Physical Structure Of Reinforcing Cords Patents (Class 152/527)
  • Publication number: 20010037847
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a cord-reinforced layer such as carcass, belt, bead reinforcing layer which is made of metallic cords, each metallic cord is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is in a range of from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, the metallic filaments include waved filaments and unwaved filaments, each waved filament is two-dimensionally waved at a wave pitch and wave height before twisted, the wave pitch is in a range of from 5.0 to 35.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the wave height is in a range of from 0.2 to 4.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the metallic filaments are twisted together into the cord at a twist pitch of from 10 to 40 mm so that the two-dimensionally waved filaments are each subjected to a certain rotation around its axial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Shinichi Miyazaki, Kazumi Yamazaki, Osamu Toda, Yasuo Sakai
  • Patent number: 6311747
    Abstract: A high-transverse-curvature tire (1), in particular for mounting onto the rear wheel of motor-vehicles, comprises a tread band (8), coaxially extended around a belt structure (6), wherein a plurality of rubber blocks (10), defined between a plurality of grooves (1 1) extending along a direction substantially transverse to the tire running direction (D), are formed which grooves comprise a bottom (12) connected to opposite inlet (13) and outlet (14) sidewalls. In an equatorial zone (E) of the tread band (8), the inlet wall (13) of the grooves (11) is inclined with respect to the bottom (12) of the same towards the tire rolling direction, and forms an angle (&agr;) of from 50° to 80° with respect to a plane (&pgr;) tangent to the bottom (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici SpA
    Inventors: Giancarlo Armellin, Peter Kronthaler
  • Patent number: 6305450
    Abstract: A tire (1) for motor-vehicle wheels comprises a tread band (10) and a belt structure (6), the tread band being molded with a raised pattern having a circumferential groove (11). In the absence of load and inflating pressure, the tire is characterized in that the belt structure in a cross-section of the tire has an axial profile comprising three distinct portions, first (14) and second (15) side portions and one central portion (16) interposed between the side portions. The side portions are concave at a radially internal position, in which the concavity is defined for each portion by a respective center and a respective radius of curvature. The central portion is concave at a radially external position where the concavity center of the central portion lies in the center line plane of the circumferential groove, in which the depth of the radially external concavity is canceled under the effect of the normal inflating pressure of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Romano Guermandi
  • Patent number: 6305451
    Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire which comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a carcass extending between the bead portions and composed of a single ply of steel cords arranged radially at an angle of from 70 to 90 degrees with respect to the tire equator, and a belt disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion and composed of two cross plies of steel cords laid parallel with each other at an angle of from 0 to 45 degrees with respect to the tire equator, wherein in at least the central part of the tread portion having 50% of the axial width of the belt, the total amount of steel in the belt plies being in the range of from 6 to 10 times the steel amount in the carcass ply, and the thickness of rubber between the radially adjacent belt cords and carcass cords is in the range of from 0.7 to 3.0 mm. Preferably, the two belt plies are made of substantially the same amount of steel in the central part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Ueyoko
  • Patent number: 6293326
    Abstract: Load Range C and D radial light truck tires have plies reinforced with 2X or 3X metallic cords. In one embodiment, the plies are two steel cord belt plies and the cords of at least one of the two belt plies has a filament diameter d of about 0.32 mm to 0.40 mm and either a 2X construction and a filament tensile strength in the range of 6908-10740d to 14238-25590d or a 3X construction and a filament tensile strength in the range of 4998-8140d to 9616-17370d. The cords may be located in components such as the belt, carcass, chipper, chafer, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Charles Elmer Hamiel, Italo Marziale Sinopoli, Daniel Ignatius Kowalski, Jr., Ray Allison Young
  • Patent number: 6283187
    Abstract: In a tire for motor-vehicles, an auxiliary support element (9) is interposed between a carcass ply (3) and a belt structure (6). The support element is employed during the manufacturing step of the belt structure (6) in order to stably retain, on the sectors of a comb drum (10), coils (7a) consecutively formed by winding of an inextensible cord (7) therearound. The auxiliary support element (9) is made in the form of an elastomeric sheet containing short aramid fibers in an amount included between 1 and 10 parts by weight per 100 parts of elastomeric material, to increase the stretchability of said element without impairing its adhesiveness. The introduction of the short aramid fibers in the blend enables the thickness of the auxiliary support element (9) to be reduced to about 0.075 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Villani, Alessandro Volpi
