Toroidal Work (e.g., Tire, Etc.) Patents (Class 264/326)
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Patent number: 8097201Abstract: Provided is a bisplit mold for tire forming capable of avoiding the pinching of the unvulcanized tire at the mold clamping. Also provided is a process for manufacturing a tire by use of the bisplit mold. The bisplit mold includes: a plurality of segments provided to each of the paired containers, and formed by being divided in the tire circumferential direction and; opening-closing means provided to the respective containers, cause the superior and the inferior segments to come close to and separate away from each other, the segments being attached to the pair of containers with vertically bisplit center plates placed between the pair of containers; a superior side plate and an inferior side plate provided respectively to the pair of containers; and vertically bisplit mold pieces provided to the inner sides of the segments.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noboru Takada, Takuzou Sano
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Publication number: 20110297285Abstract: A tire rubber composition comprising a rubber compound and a processing oil, wherein the processing oil comprises a modified tall oil pitch, methods of making tires from such compositions, and tires comprising such compositions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLCInventors: Wolfgang Pille-Wolf, Neil Riddle, Harry Jerrold Miller
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Patent number: 8046913Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of circle type terminal for driving motor of hybrid vehicle, comprising: assembling a terminal assembly having a plurality of bus-rings; accommodating the terminal assembly into an insert jig; coupling the insert jig with an injection mold; and supplying insert resin into the insert jig through the injection mold to integrally form an insulator with the terminal assembly thus performing manufacturing a circle type terminal, thereby providing a simple process to manufacture the circle type terminal and a method of forming an insulating material that can lower a manufacturing cost.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Daesung Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Do Myoung Lee, Tea Hyun Kim, Man Heung Han, Gun Soon Kang
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Publication number: 20110247740Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a rough surface portion which is provided on an outer surface of a side wall portion. In the rough surface portion, a maximum height Rz is equal to or more than 4 ?m and a skewness Rsk satisfies Rsk>0.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
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Patent number: 8007710Abstract: A green tire disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mold. The mold is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tire. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tire tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tire against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full molding and vulcanisation of the tire carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tire itself.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2004Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Fiorenzo Mariani, Pierangelo Misani
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Patent number: 7972550Abstract: An underground mine tire 20 having a nominal bead diameter of 20.0 inches or less has a carcass, a tread 25 and a pair of rubber sidewalls 23, each extending along the outer periphery of the carcass 21 below the tread 25. The tire 20 has a nominal bead width D greater than 8.50 inches and an overall diameter of less than 55 inches. The carcass 21 has at least one radial steel cord reinforced ply 24.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CoInventors: Maurice Jacob Frank, Steven Michael Wilson, Lance Reed Wilkinson, Brian Ernest McMahon, Nicholas Lynn Sticklen
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Publication number: 20110156313Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention include a contoured tire tread, and a mold and method for forming the contoured tread. In a particular embodiment, a mold is provided for forming a contoured tread, the mold including a first mold member and a second mold member. The first and second mold members are reversibly displaceable from each other from a first, closed position in which the first and second members substantially enclose a mold cavity, to a second open position in which the first and second members are displaced from each other. The first mold member contains a mold cavity adapted to contain a polymeric material and having inner wall members and sipe-forming members. The first mold member having a contoured mold cavity bottom surface, and the second mold member having a contoured molding surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2008Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.Inventor: Cesar E. Zarak
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Publication number: 20110132515Abstract: A method for controlling a phase of moulding an annular fixing structure of a green tyre includes: introducing the green tyre into a curing mould including an inflatable bladder; delimiting at least one portion of the annular fixing structure by using a first and a second surface opposed to each other; bringing the first surface and the second surface so as to bring a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface into contact with a corresponding radially inner and axially inner surface portion and a corresponding radially inner and axially outer surface portion, respectively, the annular fixing structure generating a first squeezing pressure; inflating the inflatable bladder of the curing mould so as to bring the first and the second surfaces closer together, thus generating a second squeezing pressure in such a way as to shape the radially inner and axially inner surface portions and the radially inner and axially outer surface portions of the annular fixing structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.Inventors: Pier Giuseppe Piantanida Pler Giuseppe, Gianni Mancini, Gaetano Lo Presti
