Pneumatic tires, production equipment and use

Abstract

Pneumatic tires (100) comprising: an inner surface (102); a foam (108) on the inner surface (102); wherein the foam (108) has an open-pore surface (118); and wherein at least a portion of the open-pore surface (118) is produced by treating the foam (108) with a treatment agent (112) during production of the foam (108) in the pneumatic tire (100).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to pneumatic tires having a foam for noise reduction. BACKGROUND

[0002] DE 20 2023 107 514 U1 discloses an assembly comprising a component, for example, a pneumatic tire; a foam material, which is attached to the component by applying a precursor of the foam material to the component and transferring the precursor material to thereby produce the foam material; in particular, wherein the foam material has an open-pored surface facing away from the component. The open-pored surface can be a laser-machined surface, wherein a surface region of the foam material has been removed by means of a laser beam. SUMMARY

[0003] In view of the situation described above, there may be a need for a technique which makes it possible to provide a pneumatic tire, a production apparatus, a method and a use with improved characteristics.

[0004] This need can be addressed by the independent claims. Some advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a pneumatic tire is provided.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, a pneumatic tire is provided, the pneumatic tire comprising: an inner surface; a foam on the inner surface; wherein the foam has an open-pored surface; and wherein at least a portion of the open-pored surface is created by treating the foam with a treating agent during formation of the foam in the pneumatic tire.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a production apparatus is provided.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the second aspect, a production device for producing a foam on an inner surface of a pneumatic tire is provided, the production device comprising: an application device for applying a precursor of a foam to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire and producing a foam material in which the precursor is at least partially converted into the foam; an application device for applying a treatment agent to the surface of the foam material.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a use is provided.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the third aspect, a use of a treatment agent for thinning a skin of a foam material located in a pneumatic tire and / or opening pores of a foam material located in a pneumatic tire during production of the foam material in the pneumatic tire is disclosed.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a method is provided.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the fourth aspect, a method is provided, comprising: applying a precursor of a foam to at least a portion of an inner surface of a pneumatic tire; producing a foam material from the precursor by at least partially converting the precursor into the foam; treating the foam material with a treatment agent. DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Although certain disadvantages of prior technologies are mentioned herein, the claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited to implementations that overcome some or all of the noted disadvantages of the prior technologies. Furthermore, although certain advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein are mentioned or implied in the present disclosure, the claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited to implementations that have some or all of those advantages.

[0014] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are described, with reference being made, for example, to a method, a use, a production device, and a pneumatic tire (hereinafter also referred to as "tire"). It should be emphasized that any combination of features of different aspects, embodiments, and examples is naturally possible. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to a method or a use, while other embodiments are described with reference to a pneumatic tire. Yet other embodiments are described with reference to a device (e.g., a production device), while other embodiments are described with reference to a control device for interacting with elements of the device.However, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the above and following description, claims, and drawings that, unless otherwise stated, features of various aspects, embodiments, and examples may be combined, and such combinations of features are to be considered disclosed herein. For example, even a feature relating to a method and / or use may be combined with a feature relating to a device and / or a pneumatic tire, and vice versa.

[0015] Exemplary implementations of the subject matter disclosed herein include, in particular, one or more of the embodiments and combinations of embodiments described herein.

[0016] According to one embodiment, a pneumatic tire according to the first aspect has an inner surface and a foam on the inner surface. According to one embodiment, the inner surface at least partially defines a cavity of the pneumatic tire. According to one embodiment, the cavity can be filled with a compressed gas (for example, compressed air) when the pneumatic tire is mounted on a rim. According to one embodiment, the foam modifies noise generated by the rolling of the pneumatic tire, for example, by changing its frequency spectrum or reducing its intensity. According to one embodiment, the foam is provided on the inner surface of the pneumatic tire by introducing a precursor into the tire and converting the precursor into the foam.

[0017] According to one embodiment, an open-pore surface of the foam is produced by treating the foam with a treatment agent during the production of the foam in the tire (in particular after the application of the precursor and before the conversion of the precursor to the foam is completely completed).

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the foam is produced by reacting a precursor. According to one embodiment, the production of the foam, during which treatment with the treatment agent takes place, comprises foaming (for example, by forming a blowing agent) and / or crosslinking (for example, by a polymerization reaction).

[0019] A production device according to the second aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein comprises, in one embodiment, an application device for applying a precursor of a foam material to an inner surface of a pneumatic tire and producing a foam material in which the precursor is at least partially converted into the foam material. According to a further embodiment, the production device comprises an application device for applying a treatment agent to the surface of the foam material.

[0020] According to one embodiment, a use of a treatment agent according to the third aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein serves to thin a skin of a foam material located in a tire and / or to open pores, in particular to the cavity of the tire, of a foam material located in a tire during production of the foam material in the tire.

[0021] A method according to the fourth aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein comprises, according to one embodiment, applying a precursor of a foam material to at least part of an inner surface of a tire. According to a further embodiment, the method further comprises producing a foam material from the precursor by at least partially converting the precursor into the foam material. According to a further embodiment, the method comprises treating the foam material with a treatment agent, in particular to thereby thin a skin of the foam material and / or open pores of the foam material, in particular to the cavity of the tire, during production of the foam material in the tire.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the treatment agent is applied to a surface (e.g., an already formed skin) of the foam material to thereby open pores toward the cavity of the tire and create open pores on the surface of the foam material.