  • Patent number: 6279634
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for passenger car comprises a circumferential belt layer in addition to a slant belt layer, in which specified PET, nylon, PEN or vinylon fiber cords or steel cords are used in the circumferential belt layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kohno, Eiji Yamanaka, Toshinobu Kobayashi, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 6273161
    Abstract: A single wire steel cord is prepared by flattening a round wire to have two flat surfaces facing each other and two round surfaces interposed between the two flat surfaces to face each other, wherein a flattening ratio D/W of the wire, where D denotes the short diameter of the cross section of the flattened wire and W denotes the long diameter of the cross section of the flattened wire, falls within a range of 0.5 to 0.95. Forming is applied to the flattened wire in a direction of at least the short diameter of the cross section of the flattened wire, and the flattened single wire steel cord is embedded in a tire belt portion such that one flat surface of the cord faces that portion of the tire which is brought into contact with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Rope Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Yamagami, Makoto Nakayama, Ryouichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 6273160
    Abstract: Tires using high tensile reinforcement with value of at least 1240 N(280 lbs) for U+T type cord and at least 2000 N(450 lbs) for bunched type cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Farrel Bruce Helfer, Dong Kwang Kim, John Gomer Morgan, Robert Martin Shemenski, Italo Marziale Sinopoli, Guy Jeanpierre, Gia Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6272830
    Abstract: A steel cord (10) for reinforcing elastomeric articles. The steel cord (10) having a plurality of strands (14). Each strand (14) having a core (20) and a sheath (22). The sheath (22) being a plurality of steel filaments that are helically wrapped about the core (20). A first strand (16) extending longitudinally through the center of the steel cord (10). The remaining strands (18) being helically wrapped about the first strand (16). The core (20) of the first strand (16) being a plurality of filaments twisted together. In a preferred embodiment, the core (20) of the first strand 16 being three filaments twisted together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: John Gomer Morgan, Italo Marziale Sinopoli
  • Publication number: 20010012558
    Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a reinforcing fabric for articles made from rubber, such as pneumatic tires, conveyor belts, flexible tubes, and similar, comprising a plurality of metal cords orientated parallel to each other in a single direction and in which each cord comprises metal wires wound spirally around each other, wherein at least one of the wires of the cord consists of a shape memory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Applicant: PIRELLI COORDINAMENTO PNEUMATICI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cipparrone, Gurdev Orjela, Guido Riva
  • Patent number: 6267165
    Abstract: The belts of the reinforcing structure of a pneumatic tire are reinforced with high strength, light weight aramid cords having a linear density of 420 to 1100 dTex, the cords having a twist of 315 to 551 TPM (8 to 14 TPI). In alternative embodiments, overlay material may be incorporated into the belt reinforcing structure. An illustrated embodiment of the tire has a belt reinforcing structure comprising a folded belt folded around a cut belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Walter Kevin Westgate, Charles Elmer Hamiel, Robert John Boehlefeld
  • Patent number: 6260596
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises at least one carcass ply of textile cords and a belt comprised of two cross belt layers containing textile cords arranged at a cord inclination angle of 10-45° with respect to the equatorial plane, in which a difference of cord inclination angle between the two cross belt layers with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire is within a range of 5-35° in the widthwise direction, and is mounted onto at least either left-side or right-side front wheel of a four-wheeled vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Ubukata, Kazuyuki Hamamura
  • Patent number: 6257291
    Abstract: Reinforcing fabric for articles made from elastomeric material, particularly for pneumatic tires, comprising a plurality of filamentary elements having at least tensile strength, parallel and adjacent to each other in a plane, lying in a predetermined direction. The reinforcing elements, preferably cords, are incorporated in an elastomeric material and constitute at most the 40% of the volume of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Boiocchi, Gurdev Orjela
  • Patent number: 6253816
