With Cooling Devices Patents (Class 152/153)
  • Patent number: 11975573
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire may include a tread, an inner tire surface positioned opposite the tread, and an internal heat exchanger attached to the inner tire surface. The wheel assembly may include a wheel rim, the pneumatic tire, and a pump. The pneumatic tire may be attached to the wheel rim. The pump may be attached to the wheel rim outside of the pneumatic tire and configured to rotate with the wheel rim. The pump may be coupled to the internal heat exchanger through an opening in the wheel rim. The wheel assembly may further include a coolant disposed in the internal heat exchanger and configured to absorb heat from the pneumatic tire. The wheel assembly may also include an external heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Jon I. Stuckey, Samuel O. Givens
  • Patent number: 11858296
    Abstract: A tire that can achieve both desired visibility and design properties of a mark provided on a sidewall portion is provided. A tire has a mark provided on a surface of a sidewall portion so as to be raised from the surface. The mark includes a curved surface portion curved so as to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the sidewall portion, and a flat surface portion provided on at least one side in a tire circumferential direction of the curved surface portion, and a raised height h of the flat surface portion from the surface gradually decreases with increasing distance in the tire circumferential direction from the curved surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11642917
    Abstract: Tire comprising at least one working layer (41). The radially outermost one thereof comprises at least one undulation (412) radially on the outside of the points of the working layer (41) that are in line with the centre of the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest to undulation (412). The undulation (412) of the radially outermost working layer (41) is such that, over at least 10% of the radially outer surface (ROS) of the said working layer (41), the radial distance (do) between the radially outer surface (ROS) and the tread surface (21) is at least 1 mm less than the radial distance (dc) between the radially outer surface (ROS) and the tread surface (21), which is the distance in line with the centre of the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest to the said undulation (412).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Richard Abinal, Mathieu Albouy, François-Xavier Bruneau, Cyril Charreire, Pierre Fevrier, Patrick Pallot
  • Patent number: 11453242
    Abstract: Tire comprising major grooves with a depth at least equal to 4 mm and with a width at least equal to 1 mm. The radially outermost working layer (41) comprises at least one undulation (412). The undulation (412) is such that the undulation (412) portion of the working layer (41) represents at least 10% of the surface of the working layer (41), has an amplitude of at least 1 mm and is radially on the outside of the points of the working layer (41) that are in line with the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest (412). All the layers of material (3, 6, 7) making up the radial stack of the crown structure (S) have mean surfaces parallel to that of the radially outermost working layer (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Richard Abinal, Mathieu Albouy, François-Xavier Bruneau, Cyril Charreire, Pierre Fevrier, Patrick Pallot
  • Patent number: 11148470
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire includes a carcass structure having a pair of sidewalls and a crown, a pair of beads, a tread, a belt structure, and a plurality of reinforcing hoops. The plurality of spaced apart reinforcing hoops are disposed intermediate the crown of the carcass structure and the tread, and are formed of a rigid material coated in an elastomeric material. The plurality of reinforcing hoops includes a pair of outer reinforcing hoops disposed adjacent the sidewalls of the carcass, and an at least one inner reinforcing hoop disposed between the outer reinforcing hoops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: AMERICAN ENGINEERING GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Abraham Pannikottu, Jon Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 11104186
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a plurality of protrusion portions extending along a tire side surface of a tire side portion in a direction that intersects a tire circumferential direction and a tire radial direction; the plurality of protrusion portions each including an intermediate portion in an extension direction that includes a highest position of projection height from the tire side surface, and tip portions on either side of the intermediate portion in the extension direction that include a lowest position of projection height from the tire side surface, at least the intermediate portion being only disposed inward of a tire maximum width position in the tire radial direction; and a ratio of a total width (SW) to an outer diameter (OD) satisfying the relationship SW/OD?0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Yuji Kodama
  • Patent number: 10918983
    Abstract: A toroidal trap for capturing stray particles directed inside the hole of the toroid shape and enabling gas to transit internally through and exit from a generally toroidal encasement. A filter is removably attached proximate to the hole and it receives the captured particles, the removability enabling the filter medium to be cleaned or replaced. At least one blower is situated within the encasement to drive air or gas past the filter medium and inside the encasement to exit exterior of the toroidal encasement. A method of using the aforementioned toroidal trap comprising the steps of activating the trap, directing particles at a target through the hole, depositing stray particles onto a filter medium and either repositioning the trap or the target depending on user preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventor: Rafat A. Kerkonian