[0023] The term “treatment agent” refers herein in particular to a medium (in particular a liquid or a gas) which is suitable and / or configured to open pores on a surface of a foam during the production of the foam.

[0024] The term “during production of the foam material” also includes in particular a state of further production (e.g. further processing) of the foam material, in particular further foaming and / or crosslinking of the foam material.

[0025] According to one embodiment, in the context of the present disclosure, the term “skin” refers to a closed-pore surface of the foam.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the term "portion" is synonymous with the term "part." In this sense, for example, a portion of a surface (e.g., the open-pore surface) can also be referred to as a surface portion or part of the surface, according to one embodiment.

[0027] Some of the embodiments disclosed herein refer to a foam material, which in particular represents an intermediate stage between the precursor and the final foam. In other words, within the scope of the present disclosure, a foam before reaching its final state or before its complete curing / crosslinking (i.e., during its production) may also be referred to as a foam material.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the term “open-pored surface” means that the surface is formed by pores (of the foam or the foam material) and that at least some of these pores are free of skin (i.e. are open and thus form an opening in the surface). Without treatment with the treatment agent according to embodiments of the subject matters disclosed herein, a foam usually has a skin after production, which separates the interior of the foam from the surrounding atmosphere (for example a compressed gas, in particular air). Without wishing to be limited to the theory, this is presumably due to the fact that open pores at the interface to air are not energetically stable and / or because the gas formed during the reaction can escape directly at the surface of the foam material. Due to the fact that the treatment of the foam orSince the foam material is removed during foam production, it is therefore not necessary to remove any part of the (final) foam. Rather, the open-pore surface can be produced without material removal, thus achieving maximum material yield.

[0029] Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are based on the idea of ​​opening and / or thinning the skin of a foam material, which is formed as an intermediate product during the conversion of a precursor into the foam, using a treatment agent, at least for some of the pores, and thereby creating an open-pored surface and / or facilitating the subsequent opening using another technology. This means that according to one embodiment, an open-pored surface is created by treating the foam with a treatment agent during the production of the foam, i.e., during the conversion of the precursor into the foam. In other words, the treatment of the foam with a treatment agent takes place according to one embodiment after the application of the precursor to the inner surface of the tire and before the crosslinking of the foam is fully completed.The open-pore surface can allow sound waves to penetrate the foam more easily. On the other hand, creating the open-pore surface by treating the foam during its production can result in a larger foam volume, as more mass is available for foam formation (i.e., foam volume) and less (or no) mass is required for skin formation. Furthermore, the compressive force of a skin can be eliminated or at least reduced.

[0030] Without intervention in the conversion process, a closed-cell skin typically forms on the surface of the foam during the conversion of the precursor into the foam. Under certain reaction conditions, this skin can solidify faster than the underlying material, whereby the skin exerts a certain amount of pressure on the underlying foam material and prevents further expansion / foaming. By thinning the skin or opening the skin during the conversion, according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein, a larger foam volume can be achieved compared to a conversion process without the use of a treatment agent.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the foam is an open-pored foam, i.e. the pores of the foam inside the foam (beneath the surface) are interconnected. The open-poredness of a foam allows sound waves to penetrate deep into the foam, which can improve the damping of the sound waves. In this way, rolling noise from the tire can be reduced. Reduced rolling noise is particularly advantageous for modern vehicles that have only low noise emissions from the drive (such as electric vehicles). According to one embodiment, the foam is configured to reduce sound in a specific frequency range. According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire is a tire of a motor vehicle, for example a car or a truck.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the term “during the production of the foam” refers to a point in time or a period of time before the conversion of the precursor into the foam (in particular a period of time before crosslinking) is completely complete. According to one embodiment, the foam (i.e. the foam material) is exposed to the treatment agent in an interval between 20% and 95% of the pot life of the precursor, for example after 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% of the pot life. According to one embodiment, the foam is exposed to the treatment agent during a time interval which has two of the aforementioned values ​​as endpoints or an open range which has one of these values ​​as an upper limit or as a lower limit.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the pot life is the time between mixing the components of the precursor and reaching a gel point at room temperature. Consequently, according to one embodiment, the pot life begins with the mixing of the components of the precursor.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the gel point is defined by the loss modulus being equal to the elastic modulus. According to one embodiment, the precursor has a pot life of less than 120 seconds, for example, a pot life of less than 60 seconds. According to another embodiment, the precursor has a pot life of less than 45 seconds. For example, according to one embodiment, the precursor has a pot life of less than 25 seconds.

