Reshaping, Resizing Or Vulcanizing Means For Tire, Tire Tube, Or Drive Belt Patents (Class 425/28.1)
  • Patent number: 11707900
    Abstract: A tire mold for processing a green tire includes a movable block, an upper sidewall plate, and a lower sidewall plate. A curved surface corresponding to the green tire is provided at a junction of the movable block and the upper sidewall plate/the lower sidewall plate. The movable block, the upper sidewall plate and the lower sidewall plate cooperate with each other to surround a tire cavity for accommodating the green tire. Thereby, the edge of the upper sidewall plate or the lower sidewall plate won't penetrate the green tire to form a joint fin when the mold is closed, which is beneficial to save the rubber material, improves production efficiency and reduces manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Cheng Shin Tire & Rubber (China) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Zhang, Hai Wang, Xian-Sheng Yin, Yang Lu
  • Patent number: 11358357
    Abstract: A molding element having a molding surface forming a contact face and a groove forming rib portion forming the groove comprising two opposed rib side faces and a rib top face connecting two rib side faces. The groove forming rib portion provides at least one space opening to at least one of the rib side faces and/or to the rib top face. An insert is received in the space. The insert comprises a cavity for forming a closing device in the groove. The cavity has two opposed cavity faces and opens to at least two faces of the insert corresponding to the faces of the groove forming rib portion. The insert comprises at least one cutting means extending and/or projecting in a direction the groove forming rib portion extends for cutting a material filled in the cavity during demolding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Anthony Gueugneau, Romain Calvel, Bernard Villeneuve, Khotchakorn Pengsaloong
  • Patent number: 11285675
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing an elongated structure includes a mold within which an uncross-linked rubber material is placed, at least one heating unit configured to heat the mold, and a pressure device configured to press the rubber material using the mold heated by the heating unit to promote shaping the rubber material by the mold while proceeding the cross-linking of the rubber material. The heating unit includes a central heating device configured to heat a longitudinal central portion of the mold, multiple cooling devices configured to cool two longitudinal end portions of the mold, multiple intermediate heating devices configured to heat two intermediate portions between the longitudinal central portion and the longitudinal end portions of the mold, heat shield plates disposed between the central heating device and the intermediate heating devices, and heat shield plates disposed between the cooling devices and the intermediate heating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: NOK CORPORATION, NOK ELASTOMERS PROCESSING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisayuki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 11090842
    Abstract: A valve insert (4) for use in an air venting valve (1) of a vulcanizing mould of a vehicle tyre, which valve insert (4) comprises a valve stem (6) arranged to be inserted into a valve sleeve (3) of the air venting valve (1), a first end of which valve stem (6) is provided with a valve disk (7) and a second end of which valve stem (6) is provided with an elastically compressible retainer member (8) for detachably attaching the valve insert (4) to the valve sleeve (3) and for limiting an opening stroke of the valve insert (4). The retainer member (8) comprises a stop surface (14) which is arranged to abut an end surface (16) of the valve sleeve (3) and thus limit the opening stroke of the valve insert (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: WD RACING OY
    Inventor: Pekka Penkkimäki
  • Patent number: 11052707
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread face, a plurality of main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction in the tread face, and a plurality of land lines defined by the plurality of main grooves on the tread face. At least one of the plurality of land lines protrudes outward in a tire diametrical direction from a profile line. A top face of a central portion of the land line in a width direction is formed in an arc shape protruding outward in the tire diametrical direction in a section along a tire meridian. Top faces of opposite end portions of the land line in the width direction are formed in arc shapes protruding inward in the tire diametrical direction in the section along the tire meridian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sachio Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10987886
    Abstract: A curing press for tires includes an upper cavity having a vertically separable upper housing and a top mold. A lower cavity is mounted on a base and forms an arrangement to provide mold height adjustment during curing. The base includes a bottom bolster structure and a bottom mold. An indexing lock ring is rotatably arranged with the bottom bolster structure for closing or opening of the top and bottom molds. The bolster structure includes squeeze cylinders having piston rods to provide mold height adjustment. A squeeze retract stop assembly is provided to restrict vertically downward movement of the bottom mold during a tire curing process. The press includes at least one locking lever and at least one indexing lock pin adapted to connect the at least one locking lever to lock holes in the bottom bolster structure wherein each lock hole corresponds to a particular mold height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: L&T RUBBER PROCESSING MACHINERY
