Apex Or Filler Strip Patents (Class 152/541)
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Patent number: 6807996Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a bead core and a rubber bead apex provided in each bead portion, and a carcass comprising a carcass ply turned up around the bead core from the inside to the outside of the tire to form a pair of turned up portions and a main portion therebetween. The bead apex is made of hard rubber disposed between the main portion and turned up portion and extending radially outwards from the bead core. The length (LA) of the bead apex is in a range of from 0.1 to 0.25 times the tire section height (H). A reinforcing cord layer is disposed along the axially inside of the turned up portion. The radially outer end (FU) of the reinforcing cord layer is positioned radially outside the radially outer end (BU) of the bead apex but radially inside the maximum tire section width point (M). The radially inner end (FD) of the reinforcing cord layer is positioned radially outside the radially outer end of the bead core but radially inside the radially outer end (BU) of the bead apex.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2001Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Yasuo Wada
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Patent number: 6807994Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a rubber component where the rubber in said component is comprised of (A) from 10 to 75 phr of a rubber gel selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene gel, styrene butadiene gel, acrylonitrile-butadiene gel, chloroprene gel, natural rubber gel, and mixtures thereof; (B) from 1 to 25 phr of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene; and (C) a rubber containing olefinic unsaturation.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Stephan Franz Westermann, Georges Marcel Victor Thielen, Ghislain Adolphe Leon Thise
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Publication number: 20040194864Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire capable of effectively preventing the pulling-out of a side portion of a carcass ply, in which the side portion of the carcass ply is wound around a bead core and a pulling-out restraint member of the carcass ply is arranged between the winding portion and the bead core to support a tensile force applied to a main body portion of the carcass ply with the pulling-out restraint member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventor: Tsutomu Saeki
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Publication number: 20040173295Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire with rubber component which contains an electrically conductive carbon black and aramid pulp of fibrillated aramid fibers. Such rubber component is selected from at least one of sidewall, tread base for a tire having a tread of a tread/base construction and apex.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Inventors: David John Zanzig, Jennifer Lyn Ryba
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Patent number: 6786258Abstract: A rubber article, such as a tire, composed of at least two rubber mixes with different composition and properties, the said two mixes having a lap joint characterized in that at least one edge of at least one of the two mixes has an end with an oscillatory trace-line.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventor: Noel Morel
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Patent number: 6779573Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an aspect ratio of not less than 60 comprises a radial carcass of one or more plies, a belt, a bead filler rubber and a rubber reinforcing layer of substantially a crescent shape in section extending from a position near to a bead core to a position near to a tread end along an inner surface of an innermost carcass ply, wherein at least one rubber protection sheet being relatively soft is disposed between the bead filler rubber and the carcass ply surrounding it and/or between the rubber reinforcing layer and the carcass ply nearest thereto.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1999Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kazuomi Kobayashi, Tomohisa Nishikawa, Kenji Matsuo
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Patent number: 6776206Abstract: A radial tire having the apex area around the steel reinforced carcass ply turn-up comprised of at least one selected diene rubber and a trans 1,4-polybutadiene rubber.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1994Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Thomas Joseph Segatta, Paul Harry Sandstrom, Shahir Rafael Azer
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Patent number: 6763868Abstract: A carcass structure for a two-wheeled vehicle tire includes at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular reinforcing structures. The at least one carcass ply includes a first series and at least one second series of strip sections circumferentially distributed in a mutually-alternated sequence around a geometric rotation axis of the tire. Each strip section includes longitudinal and parallel thread elements at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomer material and extends in a substantially U-shaped configuration to define two side portions and a crown portion. The annular reinforcing structures are applied against end flaps of the first series of strip sections and are overlapped by end flaps of the at least one second series of strip sections. Each of the annular reinforcing structures includes an annular anchoring insert, including one or more elongated elements extending in radially-concentric coils, and at least one filling body.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1999Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A.Inventor: Renato Caretta