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Publication number: 20110133363Abstract: A process for moulding and curing tyres, includes introducing a green tyre into a curing mould, the mould including a first sidewall plate and a second sidewall plate, a ring of circumferential sectors circumscribing a mould cavity, an expandable bladder delimited by a membrane, and at least one bead moulding ring which is movable between a first contracted operating position and a second extended operating position; and moulding and curing the green tyre in the curing mould; and between introducing the green tyre and moulding and curing it, the process includes extending the at least one bead moulding ring from the first contracted operating position to the second extended operating position; forming a circumferential bearing surface which bears against a first axially inner surface portion of a first annular fixing structure of the green tyre; pressing a second axially inner surface portion of the first annular fixing structure by expanding the membrane at a pre-moulding pressure which is lower than a mouldType: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2008Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.Inventors: Pier Giuseppe Piantanida, Gianni Mancini
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Publication number: 20110073228Abstract: A solid rubber tire with a multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes formed into opposed spaced apart sidewalls of the solid rubber tire. The self-pumping vent holes each extend from the side walls into the solid rubber tire about one-half the spaced apart distance and parallel to the rotation axis of the tire. Each of the multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of between 0.5% and 1.5% of the maximum tire diameter. Any and all parts of the solid rubber material in the tire are at a distance of less than 12% of the original maximum diameter of the tire from any one of the multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes so that heat that may result in the solid rubber tire from its use is dissipated and temperature of the rubber in the tire is reduced by pumping of air into and out of the multiplicity of self-pumping vent holes upon rolling contact with the ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: Giles A. Hill, III, Duane S. Birdsong
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Publication number: 20110068508Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a pneumatic tire, that does not cause an air-in phenomenon between an inner liner and an insulation or carcass by preventing adhesion of an inner liner to a bladder. The method for producing a pneumatic tire according to the present invention includes the following steps. A green tire using, as an inner liner, a polymer composition in which a polymer component contains 100 to 60% by mass of a styrene-isobutylene-styrene triblock copolymer and 0 to 40% by mass of a polyamide-based polymer that contains polyamide in the molecular chain and has a Shore D hardness of 70 or less is prepared. The green tire is mounted in a mold and vulcanized while being pressurized by a bladder. The resultant vulcanized tire is cooled at 10 to 120° C. for 10 to 300 seconds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventors: Mutsuki SUGIMOTO, Keiichi Nakadera
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Patent number: 7910043Abstract: A tire building and cure station coupling apparatus and method for molding a green tire into a finished tire having a tread pattern. The green tire is constructed on a toroidally shaped core formed by a plurality of core segments each having an outer surface portion which together define a toroidal outer surface surrounding a central axis. The core is adapted to hold a green tire on said toroidal outer surface. A first spindle section is configured to be placed on a first side of the core along the central axis and a second spindle section is configured to be placed on a second side of the core along the central axis and opposite to the first side.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne
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Publication number: 20110062631Abstract: A method to cure a non-uniform rubber article uses one or more high thermal diffusivity pins in a mold to direct heat to the cure-limiting parts of the article to reduce the total cure time in the mold and increase the uniformity of the cure of the article. Reductions in cure time of up to 20% or more are achieved without substantially changing the function or degrading the performance of the article. The method is particularly useful for curing tires and treads for tires. Finite element analysis or thermocouple probes can used to determine the cure-limiting part(s) for the tire or tread. Using this knowledge, one or more of the high thermal diffusivity pins are located in the mold at positions to transfer heat into the cure-limiting part(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2008Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELINInventor: Christopher S. Madden