  • Patent number: 10682890
    Abstract: A vehicle tire includes a tread portion provided in the tread surface with a circumferentially continuously extending groove having a bottom and a pair of opposite side walls, wherein at least one of the side walls is provided with protrusions protruding into the groove and arranged in the tire circumferential direction. The protrusion has a gradually increasing part in which the area of the cross section of the protrusion being parallel with the tread surface is gradually increased toward the radially outer side of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okagawa, Tomoyuki Kujime, Minoru Nishi
  • Patent number: 10675919
    Abstract: A circumferential direction protrusion is provided extending longitudinally mainly along a tire circumferential direction on a side outward in a tire radial direction from a maximum tire width position on at least a first tire side portion of a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kodama, Masataka Koishi, Kenichiro Endo
  • Patent number: 10500900
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a sidewall portion includes a plurality of projecting portions projecting in a tire width-direction. The projecting portions are placed such that at least portions of the projecting portions are superposed on one of a plurality of blocks in a tire radial-direction as viewed from a tire width-direction. At least one of the plurality of projecting portions includes at least one opening. A total sum of an opening area of the opening is equal to or smaller than an actual area of the projecting portion in the at least one of the projecting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sachio Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10479137
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel is provided which includes a sub air chamber member capable of suppressing a surface deformation amount in case of an action of an internal pressure of the sub air chamber member. A sub air chamber member of a vehicle wheel includes an upper surface member, a lower surface member, and bridge sections causing the upper surface member and the lower surface member to strike on each other. An end-to-end distance of an opening part of a bridge section opening on an upper surface of the upper surface member is set longer than a distance to an end portion of an opening part of another bridge section adjacent thereto. Moreover, the area of the opening parts of the bridge sections opening on the upper surface of the upper surface member is larger than the area of other general parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 10442252
    Abstract: A tire having a pair of high strength sidewalls lying opposite one another, wherein each sidewall has a plurality of plies that are shaped during manufacture to have a series of pleats or corrugations formed therein and stretching from the tire beads radially outward along the sidewalls. Each of the series of sidewall corrugations includes a pattern of alternating inwardly extending depressions and outwardly extending projections that extend continuously around the tire. The corrugations provide the sidewalls with an integral structural reinforcement, whereby the tire is advantageously capable of providing run flat support and avoiding damage to the rim on which the tire is mounted. According to a preferred embodiment, the tire herein disclosed is ideally suited for use on a motorcycle rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Jeffrey P Douglas
  • Patent number: 10377187
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a plurality of linear projections which are formed linearly from an edge portion over the edge portion, in at least a partial area on an outer surface of a side wall portion and a plurality of protruding portions which are formed linearly in the area. The protruding portion is arranged so that at least a part of the protruding portion is positioned between the linear projections, and the protruding portion intersects with the linear projection and the other protruding portion at one position or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10295559
    Abstract: To calibrate an accelerometer, a rotating member is rotated over multiple periods, thereby causing the accelerometer attached to the rotating member to repeatedly turn over. A processor obtains acceleration measurements as the accelerometer turns and determines a set of local minima and maxima of the acceleration measurements. Based on these local minima and maxima, the processor determines a sensitivity of the accelerometer. The processor stores the sensitivity for use in adjusting subsequent accelerometer measurements, thus calibrating the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad S. Dawson, John Wertz
  • Patent number: 10284120
    Abstract: A transmitting device for wireless transmission of measured parameters, which comprises a microcontroller controlling pulse generating means so that said pulse generating means generate at least one pulse position modulation (PPM) signal comprising information corresponding to at least one measured parameter value, wherein said pulse generating means comprise an oscillator and a power amplifier connected to said oscillator in order to amplify the pulses output from said oscillator and to output said PPM signal, and wherein said microcontroller is configured, for each pulse of said PPM signal to be generated, to activate only said oscillator for a first period of time and then to activate also said power amplifier only for a second period of time following said first period of time, said microcontroller being also configured to maintain deactivated said oscillator and said power amplifier outside the time interval defined by said first and second periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: STE INDUSTRIES S.R.L.