    Abstract: A belt reinforcing layer is disposed outwardly in the radial direction of a tire so as to reinforce the whole portion or the end portions of a tread portion. The belt reinforcing layer is formed by spirally winding a rubber-coated and narrow strip made of a fiber cord/cords around a tire. A pair of bead fillers are disposed directly above bead cores of a pair of bead portions. The cords of the belt reinforcing layer are made of organic fiber cords, and have a 2.7% or less elongation under load of 1.4g/d at the temperature of 50±5° C., and have a 1.5 to 6.0% elongation under load of 0.7g/d at the temperature of 170±5° C. The height L of each of the bead fillers corresponds to 20 to 60% of the cross sectional height T of a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Ide
  • Patent number: 6253536
    Abstract: A steel cord for radial tires having a “2+5” construction structured by twisting a core and a strand in such a fashion that they have the same twist pitch length and the same twist direction, so that the number of processing steps for the twisting process is reduced from two to one, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs while achieving an improvement in productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Shick Han
  • Patent number: 6237663
    Abstract: A metal cord for reinforcing articles made from elastomeric material comprises a plurality of metal wires wound spirally around each other. At least one of the metal wires is formed from a shape memory material, has capacities of recovering a previously memorized shape, and is deformed from the memorized shape. The shape memory wire of the cord has the recovery capacities substantially active in a first heat cycle and degraded to at least a significant predetermined extent after the first heat cycle. One or more such metal cords may be incorporated in pneumatic tires, reinforcing fabric, and other articles, including by means of processes described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cipparrone, Gurdev Orjela, Guido Riva
  • Patent number: 6186205
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a passenger car having a pair of bead portions, a toroidal carcass portion extending over both bead portions, at least two belt layers provided in a crown portion of the carcass, a tread portion positioned at an outer peripheral side of the belt layer, and side wall portions provided at the right and left sides of the tread portion, and which further includes a steel cord as a reinforcing material for reinforcing at least one layer of the carcass portion and the belt layer. The steel cord is formed by plying a plurality of filaments each having a strand diameter of 0.125 to 0.275 mm, and has an inflection point on an S—S curve. A reduction rate of a diameter of the steel cord under a load stress which is one third of breaking strength in comparison with a no load condition is equal to or more than 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Oshima, Kozo Sasaki, Tomohisa Nishikawa, Kazuomi Kobayashi, Kenji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6158490
    Abstract: A metallic cord has (a) a core composed of two filaments either parallel or intertwisted with each other, (b) a single filament surrounding the core and (c) a sheath of nine filaments surrounding the core and single filament. Preferably, the diameter of each filament ranges from about 0.15 to 0.4 mm. The cord may reinforce elastomeric articles such as tires, belts and hoses and preferably is used in a belt ply or carcass ply of a pneumatic tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Thomas Walter Starinshak
  • Patent number: 6145560
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire comprises a radial carcass, a main cross belt and a tread portion, in which the main cross belt is formed by laminating at least three rubberized cord layers so that the cords in each layer are parallel to each other but the cords between the adjoining layers are crossed with each other and extend in opposite directions with respect to an equatorial line of the tire. In such a tire, a pair of cushion rubbers are arranged between the adjoining rubberized cord layers constituting the main cross belt at their both end portions by setting a position relation between mutual cushion rubbers at both belt ends to an optimum value to thereby prevent or control the occurrence of the belt end separation failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Yamada, Hiroshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 6125899
    Abstract: In a heavy duty pneumatic radial tire, at least one carcass layer is provided between right and left bead portions and at least two belt layers formed of steel cords which exhibit a breaking elongation of 4% or less are arranged in an outer periphery of the carcass layer in a tread portion. The belt layers are composed of at least one upper belt layer (A) and at least one lower belt layer (B). The upper belt layer (A) has a belt width that is 0.6 times or less a carcass line maximum width SW of the carcass layer at a tire section and the lower belt layer (B) has a belt width such that both end portions thereof extend to tread shoulder portions. An inclination angle of the steel cords of the lower belt layer (B) relative to a tire circumferential direction is set to be larger than that of the upper belt layer (A). A ratio (Mb.sub.2 .multidot.N.sub.2)/( Mb.sub.1 .multidot.N.sub.1) of a product of a bending rigidity Mb.sub.2 per steel cord of the lower belt layer (B) and the number N.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Norio Ohmoto