    Inventors: Ganesh Raja Karuppusamy, Saravanakumar Murugesan, Sreeraj Panayancheril Jayakumar, Ravichandran Velusamy, Rajkumar Venugopal, Baskar Thiyagarajan, Prabu Mani, Durai Dharmaraj, Aravamudhun Govindarajan, Emmanuel Rajendran
  • Patent number: 10882362
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods for reducing deformation of a sipe-molding member (10) arising during manufacturing operations, and sipe-molding members (10) comprising a sipe-forming portion (12) and a plurality of stiffening members (20) spaced along the sipe-forming portion. The sipe-forming portion (12) has a length extending in a lengthwise direction of the sipe-molding member (10), a height configured to extend into a depth of a molding cavity, and a thickness extending perpendicular to both the length and height. The sipe-molding member (10) is configured to form a sipe having a thickness commensurate with the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, a length formed by at least a portion of the length of the sipe-forming portion, and a depth formed by at least a portion of the height of the sipe-forming portion. Each of the plurality of stiffening members (20) extend outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming element. Further embodiments include methods of forming a molded tire tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventor: Robert Cecil Lawson
  • Patent number: 10821689
    Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing a tire includes a plurality of first and second sectors alternatively arranged in parallel in a circumferential direction to form an annular shape. A projecting portion formed across the first sector and the second sector includes a first convex portion whose occupied volume is larger, which is formed in the first sector, and a second convex portion whose occupied volume is smaller, which is formed in the second sector. The second convex portion has a length of at least 1.5 mm along an extending direction of the protrusions from an end surface of the second sector and has substantially the same height as the protrusions, and a corner portion of an end surface side of the first sector is chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10759093
    Abstract: According to a production method of a power transmission belt, a shaped structure having a cylindrical shape is placed radially inward of belt mold having a cylindrical shape. The shaped structure is provided on a mandrel and has a plurality of ridges arranged adjacent to one another in an axial direction of the shaped structure. The belt mold has a plurality of compression layer-shape grooves arranged adjacent to one another in an axial direction of the belt mold. The shaped structure is crosslinked by heating and pressing the shaped structure toward the mandrel while each of compression layer-forming portions, which are comprised of the plurality of ridges of the shaped structure, is fitted in an associated one of the compression layer-shape grooves of the belt mold, thereby molding a cylindrical belt slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: BANDO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Miyanishi, Naohisa Harushige, Yohei Hattori, Takashi Matsuoka, Yusaku Taoshita, Hisashi Izumi
  • Patent number: 10730257
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold disclosed herein includes sectors molding a tread portion of the tire and a pair of upper and lower side plates molding a sidewall portion of the tire. Mold parting lines formed by the sectors and a pair of the upper and lower side plates are located in the tread portion. A lateral groove molding rib molding a lateral groove in the tread portion is provided to bridge from the sector to the side plate and a protrusion molding recess used to mold a protrusion at a groove bottom of the lateral groove is provided to the lateral groove molding rib. Mold parting planes including the mold parting lines are provided to divide the lateral groove molding rib where the protrusion molding recess is not provided. An evacuation path from the protrusion molding recess to the mold parting plane is provided to the lateral groove molding rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10675827
    Abstract: A method and a device for vulcanizing tires. An expandable bellows is used for pressing the tire being vulcanized against segments of a mold. The bellows is arranged on a carrier which has an annular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: HARBURG-FREUDENBERGER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Arnd Grimm, Jan Stellmacher
  • Patent number: 10632698
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus includes a vulcanization mold including a lower mold and an upper mold to define a tire mold cavity for vulcanizing a green tire together with a rigid core on which the green tire is formed, a base portion, a lower plate to which the lower mold is attached, the lower plate supported by the base portion, a first ring having a circular shape with a center corresponding to an axial center of the vulcanization mold and arranged between the base portion and the lower plate, an upper plate to which the upper mold is attached so as to face the lower mold up and down, and a lifting device for moving the upper plate up and down between a lower location to close the vulcanization mold and an upper location in which the upper mold positions opening the vulcanization mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onimatsu
  • Patent number: 10632700
    Abstract: A mechanism releases a plate from a recess in a tire mold part. The mechanism includes a bolt insertable into a hole in the tire mold part and extending from a first end at an outer surface of the tire mold part to a second end at a recess for a pocket plate in the tire mold part. The first end of the bolt has an axially extending projection allowing manipulation of the bolt about an axis within the hole. The projection is defined by two diametrically opposite curved surfaces interconnected by two diametrically opposite planar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Christophe Jean Alexis Pierre, Michael Colback, Emre Öztop