    Inventors: Paolo Maria Moiraghi, Mauro Cortese
  • Patent number: 10099517
    Abstract: Provided is a side-reinforced run-flat tire including a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions extending on both sides of the tread portion, and reinforcing rubber provided in the sidewall portions, the side-reinforced run-flat tire further including: short fibers bonded, via an adhesive layer, to at least a portion of a region of a tire inner surface that is located in each of side portions, wherein the adhesive layer has a heatproof temperature of from 50 to 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10023012
    Abstract: A tire includes primary inclined grooves and auxiliary inclined grooves. Each primary inclined groove has a first gently inclined portion and a first steeply inclined portion. Each auxiliary inclined groove has a second gently inclined portion and a second steeply inclined portion. Each primary inclined groove does not communicate with a circumferential groove on the tire equator line side and extends beyond a tread edge outward in a tire width direction. Each auxiliary inclined groove does not communicate with the circumferential groove on the tire equator line side, and does not reach the tread edge but terminates on the tire equator line side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shintaro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9951469
    Abstract: A steel cord with two or more filaments possibly including a wrapping filament, at least one but not all of the two or more filaments including the possible wrapping filament is coated with a ternary or quaternary alloy coating of copper-M-zinc. The steel cord with lower cost and good adhesion performance is for reinforcing rubber product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NV BEKAERT SA
    Inventors: Geert Seynhaeve, Stijn Himpe, Guy Buytaert
  • Patent number: 9815339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire (1) of radial design having a carcass (4) and having components (9, 10) which adjoin the carcass (4), wherein thread-shaped elements (11) are arranged on at least one of the two surfaces of the carcass (4) and preferably serve to discharge occluded air between the carcass (4) and the adjoining components (9, 10) during the construction of the tire. In order to improve the electrical conductivity of the pneumatic vehicle tire (1), at least one thread-shaped element (11) has a coating which is electrically conductive and jointly forms an electrically conductive, thread-shaped element (12) which has an electrical resistance of <1×107 Ohm/cm. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the electrically conductive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schunack, Lars Sonnenberg, Güenter Wahl, Carole Justine, Mehmet Sadettin Fidan, Norbert Kendziorra, Christian Weber
  • Patent number: 9815334
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a pneumatic tire with sufficiently reduced rolling resistance. The pneumatic tire according to the present invention including a carcass having a carcass main portion extending from a tread portion via a sidewall portion to a bead portion in a toroidal shape and locked on a bead core embedded in the bead portion, and a belt disposed on a crown portion outer peripheral side of the carcass, characterized in that, when mounted on an applicable rim and put under a predetermined internal pressure no-load condition, a minimum value R1 of a curvature radius of a tire width direction cross-section in a tire radial direction outer portion of the carcass main portion positioned on an tire radial direction outer side than a position where a distance measured from a tire radial direction inner end of the carcass outwardly in the tire radial direction becomes ½ of a carcass cross-sectional height is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9701157
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel of the present invention, includes: a sub air chamber member which serves as a Helmholtz resonator and is fixed to an outer circumferential surface of a well portion in a tire air chamber; a first standing wall surface formed such as to stand from the outer circumferential surface of the well portion outward in radial direction and extend in circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface; and a second standing wall surface formed on the well portion such as to face the first standing wall surface in width direction of the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 9694626
    Abstract: This vehicle wheel is provided with only two sub air chamber members each as a Helmholtz resonator having an sub air chamber which communicates with a tire air chamber via a communication hole, and characterized in that the respective communication holes of the sub air chamber members are provided apart from each other in a wheel circumferential direction so as to form approximately a right angle around a wheel rotation center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 9636955
