Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Metodi L Ikonomov

E Bruce Colby

Cesar Enrique Zarak

Dimitri Tsihlas

Michael Widmyer

Adib Tony Chebli

Juan-Pablo Gallego

Michael Collins Chandler

Carl R Driver

Bruce E Colby

Dimitri G Tsihlas

The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods include providing a tire carcass configured to receive a tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-formed tread comprising a tread body and a submerged void arranged along a bottom side of the tread and extending into the tread thickness to a top end located below the top side of the tread, the submerged void having a length and an opening arranged along the bottom side when the tread is in an uninstalled configuration, where the opening of the submerged void extends in a direction of the submerged groove length along an alternating, non-linear path. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass and comprising uncured bonding material.

Retreaded tire treads having improved submerged voids and methods for forming the same

The invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire tread, the tire tread having a bottom side and a top side configured for engaging a ground surface, a thickness extending between the top side and the bottom side, and a pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the tread, the bottom side having one or more submerged voids extending from the bottom side into the tread thickness to form a tread pattern, the submerged voids having a depth less than the thickness and the top side being free of any exposed voids comprising a groove. Further steps include applying the tire tread to a tire carcass, curing the tire tread to the tire carcass, and forming one or more voids into the tread thickness the top side of the tread after the step of bonding.

Methods for forming a retreaded tire

The invention includes methods of forming a retreaded tire, and treads there for. Particular embodiments of such methods provide a tire carcass configured to receive the tire tread along an annular tread-receiving area and a pre-cured tire tread including a tread body and a detachable connector. The connector is arranged within a thickness of the tread between a top void portion and a bottom void portion and extending across a width of the top void portion and of the bottom void portion. The detachable connector is configured to separate from the tread upon application of a separation force. Further steps include assembling a retreaded tire by arranging the tire tread atop a bonding layer arranged between the tire tread and the tire carcass, bonding the tire tread to the tire carcass, and removing the detachable connector from the top void portion after the step of bonding.

Removable connector for pre-cured tread and methods for forming a retreaded tire

The present invention includes methods for forming a retreaded tire, which includes the steps of providing an annular tire carcass and providing a plurality of tread components each comprising an independent structure, which are then assembled to form an assembled tire tread. The tread is subsequently bonded to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire, the tire tread being arranged along an outer circumference of the annular tire carcass with a bonding layer between the tire tread and the tire carcass, the bonding layer comprising an uncured elastomeric material being cured during the step of bonding. The tire tread is assembled such that the plurality of tread components are concurrently arranged around the outer circumference of the tire carcass to form a tire tread.

Methods of tire retreading with abutting tread components

Particular embodiments include a retreaded tire and a method for retreading a tire. A method may include providing a tire tread having a thickness and a width with grooves extending into the thickness from a tread top side, and providing a tire carcass having an annular tread-receiving side. The method may include applying the tread to the tire carcass with a layer of bonding material arranged between the tread and the tire carcass, and evacuating a gas from between the tire carcass and the tread bottom side through an aperture extending through the tread thickness, the aperture being formed by piercing the tread thickness with a suctioning member arranged in operable communication with a vacuum source, and bonding the tread to the tire carcass. In particular embodiments, portions of the bottom side of the tread beneath the grooves are not bonded to the tire carcass or the bonding layer.

Treads and methods for making a retreaded tire

The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for.

Transverse grooves providing venting in treads for retreaded tires

Embodiments of the invention include a mold for forming a tire tread. The mold includes a tongue forming portion at an end of a tread forming portion. The tongue forming portion has a substantially constant thickness, except for a portion at an end of the tongue forming portion having a thickness greater than a thickness of a remainder of the tongue forming portion.

Mold for flat rubber treads

Particular embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus for deforming a tire sidewall. Such methods include the step of providing a tire having at least one sidewall connected to a corresponding bead. A further step includes constraining at least one of the sidewall and bead from moving laterally toward the other. Yet another step of such methods includes engaging the sidewall with an inclined member. Another step of such methods includes moving at lest one of the sidewall and bead in a lateral direction away from the other until the sidewall is laterally deformed into a laterally deformed configuration.

Methods and apparatus for deflecting and supporting a tire sidewall

Exemplary embodiments of the subject invention comprise methods and apparatus concerning balanced abrading of a tire surface by an abrading tool. Such an abrading tool may comprise a pair of counter-rotating, driven abrading members, each of the abrading members having a rotational axis generally extending laterally across the tool, the abrading members being spaced apart in a lateral direction of the tool by a desired distance, each of the abrading members having an abrading surface defined by at least one outer diameter, the abrading surface extending axially relative to the rotational axis of the abrading member, wherein each of the abrading has a shaft upon which each abrading member is arranged, each of the shafts being adapted to be driven by a driving source. The tool further includes a body to which each shaft and abrading member is attached.

Balanced abrading tool and methods for abrading

A method of automatically de-molding a tread from a mold is provided utilizing an automatic de-molding apparatus. The automatic de-molding device utilizes at least one anchoring member that is inserted into the mold and automatically secures the tread to the de-molding apparatus wherein the mold is mechanically removed from the mold.

Growing community of inventors

Clermont-Ferrand, France

Metodi L Ikonomov