[0035] As explained above, according to one embodiment, the pot life begins with the mixing of the components of the precursor. For example, if the foam is exposed to the treatment agent after 50% of the pot life, a pot life of 60 seconds would result in the foam being exposed to the treatment agent 30 seconds after the precursor components have been mixed.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the mixing of the components of the precursor takes place immediately before the precursor is applied to the inner surface of the tire. In this case, the mixing of the components of the precursor coincides with the application of the precursor to the inner surface of the tire. For example, in this case, with the exemplary pot life of 60 seconds, the foam is exposed to the treatment agent 30 seconds after the precursor is applied to the inner surface of the tire.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, the precursor is applied continuously over a period of several seconds while the application device moves relative to the tire's inner surface in order to apply the precursor to a partial area of ​​the tire's inner surface. The period can be, for example, at least 2 seconds, at least 10 seconds, at least 30 seconds, or at least 60 seconds. For example, the period can be between 10 seconds and 120 seconds, for example 20 seconds. In this (preferably continuous) application process, according to one embodiment, the mixing of the components of the precursor can also take place continuously immediately before application, so that the pot life of different portions of the precursor is completed at different times depending on when they are mixed. In the above example, within a period of 20 seconds.Analogously, according to a further embodiment, the treatment agent can also be applied during a relative movement between the tire and the treatment agent application device at different locations on the surface of the foam material at different times or during different periods. According to a further embodiment, the treatment agent can be applied while the precursor is simultaneously applied to another location on the tire.

[0038] Without wishing to be limited to the theory, according to one embodiment, a certain minimum viscosity of the foam material is required for the formation of an open-pored surface by applying the treatment agent, so that the opened pores do not close again until the precursor product has been fully converted or until the foam material has been fully crosslinked.

[0039] According to one embodiment, an open-pore surface has pores which form the surface of the foam and which are open to the outside (ie in a direction away from the volume of the foam).

[0040] According to one embodiment, the surface of the foam forms an interface with the tire's inflation gas (typically air), thus facing away from the tire's inner surface or forming no interface with the tire, and is therefore also referred to as a free surface. An interface between the foam and the tire's inner surface is referred to herein as an "interface."

[0041] According to one embodiment, the treatment agent comprises a component which is also contained in the precursor and contributes to the conversion of the precursor (i.e. to the conversion of the precursor into the foam). For example, a precursor for polyurethane foam comprises water which, during the conversion to the foam with other components of the precursor, generates CO2. This CO2 in turn serves as a blowing agent (propellant gas) for foaming the foam. In this case, according to one embodiment, the treatment agent can be water. According to one embodiment, the treatment agent promotes increased gas formation in the foam. In other words, according to one embodiment, the treatment agent produces more blowing agent on the surface of the foam material, and skin formation is thus reduced.

[0042] According to a further embodiment, the treatment agent may comprise a catalyst, for example, a catalyst that supports or accelerates a gas reaction and thus ensures the formation of more blowing agent on the surface of the foam material. According to one embodiment, the catalyst may be a carboxylic acid, such as formic acid or acetic acid, and / or consist of a component that is also present in the precursor.

[0043] According to one embodiment, a reaction (e.g., a reaction rate) on the surface of the partially reacted foam (i.e., the foam material) is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the treatment agent, for example, adjusted to the cycle times of the production device. For example, in one embodiment, a reaction rate on the surface of the partially reacted foam can be increased by high temperatures of the treatment agent.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the treatment agent contains at least one substance with nucleophilic properties. According to one embodiment, nucleophiles are molecules or ions that possess a free electron pair or at least one pi bond. Nucleophiles according to another embodiment are Lewis acids. Particularly suitable, for example, are nucleophiles in which a hydrogen atom is directly bonded to the atom with the free electron pair.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the at least one substance with nucleophilic properties is an alcohol, an amine, a carboxylic acid, or water. For example, according to one embodiment, these are monoalcohols or monoamines, which can lead to termination of the polymerization reaction of the diisocyanate with the polyol by the isocyanate functionality "reacting off." For example, according to one embodiment, foam formation in the precursor can comprise a nucleophilic addition of water to form CO2. For example, foam formation in the precursor can comprise a reaction of isocyanate with water to form CO2 and a polyurea group.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the treatment agent comprises an acid or a base, for example for catalytic analysis of a nucleophilic addition. According to one embodiment, the acid is an inorganic acid. According to another embodiment, the base is an inorganic base. For example, according to one embodiment, the treatment agent comprises at least one of the following chemical compounds: a halogen-containing acid (in particular hydrochloric acid (HCl)), a sulfur-containing acid (in particular sulfuric acid (H2SO4)), a phosphorus-containing acid (in particular phosphoric acid (H3PO4)), a carbon-containing acid (in particular carbonic acid (H2CO3)), a nitrogen-containing compound (in particular ammonia (NH3)), an alkali metal hydroxide solution (in particular sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) and / or potassium hydroxide solution (KOH)), a salt of at least one of the above compounds (in particular sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)).

[0047] According to one embodiment, the acid is an organic acid and / or the base is an organic base. According to one embodiment, the treatment agent comprises an organic acid or an organic base, in particular a water-soluble carboxylic acid or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine, in particular ethanolamine.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the treatment agent comprises a surfactant. For example, according to one embodiment, the treatment agent is an aqueous solution containing at least one surfactant that reduces the interfacial tension of the solution.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the air permeability of the open-pore surface is reduced by at least 20%, for example, by at least 40%, by at least 60%, or by at least 80%, compared to the air permeability of a cut surface through the volume of the foam. According to one embodiment, the air permeability can be determined by measuring a flow resistance, for example, according to DIN EN ISO 9053-1.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire defines an axis of rotation, an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation and a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the surface of the foam has a convex curvature in the axial direction, particularly with respect to a portion of the inner surface on which the foam was produced. According to another embodiment, a region of the surface of the foam adjacent to the inner surface of the tire has an open-pore surface.

