Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Other

Companjnie Generale Des Establissements

Robert G Young

Stephen Manuel

Norman Christopher

William Edward Cheek, Jr

Paul R Hartmann

Maynard A Wright

Edward T Ellebracht

Ramone A Hecker

Jean-Jacques Chateau

Nicholas P Marck

David Allen Crowe

Henry Schmitt

Fred G Mayntz

George A Wissing

Raymond L Behr

A method and apparatus for buffing tread from a tire carcass, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a sensor at a first lateral location along a width of the tread; receiving a first signal from the sensor, the first signal generated as a function of a distance between the sensor and a belt in the tire and a tire characteristic; selecting a first signal response curve from a plurality of signal response curves based upon the first lateral location of the sensor, the selected signal response curve representing the function of the distance between the sensor and the tire belt and the tire characteristic; determining from the response curve the distance between the sensor and the belt for the signal response received; buffing tread from the tire until the distance between the sensor and the belt reaches a final distance. The steps are repeated at a second lateral location.

Retread tire buffing with multiple response curves

Methods, computer programs, and apparatus for applying a layer of cushion gum to a tire casing in preparation for the retreading of the tire casing, the steps of the methods including selecting one of a plurality recipes for applying cushion gum based on one of a size, model and shape of the tire casing; pressurizing the tire casing to a predetermined pressure based on the recipe; crushing the tire casing by an extruder head a predetermined percentage of the tire casing radius or a predetermined distance, the predetermined percentage based on the recipe; and extruding the cushion gum from the extruder head. The extruder head may be translatable by way of a screw drive.

Method and apparatus for applying cushion gum to a tire casing

In particular embodiments, a method of forming a retreaded tire includes the steps of: applying a tread to a tread-engaging portion of a tire carcass, the tread having an initial width and a layer of cushion gum interposed between the tread and tire carcass; placing a curing membrane about the tread to form a tire curing assembly having a compartment between the membrane and tread; placing the tire curing assembly in a vessel chamber; pressurizing the chamber to a predetermined pressure; heating the chamber to a predetermined temperature; pressurizing the compartment to a pressure greater than 14.7 psia and less than the chamber pressure to provide a pressure differential, the step initializing after the step of pressurizing the chamber initializes and whereby a final tread width is provided that is equal to 98.0% or more of the initial tread width when the initial tread width is approximately 290-500 mm.

Method of controlling tread shrinkage during curing

Improved apparatus and methods for collecting debris generated during a tire buffing operation on a tire buffing machine, the tire buffing machine having a cutting head cutting surface rotatable about a cutting head axis. The system includes a rotatable shroud being rotatable about a shroud axis, the shroud comprising a side member surrounding a majority of the cutting head cutting surface, a cutting head access window to expose the cutting head for buffing the tire casing, and a vacuum suction port that is adjacent to the cutting head access window. The system may further include a driver to rotate the shroud during buffing, wherein rotating the shroud during buffing aligns the vacuum suction port with the projected path of debris being discharged from the cutting head cutting surface.

Tire buffing debris collecting system

Methods, apparatus and computer programs for correcting a buff of tread from a crown of a tire, the steps of the method including measuring the distance between the tire crown surface and the belt at each of the plurality of locations; calculating a projected distance between the crown surface and the belt at each of the plurality of transverse locations across the crown using proposed buff radii, choosing a new position of the buffing radius origin from the one or more proposed origin positions on the centerline of the tire; and buffing the tread from the tire crown along the arc described by the buff radius having the buffing radius origin at the new position.

Determining the buff radius during tire buffing

A method for curing a rubber article including maintaining a measured curing temperature between a high temperature limit (TH) and a low temperature limit (TL). The TH TL are derived from high and low temperature curing curves respectively. Other steps may include obtaining a curing target A1 or A2, wherein A1 and A2 are areas between the high temperature curing curve and a base temperature (TB) and the low temperature curing curve respectively wherein TB is selected to make A1 and A2 within at least 10% of each other and determining an area under a measured curing curve, the area under the measured curing curve being between the measured curing curve and the TB, wherein the measured curing curve is defined as a plot of the measured curing temperature over time.

