Tire Characterized By Its Air Impervious Liner Or Inner Tube Patents (Class 152/510)
  • Publication number: 20100263778
    Abstract: Inflatable article equipped with a layer impermeable to the inflation gases, of improved hysteresis and impermeability. The layer comprises an elastomer composition comprising at least, as the sole elastomer or as the predominant elastomer by weight, a thermoplastic stirene elastomer (“TPS”) and a platy filler having a volume content greater than 5%. According to one preferred embodiment, the TPS elastomer is a copolymer with polystirene and polyisobutylene blocks such as SIBS (stirene/isobutylene/stirene) and the composition also comprises an extender oil for the elastomer, in particular a PIB (polyisobutylene) oil. The platy filler is especially chosen from graphites and phyllosilicates such as micas, clays or talcs. The inflatable article can be an inner tube or a pneumatic tire for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicants: Societe De Technologie Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Lesage, Emmanuel Custodero
  • Patent number: 7798188
    Abstract: A laminate of a thermoplastic resin and rubber comprising a thermoplastic resin layer (A) made of a matrix of a polyamide resin matrix containing an elastomer dispersed therein and an unvulcanized diene-based rubber layer (B) containing a diene-based rubber and a low molecular weight diene-based rubber having an acid anhydride group and having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 50,000 laminated partially or totally in at least one layer each to form a laminate integrated at the time of vulcanization and a pneumatic tire using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sakai, Yoshiaki Kirino, Yoshihiro Soeda
  • Publication number: 20100230026
    Abstract: A heavy-load tire comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions each with a bead core therein, a carcass comprising a carcass ply of cords including a main portion extending between the bead cores, and a pair of turnup portions each turned up around the bead core from the axially inside to the outside of the tire, and an inner liner made from air-impermeable rubber and disposed on the tire internal cavity surface, wherein each bead portion includes a bead reinforcing layer with an L-shaped cross section, the bead reinforcing layer comprising an axially outer piece portion disposed along the axially outside the turnup portion and a bottom piece portion integral with the outer piece portion and terminating in a sub-core area between a first radial line extending inwards along the radial direction of the tire from an innermost axial point of the bead core, and a second radial line extending inwards along the radial direction of the tire from an outermost axial point of the bead
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Kazumi YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20100230025
    Abstract: A bicycle tire provides a first sidewall and a second sidewall each including an interior portion and an exterior portion. A rim attaching portion including a slipping reduction portion having an extended rim contact surface is connected to an inner circumference of each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A tire tread portion is connected to an outer circumference of the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Shuji Kawai
  • Patent number: 7793693
    Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic tire provided at its bead portion with a rubber chafer (4) and covered at its inner surface with an innerliner (5), wherein a toe rubber (6) is further arranged on a toe end part of the bead portion so as to overlap with the rubber chafer (4) and the innerliner (5) and locate at least outside the innerliner (5) at the overlapped portion with the innerliner (5), and a rubber composition A containing at least one of butyl rubber and halogenated butyl rubber as 20-40 mass % of a rubber component is used in the toe rubber (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Nakane, Tsutomu Saeki
  • Patent number: 7793694
    Abstract: It is to solve problems in a safety tire in which hollow particles also referred to as the foamable compositions are filled in the hollow ring-shaped partition wall and to provide a safety tire having a partition wall structure capable of sufficiently developing the function of the hollow particles. In a safety tire comprising a tire/approved rim assembly constructed by assembling the tire onto the approved rim, a hollow ring-shaped partition wall disposed inside the assembly to define a chamber extending in a circumferential direction along the rim, and thermally expandable hollow particles filled in the chamber and each consisting of a continuous phase of a resin and a closed cell(s), wherein the partition wall is provided with a filter selectively passing only a gas emitted when the hollow particles are thermally expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Otani
  • Publication number: 20100200139
    Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire having an integral rubber innerliner containing anchored hollow glass microspheres.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Roger Neil Beers, Aaron Scott Puhale, David John Zanzig, Paul Harry Sandstrom, Ping Zhang, George Frank Balogh, Joseph Kevin Hubbell
  • Patent number: 7770620
