Building Tires Directly From Strands Or Cords Patents (Class 156/117)
  • Publication number: 20110139328
    Abstract: A process for building a green tyre for a vehicle wheel includes the steps of: a) building a carcass structure of a green tyre on a forming drum, the carcass structure including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures, said at least one carcass ply being built by laying circumferentially contiguous strip-like elements; b) toroidally shaping the carcass structure for associating it to a crown structure including at least one belt structure; wherein step a) of building includes at least one step of applying a constraining layer of a green elastomeric material reinforced with fibres oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said forming drum, the green elastomeric material reinforced with oriented fibres exhibiting at 20% of elongation in a direction parallel to the direction of orientation of the above fibres, a strain level higher than or equal to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Misani Pierangelo, Nahmias Nanni Marco
  • Patent number: 7947140
    Abstract: A strip member application system for feeding a ribbon-like rubber strip (4) through a clearance between application rollers forming a pair (11), and applying the rubber strip (4) onto a rotational member (2). A guide roller (7) to be wound by the rubber strip (4) is provided on the upstream side of the application roller pair (11), and defines a substantially U-shaped detour path extending downwards. A first and a second auxiliary rollers (6, 8) are arranged on the downstream side and the upstream side of the guide roller (7), respectively. The application roller pair (11) can be swung integrally with the guide roller (7) and the second auxiliary roller (8), within a horizontal plane and about a pivot that is spaced from the guide roller (7) toward the first auxiliary roller (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yo Uchida, Yasuo Mizota
  • Publication number: 20110100531
    Abstract: An unvulcanized rubber member passed from the transfer terminal end of a liner to the outer peripheral surface of a winding roller is transferred and press-fitted to a winding body by rotating the winding roller. By this, the unvulcanized rubber member is transferred from the transfer terminal end of the liner to the winding body while being restrained by an outer peripheral surface of the winding roller. Thus, even if vibration is applied to a transfer means due to a diagonal waving, the winding position and the wound shape of the rubber member can be maintained substantially unchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7931062
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire containing a tread, a carcass having at least one belt ply disposed below the tread, and a cap ply located between the carcass and the tread. The cap ply comprises at least one layer of an open construction leno weave tape having a pair of warp yarns in the longitudinal direction and a weft yarn in the weft direction. The pair of warp yarns comprises a first warp yarn and a second warp yarn, where the second warp yarn has a force of elongation of between about 1 and 40% the force of elongation of the first warp yarn, where the second warp yarn is in tension, and where the second warp yarn has an elongation at break of greater than 2%. The leno weave tape is disposed in a flat pattern around the circumference of the carcass in the area of the belt ply. A method of making a pneumatic tire is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Dany F. Michiels, Johann Peschek, Willy Delanoy, Peter Eeckhout, Boudewijn Snauwaert
  • Patent number: 7931768
    Abstract: Device and method for building a radial tire. The device includes a first drum device for building a belt package and a transfer device for transferring the belt package from the first drum device to a second drum device having arranged thereon a carcass tube from at least one airtight inner layer, a carcass play and two bead cores with core profiles. The second drum device is arranged between core clamping devices and is structured and arranged to join the carcass tube and the belt package during expansion of the second drum device. The belt package is contoured or shaped by deformation via the second drum device. This abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joern Seevers, Claudia Thomfohrde, Jens Winkler
  • Patent number: 7931767
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing elastomeric components of a tire for a vehicle wheel includes feeding a continuous elongated element from a delivery member by exerting a feeding pressure inside the delivery member, rotating a building support around a geometrical rotation axis of the support, carrying out controlled relative displacements between the delivery member and the support to form a tire component, stopping the feeding of the elongated element when formation of the tire component is complete, and exerting a counter-pressure inside the delivery member after stopping the feeding. Rotating the support assists circumferential distribution of the elongated element on the support. Carrying out controlled relative displacements assists transverse distribution of the elongated element on the support. The tire component is defined by a plurality of coils laid in a pre-established deposition pattern depending on a predetermined cross-section outline to be given to the tire component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco D'Oria, Renato Caretta, Enrico Sabbatani, Maurizio Marchini
  • Publication number: 20110088832