Cure time adjustment for a rubber article

A method and apparatus for buffing tread from a tire carcass, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from a sensor, the signal generated as a function of a distance between the sensor and a belt in the tire and a tire characteristic; selecting a signal response curve from a plurality of signal response curves, the selected signal response curve representing the function of the distance between the sensor and the tire belt and the tire characteristic; determining from the response curve the distance between the sensor and the belt for the signal response received; buffing tread from the tire until the distance between the sensor and the belt reaches a final distance.

Methods, apparatus and computer programs for correcting a buff of tread from a crown of a tire, the steps of the method including measuring the distance between the tire crown surface and the belt at each of the plurality of locations; calculating a projected distance between the crown surface and the belt at each of the plurality of transverse locations across the crown using proposed buff radii, choosing a new position of the buffing radius origin from the one or more proposed origin positions; and buffing the tread from the tire crown along the arc described by the buff radius having the buffing radius origin at the new position.

Correction for asymmetrical buffing

Methods, apparatus and computer programs for correcting a crown layer variance of a buffed tire carcass, the steps of the method including measuring a distance through a buffed crown layer at a plurality of locations around a tire carcass; identifying a maximum distance location from the distances determined at the plurality of locations around the tire carcass; inflating the tire carcass with the maximum distance location orientated at the 270 degree polar angle position; and, buffing the tire carcass.

Correction of crown layer variance during retreading

An automatic pressure and temperature control apparatus and method for use in curing tire assemblies including retread tire assemblies is provided. Using water as a heating medium, a new process control method and apparatus is described that allows a more precise control of process variables during steady state conditions such that heat transfer is improved and the undesirable formation of steam is eliminated. Existing processes and equipment for curing tire assemblies can be modified, using the teaching disclosed herein, to implement and achieve the benefits of the present invention.

Automatic pressure and temperature control apparatus and method for curing tire assemblies

An apparatus for monitoring the depth of tread on a tire being buffed includes a sensing device, for example, a magnetic sensor, mounted to a reciprocating motion carrier. The carrier is driven by a drive wheel that is in contact with the tire being buffed. The carrier is movably mounted to float over the surface of the tire, that is, accommodate variations in the tire surface, with a guide wheel following the tire surface to maintain the sensor at a constant distance from the tire surface. The sensor on the carrier reciprocally traverses the crown of the tire as the tire rotates to obtain actual values for the thickness of the rubber above the belts over the whole surface of the crown.

Apparatus for monitoring tread thickness during tire buffing

An improved network interface unit (NIU) for remotely monitoring and testing the performance of DS1 telephone circuits, installed on the network side of an interface between customer premises equipment (CPE) and equipment provided by the network provider. The inventive NIU is used to non-intrusively collect and transmit full-time performance monitoring data to the network provider. The inventive NIU provides continuous and non-intrusive performance monitoring of DS1 transmission systems. With the inventive NIU installed at the interface between the customer's CPE and the LECs' equipment, network service providers are alerted to potential problems before they adversely affect the service provided by the network providers to their customers. The inventive NIU enables a network service provider to quickly and non-intrusively determine whether a problem exists in the equipment provided by the network provider or in the equipment on the customer's premises. The inventive NIU, therefore, advantageously eliminates false dispatches and expensive and unnecessary troubleshooting required by prior art network interface units. The inventive NIU provides nonintrusive monitoring of CPE by facilitating the conversion of CPE-generated signal frame formats to the Extended Superframe Format (ESF) (according to the ANSI T1.403 Standard with Performance Report Message). The present invention performs an adaptive real-time DS1 circuit frame format conversion.

Adaptive DS1 frame format conversion device for remotely monitoring and

This new invention is a table Racket Ball Game Device. This new invention is an enclosed table game device played with a table tennis type ball, off the sides, bottom and top, in three dimensions. This new table game device is a game of skill not chance. This is a serious game almost anyone can learn to play. It teaches eye-hand coordination and concentration. The ball is hand loaded, on to the paddle, aimed and carefully shot, at the other player's goal, with just a flick of the fingers. Players score points when the ball falls out of play behind the defender's defense and down the ball return ramp. The paddles are designed and mounted in such a way that the entire surface maybe used in defense. This is a game of skill not chance because the players can defend every shot if they can slide the paddle quick enough to block the oncoming shot.

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Mauldin, SC, United States of America

Robert G Young