Abstract: A light weight pressure vessel (10) has been proposed. The vessel (10) is made of a steel, aluminum or non-metal liner (11) which is reinforced with high strength steel wires (21) of 2000-7000 MPa strength. The matrix is filled with a polymer epoxy resin (45). A top layer of fabric tape (33) soaked in resin (45) has been used to embed the finish end (24) of the wire (21) and to provide a protective layer over the wire reinforced area. The mesh or net fabric wrap tape (33) has periodic openings to allow penetration of polymer epoxy resin (45). A top coat of a UV resistant polyurethane paint (47) has been applied.

Abstract: A preformed strip (20) of unvulcanized rubber having a plurality of strand receiving grooves (22) for splicing the ends (11, 12) of steel cord or strand reinforced rubber conveyor belts (10) is disclosed along with a method of forming the spliced joint.

Abstract: A method for applying a plurality of reinforcement belts upon a toroidal tire carcass (50). First and second reinforcement belts (56, 60) are first wrapped around the tire carcass. Then a first belt assembly (68) of a third reinforced belt (69) with elastomeric wedges (72a, 72b) embedded into side edges (70a, 70b) of the third belt is wrapped around the second belt (60) so that the side edges (62a, 62b) of the second belt are spaced from the side edges (70a, 70b) of the third belt. An outer belt (74) and a tread (80) are applied about the third belt, and the tire carcass is ready to be cured in a tire mold.

Abstract: A preformed strip (20) of unvulcanized rubber having a plurality of strand receiving grooves (22) for splicing the ends (11, 12) of steel cord or strand reinforced rubber conveyor belts (10) is disclosed along with a method of forming the spliced joint.

Abstract: A preformed strip (20) of unvulcanized rubber having a plurality of strand receiving grooves (22) for splicing the ends (11, 12) of steel cord or strand reinforced rubber conveyor belts (10) is disclosed along with a method of forming the spliced joint.

Abstract: A tire casing, has an unvulcanized noncord reinforced subassembly 10A as an intermediate article of manufacture. The subassembly 10 has at least two components laminated to it. The components are selected from one or more of the component types consisting of a liner 50, sidewall 70, a chafer 60, a whitewall strip 80, a cover strip 90, and a gum shoulder strip 40. The subassembly 10A has a width (W) and a pair of ends 12,14, the distance between the ends 12,14 defining the subassembly length (L). Preferably, the components are laminated to one another and have common ends 12,14 that are spliced along a substantially flat plane (P). The flat plane (P) extends through the article across its axial width, preferably substantially perpendicular to the length of the subassembly. The flat plane (P) is inclined at an angle &thgr;, &thgr; being less than 90°, preferably about 80° relative to a radial normal plane (NP) passing through and perpendicular to the subassembly 10A.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 200 for building a laminate 10A and in forming a subassembly 10 for a pneumatic tire from an assembly of reinforced or unreinforced tire components wherein the method has the steps of providing an apparatus 200 for simultaneously forming, positioning, attaching and conveying a plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components and activating the apparatus simultaneously forming, positioning and attaching the plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components to adjacent strips of tire components as they are conveyed thus forming a laminate 10A of reinforced or unreinforced tire components suitable for use as a subassembly for a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 200 for building a laminate 10A and in forming a subassembly 10 for a pneumatic tire from an assembly of reinforced or unreinforced tire components wherein the method has the steps of providing an apparatus 200 for simultaneously forming, positioning, attaching and conveying a plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components and activating the apparatus simultaneously forming, positioning and attaching the plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components to adjacent strips of tire components as they are conveyed thus forming a laminate 10A of reinforced or unreinforced tire components suitable for use as a subassembly for a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A laminate composite structure is provided in continuous lengths or rolls for making an unvulcanized carcass for a radial ply pneumatic tire as an intermediate article of manufacture. The laminate has a ply and a plurality of elastomeric components hot formed and attached directly to the ply. Each component has a predetermined cross-sectional profile. The elastomeric components including, but not limited to, a liner, a sidewall, and a chafer. Additional other elastomeric components for the carcass can be formed and attached to the laminate structure. The laminate forms an intermediate article of manufacture that at a later stage of tire building can be cut to length and spliced along common ends to form a cylindrical carcass structure.

Abstract: A method for securing splices in uncured rubber articles prior to vulcanization and secured splices resulting therefrom. The method includes covering a splice and two ends of uncured rubber with syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, adhering the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene to the uncured rubber adjacent to the splice, and curing the rubber. The rubber compound to which the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene is adhered does not have to contain syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. In addition, because the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene is preferably melted into the rubber compound, there are no uniformity problems caused by the additional layer over the splice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 200 for building a laminate 10A and in forming a subassembly 10 for a pneumatic tire from an assembly of reinforced or unreinforced tire components wherein the method has the steps of providing an apparatus 200 for simultaneously forming, positioning, attaching and conveying a plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components and activating the apparatus simultaneously forming, positioning and attaching the plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components to adjacent strips of tire components as they are conveyed thus forming a laminate 10A of reinforced or unreinforced tire components suitable for use as a subassembly for a neumatic tire.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and for cutting an intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article of manufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate. The laminate, when cut to length, becoming a carcass for a pneumatic tire. The laminate is cut by a cutting element at angles .theta. greater than 60.degree. relative to a normal plane (NP) perpendicular to a cord reinforced ply of the laminate and parallel to the cords to thereby create large substantially flat planar splice surfaces without significant deformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric materials. To facilitate this cut, the relative position of the cutting element and the ply is changed to an angle .beta., .beta. being less than .theta.. The ply is cut a short distance, at the angle .beta., to position the cutting element between two parallel cords. Then the cutting element is reoriented to the angle .theta. to complete the cut.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and for cutting an intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article of manufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate. The laminate when cut to length, becomes a carcass for a pneumatic tire. The laminate is cut by a cutting element at angles .theta. greater than 60.degree. relative to a normal plane (NP) perpendicular to a cord reinforced ply of the laminate and parallel to the cords to thereby create large substantially flat planar splice surfaces without significant deformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric materials. To facilitate this cut, the relative position of the cutting element and the ply is changed to an angle .beta., .beta. being less than .theta.. The ply is cut a short distance, at the angle .beta., to position the cutting element between two parallel cords. Then the cutting element is reoriented to the angle .theta. to complete the cut.

Abstract: A thin gauge, fine diameter steel cord reinforced tire ply fabric 2 is lap spliced. The steel cord 1 has one or more filaments 9, and each filament has a percent elongation of over 2.5% and tensile strength of at least (-2000D+4400 MPa).times.95%, where D is the diameter of the filament in millimeters. For passenger and lightly loaded trucks the fabric 2 is manufactured using a preferred cord 1 which is a 1+5.times.0.18 mm cord spaced 14 ends per inch, and for heavier loaded vehicles such as light trucks load rated E or greater the number of cords 1 is increased to 28 ends per inch. The fabric 2 has a gauge thickness g in the range of the cord diameter C+0.22 mm to C+1.25 mm.