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforced lightweight air bladder for a safety tire which can effectively suppress a radial growth under the normal running condition even if it is used for a long tire and, on the other hand, to suppress an occurrence of a crack in a tube under the runflat running condition, thereby exhibiting a superior durability. A hollow toric reinforced air bladder 1 is to be accommodated in a tire 2 to form a safety tire. The reinforced air bladder 1 is filled with the air at an internal pressure determined in relation to a given air pressure of the tire 2 to form a cavity S1 in tire 2. When the internal pressure of the cavity S1 of the tire 2 is dropped due to getting punctured or the like, the reinforced air bladder 2 is radially expanded to take over load support from the tire 2. The reinforced air bladder 1 comprises an air-impermeable tube 6 and a reinforcing hoop layer 7 surrounding entirely an outer circumference of a crown portion of the tube 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kouno, Kazumasa Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 7770621
    Abstract: According to the invention, a processing aid is used to improve processing in a green (uncured) rubber composition, such as in downstream in-plant processing of an innerliner compound, and maintaining, or more preferably, reducing the air permeability of the cured composition, e.g., innerliner compound. In embodiments, another of the advantages of the present invention is that the processing aid according to the invention can be used in very low levels relative to the other processing aids and oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Dirk F. Rouckhout, Walter H. Waddell
  • Publication number: 20100186866
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising an air permeation preventive layer comprising a film of a thermoplastic resin composition containing a polyvinyl alcohol or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, to which a protective film of a rubber composition containing an ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) is, directly or via an adhesive, placed adjacent thereto, as one layer in at least one side thereof, whereby both a further reduction in the air leakage rate of the pneumatic tire and a good durability can be achieved and furthermore a reduction in the weight of the tire can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: The Yokohama rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shusaku Tomoi
  • Publication number: 20100175804
    Abstract: Inflatable article equipped with an elastomer layer impermeable to the inflation gases, said elastomer layer comprising at least, as the predominant elastomer, a thermoplastic stirene/isobutylene/stirene (SIBS) elastomer. Preferably the SIBS elastomer comprises between 5% and 50% by weight of stirene, its number-average molecular weight is between 30 000 and 500 000 g/mol, and its Tg is below ?20° C. Preferably the airtight elastomer layer also comprises, as a plasticizing agent, an extender oil for the SIBS elastomer with a content preferably between 5 and 100 phr. The inflatable article is, in particular, an inner tube or a pneumatic tire for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Pierre Lesage, Emmanuel Custodero
  • Publication number: 20100170606
    Abstract: It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a rubber composition improving the uniformity of a butyl rubber gauge and being superior in air permeability resistance (air retaining property), when a tire is molded, by a procedure capable of reducing the fluctuation of the butyl rubber gauge, namely, controlling the property of an unvulcanized rubber, and a tire having the inner liner comprising it. The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having an inner liner comprising a rubber composition for a pneumatic tire in which the Mooney viscosity measured at 130° C. of an unvulcanized rubber of the rubber composition for a pneumatic tire comprising a butyl rubber is at least 45, wherein the average value and standard deviation of the butyl rubber gauge of shoulder portion of a finished tire satisfy: (Standard Deviation of Butyl Rubber Gauge)/(Average value of butyl rubber gauge)?0.060.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Takafumi Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20100154960
    Abstract: Provided are a pneumatic tire and a manufacturing method of the same capable of improving a separation failure at end portions of an inner liner layer made of either a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition. The pneumatic tire includes an inner liner layer made of either a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin component and an elastomer component. The inner liner layer is provided on an inner side of the tire so as to face a tire cavity. A recessed portion is formed in an internal surface area of the tire where an end portion of the inner liner layer is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isamu Kishizoe
  • Publication number: 20100147431
    Abstract: A method for producing a laminate (E) of a low air permeable resin/rubber composition comprising: laminating a laminate (D) of a low air permeable resin (A) layer having an air permeation coefficient of 1.0×10?12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or less and an average thickness d (?m) of 0.05<d<5 and a thermoplastic resin composition (B) layer with a rubber composition (E) layer so as to form (B)/(A)/(E), followed by vulcanization, and peeling off only the thermoplastic resin composition (B) from the laminate, as well as the laminate thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD,
    Inventor: Naoyuki Morooka
  • Publication number: 20100139829