    Abstract: Auxiliary support members are brought into engagement with a building drum provided with a first outer circumferential surface. These auxiliary support members each have a second outer circumferential surface which extends in the continuation of the first outer circumferential surface. A separation element having a circumferential support surface is provided at a radially external position on each of the auxiliary support members. A component of the tyre is applied around each of the circumferential support surfaces and the auxiliary support members are subsequently axially moved away from the building drum, so as to radially contract the circumferential support surfaces to decouple them from the respective components of the tyre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Cesare Emanuele Amurri, Gianni Mancini
  • Publication number: 20110079343
    Abstract: A cord reinforcing layer 30 can be highly efficiently fanned with easy control, and the amplitude and the wavelength of a wavy steel cord 32 can be made uniform throughout the cord reinforcing layer. When the wavy steel cord 32 (ribbon-like body 37) is wound plural times around the forming drum 35 to form the cylindrical cord reinforcing layer 30, the amount of extension is made decreased with distance from a set position P of a bead core 12 in the axial direction, and the amount of extension applied in advance to the wavy steel cord 32 in the vicinity of the set position P is approximated to the amount of extension according to the expansion and deformation of the wavy steel cord 32 at a position spaced away from the set position P, whereby at least either one of the amplitude and the wavelength of the wavy steel cord in the tire can be made uniform throughout the cord reinforcing layer 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7918259
    Abstract: This invention provides a pneumatic tire having a highly improved steering stability, wherein a reinforcing layer formed by spirally winding a strip-shaped triaxial fabric or triaxial fabric-rubber composite having a width W satisfying a relation of the following formula (I): W?2/3×31/2×(2b/a+d)??(I) [wherein d=4×(D/(??))1/2×10?2, D is a thickness (total dtex) of cord constituting the triaxial fabric, ? is a density (g/cm3) of the cord constituting the triaxial fabric, and a is weaving density (cords/b mm) in one axis constituting the three axes] in a circumferential direction of the tire is disposed in one or more of a bead portion 1, a sidewall portion 2 and a belt portion 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7909953
    Abstract: A first carcass ply (3) is formed by depositing onto a toroidal support (11), strip-like lengths (13) cut to size from a continuous strip-like element and each comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (14) incorporated into a layer of elastomer material (17). The strip-like lengths are laid down sequentially in mutual circumferential side by side relationship, to form side portions (25) partly superposed on each other and crown portions (24) in mutual circumferential side by side relationship. Associated with the carcass ply (3) are annular structures (4) comprising a first and a second circumferentially inextensible annular inserts (27, 28) and an elastomer filling (29) interposed therebetween. A second carcass ply (31) is made in superposed position to the first carcass ply (3) and the annular structures (4). A belt structure (5), a tread band (8) and sidewalls (9) are combined with the carcass structure (2) thus formed, to define a tire (1) to be vulcanized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Caretta
  • Patent number: 7905969
    Abstract: The feeding apparatus is provided with a first feeding section for feeding a long-formed sheet in the longitudinal direction of the sheet, a second feeding section for feeding the long-formed sheet delivered from the first feeding section in a direction intersecting obliquely with the feeding direction of the first feeding section and a control section for controlling the first feeding section and the second feeding section so that the second feeding section starts to operate before the leading end of the long-formed sheet delivered from the first feeding section is in contact with the second feeding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyahara, Jiro Agawa, Makoto Tachibana, Yoshinori Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20110056613
    Abstract: In a vulcanisation and moulding apparatus for tyres and a method of manufacturing the same, the apparatus includes containment walls defining an inner surface delimiting a moulding cavity. The shape of the inner surface matches the final conformation to be given to the vulcanised tyre and includes a plurality of lamellae. Each lamella comprises at least one lug inserted in a respective seat formed in the inner surface and opening on the inner surface itself. The lug and the respective seat, along an insertion direction of the lamella into the seat, are at least partly misaligned relative to the work portion. The work portion of the lamella further comprises at least one abutment surface bearing against the inner surface of the moulding cavity. The seat is closed with an addition material by laser or tungsten inert gas welding, so as to lock the lamella in the moulding apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Davide Conti, Alessio Cerrano, Marco Alessandro Rossi
  • Publication number: 20110036485