  • Patent number: 6125900
    Abstract: A tire for an airplane has radial carcass reinforcement surmounted by a cn reinforcement composed of at least three plies of textile reinforcing elements, including at least one twin zig-zag ply of two zig-zag plies "guided" at an angle .alpha., abbreviated to NT.alpha..degree., and at least one other "guided" ply, wherein the crown reinforcement comprises, at least between one twin zig-zag ply and one of the other "guided" plies, a decoupling intermediate layer of thickness e forming a radial distance of at least 1.0 mm between the cords of the radially lower ply and the cords of the radially upper ply surrounding the intermediate layer, the intermediate layer being formed of textile reinforcing elements coated in a rubber compound whose secant modulus of elasticity, measured at a relative elongation of between 0.06 and 0.2, is between 5 and 9 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Pierre De Loze de Plaisance, deceased, by Marin De Loze de Plaisance, heir, by Yvan De Loze de Plaisance, heir, by Florent De Loze de Plaisance, heir, by Myriam De Loze de Plaisance, heiress
  • Patent number: 6119747
    Abstract: A steel cord for the reinforcement of rubber articles has a two-layer construction in which a core consists of two steel filaments and a sheath arranged around the core consists of nine steel filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Takaya Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6112789
    Abstract: Special cords of textile material are used for reinforcing a portion of a pneumatic tire. The cord comprises at least one yarn and has a first portion adjacent to its outer peripheral surface and a second radially inner portion, adjacent to its core, wherein the second portion is constituted by filaments which are compacted and possibly fused together and the first portion by discrete filaments. Further a method for making such cord and a pneumatic tire including such cord are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Rene Fran.cedilla.ois Reuter
  • Patent number: 6109017
    Abstract: A steel cord according to this invention comprises two core wires and five outer wires each having a diameter larger than that of each core wire and integrally twisted on the core wires, wherein a strand constituted by the five outer wires and the two core wires has an oblong cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Rope Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawatani
  • Patent number: 6102095
    Abstract: A corrosion resistant steel cord for reinforcing rubber articles, particularly a belt and/or carcass of a pneumatic tire, has a residual compressive stress inside the twisting helix of each steel filament such that a ratio R.sub.1 /R.sub.0 is less than one, where R.sub.0 is the radius of curvature of a helix in each helically formed steel filament obtained by untwisting of the cord and R.sub.1 is the radius of curvature of the helix after removal of a surface layer from the inside of the helix in the steel filament. The steel filaments have a tensile strength of 4,000-4,800 N/mm.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone Metalpha Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiko Obana, Yoshikazu Kaneko, Ryuzo Osawa
  • Patent number: 6098683
    Abstract: The belt of a pneumatic tire is a laminate of a circumferential belt layer and an inclined belt layer, the circumferential belt layer comprising a plurality of reinforcing elements arranged substantially in parallel with the equatorial plane of the tire and coated with rubber, and the inclined belt layer comprising a plurality of reinforcing elements inclined with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire and coated with rubber, wherein at least in the coating rubber of the circumferential belt layer and the coating rubber of the inclined belt layer adjoining each other, the modulus of elasticity of the coating rubber of the circumferential belt layer is lower than that of the coating rubber of the inclined belt layer. The pneumatic tire of the invention avoids the disadvantage generated by addition of a circumferential belt layer while strengthening the circumferential rigidity by the circumferential belt layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Nakano
  • Patent number: 6098393
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high strength steel cord(1) for pneumatic tires, which is produced by the process of drawing high strength carbon steel with carbon content of 0.91.about.2.0% by weight, plating brass on the surface of the carbon steel so that it adheres to the rubber and repeating the drawing and stranding of said carbon steel. In particular, as the steel cord is composed of a filament of two strips, the steel cord according to the present invention is of a higher strength than conventional steel cord, and therefore when it is applied to a tire, the amount of steel cord and rubber topping used can be reduced, thereby resulting in a lighter weight tire, cost savings and lower fuel consumption rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hankook Tire Company