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and an innerliner in direct contact with the carcass, the innerliner comprising a rubber composition comprising: at least one elastomer selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, brominated butyl rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, polybutadiene, copolymer of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene, and brominated copolymer of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene; epichlorohydrin rubber; and at least one delaminated talc having a BET surface area according to DIN 66131 of 10-40 m2/g, an average particle size (D50) of 4-8 microns, determined by laser diffraction measurement, and a lamellarity index of 3-15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Uwe Ernst Frank, Andreas Frantzen, Claude Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 7730919
    Abstract: A laminate of an air permeation preventive layer an adhesive layer provided with an air permeation preventive layer comprising a thermoplastic elastomer composition containing a thermoplastic resin as a continuous phase and a rubber composition dispersed therein as a dispersed phase and arranged on one surface of the air permeation preventive layer, an adhesive composition layer having a thickness of 100 ?m or less, a self tack of less than 5N and a tack to an unvulcanized diene-based rubber or 5N or more, containing 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer containing 50 parts by weight or more of an epoxy-modified styrene-butadiene-based block copolymer so that a total of 30 to 200 parts by weight of a terpene resin and an aromatically modified terpene resin having a weight average molecular weight Mw of 1000 or less and a softening point of 60 to 120° C., 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of an internal mold release agent and 0.1 to 2 parts by weight of an organic peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kanenari
  • Publication number: 20100126647
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire using as an air permeation prevention layer a film consisting of thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending thermoplastic resin with elastomer, wherein the film is prevented form being peeled off to prevent entry of a release agent into the interior and the internal view of the tire is improved. An air permeation prevention layer (10) disposed on the inner side of the tire is constituted of a laminate (14) obtained by layering ribbon-form elastomer layers (12, 13) on the opposite sides of a ribbon-form film (11). The laminate (14) is wound in the tire circumferential direction while being overlapped partially and deviated at specified intervals. Respective adjoining winding portions (14A1, 14A2) of the laminate (14) are joined by being overlapped partially with ribbon-form films (11) kept separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hashimura, Takahiko Sawada, Tomohiko Kogure
  • Publication number: 20100116399
    Abstract: To provide a tire tube having excellent sealing performance and long lasting durability. The tire tube contains a primary and secondary cavity, each having multiple ports. In the event of a tire rupture or puncture within the primary cavity, the secondary cavity can be inflated manually through a secondary tire valve, or via a rapid pressurization utilizing an actuation value and a pressurized cavity within the rim structure. An adhesive impregnated rubber or synthetic layer bonded to a tubular layer will form the boundary between the wall separating the primary and secondary cavities, and provide a filler to seal the leak in the primary cavity tube outer wall, and into the tire itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: JOHN S. ADAMS
  • Publication number: 20100108222
    Abstract: A tire and a method of securing an object thereto includes a two-piece fastening system having a first portion which is applied to an innerliner of a green tire prior to the green tire being cured and a second portion which includes an object, such as a radio frequency identification chip, attached thereto. The first portion of the two-piece fastening system is attached to the innerliner of the tire with an adhesive or by curing. The green tire is then cured and the second portion of the two-piece fastening system with the object attached thereto is then attached to the first portion of the two-piece fastening system. In an alternative embodiment, the object may be sandwiched between the first and second portions of the fastening system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bell
  • Publication number: 20100108221
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire and a process for manufacturing the same which enable, in the use of a film of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending an elastomer in a thermoplastic resin as an air permeation preventive layer, formation of the air permeation preventive layer excelling in gas barrier performance, and molding of the tire through a simple molding operation without generating any unnecessary scraps. For the pneumatic tire of the present invention, a cylindrical molded article composed of a film of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending an elastomer in a thermoplastic resin is crushed into a sheet-like laminate; and the sheet-like laminate is used as the air permeation preventive layer. In the manufacturing operation, the sheet-like laminate is wrapped around a making drum so that an unvulcanized tire having the sheet-like laminate as an air permeation preventive layer is molded, and the unvulcanized tire is vulcanized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Shibata, Naoyuki Morooka, Hirohisa Hazama, Masamichi Danjo, Norifumi Kameda, Yoshiaki Hashimura
