Abstract: The present invention provides a tire monitor apparatus and monitored vehicle tire. A module which monitors tire information is supported by a rubber ply affixed to the inside surface of the tire. The module has electrical components for monitoring tire information by collecting, storing and/or reading information about the tire. A retainer assembly is used to secure the module to the rubber ply such that the module is support within the tire's cavity. The module is mounted to be removed, exchanged, etc. In one embodiment, the monitor module may be isolated from tire loads such that the durability of the monitoring system is improved. The fastener assembly has first parts carried by the rubber ply and second fastener parts built into the module. The first and second fastener parts cooperate to support said module from said rubber ply. The first part may be in the form of a shaft or stem having an axial length which allows the module to be retained at an offset distance from the ply and tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bonding an active tag to a patch and assembling the patch to a tire is set forth. A patch assembly and a method for securing an electronic monitoring device having electronic and mechanical components for monitoring at least one engineering condition within a tire, comprising an rigid tag assembly encapsulating the electronic monitoring device, bonded to a vulcanized rubber patch which is secured to the inner cavity of a tire utilizing a layer of dual cure bonding rubber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bonding an active tag to a patch and assembling the patch to a tire is set forth. A patch assembly and a method for securing an electronic monitoring device having electronic and mechanical components for monitoring at least one engineering condition within a tire, comprising an rigid tag assembly encapsulating the electronic monitoring device, bonded to a vulcanized rubber patch which is secured to the inner cavity of a tire utilizing a layer of dual cure bonding rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion which comprises a surface rubber layer which is disposed in an outer portion of the tread portion in the radial direction of said tire and has a specific resistance of 108 &OHgr;·cm or more after curing by vulcanization and conductive rubber members which comprise a rubber composition having a specific resistance of 106 &OHgr;·cm or less and replace a portion of the surface rubber layer, wherein the conductive rubber members are disposed in portions of the surface rubber layer extending from the outer surface to the inner surface in the radial direction of said tire discontinuously in the circumferential direction of said tire at the outer surface of the surface rubber layer in the radial direction of said tire, is provided. The pneumatic tire shows not only an excellent effect of static discharge but also excellent durability.

Abstract: A data transmission-reception unit which operates by means of energy of a received electromagnetic wave and serves as a main circuit, is provided with a sensor circuit as an additional circuit, and a transponder having a sensor power circuit for supplying electric power only to the sensor circuit is constituted. From a sensor charging circuit of an interrogator, an electromagnetic wave of a lower frequency different from a frequency of electromagnetic wave for data communication is radiated, or loop coil-shaped charging antennas are electromagnetic-coupled to thereby charge a capacitor for the sensor power circuit. Thereby, a secondary battery and the capacitor such as a large scale capacitor can be easily charged from an outside, and further, a power consumption for the capacitor can be restrained.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread, in which a rubber layer having a specific resistance of not more than 106&OHgr;·cm and a thickness of 0.1-1 mm forms a continuous layer extending in a circumferential direction of the tire while contacting with a surface portion of the tread having a specific resistance of not less than 108&OHgr;·cm and a part of at least one member adjacent thereto in a radial direction.

Abstract: A tire tread composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a vulcanizable elastomer suitable for use in a tire; from about 1 to about 100 parts by weight of a silica reinforcing filler, per 100 parts of the elatomer; and from about 0.1 to 15 parts by weight of an electrically conductive additive containing a poly(alkylene oxide)-containing polymer having a alkali metal salt dissolved therein, per 100 parts of the elastomer provides improved electrical conductivity properties. A pneumatic tire having improved electrostatic dissipation employing the tire tread composition described above and a related method for dissipating electrostatic charges from tires using the tread composition is also discussed.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus permits the insertion and removal of an electronic monitoring device from a tire, while securing the electronic monitoring device to the tire so that stress, strain, impact, cyclic fatigue and vibration are minimized. After a rubber patch is vulcanized, the patch is permanently assembled to the innerliner of a vulcanized tire by affixing it to the tire innerliner. An electronic monitoring device, after having been encapsulated in a suitable rigid potting material to form a rigid tag, is fitted with a power source to form a tag assembly in a shape which allows for insertion into a cavity in the patch. The tag is carefully inserted into the cavity housing. The tag assembly is locked into place within the cavity using a suitable removable locking device.