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a multi-layered tire component, the steps of the method including providing a mechanical system, the system including a plurality of cutting members; translating a sheet of material along a translation path through the mechanical system; cutting a first strip from the sheet with one or more of the plurality of cutting members, this step occurring during the step of translating; mechanically applying the first strip to a building surface, this step occurring during the step of translating; cutting a second strip from the sheet subsequent to the step of cutting the first strip, this step occurring during the step of translating; mechanically applying the second strip to a building surface, this step occurring during the step of translating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Rey, Larry S. Satterfield
  • Publication number: 20110036484
    Abstract: A continuous elongated element of elastomeric material is produced through an extruder at a linear delivery speed and directly fed onto a moving surface of a conveyor without interposition of other devices. The continuous elongated element is advanced on the moving surface along a predetermined direction and at a linear advancing speed different from the linear delivery speed until a proximal end of the conveyor. Subsequently, the continuous elongated element is applied onto a forming support which rotates relative to the proximal end of the conveyor at a peripheral speed different from the linear delivery speed, so as to deform the continuous elongated element and apply it in the form of wound coils onto the forming support in order to form a component of elastomeric material of a tyre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Stefano Sangiovanni, Ivan Gildo Boscaino
  • Publication number: 20110005660
    Abstract: A ribbon-like element supplied from a supply source is wound on the rotating toroidal support member, when a first rotatable guide roller arranged spaced from the outer surface of the support member is moved in parallel with the meridian direction along the outer surface of the support member, and turned so that the direction of its rotational axis approaches a tangent relative to the outer surface of the winding member. A second guide roller is arranged on a straight line perpendicular to a plane containing the moving trajectory of the first guide roller and passing through the first guide roller, and has a rotational axis that extends in the widthwise direction of the ribbon-like body extending from the supply source toward the winding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Yuichiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7866359
    Abstract: Assembly drum of variable diameter D, intended for the manufacture of a tire blank, the drum having a generally cylindrical laying surface (2) provided with circular grooves (3) arranged axially in a zone intended to receive profiled elements of great thickness, said groove (3) containing elastic circumferential bodies (4). When the drum D is moved to a first laying diameter, a mechanical means moves the elastic body (4) radially apart from the bottom of the groove, so as to align the radially outer surface of the elastic body (4) with the laying surface of the drum (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Antoine de Laubier, Benoît Delbecque, Daniel Macheffe
  • Publication number: 20110000603
    Abstract: A method of forming a tire innerliner and a method of producing a pneumatic tire according to the present invention suppresses occurrence of an air pocket and avoids complicating the structure of a tire building machine. The method of forming a tire innerliner is a method of forming a tire innerliner having a cylindrical inner rubber layer 3 and a cylindrical film 4 formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a thermoplastic resin and an elastomer blended therewith, the cylindrical film 4 being disposed radially outwardly of the cylindrical inner rubber layer 3. The method comprises wrapping an unvulcanized rubber layer 3? cylindrically around a building drum 1 to form the cylindrical inner rubber layer 3 and wrapping a sheet-shaped film 4? formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a thermoplastic resin and an elastomer blended therewith cylindrically around the cylindrical inner rubber layer 3 to form the cylindrical film 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hashimura, Takahiko Sawada, Norifumi Kameda
  • Patent number: 7862674
    Abstract: In a forming method for forming an assembly of a bead core and an apex rubber, there is used a rotating body which comprises a rotating base substance having an assembly forming surface, and a core receiving portion projecting from the rotating base substance in the axially outward direction of the rotating base substance. The core receiving portion projecting has a receiving surface supporting the radially inner peripheral surface of the bead core. The apex rubber is formed by winding an unvulcanized rubber strip along the assembly forming surface from a starting position constituted by the radially outer peripheral surface of the bead core supported on the receiving surface so as to laminate in a tapered cross sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Suzuki, Shuichi Yamamori
  • Publication number: 20100326588