  • Publication number: 20100108224
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a noise damper, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for fixing the damper to the tire are disclosed. The inner surface of the tread portion of the vulcanized tire is buffed, and the noise damper is fixed to the buffed inner surface, using a double-sided adhesive tape which has specific characteristics such as adhesive force, tensile strength, thickness, cold-resistant property, heat-resistant property and water-resistant property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki YUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20100108223
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire and rim assembly is provided in the cavity with a noise damper in which a sponge material extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and having a volume V2 of 0.4 to 20% of entire volume V1 of the cavity, wherein the noise damper comprises a fixing surface fixed to a surface which surrounds the tire cavity, and a free surface directed to the tire cavity, a maximum value of thickness from the fixing surface to the free surface is in a range of 5 to 50 mm, including a thick mountain portion and a thin valley portion; and at least one of outer ends of the noise damper in the circumferential direction of the tire is formed into an inclined surface portion comprising a first inclined surface rising from the fixing surface and a second inclined surface extending from the first inclined surface to the free surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Yukawa
  • Patent number: 7704343
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire having an innerliner formed of thermoplastic elastomer. The method comprises the steps of: heating a surface of a tire building drum in advance; placing the innerliner on the heated surface of the tire building drum, the innerliner being cylindrically shaped and having a radially outer surface to which an adhesive has been applied; disposing uncured tire components radially outwardly of the innerliner to form a green tire; and curing the green tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kanenari
  • Publication number: 20100096058
    Abstract: A method of preparing a green tire innerliner, the method comprising mixing one or more vulcanizable rubbery polymers, less than 0.75 parts by weight zinc oxide, less than 0.75 parts by weight magnesium oxide, and less than 0.75 parts by weight sulfur, per 100 parts by weight rubber, to form a vulcanizable mixture and extruding the mixture to form a green tire innerliner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: James D. Ulmer, Robert Gibbons Barned, Lisa Marie Dinger, Joseph Lanzarotta
  • Patent number: 7694707
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having two spaced inextensible beads; a ground contacting tread portion; a pair of individual sidewalls extending radially inward from the axial outer edges of said tread portion to join the respective beads, the axial outer edges of the tread portion defining a tread width; a supporting carcass for the tread portion and sidewalls; and at least one foamed structure disposed radially inwardly of the carcass and exposed to the inner cavity of the tire, the foamed structure including a co-vulcanized foamed rubber composition having a density ranging from 0.1 to 1 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Giorgio Agostini, Jan Leyssens
  • Publication number: 20100078110
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising from about 50 to about 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a vinylpyridine-styrene-butadiene (VPSBR) elastomer comprising units derived from monomers comprising styrene, 1,3-butadiene, and vinylpyridine monomers which have the structural formula: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a straight chain or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the VPSBR comprises from about 0.1 to about 8 percent by weight of vinylpyridine monomer; from 0 to about 50 phr of at least one additional diene-based elastomer; from about 5 to about 15 phr of an at least partially exfoliated clay; and from about 1 to about 40 phr of a polyoctenamer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Paul Harry Sandstrom, Ping Zhang, Xiaoping Yang, Joseph John Kulig, Aaron Scott Puhala, Rebecca Lee Dando
  • Publication number: 20100077848
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a method comprising providing a tire having a component constructed and arranged to cause at least one portion of the tire to have a first stiffness or resistance to force exerted thereon under a first condition and a second stiffness or resistance to force exerted thereon under a second condition and selectively causing the first or second condition to occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John C. Ulicny, William R. Rodgers, Tadeusz B. Pietrzyk, Keith S. Snavely, Mark A. Golden, Jonathan Darab
  • Publication number: 20100071823
    Abstract: A method of production of a pneumatic tire having a layer of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprised of a thermoplastic resin in which an elastomer component is dispersed arranged as an air permeation preventive layer on the inner surface of the tire and having a light blocking protective layer for preventing degradation caused by sunlight, placed on the surface of the air permeation preventive layer after vulcanization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shusaku Tomoi
