Abstract: An in-tire sound absorber for a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel rim and a tire fitted to the wheel rim. The sound absorber is adapted to be located within a cavity defined by the wheel rim and the tire. The sound absorber comprises a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer. The second fibrous layer has a higher air flow resistance than the first fibrous layer. The first fibrous layer, the second fibrous layer, or both, is made from a non-woven fibrous web.

Abstract: A method of forming a nonwoven material, the method comprising: receiving fibrous material comprising thermoplastic fibers; processing the fibrous material to produce short fibers; adding the short fibers to a preformed web; and heating and optionally compressing the preformed web to form a nonwoven material.

Abstract: An in-tire sound absorber for a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel rim and a tire fitted to the wheel rim. The sound absorber is adapted to be located within a cavity defined by the wheel rim and the tire. The sound absorber comprises a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer. The second fibrous layer has a higher air flow resistance than the first fibrous layer. The first fibrous layer, the second fibrous layer, or both, is made from a non-woven fibrous web.

Abstract: A method of forming a nonwoven material, the method comprising: receiving fibrous material comprising thermo-plastic fibers; processing the fibrous material to produce short fibers; adding the short fibers to a preformed web; and heating and optionally compressing the preformed web to form a nonwoven material.

Abstract: An in-tire sound absorber for a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel rim and a tire fitted to the wheel rim. The sound absorber comprises a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer with a higher air flow resistance than the first layer. The sound absorber is configured to fit around the wheel rim with the first layer in contact with a surface of the wheel rim and extending substantially between the second layer and the wheel rim.

Abstract: Described embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a sound absorption material. The method comprises: forming a low density fibrous web to act as porous bulk absorber, the fibrous web containing a proportion of bi-components fibers, each bi-component fiber having a core material and a sheath material around the core material; applying a thin facing later to the low density fibrous web, wherein the facing layer is adhesively compatible with the sheath material; heating the fibrous web to a temperature sufficient to soften the sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers; and pressing the facing layer and fibrous web together under low pressure such that at least part of the facing layer contacts the softened sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers to form an adhesive bond between the facing layer and the fibrous web.

Abstract: Described embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a sound absorption material. The method comprises: forming a low density fibrous web to act as a porous bulk absorber, the fibrous web containing a proportion of bi-component fibers, each bi-component fiber having a core material and a sheath material around the core material, the sheath material having a lower melting point than the core material; applying a thin facing layer to the low density fibrous web, wherein the facing layer is adhesively compatible with the sheath material; heating the fibrous web to a temperature sufficient to soften the sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers; and pressing the facing layer and fibrous web together under low pressure such that at least part of the facing layer contacts the softened sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers to form an adhesive bond between the facing layer and the fibrous web.

Abstract: A method of forming a nonwoven material, the method comprising: receiving fibrous material comprising thermo-plastic fibers; processing the fibrous material to produce short fibers; adding the short fibers to a preformed web; and heating and optionally compressing the preformed web to form a nonwoven material.

Abstract: Described embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a sound absorption material. The method comprises: forming a low density fibrous web to act as a porous bulk absorber, the fibrous web containing a proportion of bi-component fibres, each bi-component fibre having a core material and a sheath material around the core material, the sheath material having a lower melting point than the core material; applying a thin facing layer to the low density fibrous web, wherein the facing layer is adhesively compatible with the sheath material; heating the fibrous web to a temperature sufficient to soften the sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibres; and pressing the facing layer and fibrous web together under low pressure such that at least part of the facing layer contacts the softened sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibres to form an adhesive bond between the facing layer and the fibrous web.

Abstract: An in tire sound absorber for a pneumatic wheel assembly including a wheel rim and a tire fitted to the wheel rim. The sound absorber comprises a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer with a higher air flow resistance than the first layer. The sound absorber is configured to fit around the wheel rim with the first layer in contact with a surface of the wheel rim and extending substantially between the second layer and the wheel rim.