Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Societe Detechnologie Michelin

Compagnie Generale Des Establissements Michelin

Daniel Rey

Damon Lee Christenbury

Ronald Hobart Thompson

Cyril Guichon

Christian Albert Beccavin

Almira Aleckovic

A method of molding a tire that has a container () that includes the steps of placing an uncured tire into a mold, and providing a bladder () that has a flexible portion () and an insert () that has a cavity configured for molding the container into the tire. The bladder has a fluid therein and is inflated within the mold, and material of the uncured tire flows into the cavity of the insert (). Sufficient heat and pressure is applied to the uncured tire to at least partially cure the tire when the uncured tire is in the mold. The material in the insert () forms the container () such that the container is integrally formed with other portions of the tire. The mold is opened to retrieve the tire.

Method of molding a container into a tire

A tire tread with certain features and a method for manufacturing such a tire tread are provided. More particularly, a tire tread is provided that has layers of apertures where some layers remain covered until after a certain amount of tread wear has occurred. Such apertures can comprise, for example, sipes, grooves, or other apertured features in the tread. A method of making such tire tread is also provided.

Tire tread with apertures and a method for the manufacture of a tire tread with apertures

A tire with certain tread features and a method for manufacturing the tread for such a tire are provided. More particularly, a tire and method for manufacturing a tire having a tread portion with sipes that can be of minimal thickness and varying geometries, densities, and profiles may be provided. The sipes can also be hidden until after a period of tread wear has occurred.

Tire tread with sipes and a method for the manufacture of a tire tread with sipes

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

Methods and apparatus for forming a multi-layered tire component, the steps of the method including providing a mechanical system, the system including a plurality of cutting members; translating a sheet of material along a translation path through the mechanical system; cutting a first strip from the sheet with one or more of the plurality of cutting members, this step occurring during the step of translating; mechanically applying the first strip to a building surface, this step occurring during the step of translating; cutting a second strip from the sheet subsequent to the step of cutting the first strip, this step occurring during the step of translating; mechanically applying the second strip to a building surface, this step occurring during the step of translating.

Method and apparatus for forming a multi-layered tire component

The present invention includes methods and apparatus () for forming a tire component upon an axially tapered building surface (). In particular embodiments, such methods include the step of providing a mechanical system, the system including a plurality of cutting members () and an application surface () for transferring material to the axially tapered building surface, the axially tapered surface comprising a surface of revolution that varies radially along a rotational axis of the surface. Particular embodiments may also include translating a sheet of material along a translation path through the mechanical system, and cutting a strip of material from the sheet with one or more of the plurality of cutting members during the step of translating. Particular embodiments may further include mechanically transferring the strip of material from the application surface to the axially tapered building surface, the axially tapered building surface rotating about an axis of rotation during the step of translating.

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Greer, SC, United States of America

Daniel Rey