    Abstract: A tire-based system and method for estimating a radially outward tire surface temperature of an identified tire supporting an identified vehicle includes a temperature sensor to measure a tire inner liner temperature. An algorithmic prediction model is empirically trained to correlate inner liner tire temperature to tire radially outward surface temperature for the tire/vehicle combination. The empirically trained algorithmic prediction model receives a steady state temperature-based model inputs including the tire inner liner temperature and an ambient temperature measurement and transient behavior vehicle-based inputs. Based upon the steady state inputs and the transient behavior inputs, a radially outward tire surface temperature estimation is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, Srikanth Veppathur Sivaramakrishnan, Anthony William Parsons
  • Patent number: 9566825
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel of the present invention, includes: a sub air chamber member which serves as a Helmholtz resonator and is fixed to an outer circumferential surface of a well portion in a tire air chamber; a first standing wall surface formed such as to stand from the outer circumferential surface of the well portion outward in radial direction and extend in circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface; and a second standing wall surface formed on the well portion such as to face the first standing wall surface in width direction of the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 9522379
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for reducing and/or harvesting drag energy from transport vehicles. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a mobile transport platform, a donor substance source carried by the platform, and a thermochemical reactor carried by the platform and coupled to the donor substance. The reactor is configured to carry out a non-combustion dissociation process that dissociates the donor substance into a first constituent and a second constituent. An energy extraction system carried by the transport platform and positioned to extract energy from an airstream passing the transport platform is coupled to the reactor to provide energy for the dissociation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 9431000
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes an additional air chamber member on an outer circumferential surface of a well functioning as a Helmholtz resonator in a tire air chamber. The additional air chamber includes a body including an additional air chamber and a communication through hole for communication between the additional air chamber with a tire air chamber, and a fastening part for fastening the body between the first vertical wall surface and the second vertical wall surface. An upper surface of the body inclines to have an upward slope from a side of the first vertical wall surface to a side of the second vertical wall surface. The upper surface of the body is formed to extend along and inside or outside in a wheel diametrical direction a line connecting from the top of the vertical wall to the top of the hump on the side of the second vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Kamiyama, Katsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 9429545
    Abstract: A rolling search unit including an ultrasonic device and a heat exchanger mounted within a fluid-filled tire may be utilized to perform ultrasonic testing on an underlying railroad rail. The ultrasonic device may transmit or receive ultrasonic beams into or from the railroad rail, and the heat exchanger may be utilized to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the tire at a preferred level or within a preferred range. In such a manner, the results of testing obtained using the rolling search unit may be standardized regardless of the ambient temperature in the environment where the testing is being performed, and regardless of any heat gained or lost by the rolling search unit during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SPERRY RAIL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Mark Havira, Anthony Iorfino
  • Patent number: 9399372
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a main body fitted between a first vertical wall surface and a second vertical wall surface of the wheel, a first flange portion extending from the main body toward the first vertical wall surface, and a second flange portion extending from the main body toward the second vertical wall surface. In the vehicle wheel, a length of one of the flange portions is made shorter than a length of the other flange portion in a wheel width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youichi Kamiyama, Katsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 9365084
    Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to a regulator device. The regulator device regulates the inlet air flow to the air tube and the outlet air flow to the tire cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Daniel Paul Luc Marie Hinque
  • Patent number: 9302537
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a rim having a noise suppression device. The rim includes an outer radial surface that is concentrically disposed about a central axis. A tire is mounted to the rim to define a tire cavity between the outer radial surface of the rim and an interior surface of the tire. The noise suppression device includes a device wall that defines at least one resonator chamber, and includes a plurality of apertures allowing fluid communication between the tire cavity and the resonator chamber, with each of the plurality of apertures defining an opening area between the range of 0.03 mm2 and 0.8 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jinshuo Zhu, Chong Wang, Christopher A. Stirlen, Alan V. Parrett
