Method for forming a compartmented puncture sealant package by co-extrusion

• US 4,388,261 A
• Filed: 10/01/1981
• Issued: 06/14/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The General Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: The General Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Codispoti, Thomas E., Griffith, Richard M., Giustino, James M., Tsai, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): THURLOW, JEFFERY
• Application Number:
  US06/307,401
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 264/171, 264/173, 264/209.8, 264/514, 264/45.9, 264/177 R, 264/45.5, 264/45.6, 264/46.1, 264/524-525, 425/131.1, 425/133.1, 425/133.5, 425/817 C, 425/4 C, 425/462, 156/115, 152/346-347
• US Class Current: 264/174.11
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/11 comprising two or more partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. honeycomb-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/304 specially adapted for bringing together components, e.g. melts within the die
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0689 by incorporating the sealant into a plurality of chambers, e.g. bags, cells, tubes or closed cavities
• 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: B29L 2031/60 Multitubular or multicompartmented articles, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/12 Puncture preventing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10693 Sealant in plural layers or plural pockets

Abstract

A puncture sealant package for incorporation into a pneumatic tire is formed by coextruding a puncture sealant, and a skin forming material. The ribs are formed in an initially circular package profile as chords. After flow in a sheet die, the chords form divider ribs making small angles with the encapulating skin. The compartments formed by the ribs prevent flow of the sealant toward the center of a tire.

Claims

1. A method of forming a compartmented package containing puncture sealant for use in a tire, the steps of the method comprising

(a) providing a first stream of uniform cross-section of a puncture sealant.

(b) providing a second stream of a package forming material;

(c) encapsulating the puncture sealant stream within the package forming material;

(d) forming continuous ribs of the package forming material through the puncture sealant surrounded by package forming material;

(e) supplying the compartmented stream of the puncture sealant to an extrusion die defining an elongate slot like orifice; and

(f) forming and expanding the composite stream into a generally elongate configuration with ribs extending from package wall to package wall each rib forming a juncture angle of from 1°

to 90°

with a package wall.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein two ribs are formed.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein end compartments, separated from a center compartment by the two ribs, of approximately equal size and shape are formed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the packaging material and the puncture sealant are incompatible.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongate slot like orifice is thinner at the edges than at its center.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each rib forms an angle with the package wall of from 1°

to 25°

.

7. An apparatus for forming a compartmented package comprising:

(a) a means for providing a first stream of uniform cross-section of a puncture sealant and a second stream of a package forming material.

(b) a means for encapsulating the puncture sealant stream within the package forming material;

(c) a means for forming non-parallel continuous ribs of the package forming material through the puncture sealant surrounded by package forming material;

(d) a means for supplying the compartmented stream of the puncture sealant to an extrusion die defining an elongate slot like orifice; and

(e) a means for forming and expanding the composite stream into a generally elongate configuration with ribs extending from package wall to package wall each rib forming a juncture angle of from 1°

to 25°

with a package wall.