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a tire (1) by winding contiguous strips onto a rotary form at a pitch and in a number of turns that is suited to the desired profile. The method comprises steps that include laying a strip to form the sublayer (13) onto the plies (15) that form the crown reinforcement belt, the strip being made of a rubbery material that is a poor conductor of electricity, laying one or more strips to form the first part of the tread (11A), these being positioned axially on one side of the tire, the strip or strips being made of rubbery materials that are poor conductors of electricity, and laying a strip to form the insert (10) and that is laid in such a way that at least one radially interior turn (100) is in contact with the sublayer (10), the strip being made of a rubbery material that is a conductor of electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, MICHELIN Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Cappa, Nicolas Chevaux
  • Patent number: 7857926
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire with a noise damper on the inside of the tread portion, comprises the steps of: building a raw tire on an annular tire building core; placing the raw tire within a vulcanizing mold together with the core; and heating the raw tire in the mold. The tire building core has a molding face for molding an inner surface of the tread portion. The molding face is provided with a groove extending in the tire circumferential direction. In the step of building the raw tire, an expandable damper material is placed in the groove. During heating the raw tire to be vulcanized, the damper material expands in the groove, whereby the expanded material forms the noise damper integrated into the radially inside of the tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Nobuchika, Masayuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7857025
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has two belt layers, each having a plurality of strip pieces formed by pulling together and rubberizing a plurality of steel cords. Strip piece width, strip piece thickness, belt layer cord angle with respect to a tire circumferential direction, numbers of the strip pieces of inner and outer belt layers, and circumferential lengths of the inner and outer belt layers are respectively denoted by A, G, ?, N1, N2, L1 and L2. N2 is equal to N1, and N1 is an integer satisfying L1=N1×A/sin ?. The inner belt layer is formed by joining the N1 strip pieces so each side of each strip piece is butted with one side of another strip piece. The outer belt layer is formed by aligning the N2 strip pieces on the inner belt layer in the tire circumferential direction with spaces of width 2?G/N2 disposed between adjacent strip pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kabe, Tsuneo Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20100307663
    Abstract: An object is to extrude stably a rubber strip material of a predetermined cross-sectional shape without reducing an extruding speed of the rubber strip material from an extruding die. As a means therefor, there is provided an extrusion apparatus 10 for a rubber strip material for use in a tire fabrication process in which an unvulcanized rubber strip material S which is extruded from an extruding die 20 is wound spirally to build a tire rubber member, characterized in that a pair of rotatable rolls 24, 26 are provided at a distal end portion of the extruding die 20 in such a manner that their outer circumferential surfaces confront each other, and in that an extruding discharge port 28 is formed in a gap defined by the pair of confronting rolls 24, 26.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Kudo, Osamu Fujiki, Masami Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20100300603
    Abstract: A carcass ply is built on a forming drum by application of a plurality of strip-like elements by the steps of: setting a width of these strip-like elements, setting a width of the overlapped part between two adjacent strip-like elements, setting a fitting diameter of the forming drum by calculating a corresponding extension of a radially external laying surface, and calculating a whole number of strip-like elements to be applied. The whole number of strip-like elements is applied by rotating the forming drum around a geometric rotation axis thereof, and applying pairs of strip-like elements by means of a first laying unit and a second laying unit located close to opposite portions of the forming drum relative to the geometric rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Cesare Emanuele Amurri, Marco Cantu, Gianni Mancini, Giorgia Sgalari
  • Patent number: 7842148
    Abstract: A method for determining the operating parameters of a device for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread (1) laid directly in its final position by projecting lengths of thread (10) onto a receiving surface (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Jean-François Verjat, Dominique Cordaillat
  • Publication number: 20100288410
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire provided with run-flat reinforcing layers 10 in left and right sidewall portions 2 that enable run-flat traveling. A tread reinforcing layer 12 formed from a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition including a blend of a thermoplastic resin component and an elastomer component is provided on an inner side of a tread portion 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Masakazu Mori
  • Patent number: 7833373
    Abstract: Device for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread laid directly in its final position by spraying lengths of the thread onto a receiving surface. The thread lengths are delivered from a conduit to a guide as the conduit rotates about an axis. The guide includes deflectors forming therebetween a slot having a thread inlet orifice and a thread spray (discharge) orifice spaced apart along the guide's height. The separation between the deflectors narrows toward the spray orifice, wherein the deflectors form therebetween an angle in the range of 3° and 7° when measured at any point along the height of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Dominique Cordaillat