  • Patent number: 9272581
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in the outer surface of each sidewall portion with a serrated zone formed by a number of serration grooves extending at an angle of at most 45 degrees with respect to the tire radial direction. Each of the serration grooves has a variable depth such that the deepest point lies between the radially outermost end and innermost end of the serration groove. The deepest point is positioned in a range between 0.2 time and 0.4 times a radial distance Ha from the maximum carcass section width position to the radially outermost end of the tire. As a result, the rolling resistance of the tire can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tadao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9174499
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire 1 in which turbulent-flow generating projections 10 each extending from an inner circumference side to an outer circumference side are provided on a outer circumferential face 3a which is tire surface of tire side portion 3 at intervals in a tire circumferential direction. Each of the turbulent-flow generating projections 10 includes an edge portion 10g when being viewed in a cross-sectional shape taken along a direction perpendicular to an extending direction thereof, and a front wall angle ? formed between a front wall face 10a of each turbulent-flow generating projection 10 and the tire surface (outer circumferential face 3a) is set in the range of 70° to 110°, the front wall face being hit by an airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150128690
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for determining pitches of cooling pins for a pneumatic tire so that the heat dissipation performance of the sidewall may be improved and an airflow noise generated by a high speed air may be decreased, and a pneumatic tire including the cooling pins arranged by the same. The method for determining pitches of cooling pins for a pneumatic tire, including: selecting a total number of cooling fins, the number of pitch-types, and a size of each pitch; generating a random number and arranging each type of pitch sequentially by the generated random number to produce a random pitch arrangement; Fourier transforming the obtained pitch arrangement to calculate a result value (FT); and repeatedly performing the steps of producing a random pitch arrangement and calculating the FT to determine a pitch arrangement when a change in amplitude of the FT is smallest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Woo-Cheol PARK
  • Patent number: 8991453
    Abstract: A tire (1) for a motorcycle has: a groove portion (10) formed at a tread; and a block-shaped land portion (100) protrusive from the groove portion (10) toward an outside in a tire radial direction (TD). The land portion (100) has a plate-shaped small piece portion (107). Since an area with which the running wind comes into contact increases due to the small piece portion (107), the periphery of the groove portion (10) or the land portion (100) can be effectively thermally radiated. Thus, a temperature of the land portion (100) can be reduced, and even if the automatic motorcycle runs on the hard road surface over a predetermined period of time or more, it is possible to effectively restrain the lowering of required performance such as gripping force, feeling of grounding, and steering stability, which is exerted by the lowering of the rigidity of the land portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Ichizo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8973629
    Abstract: An improved tire provides an air-flow restrictor that may be installed inside a tire. The air-flow restrictor may restrict or prevent the flow of air in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tire. Also, a method for saving fuel by inserting or retrofitting tires with air movement restricting inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Garry L. Rumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20150007915
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire comprising an annular interior surface having a circumference, and an air flow feature. The annular interior surface is adapted for engagement with a wheel, defines an interior surface circumferential direction along the annular interior surface in the direction of the circumference, defines an interior surface meridinal direction tangent to the annular interior surface and perpendicular to the direction of the circumference, and defines an interior surface normal direction mutually perpendicular to both other directions. The air flow feature is engaged with the annular interior surface, adapted to direct a flow of inflation air into a non-circumferential direction, and comprises an air flow feature surface comprising a portion that extends in the interior surface normal direction and the interior surface meridinal direction, and either extends more than 2 millimeters in the interior surface normal direction, or extends in the interior surface circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Steenwyk, Stephen M. Vossberg