  • Patent number: 10507625
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes an annular side mold 14 having a side molding surface 18 for molding a side wall portion T2. In a side mold body 15 of the side mold 14, an annular recess 20 is provided in the side molding surface 18 and a side ring 22 is fitted into the annular recess. The side ring 22 is mounted in the annular recess 20 such that a vent gap 30 for discharging air is formed between the side ring and the annular recess, on an opening portion side of the annular recess 20, and such that the side ring 22 is centered with respect to the side mold body 15 by a close contact fitting portion 28 in which the side ring and the annular recess are fitted without a gap therebetween, on a bottom portion side of the annular recess 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10451408
    Abstract: A method for inspecting engravings in a tire mold includes inputting in advance into a data processing device two-dimensional image master data of an engraving formed on a surface of a side plate in a plan view using basic data set as a reference, the image master data having a radial component and a radial position of the engraving corrected on the basis of a locus length in a radial direction of the surface of the side plate; generating two-dimensional image actual measurement data, the image actual measurement data having a radial component and a radial position of three-dimensional data acquired via actual measurement corrected on the basis of a radial locus length of a surface of a side plate on which actual measurement was performed; and determining whether or not an image shape and an image position of the image actual measurement data is within a tolerable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsunori Tanaka, Hirotaro Tada, Shonosuke Motomiya
  • Patent number: 10414109
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing mold for molding an unvulcanized tire into a pneumatic tire having a bead part with a bead heel part is provided with a side part ring for molding at least the bead part. A circumferential groove part extending in the tire circumferential direction is formed on a tire molding surface of the side part ring in a heel molding region for molding the bead heel part, the side part ring is divided into a side ring and a bead ring that abuts against the side ring, the division position of the tire molding surface of the side ring and the tire molding surface of the bead ring is located in the groove bottom of the circumferential groove part, and the cross-sectional shape of the circumferential groove part tapers toward the groove bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatomo Oshima
  • Patent number: 10213942
    Abstract: On a foam plastics molding machine, a molding unit, defined by a mold and an interface frame equipped with a number or quantity of plastic molding material and operating fluid inlets, is loaded into a raised window in a fixed frame of the machine by positioning the molding unit in a fixed position on a trolley; positioning the trolley astride a fixed platform; raising the platform so that vertical ribs on the interface frame slidably engage corresponding vertical guides forming part of the machine and on a level with the window; connecting the guides to the ribs; and moving the guides towards the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: BAZZICA ENGINEERING S.R.L.
    Inventor: Carlo Bazzica
  • Patent number: 10144188
    Abstract: Provided is a tire vulcanizing mold which includes: a molding surface 18 for forming a tire surface; a recessed groove 22a indented from the molding surface 18; a plug mounting hole 20 disposed in a portion of the mold where the recessed groove 22a is formed and allowing the inside of the mold and the outside of the mold communicate with each other; and a vent plug 30 fitted in the plug mounting hole 20, wherein the vent plug 30 includes a housing 40 having a cylindrical shape and having a ventilation hole extending from the inside of the recessed groove 22a to the outside of the mold on an inner diameter side, and a stem 50 which is inserted into the inner diameter side of the housing 40 and opens/closes the ventilation hole, wherein a mold interior end surface 42 of the housing 40 is disposed more to a mold exterior than the molding surface 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ando
  • Patent number: 9816539
    Abstract: Motion of rams in fluid cylinders to drive machine parts is equalized by equalization chambers between drive chambers for equalizing outward and inward driven motion of the rams and the attached machine parts, irrespective of portions of loads and forces on the machine parts in relation to the rams. Duplicated machine parts may be closely positioned or widely separated, while providing the same controlled equalized movement irrespective of loading. The movable elements may be tilted to new angular positions before they are translated by the rams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Davor Petricio Yaksic
  • Patent number: 9815249
    Abstract: To provide a method for producing a tire vulcanizing mold capable of obtaining a tire vulcanizing mold having excellent durability and high precision at low cost and to provide such a tire vulcanizing mold, the method includes producing a tire vulcanizing mold by assembling a pattern molding segment, produced by rapid prototyping, on a metal base segment, the method further includes a step of producing the pattern molding segment from a metal based on a shape of a surface layer part including a pattern shaping surface in a basic model of the tire vulcanizing mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sachio Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9463672
