having modulii at 10% elongation of from about 50 MPa to about 200 MPa are prepared by curing, curable rubber compositions comprising: (a) 100 parts by weight of a rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene and blends thereof; (b) from about 50 to about 100 parts by weight of a metal dimethacrylate selected from the group consisting of zinc dimethacrylate and magnesium dimethacrylate and (c) from about 1.0 to about 6.0 parts by weight of a peroxide curing agent; at temperatures ranging from about 140.degree. to about 180.degree. C. for time periods ranging from about 10 to about 45 minutes. The curable rubber compositions may optionally and in some instances preferably contain from about 0.1 to about 2.0 parts by weight of a co-curing agent.Cured rubber compositions of the invention may be utilized in various applications including for example conveyor belts and tire compounds.

Abstract: An air spring for motor vehicles which includes first and second axially spaced piston members with an intervening flexible sleeve forming a fluid pressure chamber therebetween sealingly connected to the piston members. The sleeve has a greater axial length than the at-rest spacing between the piston members resulting in opposed rolled sleeve ends. The rolled sleeve ends extend about an annular-shaped member which surrounds the first piston members when in the at-rest position. The second piston member has an annular-shaped outer wall which extends telescopically about the first piston member and within the other annular-shaped member thereof when the air spring is in a collapsed or jounce position with the rolled ends forming about and within the annular-shaped members of the first piston member and outer wall of the second piston member.

Abstract: A repaired elastomer article has a hollow in a non-reinforced portion of the article. A cured preformed plug resides within the hollow and is adhered to the article through an amine curable polymer or prepolymer. The amine polymer or prepolymer is curable at ambient temperature. The preformed plug is made of a material which is compatible with the elastomer of the article. The preformed plug material desirably has a lower modulus than the elastomer of the article and hence exhibits good physical properties such as enhanced longevity of the repair, good wear and the like. Since the amine curable polymer or prepolymer cures at ambient temperatures, the repair of the elastomer article can occur in situ. The invention is especially useful in the repair of tires.

Abstract: Vulcanizable polymeric compositions comprising certain rubbery polymers or polymer blends, a zinc dimethacrylate adjuvant having a surface area of from about 3.7 to about 5.4 m.sup.2 /g or more and a peroxide curing agent are provided. Polymeric compositions which contain 25 parts by weight or more of the zinc dimethacrylate adjuvant per 100 parts by weight of rubbery polymer in the absence of reinforcing fillers exhibit excellent strength and hysteresis characteristcs when cured. The surface area of the zinc dimethacrylate adjuvant along with its method of preparation are extremely important factors in the excellent properties obtained when polymeric compositions containing the adjuvant are cured.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle having a shock absorber strut with a reciprocal piston rod located within a cylinder, and attachments for securing the piston rod and cylinder to spaced parts of the vehicle. An air spring includes a rigid annular canister mounted on the piston rod by a resilient rotatable mount. The canister forms a fluid pressure chamber in conjunction with a flexible diaphragm, one end of which is sealingly connected to the cylinder by an annular rigid sleeve which forms an air spring piston. The flexible diaphragm has inner and outer radially spaced portions connected by a rolling portion. A rigid member resembling a cutaway can is mounted on the rigid canister portion of the air spring and extends about a predetermined portion of the outer portion of the flexible diaphragm and restrains outward expansion of said portion.

Abstract: A process for the rapid bulk polymerization of polybutadiene/nylon-6 block copolymers comprises the steps of preparing a mixture comprising from about 100 to about 50 parts by weight of a low molecular weight polybutadiene terminated by an isocyanate or isothiocyanate and end-capped with caprolactam providing a stable imide type terminated polymer, with from about 0 to about 50 parts by weight of a dry non-cold flowing rubber neutralized with caprolactam, charging the polymer mixture without hydrolyzing the end-capped polybutadiene to a reaction vessel with caprolactam and polymerizing the caprolactam at a temperature sufficient to flash off any solvents introduced during the step of preparing to form a block copolymer with the end-capped polybutadiene.

Abstract: Urethane elastomers are produced by reacting a prepolymer with a chain extender or cure agent in the presence of limited amounts of water without adverse effects on the physical properties of the cured polyurethane.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a decorative applique on the sidewall thereof. The applique is protected from damage when the sidewall is curbed by the provision of a rib concentric with the applique and interposed upon the sidewall between the applique and the tire tread. A decoupling groove interconnects the applique and the rib and allows the portion of the sidewall maintaining the applique to decouple from the remainder of the sidewall, deflecting inwardly when the sidewall makes contacting engagement with a vertical surface such as a curb. The deflection of the applique prevents contact with the curb and allows the rib to draw inwardly and over the outer edge of the applique, further protecting it from scuffing action.

Abstract: An elastomer article capable of being pressurized has a hollow extending therethrough. An elastomer free grid, generally in the form of a woven fabric, is located on the interior of the article in the vicinity of the hollow and prevents the same from being removed therefrom. An elastomer patch is utilized therewith.

Abstract: A process for extracting rubber and/or resin from rubber containing plants such as guayule utilizing a monophase mixture of an organic polar solvent and a hydrocarbon solvent.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning and maintaining a substrate within a tire mold. The substrate receives an applique which is to be transferred to the sidewall of a tire during the curing process. The substrate is of steel construction and is adapted to engage a receiving member within a circumferential surface of the tire mold. The receiving member is magnetized to attract the steel substrate and to retain the substrate and its applique in proper registration with the sidewall of the tire during closure of the mold and the curing process. A lip or pins are provided in association with the retainer to assure proper registration of the applique-bearing substrate with the tire sidewall.

Abstract: Paint compositions suitable for forming decals which can be applied to vehicle tire sidewalls. The compositions comprise a saturated elastomer having a glass transition temperature not higher than -40 degrees C., a pigment which is preferably titanium dioxide in an amount in the range of 0.5 to 10 times the weight of elastomer, and a solvent. Compositions of this invention are resistant to ultraviolet light and ozone, maintain color and integrity during outdoor aging, and have a long fatigue life.

Abstract: A process for extracting resin and rubber from guayule plants utilizing a portion of recycled miscella and a fresh solvent system. An expression step is applied to the plants to enhance recovery of resin and rubber extract. The solvent system is preferably an organic polar solvent and a hydrocarbon solvent for rubber for simultaneous resin and rubber extraction containing at least 50% by weight of the hydrocarbon solvent. The process can be a one-step method wherein resin and rubber are generally simultaneously extracted.

Abstract: A process is disclosed herein for preparing randomized copolymers of conjugated dienes and vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons having low vinyl contents by utilizing an anionic initiator system comprising alkali metal trihydrocarbyl magnesiates optionally together with an organolithium compound.