  • Publication number: 20100263780
    Abstract: Tire uniformity is improved. A method comprising a strip winding step S3 of forming strip-wound bodies 21 for forming bead apexes by circumferentially spirally winding a rubber strip 20 with an overlap on a ply inner portion 6A1a of a cylindrical ply 6A1 wound on a former, which is located axially inward of bead core setting positions P, and/or on ply outer portions 6A1b of the cylindrical ply 6A1, which are located axially outward of the bead core setting positions P, an expanding step S4 of toroidally expanding the ply inner portion 6A1a of the cylindrical ply 6A1, and a joining step S5 of turning up the ply outer portions 6A1b of the cylindrical ply 6A1 around bead cores 5 to sandwich the strip-wound bodies 21 between the toroidal ply inner portion 6A1a and the ply outer portions 6A1b, thereby joining them together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Mafune
  • Publication number: 20100258226
    Abstract: In a process for building tyres, a carcass structure which includes at least one carcass ply and a belt structure, is formed. Manufacture of the belt structure includes: forming a first portion of at least one cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element; forming at least one first belt layer in a radially external position to the first portion in such a manner that the first portion axially projects from one of the axially opposite side edges of the first belt layer, forming a second portion of the cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element in a radially external position to the side edge of the first belt layer and to a stretch of the first portion projecting from the side edge itself, so as to enclose the side edge between the first and second portions of the cushion insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Gianni Mancini
  • Patent number: 7799159
    Abstract: The manufacturing device comprises a rotary distributor 6 in rotation about a rotation axis R, the rotary distributor comprising at least one elbowed tube 61, the elbowed tube having a corridor for receiving the wire on the radially internal side and forming output guidance on the externally radial side. The device comprises a member for conveying to the distributor comprising a tubular portion 53 substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis R, a space in the radial direction being provided between the tubular portion 53 and the elbowed tube 61. A knife 7 is disposed in the space between the rotary distributor and the conveying member. The conveying member and the distributor are coupled and both rotary, the knife 7 being mounted on a knife holder 70 for purposes of adjustment and whose rotation is locked during cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin-Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Christian Bernard
  • Publication number: 20100218873
    Abstract: A pair of annular inserts of elastomeric material is circumferentially applied by spiraling around a laying surface of an auxiliary drum. Then a plurality of strip-like elements disposed in parallel side by side relationship with each other in the circumferential extension of the laying surface is applied onto the auxiliary drum, so as to form at least one first belt layer. Respectively opposite end portions of each strip-like element are radially superposed, each against one of the annular inserts, so that each of the annular inserts projects from a respective end edge of the strip-like element. The cap structure formed on the auxiliary drum is coupled to a carcass structure through toroidal conformation of the latter, in such a manner that the radially external ends of sidewall portions previously manufactured on the carcass plies are associated with the axially external ends of the annular inserts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Gianni Mancini
  • Publication number: 20100212811
    Abstract: A method of processing a vehicle tyre and a thixotropic balancing substance (251, 261), comprising providing a first amount of the balancing substance (251, 261) to a first circumferential balancing area (250, 260) on an inner side of the vehicle tyre comprising distributing the first amount of the balancing substance on the first balancing area substantially uniformly; and a corresponding apparatus and system. In one embodiment a varnish layer comprising manoparticles (252, 262) is provided on the first circumferential balancing area (250, 260) to increase the movability of the thixotropic balancing substance (251, 261) on the balancing area (250, 260).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Norbert Seitz
  • Patent number: 7780809
    Abstract: A method of forming an elastomeric tire component is provided, comprising the following steps. An apparatus is provided which includes a rotating applicator head and a non-rotating portion. The non-rotating portion has an internal channel having a first end in fluid communication with a gear pump and a second end in fluid communication with a first channel of the rotating applicator head. The first channel is substantially aligned with the Z axis. The rotating applicator head further includes a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel, and wherein the second channel is oriented at an angle with respect to a Y axis and is in fluid communication with a nozzle. The method further includes pumping a strip of elastomeric material through said internal channel and then into said first and second channel, and then through an outlet of said nozzle onto a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Brian Richard Koch, Gary Robert Burg, Scott Edward Ackerman, Christopher David Dyrlund