    Abstract: The invention provides a tire tread, the tread having at least one circumferentially extending or laterally extending main groove, the maximum radial depth of the at least one main groove defining a non-skid tread depth, the at least one main groove partially forming at least one tread element, the at least one tread element having a sipe therein, wherein the sipe has a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said sipe further including a continuous tubular pathway bordering said first, second and third side. The invention further includes a blade for molding a tire, the blade comprising a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said blade further including a continuous tubular pathway extending along the third side and partially extending along at least one of the first and second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Vincent Benoit Mathonet, Daniel Scheuren, Philippe Joseph Auguste Muller, Frank Pierre Severens, Eric Nowak
  • Patent number: 9352522
    Abstract: A molding element for a tire mold manufactured from a metallic powder fused together layer by layer, having a body, comprising a first surface intended to mold all or part of a tread surface of the tire and a second surface opposite to the first surface and intended to be in contact with another part of the mold, the thickness (E) of the body of the molding element being between 1 and 6 millimetres. The molding element has at least one cavity opening onto the second surface of this body. The molding element also has a plate positioned across the cavity and formed as one with the body of the molding element, being at the same level as the first surface of the body, and having at least one hole allowing air to pass between the first surface of the molding element and the second surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Anthony Gueugneau, Etienne Blanchet
  • Patent number: 9333680
    Abstract: Provided are a tire vulcanizer and a method for transporting or packaging the same whereby, even in cases where the overall height direction dimension of the vulcanizer exceeds size limits for domestic transportation or export packaging, the vulcanizer can easily clear said limits and be transported or packaged. A tire vulcanizer comprising tie rods extending upward from a base plate, said tie rods receiving squeezing force applied to a bolster plate and a top mold when vulcanizing a tire and guiding lifting/lowering of the bolster plate and the top mold when opening and closing the top mold. In such a tire vulcanizer, the tie rods are configured so as to be vertically dividable into at least two or more sections at a position in the length direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunio Matsunaga, Keiichi Tomoto, Mitsuru Morita
  • Patent number: 9180738
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire reduces the columnar resonance noise of the tire while controlling the lowering of wet performances, wherein four circumferential grooves continuously extending in the circumferential direction of the tire are disposed in a treading face and a plurality of lateral grooves each having one end opened to the circumferential groove and terminated in a land portion are formed with respect to two circumferential grooves among the four circumferential grooves, and these lateral grooves and the respective circumferential grooves have such a groove width that both groove walls of the groove do not contact with each other in a ground contact face and one or more lateral groove are always completely included in the ground contact face, and an extending length of a portion of each lateral groove in the ground contact face having a groove width of the lateral groove corresponding to not less than 30% of a groove width of the circumferential groove is made not less than 40% of an extending length of the ci
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keita Yumii
  • Patent number: 9174405
    Abstract: A curing station for curing a tread strip, having a flat curing mold; a gripper which grips a portion of the cured tread strip inside the curing mold; an actuating device which, at the end of the curing process, moves the gripper to gradually extract the cured tread strip from the curing mold; and a guide device which, as the cured tread strip is extracted, is positioned over the curing mold, and has a main roller, about which the extracted part of the cured tread strip winds, and a secondary roller smaller in diameter than, and positioned parallel to and alongside, the main roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Massimo Mangia, Luca Spiri, Renata Erica Morace
  • Patent number: 9108375
    Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing a tire tread comprising a molding surface able to mold a tread surface of the tread of the tire and at least one bar of length L and of width W able to mold a groove in the tread. The bar comprises two lateral faces extending along the length of the bar and projecting from the molding surface and an upper face connecting the said lateral faces. The mold comprises in the bar at least two cavities respectively opening onto the two lateral faces of the bar without opening onto the upper face of this bar. These cavities overlap in the width of the bar. The mold further comprises a first element added into the bar beforehand, this first element separating the two cavities in the length of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERAL DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE
    Inventors: Gael Roty, Bernard Villeneuve, Philippe Souyri
  • Patent number: 9033691