    Inventor: Yong Sig Han
  • Patent number: 6089293
    Abstract: A reinforcement ply for an elastomeric article comprises a plurality of parallel extensible reinforcing members laid at a substantially constant end count perpendicular to their longitudinal direction, the ply having different extensibilities in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing members in different parts of the ply. The reinforcing members are preferably made such that they each have at least one filament which is displaced perpendicularly from the longitudinal centerline of the reinforcing member in one part of the reinforcing member compared to another part. A tire may include the reinforcement ply as a hoop or band in the ground contacting tread region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin John Niderost
  • Patent number: 6082426
    Abstract: A tire with radial carcass reinforcement 1, having a crown reinforcement 3 aving at least two working crown plies 32, 34 made of inextensible cables, crossed from one ply to the other and forming angles of between 10.degree. and 45.degree. with the circumferential direction, characterized in that in the absence of any ply formed of inextensible cables forming an angle greater than 45.degree. with the circumferential direction, an additional, axially continuous, ply 33 formed of metallic elements oriented substantially parallel to the circumferential direction, is placed radially between the working plies 32, 34, having an axial width L.sub.33 at least equal to 1.05 times the axial width of the widest working crown ply L.sub.32, L.sub.34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Andre Colom
  • Patent number: 6082423
    Abstract: A very light weight tire 10 has at least one radial ply 38 and a rayon belt structure 36, having two single cut belt layers 50, 51 covered by an overlay 59 having cords 80 selected from the group of aramid, rayon, PEN, PET and PVA. The tire 10 has a very thin or reduced gauge (t) undertead 13. The tire 10 can be made having very low rolling resistance due to the combination of casing structure and the reduced rubber mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Alain Emile Francois Roesgen, Atte Smits, Marie-Rita Catherine Amelie Thise-Fourgon, Eric Gerard Marie Packbier, David Paterson Craig
  • Patent number: 6082425
    Abstract: A tire having an Heterologous/S form ratio of at least 0.50, having a rad carcass reinforcement (1) and crown reinforcement (3) composed of at least two working crown plies (31,33) made of inextensible metal cables, crossed from one ply to the next, forming angles of between 10.degree. and 45.degree. with the circumferentail direction, and of an additional ply (32) which is axially continuous and formed of metallic elements oriented substantially parallel circumferential direction. Said ply (32) over the working ply (31) radially closest carcass reinforcement (1,) and the ratio of its rigidity of extension per unit of width to the total of the rigidities of extension of the other plies of the crown reinforcement being between 0.35 and 0.70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etalissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Andre Colom
  • Patent number: 6077606
    Abstract: A coated multi-filament reinforcing carbon yarn is encapsulated with a rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises resorcinol-formaldehyde reaction product, a vinylpyridine-styrene butadiene terpolymer, an acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer and urea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: James Gregory Gillick, Cecil Bennett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6070631
    Abstract: A high-transverse-curvature tire (1), in particular to be mounted on the front wheel of a motor-vehicle, comprises a belt structure (6) including, in a radially external layer (9a), a plurality of circumferential coils (7a), axially arranged side by side, of a cord (7) wound at a substantially zero angle with respect to the equatorial plane (X--X) of the tire. The area occupied by rubber blocks (10) formed in a portion of the tread band (8) having a length equal to the pitch (p) of the tread pattern and a width equal to the axial development of the tread band (8), is between 70% and 90% of the total area of said portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici SPA
    Inventors: Giancarlo Armellin, Peter Kronthaler
  • Patent number: 6065518
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire comprises a belt disposed radially outside a carcass and radially inside a tread portion, the belt comprising at least one ply of at least one high-elongation steel cord, the high-elongation steel cord being formed by twisting at least three waving steel filaments together to form a core and a sheath surrounding the core. The waving filaments change place repeatedly along the longitudinal direction of the cord such that one of the filaments forms the core in a portion, but in a different portion of the cord, the same filament forms part of the sheath, thereby defining a plurality of first parts with the core and a plurality of second parts without the core which are disposed alternately in the longitudinal direction of the cord. The elongation at break of the high-elongation steel cord is in the range of from 4 to 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rie Miyawaki, Masatsugu Kohno