  • Patent number: 7780806
    Abstract: There is provided a tire for an aircraft capable of enhancing abrasion resistance and effectively preventing a progress of peeling of the non-extensible cords of the main belt layers even when the tire suffers external injury reaching the main belt layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Itami
  • Publication number: 20100200132
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a tire for a motorcycle which does not damage a stability in a transition between straight running and cornering but is excellent in various performances. A tire (2) includes a tread (4). The tread (4) is divided into (2N?1) parts (N is a natural number which is equal to or greater than four). The tread (4) is divided into a first region (20) positioned on a center region and a second region (22) to an Nth region in order from the center region toward a shoulder region. The second region (22) to the Nth region make a pair of regions which are symmetrical with respect to an equator plane of the tire. The first region (20) to the Nth region are formed by crosslinked rubber compositions respectively and materials of the respective regions are different from each other. In the first region (20) to the Nth region, a rubber hardness of the region on the adjacent center side is equal to or higher than a rubber hardness of the region on the shoulder side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Funahara, Toyoto Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20100200151
    Abstract: An apparatus for building pneumatic tyres includes a forming support and an assembling device to assemble components of elastomeric material on the forming support. The assembling device includes a feeding unit to deliver a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material, a conveyor having a moving surface along a predetermined direction and toward a proximal end thereof close to the forming support, and an application device positioned at the proximal end. The continuous elongated element is moved forward on the moving surface as far as the proximal end and the forming support is rotated to enable application of the continuous elongated element in the form of coils wound up on the forming support itself. A retaining device co-operates with the conveyor to brake the continuous elongated element at the end of the application, while the forming support goes on rotating, until it causes stretching and severing of the continuous elongated element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Cesare Amurri, Rodolfo Noto, Gian Luigi Bosio, Gaetano Lo Presti
  • Publication number: 20100200152
    Abstract: In tyre manufacture, a belt structure is made by means of strip-like segments, each including parallel cords incorporated into an elastomeric layer. The strip-like segments are sequentially laid down in mutual circumferential side by side relationship on a toroidal support. The apparatus for manufacturing such a reinforcing structure for vehicle tyres includes: a laying unit including at least one laying assembly designed to apply each of the strip-like elements onto a toroidal support according to a predetermined laying angle relative to a circumferential extension direction of the toroidal support itself; the laying assembly including at least a first presser element movable in contrast relationship against the outer surface of the toroidal support; the first presser element includes at least one tapered end adapted to perform the contrast relationship and forming a tilted side according to a tilt angle correspondent with the predetermined laying angle of the strip-like elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Fiorenzo Mariani, Walter Mandelli, Stefano Sangiovanni
  • Publication number: 20100193109
    Abstract: During tyre manufacture, a belt structure is made according to the following steps: preparing strip-like elements, each including longitudinal thread elements disposed parallel to each other and at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomeric material; applying the strip-like elements in mutually approached relationship along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support, following a predetermined laying trajectory identified on the toroidal support itself so as to form at least one reinforcing layer having a continuous circumferential extension around a geometric rotation axis. During application of each of the strip-like elements, the toroidal support is moved following a predetermined three-dimensional path in order to make the strip-like elements adhere to the outer surface of the toroidal support according to a longitudinal extension line of the strip-like element coincident with the predetermined laying trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Pirelli Tyre S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cantu', Maurizio Marchini, Fiorenzo Mariani
  • Patent number: 7766060
