Patents by Inventor William Bennett Clayton

William Bennett Clayton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200164691
    Abstract: A tire constructed with a plurality of reinforcement belts is provided. At least one of the reinforcement belts extends along the axial width of the tire summit and is constructed according to an equilibrium curve that is flat throughout the summit. The reinforcement belts include cable reinforcements that are substantially parallel to the equatorial plane. Substantial reductions in the tension experienced by the cables can be achieved to provide, as a result, improvements in e.g., tread wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Daniel McEachern Hicks, Timothy B. Rhyne
  • Patent number: 10562353
    Abstract: A tire constructed with a plurality of reinforcement belts is provided. At least one of the reinforcement belts extends along the axial width of the tire summit and is constructed according to an equilibrium curve that is flat throughout the summit. The reinforcement belts include cable reinforcements that are substantially parallel to the equatorial plane. Substantial reductions in the tension experienced by the cables can be achieved to provide, as a result, improvements in e.g., tread wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Daniel McEachern Hicks, Timothy B. Rhyne
  • Patent number: 10266221
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates generally to a vehicle that has axles with tires mounted thereon with at least one axle that is a lift axle, and more specifically, to a method that optimizes the effective tire rolling resistance by adjusting the load on the tires, resulting in an improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the method takes into consideration the rolling resistance characteristics of the tires placed onto the axles of the vehicle and provides an algorithm for optimizing their rolling resistance by raising or lowering the lift axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Calvin Rhett Bradley
  • Publication number: 20180354308
    Abstract: Pneumatic tire for heavy duty vehicles having a crown portion comprising two working plies (114,116) and a breaker ply (120) radially outward of the carcass body ply wherein the breaker ply (120) comprises a plurality of breaker ply reinforcement elements (122) having a length L of no more than 155 mm, at an angle of 5°<60°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Daniel McEachern Hicks
  • Publication number: 20170029050
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates generally to a vehicle that has axles with tires mounted thereon with at least one axle that is a lift axle, and more specifically, to a method that optimizes the effective tire rolling resistance by adjusting the load on the tires, resulting in an improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the method takes into consideration the rolling resistance characteristics of the tires placed onto the axles of the vehicle and provides an algorithm for optimizing their rolling resistance by raising or lowering the lift axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: William Bennett CLAYTON, Calvin Rhett BRADLEY
  • Patent number: 9555673
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatically adjusting the air pressure of a tire based on variations in loading to improve tread wear. For a particular loading of the tire, the system provides for the determination of a preferred air pressure setting designed to minimize tread wear. This preferred air pressure, Pp, is determined from an analysis of the longitudinal stresses that occur within the contact patch of the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Dave Michael McKibben, Zachary Alexander Merrill, Lawrence Otis Williamson, Wayne Carl Yount
  • Patent number: 9481415
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates generally to a vehicle that has axles with tires mounted thereon with at least one axle that is a lift axle, and more specifically, to a method that optimizes the effective tire rolling resistance by adjusting the load on the tires, resulting in an improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the method takes into consideration the rolling resistance characteristics of the tires placed onto the axles of the vehicle and provides an algorithm for optimizing their rolling resistance by raising or lowering the lift axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Calvin Rhett Bradley
  • Publication number: 20150239303
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatically adjusting the air pressure of a tire based on variations in loading to improve tread wear. For a particular loading of the tire, the system provides for the determination of a preferred air pressure setting designed to minimize tread wear. This preferred air pressure, Pp, is determined from an analysis of the longitudinal stresses that occur within the contact patch of the tread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Dave Michael McKibben, Zachary Alexander Merrill, Lawrence Otis Williamson, Wayne Carl Yount
  • Patent number: 9045012
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatically adjusting the air pressure of a tire based on variations in loading to improve tread wear. For a particular loading of the tire, the system provides for the determination of a preferred air pressure setting designed to minimize tread wear. This preferred air pressure, Pp, is determined from an analysis of the longitudinal stresses that occur within the contact patch of the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: MICHELIN RECHERCHE et TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE SED ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Dave Michael McKibben, Zachary Alexander Merrill, Lawrence Otis Williamson, Wayne Carl Yount
  • Publication number: 20150034399
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates generally to a vehicle that has axles with tires mounted thereon with at least one axle that is a lift axle, and more specifically, to a method that optimizes the effective tire rolling resistance by adjusting the load on the tires, resulting in an improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the method takes into consideration the rolling resistance characteristics of the tires placed onto the axles of the vehicle and provides an algorithm for optimizing their rolling resistance by raising or lowering the lift axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Calvin Rhett Bradley
  • Publication number: 20150013867
    Abstract: A tire constructed with a plurality of reinforcement belts is provided. At least one of the reinforcement belts extends along the axial width of the tire summit and is constructed according to an equilibrium curve that is flat throughout the summit. The reinforcement belts include cable reinforcements that are substantially parallel to the equatorial plane. Substantial reductions in the tension experienced by the cables can be achieved to provide, as a result, improvements in e.g., tread wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Daniel McEachern Hicks, Timothy B. Rhyne
  • Publication number: 20130327459
    Abstract: A tire having a reinforcement structure with improved resistance to a hinge effect is provided. More particularly, a tire is provided with a reinforcement structure that is positioned in the crown portion of the tire. The reinforcement structure has a circumferential extension modulus of about 5 GPa or greater and an axial plane shear modulus of about 10 MPa or greater. Exemplary embodiments of a tire with the reinforcement structure are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: COMPAGNIE CENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Timothy B. Rhyne, William Bennett Clayton, Antonio Delfino, Daniel McEachern Hicks
  • Publication number: 20130190979
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatically adjusting the air pressure of a tire based on variations in loading to improve tread wear. For a particular loading of the tire, the system provides for the determination of a preferred air pressure setting designed to minimize tread wear. This preferred air pressure, Pp, is determined from an analysis of the longitudinal stresses that occur within the contact patch of the tread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Dave Michael McKibben, Zachary Alexander Merrill, Lawrence Otis Williamson, Wayne Carl Yount
  • Publication number: 20120199258
    Abstract: A tire with a shoulder groove that has an asymmetric bottom is provided and, more particularly, a tire is provided having a shoulder groove that includes features at the bottom of the groove that help reduce stress and alleviate cracking from tire operation. The reduction is accomplished without the addition of material to the groove bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Susan Marie Nelson
  • Patent number: D618162
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Mayni, William Bennett Clayton, Joseph Anderson Stain, Daniel McEachern Hicks