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Patent number: 7901608Abstract: A bladder is made to be expandable and contractible at a vulcanization position within a lower mold assembly and to be expandable and contractible also at a tire delivery position which is spaced a predetermined distance from the vulcanization position along a center axis of the lower mold assembly. With a centering shaft passing through an upper mold, the bladder and the lower mold assembly, a green tire loaded into the tire delivery position is held by the bladder by expanding the bladder and is loaded by the bladder into the lower mold assembly. After a vulcanization processing, the bladder removes the vulcanized tire from the vulcanization position to the delivery position, and after the centering shaft is drawn out from the lower mold assembly and the bladder, the bladder is contracted at the delivery position to make it possible to release the vulcanized tire from the bladder.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignees: Fuji Shoji Co., Ltd., Fuji Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chikara Takagi, Shigeaki Nomura, Ryuichi Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20110042852Abstract: Provided are a apparatus and a method for vulcanizing a pneumatic tire, where are capable of: smoothly releasing a vulcanized pneumatic tire from multiple sectors separated from one another in a circumferential direction in each of an upper mold and a lower mold; and thereby lightening load on each mold. In addition to springs for biasing the sectors to always move into a smaller diameter, respectively, pushpins for moving the sectors into larger and smaller diameters are actuated by the respective cylinder rods of drive cylinders, and thereby the movements of the individual sectors into the larger and smaller diameters are controlled. Accordingly, even though the sectors would otherwise move abruptly into the smaller diameter due to biasing forces of the springs after the vulcanized tire is released from the sectors at the larger diameter, a radius-reducing movement speed of the sectors is control led by the cylinder rods in contact with rear ends of the push pins.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventor: Akikazu Seko
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Patent number: 7862761Abstract: A pattern forming method for forming a pattern on a pattern forming material on a substrate by using an imprint pattern provided to a mold is constituted by preparing a substrate having thereon a pattern forming area, disposing the pattern forming material placed in an uncured state in the pattern forming area in a dispersion state at a plurality of positions at different intervals, and curing the pattern forming material in a state in which the pattern forming material is deformed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the imprint pattern provided to the mold.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shingo Okushima, Junichi Seki
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Patent number: 7858011Abstract: A method of producing a bicycle rim including, positioning a first quantity of woven fiber strips having a first width and a first length and a second quantity of strips of said woven fibers having a shape different from the first shape to form a first laminated band from the first quantity and the second quantity of strips. A second narrower laminated band is produced. The first band is re-shaped to a V-shaped band before the first band is inserted along the periphery of a mold interior. A core is positioned on the first band and the second band is positioned on the first band. Rim well rings are positioned from outside on the second band, to abut the sides of the second band. A spreader ring is inserted between the rings to join the material near the upper rim flanks and the rim flanges.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.Inventor: Andreas Reuteler
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Patent number: 7850439Abstract: The invention relates to a vent plug for a tire vulcanization mold used for a vent hole of the mold, the tire vulcanization mold, and a manufacturing method for the tire using the mold. The vent plug includes a plug holder with a hollow ventilation portion and a plug head within the ventilation portion. The plug holder includes a tapered seat portion, an inside diameter of which becomes smaller toward a mold rear side, and a cylinder portion located at the mold rear side of the seat portion. The plug head includes a tapered head portion, an outer diameter of which becomes smaller toward the mold rear side, a base body portion located at the mold rear side of the head portion, and a slit portion communicating with the ventilation portion from an upper end face of the plug head.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyuki Furutani
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Patent number: 7833461Abstract: Process for molding and vulcanizing a tire, in which a tire blank is placed in a curing press including a mold intended to form the outer shape of the tire, and a pressing member for transmitting the molding pressure and the heat needed to vulcanize the internal portion of the tire blank. A removable elastic membrane, which includes perforations passing completely therethrough, is interposed, during the molding and the vulcanizing step, between the inner surface of the tire and the pressing member, so as to form, by the constituent material of the internal wall of the tire flowing into the perforations, noise-attenuating protuberances distributed over the internal surface of the tire.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventor: Nicolas Dautrey
