Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a tire for a vehicle includes at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is associated with the tire. And the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends along at least a portion of the tire. A tire for a vehicle includes a carcass, a tread, and the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable.

Abstract: A device for generating energy in a rolling wheel includes one part that can move with respect to a wheel rim. The one part is engaged with elastic portion that keeps it in contact with a predetermined bead portion of a tire. The one part undergoes reciprocating outward and return motion against action of the elastic portion, as a result of forces induced in the one part by contact pressure that varies cyclically during each tire revolution and is exerted on the one part by the predetermined bead portion. Also disclosed is a method for generating energy in a rolling wheel that includes subjecting one part of the wheel to elastic force that keeps the one part in contact with the predetermined bead portion, and subjecting the one part to the cyclically-varying contact pressure.

Abstract: A method for installing a device in a tyre for measuring at least one characteristic parameter of the tyre includes applying the device to a specified area of an inner surface of the tyre, fitting the tyre on a rim, and rotating the tyre. Applying the device includes interpositioning a fixing element between the device and the inner surface of the tyre. The fixing element includes a crosslinkable elastomeric material capable of adhering in a repositionable way to the inner surface of the tyre. Rotating the tyre adapts a shape of the fixing element to the inner surface of the tyre and causes a crosslinking of the crosslinkable elastomeric material. A kit for installing a device for measuring at least one characteristic parameter of a tyre onto an inner surface of the tyre includes the device and at least one fixing element comprising a crosslinkable elastomeric material.

Abstract: A system for sensing at least one characteristic parameter of a tyre fitted to a vehicle includes a movable unit and a fixed unit. The movable unit is combined with the tyre and includes a device for sensing the at least one characteristic parameter, a device for transmitting a signal out of the tyre that relates to the at least one characteristic parameter, and a device for generating electrical energy. The fixed unit is combined with the vehicle and includes a device for receiving signals from the movable unit. The electrical energy generating device is capable of supplying electrical energy to the sensing device and to the transmitting device. The electrical energy generating device includes a capacitor that charges itself with electrical energy in response to mechanical stresses applied to the tyre. The movable unit and a vehicle wheel are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a tyre for a vehicle includes at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is associated with the tyre. And the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends along at least a portion of the tyre. A tyre for a vehicle includes a carcass, a tread, and the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a tire for a vehicle includes at least one piezoelectric element that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one piezoelectric element is associated with the tire and is elongate. The at least one piezoelectric element extends along at least a portion of the tire and is electrically connected to an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle. The tire is mounted on a rim of the vehicle. An associated tire is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tyre and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tyre. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tyre and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tyre. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tyre including the system, a kit for detecting behaviour of a tyre moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tyres of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tyres, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for continuously measuring deformations in a tire mounted on a rim includes at least one emitter, at least one reflecting element, and at least one optical sensor of luminous intensity. The at least one emitter and the at least one optical sensor are disposed on the rim. The at least one reflecting element is disposed on a portion of an inner surface of the tire. The at least one emitter emits a light beam toward the at least one reflecting element, the at least one reflecting element reflects the light beam toward the at least one optical sensor, and the at least one optical sensor receives the reflected light beam, measures a prechosen physical parameter associated with the reflected light beam, and provides a signal representing a deformation of the tire on the portion of the inner surface of the tire.

Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tire and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tire. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tire and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tire. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tire including the system, a kit for detecting behavior of a tire moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tires of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tires, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a tyre during running includes acquiring and storing, at least temporarily, a first curve representing an acceleration profile of a first point of a tread area of the tyre; acquiring and storing, at least temporarily, at least one second curve representing an acceleration profile of a second point of the tread area; and comparing the first curve and the at least one second curve, or parameters derived from the first curve and the at least one second curve, so as to determine a dynamic behavior of the tyre. The first and second points are located substantially on a same meridian plane of the tyre. A related tyre, wheel for a vehicle, system for monitoring a tyre during running, and method for controlling a vehicle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for sensing at least one characteristic parameter of a tyre fitted to a vehicle includes a movable unit and a fixed unit. The movable unit is combined with the tyre and includes a device for sensing the at least one characteristic parameter, a device for transmitting signals out of the tyre, a processing unit, and a storage device. The fixed unit is combinable with the vehicle and includes a device for receiving signals from the movable unit. The processing unit and storage device carry out pre-processing of a signal generated by the sensing device and send the pre-processed signal to the transmitting device. The movable unit may also include a device for generating electrical energy that is capable of supplying the processing unit and the transmitting device. The transmitted signal relates to the at least one characteristic parameter. The movable unit and a vehicle wheel are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for monitoring instantaneous behavior of a tire in a rolling condition includes acquiring and storing at least one reference curve representing an acceleration profile of at least one specified point of the tire as a function of its position during at least one portion of a revolution of the tire; continuously acquiring signals of acceleration of the at least one point; deriving from the signals of acceleration at least one cyclic curve of acceleration of the at least one point; comparing the at least one cyclic curve with the at least one reference curve; and emitting a signal depending on the comparison that indicates the instantaneous behavior of the tire. The at least one reference curve represents the acceleration profile in at least two directions, including two or more of a centripetal direction, a tangential direction, and a lateral direction. A related system and tire are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for the moulding and vulcanization, in predetermined conditions of temperature and pressure, of an at least partially green tyre having a defined volume, said device comprising an outer shell and a collapsible inner support, in which said device also comprises a movable crown interposed between said inner support and said outer shell, said movable crown forming, with said outer shell, a cavity of controlled volume for the moulding and vulcanization of said tyre, the volume of said cavity adapting to the volume of the tyre it contains, so that said moulding pressure is maintained within a predetermined range of values. The invention also relates to a method of moulding and vulcanization at controlled volume.

