Abstract: A tyre includes a toroidal ring-shaped carcass structure with at least one carcass ply associated with at least one annular fixing structure, as well as a tread band positioned radially externally with respect to the carcass structure. The annular fixing structure includes a radially inner and axially inner surface and a radially inner and axially outer surface, the surfaces being substantially opposed to each other. The radially inner and axially inner surface and radially inner and axially outer surface are shaped by successive application of a first squeezing pressure produced by a first surface and a second surface of a curing mould that are brought towards each other, as well as a second squeezing pressure produced by bringing the first and second surfaces closer together. The radially inner and axially inner surface and/or radially inner axially outer surface have a shape that includes air evacuation channels.

Abstract: Equipment for molding and curing a green tire includes a curing mold including a first bead molding ring including a first surface for contacting a radially inner and axially inner surface portion of an annular fixing structure of the green tyre and a first sidewall plate including a second surface for contacting a radially inner and axially outer surface portion of the annular fixing structure. The first bead molding ring is radially extendable from a contracted operating position to an expanded operating position so as to delimit a portion of the annular fixing structure between the first sidewall plate and the first bead molding ring, and the first bead molding ring is translatable towards the first sidewall plate for generating a first squeezing pressure on the annular fixing structure. The equipment further includes an inflatable bladder associated for operation with the curing mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding and curing a green tire includes a curing mold that includes a first sidewall plate and a second sidewall plate, with a ring of circumferential sectors circumscribing a mold cavity. The first sidewall plate is capable of coming into contact with a first annular fixing structure of the green tire when the green tire is inserted into the mold. The apparatus also includes at least a first bead molding ring movable from a first contracted operating position to a second extended operating position, a second bead molding ring movable from a first contracted operating position to a second extended operating position, and an expandable bladder delimited by a membrane associated for operation with the mold to exert a pre-molding pressure which is lower than a molding pressure to bring the first annular fixing structure into contact with the first sidewall plate.

Abstract: Equipment for moulding and curing a green tyre includes a curing mould including a first bead moulding ring including a first surface for contacting a radially inner and axially inner surface portion of an annular fixing structure of the green tyre and a first sidewall plate including a second surface for contacting a radially inner and axially outer surface portion of the annular fixing structure. The first bead moulding ring is radially extendable from a contracted operating position to an expanded operating position so as to delimit a portion of the annular fixing structure between the first sidewall plate and the first bead moulding ring, and the first bead moulding ring is translatable towards the first sidewall plate for generating a first squeezing pressure on the annular fixing structure. The equipment further includes an inflatable bladder associated for operation with the curing mould.

Abstract: An apparatus for moulding and curing a green tyre includes a curing mould that includes a first sidewall plate and a second sidewall plate, with a ring of circumferential sectors circumscribing a mould cavity. The first sidewall plate is capable of coming into contact with a first annular fixing structure of the green tyre when the green tyre is inserted into the mould. The apparatus also includes at least a first bead moulding ring movable from a first contracted operating position to a second extended operating position, a second bead moulding ring movable from a first contracted operating position to a second extended operating position, and an expandable bladder delimited by a membrane associated for operation with the mould to exert a pre-moulding pressure which is lower than a moulding pressure to bring the first annular fixing structure into contact with the first sidewall plate.

Abstract: A method for controlling a phase of molding an annular fixing structure of a green tire includes: introducing the green tire into a curing mold including an inflatable bladder; delimiting at least one portion of the annular fixing structure by using a first and a second surface opposed to each other; bringing the first surface and the second surface so as to bring a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface into contact with a corresponding radially inner and axially inner surface portion and a corresponding radially inner and axially outer surface portion, respectively, the annular fixing structure generating a first squeezing pressure; inflating the inflatable bladder of the curing mould so as to bring the first and the second surfaces closer together, thus generating a second squeezing pressure in such a way as to shape the radially inner and axially inner surface portions and the radially inner and axially outer surface portions of the annular fixing structure.

