Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Cesar Enrique Zarak

E Bruce Colby

Metodi L Ikonomov

Metodi Lubenov Ikonomov

Dimitri Tsihlas

Michael Widmyer

Adib Tony Chebli

Nathan Joel Panning

David Alan Weston

Michael Collins Chandler

Lee A Montgomery

Charles Andrew McPillan

Bruce E Colby

Dimitri G Tsihlas

Tire tread

A tread for bonding to a tire carcass to form a retreaded tire having a length, a width, a top side and a bottom side. The tread also includes a central portion and a pair of wing portions extending laterally from the central portions. The top sides of each wing portion include one or more discontinuities having a longitudinal component and configured to resist deflection when subjected to a force from the bottom side and to deflect downwardly when subjected to a force from the top side. In particular embodiments, the one or more discontinuities are arranged within each wing portion are arranged within a thickened portion of each wing portion.

Method of retreading a tire

The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire tread, the tire tread having a bottom side and a top side configured for engaging a ground surface, a thickness extending between the top side and the bottom side, and a pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the tread, the bottom side having one or more submerged voids extending from the bottom side into the tread thickness to form a tread pattern, the submerged voids having a depth less than the thickness and the top side being free of any exposed voids comprising a groove. Further steps include applying the tire tread to a tire carcass, curing the tire tread to the tire carcass, and forming one or more voids into the tread thickness the top side of the tread after the step of bonding.

Methods for forming a retreaded tire

The invention includes methods of forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire carcass configured to receive the tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-cured tire tread including a tread body and a detachable connector. The connector is arranged within a thickness of the tread between a top void portion and a bottom void portion and extending across a width of the top void portion and of the bottom void portion. The detachable connector is configured to separate from the tread upon application of a separation force. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass, bonding the tire tread to the tire carcass, and removing the detachable connector from the top void portion after the step of bonding.

Removable connector for pre-cured tread and methods for forming a retreaded tire

A method for increasing effective skid depth on a retreaded tire is provided along with a retreaded tire assembly. A kit for increasing effective skid depth of a retreaded tire is also provided.

Use of vacuum to increase effective skid depth of pre-cured tread

The present invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire, which includes the steps of providing an annular tire carcass and providing a plurality of tread components each comprising an independent structure, which are then assembled to form an assembled tire tread. The tread is subsequently bonded to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire, the tire tread being arranged along an outer circumference of the annular tire carcass with a bonding layer between the tire tread and the tire carcass, the bonding layer comprising an uncured elastomeric material being cured during the step of bonding. The tire tread is assembled such that the plurality of tread components are concurrently arranged around the outer circumference of the tire carcass to form a tire tread.

Methods of tire retreading with abutting tread components

Particular embodiments include a retreaded tire and a method for retreading a tire. A method may include providing a tire tread having a thickness and a width with grooves extending into the thickness from a tread top side, and providing a tire carcass having an annular tread-receiving side. The method may include applying the tread to the tire carcass with a layer of bonding material arranged between the tread and the tire carcass, and evacuating a gas from between the tire carcass and the tread bottom side through an aperture extending through the tread thickness, the aperture being formed by piercing the tread thickness with a suctioning member arranged in operable communication with a vacuum source, and bonding the tread to the tire carcass. In particular embodiments, portions of the bottom side of the tread beneath the grooves are not bonded to the tire carcass or the bonding layer.

Treads and methods for making a retreaded tire

The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for.

Transverse grooves providing venting in treads for retreaded tires

The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for spreading beads in a tire. Particular embodiments of such methods include securing at least a portion of a first bead of the tire and positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire, the tire spreader having a bead engaging portion for engaging a portion of a second bead generally opposite the secured portion of the first bead. Such methods may further include automatically translating the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader generally in an axial direction of the tire to displace the engaged portion of the second bead a desired distance to increase the distance between the opposing beads to form a widened interior cavity opening.

Tire spreader for tire repair

Methods and apparatus for applying a repair patch to a damaged portion of a tire, the steps of the method including removably positioning the patch in a repair position overlapping the damaged portion, pulling a tab to remove a protective sheet to uncover at least a portion of the bonding surface while the patch is in contact with the tire, and pressing the uncovered bonding surface into contact with the tire.

Tire repair patch

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for controlling the abrasion of a tire surface. Particular embodiments provide an abrading tool for abrading a surface of a tire, the tool comprising means for rotating an abrading wheel, an abrading wheel rotatably attached to the means for rotating, and a depth guide secured to the means for rotating, wherein the depth guide includes a pair of freely rotatable, spaced apart guide wheels. Further embodiments include a depth guide configured for use with an abrading tool which includes a abrading wheel and a means for rotating the abrading wheel, the depth guide comprising a mounting member securable to the means for rotating and a pair of freely rotatable, spaced apart guide wheels rotatably attached to the mounting member. Particular embodiments further include a method for preparing a portion of a tire for repair.

Profiled plane abrading tool for tire repairs

A method for preparing a portion of a tire for repair includes the steps of providing a template having a pair of guide edges, securing the template to an interior surface of the tire, providing a tool for forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, with the tool, along the guide edges of the template, and removing the template from the tire.

Flexible guide for tire repair

Particular embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus for deforming a tire sidewall. Such methods include the step of providing a tire having at least one sidewall connected to a corresponding bead. A further step includes constraining at least one of the sidewall and bead from moving laterally toward the other. Yet another step of such methods includes engaging the sidewall with an inclined member. Another step of such methods includes moving at lest one of the sidewall and bead in a lateral direction away from the other until the sidewall is laterally deformed into a laterally deformed configuration.

Methods and apparatus for deflecting and supporting a tire sidewall

Embodiments include methods for retreading a tire, which include providing a tire carcass for retreading, the tire carcass having a pre-existing tread layer including one or more voids extending into the tread layer thickness from an outer side. A bonding layer is applied along an outer side of the pre-existing tread layer, the bonding layer substantially filling the voids arranged along the outer side of the pre-existing tread layer to provide an outer surface for receiving a pre-cured tread layer. The pre-cured tread layer is applied along an outer side of the bonding layer such that the bonding layer is arranged between the pre-cured tread layer and the pre-existing tread layer. The pre-cured tread layer is bonded to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire having a retreaded tire tread. Grooves are then formed in the retreaded tire tread along a ground-engaging, outer side of the retreaded tire tread.

Methods for retreading a tire

Exemplary embodiments of the subject invention comprise methods and apparatus concerning balanced abrading of a tire surface by an abrading tool. Such an abrading tool may comprise a pair of counter-rotating, driven abrading members, each of the abrading members having a rotational axis generally extending laterally across the tool, the abrading members being spaced apart in a lateral direction of the tool by a desired distance, each of the abrading members having an abrading surface defined by at least one outer diameter, the abrading surface extending axially relative to the rotational axis of the abrading member, wherein each of the abrading has a shaft upon which each abrading member is arranged, each of the shafts being adapted to be driven by a driving source. The tool further includes a body to which each shaft and abrading member is attached.

Growing community of inventors

Simpsonville, SC, United States of America

Cesar Enrique Zarak