Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

Andrew V Haidet

Douglas B Costlow

Joshua P Abell

Michael R Beaulieu

Robert W Asper

Adam Karl Nesbitt

Sharon E Reinhardt

Benjamin E Rimai

Brandon P Nelson

Timothy M Lusk

Bradley S Plotner

Kung-Ching Liao

Nicholas J Harp

Christopher W Burton

A non-pneumatic and method of making a non-pneumatic tire. The non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. A support structure extends between the lower ring and the upper ring. The support structure includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face, a first axial edge and a second axial edge. The first and second axial edges space the first face from the second face. At least one of the first edge and the second edge may have a geometry that provides the support structure with a nonrectangular cross section. At least one of the first face and the second face may have a surface roughness of less than 25 microns. The support structure may be free from orthogonal axial edges.

Non-pneumatic tire having support structure with stress-concentration reduction features

The present disclosure is directed to actinic radiation curable polymeric mixtures, cured polymeric mixtures, tires and tire components made from the foregoing, and related processes.

Actinic radiation curable polymeric mixtures, cured polymeric mixtures and related processes

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of loops extending between the inner ring and the outer ring. The plurality of loops including at least a first loop and a second loop, wherein the first loop and the second loop are each in direct contact with both the inner ring and the outer ring. The first loop has a single reinforcement layer disposed therein, and includes a first extent that extends between the inner ring and the outer ring and a second extent that extends between the inner ring and the outer ring. The second loop has a single reinforcement layer disposed therein, and includes a third extent that extends between the inner ring and the outer ring and a fourth extent that extends between the inner ring and the outer ring. The second extent is in direct contact with the third extent.

Non-pneumatic tire having looped support structure and method of making same

Mold assemblies for curing non-pneumatic tires include first and second mold sections that are axially displaceable relative to one another. A primary conductive heat source is in thermal communication with the mold sections. One radiative heat source is supported on the first mold section and another radiative heat source is supported on the second mold section. A non-pneumatic tire is positioned with the mold assembly between the radiative heat sources. Tire curing systems including such mold assemblies and methods of manufacturing nonpneumatic tires are also included.

Curing mold assemblies for non-pneumatic tires as well as methods of manufacture

The present disclosure is directed to additive manufacturing cartridges having an oxygen impermeable layer and to processes for producing cured polymeric products by additive manufacturing wherein the oxygen content during additive manufacturing is limited such as by use of the cartridge and/or by use of an inert gas.

Additive manufacturing cartridges and processes for producing cured polymeric products by additive manufacturing

A nonpneumatic tire assembly includes an outer hoop, a plurality of loops extending inward from the outer hoop, and a hub having a plurality of members. Each of the plurality of members is connected to one of the plurality of loops.

Tire with spoke loops

A method of making a tire includes forming a first sheet of material having a circular shape. The first sheet of material includes an upper ring and a lower ring. The first sheet of material further includes a plurality of spoke portions extending from the upper ring to the lower ring. A reinforcement is placed on the first of polymeric material, which includes placing the reinforcement on at least a portion of the upper ring. A second sheet of material having a circular shape is formed. The second sheet of material is placed on the first sheet of material such that the reinforcement is sandwiched between the first and second sheets of material. The method further includes placing additional sheets of material and additional reinforcements on the second sheet of material until a tire is built.

Composite layer tire

A tire includes a central region configured to be mounted to a wheel and a crown region including a circumferential tread and a shear element disposed below the circumferential tread. The shear element includes an upper reinforcement layer, a lower reinforcement layer, and an elastic region disposed between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer. A radial distance between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer varies along an axial width of the tire. The tire also includes an intermediate region extending from the central region to the crown region.

Tire with variable shear element

A green tire includes a plurality of sheets of green rubber having a substantially circular shape, with each sheet having a tread region disposed along a circumference. A plurality of objects are sandwiched between adjacent sheets of green rubber in the tread region. Each object is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, polyester, nylon, carbon fiber, aramid, fiber glass, cotton, hemp, polyurethane and other plastic, other synthetic or natural fibers and other metal materials.

Tire with shaped tread

Disclosed herein are processes for production of a cured polymeric product which processes include using rubber particles to form a rubber layer, applying liquid binder to form a bound layer from the rubber layer, and curing, whereby repetition of steps allows for formation of additional layers and ultimately production of the cured polymeric product.

Processes for producing cured polymeric products by additive manufacturing

A method of making a tire includes placing substantially circular sheets of polymeric material on top of each other until a tire is built to a predetermined width. A predetermined tread shape is formed along a circumference of the substantially circular sheets of polymeric material.

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Silver Lake, OH, United States of America

Andrew V Haidet