Abstract: A process for molding and curing tires, includes introducing a green tire into a curing mold, the mold including a first sidewall plate and a second sidewall plate, a ring of circumferential sectors circumscribing a mold cavity, an expandable bladder delimited by a membrane, and at least one bead molding ring which is movable between a first contracted operating position and a second extended operating position; and molding and curing the green tire in the curing mold; and between introducing the green tire and molding and curing it, the process includes extending the at least one bead molding ring from the first contracted operating position to the second extended operating position; forming a circumferential bearing surface which bears against a first axially inner surface portion of a first annular fixing structure of the green tire; pressing a second axially inner surface portion of the first annular fixing structure by expanding the membrane at a pre-molding pressure which is lower than a molding pressur

Abstract: In a process of manufacturing pneumatic tyres, a carcass sleeve is made which includes at least one carcass ply provided with axially opposite flaps turned up around annular anchoring structures, so as to form respective loops. An outer sleeve is positioned around the carcass sleeve, and the latter is radially expanded in order to cause application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve. After each of the end flaps has been turned up and before radial expansion, only a portion belonging to each of the loops and extending substantially parallel to the respective annular anchoring structure is submitted to a step of carrying out heating under pressure, to make each loop integral with the annular anchoring structure and prevent the turned-up ply/plies from even partly slipping off, during the subsequent radial-expansion step of the carcass sleeve and vulcanisation step of the tyre.

Abstract: In a process of manufacturing pneumatic tires, a carcass sleeve is made which includes at least one carcass ply provided with axially opposite flaps turned up around annular anchoring structures, so as to form respective loops. An outer sleeve is positioned around the carcass sleeve and the latter is radially expanded in order to cause application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve. After each of the end flaps has been turned up and before radial expansion, only a portion belonging to each of the loops and extending substantially parallel to the respective annular anchoring structure is submitted to a step of carrying out heating under pressure, to make each loop integral with the annular anchoring structure and prevent the turned-up ply/plies from even partly slipping off, during the subsequent radial-expansion step of the carcass sleeve and vulcanization step of the tire.

Abstract: A wheel having a controlled and compensated pressure includes a rim associated with a tank adapted to be filled with a fluid to a first pressure; a tyre mounted on the rim and having an inner volume inflated to an operating pressure, the operating pressure being lower than the first pressure; at least one valve adapted to regulate a communication between the tank and the inner volume of the tyre, the valve having at least one elastic element operatively associated with a closure member designed to open and close a port of the valve to bring the tank into communication with the tyre when the pressure of the tyre is lower than the operating pressure, the elastic element having an elastic constant showing a variation of 10% to 40% within a temperature range of about ?50° C. to about 50° C.

Abstract: A method of molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes building an unvulcanized tire on a toroidal support; heating the support; pressing an inner surface of the tire against an outer surface of the support; and pressing an outer surface of the tire against walls of a molding cavity defined in a vulcanization mold. The inner surface of the tire is pressed against the outer surface by at least one secondary working fluid. The outer surface of the tire is pressed against the walls by at least one primary working fluid. The at least one primary working fluid is heated, causing vulcanization of the tire. An apparatus for molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes the vulcanization mold, at least one passage device, a feeding device, and first and second heating devices. It may also include an airtight device arranged to receive the support.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding and vulcanization of tyres for vehicle wheels includes a vulcanization press and a vulcanization mold associated with the press. The apparatus includes a pair of plates and a plurality of mold sectors that are mutually movable between an open condition and a closed condition; at least one plurality of sector carriers designed to support the mold sectors and movable together with the sectors; and a plurality of guide means on which the plurality of sector carriers slide for movement of the mold sectors from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa, at least part of the sector carriers having at least one spring device designed to exert a thrust action adapted to ensure sliding of the sector carrier on the guide element in a substantially parallel direction.

Abstract: A process for moulding and curing tyres, includes introducing a green tyre into a curing mould, the mould including a first sidewall plate and a second sidewall plate, a ring of circumferential sectors circumscribing a mould cavity, an expandable bladder delimited by a membrane, and at least one bead moulding ring which is movable between a first contracted operating position and a second extended operating position; and moulding and curing the green tyre in the curing mould; and between introducing the green tyre and moulding and curing it, the process includes extending the at least one bead moulding ring from the first contracted operating position to the second extended operating position; forming a circumferential bearing surface which bears against a first axially inner surface portion of a first annular fixing structure of the green tyre; pressing a second axially inner surface portion of the first annular fixing structure by expanding the membrane at a pre-moulding pressure which is lower than a mould

Abstract: A method for controlling a phase of moulding an annular fixing structure of a green tyre includes: introducing the green tyre into a curing mould including an inflatable bladder; delimiting at least one portion of the annular fixing structure by using a first and a second surface opposed to each other; bringing the first surface and the second surface so as to bring a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface into contact with a corresponding radially inner and axially inner surface portion and a corresponding radially inner and axially outer surface portion, respectively, the annular fixing structure generating a first squeezing pressure; inflating the inflatable bladder of the curing mould so as to bring the first and the second surfaces closer together, thus generating a second squeezing pressure in such a way as to shape the radially inner and axially inner surface portions and the radially inner and axially outer surface portions of the annular fixing structure.