[0052] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the open-pore surface has an angle of more than 45 degrees relative to the tire's rotational axis. For example, the area of ​​the foam surface adjacent to the tire's inner surface has an angle of more than 45 degrees relative to the tire's rotational axis.

[0053] By opening the pores on the surface of the foam using a suitable treatment agent (e.g. water) which is harmless to the inner surface of the tire, the surface of the foam can also be opened in the area adjacent to the inner surface of the tire without the risk of damaging or impairing the inner surface of the tire (e.g. an inner liner).

[0054] According to one embodiment, a pore size distribution of the pores forming the open-pore surface of the foam differs from a pore size distribution of pores in the volume of the foam. For example, according to one embodiment, a pore size distribution of the open-pore surface approximated by curve fitting using a Gaussian bell curve has a standard deviation that is at least 20% (in particular at least 40%, for example at least 60% or at least 80%) greater than a correspondingly approximated pore size distribution of a sectional area through the volume of the foam.For example, according to one embodiment, a first standard deviation is determined by curve fitting a Gaussian bell curve to a measured pore size distribution of the pores on the open-pored surface, and a second standard deviation is determined by curve fitting a Gaussian bell curve to a measured pore size distribution of the pores of a cut surface through the volume of the foam, wherein according to the respective embodiment, the first standard deviation is, for example, at least 20% greater than the second standard deviation. According to one embodiment, the cut surface is parallel to the open-pored surface. For example, the pore size distribution on the open-pored surface can first be determined and then a cut can be made through the foam parallel to the open-pored surface in order to remove a portion of the foam which has the open-pored surface.Subsequently, the pore size distribution can be determined at the cut surface. According to one embodiment, the pore size is determined by measuring the size of the pore openings. In this sense, according to one embodiment, the pore size distribution is a size distribution of pore openings (at the open-pore surface or at the cut surface).

[0055] According to one embodiment, the foam has at least one of the following: (a) at least a portion of the surface of the foam is a closed surface; (b) at least a portion of the surface of the foam is an open-pored surface, wherein the open-pored surface has been produced by a mechanical and / or thermal process; (c) a first open-pored surface portion has an air permeability that is at least 20% higher than a second open-pored surface portion. According to a further embodiment, the first open-pored surface portion has an air permeability that is at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, or at least 80% higher than the second open-pored surface portion.Due to a lower air permeability of the second open-pored surface portion, a membrane effect, in particular a membrane effect as described in DE 20 2025 101 068 U1, can be at least partially retained.

[0056] The second open-pore surface portion can be produced, for example, by treating the foam with a treatment agent according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein. According to a further embodiment, the first open-pore surface portion can be produced by treating the foam with a treatment agent according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein. For example, the treatment of the foam with the treatment agent in the first open-pore surface portion can take place over a longer period of time than the treatment of the foam with the treatment agent in the second open-pore surface portion.

[0057] According to a further embodiment, the first open-pored surface portion (which, according to one embodiment, has a comparatively higher air permeability) can be produced by removing a skin of the foam, wherein the removal of the skin takes place after the production of the foam in the tire, for example by a mechanical and / or thermal process. Such removal of the skin can take place, for example, according to one or more embodiments as described in DE 20 2023 107 514 U1, DE 20 2024 001 792 U1, DE 20 2024 104 283 U1 and / or DE 20 2025 101 068 U1. According to a further embodiment, the first open-pored surface portion can be produced by processing an already existing second open-pored surface portion by a mechanical or thermal process (and thereby producing the first open-pored surface portion).According to a further embodiment, the first open-pore surface portion can be produced by carrying out an opening of pores according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein with other parameters, for example (i) at a different time, measured from the mixing of the components, (ii) with a longer treatment time with the treatment agent, (iii) with a higher application per unit time (higher mass of treatment agent per unit time), (iv) with a different treatment agent, (v) with a treatment agent which has a different temperature.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the treatment agent is a liquid treatment agent. For example, according to one embodiment, the application device of the production device comprises a spray device for applying the liquid treatment agent to the surface of the foam material. According to one embodiment, the spray device is a nebulizing device that converts the liquid treatment agent into a mist (i.e., into fine droplets) and delivers it to the surface of the foam material.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the application device is configured to apply a gaseous treatment agent to the foam material. For example, according to one embodiment, the gaseous treatment agent can be water vapor.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the tire is held by a receptacle during the application of the precursor to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire. The term "holding" here encompasses, for example, (i) fixing the tire in its spatial position, in particular with respect to the application device and / or the application device, (ii) gripping the tire, and / or (iii) supporting the tire, for example by rollers on which the tire rests. For example, according to one embodiment, the production device has a receptacle for holding a pneumatic tire.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the tire and the application device are rotated relative to one another during the application of the precursor product, for example about the tire's axis of rotation. Analogous to the application device and the application of the precursor product, according to one embodiment the tire and the application device are rotated relative to one another during the application of the treatment agent, for example about the tire's axis of rotation. For example, according to one embodiment the receptacle for holding a pneumatic tire has a rotation device for rotating the pneumatic tire about its axis of rotation. According to one embodiment the receptacle can comprise a gripping device which grips the pneumatic tire. According to one embodiment the pneumatic tire can be gripped from the outside on the tread (on the tire profile) or according to another embodiment from the inside on the rim seat.For example, according to one embodiment, the receptacle can be rotatable in order to thereby rotate the pneumatic tire held by the receptacle. According to a further embodiment, the receptacle can comprise at least one roller on which the tire rolls. For example, the receptacle can comprise two or more rollers, for example two or more rollers on which the pneumatic tire stands (or lies) and which can drive the tire in a rotary movement through suitable rotation. An axis of rotation of the rollers can, for example, be arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire or perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire. For example, according to one embodiment, the rotation device can be configured to rotate the receptacle or to rotate the at least one roller.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the application device for applying the treatment agent is configured to be introduced into the pneumatic tire together with the application device for the precursor. For example, it can be provided that the application of the treatment agent takes place before the application of the precursor to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire is completed. According to a further embodiment, the application device for applying the treatment agent is configured to be introduced into the pneumatic tire independently of the application device for the precursor. Thus, according to one embodiment, several tires can be processed in parallel by simultaneously introducing the precursor into a second tire while the treatment agent is applied to a first tire. This can lead to more efficient application.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the application device for applying the treatment agent is configured to apply the treatment agent to a predetermined part of the surface of the foam material.

