Shock absorber loaded in inner cavity of tire enclosed by tire for two-wheeler and rim

• US 7,950,427 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Sakaki, Toshiaki, Minagawa, Yasuhisa, Matsumura, Sadahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnstone; Adrienne C
• Application Number:
  US11/077,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,272 Days
• Field of Search: 152310-314
• US Class Current: 152/310
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/06 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/101 Tyre casings enclosing a distinct core, e.g. foam enclosed chambers defined by a distinct core B60C7/121
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10378 Casing enclosed core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1376 Foam or porous material containing

Abstract

The present invention provides a shock absorber loaded in the inner cavity of a tire enclosed by a tire for a two-wheeler and a rim, which exhibits suitable hardness when starting running and is excellent in cushioning property, both when starting running and during running, due to decrease in hardness as the temperature increases while running. Specifically, the present invention relates to a shock absorber which is loaded in the inner cavity of a tire enclosed by a tire for a two-wheeler and a rim and contacts substantially with the entire inner surface of a tire to be compressed, is circular in the tire circumferential direction and has closed cells; the shock absorber comprising an expanded rubber composition containing at least 5 parts by weight of an organic polymer having a softening point of at least 40° C., based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component.

Claims

1. A shock absorber for a two-wheeler which is loaded in the inner cavity of a tire enclosed by a tire for a two-wheeler and a rim, contacts substantially with the entire inner surface of a tire and is compressed at the same time, is circular in the tire circumferential direction and has closed cells;

said shock absorber for a two-wheeler comprising an expanded rubber containing at least 5 parts by weight of an organic polymer having a softening point of above 40°

C., based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a proton acid and/or a phenol derivative based on 100 parts by weight of said rubber.

2. The shock absorber for a two-wheeler of claim 1, which comprises 5 to 40 parts by weight of said organic polymer based on 100 parts by weight of said rubber.

3. The shock absorber for a two-wheeler of claim 1, wherein said rubber is at least one selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber and a brominated copolymer of p-methylstyrene and isobutylene.

4. The shock absorber for a two-wheeler of claim 1, wherein said organic polymer is polycaprolactone.

5. The shock absorber for a two-wheeler of claim 1 wherein said proton acid is benzoic acid and/or a derivative thereof.

6. The shock absorber for a two-wheeler of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the storage modulus of the shock absorber measured at a temperature of 20°

C., a frequency of 10 Hz and strain of ±

0.25% to the storage modulus of the shock absorber measured at a temperature of 65°

C., a frequency of 10 Hz and strain off 0.25% is at least 2.5.

7. A tire for a two-wheeler having a shock absorber which is loaded in the inner cavity of a tire enclosed by a tire for a two-wheeler and a rim, contacts substantially with the entire inner surface of a tire and is compressed at the same time, is circular in the tire circumferential direction and

has closed cells;

said shock absorber comprising an expanded rubber containing at least 5 parts by weight of an organic polymer having a softening point of above 40°

C., based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber, and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a proton acid and/or a phenol derivative based on 100 parts by weight of said rubber.

8. The tire for a two-wheeler having the shock absorber of claim 7, which comprises 5 to 40 parts by weight of said organic polymer based on 100 parts by weight of said rubber.

9. The tire for a two-wheeler having the shock absorber of claim 7, wherein said organic polymer is polycaprolactone.

10. The tire for a two-wheeler having the shock absorber of claim 7, wherein said rubber is at least one selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber and a brominated copolymer of p-methylstyrene and isobutylene.

11. The tire for a two-wheeler having the shock absorber of claim 10, wherein said proton acid is benzoic acid and/or a derivative thereof.

12. The tire for a two-wheeler having the shock absorber of claim 7, wherein the ratio of the storage modulus of the shock absorber measured at a temperature of 20°

C., a frequency of 10 Hz and strain of ±

0.25% to the storage modulus of the shock absorber measured at a temperature of 65°

C., a frequency of 10 Hz and strain off 0.25% is at least 2.5.