  • Patent number: 6062284
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of tire for high speed two-wheeled vehicles comprising making a cylindrical sleeve, attaching annular bead wires to the axial ends of said sleeve and shaping the sleeve into a toroidal configuration. A belt structure made of coils of cords is applied to the crown of said toroidal configuration. The belt is reinforced with HE cords which can be deformed to enable the tire carcass to be so largely expanded into the mold to achieve completely molding of a tread band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Caretta
  • Patent number: 6058996
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a breaker belt disposed radially outside the carcass having at least two cross plies of high elastic modulus cords laid at an inclination angle of from 15 to 30 degrees with respect to the tire equator, and a band belt disposed radially outside the breaker belt and comprising a full-width band and a pair of axially spaced edge bands, wherein the full-width band is made of low elastic modulus organic fiber cords arranged substantially parallel to the tire equator. The edge bands are made of high modulus organic fiber cords arranged substantially parallel to the tire equator, whereby the high speed durability and cornering performance are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6041839
    Abstract: A metallic cord for the reinforcement of elastomers has a 4+3 construction wherein the diameter of each filament ranges from 0.35 to 0.50 mm. The lay length of the four filaments in the core may be infinity. A pneumatic tire has a belt structure of at least two radially overlapped layers of elastomeric materials reinforced with metallic cords, each metallic cord of at least one of the layers being the 4+3 metallic cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Murat Yasar Ahmet Susutoglu
  • Patent number: 6044313
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to monitor ton-miles-per-hour on a plurality of tires on a mobile machine as the mobile machine hauls a load by determining the weight of the load on the tires, determining the ground speed of the mobile machine, and compensating for uneven distribution of the load on the tires. The ton-miles-per-hour is calculated for each tire as a function of the load distribution and the ground speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Julie A. Gannon
  • Patent number: 6026879
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for heavy duty use comprises at least one radial carcass ply, a tread portion disposed radially outwardly of the crown region of the carcass plies and a crown reinforcing structure interposed between the tread portion and the crown region of the carcass plies. The crown reinforcing structure includes a belt assembly having at least a first, radially innermost and a second, radially outermost belt ply. The cords reinforcing the belt plies are preferably made of PET or PEN and have a linear density comprised between 2000 and 16000 Denier, a twist comprised between 2 and 7 TPI and a twist multiplier comprised between 3 and 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Rene Fran.cedilla.ois Reuter
  • Patent number: 6016858
    Abstract: A very light weight tire 10 has at least one radial ply 38 and a fiberglass belt structure 36 covered by an overlay 59 having cords 80 selected from the group of aramid, rayon, PEN, PET and PVA. The tire 10 has a very thin or reduced gauge (t) undertead 13. The tire 10 can be made having very low rolling resistance due to the combination of casing structure and the reduced rubber mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Alain Emile Francois Roesgen, Atte Smits, Marie-Rita Catherine Amelie Thise-Fourgon, Eric Gerard Marie Packbier, David Paterson Craig
  • Patent number: 6016857
    Abstract: A very light weight tire 10 has at least one radial ply 38 and a aramid belt structure 36, having two single cut belt layers 50,51 covered by an overlay 59 having cords 80 selected from the group of aramid, rayon, PEN, PET and PVA. The tire 10 has a very thin or reduced gauge (t) undertead 13. The tire 10 can be made having very low rolling resistance due to the combination of casing structure and the reduced rubber mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Alain Emile Francois Roesgen, Atte Smits, Marie-Rita Catherine Amelie Thise-Fourgon, Eric Gerard Marie Packbier, David Paterson Craig
  • Patent number: 6012498
    Abstract: Composites of high melting point thermoplastics such as polyphenylene sulfide or polyimide and high modulus fibers such as carbon, graphite, or boron can be bonded to rubber using a primer such as a metal primer. The composite desirably has a modulus of elasticity of at least 750,000 psi and can be used as a belt in a no-flat tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Russell W. Koch
  • Patent number: 5988246