[0064] According to a further embodiment, the application device for applying the treatment agent is configured to apply the treatment agent several times to the predetermined part of the surface of the foam material at predetermined time intervals.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the treatment agent is applied to the foam material without contact, for example, using a spray device as described herein. According to another embodiment, the treatment agent is applied to the foam material by contacting the foam material with a contact element.

[0066] The application of the treatment agent to the predetermined part of the foam material can be carried out, for example, (i) by timed (e.g. intermittent) spraying of the treatment agent onto the foam material, for example during rotation of the tire and the application device relative to each other, or (ii) by timed (e.g. intermittent) contacting of the foam material with a contact element, for example during rotation of the tire and the application device relative to each other.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the application device comprises a contact element configured to apply the treatment agent to the surface of the foam material through contact with the foam material. According to one embodiment, the contact element is configured to be able to receive the treatment agent. For example, the contact element can be a sponge or a foam roller. According to one embodiment, the contact element can be part of a contact application device configured to apply the treatment agent in a defined amount (e.g., per unit of time or per area) to the surface of the foam material.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the foam's structure is modified or adjusted by targeted compression of the foam material by the contact element. For example, according to one embodiment, this can improve gas escape from the pores and thus the opening of closed pores.

[0069] As explained above, the treatment agent can also be applied to the foam material by means of a non-contact application device, for example by means of a spray device.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the production device comprises a control device which is configured to control components of the production device, for example to control the application device and thereby control the application of the precursor to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire and / or to control the application device and thereby control the application of the treatment agent to the surface of the foam material.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the control device comprises a processor device configured to execute a program element of a computer program, wherein the program element, when executed on the processor device, controls the execution of a method disclosed herein. The program element can be stored in a storage device of the production device.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the program element is a non-transient program element. According to another embodiment, the computer program product is a non-transient computer program product.

[0073] As used herein, reference to a computer program product comprising a program element is considered equivalent to reference to a computer program comprising a program element and / or a computer-readable medium comprising a program element. According to one embodiment, the program element comprises instructions for controlling a processor device (having one or more microprocessors, e.g., a computer system) to effect and / or coordinate the execution of at least one method described herein.

[0074] The (non-transient) program element may be implemented as computer-readable instruction code using any suitable programming language, such as JAVA, C#, Python, etc., and may be stored on a computer-readable medium (removable disk, volatile or non-volatile memory, embedded memory / processor, etc.). According to one embodiment, the instruction code is executable for programming a computer or any other programmable processor device to perform the intended functions. The computer program may be available on a network, such as the World Wide Web, from which it may be downloaded, for example.

[0075] The subject matter disclosed herein can be implemented by means of a computer program product (program element) or software. However, the subject matter disclosed herein can also be implemented by one or more specific electronic circuits or hardware. Furthermore, the subject matter disclosed herein can also be implemented in hybrid form, i.e., in a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0076] According to embodiments of the first aspect, the pneumatic tire is configured to implement one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as dictated by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, and / or the fourth aspect.

[0077] According to embodiments of the second aspect, the production device is configured to implement one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as required by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, and / or the fourth aspect.

[0078] According to embodiments of the third aspect, the use is configured to implement one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as required by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, and / or the fourth aspect.

[0079] According to embodiments of the fourth aspect, the method is configured to implement one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, and / or to provide the functionality as required by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, and / or the fourth aspect.

[0080] It is noted that a reference to an aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein naturally also includes a reference to one or more embodiments of that aspect. For example, the statement that reference is made to a method according to the fourth aspect includes embodiments according to which the referenced method is configured according to one or more embodiments of the first aspect (and / or the second aspect and / or the third aspect).

[0081] Unless otherwise stated, numerical values ​​are to be understood as including a ± 5% window. For example, according to one embodiment, a specification of an angle of 45 degrees includes an angle within an interval of (45 degrees ± 5% of 45 degrees) = [43 degrees; 47 degrees], and according to one embodiment, a percentage of 50% includes a percentage within an interval of 50% ± 5% of 50% = [47.5%; 52.5%]. According to a further embodiment, numerical values ​​and / or percentages are to be understood as including a ± 10% window.