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Patent number: 7802976Abstract: The mold for molding a tire has the contact part 42 that contacts with the end surface in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces and the non-contact part 44 that does not contact with the end surface in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces at the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the piece 30 in the segments right after the mold of the cycle of the tire molding process in which the opening and closure of the mold are repeated is closed, and the non-contact part 44 is present in the inner side of the tire radial direction, the contact part 42 is present outside of the tire radial direction than the non-contact part, and right before the mold in the cycle of the tire molding process is opened, the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the piece 30 in the segments contacts with the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces in the non-contact part 44.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
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Publication number: 20100230024Abstract: A tyre is described that includes a casing defining a cavity and equipped to receive an object, such as an electronic circuit, for example, through use of a two-part attachment, such as a touch-close attachment, of which a first part is fixed to a wall of the casing and a second part can be joined to the first part when placed in contact with the first part to keep the object on the casing in a service position. The first part of the attachment includes connection elements that are an integral part of the wall of the casing of the tyre. The connection elements allow these two parts to have freedom to move relative to each other, thereby limiting the transmission of stresses, which affect the wall of the tyre, to the object. The connection elements may be loops of flexible thread formed by the extremities of turns of a coiled thread integrated into the wall of the tyre during the tyre's manufacture.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2008Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: Societe De Technologie MichelinInventors: Martine Borot, Claudio Battocchio, John David Adamson
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Patent number: 7780807Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a green tire carcass is provided having a bladder mounted to a first and second support, a retractable support shaft mounted inside the bladder, and upper and lower bead ring for mounting the beads of the tire carcass thereon, wherein one of said bead rings has a channel in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid, wherein said channel has an outlet located between said bladder and said carcass for injecting pressurized fluid between the carcass and the bladder.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: George Michael Stoila
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Patent number: 7744789Abstract: Finite element analysis or thermocouple probes are used to determine the state of cure for each zone of a non-uniform, thick rubber article, such as a large tire or a tread for a tire. From this knowledge of those cure-limiting zones, heat transfer elements are added to the mold to enhance the transfer of heat into these cure-limiting zones and to provide a more optimum cure. The use of heat transfer pins and/or mini-sipes are an efficient and practical means of reducing total cure time in the press and optimizing cure state without substantially affecting the performance of the article such as the tire. Reductions in cure time of 10% or more are demonstrated.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignees: Michlein Recherche et Technique S.A., Societe detechnologie MichelinInventors: I. Douglas Greenwell, Michael J. Luneau, Donald Faulkner
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Patent number: 7740788Abstract: The shapes of the upper tire bead Bu and the lower tire bead Bl of a green tire G and the axial distance between the tire beads Bu and Bl are corrected in a short work time. The green tire G is placed in horizontal attitude on a green tire support table 3 provided with a lower tire bead correcting unit 10. Radially movable pressing members 13 included in the lower tire bead correcting unit 10 are engaged with the inner side of the lower tire bead Bl of the green tire G and stoppers 29 of the upper tire bead correcting unit 20 are engaged with the inner side of the upper tire bead Bu of the green tire G placed on the green tire support table 3. The pressing members 13 of the lower tire bead correcting unit 10 are moved radially outward to shape the lower tire bead Bl into a completely round shape of a predetermined diameter.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2004Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Toshikatsu Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Imaizumi
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Patent number: 7691217Abstract: A process for manufacturing a tire includes providing an elastomeric layer on an outer surface of a toroidal support, manufacturing the tire on the toroidal support provided with the elastomeric layer, introducing the tire supported on the toroidal support into a moulding cavity, introducing a fluid under pressure into a space defined between the toroidal support and an inner surface of the tire in order to press an outer surface of the tire against walls of the moulding cavity, and curing the tire. The elastomeric layer forms an inner circumferential surface of the tire. The process further includes causing an electrical current to flow in at least one heating element provided to the outer surface of the toroidal support so as to obtain at least partial precuring of the elastomeric layer. A toroidal support for carrying out the process is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventors: Pierangelo Misani, Guido Riva, Cèline Almonacil
