Abstract:
A tire has a tread with a plurality of ground engaging tread elements. In at least one of the tread elements is a sipe having a depth in the radial direction of the tire. The sipe has a crossed configuration comprised of two sipes. At least one of the sipes of the crossed sipe has a radially outer portion having three dimensional elements and a radially innermost portion have a substantially linear configuration. A blade useful for manufacturing the sipe has a crossed blade configuration with a configuration corresponding to the formed sipe.
Abstract:
A pneumatic tire has a tread; the tread has a plurality of grooves, creating an initial tread configuration. The grooves and the tread elements formed thereby result in a tread have a net-to-gross ratio in the range of greater than 60%. Due to variations in the depths and variations in the heights and formations of the tread elements, after the tread has been worn, the tread has a net-to-gross ratio in the range of less than 60%.
Abstract:
A tire has a tread with a plurality of ground engaging tread elements. In at least one of the tread elements is a sipe having a depth in the radial direction of the tire. The sipe has a crossed configuration comprised of two sipes. At least one of the sipes of the crossed sipe has a radially outer portion having three dimensional elements and a radially innermost portion have a substantially linear configuration. A blade useful for manufacturing the sipe has a crossed blade configuration with a configuration corresponding to the formed sipe.
Abstract:
A tire mold is described that includes a plurality of tread molding segments having an inner surface for molding the tire tread. The mold further includes a plurality of sidewall plates having an inner surface for molding the tire sidewall. The tread mold segments together with the sidewalls cooperate to form a tire molding cavity. The sidewall plate further comprises a slot that extends from the outer surface of the tread segment to the inner mold surface, and has a pin extending from the outer surface of the tread segment. The pin is mounted to a rotatable body which can swivel. The rotatable body further comprises a guide pin which cooperates with a working member to rotate the body into a desired position in order to position the pin in the tire tread to be molded. The working member actuates the rotatable body into various positions.
Abstract:
A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.
Abstract:
A tire mold is described that includes a plurality of tread molding segments having an inner surface for molding the tire tread. The mold further includes a plurality of sidewall plates having an inner surface for molding the tire sidewall. The tread mold segments together with the sidewalls cooperate to form a tire molding cavity. The sidewall plate further comprises a slot that extends from the outer surface of the tread segment to the inner mold surface, and has a piston having a head slidably received in the slot. A pin is positioned between the piston head and an end of the slot. The mold further includes actuating means for actuating the piston in the slot when the mold is closed.
Abstract:
A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The structure includes a cylindrical housing with a cylindrical flange and a central channel and a stud portion with a shaft and a flange. The shaft is slidingly disposed within the central channel such that a radially outer tip of the shaft may selectably extend radially outward from the cylindrical housing and from the radially outer tread surface in order to enhance traction for the tire. The radially outer tip extends from the cylindrical housing and from the radially outer tread surface when a predetermined air pressure is introduced into the radially extending recess thereby forcing the flange of the stud portion radially outward to abut the cylindrical flange of the cylindrical housing.
Abstract:
A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.
Abstract:
A tire mold and a molding device for forming a sunken groove, sipe in a tire is provided. The molding device molding device comprises a flexible member and a blade element, the flexible member having a distal end for mounting to a tire mold, a radiused midsection and a second end, wherein a portion of the second end is embedded within the blade element, the blade element having a lower surface with a cutout to allow bending of the flexible member.