    Abstract: A tire comprising a tread layer comprised of a tread rubber and an electrically conductive band arranged in a widthwise middle portion thereof, and a method of producing the tire, wherein the tread rubber is made of a low-conductive continuous rubber ribbon circumferentially wound plural times, and the electrically conductive band is made of a high-conductive thin annular rubber sheet. Also, the electrically conductive band is arranged so as to extend in the widthwise region ranging from a part of the top face of the first tread rubber portion to a part of the bottom face of the second tread rubber portion, whereby the tire uniformity is improved and the production is possible in a multi-size mixed production system and the conductive path from the belt to the treading face can be surely formed at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20100175812
    Abstract: The invention makes a rubber covering process for cords and processes of cutting and aligning cords a series of processes to enable simplification of installations and processes and manufactures a belt member of high quality, in which straightness and rubber adhesiveness of cords can be improved. As measures therefor, a belt member 50 of a predetermined width, in which a single cord C is made oblique, is fabricated by feeding a single cord C while maintaining straightness thereof in a longitudinal direction, passing the cord through a rubber covering die 15 during the feed to cover the cord C with rubber, subsequently feeding a tip end side portion of the rubber covered cord C1 to a constant rate cut line 20 to cut the tip end side portion of the rubber covered cord C1 every feed, and feeding the rubber covered cord C1 having been cut to an alignment table 30 in a state of maintaining the straightness to sequentially align and join the same obliquely to a cord direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Kudo, Tetsuo Tatara, Osamu Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20100178444
    Abstract: A rubber member for tires is formed by spirally winding an unvulcanized rubber strip. The rubber strip has a first longitudinal end portion for serving as a starting side of winding of the rubber strip and a second longitudinal end portion for serving as an end side of the winding. The end surface of at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion is an inclined surface inclining to the longitudinal direction line of the rubber strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Mafune, Masayuki Sakamoto, Hideo Nobuchika
  • Patent number: 7753098
    Abstract: A tooling head for bi-directional tire cord application to an annular surface reciprocates in a forward and a reverse direction across the annular surface. The tooling head includes a housing; a nose block assembly coupled to the housing and reciprocating in an axial direction relative to the tooling head housing; a pair of cord engaging rollers mounted to a remote end of the nose block assembly and moving therewith in a forward and a reverse direction across the annular surface, the rollers positioning at least one cord against the annular surface in the forward and reverse directions; and a biasing element engaging against the nose block assembly for alternatively biasing the rollers against the annular surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Andres Ignacio Delgado, Jean-Claude Girard
  • Publication number: 20100170624
    Abstract: A process for the wet drawing of a steel wire intended for reinforcing a pneumatic tire. The process starts from a steel wire having a diameter greater than 0.6 mm. The wire is drawn through a series of dies of decreasing diameter, in the presence of a lubricant composition that is in the form of an aqueous dispersion, down to a predetermined final diameter of less than 0.5 mm. The aqueous dispersion comprises solid particles of an ester of a fatty acid comprising from 5 to 40 carbon atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A,
    Inventors: Sébastien Hollinger, Christelle Genin, David Monin
  • Publication number: 20100154974
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread, a carcass and a zigzag belt structure interposed between the carcass and the tread is provided. The zigzag belt structure is formed of at least two layers of cords interwoven together from a strip of rubber reinforced with one or more cords, wherein the strip forming the zigzag belt structure is layed up in a first zigzag winding extending from a first lateral belt edge to a second lateral belt edge in a zigzag wavelength having a first amplitude W1 followed by a second amplitude W2, and a second zigzag winding formed of a zigzag wavelength having a first amplitude W2 followed by a second amplitude W1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Francois Pierre Charles Gerard Georges, Jean-Michel Alphonse Fernand Gillard, Roland Willibrord Krier, Vincent Benoit Mathonet, Bernard Robert Nicolas
  • Patent number: 7740039
    Abstract: A cutting mechanism and method for a tooling head is provided, the tooling head including a housing; a cord line feeding passageway extending through the housing to an applicator end, and an applicator assembly at the applicator end for application of the cord line to an annular surface. The cutting mechanism provides a reciprocally moving plunger body housed within the tooling head; a reciprocating cutting member moving between a first position cutting the cord line and a second position in a non-cutting relationship with the cord line; a cutting member being coupled to the plunger body to translate reciprocal movement of the plunger body to reciprocal movement of the cutting member between the first and second positions. A stream of air may be directed into the cord line passageway proximate the cutting member to assist in threading a severed free end of the cord through the passageway to the applicator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: James Thomas Weissert, William Dudley Currie, Andres Ignacio Delgado