Abstract: A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner includes a monitoring device and patch. The monitoring device includes a first connection element that is connected to the monitoring device. The patch includes an antenna that is connected to a second connection element. In one embodiment of the invention, the first connection element is in the form of a socket while the second connection element is in the form of a plug. The connection elements allow the monitoring device and patch to be separately fabricated and the direct physical connection between the antenna and the monitoring device to be formed when the combination is connected to the innerliner of the tire. In another embodiment, a plug extends from the bottom of an encapsulated monitoring device and is aligned with a socket on the patch. The connection between the plug and the socket occurs automatically when the encapsulated monitoring device is aligned with and connected to the patch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an electronic monitoring device to a pneumatic tire includes mounting the monitoring package of the monitoring device within the body of the tire or the body of a patch and subsequently connecting the power source to the monitoring package through electrical coupling. The method allows the monitoring package to be cured within the tire or the patch at relatively high temperatures while protecting the sensitive power source from the high temperatures. The use of electrical coupling to achieve the power transfer prevents the material surrounding the monitoring package from being pierced by an element that would form the direct electrical connection. The method allows the monitoring package and its antenna to be positioned in a variety of positions on or within the pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion which comprises a surface rubber layer which is disposed in an outer portion of the tread portion in the radial direction of said tire and has a specific resistance of 108 &OHgr;·cm or more after curing by vulcanization and conductive rubber members which comprise a rubber composition having a specific resistance of 106 &OHgr;·cm or less and replace a portion of the surface rubber layer, wherein the conductive rubber members are disposed in portions of the surface rubber layer extending from the outer surface to the inner surface in the radial direction of said tire discontinuously in the circumferential direction of said tire at the outer surface of the surface rubber layer in the radial direction of said tire, is provided. The pneumatic tire shows not only an excellent effect of static discharge but also excellent durability.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly is configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The protective body is liquid-tight and includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the substrate and sensors, a cushion, and a skin on the outside of the cushion. The protective body is substantially spherical allowing the assembly to roll about the inside of a tire without being permanently connected to the tire. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread rubber extending over a ground contacting region of the tire, tread grooves disposed in the ground contacting region, static electricity grounding means comprising grounding terminals and a collector, the collector and grounding terminals being made of a conductive rubber compound containing at least 15 phr of carbon black to have a volume resistivity of less than 100 megaohm cm, and the tread rubber being made of a low-hysteresis-loss rubber compound containing silica as a reinforcing agent and having a volume resistivity more than that of the electrically conductive rubber compound, wherein the collector is disposed radially inside the tread grooves, and the grounding terminals are disposed in the tread grooves and extend radially outwardly from the collector to the level of the ground contacting region at least.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire includes a carcass, a bead with a bead core arranged in the bead, and a first sensor located within the bead. The first sensor delivers signals which are correlated to frictional forces transmitted by the pneumatic vehicle tire during operation. This sensor has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a heel attached to the bead core and the second end extends radially outward from the bead core within the tire. A plurality of such sensors can be included in each tire, some for measuring longitudinal forces in a circumferential direction of the tire and others for measuring lateral forces in an axial direction of the tire.

Abstract: A tire tag protector is used to cover a tire tag on the inside of a pneumatic tire during a high-voltage, non-destructive test procedure. The tire tag protector includes a layer of dielectric and is configured to fit completely over the tire tag inside a pneumatic tire, the tire tag protector may also include a layer of conductive material. The tire tag protector is temporarily attached to the tire by an adhesive or by prongs that engage the tire tag. The tire tag protector prevents the high-voltage electrode used in the test procedure from snagging on the tire tag and prevents the sensitive electronic equipment of the tire tag from being damaged by the high-voltage test environment.

