Self-healing tire system having an inner tube and a puncture sealant layer

• US 5,099,900 A
• Filed: 10/24/1989
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward N. Gomberg
• Original Assignee: Edward N. Gomberg
• Inventors: Gomberg, Edward N.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilber, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US07/426,575
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 156/115, 156/121, 152/502, 152/503, 152/504, 152/506, 152/507, 152/508, 152/510, 152/511, 152/512
• US Class Current: 152/503
• 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 2030/0682 Inner liners
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0695 the sealant being in the form of one wide strip, e.g. a patch
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0681 Parts of pneumatic tyres; accessories, auxiliary operations
• 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: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/245 Inner tubes
• 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 19/122 disposed inside of the inner liner
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10675 Using flowable coating or composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10702 within or part of construction of inflating inner tube

Abstract

A self-healing tire system containing a tire casing, a tacky sealant material, an inner tube and anti-tack material is described. In one embodiment, either the surface of the inner tube or the inner surface of the tire casing is coated with the tacky sealant material. The surface of the sealant, the opposing surface or both are coated with the anti-tack material. The anti-tack material renders the sealant non-tacky for a sufficient time so that the inner tube can be inserted and inflated. However, the anti-tack material allows the sealant surface to become tacky again thereby adhering to the tube and providing for sealing of the tube when it is punctured. In another embodiment, a release agent is contained between the sealant and the tire casing which facilitates removal of the sealant and tube from the tire casing.

Claims

1. A self-healing tire system, comprising:

a tire casing having an inner surface;

an inner tube disposed within said tire casing;

a liner comprising a tacky polymerized self-healing urethane elastomer located on either said inner surface of said tire casing or a surface of said inner tube;

a migrating anti-tack material applied to either said liner or to a surface opposing said liner, or both; and

a non-migrating release agent applied between said inner surface of said tire casing and said liner, wherein

said inner surface is treated with said non-migrating release agent before said liner comes into contact with said inner surface of said tire casing; and

said inner tube is inserted into said tire casing at a time when said anti-tack material has removed said tacky nature of said liner;

whereafter, said anti-tack material migrates into said liner and said liner resumes its tacky nature and adheres to said inner tube.

2. A self-healing tire system, comprising:

a tire casing having an inner surface;

an inner tube disposed within said tire casing;

a liner comprising a tacky polymerized self-healing urethane elastomer located on either said inner surface of said tire casing or a surface of said inner tube; and

a migrating anti-tack material applied to either said liner or to a surface opposing said liner, or both.

3. The self-healing tire system of claim 2, further comprising:

a non-migrating release agent applied between said inner surface of said tire casing and said liner.

4. The self-healing tire system of claim 2 wherein the anti-tack material is a plasticizer.

5. The self-healing tire system of claim 4 wherein the plasticizer is a processing oil.

6. The self-healing tire system of claim 4 wherein the plasticizer is dioctylphthalate.

7. The self-healing tire system of claim 4 wherein the plasticizer is tricresolphosphate.