Tire apparatus

• US 9,233,583 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Lin, Cheng-Hsiung, Durr, Michael Joseph, Byatarayanapura Gopala, Arun Kumar, Norton, Dale Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Omgba, Essama
• Application Number:
  US14/103,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20150158354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0077 Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0083 Attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization by inserting them inside tyre cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0094 Tyres been capable of generating, e.g. recovering, energy
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0061 Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/72 Side-walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/123 Elongate peristaltic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/00 Apparatus or tools adapted for mounting, removing or inspecting tyres testing of tyres G01M17/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49538 Tire making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

A tire support apparatus includes a support plate for receiving a tire includes an optional inflatable inner tube for insertion into the tire cavity, and an upper plate having a hole for receiving a support member, the upper plate further includes a ring having an inner lip that seats against the bead region of the tire and a radially outer surface that seats against the lower sidewall region of the tire T.

Claims

1. A method for making an air maintenance tire and pump assembly, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a tire having a molded groove in a sidewall of the tire and a pocket in the sidewall and a cavity;

b. inserting an inflatable tube assembly in the tire cavity;

c. placing the tire and tube on a support plate;

d. inflating the tube to open the molded groove in the sidewall,

e. coating a green rubber patch with adhesive and inserting the green rubber patch into the pocket;

f. affixing a filter housing bottom to the green rubber patch;

g. coating the molded groove with adhesive and inserting a tube into the molded groove;

h. inserting a green cover strip over the tube;

i. deflating the tube assembly;

j. placing an upper plate over the tire, wherein the upper plate has a ring having an inner lip that seats against the bead region of the tire and a radially outer surface seats against the lower sidewall region of the tire T; and

k. heating the ring.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tire is uncured.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tire is cured.

4. A method for making an air maintenance tire and pump assembly, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a tire having a molded groove in a sidewall of the tire and a cavity;

b. inserting an inflatable tube assembly in the tire cavity;

c. placing the tire and tube on a support plate;

d. inflating the inflatable tube assembly to open the molded groove in the sidewall,

e. coating the molded groove with adhesive and inserting a tube into the molded groove;

f. inserting a green cover strip over the tube;

g. deflating the inflatable tube assembly;

h. placing an upper plate over the tire, wherein the upper plate has a ring having an inner lip that seats against the bead region of the tire and a radially outer surface seats against the lower sidewall region of the tire T; and

i. heating the ring.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the tire is uncured.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the tire is cured.

7. A method for making an air maintenance tire and pump assembly, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a tire having a molded groove in a sidewall of the tire;

b. providing an upper support plate having an upper sealing ring and a lower support ring having a lower sealing ring, wherein the upper sealing ring has a ring for heating an area of the tire;

c. positioning the tire between the upper support plate and the lower support plate so that each upper and lower support plate is in engagement with a respective bead;

d. inflating the tire to open the molded groove in the sidewall,

e. coating the molded groove with adhesive and inserting a tube into the molded groove;

f. inserting a green cover strip over the tube;

g. releasing some air from the tire; and

h. heating the ring.