Pneumatic Tire Having Built-In Sealant Layer And Preparation Thereof

• US 20090078353A1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aaron Scott Puhala, Ramendra Nath Majumdar
• Original Assignee: Aaron Scott Puhala, Ramendra Nath Majumdar
• Inventors: Puhala, Aaron Scott, Majumdar, Ramendra Nath
• Application Number:
  US11/858,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20090078353A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/504
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/163 Sealing compositions or agents, e.g. combined with propellant agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/20 the article material only consisting in part of a deformable sealing material
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/069 through the use of a cylindrical support, e.g. a drum
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0695 the sealant being in the form of one wide strip, e.g. a patch
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0061 Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0685 Incorporating auto-repairing or self-sealing arrangements or agents on or into tyres auto-repairing or self-sealing arrangements or agents B29C73/16; puncture preventing arrangements B60C19/12
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/16 Applying the layers; Guiding or stretching the layers during application applying tread bands to carcasses B29D30/58; retreading B29D30/54
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/30 Applying the layers; Guiding or stretching the layers during application applying tread bands to carcasses B29D30/58; retreading B29D30/54
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/12 Puncture preventing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10675 Using flowable coating or composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10684 On inner surface of tubeless tire

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a built-in sealant layer and its preparation. In one embodiment, the pneumatic tire includes an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. A rubber inner liner is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass. A built-in sealant layer is situated adjacent an innermost gas permeable layer and disposed inwardly from the rubber inner liner. The built-in sealant layer provides self-sealing properties to the pneumatic tire. The tire, with its innermost gas permeable layer, allows for elimination or reduction in blister formation in the tire. The pneumatic tire can be prepared by positioning the gas permeable layer on a tire-building apparatus. Next, a precursor sealant layer is positioned directly on the gas permeable layer. The rubber inner liner is disposed outwardly of the precursor sealant layer followed by the tire carcass then the rubber tire tread on the tire carcass.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a pneumatic tire comprising:

positioning a gas permeable layer on a tire-building apparatus;

positioning a precursor sealant layer directly on the gas permeable layer;

forming an unvulcanized tire assembly on the precursor sealant layer; and

vulcanizing the unvulcanized tire assembly under conditions of heat and pressure such that the precursor sealant layer provides the pneumatic tire with self-sealing properties.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gas permeable layer defines a non-woven sheet of polymeric material.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the polymeric material includes a polyester, nylon, or aramid.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the non-woven sheet of polyester, nylon, or aramid is prepared by a melt blown, spun bond, or point bonding process.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the precursor sealant layer comprises an uncured butyl rubber-based rubber composition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the precursor sealant layer comprises a polyurethane based rubber composition.

7. A pneumatic tire prepared according to the method of claim 1.

8. A method of preparing a pneumatic tire comprising:

positioning a non-woven sheet of a polymeric material on a tire-building apparatus;

positioning a precursor sealant layer directly on the non-woven sheet, the precursor sealant layer comprising an uncured butyl rubber-based rubber composition or a polyurethane based composition; and

positioning a rubber inner liner directly on the precursor sealant layer followed by a tire carcass then a rubber tire tread on the tire carcass to define an unvulcanized tire assembly, wherein the precursor sealant layer provides the pneumatic tire with self-sealing properties after vulcanization.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the polymeric material includes a polyester, nylon, or aramid.

10. The method of claim 8 further including vulcanizing the unvulcanized tire assembly under conditions of heat and pressure such that the precursor sealant layer provides the pneumatic tire with self-sealing properties.

11. A pneumatic tire prepared according to the method of claim 9.

12. A pneumatic tire with built-in sealant layer comprising:

an outer circumferential rubber tread, a supporting carcass therefore, a rubber inner liner disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass, an innermost gas permeable layer, and a sealant layer adjacent the innermost gas permeable layer and disposed inwardly from the rubber inner liner, wherein the sealant layer provides self-sealing properties to the pneumatic tire.

13. The tire of claim 12 wherein the gas permeable layer defines a non-woven sheet of polymeric material.

14. The tire of claim 13 wherein the polymeric material includes a polyester, nylon, or aramid.

15. The tire of claim 14 wherein the non-woven sheet of polyester, nylon, or aramid is prepared by a melt blown, spun bond, or point bonding process.

16. The tire of claim 12 wherein the sealant layer comprises a butyl rubber-based rubber composition.

17. The tire of claim 12 wherein the sealant layer comprises a polyurethane based composition.

18. The tire of claim 12 wherein the inner liner is positioned directly on the sealant layer.