The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Mahmoud C Assaad

Michael Gregory Zelin

Amit Prakash

Warren L Croyle

Joseph Kevin Hubbell

Dong Kwang Kim

Surendra K Chawla

David Lee Bair

David C Wagner

Perry W Bell

Joanne Elizabeth Shaw

Danny E Harrison

Donald George Vera

David B Beltz

Gurdev Orjela

Three methods of constructing tires having functionally graded belts are provided. According to one method a bandage is used to hold neighboring belt segments in position so they may be simultaneously applied to a carcass. According to a second method, longitudinal incisions are applied to a belt ply to achieve the desired belt stiffness. According to a third method clamps are applied to a belt ply to reorient the belt cords.

Method of manufacturing segmented belt tires

The present invention is directed towards a pneumatic radial tire. The tire is comprised of a reinforcing belt structure wherein the belt plies are divided into at least three segments. The reinforcing cords in each segment of a ply are oriented in the same inclination direction. By maintaining the same cord inclination in the segments, dividing the belt ply into segments creates hinge points for the belt ply, reducing the stiffness of the ply across the width of the tread from the centerline of the tire to the tread edges. If the belt structure has more than one reinforcing ply, the segments of the adjacent plies are staggered by a distance at greater than the radial height between the radially inner side of the adjacent belt plies.

Tire with segmented belt

A pneumatic radial tire includes at least two belt plies reinforced with steel monofilaments inclined at an angle of 10.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire, the monofilaments being laid at an end count ranging from 25 to 60 ends per inch and having a diameter of from 0.25 to 0.40 mm, a tensile strength of at least 4080 MPa-(2000.times.D).times.95 percent where D is the filament diameter in millimeters and a fatigue resistance of at least 3500 cycles as measured by the three-roll bending fatigue test. Preferably, the filament diameter ranges from 0.30 to 0.35 mm, the tensile strength of each monofilament is at least 4400 MPa-(2000.times.D).times.95 percent and the fatigue resistance ranges from 3500 to 6000 cycles.

Radial tires having at least two belt plies reinforced with steel

The present invention relates to a bias pneumatic tire having a belt structure comprising six annular layers. The tire of the present invention has particular utility as an aircraft tire and avoids many of the undesirable stresses/strains resulting from the deformation in the tread areas of the tire.

Biased pneumatic tire having a belt structure with six annular layers

A pneumatic tire with carbon fiber cord reinforcement wherein the carbon fiber cords have a round cross sectional shape and a twist per inch (TPI) of 1.2 to 1.6 turns per inch (TPI) is provided. Preferably, the carbon fiber cords are coated with an RFL or epoxy/RFL adhesive. It is also preferred that carbon fiber cords having an S twist and carbon fiber cords having a Z twist be used in the same reinforcing plies in the tire. Especially preferred is the incorporation of carbon fiber cords in a folded belt.

Tire with carbon fiber reinforcement

A tire bead ring comprising round wires laid down in a parallelogram shape having an acute angle of 75.degree.-90.degree. is provided. The bead ring of the invention, when employed in a tire at a lay angle of 5.degree.-15.degree., provides a means for spreading out or dissipating twisting forces or torques encountered by the bead area of the tire to prevent separation of the bead from the rim during inflation and loss of air because of the flexing of the tire during running. Also, when the bead comprises multiple turns of a single round wire, a bead having reduced weight and good strength and uniformity may be provided.

Tire incorporating a bead ring comprising round wire disposed in the

Tire bead members (10) have radially superposed layers (11,12,13,14) of fibers (15) embedded in a polymeric matrix (16). Interposed between the layers (11,12,13,14) of composite material are thin layers (17,18,19) of a material that is not adhered to both of the adjacent layers (11,12;12,13;13,14) of composite material. Tires employing said bead members are also disclosed.

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Uniontown, OH, United States of America

Mahmoud C Assaad