    Abstract: What is provided is a tire vulcanizer, in which the stress force during engagement of the teeth can be reduced and teeth damage can be suppressed, allowing down-sizing, light-weighting, and simplifying at the same time. It includes: an upper mold attaching part (21) to which an upper mold is attached; a lower mold attachment part to which a lower mold pressed on the upper mold is attached; a supporting part (5) that supports the upper mold attaching part (21) and the lower mold attaching part; a fixed side rack (6) having first teeth (6a) arranged in a height direction and provided to the supporting part (5); a movable-side rack (7) having second teeth (7a) engaging with the first teeth and provided to the upper mold attaching part (21); and a tilting restriction part (40) restricting tilt of the movable-side rack (7) derived from the height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Iwamoto, Kunio Matsunaga, Koji Shintani, Yoshikatsu Hineno
  • Publication number: 20150122402
    Abstract: A method of producing a tyre tread with lugs; the tread having a tread base, and a number of lugs projecting upwards from the tread base; and the method including the steps of: preparing a green-rubber blank tread thinner at the sides and thicker at the centre to define a raised centre portion; applying green-rubber blocks to the areas of the blank tread where the lugs are to be formed, which blocks rest centrally against the raised centre portion; and curing the blank tread, together with the blocks, in a curing mold negatively reproducing the pattern of the tread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Roberto Mattocci
  • Publication number: 20150125241
    Abstract: In the method for manufacturing tires: a member is moved, transporting at least one green tire into a predetermined loading zone (17) of a curing station; at least one cured tire is transferred from the station to the member and the or each green tire is transferred from the member to the station, and the member is moved, transporting the or each cured tire out of the zone. The member remains in the zone between the two transporting steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE, S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Julien Moynet, JR., Jean-Pierre Guilbaud, Eric Lebedel, Aurelien Prevost
  • Publication number: 20150115497
    Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for preparing a tread for application to a tire carcass by abrading a bottom side of the tread. In particular, the tread has a thickness extending depthwise between a top side and a bottom side of the tread. The tread thickness extends in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction between opposing sides of the tread. The tread further includes a void extending within the tread thickness and an extension of the tread extending across a width of the void and as a portion protruding outwardly from the tread bottom side by a distance. Such methods include stretching the tread such that the width of the tread void increases and the distance by which the extension protrudes from the bottom side decreases. Such methods further include abrading the bottom side of the tread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: E. Bruce Colby, Dimitri G. Tsihlas, Cesar E. Zarak, Metodi L. Ikonomov
  • Patent number: 9016336
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of springs. Each spring includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire. The toroidal structure is at least partially coated with an elastomer. One end portion of at least one spring is wrapped around a first bead structure adjacent a rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: James Alfred Benzing, II, Wesley Glen Sigler
  • Publication number: 20150102520
    Abstract: A mould for vulcanizing a blank tire has an overall shape that is annular about an axis of revolution and includes a configuration for channelling a heat-transfer liquid in a substantially circular path about the axis. The channelling configuration includes an annular wall around the axis, separating at least two chambers in which the heat-transfer liquid circulates. Furthermore, a downstream end (respectively an upstream end) of one of the chambers has substantially the same angular position with respect to the substantially circular path as the downstream (respectively upstream) end of the other of the chambers. The mould is additionally configured for circulating the liquid in opposite directions in the two chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Pascal GOUMAULT
  • Publication number: 20150104533
    Abstract: A molding element of a mold for molding and vulcanizing a tire tread, this tread comprising a tread surface intended to come into contact with the ground when the tire is running. The molding element comprises a molding surface intended to mold part of the tire tread surface and a blade of length L and of height H intended to mold a sipe or a groove in the tread. This blade comprises a rounded end extending along the length of the blade in a direction of extension X. The molding element further comprises two cutting means positioned on either side of the blade at a certain distance from this blade. Each cutting means comprises a cutting edge extending in the direction of extension, this cutting edge making an acute angle in a cutting plane perpendicular to this direction of extension, the height of this cutting edge being greater than or equal to the height of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Marc Duvernier, Vincent Abad, Frédéric Perrin
  • Publication number: 20150097314
    Abstract: A tire curing mold comprises a plurality of vent holes provided on a side forming surface coming into contact with a side wall portion of a tire. The side forming portion is provided with a recess portion which is recessed toward an outer side in a tire width direction from a profile of the side forming surface. A diameter of a vent hole which is open within the recess portion is set to be larger than a diameter of a vent hole which is open on the profile of the side forming surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koya Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20150086663
