Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

James Edward Stone

Verner Steve Nicholson

David Alan Weston

Clarence Vernon Hair, Jr

Jean-Baptiste Rousseau

Robert C Radulescu

David Kevin Stafford

Joseph Nicholas Brown

Richard T Janczak

Verner Steve Nicholsen

Paul Philip Grosskopf

A system and method for selectively removing tire material from the bead portions of a cured tire to reduce one or more harmonics of at least one uniformity parameter are disclosed. According to aspects of the present disclosure, tire material is selectively removed using a plurality of direct address commands. The direct address commands specify ablation parameters for discrete ablation segments at specific angular locations around the bead of the tire. The direct address commands are generated by analyzing the desired ablation pattern for the bead of the tire. The ablation device can then be controlled to selectively remove tire material in discrete ablation segments at identified addresses pursuant to the direct address commands to achieve the desired ablation pattern on one or more tracks along the bead portion of the tire using a single pass of the ablation device.

Direct address laser ablation

An apparatus and method of assembling a radially outer portion of a nonpneumatic wheel onto a hub () having a plurality of slots () extending along an axis, each of the slots () arranged in a frustoconical orientation extending from the first end () to the second end () such that the distance between the slots is greater at the first end than at the second end.

Method and apparatus for wheel assembly

A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonica of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonic of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation pattern are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power.

Uniformity correction by ablation at different track locations along a tire bead

Molds, methods and systems are provided for adjusting one or more plysteer parameters in a tire having a tread formed from a mold.

In-mold adjustment of pylsteer parameters

A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonics of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonics of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation patterns are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power.

The present invention provides a truck tire with a siping geometry to protect the main ribs of the tire's tread by delaying the onset of irregular wear and the growth thereof. The improved tire tread comprises a plurality of main ribs formed by grooves extending generally circumferentially around an outer surface of the tire forming a tread width for contacting the supporting surface. A plurality of sipes, positioned on both lateral edges of each one of the main ribs, provide protection for the main ribs to delay the onset of irregular wear. A pitch length and a sipe length are both selected to be within a certain range of values, as well as a ratio of the sipe length to the pitch length is selected. The sipes are preferably narrow in width having a maximum width dimension of about 0.40 millimeter. The sipes may be inset from the lateral edges of the ribs, may be curvilinear sipes, may have an inclination angle with respect to a normal to the ribs and may be at an acute angle from the circumferential direction of the tire tread.

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Greenville, SC, United States of America

James Edward Stone