Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the subject invention comprise methods and apparatus for mounting a tread ring onto a tire carcass. Such methods include providing a tire tread ring having opposing side edges, arranging the tread ring in an initial ring arrangement in communication with a pressure source, and expanding the tread ring radially outward from the initial ring arrangement to an expanded arrangement. The pressure source is in communication with an outer side of the tread ring, the tread ring being expanded by applying vacuum pressure along the outer side of the tread ring supplied by the pressure source. Such methods also include inserting a tire carcass within a central opening of the tread ring while in the expanded arrangement, contracting the tread ring into an installed arrangement about an outer surface of the tire carcass, and, releasing the vacuum along the outer side of the tread ring.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for crowd-assisted micro-navigation are provided herein. A method includes determining a navigation route between a first user device and a second user device within a given environment; defining a virtual boundary to surround the navigation route; implementing a first set of one or more additional user devices within the given environment to (i) detect movement of the first user device outside of the virtual boundary and (ii) generate an alert upon detection of movement of the first user device outside of the virtual boundary; and implementing a second set of one or more additional user devices within the given environment to measure a wireless signal received from the first user device to enable triangulation of the location of the first user device, in response to the alert.

Abstract: A rim 58, 83 of a post cure inflator 60 can be changed in an easy and safety manner, while the amount of energy consumption is reduced. A inflator body 61 having the lower rim 58 can be located at a lower position, and the upper rim 83 can be moved downward to a lower position. Thus, the lower rim 58 and the upper rim 83 can be changed at the lower position in response to the change of the type of the tire to be manufactured, whereby the changing operation is made easy and safety. Further, the upper rim 83 moves upward. With this configuration, a vulcanized tire T having a heavy weight only moves in a front and rear direction while being supported by the inflator 61(lower rim 58), whereby the amount of energy consumption can be reduced easily.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cap for the neck of a container and to a method for producing one such cap. According to the invention, the skirt (12) of the cap (1) is provided with frangible bridge elements (44A, 44B) which break when the cap is first opened. In addition, on either side of the aforementioned frangible bridge elements, the skirt includes a non-removable part and a removable part provided with an outer biasing tab (24) that only extends along a peripheral portion (12A) of the skirt. In order to limit the biasing force of the tab, so as to release the removable skirt part, the radial dimension (e44A) of the bridges (44A) located in the skirt portion (12) associated with the tab is smaller than the radial dimension (e44B) of the bridges (44B) located outside said portion.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are disclosed for correcting one or more uniformity characteristics in a tire and particularly to correction in a low profile tire or a tire having a projection along the sidewall. The uniformity characteristic may be a radial force variation, conicity, or both. Correction is accomplished by stretching portions of the tire architecture to create permanent deformation.

Abstract: A method is described that allows a first mobile device to persistently lock onto a second mobile device, thereby allowing the first mobile device to not only constantly monitor the dynamic location of the second mobile device but also to adaptively navigate in real-time to the dynamic location associated with the second mobile device. The dynamic location may include a current location of the second mobile device or a final destination for travel of the second mobile device.

Abstract: Cast material rotor (200,300,500,800) with profiled helical outer surface (208,308,508,808). Cast material layer (502,802) can be disposed between core (504,804) and tube (506,806). Profiled helical outer surface (208,308) can be in tube 206 or cast material layer 302, respectively. Method of forming rotor 200 can include filling void between outer surface 212 of core 204 and longitudinal bore 210 of tube 206 having profiled helical outer surface 208 with cast material 202 in fluid state, and solidifying cast material 202. Tube 206 can be disposed within profiled helical bore 714 of mold 700, e.g., before solidifying cast material 202. Method of forming rotor 300 can include filling void between outer surface 312 of core 304 and profiled helical bore 714 in mold 700 with cast material 302 in fluid state, solidifying cast material 302 to impart profiled helical outer surface 308 thereto, and removing mold 700 from cast material 302.

Abstract: A method is described that allows a first mobile device to persistently lock onto a second mobile device, thereby allowing the first mobile device to not only constantly monitor the dynamic location of the second mobile device but also to adaptively navigate in real-time to the dynamic location associated with the second mobile device. The dynamic location may include a current location of the second mobile device or a final destination for travel of the second mobile device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention provides a preform insulating end cone suitable for forming the end cone of a pollution control device. The preform insulating end cone includes a cone shaped intumescent or non-intumescent sheet material. The sheet material has a plurality of slits enabling the sheet material to be cone shaped. A shape retaining element is in intimate contact with the intumescent sheet material. The shape retaining element enables the intumescent sheet material to maintain a cone shape. The invention also provides methods of making preform insulating end cones of the invention.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a new method for manufacturing tires, an apparatus used with the new method and the article manufactured by the new method. The article is called the reinforced liquid elastomer tire (RLET). The method of manufacture includes placement of reinforcing materials inside a tire molding cavity and subsequently surrounding the reinforcement with a liquid elastomer which encapsulates the reinforcement and takes the outside shape of the tire mold. The liquid elastomer is solidified and the completed RLET is removed from the mold and ready for service.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a new tire having a reinforced rubber structure and a polyurethane tread.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to self-healing materials and use thereof for extending the lifespan of a tire. The self-healing material includes a rubber healing agent, e.g., sulfur, encapsulated by a coating material, e.g., polypropylene, defining a microcapsule. The self-healing materials are processed with rubbery polymers to provide a rubber compound suitable for use in a tire. The microcapsule coating material is selected to prevent release of the healing agent during the processing steps of the rubber compound, such as can occur through melting or softening of the coating material, and to release the healing agent, e.g., via melting or softening, at a desired temperature greater than a tire's running temperature. Release of the healing agent can help repair damage to local polymeric structure, such as broken cross-links, by reacting with the surrounding rubber. In this way, that area of the rubber compound can be reinforced, thereby prolonging the life of the tire.