  • Publication number: 20140319901
    Abstract: A tire and wheel assembly includes a wheel that has a rim. The wheel has a first thermal conductivity. A tire is attached to the wheel to define an annular tire cavity enclosed by the tire and the rim. An insulating member is on the rim within the tire cavity. The insulating member has a second thermal conductivity lower than the first thermal conductivity and is configured to absorb heat from the cavity when a temperature of the cavity is above a first predetermined temperature. The insulating member is also configured to release the absorbed heat back to the cavity when the temperature of the cavity is below a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David J. Schmidt, David L. Howland
  • Patent number: 8826950
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with an asymmetrical tread pattern comprising a pair of crown circumferential grooves defining a crown rib therebetween. The crown rib is provided with: a central narrow circumferential groove subdividing the crown rib into a crown-rib outside portion and a crown-rib inside portion; cooling slots extending from the crown circumferential grooves; and cooling holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichiro Morozumi
  • Patent number: 8739849
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire including at least a turbulent flow generation projection configured to generate a turbulent flow, the turbulent flow generation projection being arranged in a range from a maximum tire width position to an outside bead position, the maximum tire width position being a position on a tire surface with maximum tire width, and the outside bead position being a position on an outside of a bead portion in a tire radial direction, the bead portion configured to be in contact with a rim flange. The turbulent flow generation projection includes a radial projection extending along the tire radial direction, and a circumferential projection extending in an approximately circular arc shape along a tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Kuroishi
  • Patent number: 8656969
    Abstract: A tire (2) includes a tread portion (T) and a pair of side portions (S). An agitating portion (32) is provided on an inner part in a radial direction with respect to a position (PA) indicative of a maximum width over an external surface (34) of each of the side portions (S). The agitating portion (32) includes a large number of dimples (36) which are dented inward from the external surface. An edge of the dimple (36) has a circular contour. A ratio of a depth of the dimple (36) to an outside diameter of the dimple (36) is equal to or higher than 0.2 and is equal to or lower than 0.5. A ratio of a distance between a center of one of the dimples (36) and a center of the other dimple (36) which is close to the one of the dimples 36 to the outside diameter is equal to or higher than 1.2 and is equal to or lower than 2. It is preferable that the outside diameter of the dimple (36) should be equal to or greater than 3 mm and be equal to or smaller than 5 mm in the tire (482).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8544511
    Abstract: A tire is provided having a plurality of shoulder blocks separated by axial grooves and located along at least one side of the tire. Apertures extend through the shoulder blocks to connect with a circumferential groove. The apertures are located within a certain radial position relative to the axial grooves. Each aperture has a bottom positioned at a radial depth HB relative to the shoulder block and extends completely through the shoulder block along the axial direction. Each aperture has a radial overlap HL with the axial grooves. The ratio HL/Ho is about 0.15 or less and the ratio of HB/H is in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Robert C. Radulescu
  • Patent number: 8522844
    Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire having a tire side portion with an enhanced durability according to the present invention, a run flat tire (1) has a turbulent generating concavo-convex part (5) composed of grooves and ribs and extending along at least part of a tire side portion, and a pattern is set to the turbulent generating concavo-convex part (5), in which for the turbulent generating concavo-convex part (5), letting h be a height, p be a pitch, and w be a width, a relationship is met such that 1.0?p/h?50.0, and 1.0?(p?w)/w?100.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8287674
    Abstract: An improved tire provides an air-flow restrictor that may be installed inside a tire. The air-flow restrictor may restrict or prevent the flow of air in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tire. Also, a method for saving fuel by inserting or retrofitting tires with air movement restricting inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Garry L. Rumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20120067475