[0082] According to one embodiment, a method disclosed herein may define the functionality of a device disclosed herein without being limited to the device-specific features. Therefore, any functionality disclosed herein of a device disclosed herein is intended to implicitly disclose a corresponding method defined exclusively by the disclosed functionality. Conversely, according to one embodiment, a method disclosed herein may be performed with any suitable known or herein-disclosed device (which may comprise a single element or multiple cooperating elements).

[0083] In this respect, each method disclosed herein is intended to implicitly disclose a corresponding device configured to carry out the method.

[0084] A general reference to embodiments (for example of a pneumatic tire), for example by the formulation "according to at least one embodiment", by the formulation "according to one or more embodiments" or the formulation "according to embodiments", in particular also includes the combination of features of a corresponding independent claim without further restrictions (for example the pneumatic tire according to claim 1).

[0085] Unless expressly stated otherwise, a listing of features or process steps according to one embodiment does not yet define an order of the features or process steps in the order of the listing. According to another embodiment, a listing of features or process steps defines an order of the features or process steps as specified in the listing.

[0086] Above, in some embodiments, upon first occurrence of a feature, reference was made to the feature with the indefinite article, e.g., both in the description of embodiments of the first aspect and in the description of embodiments of the second aspect, the third aspect, and the fourth aspect.It should be understood, however, that the use of the indefinite article or the use of the definite article in this disclosure is not limiting, and that a feature referred to in different embodiments, regardless of whether it is referred to with the definite article or with the indefinite article, in any case refers to the same feature in at least one embodiment, and therefore, in a combination of different embodiments, the feature may be referenced with the indefinite article at the first occurrence of the feature and with the definite article at subsequent occurrences of the feature. Furthermore, according to one embodiment, a feature referred to with the definite article may be formed without the previously described embodiments. Furthermore, in one embodiment, for example, the first aspect and the second aspect are two different aspects of the same subject matter.

[0087] It should be noted that, unless expressly stated otherwise, numerals (first, second, third, etc.) serve merely to identify different elements (e.g., open-pore surface portions) without the numerals implying a sequence of method steps and without the numerals requiring or implying the existence of any of the other different elements. For example, a reference alone to a second open-pore surface portion does not require that a first open-pore surface portion be created before the second open-pore surface portion. Furthermore, a reference to a second open-pore surface portion, at least in one embodiment, does not require that a first open-pore surface portion already be present or even be provided.

[0088] Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following exemplary description of currently preferred embodiments, to which the claimed subject matter is not limited, however. The individual figures of the drawings in this document are to be considered merely schematic and not to scale. The above definitions and comments also apply in particular to the following detailed description, and vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein at a first stage of manufacture. Fig. 2 shows the pneumatic tire from Fig. 1 in a second production stage. Fig. 3 shows the pneumatic tire from Fig. 2 in a third manufacturing stage, in which the foam has an open-pore surface according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein. Fig. 4 shows the pneumatic tire from Fig. 3 in a further production stage. Fig. 5 shows the pneumatic tire from Fig. 4 in a further production stage. Fig. 6 shows a portion of another pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein. Fig. 7 schematically shows a production apparatus according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein. Fig. 8 shows another production apparatus according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein. Fig. 9 shows in a cross-sectional view a part of another production apparatus according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein in a tire. Fig. 10 shows the tire from Fig. 9 in a more advanced stage of production in which the foam material is fully converted into the foam. Fig. 11 shows in a cross-sectional view a portion of another production apparatus according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein in a tire. Fig. 12 shows the tire from Fig. 11 in a more advanced stage of production in which the foam material is fully converted into the foam. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0089] It is noted that in different figures, similar or identical elements or components are provided with the same reference numerals, or with reference numerals that differ only in the leading digit. Such features or components that are the same or at least functionally equivalent to the corresponding features or components in another figure are only described in detail at their first occurrence in the following text, and the description is not repeated for subsequent occurrences of these features and components (or the corresponding reference numerals). If an element appears multiple times in a drawing (e.g. a surface portion), in some cases not all elements are provided with reference numerals to increase clarity. Of course, the corresponding description also applies to elements not provided with a reference number.

[0090] It is understood that an exemplary implementation of the elements described below and provided with reference numerals is shown in the relevant drawings and is configured in any case in an embodiment according to the following description, unless otherwise stated.

[0091] Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein at a first stage of manufacture 101.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire 100 has an inner surface 102, onto which a foam precursor 104 is applied in the first manufacturing stage 101. According to one embodiment, the precursor 104 is configured such that, after mixing its components, it foams spontaneously and thereby increases its volume through pore formation and growth.

[0093] Fig. 2 shows the pneumatic tire 100 from Fig. 1 in a second manufacturing stage 106.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the precursor 104 is partially converted into the foam 108 after a certain time and has a foam core 109 and a skin 110. The partially converted precursor is also referred to herein as foam material 111 (with foam core 109 and skin 110). According to one embodiment, the foam 108 is treated with a treatment agent 112 during its production (in particular after only partial conversion of the precursor into the foam, ie after production of the foam material 111), and the pores in the skin 110 are thereby opened towards the interior 114 of the pneumatic tire. According to a further embodiment, the foam 108 (in particular at least a part of its surface 144) is treated with a treatment agent 112 during its production (in particular after only partial conversion of the precursor into the foam, ieAfter the foam material 111 has been produced, the skin 110 is treated with a treatment agent 112, thereby thinning the skin 110 toward the interior 114 of the pneumatic tire. In this way, the basis weight of the skin can also be adjusted, which affects sound dampening. As explained herein, for example, for a polyurethane foam, water can be used as the main component of the treatment agent. For example, the treatment agent can contain at least 60% water, for example at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 99%. According to a further embodiment, the treatment agent consists of 100% water.