Abstract: A processing mold is suitable for preparing a tire support. One processing mold that is particularly advantageous includes a processing mold having a first mold body opposing a second mold body, and the first and second mold bodies are aligned through a mandrel. In one embodiment, a first mold body includes a locking member suitable for locking the mandrel to the first body. In this embodiment, the mandrel is movable between the first and second mold bodies such that when a processing mold is opened, the first mold body and the mandrel can separate from the second mold body. A method of using a processing mold by aligning a first mold body and a second mold body through a mandrel and a method of releasing a tire support from a processing mold by locking a mandrel to a first mold body and separating the first and second mold bodies are also particularly advantageous.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire, said tire including a tread essentially consisting of a base compound, the tread furthermore including at least one insert of an insertion compound, said method comprising steps consisting in: preparing a tread (7) made of an uncured base compound (MB); injecting, into the uncured tread, a defined quantity of the uncured insertion compound (MI) in a position defined in relation to the uncured tread; and molding said tread.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing an elastomeric tire utilizing a separate formation of a package having a tire core shape and containing tire belts, plies and beads. The package is formed by a laying up of layers of pre-cure elastomer intradigitated with sections of porous fabric, where the fabric fibers are placed at desired crossing angles to one another, and the pre-cure elastomer layers are positioned therebetween as a sandwich, with the sandwich then cold rolled into the tire core shape. Inelastic hoop shaped beads are fitted to and encapsulated in the tire core side walls ends and, as required, an inelastic belt is fitted around the tire core tread area that is secured thereto as by cold rolling a layer of pre-cure elastomer thereover, completing the tire core package. The tire core package is fitted into a mold, preferably a spin casting mold, and is supported therein equidistant from the mold cavity walls to receive an elastomer sprayed therein as the mold is spun.

Abstract: A conductive roller for use in a laser printer includes a solid, thermoset urethane comprising a metal salt and having a hardness of between 30 Shore A and 50 Shore A on cube and a volume resistivity of 1E6 ohm-cm and 9E8 ohm-cm.

Abstract: A process for forming a coating layer on the surface of a molded product by boiling a coating solution in a closed metal mold. The molding process includes depressurizing the cavity of the metal mold, boiling a coating solution in the cavity and injecting a urethane material into the cavity under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A support for a tire tread band comprising an outer portion for contacting a tread and a base, wherein the base comprises a reinforcement framework having at least two plies of reinforcement elements. Each of the plies has mutually parallel reinforcement elements, and said elements are crossed from one ply to a next ply. The support further comprising a polymer material having a modulus greater than 30 MPa.

Abstract: A method for producing a molded silicone rubber product comprising (i) forming a mixture comprising (A) a primary composition in the form of a paste comprising an inorganic filler and a diorganopolysiloxane containing at least 2 silicon atom-bonded alkenyl groups per molecule, (B) a liquid catalyst composition comprising a platinum catalyst and an organopolysiloxane containing at least 2 silicon atom-bonded alkenyl groups per molecule, and (C) a liquid curing composition comprising an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule and an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon atom-bonded alkenyl groups per molecule; (ii) feeding the mixture comprising components (A), (B), and (C) into a molding device; and (iii) curing the mixture comprising components (A), (B), and (C) by heating.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a phenolic resin-made pulley having a metal insert embedded therein. The process includes a step of sealing a gate of a mold with a gate-sealing pin, and simultaneously therewith or thereafter moving forward the part or the whole of a movable side die of the mold, which was moved backward, to a predetermined position to mold the pulley, whereby the packing density of the molding material in the cavity is increased.

Abstract: A semi-pneumatic tire assembly including a tire casing 22 and a lining 26 is provided. The lining 26 includes a contoured inward surface 30 defining an inflation chamber 18 about an associated wheel rim. The lining 26 minimizes the risk of puncture damage from an object penetrating the tire casing 22 while allowing pneumatic cushioning of the ride and cooler running temperatures as compared to solid-fill tires. Additionally, the semi-pneumatic tire will carry the same load or more than the same tire filled with perform and/or solid urethane foam wingfil. The tire assembly is formed by injecting a curable, lining-forming material 96 into a cavity 57 defined between the tire casing 22 and a molding member 50. The molding member 50 includes a contoured outer surface 54 which molds the inward surface of the lining 26. The molding member 50 may be an inflatable airbag 100 retained in the tire assembly during service.