  • Patent number: 7681613
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire and noise damper assembly comprises a pneumatic tire manufactured by vulcanization using an expandable bladder for molding an inner surface of the tire, the bladder with at least one vent groove extending on its outer surface, the inner surface of the tire being provided with at least one projecting stripe molded by the vent groove of the bladder, and a noise damper being attached to the inner surface of the tire and extending in the circumferential direction of the tire, wherein the projecting stripe comprises at least one first projecting stripe extending in an adhesion region to which the noise damper is attached, and the first projecting part has a height of from 0.2 to 1.0 mm, a width of from 0.4 to 1.6 mm and an virtual section area of from 0.08 to 1.00 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yukawa, Keiichi Nakadera
  • Patent number: 7677284
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, and a carcass extending between the bead portions through the tread portion and sidewall portions, wherein the tread portion is provided radially inside the carcass with a tread tape having a thickness of not more than 2.0 mm and having a tensile elastic modulus larger than any rubber existing between the tread tape and the adjacent carcass cords. A method of manufacturing the pneumatic tire includes vulcanizing a main body of the tire, excepting the tread tape, and attaching the tread tape onto the inside of the vulcanized tire main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Hasegawa, Naoki Yukawa
  • Publication number: 20100052408
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a type of secure and efficient wheel assembly using fluid or solid stuffing materials so as to minimize the blowout risks, a wheel rim transmission assembly, an energy exchanging arrangement used in transporting system, and a vehicle energy storage system, as well as corresponding methods for manufacturing and preparing such assemblies and arrangements in applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Wuhan Runlin Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wenlin Ren
  • Patent number: 7669627
    Abstract: A tube-type tire to be mounted on the rim of a (e.g., spoke-type) wheel such as that commonly used by a bicycle or a motorcycle, whereby the tube-type tire will operate without a conventional inner tube and as if it were tubeless. The tire includes a main tire section that is seated upon the generally flat shelf of the rim and a pneumatic sealing ring having an inner tube that is seated upon the beadwell of the rim. An air chamber of the inner tube of the sealing ring is inflated to a greater pressure than an air chamber of the main tire section so as to isolate the air chamber of the main tire section from the rim and force the main tire section against the vertical lip of the rim. The sealing ring also has an outer inflatable liner that is located in surrounding engagement with the inner tube to separate the inner tube from the air chamber of the main tire section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Douglas
  • Patent number: 7669628
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a noise damper, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for fixing the damper to the tire are disclosed. The inner surface of the tread portion of the vulcanized tire is buffed, and the noise damper is fixed to the buffed inner surface, using a double-sided adhesive tape which has specific characteristics such as adhesive force, tensile strength, thickness, cold-resistant property, heat-resistant property and water-resistant property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Yukawa
  • Publication number: 20100032069
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a puncture-proof tyre assembly in which a sealant of a rubber or another rubber-like material is pressed against the tread of the tyre assembly such that there is a higher pressure in this sealant chamber than in the air chamber, and the sealant comprising at least one filler, as well as to a method for producing this tyre assembly and to the use of aqueous gels in producing these puncture-proof tyre assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Ralf Müller
  • Publication number: 20100024941
    Abstract: An article having a fluid permeation prevention layer, such as a pneumatic tire or hose. A tire for example includes an outer tread layer, intermediate sidewall and carcass layers and an innermost air permeation prevention layer: (i) the air permeation prevention (APP) layer having an upper and a lower surface, the layer having a polymer composition exhibiting an air permeation coefficient (APC) of about 25×1O?12 cc cm/cm2 sec cmHg (at 30* C) or less and a Young's modulus of about 1 MPa to about 500 MPa, the polymer composition comprising: (A) at least 10 wt % of at least one. thermoplastic resin component having an APC of about 25×1O?12 cc cm/cm2 sec cmHg (at 30° C.) or less and a Young's modulus of more than 500 MPa, which is preferably a polyamide resin or mixture, and (B) at least 10 wt % of at least one elastomer component having an APC of more than about 25×10?12 cc cm/cm2 sec cmHg (at 30° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Yuichi Hara, Shusaku Tomoi, Andy Haishung Tsou, Stephan Bertil, Yoshihiro Soeda
  • Publication number: 20100018622