[0095] Fig. 3 shows the pneumatic tire 100 from Fig. 2 in a third manufacturing stage 116, in which the foam 108 has an open-pore surface 118 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the open-pored surface 118 is produced by treating the foam 108 with the treatment agent 112. By applying the treatment agent 112 to the entire surface 144 of the foam 108 during the production of the foam 108, it is possible to make the entire surface 144 of the foam 108 open-pored, for example as in Fig. 3. In particular, according to one embodiment, lateral surface parts 120 of the surface of the foam 108, which adjoin the inner surface 102, are also open-pored, for example as in Fig. 3. According to one embodiment, the lateral surface portions 120 form an angle 122 of more than 45 degrees with respect to a tire rotation axis 124, for example as shown in Fig. 3 shown.

[0097] Fig. 4 shows the pneumatic tire 100 from Fig. 3 in a further production stage 126.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the open-pore surface 118 of the foam 108 is processed using a thermal process, for example using a laser beam 128, for example as in Fig. 4 shown.

[0099] Fig. 5 shows the pneumatic tire 100 from Fig. 4 in a further production stage 130.

[0100] According to one embodiment, the laser beam 128 (see Fig. 4) in the area of ​​the beam spot, the open-pored surface 118 and a part of the foam core 109 are removed, thereby forming a depression 132. According to one embodiment, a wall of the depression 132 forms a first open-pored surface portion 134, and the remaining open-pored surface 118 (not processed with the laser beam 128) forms a second open-pored surface portion 136, for example as shown in Fig. 5 shown.

[0101] Fig. 6 shows a portion of another pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0102] According to one embodiment, the open-pored surface 118 of the foam 108 has an axial direction 125, ie parallel to a rotation axis 124 (cf. Fig. 3) of the tire 100 has a convex curvature, for example as in Fig. 6. According to one embodiment, the convex curvature is produced by the foam forming the convex curvature during the conversion of the precursor product, and according to one embodiment, the shape of the foam 108 is not changed by the treatment with the treatment agent 112.

[0103] Fig. 7 schematically shows a production apparatus 140 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the production device 140 is configured to produce a foam 108 on an inner surface 102 of a pneumatic tire 100, for example as shown in Fig. 7. According to one embodiment, the production device 140 comprises an application device 142 for applying a precursor 104 of the foam 108 to the inner surface 102 of the pneumatic tire 100 and producing a foam material 111 in which the precursor 104 is at least partially converted into the foam 108.

[0105] According to one embodiment, the components of the precursor 104 are mixed in the application device 142 and then applied to the inner surface 102, for example as in Fig. 7. According to one embodiment, the application device 142 is spatially fixed during the application of the precursor 104 and the tire 100 is moved relative to the application device 142, for example rotated, for example in a direction of rotation 146, for example as in Fig. 7. In this way, according to one embodiment, a strand of the precursor 104 can be applied over the entire circumference (in the illustration in Fig. 7 this has not yet been fully done).

[0106] According to a further embodiment, the production device 140 has an application device 148 for applying a treatment agent 112 to the foam material 111 (in particular to a surface 144 of the foam material 111), for example as in Fig. 7. According to one embodiment, the precursor 104 is applied to a first location of the tire, while at the same time the treatment agent 112 is applied to the already partially reacted precursor 104 (ie to the foam material 111) at a second location of the tire, for example as shown in Fig. 7. According to one embodiment, the treatment agent 112 is a liquid treatment agent which is applied as a spray in the form of a spray jet onto the foam material 111, for example as in Fig. 7. Commercially available spray guns can be used to generate the spray mist. It is understood that the speed of movement of the tire 100 relative to the application device 142 and the application device 148 must be adapted to the reaction rate of the precursor 104 (in particular, to the pot life of the precursor 104), for example, so that sufficient conversion of the precursor has already occurred at the position of the spray jet.

[0107] According to a further embodiment (in Fig. 7 not shown), the precursor 104 is first applied over the entire circumference of the tire 100, and then the treatment agent 112 is applied over the entire circumference of the tire 100 onto the partially reacted precursor 104. In this case, for example, the speed of movement (e.g., the rotation speed) of the tire 100 relative to the application device 148 can be adjusted independently of the application of the precursor 104.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the application device 142 and the application device 148 are inserted into the tire 100 simultaneously, for example as shown in Fig. 7. According to another embodiment, the application device 142 and the application device 148 can be inserted into the tire 100 sequentially.