Abstract: An attachment between a monitoring device and an innerliner of a tire includes the use of an epoxy adhesive that bonds the monitoring device directly to the inner surface of the innerliner of the tire. The innerliner is first roughened in a manner that provides a roughened portion of the innerliner without removing the entire thickness of the innerliner. The entire thickness of the innerliner is not removed because the innerliner is preferably more than {fraction (1/16)} of an inch thick. The thickness of the innerliner allows the rigid cured epoxy to bond the monitoring device to the inner surface of the innerliner while allowing the innerliner to flex with the tire so as to not break the seal between the rigid epoxy and the innerliner. The monitoring device is preferably located at a low flex area of the tire to help avoid the problem of the innerliner flexing.

Abstract: A tire of which tread rubber comprises a conducive rubber at least partially, the conducive rubber extending from the radially inner surface of the tread rubber to the ground contacting face, and the conducive rubber compounded from 100 parts by weight of diene rubber and 2 to 30 parts by weight of conductive short fibers, the conductive short fibers formed by coating reinforcing short fibers with a conductive substance, and the conductive rubber has a volume resistance of less than 1×108 ohm cm.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a low conductive rubber portion forming at least a cap rubber portion of the tread rubber which provides a tread surface of the tire. A narrow high conductive rubber strip extends in a radial direction of the tire at a widthwise center region of the cap rubber portion, and is exposed to the tread surface to form a discharge path for allowing electrostatic charges of a vehicle body to be discharged to a road surface. An unvulcanized tread rubber for the tire is obtained by passing a high conductive unvulcanized rubber through a passage extending from an extruder unit to the back side of an extrusion orifice, to form at least part of the remaining potion of the tread rubber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber tire, and its preparation, composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass with an outer, circumferential rubber tread construction of a rubber composition having a relatively high electrical resistivity. The tire tread construction has an electrically conductive filamentary thread stitched through the tread construction and extending between the inner surface of the tread to its outer surface. An electrically conductive path is thereby created through the tire tread.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread portion including a tread cap rubber defining the tread face and a tread base rubber disposed radially inside the tread cap. The tread base rubber includes a collector part which is disposed radially inside the tread cap rubber, and discharge terminal parts each of which extends radially outwardly from the collector part to the tread face, penetrating the tread cap rubber. The insulation rubber material is compounded from: 100 parts by weight of a rubber base comprising one or more materials selected from diene rubber and copolymers of a conjugated diene monomer and an aromatic vinyl compound; 30 to 100 parts by weight of silica; and 3 to 20 parts by weight of carbon black.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a transponder therein comprises a pair of sidewall portions and a crown portion toroidally arranged between a pair of bead cores, and a method of reading and writing of the transponder buried in the tire, wherein the transponder is buried in a projected portion at the inner surface of a bead portion of the tire, and the axial direction of the transponder is along the circumferential direction of the tire, and a rod antenna used for receiving and transmission for the transponder is moved as an axial line of the rod antenna along the circumferential direction of the tire when the reading and writing is done from outside of the tire.

Abstract: According to the invention there is in conjunction with a pneumatic tire (10′) having an electronic tag (100) mounted therein with a patch (70′) having a first side (72′) for mounting against the innerliner of the tire, a second arcuately-shaped side (73′) and an internally threaded member (71′) extending to the arcuately-shaped side (73′). The electronic tag has a pressure sensor (116) located at the bottom of a tubular shaped air inlet structure (118) opening at an upper surface (122a) of the electronic tag, an internally threaded nut (132) having one end (132a) disposed within the electronic tag (100) and an opposite end (132b) extending outward from the upper surface (122a) of the tag, an externally threaded member (134) threaded into the internally threaded nut (132) and extending through the upper surface (122a).