Abstract: A tire for a wheel of a vehicle includes selected mixes of rubber and reinforcing materials, a carcass, a belting structure, a tread band provided with inserts, shoulders, sidewalls, and beads provided with bead wires and bead fillings. The tire is further represented by a concentrated-parameter physical model including a brush model with a road, where concentrated parameters of the physical model include structural stiffness Kc consisting of lateral stiffness Kcy, camber torsional stiffness Kc&thgr;x and yawing torsional stiffness Kc&thgr;z. The tire is further represented by a finite-element model including first and second elements and has construction characteristics substantially equivalent to the concentrated parameters that describe the dynamic behavior of the tire and enable the determination of selected physical quantities suitable for indicating the drift behavior of the tire for evaluation of the tire in relation to its road handling.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and/or controlling the behavior of a vehicle including at least one wheel includes determining one or more values of deformation of a tire of the at least one wheel by measuring the one or more values using a first signal emitted between a rim of the at least one wheel and a casing of the tire, providing a database comprising predetermined values of deformation of the tire that correspond to a behavior of the at least one wheel, comparing the measured one or more values of deformation with one or more of the predetermined values of deformation, and emitting a second signal dependent on at least one result of the comparison for monitoring and/or controlling the behavior of the vehicle. The one or more values of deformation are determined in vertical, transverse, and longitudinal directions or along the axes of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.

Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tyre and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tyre. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tyre and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tyre. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tyre including the system, a kit for detecting behaviour of a tyre moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tyres of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tyres, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining preselected performance characteristics of a tire tread includes the steps of dividing the tread into a 3-D grid of cells; dividing a tread contact area into longitudinal and transversal strips; associating a longitudinal or transversal stiffness value with each strip using a linear relationship; assigning a preselected deformation state to each longitudinal and transversal strip; determining at least one single force, associated with each strip and acting in the longitudinal or transversal direction by means of the stiffness value and the deformation state; determining at least one total force associated with each contact area by summing all single forces, the total force representing at least one of the performance characteristics; determining a pattern of the total forces of all the contact areas; and analyzing the pattern of total forces to evaluate whether they assume values that optimize at least one preselected performance characteristic of the tread.

Abstract: A method of foreseeing and controlling wearing in the tread of a tire based on the use of cuts of a limited depth (in the order of tenth parts of one millimeter) formed on the external surface of the tread, in the thickness of the elastomeric material. The cut is preferably made by a laser beam. Rotation of the tire on a road or on any other friction surface enables both the uneven wearing of the tread, highlighted by localized spots devoid of cuts, to be quickly verified by inspecting the maintenance state of said cuts, and the wear rate of the tread, which can be drawn from calculation of the time elapsing between the disappearance of two groups of cuts of different depth.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy in a vehicle tyre (1) comprises at least one piezoelectric element (9, 109) associated to the tyre (1) which generates electrical energy whenever it is deformed, and this piezoelectric element (9, 109) is elongate, extends along at least a portion of the tyre (1) and is connected electrically to an electrical circuit that is applied to the said tyre (1) and is not in electrical communication with the vehicle. The piezoelectric element (9, 109) preferably comprises a coaxial cable (10) extending along a straight or undulated path of the tyre circumference.

Abstract: A low-section tire includes an air tube including an internal wall and two air tube sidewalls. The internal wall comprises a greater rigidity than the tube sidewalls so that, when a carcass and the tube are mounted on a rim, and during inflation, the tube sidewalls contact the carcass sidewalls no later than the internal wall contacts a crown portion of the carcass. A process for manufacturing the air tube includes moulding two tube sidewalls separated from each other, moulding a central core, arranging the tube sidewalls and central core in a single vulcanization mould, closing the vulcanization mould to form the tube, feeding pressurized fluid into at least two distinct circumferential portions of the tube, and vulcanizing the tube to join the central core and tube sidewalls. A mould for manufacturing the an air tube includes two axially-external cheeks, two axially-intermediate male dies, and two axially-inner spacers.