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Patent number: 6752188Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass ply extending between bead portions and is turned up around a bead core in each bead portion to form two turnup portions and a main portion therebetween; each of the turnup portion extends radially outwardly and adjoins the main portion from a certain height above the bead core; a space is surrounded by the carcass ply main portion, and each turnup portion and the bead core is filled with a small size bead apex rubber or a gas; and the bead portion is provided between the carcass ply and the bead core with a bead core cover for preventing the carcass cords from direct contacting with the bead core.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Ohara, Yukio Endo, Kiyoshi Ueyoko, Kazuki Numata, Ikuji Ikeda
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Patent number: 6736177Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass comprising one ply of cords extending between the bead portions through the tread portion and sidewall portions and turned back in each said bead portion from the axially inside to the axially outside of the tire and wound around the bead core so as to form a pair of wound portions and a main portion therebetween, wherein a radially outer part of the wound portion, which is defined as extending axially inwards along the radially outer face of the bead core, has a certain length when measured along the radially outer face which is not less than 0.5 times the width of the radially outer face, and an organic fiber cord layer is disposed between the radially outer part and the radially outer face of the bead core, and a distance between the cords of the radially outer part and the radially outer face of the bead core in a normal direction to the radially outer face is in a range of from 0.05 to 1.0 times the section height of the bead core.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Kiyoshi Ueyoko
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Patent number: 6736178Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass ply extending between bead portions and is turned up around a bead core in each bead portion to form two turnup portions and a main portion therebetween; each of the turnup portion extends radially outwardly and adjoins the main portion from a certain height above the bead core; a space is surrounded by the carcass ply main portion, and each turnup portion and the bead core is filled with a small size bead apex rubber or a gas; and the bead portion is provided between the carcass ply and the bead core with a bead core cover for preventing the carcass cords from direct contacting with the bead core.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Ohara, Yukio Endo, Kiyoshi Ueyoko, Kazuki Numata, Ikuji Ikeda
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Patent number: 6732776Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLCInventors: Neel K. Mani, John L. Turner, Thomas R. Branca, Hidetoshi Yokota, Brian E. Moore, Stanley J. Olesky
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Publication number: 20040084126Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass comprised of at least one carcass ply containing a steel cord(s) arranged at a cord angle of 70-90° with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire and toroidally extending between a pair of bead cores and turned up around the bead core inward or outward in a radial direction to form a turnup portion, wherein a wrap part wrapping on a peripheral face of the bead core therealong is formed in the turnup portion of the carcass ply.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuhito Tsukagoshi, Takeshi Watanabe, Kuninobu Kadota, Yuichiro Ogawa
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Publication number: 20040055688Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, and sidewalls. The carcass structure includes at least one first and second carcass ply and a pair of annular reinforcing structures. The carcass plies are formed of strip sections extending in a substantially U-shaped conformation, including at least two parallel thread elements at least partly coated with elastomer material. The at least one first (second) carcass ply includes a first (third) and second (fourth) series of strip sections arranged in mutually-alternating sequence along a circumferential extension of the carcass structure. The annular reinforcing structures include first and second primary portions. The first (second) primary portion includes an axially-inner side turned towards end flaps of the strip sections of the first (third) series and an axially-outer side turned towards end flaps of the strip sections of the second (fourth) series.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Applicant: PIRELLI PNEUMATICI S.p.A.Inventor: Renato Caretta
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Patent number: 6701988Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having an aspect ratio of no more than 60% comprises at least one carcass ply composed of a main body portion and a turn-up portion, a stiffener made of a soft rubber stock and a hard rubber stock, and a reinforcing member extending at an outside of the turn-up portion in a widthwise direction of the tire through a cushion rubber, wherein at an inflation state of the tire under a given air pressure, a height of an outer end of the turn-up portion in the radial direction is no more than 0.33 times a section height of the carcass ply, and a thickness ratio (d2/d1) is within a range of 1.2-1.8.