Abstract: A method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire and adhering an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner includes the step of providing a patch having a cover and a layer of uncured rubber. The patch is placed at a selected area of the innerliner of a green tire before the green tire is cured. At least a portion of the patch is removed after the tire is cured to provide a prepared area at the selected area of the tire. The electronic monitoring device is then adhered to the prepared area.

Abstract: An electrically-conductive rubber composition and article of manufacture having a component thereof. In one aspect, such article of manufacture is a pneumatic rubber tire of a toroidal shape having a cavity designed to be substantially enclosed by the toroidal shape of the tire and its closure completed by a rigid rim onto which the tire is designed to be mounted. In another aspect, such pneumatic tire contains such rubber composition positioned on or within a rubber innerliner of the tire; wherein the innerliner is a surface of said cavity. In a further aspect, said rubber composition is an annular strip of an electrically-conductive rubber composition on or within such tire innerliner. The said annular strip is intended to be an antenna for having a capability of receiving electromagnetic waves from outside the tire and of transmitting electromagnetic waves from the inside of the tire to the outside of the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber tire composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass with an outer, circumferential rubber tread construction of a rubber composition having a relatively high electrical resistivity. The tire tread construction has electrically conductive filament stapled through the tread construction and extending between the inner surface of the tread to its outer surface. An electrically conductive path is thereby created through the tread.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tire monitor retainer assembly and monitored vehicle tire. A module which monitors tire information is supported by a rubber ply affixed to the inside surface of the tire. The module has electrical components for monitoring tire information by collecting, storing and/or reading information about the tire. A fastener assembly is used to secure the module to the rubber ply such that the module is support within the tire's cavity. The module is mounted to be isolated from tire loads such that the durability of the monitoring system is improved. The fastener assembly has first parts carried by the rubber ply and second fastener parts built into the module. The first and second fastener parts cooperate to support said module from said rubber ply. The module is made with a retainer opening having edges to receive a fastener device having standoff or indexing elements.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a silica-rich compound tread provided with an antistatic conductive rubber layer has improved safty based on durability and extrusion productivity. In this tire, the silica-rich compound rubber layer is divided at at least one portion in a width directional of the tire by a conductive rubber layer extended in a circumferential direction substantially over the whole thickness of said rubber layer. In this case, a thickness direction distance a in a width directional section of said rubber layer and an edge face length b of a divisional rubber layer consisting of said conductive rubber layer in a width directional section satisfy a relation formulated by the following expression, a<b.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an electronic monitoring device to a pneumatic tire includes the steps of providing a green tire and attaching the electronic monitoring package to an anchoring patch. The anchoring patch having the electronic monitoring package is then mounted to the green tire and cured during the green tire cure process. A battery is then provided and a direct electrical connection between the electronic monitoring package and battery is then formed by plugging the battery into the electronic monitoring package. The electronic monitoring package may also be mounted in the green tire itself and cured with the green tire. The battery is connected to the electronic monitoring package after the cure process.

Abstract: A heavy-duty pneumatic radial tire is disclosed, which comprises a bead filler disposed on an outer periphery of an annular bead core; a carcass layer formed by arraying a plurality of steel cords in a tire radial direction, an end part thereof being turned up from the inside of the tire to the outside around the bead core; a steel reinforcing material wrapping around the bead core with the carcass layer interposed, and a bar-shaped transponder buried in an area separated from metallic components of a bead section in the bead filler so as to set a longitudinal direction thereof in a tire circumferential direction, the area being closer to the bead core than a turned-up end of the carcass layer in a turned-up side of the carcass layer, and closer to the bead core than an inner wrapping end of the steel reinforcing material in a main body side of the carcass layer.

Abstract: An antistatic tire and relative production method, whereby a portion of a tread made of an electrically insulating mix is hollowed out and filled with a cement (C) in the form of a carbon black mix in a volatile liquid; the carbon black mix being left inside the hollow portion when the volatile liquid evaporates, and defining inside the tread at least one conducting body communicating with a rolling surface of the tire.