  • Publication number: 20100126646
    Abstract: A process for producing easily in high efficiency an inner liner having strip pieces obtained by cutting a ribbonlike rubber strip at given length arranged in parallel relationship in the across-the-width direction, aligned in the direction of tire circumference and bonded together. The process comprises spirally winding ribbonlike rubber strip (21) round liner forming drum (10) at given pitch so as to make partial superimposition, thereby obtaining tubular matter (20), and cutting the tubular matter (20) at one position on the circumference thereof in the across-the-width direction so as to provide a sheet wherein severed strip pieces (21A) are bonded to each other in the state of being aligned in parallel relationship, having a length corresponding to the length of liner circumference on a forming drum in the tire forming step, and wherein the two ends on the starting side and terminating side of the spirally winding can be joined together on the forming drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Kudo, Tetsuo Tatara, Osamu Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20100126649
    Abstract: A radial tire that has excellent weight balance and appearance quality and that can be produced at excellent productivity. These are achieved by forming a carcass layer (1) by using a single rubber coated cord (C1) without producing joints on a material. The carcass layer (1) is constructed from at least one layer of cord row layer (11A) where rubber coated cords (C1) are cut on piece by piece basis and joined aligned in the circumferential direction of the tire. Each of the rubber coated cords is formed in a cross-section with an oval outline. The cord row layer is joined at only one portion in the circumferential direction of the tire, so that there is substantially no overlap on the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Kudo, Tetsuo Tatara, Osamu Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20100116414
    Abstract: A plurality of strip-like elements is applied onto a forming drum externally having a substantially cylindrical laying surface. The strip-like elements are disposed in mutually approached relationship to form at least one first annular reinforcing layer on the forming drum itself set to a first work diameter at which each of the applied strip-like elements on the laying surface subtends an arc of a circumference of a width as large as a submultiple integer of the overall circumferential extension of the laying surface itself. Adjustment devices operating on the forming drum subsequently carry out expansion of the latter to a second work diameter larger than the first work diameter, while maintaining its laying surface substantially cylindrical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Cesare Amurri, Gianni Mancini, Gaetano Lo Presti
  • Patent number: 7712500
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire 1 having improved uniformity and durability and including a toroidal carcass 6 extending from a tread portion 2 to each of bead cores 5 in bead portions 4 through sidewall portions 3, a belt layer 7 disposed radially outward of the carcass 6 in the tread portion 2, and a cushion rubber 9 having an approximately triangular cross section disposed between the carcass 6 and each of axial edge portions 7E of the belt layer 7, and a method for producing the same, wherein the cushion rubber 9 is made from a strip laminated body formed by circumferentially and spirally winding a first ribbon-like unvulcanized rubber strip and a second ribbon-like unvulcanized rubber strip having a different composition from that of the first rubber strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Hayashi, Masanori Takahashi, Kiyoto Maruoka
  • Publication number: 20100089512
    Abstract: A process for producing tyres for vehicle wheels includes the following steps: manufacturing a green tyre including at least one element made of crosslinkable elastomeric material, the element being obtained by unwinding a semi-finished product in strip form from a storage reel and then coiling the product onto a building drum; moulding the green tyre in a moulding cavity defined in a vulcanizing mould; crosslinking the elastomeric material by heating the tyre to a given temperature for a given time; wherein the element made of crosslinkable elastomeric material includes at least one copolymer of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof with at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing at least one polyoxyalkylene side chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Francesca Baione, Fabrizia Sala
  • Publication number: 20100043948
    Abstract: A cord arranging method using a guide roller and capable of forming annular cord structures of various shapes is disclosed. A guide roller 30 is moved along the surface of a rotating core 13 to guide a continuously fed cord 1 to a continuously changing position on the surface of the core 13 to wind the cord 1 in successively and closely arranged coils to form an annular cord structure. The guide roller 30 is moved two-dimensionally along the surface of the core 13, and the angular position of the guide roller 30 is regulated such that the guide roller 30 presses the cord 1 against the surface of the core 13 always perpendicularly to the surface of the core 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo Mizota