Abstract:
An air maintenance tire assembly includes an air pumping passageway located within a tire sidewall to generate compressed air. An outlet screw assembly includes an elongate screw body residing within a profiled sidewall bore. The screw body extends through an axial span of the first sidewall to the tire cavity to conduct air from the sidewall air passageway to the tire cavity. The screw body has enlarged sectional end components to deter radial dislodging of the screw body from the sidewall bore during operation.
Abstract:
A tire assembly and method includes one or more elongate air passageway formed within a tire component, such as a tire sidewall. The air passageway is configured as a series or string of elongate cavities, adjacent cavities connected end to end by an elongate connecting channel. The connecting channel is dimensioned having a channel diametric size smaller than a cavity diametric size. Positioned within the tire component, the air passageway sequentially collapses segment by segment as each of the cavities pass sequentially over a rolling tire footprint. Air is pumped by the sequential air passageway collapse with the smaller dimensioned connecting channel(s) acting as valve components to directionally keep the pumped air moving between an air passageway air inlet and an air passageway air outlet and from there into the tire cavity.
Abstract:
A tire assembly and method includes one or more elongate air passageway formed within a tire component, such as a tire sidewall. The air passageway is configured as a series or string of elongate cavities, adjacent cavities connected end to end by an elongate connecting channel. The connecting channel is dimensioned having a channel diametric size smaller than a cavity diametric size. Positioned within the tire component, the air passageway sequentially collapses segment by segment as each of the cavities pass sequentially over a rolling tire footprint. Air is pumped by the sequential air passageway collapse with the smaller dimensioned connecting channel(s) acting as valve components to directionally keep the pumped air moving between an air passageway air inlet and an air passageway air outlet and from there into the tire cavity.
Abstract:
An air maintenance tire assembly having an elongate air pumping sidewall air passageway includes an inlet air passage screw assembly inserted through a tire sidewall profiled bore to conduct air from outside the tire into a regulator positioned within a tire cavity. The screw assembly includes a screw body having at an outer end a large-diameter filter housing, a smaller-diameter midsection shank portion, and an inner large-diameter valve housing connecting to the regulator within the tire cavity. A valve mechanism seats within the valve housing and moves between an open position conducting air from the screw body into the regulator assembly and a closed position preventing a backflow of air from the regulator assembly.
Abstract:
An air maintenance tire assembly having an elongate air pumping sidewall air passageway includes an inlet air passage screw assembly inserted through a tire sidewall profiled bore to conduct air from outside the tire into a regulator positioned within a tire cavity. The screw assembly includes a screw body having at an outer end a large-diameter filter housing, a smaller-diameter midsection shank portion, and an inner large-diameter valve housing connecting to the regulator within the tire cavity. A valve mechanism seats within the valve housing and moves between an open position conducting air from the screw body into the regulator assembly and a closed position preventing a backflow of air from the regulator assembly.
Abstract:
The invention provides a tire tread, the tread having at least one circumferentially extending or laterally extending main groove, the maximum radial depth of the at least one main groove defining a non-skid tread depth, the at least one main groove partially forming at least one tread element, the at least one tread element having a sipe therein, wherein the sipe has a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said sipe further including a continuous tubular pathway bordering said first, second and third side. The invention further includes a blade for molding a tire, the blade comprising a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said blade further including a continuous tubular pathway extending along the third side and partially extending along at least one of the first and second side.
Abstract:
An air maintenance tire assembly includes an air pumping passageway located within a tire sidewall to generate compressed air. An outlet screw assembly includes an elongate screw body residing within a profiled sidewall bore. The screw body extends through an axial span of the first sidewall to the tire cavity to conduct air from the sidewall air passageway to the tire cavity. The screw body has enlarged sectional end components to deter radial dislodging of the screw body from the sidewall bore during operation.
Abstract:
The invention provides a tire tread, the tread having at least one circumferentially extending or laterally extending main groove, the maximum radial depth of the at least one main groove defining a non-skid tread depth, the at least one main groove partially forming at least one tread element, the at least one tread element having a sipe therein, wherein the sipe has a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said sipe further including a continuous tubular pathway bordering said first, second and third side. The invention further includes a blade for molding a tire, the blade comprising a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said blade further including a continuous tubular pathway extending along the third side and partially extending along at least one of the first and second side.