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventor: Yuuji Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6668635Abstract: Methods for improving vehicle steering performance and robustness of that performance include control of non-uniformities in the vehicle's tires, wheels and tire/wheel assemblies as a way to overcome the tendency of the steering systems in certain vehicle types to undergo “steering performance loss.” While minimizing lateral force variations (e.g., couple imbalance), a controlled amount of radial and/or tangential force variation is induced in one or more tire/wheel assemblies by means of mass non-uniformity, dimensional non-uniformity, and/or stiffness non-uniformity. For dimensional non-uniformity, the preferred method is to impart a controlled amount of dimensional non-uniformity (preferably radial runout) to the tire and/or the wheel in at least one of the tire/wheel assemblies, followed by statically and dynamically balancing all of the vehicle's tire/wheel assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Romain Kunsch, Thierry Koeune, Edouard Michel, Bernard Croissant, RenĂ© Bormann
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Patent number: 6660122Abstract: A rubber tire component (10, 20, 30, 40) is laden with a mixture of fibers (12). The fibers (12) being sensitive to induction heating can be rapidly cured using a variety of methods. The preferred method permits a selective induction curing of the fiber laden component (10, 20, 30, 40) in combination with conventional curing presses.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Amit Prakash, David Thomas Reese, Frederick Forbes Vannan, Jr., Terry Kenneth Woods
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Patent number: 6659148Abstract: The tire of the invention incorporates an active nylon flipper in each bead region. The flipper is active in the sense that it actively absorbs differential shearing strains that arise between each turnup end of the ply and each rigid metal bead during heavy-duty service. In conjunction with each of the two flippers, a chipper protects the portion of the ply lying closest to the wheel rim when the tire is mounted. A nylon patch overlaps the respective end of each chipper, the turnup end of the ply, and the radially outermost part of each flipper. The shearing modulus of the nylon material of each flippers and each patch is intermediate between the shearing moduli of the adjacent materials, which thus distributes and absorbs shearing stresses in ways that reduce the tendency of the turnup ends and the radial most part of the chippers to separate from the adjacent tire structures during heavy-duty operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Jean-Claude Alié, Michèle Marie Joseph Emile Spriet
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Patent number: 6655431Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises at least one carcass ply of steel cords, in which a wrap part wound on a bead core along its outer peripheral face is disposed in a turnup portion of the carcass ply and at least one wire chafer wound around the bead core from a main body portion of the carcass ply toward the turnup portion thereof in a widthwise direction is embedded in the bead portion or the main body portion of the carcass ply is adequately regulated so as to enhance lateral stiffness of the bead portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Takahiro Kimura
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Patent number: 6648041Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire 100 for use on aircraft has a radial reinforced carcass 20 having at least one axially inner ply 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D of textile cords 21 wound around a pair of bead cores 33. The improved bead structure 30 has a flipper 50 having an axially inner leg LI and axially outer leg LE. The ends LI, LE of the flippers 50 are above the bead core height Bh and below the apex A of an elastomeric strip 40 satisfying the relation Bh<LE<0.7D and Bh<LI<0.7D. Additionally, the tire carcass 20 has at least one axially outer ply 2E, 2F of textile cords 21 extending from bead 30 to bead 30 along the turn-ups 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D of the axially inner plies 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D. The plies 21 are closely spaced along the natural ply path.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: Kiyoshi Ueyoko
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Patent number: 6623584Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carcass structure for vehicle tires includes preparing strip sections, each comprising longitudinal and parallel thread elements coated at least partly with at least one layer of raw elastomer material. A first series of strip sections is laid down onto a toroidal support. First primary portions of annular reinforcing structures are applied against end flaps of the first series strip sections. At least one second series of strip sections is laid down onto the toroidal support. Together, the first and second series define a first carcass ply. A third series of strip sections is laid down onto the toroidal support. Second primary portions of the annular reinforcing structures are applied against end flaps of the third series strip sections. At least one fourth series of strip sections is laid down onto the toroidal support. Together, the third and fourth series define a second carcass ply.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventor: Renato Caretta
