The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Jurgen Spielmann

Thomas Reed Oare

Klaus Beer

Antonnis G Maathuis

Theo Meijer

A method of making a belt overlay structure for a pneumatic tire is provided. In the method, a belt structure is wrapped circumferentially around a cylinder which is secured to a rotatable shaft, and a ribbon comprising an elastomeric substance containing side-by-side textile cords extending longitudinally in the ribbon is provided on a let-off means. A first end of the ribbon is adhered to the outermost belt ply in close proximity to the axial center line of the belt structure, and the cylinder is rotated while ribbon is supplied from the let-off device. The let-off device first traverses to a first lateral edge of the belt structure where the lateral movement of the let-off means stops while the cylinder continues to rotate and the let-off means continues to supply ribbon. The let-off means is then caused to supply more ribbon while traversing laterally to a second lateral edge of the belt structure and stopping at the second lateral edge while the cylinder continues to rotate and the let-off device continues to supply ribbon. The let-off means then traverses to the axial centerline of the belt structure, and the cylinder and the let-off means are then stopped, the ribbon cut and a second end of the ribbon is adhered to the underlying ribbon.

Method of making a belt overlay for pneumatic tires

A speed rated tire (10) is provided with an overlay structure (20) disposed radially outwardly of the belt structure (17). The overlay structure comprises a single ribbon (22) of side-by-side textile cords spirally wrapped about the belt structure such that both ends of the ribbon are in close proximity to the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire, while the axial width of the overlay structure is at least equal to that of the belt structure. The number of radial layers of cords in the overlay structure being greater at the axial edges of the belt structure than the average number of radial layers of cords in the remainder of the overlay structure. A method of manufacturing such an overlay structure is also disclosed.

Belt overlay structure for pneumatic tires comprising a single ribbon

A pneumatic tire (1) comprises a radial carcass (2), a tread portion (7) and a belt reinforcing structure (8) extending circumferentially around the carcass (2). Disposed radially outwardly of the belt reinforcing structure (8) is a textile reinforced overlay structure (9) having substantially circumferentially extending cords (10). The overlay structure (9) is composed of a series of helical convolutions of a textile ribbon (11) whereby adjacent helical convolutions of the textile ribbon (11) overlap. There is further disclosed a method of applying multiple layers of a single continuous helically wound textile ribbon (11) in a single continuous operation from one axial side to the other axial side of the belt reinforcing structure (8).

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Heisdorf, Luxembourg

Jurgen Spielmann