Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Societe Detechnologie Michelin

Compagnie Générale Des Etablissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissments Michelin

Francois Hottebart

Arnaud Frappart

Sebastien Drap

Mark E Collett

Jean-Pierre Pompier

Jean-Jacques Drieux

Richard Abinal

Adam Jara

Daniel Fabing

Arnaud Dufournier

Russell Shepherd

Michel Saint-Martin

Constantin Lazar

Martin Lipham

Russel Shepherd

Thierry Bouiges

The present invention includes tire treads having a sipe () and a void feature () in fluid communication with the sipe. Particular embodiments of the present invention also include methods for forming the same. In various embodiments, the sipe has a length, a height, and a thickness that is variable across the length and height of the sipe. The thickness of the sipe includes a thick portion () and a thin portion (), the thick portion at least partially extending around a perimeter of the thin portion. In particular embodiments, the void feature () which is in fluid communication with the sipe extends primarily in a direction of the sipe length and has a width extending in the direction of the sipe thickness equal to or greater than substantially 1 millimeter.

Variable thickness sipes

Tire tread including one or more tread elements arranged between a pair of discontinuities extending in a direction of the tread width. The first and second longitudinally-spaced sides of the tread element are spaced-apart in a direction of the tread length. The first longitudinally-spaced side is oriented at an average first-side angle relative to the depthwise direction of the tread and the second longitudinally-spaced side is oriented at an average second-side angle relative to the depthwise direction of the tread. An average inclination angle comprising a combined average of the average first side-angle and the second side-angle for all of the one or more tread elements along the first and second longitudinally-spaced sides is substantially greater than zero.

Tire treads having tread elements with inclined leading sides

A run-flat tire () comprising a crown comprising a crown reinforcement () surmounted by a tread (); two sidewalls () extending the crown radially inward; two beads () radially inward to the sidewalls and each comprising an annular reinforcing structure (); at least one carcass reinforcement () anchored in each of the beads and extending from the beads through the sidewalls toward the crown; and at least one sidewall insert () axially on the inside of the carcass reinforcement, comprising at least one polymer compound; wherein at least one sidewall of the tire further comprises: at least one additional sidewall reinforcement () comprising reinforcing elements, positioned axially on the outside of the carcass reinforcement, the radially inside end () of the additional sidewall reinforcement being, in any radial section, radially on the inside of the axial straight line () that passes through those points in the sidewalls at which the carcass reinforcement has its greatest axial width when the tire is mounted on a rim; and a layer () of polymer compound positioned between the additional sidewall reinforcement and the carcass reinforcement, over at least a portion of the additional sidewall reinforcement.

Run-flat tire having an additional sidewall reinforcement

Pneumatic tire

A centralized device for dealing with the phenomena of loss of pressure and running flat with a vehicle tire, including a means external to the mounted assembly, permanently fixed to the vehicle and able to inject or otherwise bring into the internal cavity of the tire at least one active product, also external to the mounted assembly, and able to treat the phenomena of loss of pressure and ultimately running flat.

Device and method for dealing with phenomena of loss of pressure and running flat with vehicle tires

A safety insert designed to be mounted in an assembly comprising a tire and a rim of a vehicle and device for detecting the bearing of the tire on an insert, so that the insert generates signals oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire and rim assembly and so that the device detects and analyzes the vibrating signals of the chassis of the vehicle.

Safety insert generating a transverse vibrating signal and device for sensing the tire bearing on the insert

System state indicator in particular for a vehicle dashboard, the system having a given use potential and comprising evaluation means such that, on the basis of measurements related to the conditions of use of the vehicle and/or the physical characteristics of the system and/or the vehicle and/or the vehicle environment conditions, the evaluation means calculate at a time t parameters characteristic of the state of the system, characterized in that the state indicator simultaneously displays at time t at least three different parameters characteristic of the state of the system and its range.

System state indicator

A method of testing a run-flat tire component is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes positioning a run-flat component upon a wheel, accelerating the wheel to a predetermined speed, decelerating the wheel to a stop, and determining any rotation of the run-flat component relative to the wheel.

Method of testing a run-flat tire component

The invention concerns a method for assessing the range of a motor vehicle run-flat system comprising at least for each wheel a tire casing, a deflation alarm and means supporting the running tread of the tire casing when the casing is deflated, which method, from the instant the deflation alarm has detected a predetermined deflating threshold, includes the steps of: periodically measuring the distance covered and a parameter C(t) characteristic of the running conditions; determining on the basis of C(t) and the measured distance over &Dgr;t a quantity characteristic of potential elementary damage of the system during the elapsed time &Dgr;t; calculating an estimate of the global damage by combining the calculated elementary damage levels since the start of flat running; and transmitting to the vehicle driver a quantity related to that estimate of the flat running system global damage.

Method for assessing the range of a run-flat system

The invention concerns a light safety support ( ) for a tire comprising a base ( ), a top ( ) and an annular linking body ( ) with a continuous support element around the circumference and a circumferential median plane, wherein the support element includes a plurality of partitions ( ), ( ) extending axially on either side of the circumferential median plane that are adapted in their central part relative to their lateral end parts to reinforce the support buckling strength under a radial load.

Growing community of inventors

Royat, France

Francois Hottebart