Abstract: There is described a method for controlling the deformation of a surface of a sail (1) of a sailing boat (100) during a direction change manoeuvre, said method comprising the step of arranging at least one inflatable batten (10) into a respective seat (3) formed on a side surface (2a) of the sail (1), said at least one batten (10) being inflated at a predetermined working pressure, said working pressure being such as to impart to said at least one batten (10) a bending stiffness having, with no bending load, a predetermined value and the step of carrying out a manoeuvre for changing the direction of the sailing boat (100), wherein in a first part of said manoeuvre said at least one batten (10) is subjected to the action of an increasing bending load and in a second part of said manoeuvre, said bending load ends its action on said at least one batten (10), during said manoeuvre the mechanical properties of said at least one batten (10) being changed so that as said bending load increases in said first part of

Abstract: A wheel having a controlled pressure includes a rim associated with a tank adapted to be filled with a fluid to a first pressure; a tire mounted on the rim and having an inner volume inflated to an operating pressure at a reference temperature, the operating pressure being lower than the first pressure; and at least one valve assembly adapted to establish a communication between the tank, the inner volume of the tire and the external environment. The valve assembly includes a command valve, an exhaust valve and a compensation valve operatively associated with each other. The command valve controls communication between the tank and the inner volume of the tire. The exhaust valve is connected to the external environment, to the inner volume, to the command valve and to the compensation valve. The compensation valve is connected to the exhaust valve and the command valve.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deformation of a surface of a sail of a sailing boat during a direction change maneuver, includes arranging at least one inflatable batten into a respective seat formed on a side surface of the sail, the at least one batten being inflated at a predetermined working pressure as to impart to said at least one inflatable batten a bending stiffness having, with no bending load, a predetermined value, carrying out a maneuver for changing the direction of the sailing boat, wherein in a first part of maneuver, the at least one batten is subjected to the action of an increasing bending load, and in a second part of the maneuver, the bending load ends its action on the at least one batten, during the maneuver the mechanical properties of the at least one batten being changed so that as the bending load increases in the first part of the maneuver, the value of the bending stiffness of the at least one batten decreases considerably, and as the action of the bending load ends in the second pa

Abstract: An apparatus for moulding and vulcanisation of tyres for vehicle wheels includes a vulcanisation press and a vulcanisation mould associated with the press. The apparatus includes a pair of plates and a plurality of mould sectors that are mutually movable between an open condition and a closed condition; at least one plurality of sector carriers designed to support the mould sectors and movable together with the sectors; and a plurality of guide means on which the plurality of sector carriers slide for movement of the mould sectors from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa, at least part of the sector carriers having at least one spring device designed to exert a thrust action adapted to ensure sliding of the sector carrier on the guide element in a substantially parallel direction.

Abstract: In a process of manufacturing pneumatic tyres, a carcass sleeve is made which includes at least one carcass ply provided with axially opposite flaps turned up around annular anchoring structures, so as to form respective loops. An outer sleeve is positioned around the carcass sleeve and the latter is radially expanded in order to cause application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve. After each of the end flaps has been turned up and before radial expansion, only a portion belonging to each of the loops and extending substantially parallel to the respective annular anchoring structure is submitted to a step of carrying out heating under pressure, to make each loop integral with the annular anchoring structure and prevent the turned-up ply/plies from even partly slipping off, during the subsequent radial-expansion step of the carcass sleeve and vulcanisation step of the tyre.

Abstract: A green tyre is either directly formed or, when building is over, engaged on an expandable toroidal support to be then introduced into a vulcanisation mould. The expandable toroidal support includes an expandable bladder and a pair of pressure rings, each including fast and second pressure sectors circumferentially distributed and operating at axially opposite positions on the expandable bladder. Driving devices act on the pressure rings to selectively translate them between a work condition at which the pressure sectors of each pressure ring, circumferentially aligned with each other, extend radially away from the geometric axis, and a rest condition at which the pressure sectors are disposed close to the geometric axis. Kinematic synchronisation members operatively associated with the driving devices mechanically mutually constrain the pressure rings, so as to impose a simultaneous and mutually symmetric movement on them.