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire designed so that when a hook and loop fastener is fitted to the tire internal face of a pneumatic tire furnished with an inner liner layer consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer composition of a blend of thermoplastic resin and elastomer, or a thermoplastic resin, the hook and loop fastener can easily follow the elongation of the inner liner layer and is free from damaging of the inner liner layer. There is disclosed a pneumatic tire furnished on its internal face with an inner liner layer (7) consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer composition composed of thermoplastic resin and elastomer, or a thermoplastic resin, characterized in that integral forming of a multiplicity of interlocking elements (8) protruding on the hollow side of the tire is effected on the surface of the inner layer (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 7649043
    Abstract: A composition well suited to forming gas barrier layers in elastomeric articles is described. The barrier layer may be incorporated into, for instance, inflatable articles that are intended to contain a gas, such as air, under pressure. For example, in one embodiment, the barrier layer may be incorporated into a tire for preventing oxygen or other gaseous components from migrating through the tire. In general, the barrier layer is made from an elastomer that is combined with permeability reducing particles, such as a silicate, and a terpene hydrocarbon resin having a relatively high glass transition temperature. The terpene hydrocarbon resin can improve the processability of the composition and, in one embodiment, can even serve to improve the permeability characteristics of the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Brian R. Bergman
  • Publication number: 20100000646
    Abstract: A tire comprising an innerliner, where the innerliner includes a rubber and boron nitride dispersed within the rubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Mary M. Matthiesen, Amy Randall, Mindaugas Rackaitis
  • Publication number: 20090320983
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which, in employing as an air-impermeable layer a film formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer component obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer, separation of the film during tire production is prevented; and a process for producing the same. The pneumatic tire is obtained by disposing a film closer to a tire cavity than a carcass layer, disposing a first rubber layer closer to the tire cavity than the film so as to cover the film, and disposing ends, in the width direction, of the first rubber layer outward of ends, in the width direction, of the film, the film being formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiko Sawada, Yoshiaki Hashimura, Norifumi Kameda
  • Publication number: 20090308517
    Abstract: The invention provides a laminated body (1) having a good workability during the production and an excellent peeling resistance, which is formed by joining a resin film layer (D) (2) comprising at least a layer composed of a resin composition (C) in which a soft resin (B) having a Young's modulus at 23° C. lower than that of a thermoplastic resin (A) is dispersed in a matrix made from the thermoplastic resin (A) and a rubbery elastomer layer (E) (3) through an adhesive layer (F) (4), wherein an adhesive composition (I) formed by compounding not less than 0.1 part by mass of at least one of a maleimide derivative (H) having not less than two reaction sites in a molecule thereof and poly-p-dinitrosobenzene based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (G) is applied to the adhesive layer (F) (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicants: BRIDGESTONE CORPORTAION, KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nohara, Daisuke Katou, Yuwa Takahashi, Daisuke Nakagawa, Kota Isoyama, Tomoyuki Watanabe, Kaoru Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20090288749
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having, as an air permeation preventive layer on the surface thereof, a layer of a thermoplastic resin or a layer of a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic resin, in which an elastomer component is dispersed, arranged and further having, on the surface of the layer of the thermoplastic resin or the layer of the thermoplastic elastomer composition, a light-blocking layer having a light transmittance of less than 10% in the range of a wavelength of 280 to 400 nm, wherein degradation of the air permeation preventive layer by sunlight is prevented using the thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shusaku Tomoi
  • Publication number: 20090288750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having an air barrier layer, particularly an integral pneumatic tire innerliner, for prevention, or retardation, of air permeation from its inner chamber to the atmosphere through the carcass of the tire. The innerliner is comprised of an annular, cylindrical, hoop of a film having its ends overlapped and heat sealed together. The film is comprised of a continuous thermoplastic polymer phase which contains a dispersion therein of cured rubber domains, particularly cured low unsaturation rubber domains. In one embodiment, one surface of the film contains a thin bonding layer to aid in bonding the film to an unsaturated rubber-containing tire carcass. In one embodiment, the overlapping portion of the ends of the film have a thin rubber layer positioned therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ramendra Nath Majumdar, William Paul Francik
  • Patent number: 7600546
