Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) and a method for retreading a tyre (16) having a worn surface (12). The worn surface (12) is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The apparatus (10) includes a heater (34) and a 3D printer (18). The heater (34) is adapted to heat up the worn surface (12) to a desired temperature. The 3D printer (18) is adapted to lay one or more layers of the thermoplastic elastomer onto the heated worn surface (12). The or each layer of thermoplastic elastomer is capable of adhering to the heated worn surface (12) or previously laid layer without requiring an adhesive medium or agent.

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 process and method for retreading a heavy duty tire with a polyurethane tread where, after a tire carcass is inspected, cleaned and the worn tire tread is removed, the tire carcass receives a tube fitted therein and is installed in a mold cavity, between top and bottom mold rings. The mold rings each include spaced segments that inter-digitate and will form equal spaced tread voids in a finished recapped tire. The bottom mold ring inner edge top includes a continuous sealing lug, and the top ring is open to pass a flow of polyurethane materials, that is received off of a lower edge of a cone shaped spreader positioned onto the tire carcass top side wall and slides, as a sheet, into the mold, filling the mold cavity from bottom to top, forcing air from the mold ahead of the fill and forming the recapped tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for curing retread tires, which includes detecting and controlling a leak in a tire-membrane assembly during such curing operations. The steps of the method include placing a plurality of tire-membrane assemblies within a tire curing chamber; connecting a membrane fluid passage to each curing membrane of each tire-membrane assembly where each passage extends in fluid communication between one of the curing membranes and a pressure source and/or a vacuum source, each membrane fluid passage including a transducer for measuring pressure within the passage and a flow restrictor, in particular embodiments; initiating a curing process; receiving a one or more signal responses from each transducer generated as a function of the fluid pressure within the membrane fluid passages; and determining through a controller whether the signal responses received in the prior step indicate an undesired change in pressure in each curing membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of retreading a tire and a retread tire (10) made by this method. The method comprises the steps of providing a tread layer (40) having a tread side (44) and a sole side (46) wherein the surface of the sole side (46) includes a plurality of tread elements (48) such as sipes and/or grooves or other void. Each tread element (48) has a first edge (64) and a second edge (66) at the surface of the sole side (46) of the tread layer (40). At least one of the first edge (64) and second edge (66) is formed to have a break edge (84) such as a rounded edge or a chamfered edge of 0.4 mm or more. The break edge (84) removes the sharp corner and provides increased endurance for the retreaded tire (10).

Abstract: Device for manufacturing the tread of a tire, said tread comprising a plurality of relief tread elements of height h whose radially outer surface is designed to be in contact with the ground when the tire is rolling on the road surface, comprising a rotary support suitable for supporting a base strip (MB) forming a receiving surface (S), an extrusion die (1) comprising a plurality of extrusion nozzles whose outlet channels are oriented radially approximately perpendicular to the receiving surface (S), at least two compound supply means, each feeding into one or more separate extrusion nozzles, and means for positioning and moving the extrusion die relative to the receiving surface (S).

Abstract: An improved system for changing sipe blade configurations on equipment for the manufacture of tires is provided. This system allows the replacement of damaged sipe blades, the replacement of sipe blades of one configuration with those of another configuration, and the elimination of a sipe blade altogether. Certain embodiments allow sipe blades to be changed by providing a sipe blade that is held by a blade holder with a slit in its heel that allows a compact assembly of the sipe blade and blade holder that is easy to manufacture. Other embodiments allow sipe blades that have an undercut in the direction of draw in their midportion and side portions without undercuts to be easily made and installed. Finally, other embodiments allow for the effective replacement and fabrication of sipe blades that have undercuts in the direction of draw that blend into other projections found on a curing member.

Abstract: A computer based detecting system that detects a defective tire assembly during the curing process is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of temperature sensors connected to a processor of the computer system and further connected to each hose that is connected between a tire assembly inside an autoclave, and an external manifold of the autoclave. The processor receives data input from each of the temperature sensors and decodes the data to determine the current temperature of each sensor and simultaneously calculates the average temperature of all the temperature sensors connected. The processor compares the temperature reading of each station with the average temperature and notifies should the difference between the temperature average and temperature sensor reading equal or is greater than a selected temperature deviation.

Abstract: A composite solid tire, including a worn solid rubber tire having a remaining rubber layer, and a thermo-setting polyurethane elastomer layer which is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the rubber layer.

Abstract: Vulcanization process of rubber tires with application of premolded profile in autoclave with the use of microwaves, where rubber tires are vulcanized through microwaves heating, resulting in significant reduction of the vulcanization time when compared to the processes of conventional vulcanization, thus allowing a great productivity, due to the concentrated and homogeneous incidence of microwaves over the artifact, through its accommodation in rotating cradles inside an autoclave, also eliminating steps of chemical transformation of rubber, only needing the physical transformation to materialize the vulcanization process.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and a process to retread a tire is provided. The retreaded tire has a carcass and a crown region, wherein the crown region comprises a belt reinforcement structure located between the carcass and a tread. The retreaded tire further comprises a cementless cushion layer located radially outward of said belt reinforcement structure, and one or more reinforcement plies located radially outward of the cementless cushion layer. The one or more reinforcement plies is formed from a substantially continuous strip of reinforced elastomer which is wound from one side of the crown to the other side in a substantially continuous manner. The reinforcement ply may be formed from spirally winding the strip about the carcass, or one or more reinforcement plies may be formed from winding the strip about the carcass in a zigzag pattern.