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle equipped with air-filled tires, wherein heating of the air-filled tires during driving is minimized, and the durability of said tires is increased. Either many dimples are formed on the outside surface of at least one sidewall of the air-filled tires, or at least part of the outside surface of the sidewalls is formed using a good-thermal-conductivity rubber having a thermal conductivity of at least 0.40 W/(m·K). The vehicle is also provided with a cooling device that blows a gas that cools the air-filled tires from the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Hidehiko Hino
  • Publication number: 20110308676
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with an asymmetrical tread pattern comprising a pair of crown circumferential grooves defining a crown rib therebetween. The crown rib is provided with: a central narrow circumferential groove subdividing the crown rib into a crown-rib outside portion and a crown-rib inside portion; cooling slots extending from the crown circumferential grooves; and cooling holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Junichiro MOROZUMI
  • Publication number: 20110220325
    Abstract: The first invention relates to a vehicle with pneumatic tires characterized in that the vehicle comprises a cooling unit which expels a fluid to cool the pneumatic tire from the outside thereof at least when the air pressure of the pneumatic tire decreases. And, the second invention relates to a tire cooling method in the vehicle with pneumatic tires comprising: a step of monitoring the air pressure of the pneumatic tire during running, and a step of expelling a fluid toward the pneumatic tire so as to cool the pneumatic tire from its outside when the air pressure falls below a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: Hidehiko Hino
  • Publication number: 20110108174
    Abstract: A tire (2) includes a tread portion (T) and a pair of side portions (S). An agitating portion (32) is provided on an inner part in a radial direction with respect to a position (PA) indicative of a maximum width over an external surface (34) of each of the side portions (S). The agitating portion (32) includes a large number of dimples (36) which are dented inward from the external surface. An edge of the dimple (36) has a circular contour. A ratio of a depth of the dimple (36) to an outside diameter of the dimple (36) is equal to or higher than 0.2 and is equal to or lower than 0.5. A ratio of a distance between a center of one of the dimples (36) and a center of the other dimple (36) which is close to the one of the dimples 36 to the outside diameter is equal to or higher than 1.2 and is equal to or lower than 2. It is preferable that the outside diameter of the dimple (36) should be equal to or greater than 3 mm and be equal to or smaller than 5 mm in the tire (482).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Masanori Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110073228
    Abstract: A solid rubber tire with a multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes formed into opposed spaced apart sidewalls of the solid rubber tire. The self-pumping vent holes each extend from the side walls into the solid rubber tire about one-half the spaced apart distance and parallel to the rotation axis of the tire. Each of the multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of between 0.5% and 1.5% of the maximum tire diameter. Any and all parts of the solid rubber material in the tire are at a distance of less than 12% of the original maximum diameter of the tire from any one of the multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes so that heat that may result in the solid rubber tire from its use is dissipated and temperature of the rubber in the tire is reduced by pumping of air into and out of the multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes upon rolling contact with the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Giles A. Hill, III, Duane S. Birdsong
  • Publication number: 20110041971
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire including at least a turbulent flow generation projection configured to generate a turbulent flow, the turbulent flow generation projection being arranged in a range from a maximum tire width position to an outside bead position, the maximum tire width position being a position on a tire surface with maximum tire width, and the outside bead position being a position on an outside of a bead portion in a tire radial direction, the bead portion configured to be in contact with a rim flange. The turbulent flow generation projection includes a radial projection extending along the tire radial direction, and a circumferential projection extending in an approximately circular arc shape along a tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya Kuroishi
  • Publication number: 20100180994
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 according to the present invention has turbulence generating protrusions on a tire surface, each of the turbulence generating protrusions having a sharp edge part. In the pneumatic tire, the following relationships are satisfied: 0.015?H/?R?0.64; 1.0?p/H?50.0; 0.1?H/e?3.0; 1.0?L/H?50.0; and 1.0?(p?w)/w?100.0, where “R” is a tire radius, “H” is a protrusion maximum height, “p” is a protrusion circumferential-direction interval, “e” is a protrusion radial-direction interval, “L” is a protrusion radial-direction length, and “w” is a protrusion circumferential-direction length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Yamaguchi