General Electric Company

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Jim Endicott

Kirkland W Vogt

Brian Douglas Wilson

Patrick A Petri

Michael Edward Dotson

Clay Bohn

Chad Lane

Particular embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for compensating for shrinkage of a polymeric material in a mold during curing operations. Embodiments of the method include providing a mold comprising a molding cavity defining an interior mold volume separated from an exterior environment and introducing a volume of polymeric material into the molding cavity. Such methods further include impeding the development of a void in the volume of polymeric material by, either: isolating the volume of polymeric material within the molding cavity from the exterior environment, or reducing the interior mold volume of the molding cavity to at least substantially consume a volume of polymeric material shrinkage. Such methods further include curing the polymeric material to form a molded polymeric form.

Controlling the formation of imperfections due to polymeric shrinkage during molding operations

A non-pneumatic wheel with reinforcement bands that provide structural support for the wheel and a method of manufacture of such a wheel are described. The reinforcement band forms part of an annular reinforcement structure that includes a core that is cast in place between annular reinforcement bands. The core can be impregnated with a matrix material. The matrix material can also be used to form one or more elements of the non-pneumatic wheel.

Annular structure having multiple reinforcement bands

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, SC, United States of America

Jim Endicott