Abstract: The tire repair tools and method preferably includes a rasp tool, an insertion tool and a power tool. The rasp tool preferably includes a modified drill bit and a quick release end. The quick release end is preferably inserted into a quick chuck. The insertion tool preferably includes a plug retention end, a shank and the quick release end. A plug slot is disposed in the plug retention end. A sealing plug is inserted into the plug slot, similar to a prior art tire repair tool. In a second embodiment, the quick release ends are replaced with a socket end. In a third embodiment, the quick release ends are replaced with a T-handle. The rasp tool cleans out a tire hole and the insertion tool is used to inserted the sealing plug with a drill, ratchet or T-handle.

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: Provided is a process for producing a modified polymer, characterized by carrying out primary modification in which a hydrocarbyloxysilane compound is reacted with the active site of a polymer having an active site of an organic metal type in a molecule and then carrying out secondary modification in which the hydrocarbyloxysilane compound is further reacted therewith. This makes it possible to provide a modified polymer which enhances interactions with silica and carbon black when used for both of silica-blended and carbon black-blended rubber compositions and which elevates the fracture characteristic, the abrasion resistance and the low heat buildup property at the same time and can exhibit a good workability.

Abstract: Methods and devices for vulcanizing or cross-linking under pressure and increased temperature shaped bodies that consist especially of rubber mixtures. The shaped body is first dipped into a bed of fine-grained pourable or free-flowing bulk material with the sections to be vulcanized and the bulk material is brought into evenly tight contact with the surfaces of the shaped body while the bulk material is pressurized and brought to the elevated temperature at least in the region adjoining the section of the shaped body to be vulcanized.

Abstract: A retreading method wherein a base composition and a cap composition are applied to a carcass (10) as two ribbons (14) and (16) extruded from separate extruders (18) and (20). The ribbons (14) and (16) can be layered and applied to a ready-to-retread carcass (10) simultaneously or, alternatively, the base ribbon (14) can be applied to the ready-to-retread carcass (10) first and the cap ribbon (16) applied thereafter. The carcass (10), with ribbons (14/16) applied thereto, is then inserted into an enclosed heated mold (22) and cured to complete the retread.

Abstract: A method of treating a pneumatic tire, which comprises introducing a repair agent for a punctured tire comprising a latex into the inside of a punctured tire with a rim, followed by sealing, and then introducing a polymer coagulating agent into the inside of the punctured tire to coagulate the repair agent.

Abstract: A rubber composition which is free of precursor of at least one carcinogenic nitrosamine, is capable of vulcanization at a temperature of between 95° C. and 140° C., and has a vulcanization system which includes: a) sulfur; b) an accelerator compound; c) an ultra-accelerator compound; d) a vulcanization amine activator. A process for vulcanizing this composition in the manufacture of a new tire or in the repair and/or recapping of a worn tire.

Abstract: An improved means for retreading a solid tire is disclosed. The retreading means comprises wrapping uncured rubber around the periphery of the tire, clamping the tire body and uncured rubber assembly in a C mold comprising a tread ring and a sidewall ring and curing the tire.

Abstract: A tire mold 2 for curing new or retreaded tires 20 has an upper platen 4, a lower platen 6, and a central rim 30 with a frangible member 50 designed to open when a predetermined pressure P1 in excess of the normal curing pressure Pc is observed. The frangible member 50 preferably includes a rupture disk 60 that breaks upon exposure to the pressure P1.

Abstract: Rescuing vast junk of Used Automobile Tires from Environment without burning the tires, as the burning results in too many poisonous gases. The use of Old Used Automobile Tires into Shoe Soles would highly contribute towards Saving the Environment.

Abstract: A repair device can repair a puncture in a normally pressurized vehicle tire. The device has a dispenser with dual barrels containing a pair of separate constituents adapted to form a cement that can adhere to the vehicle tire. A static mixer can be mounted on the dispenser for receiving and mixing the pair of constituents to form the cement. An injection tube mounted on the static mixer is sized to fit into the puncture. A pair of piston heads slidably fitted in the dual barrels can push the pair of constituents through the static mixer to form the cement for injection from outside the tire, through the injection tube, and into the puncture to reach inside the tire. After removing the injection tube, the cement that was injected is allowed to set at least partially before using the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device used for vulcanising or cross-linking under pressure and increased temperature shaped bodies that consist especially of rubber mixtures. According to the invention the shaped body is first dipped into a bed of fine-grained pourable or free-flowing bulk material with the sections to be vulcanised and the bulk material is brought into evenly tight contact with the surfaces of the shaped body while the bulk material is pressurised and brought to the elevated temperature at least in the region adjoining the section of the shaped body to be vulcanised.

Abstract: A rubber composition which is free of precursor of at least one carcinogenic nitrosamine, is capable of vulcanization at a temperature of between 95° C. and 140° C.

Abstract: A method for utilizing discarded tires is disclosed which creates strong, durable, posts, beams, mats, blocks or other structures. Used tires are cut and flattened and the sidewalls are removed. The tread sections of the tires are cleaned. Vulcanizing compound is then applied to adjacent inner surfaces of the tread sections to form a flat essential building element. These building elements may be vulcanized together in alternating horizontal and perpendicular layers to form flat blocks, mats, noise or safety barriers, or other structures. The essential building elements are flat and form structures which have flat upper and lower surfaces and a rectangular cross-section. Beams may be formed by securing a number of the essential building elements together to form structures that are approximately 8 feet high and have a rectangular cross-section.