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Publication number: 20030150538Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, and at least one pair of sidewalls. The carcass structure includes at least one circumferential centering ridge jutting out from a crown portion of the carcass structure. Each bead of the tyre includes a rest surface defining, in a direction away from an equatorial plane of the tyre, a profile converging toward the rotation axis of the tyre. A rim for a tyre includes a base body and two seats. Each seat defines an abutment surface facing radially away from a rotation axis of the rim and includes a frustoconical configuration converging away from a median diametrical plane of the rim. The base body further includes at least two opposite radial shoulders disposed to abut against the at least one centering ridge. A vehicle wheel, including the tyre and the rim, is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2003Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventor: Renato Ceretta
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Publication number: 20030145930Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a rubber member containing a short fiber (A′) formed by the fibrillation of a short fiber (A) whose cross section takes a sea-island structure essentially composed of at least two polymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Daisuke Kanenari, Riichiro Mama, Kazuto Yamakawa, Takeo Masaki, Zenichiro Shida, Junichi Ohtani, Tsuyoshi Kunugi
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Patent number: 6598637Abstract: There is disclosed a pneumatic tire having a rubber component comprising a sulfur cured rubber composition composed of, based on 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr): (a) 99 to 50 parts by weight of a first rubber containing olefinic unsaturation; and (b) 1 to 50 parts by weight of a second rubber which is different from said first rubber and which is an elastomeric block copolymer of (1) from 15 to 65 percent by weight, based on the total block copolymer, of butadiene, and (2) from 35 to 85 percent by weight, based on the total block copolymer, of styrene, which block copolymer has: (a) at least two blocks A which have polymerized units of styrene, a glass transition temperature Tg above 25° C.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Annette Lechtenböhmer, Maurice Peter Catharina Jozef Klinkenberg
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Patent number: 6598642Abstract: A pneumatic tire has such a bead portion structure that at least two bead wire structural bodies, each being obtained by spirally winding a bead wire(s) so as to continuously extend in a circumferential direction, are disposed in a bead portion so as to sandwich a carcass ply or enclose with the carcass ply, in which an outer end of at least one of the bead wire structural bodies in a radial direction is located on a position corresponding to a rim line or outward therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2000Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventor: Nobuyuki Hirai
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Patent number: 6598645Abstract: A tire with at least one component of a rubber composition which contains oriented exfoliated platelets derived from an intercalated clay. Such tire component may be, for example, a rubber/cord laminate and, optionally, a sidewall insert and, optionally, an apex.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2000Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: Brent Kevin Larson
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Publication number: 20030136488Abstract: Tire comprising a carcass reinforcement of at least one ply of reinforcing elements parallel to one another within each ply and making with the circumferential direction an angle &agr; such that 60°<&agr;<90°, said ply being anchored in each bead to an anchoring element in the bead and each bead being connected radially to a tread by a sidewall comprising an inextensible reinforcement ring and a profiled element of rubber mixture located axially inside said ply and located radially between said anchoring element and said sidewall ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventor: Olivier Muhlhoff
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Patent number: 6588471Abstract: The present invention relates to preparation an article of manufacture, such as of a tire, via application of at least one partially pre-cured component. Tires are often prepared with pre-cured, pre-shaped components such as for example, application of pre-cured tread strips to a cured carcass as in the case of re-treaded tires. Thus precured tread and cured carcass are joined together using a cushion gum followed by heating the resulting assembly at an elevated temperature to cure the cushion gum. Such pre-cured component may also be, for example, a sidewall apex. In such cases, the pre-cured component is subjected to more heat than is necessary which may be detrimental for the component. This invention is directed to the use of a partially pre-cured component to prepare a tire assembly prior to the curing of the entire components of the tire assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Ramendra Nath Majumdar, Joseph Padovan, Marvin Wayne Tipton, Douglas Blair Dotts
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Publication number: 20030106627Abstract: A tyre for vehicle wheels comprises: a carcass with ends associated with a pair of bead cores, each of said bead cores being incorporated in a respective bead comprising a bead filler; a tread band radially external to the carcass; a pair of axially distanced sidewalls, each placed between the respective bead and the tread band. Each bead core comprises a plurality of windings of a single wire, axially arranged side by side in a plurality of radially superimposed layers in such a way as to define a transverse hexagonal section, and having the axial width of the radially innermost layer greater than the axial width of the radially outermost layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Franco Tonezzer, Piero Losi
