The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

Kouko Tsuchiya

Gang Hou

Michito Kaneko

Satoshi Shibayama

Akihiro Iemoto

Shunichi Ono

Minami Shibuya

Keiichi Hasegawa

Reinforcing layers each have a cord angle set to 25&#xb0; or greater and 45&#xb0; or less when a body is in a neutral state. When the body is loaded with a specified internal pressure, intermediate rubber layers disposed between adjacent sets in which cords of the reinforcing layers extend in an intersecting direction are shear-deformed, the cord angle increases approximately to a stable angle of repose, and the expanded body maintains a predetermined shape. In each of the sets being formed of two reinforcing layers layered adjacently, the cords of the reinforcing layers extend in an identical direction at the predetermined cord angle. Since substantially no shear force acts on the intermediate rubber layers disposed between the reinforcing layers, the resistance when expanding the body decreases. This provides a pneumatic fender that expands more smoothly and ensures a predetermined shape when a body is loaded with a specified internal pressure.

Pneumatic fender

A cord angle of reinforcing layers having a bias structure constituting a body portion is set to 25&#xb0; or more and 45&#xb0; or less in a neutral state of a body. Reinforcing layers are bonded with a bonding member interposed between the reinforcing layers, the bonding member disposed in a space between the reinforcing layers facing in the cylinder axial direction of the body portion and a hemispherical portion. The layered bonding members have the same bias structure as the reinforcing layers of the body portion. A cord angle of the bonding member is set to &#xb1;10&#xb0; of the cord angle of the reinforcing layers of the body portion. The spaces have a plurality of different sizes. One set of ends of the spaces are set to a plurality of different positions, and the other set of ends are also set to a plurality of different positions.

Pneumatic fender and manufacturing method therefor

In a pneumatic fender, reinforcing layers of a body portion and reinforcing layers of a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of a fender near a boundary between each hemispherical portion and the body portion are formed by aligning cords of reinforcing layers of the body portion and that of the predetermined range in parallel, and in a neutral state without expansion, the cords of the reinforcing layers of the body portion meet each other and the cords of the reinforcing layers of the predetermined range meet each other, and cord angles A and B are each set to from 15&#xb0; to 45&#xb0; with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fender. When the interior of the fender is set to a specified internal pressure, the cord angles A and B increase to extent of a static angle, and the body portion and the predetermined range expand.

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Hiratsuka, Japan

Kouko Tsuchiya