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Patent number: 7661942Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved device for molding keyhole sipes larger in size, i.e. sipes having a wider passage, than currently being formed in treads that will avoid damaging the tread during formation and removal thereof from a mold. The device includes an elongated deformable body member having a blade extending in a direction away therefrom and substantially along the length thereof. The body member also includes a stiffening member securely fixed in position therein that extends substantially the length thereof. The stiffening member provides a desired rigidity to the deformable body member, thereby limiting flexion along its length under the stress of a rubber formulation when the mold is closed during the molding process. Also, the deformable body member provides low stress on the tread when a slit of the keyhole sipe is pulled around the body member during removal of the tread from a mold.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Gia-Van Nguyen, Alain Francois Emile Roesgen, Anne-France Gabrielle Jeanne-Marie Cambron
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Publication number: 20100032873Abstract: A green pneumatic tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to the inner shape of a tyre. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle. During vulcanisation, axial moving apart of side portions of the toroidal support is caused so as to press the beads and sidewalls of the tyre against the vulcanisation mould.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2005Publication date: February 11, 2010Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Marco Cantu, Pierangelo Misani
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Patent number: 7648668Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a pneumatic tire including a rigid core for forming a green tire on an outer face and a vulcanizing mold which can transport the green tire together with the rigid core such that the vulcanizing mold is closed to form a vulcanization space for sealing and storing the green tire between the vulcanizing mold and the rigid core so that the green tire is vulcanized in the vulcanization space, an annular movable seal supported by either one of the vulcanizing mold or the rigid core, and an urging means for urging the movable seal from the one of the vulcanizing mold and the rigid core that supports the annular movable seal toward a surface of the other of the vulcanizing mold and the rigid core, the movable seal being urged by the urging means toward the surface of the other of the vulcanizing mold and the rigid core so as to prevent generation of a gap between the vulcanizing mold and the rigid core when the vulcanizing mold is closed, and to absorb a change in shape of the rigid coType: GrantFiled: April 30, 2003Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventor: Takehiro Kata
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Publication number: 20100000641Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread that has: land portions formed and segmented by a plurality of circumferential grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and by a plurality of widthwise grooves extending in a tire width direction; and sipes formed in contact patches of the land portions. The pneumatic tire includes: recessed sections (groove-bottom recessed sections) that are formed in tire-width-direction lateral surfaces of the land portions provided in tire-width-direction outermost parts, so as to connect to the widthwise grooves; and indents/lugs that are formed in bottom surfaces of the recessed sections such that indents/lugs thereof are arranged alternately and continuously in a linear manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Morito, Masakazu Mori
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Publication number: 20090309265Abstract: A method of moulding and curing tyres for vehicle wheels includes the steps of disposing a tyre being processed on a toroidal support, enclosing the tyre and the toroidal support inside a moulding cavity defined in a vulcanization mould, pressing the outer surface of the tyre against the moulding cavity walls, and administering heat to the tyre to cause molecular crosslinking of the tyre. The pressing step includes the steps of compressing side portions of the tyre between the moulding cavity walls and the outer surface of the toroidal support, concurrently with the closing step, and imposing an expansion to a radially-outer portion of the tyre to bring the radially-outer portion of the tyre against the walls of the moulding cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventor: Renato CARETTA
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Patent number: 7604760Abstract: An automatic pressure and temperature control apparatus and method for use in curing tire assemblies including retread tire assemblies is provided. Using water as a heating medium, a new process control method and apparatus is described that allows a more precise control of process variables during steady state conditions such that heat transfer is improved and the undesirable formation of steam is eliminated. Existing processes and equipment for curing tire assemblies can be modified, using the teaching disclosed herein, to implement and achieve the benefits of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Norman Christopher, Stephen Manuel, Robert Young
