AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE
First Claim
1. A self-inflating tire comprising:
- a tire having at least one of a sidewall and a chafer;
a groove positioned within the sidewall or chafer;
an air tube positioned within the groove in contacting engagement with opposite groove surfaces at least partially surrounding the air tube;
a coverstrip overlaying and sealing the groove, the coverstrip comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprisingfrom 50 to 80 phr of a polybutadiene having a microstructure comprised of about 96 to about 99 percent cis 1,4-isomeric units, about 0.1 to about 1 percent trans 1,4-isomeric units and from about 1 to about 3 percent vinyl 1,2-isomeric units;
a number average molecular weight (Mn) in a range of from about 75,000 to about 150,000 (relatively low Mn for a cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer) and a heterogeneity index (Mw/Mn) in a range of from about 3/1 to about 5/1 (a relatively high heterogeneity index range illustrating a significant disparity between its weight average and number average molecular weights);
from 20 to 50 phr of natural rubber; and
from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of nitroso compounds, phthalimides, anhydrides and acids.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall or chafer groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. A coverstrip overlays and seals the groove and provides an abrasion resistant surface on the exterior of the tire. The coverstrip is made from a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising from 50 to 80 phr of a polybutadiene, from 50 to 20 phr of natural rubber, and from 0.1 to 5 phr of a vulcanization modifier.
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Citations
2 Claims
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1. A self-inflating tire comprising:
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a tire having at least one of a sidewall and a chafer; a groove positioned within the sidewall or chafer; an air tube positioned within the groove in contacting engagement with opposite groove surfaces at least partially surrounding the air tube; a coverstrip overlaying and sealing the groove, the coverstrip comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising from 50 to 80 phr of a polybutadiene having a microstructure comprised of about 96 to about 99 percent cis 1,4-isomeric units, about 0.1 to about 1 percent trans 1,4-isomeric units and from about 1 to about 3 percent vinyl 1,2-isomeric units;
a number average molecular weight (Mn) in a range of from about 75,000 to about 150,000 (relatively low Mn for a cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer) and a heterogeneity index (Mw/Mn) in a range of from about 3/1 to about 5/1 (a relatively high heterogeneity index range illustrating a significant disparity between its weight average and number average molecular weights);from 20 to 50 phr of natural rubber; and from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of nitroso compounds, phthalimides, anhydrides and acids. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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Specification