    Abstract: The vulcanizing press for curing green tire blanks having: a component, at least one inductor comprising an armature having two free ends exhibiting soles which are able to close an electromagnetic loop through the component, and for each sole, at least one connecting element connecting the sole to the component and forming between the two of them at least one space, the connecting element or elements associated with the sole occupying in total less than half of a length of the sole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Ferrand, Jean-Claude Aperce, Alain Rochette, Didier Valentin
  • Publication number: 20150086664
    Abstract: A pore-free tire segmented mold pattern block (100) and a segmented mold are provided. The pore-free tire segmented mold pattern block (100) is used for forming a tire segmented mold. The pattern block (100) comprises pattern pieces (1) that are stacked one on top the other. The pattern block (100) has an exhaust channel (20) communicated with an inner circumference surface (11) of each pattern piece (1) and an end surface (12) of the pattern block. The exhaust channel (20) comprises axial exhaust holes (27) that are axially disposed on the pattern block (100), communicate each pattern piece (1), and are communicated with the end surface (12) of the pattern block. Also disclosed is a cleaning method for the pore-free tire segmented mold pattern block (100) and the segmented mold. When the mold is cleaned, the exhaust channel (20) is used as a cleaning channel, and the axial exhaust holes (27) of the exhaust channel are used as an entrance for a cleaning medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: HIMILE MECHANICAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (SHANDONG) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wei Zhang, Ren Zhang
  • Patent number: 8986592
    Abstract: A method of automatically de-molding a tread from a mold is provided utilizing an automatic de-molding apparatus. The automatic de-molding device utilizes at least one anchor member that is inserted into the mold and automatically secures the tread to the de-molding apparatus wherein the mold is mechanically removed from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Juan-Pablo Gallego, Metodi L. Ikonomov, Carl R. Driver
  • Publication number: 20150075693
    Abstract: A method of mounting an object on a tire includes providing a tire having a sidewall, wherein the sidewall includes a mounting portion configured to receive an object. The method further includes mounting the object on the mounting portion of the sidewall, such that the object is visible without extending outwardly beyond the mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Hans R. Dorfi, Kevin Scheifele, Terence Eugene Wei, Paul Wilson, Andrew Miklic
  • Publication number: 20150072034
    Abstract: A curing station for curing a tread strip, having a flat curing mold; a gripper which grips a portion of the cured tread strip inside the curing mold; an actuating device which, at the end of the curing process, moves the gripper to gradually extract the cured tread strip from the curing mold; and a guide device which, as the cured tread strip is extracted, is positioned over the curing mold, and has a main roller, about which the extracted part of the cured tread strip winds, and a secondary roller smaller in diameter than, and positioned parallel to and alongside, the main roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Massimo Mangia, Luca Spiri, Renata Erica Morace
  • Publication number: 20150053320
    Abstract: The invention provides a tire tread, the tread having at least one circumferentially extending or laterally extending main groove, the maximum radial depth of the at least one main groove defining a non-skid tread depth, the at least one main groove partially forming at least one tread element, the at least one tread element having a sipe therein, wherein the sipe has a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said sipe further including a continuous tubular pathway bordering said first, second and third side. The invention further includes a blade for molding a tire, the blade comprising a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said blade further including a continuous tubular pathway extending along the third side and partially extending along at least one of the first and second side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Vincent Benoit Mathonet, Daniel Scheuren, Philippe Joseph Auguste Muller, Frank Pierre Severens, Eric Nowak
  • Patent number: 8961889
    Abstract: A devulcanization apparatus for devulcanizing a plurality of cross-linked elastomer particles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor functioning as a high voltage electrode and a second conveyor functioning as a ground electrode. A generator is operable to apply an alternating electric field between the first and second conveyors. A devulcanization region is provided between the first and second conveyors in which the cross-linked elastomer particles are placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Novation IQ LLC
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Publication number: 20150027609
    Abstract: Provided are: a tire mold including a bead portion molding surface for molding the bead portion of the tire, the bead portion molding surface having a ridge molding part including a recessed groove extending in the mold radial direction, the ridge molding part being formed in a flange contact portion molding region for molding a rim-flange contact portion of the tire; and a pneumatic tire, in which a bead filler has the tire radial direction outer end positioned more inward in the tire radial direction relative to the rim line position, and a ridge forming portion including a ridge extending in the tire radial direction is formed on the outer surface of the bead portion, the ridge forming portion being positioned in the rim flange contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Uchida