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Patent number: 7597837Abstract: A method of moulding and curing tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of disposing a tire being processed on a toroidal support, enclosing the tire and the toroidal support inside a moulding cavity defined in a vulcanization mould, pressing the outer surface of the tire against the moulding cavity walls, and administering heat to the tire to cause molecular crosslinking of the tire. The pressing step includes the steps of compressing side portions of the tire between the moulding cavity walls and the outer surface of the toroidal support, concurrently with the closing step, and imposing an expansion to a radially-outer portion of the tire to bring the radially-outer portion of the tire against the walls of the moulding cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.Inventor: Renato Caretta
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Publication number: 20090158573Abstract: Apparatus and method for assembly and disassembly in axial and radial directions mold segments forming a toroidally shaped mold. The apparatus includes mold gripping apparatus operatively engaging and disengaging the mold; and mold transport apparatus for operatively moving the mold gripping apparatus and engaged mold between a mold assembly and disassembly station and a tire curing station. The mold gripping apparatus engages and unlocks an upper mold sidewall segment and mold loading apparatus engages and unlocks a lower mold sidewall segment. Tread segment closing apparatus is provided for operatively opening and closing the tread segments of the mold in a radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne
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Tire including projections having sides of unequal length and an undercut extending beneath the apex
Patent number: 7497240Abstract: The tire has a plurality of radially outer rubber components defining a radially outer surface (S1) exposed to fluids having a relative displacement with respect to the rotating tire. At least one radially outer component has projections, the projections being defined by first sides (2) and second sides (2?) of unequal length. The first sides (2) have a greater length, delimiting therebetween an angle ? ranging from 5° to 60° and forming at their intersection an apex (P). The projections protrude by a height (h) from the radially outer surface (S1) from which said first and second sides originate, the height (h) ranging from 0.2 to 100 micrometers. In more than 75% of the projections, any plane tangent to the first side (2) of the projection cuts the radially outer surface (S1) at an acute angle.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Rene Jean Zimmer, Claude Ernest Felix Boes -
Patent number: 7473386Abstract: A mold (22) includes a bead ring (32). The bead ring (32) includes a side forming surface (34), a bottom forming surface (36), a support surface (38) for a bladder, and a guide surface (40) for a bladder. The support surface (38) is positioned on an inside in a radial direction of the bottom forming surface (36). The support surface (38) is extended in the radial direction. A distance (L2) of the support surface (38) is equal to or smaller than 5.0 mm in the radial direction. The guide surface (40) is positioned on an inside in the radial direction and an outside in an axial direction from the support surface (38). The guide surface (40) is inclined inward in the axial direction from the inside in the radial direction toward an outside in the radial direction. An angle ? of the guide surface (40) to the radial direction is equal to or greater than 15 degrees and is equal to or smaller than 75 degrees. In an expansion, a bladder (B) is erected by the guide surface (40).Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Masayuki Sakamoto, Ryo Ono
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Publication number: 20080303337Abstract: Wheels including one or more retention elements for affixing a polyurethane tire to a hub of the wheel are disclosed. The polyurethane tires of the wheels disclosed are manufactured separate from the hub and affixed to the hub via the retention elements thereby enabling additional manufacturing processes for the polyurethane tires and reuse of the hub portion of the wheels. Such manufacturing processes also allow for more complex polyurethane tire design and combinations of polymers to produce composite wheels allowing for increased comfort and durability. The wheels are particular suitability for use with industrial vehicles, such as lift trucks.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: STELLANA U.S. INC.Inventor: Gregory Michael Krantz
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Patent number: 7459117Abstract: A segmented mold 2 for molding a tire 100 is described which has a central axis; plurality of radially movable tread forming segments; two sidewall forming plates, a top sidewall forming plate 8, and a bottom sidewall forming plate 6; a top locking ring 10 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced means 30 for locking the segments 4, each means for locking 30 providing a predetermined angular path 75 for radially contracting the segments 4 upon closing the mold 2 in a locked position. The segmented 2 mold for molding a tire 100 further has a bottom locking ring 20 having a complementary plurality of circumferentially spaced means 30 for locking the segments 4, each means for locking 30 providing a predetermined angular path for radially contracting the segments 4 upon closing the mold.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Jean-Claude Girard, Michael Thomas Driscoll, Mark Anthony Sieverding