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Patent number: 6571846Abstract: A tire has a radial carcass reinforcement having a bead, the seat of which is inclined towards the outside, the bead heel axially to the inside and reinforced by at least one reinforcement element, the bead toe axially to the outside and having a profiled element of rubber mix in the form of a wedge defined by two sides, the mix having a Shore A hardness greater than the Shore A hardness of the rubber mixes radially above, wherein the reinforcement winds around the annular element to form an upturn, the end of which is located axially to the outside of a straight line P2 perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passing through the center of gravity of the meridian section of the element, and axially to the inside and radially to the outside of the straight line P1 supporting the radially outer side of the profiled element.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Pierre Chandezon, Claude Eynard, Olivier Muhlhoff, Jean-Jacques Drieux
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Patent number: 6533011Abstract: A pneumatic tire, includes at least one carcass ply folded turned up around a bead cord, a belt layer arranged on an outer side of a crown portion of the carcass ply to have an overlapping portion with the folded portion of the carcass, a first reinforcing rubber layer arranged between body portion of the carcass ply and the folded portion of the carcass ply, and a second reinforcing rubber layer arranged inside the body portion of the carcass ply, wherein overlapping width W2 from an upper end position RF of the second reinforcing rubber layer to an end BE of the belt layer is 7% to 33% of the width BW of the belt layer; and cross sectional widths G1W, G2W, and G3W satisfy the following relations: G3W/G1W=0.85 to 0.95, and G2W/G1W=1.0 to 1.05.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: The Ohtsu Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tobino, Takehiko Murata
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Patent number: 6527025Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises: a carcass ply extending between bead portions and including a topping rubber layer, the topping rubber layer facing the inside of the tire and made of a butyl rubber compound containing at least 10 parts by weight of butyl rubber or butyl rubber derivative; and a belt disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion, the belt comprising at least one ply of monofilament cords laid at an angle of from 10 to 40 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, and each of the monofilament cord consisting of a single filament. The belt further comprises one ply of multifilament cords or one ply of monofilament cords. The height of a bead apex, which is disposed between a carcass ply turnup portion and main portion in each bead portion, can be reduced into a range of from 10 to 20 mm, and in this case, the carcass ply turnup portion is extended radially outwardly beyond the radially outer end of the bead apex so as to adjoin the carcass ply main portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Nobuaki Minami
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Publication number: 20020179213Abstract: A three piece tire assembly 10 for mounting on dual rims 110 is disclosed. The assembly has a pair of tires 14 and a separate removable annular tread belt 12 for mounting over both tires 14 when they are laterally adjacent and coaxially aligned by mounting on a dual rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventor: William Earl Rayman
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Publication number: 20020157755Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2002Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Neel K. Mani, John L. Turner, Thomas R. Branca, Hidetoshi Yokota, Brian E. Moore, Stanley J. Olesky
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Patent number: 6467520Abstract: A pneumatic tire having the apex area around the carcass ply turnup comprised of a rubber having 2.2 to 25 phr of the reaction product of a partially polymerized cashew nutshell oil resin and a methylene donor.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: James Edward Duddey
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Patent number: 6457504Abstract: Formation of a carcass ply takes place by laying down onto a toroidal support (11), a first and a second series of strip-like sections (13, 14) cut to size from a continuous strip-like element (2a) and each comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (15) incorporated into a layer of elastomer material (18). The sections (13) of the first series are sequentially disposed at some circumferential distance from each other, to form side portions (19) to the end flaps (19a) of which primary portions (4a) of respective bead-reinforcing structures (4) are applied. The sections (14) of the second series are each interposed in the space defined between two sections of the first series (13), with the respective end flaps (20a) overlapping the primary portions (4a) of the annular structures (4). Additional portions (24) of the annular structures are applied to the end flaps (20a) of the sections (14) belonging to the second series.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1999Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventor: Renato Caretta
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Patent number: 6443205Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass layer provided between a pair of left and right bead sections, each of both end parts of the carcass layer in a tire width direction being turned up around a bead core from the inside of the tire to its outside, and a bead apex arranged in an outer peripheral side of the bead core, wherein at least a 30% area of a cross-sectional area of the bead apex positioned in a range of 20 to 35% of a tire section height SH is made of low tan &dgr; rubber which is set in a range of 25 to 75% of tan &dgr; of base bead apex rubber for a bead apex main body.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zenichiro Shida, Masataka Koishi