    Abstract: In a tire for motor-vehicles, an auxiliary support element (9) is interposed between a carcass ply (3) and a belt structure (6). The support element is employed during the manufacturing step of the belt structure (6) in order to stably retain, on the sectors of a comb drum (10), coils (7a) consecutively formed by winding of an inextensible cord (7) therearound. The auxiliary support element (9) is made in the form of an elastomeric sheet containing short aramid fibers in an amount included between 1 and 10 parts by weight per 100 parts of elastomeric material, to increase the stretchability of said element without impairing its adhesiveness. The introduction of the short aramid fibers in the blend enables the thickness of the auxiliary support element (9) to be reduced to about 0.075 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Villani, Alessandro Volpi
  • Patent number: 5975175
    Abstract: A pair of high-transverse-curvature tires for two-wheeled vehicles is provided, in which the belt structure of the rear tire comprises a layer of inextensible cords disposed at a substantially zero angle with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire, preferably wound on a sheet of elastomeric material reinforced with aramid pulp, whereas the belt structure of the front tire comprises at least one radially outer layer of inextensible cords disposed at a substantially zero angle with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire and distributed with an axially variable density, and preferably another reinforcing layer at a radially underlying position. The zero-degree cords preferably are metallic cords of the high-elongation type, made of high-carbon steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Armellin
  • Patent number: 5968295
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for passenger car comprises a circumferential belt layer in addition to a slant belt layer, in which specified PET, nylon, PEN or vinylon fiber cords or steel cords are used in the circumferential belt layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kohno, Eiji Yamanaka, Toshinobu Kobayashi, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 5956935
    Abstract: The steel wire is made using a carbon steel wire rod material containing 0.70 to 0.75 wt % carbon and has the characteristics that its diameter is 0.10 to 0.40 mm and Y.gtoreq.-1960d+3580 ?Y: tensile strength (N/mm.sup.2), d: diameter (mm)!. Furthermore, the torque decrease factor of the steel wire is less than 7% in a torsion-torque curve in a torsion-torque test wherein forward twisting and then reverse twisting are applied. A preferred steel cord has two steel wires bundled together substantially in parallel and one steel wire is wound around this bundle. This steel cord is made from steel wires having the diameter, tensile strength and toughness characteristics set forth above, and also the ratio B/A of the strength B of the twisted steel cord to the aggregate strength A of the steel wires before they are twisted together into the steel cord is 0.935 or over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Rope Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Katayama, Kazuo Matsumaru, Yoshiyuki Oguro
  • Patent number: 5948186
    Abstract: A tire includes polybenzazole (PBZ) fibers, preferably either polybenzoxazole (PBO) or polybenzothiazole (PBT) fibers which are liquid-crystalline. The PBZ fibers can be incorporated into either the carcass of the tire, the reinforcing belts, or both. Preferably the PBZ fibers have a) a tensile strength of at least 4.0 GPa; b) a tensile modulus of at least 140 GPa; and c) an average void diameter of 25 .ANG. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Toyobo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Yabuki
  • Patent number: 5935354
    Abstract: A tire, having at least one carcass reinforcement, furthermore comprises itional reinforcement ply (1) of maximum circumferential length L, composed at least of lengths (20) of metal wires or cables, of lengths of between 0.1 L and 0.5 L, arranged substantially circumferentially, parallel to each other and forming rows separated from each other, in the direction perpendicular to their orientation, by gaps (p, P), characterized in that a textile cord or cable (3) of synthetic material is present in at least one gap out of two, and continuous over the entire length of the rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Jean Billieres
  • Patent number: 5931211
    Abstract: A radial tire has a pair of bead portions; a carcass which is toroidal and extends across the bead portions; a tread portion positioned at a crown portion of the carcass; and sidewall portions of the carcass, and at least one belt reinforcing layer is disposed at the entire tread portion and/or at both end portions of the tread portion at an outer peripheral side of at least two belt layers which are disposed at an inner side of the tread portion, the belt reinforcing layers being formed by narrow, rubber-coated strips, which include a plurality of fiber cords, being wound endlessly in spirals so that the fiber cords are substantially parallel in a circumferential direction of the tire, wherein the belt reinforcing layer cords comprise organic fiber cords, the elongation of the organic fiber cords under 1.4 g/d load at 50.+-.5.degree. C. is less than or equal to 2.7%, and the elongation under 0.7 g/d load at 170.+-.5.degree. C. is 1.5 to 6.0%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Tamura