Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Ronald Cress

Chinglin Pan

Joseph A Stain

Ralston Horace Moore

Maxime Rolland

Michael D Petrovich

Nathan Joel Panning

Jeremy Trowbridge

James F Garrett

Fabien Marlier

Lee A Montgomery

Kai Chun Yang

Scott Cothran

Sebastien Noel

Jean-Mathieu Clergeat

Jean-Claude Delorme

Brian Joseph Keefe

Isabelle Aldon

Brian William Jenkins

Garrett Guidroz

Anant Jha

Gildas De-Staercke

Gildas Yvon DeStaercke

Chaitra Mahesha

Brian Williams Jenkins

Wayne Davis

Jason John Schoenmaker

Shannon Martell Mauck

Gildas De Staercke

A process for manufacturing a rubber patch comprising a radiofrequency transponder, the patch having a first layer and a second layer, the method comprising moulding and vulcanizing a first layer, the exterior surface of which comprises a cavity able to receive a radiofrequency transponder, placing a transponder in the cavity, and then placing and vulcanizing a second layer in order to embed the transponder between the two layers.

Method for manufacturing a patch equipped with a radiofrequency transponder

The invention provides for a heavy truck tire having a sub-casing, a belt package and a rubber tread, the tread comprising a center zone separating two shoulder zones. The upper shoulder layer consisting of an upper shoulder rubber compound being different from a lower shoulder rubber compound, wherein:

Methods and apparatuses for assembling tire components

The tread has a total axial width W and a wearable thickness PMU of material and has at least four grooves on each side of a midplane that divides the tread axially into two parts. The grooves divide the tread into a middle, intermediate and edge regions. The middle region has an axial width Lm of at least 30% and at most 60% of the total width W. The total volume void ratio when new is less than 17%, and the middle region has a volume void ratio that is less than half the total volume void ratio. The middle region comprises a plurality of transverse sipes opening into the grooves, and the sipes have depths at least equal to 75% of the depth of the grooves. The number of transverse sipes in the middle region is greater than the number of transverse sipes on each intermediate or edge region.

Tread for heavy-goods vehicle tire

The invention includes methods and apparatus for demolding a tread from a mold. In particular embodiments, such methods include a step of demolding a first end of a tread from a mold to form a demolded portion of the tread, the tread extending lengthwise from the first end to a second end. A further step includes folding the tread such that at least a portion of the demolded portion is arranged overtop a portion of the tread remaining within the mold. Yet a further step includes applying lubricant to the tread to thereby lubricate relative translation between folded portions of the tread. A further step includes demolding additional portions of the tread by sliding at least a portion of the demolded portion along the portion of the tread remaining in the mold with the lubricant arranged between the demolded portion and the portion of the tread remaining within the mold.

Methods and apparatus for demolding tire treads

Embodiments of the invention include methods for supporting a recessed void during retreading operations. Such methods include the steps of providing a tread having a top side and a bottom side, the tread including a recessed void recessed below the top side of the tread. Such methods also include the step of arranging the tread around an outer circumference of the tire carcass in a desired position to form an assembled retreaded tire. Such methods further include the step of arranging a removable circumferential band around the assembled retreaded tire positioned over top the recessed void and the top side of the tread. Such methods further include the steps of placing a curing membrane around at least a portion of the tire and the circumferential band and curing the retreaded tire with the circumferential band contained within the curing membrane.

Methods and apparatus for making retreaded tires

Methods and apparatus for demolding a polymeric material from a mold are disclosed, the methods comprising the steps of placing a material within a mold, closing the mold, molding the material located within the mold, and opening the mold. The mold includes a demolding tool having a material-engaging portion that is in fluid communication with the mold portion, the demolding tool being reversibly disengagable from the first mold member. The demolding tool is disengagable from a resting position within the first mold member to translate from the first mold member the molded polymeric material associated with the material-engaging portion, thereby separating a portion of the molded polymeric material from the mold cavity. In particular embodiments, the material-engaging portion is a cavity. In other embodiments, the material-engaging portion is associated with one or more longitudinal members extending across a portion of the first mold member.

Tread band demolding tool

The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for inspecting a tread. Such methods include providing a tread having a top side and a bottom side, one of the top and bottom sides including a tread feature extending into the thickness of the tread. Such methods further include bending mechanically a transverse extent of the tread relative the tread thickness along a portion of the tread to be inspected about a bending member to form a bent portion of the tread, the portion of the tread to be inspected including the tread feature such that the step of bending expands the tread feature to further expose a depth of the tread feature within the thickness of the tread for inspection. Such further methods include constraining the tread on opposing sides of the portion of the tread to be inspected to maintain the bent portion of the tread in a bent arrangement.

Tread cracking inspection device

Tire tread

Particular embodiments of the present invention include tire treads that include a tread body having a length, a width, and thickness, the thickness being bounded by an outer surface and an underside surface. Such treads may also include a void positioned within the thickness of the tread body. Such treads may further include one or more members extending between the void and the tread underside surface. Other embodiments of the present invention include a tire having such treads, as well as molds for forming such treads.

Features for maintaining voids within a tire tread

An improved system for changing sipe blade configurations on equipment for the manufacture of tires is provided. This system allows the replacement of damaged sipe blades, the replacement of sipe blades of one configuration with those of another configuration, and the elimination of a sipe blade altogether. Certain embodiments allow sipe blades to be changed by providing a sipe blade that is held by a blade holder with a slit in its heel that allows a compact assembly of the sipe blade and blade holder that is easy to manufacture. Other embodiments allow sipe blades that have an undercut in the direction of draw in, their midportion and side portions without undercuts to be easily made and installed. Finally, other embodiments allow for the effective replacement and fabrication of sipe blades that have undercuts in the direction of draw that blend into other projections found on a curing member.

System for changing sipe blades for molding or retreading tires

Growing community of inventors

Simpsonville, SC, United States of America

Ronald Cress