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Patent number: 6435239Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLCInventors: Neel K. Mani, John L. Turner, Thomas R. Branca, Hidetoshi Yokota, Brian E. Moore, Stanley J. Olesky
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Patent number: 6390165Abstract: An improved track belt tire is constructed of a removable tread belt assembly mounted to the outer circumferential surface of a multi-layered tire carcass with an embedded carcass ply having ply turnup ends about the bead wires. The outermost ends of the first and second turnup ends being located radially outward at a distance equal to between about 2 and 3 times the diameters of the bead wires so that the ends of the turnup ends are supported by the flange ends of the tire rim when a tire carcass mounted to the tire rim is deflected. The turnup ends are also supported by first, second, third, and fourth apex elements disposed about each of the bead wires. The ply line of the carcass ply can also follow the natural ply line.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: William Earl Rayman
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Publication number: 20020056498Abstract: The carcass structure (2) of a tire comprises one or more carcass plies (3, 31) each formed of strip-like lengths (13, 33) comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (14) incorporated in a layer of elastomer material (17). The strip-like elements (13, 33) have respective crown portions (25) disposed circumferentially in mutual side by side relationship, and side portions (24) extending radially at the tire sidewalls. The side portions of each carcass ply (3, 31) are each at least partly covered with at least one of the side portions belonging to an adjacent deposition length. Associated with the carcass plies (3) are annular structures (4) comprising a pair of inextensible inserts (27, 28) in the form of an annulus which are anchored to the first and second carcass plies (3, 31) respectively and axially separated by an elastomeric filling body (29). A belt structure (5), a tread band (8) and sidewalls (9) are combined with the carcass structure (2) to define a tire (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Applicant: PIRELLI PNEUMATICI S.p.A.Inventors: Renato Caretta, Maurizio Marchini
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Patent number: 6374888Abstract: The run-flat tire (10) of this invention includes spaced apart bead areas (30) having a unique design to include first (34) and second (36) bead fillers adjacent a bead core (32). The second bead filler (36) is bounded by the first bead filler (34) and bead core (32). The method for manufacturing the tire to eliminate voids at the bead core (32) of the cured tire is also provided. The bead fillers are made to be resilient so that the tire can be easily mounted on a rim, particularly improving the ability to mount a run-flat tire (10) on a rim (80). The bead core (32) and fillers (34, 36) are designed for helping to sustain the run-flat tire (10) on the rim (80) with a loss of inflation pressure and to improve the running performance of the tire.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Walter Lee Willard, Jr., James Milo Endicott, Jeffrey Scott Craddock
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Patent number: 6357498Abstract: An improved track belt tire is constructed of a removable tread belt assembly mounted to a tire carcass with an embedded carcass ply having ply turnup ends about the bead wires. First, second, third, and fourth apex elements are disposed about each of the bead wires. The first of the apex elements is located adjacent and radially outward from each of the bead wires. The second of the apex elements is located between the overlying sides of the turnup ply. The third of the apex elements is disposed against the axially inwardly facing sides of the turnup ends of the carcass ply and the fourth of the apex elements is located against outwardly facing sides of the ply turnup ends of the carcass ply to encase the end portions of the ply turnup ends between the second and fourth apex elements.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: William Earl Rayman
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Patent number: 6357502Abstract: A tire wheel for vehicles comprises a mounting rim which can be associated with a hub of a vehicle and is provided with two bead seats forming a cone, for engagement with corresponding beads of a tire, with its apex on said axis of rotation in a position axially outside said rim, a tire comprising a toroidal carcass provided with a crown portion connected to a pair of axially facing sidewalls terminating in beads for engagement with the corresponding bead seats formed on the rim, said tire having its maximum width in the region of said beads, and an inner tube inserted into the toroidal cavity defined between tire and rim, elastically expandable by means of the introduction of fluid under pressure into its internal volume, and provided with an inflating and deflating device inserted in the wall of said inner tube, without any element for connection to the environment outside the wheel, in particular passing through the wall of the rim.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventor: Renato Caretta