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Patent number: 7442335Abstract: A tire press has an upper mold fixedly attached to a top plate. A bottom mold is fixedly attached to a bottom plate. The tire press has a plurality of guide posts adapted to maintain proper alignment of the upper mold and the lower mold as the tire press opens and closes. A plurality of lock rods, which are independent of the guide posts, are positioned about the tire press. Each of the lock rods has a first end and a second end. The lock rods may have an adjustment mechanism positioned on the first end of the lock rods to adjust the various mold heights. Locking means are a part of the tire press, which are adapted to selectively engage the second end of the lock rods. Further, each of the lock rods has cylinder mechanism operatively connected to the locking means. The cylinder mechanism is adapted to force the locking means to the surface of the lock rods. The cylinder mechanism is a hydraulic cylinder having the piston disposed within the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Inventor: John R. Cole
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Publication number: 20080237929Abstract: In various embodiments, different sections of a tire may be preformed and bonded together. The preformed sections may include at least one fixing lug formed thereon. The preformed sections may be placed into a bonding mold where the preformed sections may be aligned in the bonding mold by aligning the fixing lugs on the preformed sections with corresponding features in the bonding molds. In some embodiments, bonding material may be placed on bonding areas between the preformed sections and the preformed sections may be placed in the bonding mold. In some embodiments, compressed air may be supplied through the air intake valve to the preformed sections in the bonding mold. Thermal energy may be applied to the preformed sections to form the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventor: Hing Hung Sher
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Patent number: 7416694Abstract: The disclosed information describes a preheating method and apparatus for preheating raw tire including metal members embedded therein prior to vulcanization molding process, to heat whole part of the raw tire up to desirable temperature rapidly and certainly to complete vulcanization molding in a short time. The disclosed apparatus comprises a retaining means for retaining raw tire in a predetermined attitude in a releasable manner; a induction heating means for heating the metal members inductively by means of a high frequency magnetic field, the high frequency magnetic field being applied to raw tire retained by the retaining means; and a radiation heater for heating a rate-limiting portion radiatively, the temperature of the rate-limiting portion rising slowly under only induction heating for the metal members.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2003Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko ShoInventors: Kazuto Okada, Hisashi Mitamura
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Patent number: 7416396Abstract: Provided are a tire forming mold which enables damage on ribs and blocks of a tire to be effectively prevented when the tire is removed from the tire forming mold in spite of a simple structure thereof, and a pneumatic tire producing method using the same. The tire forming mold according to the present invention is a two-division type of tire forming mold, including a mold main body for forming one side of the tire, wherein the mold main body is provided with a movable part which constitutes a part of a tread forming surface in the direction of the circumference thereof while the tire forming mold is being closed, and which can be moved while the tire is being removed from the tire forming mold.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Ebiko, Tomoyuki Matsumura
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Publication number: 20080128947Abstract: A green tire (20) is put into a mold (16) in which an insert core (18) and a bladder (22) are accommodated. In the putting operation, a diameter of the insert core (18) is reduced and the bladder (22) is contracted. After the putting operation, the diameter of the insert core (18) is increased so that an inner surface of a bead (8) of the green time (20) abuts on an insert core plate (36). The bead is interposed between the insert core (18) and a cavity surface (34). By filling a gas, the bladder (22) is gradually expanded. The mold (16) is clamped so that an internal pressure of the bladder (22) is further raised. A portion of an inner peripheral surface of the green tire (20) which does not abut on the insert core (18) abuts on the bladder (22). The green tire (20) is heated by a thermal conduction from the mold (16) and the bladder (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventor: Masayuki Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20080121328Abstract: A sealing material includes the following characteristics: a value of a dynamic elastic modulus, measured at a temperature of 80° C., at a frequency of 1 Hz, and with a deformation of 5%, that is at least 60% lower than a value of the dynamic elastic modulus measured at the temperature of 80° C., at the frequency of 1 Hz, and with a deformation of 1%; and the value of the dynamic elastic modulus, measured at the temperature of 80° C., at the frequency of 1 Hz, and with the deformation of 5%, that is greater than or equal to 0.05 kPa. A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass ply and at least one layer of sealing material disposed in a radially inner position with respect to the at least one carcass ply. A process for producing the tyre is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Antonio SERRA, Pierangelo Misani, Jean-Louis Locatelli
