Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Christian Albert Beccavin

Frank E Gramling

David Andrew Judd

Bradley D Schober

Daniel Rey

Almira Aleckovic

The present invention comprises tire treads having sipes or other voids formed of non-curable inserts, as well as methods for forming sipes or other voids within a tread using non-curable inserts and apparatus for performing the same. Such methods include providing an uncured tread having a width and a thickness bounded by an outer side and a bottom side. Such methods further include providing a strip of non-curable material, the strip having a width and a length. Furthermore, such methods include inserting the strip of non-curable into the tread thickness from the tread outer side and to a predetermined depth within the tread thickness to form a void-forming insert within the tread thickness. Finally, these methods include curing the tread with the non-curable strip arranged within the tread thickness. The inserts may be folded, which may occur as the strips are inserted into the tread or prior to such insertion.

Integrated process to generate near-zero thickness sipes in a tire

A tire testing apparatus and method for detecting anomalies in the surface of a tire is disclosed. A high voltage probe having a conductive spring electrode is placed adjacent a portion of a tire surface such that the conductive spring electrode is compressed against the surface of the tire. Relative motion is imparted between the high voltage probe and the surface of the tire. An electrical discharge occurs between the high voltage probe and a reference electrode at the location of an anomaly on the surface of the tire. The apparatus and method are configured to determine a precise azimuthal and radial position on the tire of the electrostatic discharge. The conductive spring electrode can have a length sufficient to ensure contact with a given point on the tire surface during a charge cycle for the high voltage probe at increased tire surface speeds.

High voltage probe apparatus and method for tire inner surface anomaly detection

An apparatus and method for high voltage discharge testing of a tire is disclosed. In particular embodiments, a high voltage probe is maintained against the surface of a tire. The high voltage probe is energized and relative motion is provided between the surface of the tire and the high voltage probe. At the presence of an anomaly that penetrates the insulating material of the tire surface, an electrical discharge will occur between the conductive spring electrode and a reference electrode. The reference electrode is positioned adjacent the bead portion of the tire such that the electrical discharge will travel from the high voltage probe through the anomaly in the surface of the tire to one or more carcass plies in the tire. The carcass plies will carry the electrical discharge to the bead portion of the tire, where the electrical discharge will pass to the reference electrode.

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Greenville, SC, United States of America

Christian Albert Beccavin