    Abstract: Disclosed is an innerliner for pneumatic tires, wherein the innerliner comprises a modified ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (C) obtained by reacting 1-50 parts by weight of an epoxy compound (B) with 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) having an ethylene content of 25-50 mol %. A pneumatic tire with the innerliner can greatly improve the internal pressure retainabilities before and after driving without increasing the weight of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation, Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujino, Shinji Tai, Kaoru Ikeda, Tomoyuki Watanabe, Kouta Isoyama
  • Publication number: 20090250152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a sulfur cured rubber composition. The innerliner rubber composition is comprised of at least one elastomer selected from bromobutyl rubber and chlorobutyl rubber which also contains a dispersion therein of ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Junling Zhao, Aaron Scott Puhala
  • Publication number: 20090229726
    Abstract: In the present invention, a tire for heavy loading which is excellent in an air holding property and a durability of a bead part and can stand use over a long period of time can be provided by disposing an air blocking layer having a thickness of 1 mm or less and an oxygen permeation amount of 3×10?13 cm3·cm/cm2·sec·Pa or less at 60° C. and 65% RH on a whole outermost layer of a carcass layer 50 that an end of the air blocking layer is set within 100 mm from a toe tip of a bead part in a direction along a bead base line. Further, a conventional inner liner can be reduced in a thickness or removed, and the tire can be reduced in a weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinsuke Nakane, Daisuke Nohara
  • Publication number: 20090205766
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heavy-duty pneumatic tire that is capable of suppressing deterioration by oxidation at a portion of a high heat generation in a bead portion, and that is excellent in sustainability of inner pressure holding performance as well as in durability. The heavy-duty pneumatic tire of the present invention includes a carcass and an inner liner disposed closer to the center of the tire than the carcass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20090173422
    Abstract: A electronic device is mounted on a circumferential surface of an inner liner by tucking first, second and third edges of a device plate between a first holding plane of a first guide tab and a surface of a holder plate, between a second holding plane of a second guide tab and the surface of the holder plate, and between a third holding plane of a third guide tab and the surface of the holder plate. The electronic device can be stably-mounted over the long term without difficulty and can be removed from the circumferential surface of the inner liner without difficulty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Atsuo Utsumi, Yoichi Watanabe, Makoto Furukawa, Yoshihiko Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7556074
    Abstract: A tire includes a cavity formed therein to receive a removable electronic monitoring module. A mouth of the cavity opens into the inside volume of the tire and is located along a section of a joint of a first layer formed by the assembly of rubber profiled elements adjacent to the inside volume of the tire. The joint can extend radially or circumferentially. The cavity can be formed by inserting an element into the tire body and then leaving the element in place or removing it prior to vulcanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche Et Technique
    Inventor: Martine Borot
  • Publication number: 20090165914
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an air permeation preventive layer formed by adhering a resin film containing thermoplastic resin as a main component thereof to a tire inner wall surface, wherein the resin film is laminated, as a narrow width slit film shape, with an elastomer and the resultant ribbon-shaped laminate is continuously and spirally wound in a tire circumferential direction so that the edges thereof partially overlap to thereby form the air permeation preventive layer, whereby a pneumatic tire having a light weight and superior air permeation preventive property, no splice openings of the air permeation preventive layer at the time of tire processing, and capable of shortening the processing time can be obtained as well as the production method thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shusaku Tomoi
  • Publication number: 20090165915
    Abstract: A tire includes: a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply, of a substantially toroidal shape, having opposite lateral edges associated with respective right-hand and left-hand bead structures, the bead structures including at least one bead core and at least one bead filler; a belt structure applied in a radially external position with respect to the carcass structure; a tread band radially superimposed on the belt structure; a pair of sidewalls applied laterally on opposite sides with respect to the carcass structure; at least one layer including a crosslinked elastomeric material having air barrier properties, wherein the crosslinked elastomeric material is obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition including: (a) 10 phr or 100 phr, preferably 20 phr to 60 phr, of at least one butyl rubber; (b) 0 phr to 90 phr, preferably 40 phr to 80 phr, of at least one diene elastomeric polymer; (c) 5 phr to 120 phr, preferably 15 phr to 90 phr, of at least one reinforcing filler; (d)
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Maurizio Galimberti, Luca Giannini, Gianluca Meloro