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Publication number: 20080116612Abstract: Process for molding and vulcanizing a tire, in which a tire blank is placed in a curing press comprising a mold intended to form the outer shape of the tire, and a pressing member for transmitting the molding pressure and the heat needed to vulcanize the internal portion of the tire blank. A removable elastic membrane, which includes perforations passing completely therethrough, is interposed, during the molding and the vulcanizing step, between the inner surface of the tire and the pressing member, so as to form, by the constituent material of the internal wall of the tire flowing into the perforations, noise-attenuating protuberances distributed over the internal surface of the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2007Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.Inventor: Nicolas Dautrey
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Publication number: 20080084007Abstract: A tire forming bladder composed of an elastomeric membrane constructed and shaped for curing low aspect ratio tires. The bladder includes clamping feet to enable it to be clamped onto a post for insertion into a tire curing mold. The bladder has a cross-sectional profile where the distance between the clamping feet is less than the distance between the shoulder areas of the bladder. In addition, the shoulder areas of the bladder are of a thinner gauge than the remainder of the bladder membrane and accordingly expands a greater amount than the rest of the bladder membrane when pressurized.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Applicant: CARLISLE INTANGIBLE COMPANYInventor: Walter Szyms
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Patent number: 7329325Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire (3), which includes a crown (5) having a molded tread pattern, and at least one insert (6) with a position that is set relative to the molded tread pattern. The method includes building an uncured tire around a core (1), positioning the at least one insert (6) within the uncured tire in a position set relative to the core (1), positioning the core bearing the uncured tire and the at least one insert (6) in an external mold (10) according to a set azimuth (?), and molding the tire.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventor: Pascal Prost
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Publication number: 20080029916Abstract: A system (100) for controlling the operation of a mechanical press (10) having a side link (60) for applying squeeze to a mold (80) includes a dial indicator (120) mounted to the side link. An actuator member (170) has a first end (172) connected to the side link (60) and an opposite second end (200) engaging the dial indicator (120). The actuator member (170) is configured to move relative to the side link (60) and actuate the dial indicator (200) in response to elongation of the side link. The dial indicator (200) indicates the magnitude of the squeeze applied by the side link (60). A strain transducer (150) is mounted to the side link (60). The strain transducer (150) includes a sensor (152) that is operative to provide a signal responsive to movement of the actuator member (170) relative to the side link (60).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: John R. Cole, Norman Robert Knoedler
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Patent number: 7281555Abstract: The invention is to improve wear resistance and resistance to crack growth of an off-the-road tire having a gauge of a tread rubber of 60-200 mm, in which a plurality of widthwise grooves extending substantially in a widthwise direction of the tire are arranged in each side region of the tread, and a pair of circumferential fine grooves continuously extending straight-forward or zigzag in a circumferential direction of the tire are arranged in a central zone of the tread, and a plurality of widthwise fine grooves extending substantially in the widthwise direction of the tire and contacting their grooves walls with each other in a ground contact area are arranged between these circumferential fine grooves.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2002Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventor: Akira Ono
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Patent number: 7276198Abstract: A tire having an outer surface and plurality of circumferential and lateral grooves formed into the outer surface. The circumferential and lateral grooves extend to at least one groove depth to define a groove bottom surface. The circumferential and lateral grooves also define a plurality of tread blocks disposed around the circumference of the tire. The tire further includes at least one tie bar extending between at least two of the tread blocks and across at least one of the circumferential and lateral grooves. The tie bar is spaced from the groove bottom surface. In one aspect of the invention, the tire is manufactured in a mold and the tie bar is formed by a supplemental molding member that is removed from the molded tire after the main molding member has been removed from the tire.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Gia-Van Nguyen, Anne-France Gabrielle Jeanne-Marie Cambron, Raymond Marie Joseph Ghislain Houba, Frank Severens
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Patent number: 7261785Abstract: A process of depositing at least one uncured colored rubber mix forming a contrasting motif on an outer surface of a tire includes preparing a blank of the uncured tire to be moulded, including all the constituents except for the colored rubber mix(es), depositing the colored rubber(s) in at least one cavity formed on a removable insert, each cavity having the general form of the motif to be moulded and having a total volume V2, the total volume of non-vulcanized colored rubber V1 placed in each cavity being less than the volume V0, mounting the insert in a suitable housing provided on the moulding surface of the mould for the tire, engaging the tire blank within the mould, and moulding and vulcanizing the tire.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventor: Frédéric Pialot