Apparatus for bonding an active tag to a patch and a tire

• US 6,443,198 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Russell W., Wilson, Paul B., Walenga, Guy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rossi, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US09/441,564
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: B60/C 2.304, 152/367, 152/368, 152/369, 152/370, 152/371, 152/372, 152/373, 152/152.1, 156/123, 340/438-449, 731/465
• US Class Current: 152/152.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2037/80 Identifying, e.g. coding, dating, marking, numbering
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0072 Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0077 Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/728 Decorating or marking the sidewalls after tyre vulcanization protecting, decorating, marking tyre sidewalls B60C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07764 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier attachable to a tire tire temperature or pressur control arrangements, see B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10819 Characterized by the structure of the bead portion of the tire

Abstract

A method and apparatus for bonding an active tag to a patch and assembling the patch to a tire is set forth. A patch assembly and a method for securing an electronic monitoring device having electronic and mechanical components for monitoring at least one engineering condition within a tire, comprising an rigid tag assembly encapsulating the electronic monitoring device, bonded to a vulcanized rubber patch which is secured to the inner cavity of a tire utilizing a layer of dual cure bonding rubber.

Claims

1. In combination:

a pneumatic tire having an innerliner;

an electronic monitoring device for monitoring at least one engineering condition of the tire;

an attachment patch mounted to the innerliner of the tire;

the attachment patch including a first side and a second side;

the second side of the attachment patch being connected to the innerliner;

the first side of the patch including a recessed cavity;

the electronic monitoring device disposed at least partially in the recessed cavity; and

the patch including a ridge surrounding the recessed cavity.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the attachment patch has an outer edge;

the attachment patch being tapered from the ridge to the outer edge.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the ridge is integral to the attachment patch;

the attachment patch and the ridge being fabricated from rubber.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is connected to the attachment patch with an adhesive.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the attachment patch is comprised of rubber selected from the group consisting of EPDM, butyl rubber, natural rubber, neoprene, and mixtures thereof.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the attachment patch is comprised of chlorobutyl rubber and natural rubber.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the attachment patch is comprised of a mixture of SBR and natural rubber.

8. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a rigid insert connected to the attachment patch;

the monitoring device disposed inside the insert.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the attachment patch includes a layer of uncured rubber that has been cured to connect the attachment patch to the innerliner.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the layer of uncured rubber is dual cure rubber.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is encapsulated with a rigid potting material.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein one side of the encapsulated monitoring device has an alternating raised and recessed pattern.

13. In combination:

a pneumatic tire having an innerliner;

an electronic monitoring device for monitoring at least one engineering condition of the tire;

the electronic monitoring device being encapsulated in a rigid encapsulation material; and

an attachment patch mounted to the innerliner of the tire;

the attachment patch having a first side and a second side;

the first side of the attachment patch having a recessed cavity;

the second side of the attachment patch approximating the contour of the innerliner at the location where the attachment patch is mounted to the innerliner;

the electronic monitoring device mounted at least partially in the recessed cavity of the attachment patch; and

the attachment patch defining a ridge that surrounds the recessed cavity.