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Patent number: 6352090Abstract: An improved track belt tire is constructed of a removable tread belt assembly mounted to the outer circumferential surface of a multi-layered tire carcass with an embedded carcass ply having ply turnup ends looped around and extending axially inwards from the bead wires. The outermost ends of the first and second turnup ends being located radially outward at a distance equal to between about 2 and 3 times the diameters of the bead wires so that the ends of the turnup ends are supported by the flange ends of the tire rim when a tire carcass mounted to the tire rim is deflected. The turnup ends are also supported by first, second, third, and fourth apex elements disposed about each of the bead wires. The ply line of the first carcass ply layer can also follow the natural ply line.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: William Earl Rayman
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Patent number: 6345657Abstract: In a pneumatic radial tire for trucks and buses mounted on an approved 15° drop center rim, an outer surface portion of a composite side-rubber and/or an envelope surface of the bead core among members constituting the bead portion of the tire has a curved shape concavedly directed toward the outside of the tire at a region opposite to an inner curved surface of a slantly rising portion in a flange of the approved rim.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2000Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventor: Kenshiro Kato
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Patent number: 6328084Abstract: The carcass structure of a tire comprises one or more carcass plies each formed of strip lengths comprising longitudinal thread elements incorporated in a layer of elastomer material. The strip elements have respective crown portions disposed circumferentially in mutual side-by-side relationship, and side portions extending radially at the tire sidewalls. The side portions of each carcass ply are each at least partly covered with at least one of the side portions belonging to an adjacent deposition length. Associated with the carcass plies are annular structures comprising a pair of inextensible inserts in the form of an annulus which are anchored to the first and second carcass plies respectively and axially separated by an elastomeric filling body. A belt structure, a tread band, and sidewalls are combined with the carcass structure to define the tire.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1998Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventors: Renato Caretta, Maurizio Marchini
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Patent number: 6318430Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a bead apex disposed in each bead portion, and a carcass ply extending between the bead portions and turned up in each bead portion so as to wrap the bead apex therein, the bead apex made of a hybrid material which is compounded from rubber, synthetic resin and short fiber at least. Preferably, the short fiber has an average diameter of 0.01 to 0.20 mm and an average length of 1.0 to 10.0 mm, and the proportion of the short fiber is 3 to 15 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the rubber. The hybrid material has a 100% modulus of at least 10.0 MPa, a tensile strength of at least 10.0 MPa, a breaking elongation EB of at least 200%, a Mooney viscosity of from 30 to 50 ML1+4, and a scorch time (t10) of at least 20 minutes.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1999Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kiyoshi Ueyoko, Yasuhisa Minagawa
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Patent number: 6311752Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a carcass of at least one rubberized cord ply having a main carcass body and a turnup portion, and a stiffener rubber taperingly extending between the main carcass body and the turnup portion toward an end of the tread portion, wherein the stiffener rubber comprises a hard stiffener rubber member located near to the main carcass body and a soft stiffener rubber member located along the turnup portion over the hard stiffener rubber member, and the hard stiffener rubber member convexly projects toward the outside of the tire at a cross-section of the tire in a region between a normal line LV and a line segment LH, and a height of the hard stiffener rubber member from the outer surface of the main carcass body on a normal line L is maximum in a region from the line segment LH toward the end of the tread portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventor: Katsunobu Hojo
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Patent number: 6298893Abstract: A tire (10) having a contoured precured bead filler or apex (40) with a contoured surface for directing the ply path (24A) of the cord reinforced carcass plies (24) is taught. The contour of the precured bead filler or apex (40) has a convex surface (42A) and concave surface (42B) that transition at an inflection location (T) at or below the rim flange (52) to which the tire (10) is to be mounted.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Frederick Forbes Vannan, Matthew Ray Cappelli, Arthur Allen Goldstein, Gary Edwin Tubb
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Patent number: 6273162Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass ply extending between bead portions and is turned up around a bead core in each bead portion to form two turnup portions and a main portion therebetween; each of the turnup portions extends radially outwardly and adjoins the main portion from a certain height above the bead core; a space is surrounded by the carcass ply main portion, and each turnup portion and the bead core is filled with a small size bead apex rubber or a gas; and the bead portion is provided between the carcass ply and the bead core with a bead core cover for preventing the carcass cords from direct contacting with the bead core.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1999Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Ohara, Yukio Endo, Kiyoshi Ueyoko, Kazuki Numata, Ikuji Ikeda