  • Publication number: 20150004269
    Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing a tire tread comprising a molding surface able to mold a tread surface of the tread of the tire and at least one bar of length L and of width W able to mold a groove in the tread. The bar comprises two lateral faces extending along the length of the bar and projecting from the molding surface and an upper face connecting the said lateral faces. The mold comprises in the bar at least two cavities respectively opening onto the two lateral faces of the bar without opening onto the upper face of this bar. These cavities overlap in the width of the bar. The mold further comprises a first element added into the bar beforehand, this first element separating the two cavities in the length of the bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Gael Roty, Bernard Villeneuve, Phillippe Souyri
  • Publication number: 20140370137
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for manufacturing a tire vulcanization mold may include: providing a projection that projects in the thickness direction midway in the vertical direction of the blade; providing a communicating portion that extends from below the projection to above the projection and that penetrates the blade in the thickness direction; forming the exhaust groove on the tire molding surface so the initial thickness of the exhaust groove is thinner than the thickness of the projection; inserting and positioning the bottom end of the blade in the exhaust groove; forming a small gap between an upper side portion of the projection of the embedded blade and the exhaust groove by embedding the positioned blade by press fitting in the depth direction into the exhaust groove while expanding the exhaust groove in the thickness direction by the projection; and linking the small gap and the exhaust hole through the communicating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Noboru Takada
  • Publication number: 20140367010
    Abstract: A tire of the present invention has surface properties at which the kurtosis of the assessed profile Rku is 2 or less on at least a part of the tread surface of the tread portion. In addition, a tire forming mold of the present invention has a kurtosis of the assessed profile Rku of 2 or less on at least a part of the tread-surface molding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Kawakita
  • Publication number: 20140360638
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire with improved on-ice performance and on-snow performance and a tire forming mold used for manufacturing (forming) the tire. The present invention provides a tire that has a large number of protrusions formed on at least a part of a tread surface and partitioned by recesses extending in a mesh pattern, in which each recess has a recess width of 50 ?m or less. A tire forming mold that has a tread-surface molding surface for molding the tread surface of the tire, with a large number of recesses partitioned by protrusions extending in a mesh pattern formed on at least a part of the tread-surface molding surface, in which each protrusion has a protrusion width of 50 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryoichi Watabe
  • Publication number: 20140352860
    Abstract: The invention provides a tire, which includes a tread surface formed at least partly with a plurality of protrusions having a prescribed cross-section shape in the tire width direction. The invention also provides a mold for forming the tire, which includes a tread forming surface formed at least partly with a plurality of depressions having a prescribed cross-section shape in the tire width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakazu Amano
  • Publication number: 20140352862
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire that has a maximum profile peak height Rp in a predetermined range on at least a part of the tread surface. In addition, a tire forming mold of the present invention has a maximum profile peak height Rp in a predetermined range on at least a part of the tread-surface molding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryoichi Watabe
  • Publication number: 20140345765
    Abstract: A tire of the present invention has a roughness motif maximum length A in a predetermined range on at least a part of the tread surface. In addition, a tire forming mold of the present invention has a roughness motif maximum length A in a predetermined range on at least a part of the tread-surface molding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakazu Amano
  • Publication number: 20140348968
    Abstract: A molding element for molding and vulcanizing a tire tread. This tread comprises a tread surface intended to come into contact with the ground when this tire is running. This molding element comprises a molding surface intended to mold part of the tire tread surface and a blade of length L and of height Hc intended to mold a sipe or a groove in the tread, the blade comprising a rounded end extending along the length of the blade in a direction of extension X. The molding element comprises two cutting means positioned on either side of the blade at a certain distance from this blade. Each cutting means comprises, at one end, an alternation of peaks and troughs extending in this direction of extension X. The distance of these peaks in relation to the molding surface is greater than or equal to the height Hc of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Duvernier, Vincent Abad, Frédéric Perrin, Emmanuel Custodero