Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Other

Brian Douglas Wilson

Robert Gaut

Eric Rivers

James Milo Endicott

Mark Creasap

Clayton Bohn, Jr

David Alan Goodenough

Karl Mohrmann

Ryan Michael Gaylo

Paul Winston

Glenn Andrew Schimidke

Kirkland W Vogt

Timothy Brett Rhyne

Steven M Cron

Patrick A Petri

David C Lung

Adib Tony Chebli

Michael Edward Dotson

Jim Endicott

Scott Powell Anderson

Clay Bohn

Prakash Arunachalam

Leslie Wilkins

Glenn Andrew Schimdke

Peer Ibrahim Ali Mohamed Kasim

Murugan Muthupandian

Imthiaz Ameerdheen

Chad Lane

Clayton Bohn

Glenn Andrew Schmidke

A ratcheting mechanism composed of a housing that encloses a plurality of pins acting as pawls, engaging with a rack having teeth, wherein each of the pins acts independently, allowing for fine adjustments of the rack. An actuator enables seamless engagement and disengagement of the pins in relation to the rack. A sensor may be used to determine the location of at least one pin within the housing as it is related to the rack.

High precision ratcheting mechanism

A non-pneumatic tire is provided that has a hub with a central axis. A supporting structure is located outward from the hub in a radial direction, and a shear band is located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction. Tread is located outward from the shear band in the radial direction. A static discharge element extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure. The first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction. The static discharge element is electrically conductive to conduct electricity through the supporting structure.

Static discharge element for non-pneumatic tire

An apparatus for assembling a non-pneumatic tire is provided that includes a plurality of elements that move relative to a base. The elements have a central axis that extends in a longitudinal direction, and the elements are disposed in a circumferential direction around the central axis. The apparatus also includes a radial movement member that moves in a radial direction, a hub, a shear band, and a plurality of spokes that are attached to the hub. The radial movement member moves outward in the radial direction and urges the elements to move relative to the base such that the elements urge the spokes to move outward in the radial direction. Adhesive engages the spokes and the shear band at an attachment location of the spokes and the shear band.

Fixture for spoke to shear band attachment for a non-pneumatic tire

An apparatus for assembling a non-pneumatic tire that includes a base and a plurality of elements that move relative to the base. The plurality of elements have a central axis, and the elements are disposed in a circumferential direction around the central axis and move in a radial direction towards and away from the central axis. A radial movement member, hub, and a plurality of spokes are also present. Each one of the spokes is disposed between adjacent ones of the elements. The elements and the spokes are moved inwards in the radial direction by the radial movement member towards the central axis so that the spokes are moved in the radial direction towards the hub. Adhesive engages the spokes and the hub at an attachment location of the spokes and the hub.

Fixture for spoke to hub attachment for a non-pneumatic tire

A method for assembling an uncured spoke is provided. The method includes the assembly of a panel (), a first foot (), and a second foot () of the uncured spoke. The first foot () and the second foot () are complexed onto the panel (), and the panel extends continuously from the first foot to the second foot.

Method to assemble uncured spoke of non-pneumatic tire

A method of manufacturing a spoke () for a non-pneumatic tire is provided that involves providing a first form () and a second form (), where first and second components () of the spoke are placed on the first form (). A third component () of the spoke is placed on the second form (). The first and second components are transferred to the second form (). The first component, the second component, and the third component are transferred from the second form to a mold (). Further, the first component, the second component, and the third component have heat and pressure applied thereto for curing.

Method of manufacturing a spoke for a non-pneumatic tire

A method and apparatus for molding non-pneumatic wheels is provided. The exemplary method and apparatus allow for the use of the same molding system to manufacture wheels with different hub constructions. Different configurations of removable mold elements are utilized within the same molding system to provide wheels with different hub constructions.

Method and apparatus for molding non-pneumatic wheels

A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire is provided that includes the steps of providing an outer shear band ring () that has an inner diameter. An intermediate section () is provided that has a supporting structure. An outer diameter () of the intermediate section () in the uncompressed state is greater than the inner diameter () of the outer shear band ring (). The intermediate section is compressed from the uncompressed state to a compressed state, and is inserted inside of the outer shear band ring (). Compression of the intermediate section is released when the intermediate section is inside of the outer shear band ring, and the intermediate section () moves from the compressed state to a state of interference fit with the outer shear band ring ().

Method of forming non-pneumatic tire including pressure application between an intermediate section and an outer shear band ring

A method of forming a non-pneumatic tire is provided that includes the steps of providing an outer shear band ring () and an intermediate section () that has a supporting structure (). The intermediate section () is collapsed from an uncollapsed state to a collapsed state. The intermediate section in the collapsed state is inserted inside of the outer shear band ring such that the outer shear band ring is located outward from the intermediate section in a radial direction of the tire. Compression of the intermediate section () is released when the intermediate section () is inside of the outer shear band ring () so that the intermediate section returns to the uncollapsed state from the collapsed state. In one embodiment, the compressing step of the intermediate section () is performed by a compression device () that has a plurality of gripping members.

Method of forming non-pneumatic tire using support structure deformation

The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for curing a polymeric form. The method includes arranging an uncured polymeric form within a curing chamber () formed by a base member () and a constraining member (). A thermal expansion member () is additionally positioned within the curing chamber () with the uncured polymeric form () such that the thermal expansion member and the uncured polymeric form are positioned between the base member () and the constraining member (). The thermal expansion member () is heated to expand in size into an expanded state. In the expanded state the thermal expansion member () applies pressure to the uncured polymeric form () within the curing chamber. The expansion of the thermal expansion member () is maintained to maintain the application of pressure to the uncured polymeric form while the uncured polymeric form is being cured to form a cured polymeric form.

Method of curing a polymeric form and curing device for polymeric materials using thermal expansion

Retaining device for holding a gun in a holster

An apparatus for assembling a non-pneumatic tire is provided that includes a plurality of spokes attached to a hub, a frame, and a plurality of mechanical elements disposed between and engaging successive spokes. The spokes extend to locations radially inward and radially outward of the locations of engagement with the mechanical elements. A radial movement member moves the mechanical elements in a radial direction. The spokes are compressed by the mechanical elements, and retaining elements engage the mechanical elements to hold them and the spokes in this position. Release by the retaining elements and outward radial movement of the mechanical elements urge the spokes toward a shear band that is outward in the radial direction. Adhesive located between the spokes and the shear band is pressed there between through this urging to result in the spokes being attached to the shear band in a state of pre-compression.

Fixture for spoke to shear band attachment for a non-pneumatic tire with spoke pre-compression

Particular embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for compensating for shrinkage of a polymeric material in a mold during curing operations. Embodiments of the method include providing a mold comprising a molding cavity defining an interior mold volume separated from an exterior environment and introducing a volume of polymeric material into the molding cavity. Such methods further include impeding the development of a void in the volume of polymeric material by, either: isolating the volume of polymeric material within the molding cavity from the exterior environment, or reducing the interior mold volume of the molding cavity to at least substantially consume a volume of polymeric material shrinkage. Such methods further include curing the polymeric material to form a molded polymeric form.

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Greer, SC, United States of America

Brian Douglas Wilson