[0109] The application device 142, the application device 148, and optionally further components of the production device 140 (for example, actuators for positioning and / or moving the tire 100) are controlled by a control device 150 according to one embodiment. According to one embodiment, the control device 150 comprises a processor device 152 and a storage device 154 in which a computer program product according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is stored. According to one embodiment, the computer program product comprises a program element which, when executed by the processor device 152, controls a method according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0110] According to one embodiment, the production device 140 comprises a receptacle 158 for holding the pneumatic tire 100. According to one embodiment, the receptacle 158 comprises at least one gripper, for example four grippers, which grip a bead of the tire 100 in order to hold the tire 100, for example as shown in Fig. 7. According to one embodiment, the receptacle 158 is rotatable in order to rotate the tire 100 with the receptacle, for example as shown in Fig. 7. According to another embodiment (in Fig. 7), at least one roller can be positioned on an outer circumference of the tire 100 and / or on a sidewall of the tire 100 to drive the tire 100 in a rotational movement. According to one embodiment, the tire 100 can be arranged horizontally or, in another embodiment, vertically.

[0111] Fig. 8 shows another production apparatus 140 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the application device 148 is configured to apply the treatment agent 112 to a predetermined portion 160 of the foam material 111 (ie, the partially foamed foam 108), for example as shown in Fig. 8. For example, the application device 148 may have at least one nozzle 149, each nozzle 149 applying the treatment agent 112 to a predetermined portion 160 of the foam material 111, for example in the form of a spray jet. According to one embodiment, at least two nozzles, for example five nozzles, may be provided to apply five spray jets distributed over the circumference of the tire 100 to the foam material 111, for example as shown in Fig. 8. According to one embodiment, the spray jets can be directed at the foam material 111 at a distance from each other, for example as in Fig. 8, i.e., the spray jets apply the treatment agent 112 to spaced-apart surface portions. According to a further embodiment, the at least two spray jets can overlap. For example, according to one embodiment, the foam material 111 can be exposed to the treatment agent 112 over the entire circumference of the tire 100 without requiring any relative movement between the application device (or the spray jet) and the tire.

[0113] Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of another production apparatus 140 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein in a tire 100.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the production device 140 has a contact element 162, which is configured to apply the treatment agent 112 to the surface 144 of the foam material 111 through contact with the foam material 111. For example, according to one embodiment, the contact element 162 can be a roller, for example a foam roller, which has the treatment agent 112 incorporated therein, for example as shown in Fig. 9 shown.

[0115] According to one embodiment, the production device may comprise at least one contact element 162, for example three contact elements 162, for example as in Fig. 9. According to one embodiment, two or more contact elements 162 may be arranged on a common carrier 164, for example as shown in Fig. 9. According to one embodiment, the carrier 164 may be a common shaft on which the at least one contact element 162 (for example, the one or more rollers) are rotatably arranged for rolling over the foam material 111. A movement of the carrier 164 and the foam material 111 relative to each other is, according to one embodiment, controlled by the control device 150 (in Fig. 9 not shown) of the production device 140, for example via suitable actuators (in Fig. 9 not shown).

[0116] Fig. 10 shows the tire 100 from Fig. 9 in a more advanced manufacturing stage in which the foam material 111 is completely converted into the foam 108.

[0117] Since the treatment with the treatment agent 112 of the contact elements 162 according to one embodiment has opened the pores of the skin 110 in the contact area in which the contact elements 162 have contacted the skin 110, an open-pored surface 118 is present in the contact area, as shown in Fig. 10. Depending on the design and arrangement of the contact element 162 or the contact elements 162, the treatment with the treatment agent 112 can result in one or more contact area parts, which are separated from one another according to one embodiment, for example as shown in Fig. 10. According to one embodiment, the skin 110 remains next to the open-pore surface parts 118, for example as shown in Fig. 10 shown.

[0118] Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of another production apparatus 140 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein in a tire 100.

[0119] According to one embodiment, a contact element 262 is formed by a sponge, for example as in Fig. 11, which is mounted on a support 164.

[0120] Fig. 12 shows the tire 100 from Fig. 11 in a more advanced manufacturing stage in which the foam material 111 is completely converted into the foam 108.

[0121] Since the treatment with the treatment agent 112 of the contact element 262 according to one embodiment has opened the pores of the skin 110 in the contact region in which the contact element 262 has contacted the skin 110, an open-pored surface 118 (without skin) is present in the contact region, as shown in Fig. 12 shown.

[0122] Exemplary implementations of the subject matter disclosed herein may include, but are not limited to, the following embodiments and combinations of embodiments: 1. Pneumatic tires 100 having: an inner surface 102; a foam 108 on the inner surface 102; wherein the foam 108 has an open-pore surface 118; and wherein at least a portion of the open-pore surface 118 is created by treating the foam 108 with a treatment agent 112 during formation of the foam 108 in the pneumatic tire 100. 2. Pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiment 1, wherein the foam 108 is produced by reacting a precursor 104; and wherein the treatment agent 112 comprises a component which is also contained in the precursor 104 and contributes to the conversion of the precursor 104. 3. Pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the treatment agent 112 contains at least one substance with nucleophilic properties; in particular wherein the at least one substance with nucleophilic properties is an alcohol, an amine, a carboxylic acid or water. 4. Pneumatic tire 100 according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein the treatment agent 112 contains an acid or a base, in particular at least one of the following chemical compounds: a halogen-containing acid, in particular hydrochloric acid, a sulphur-containing acid, in particular sulphuric acid, a phosphorus-containing acid, in particular phosphoric acid, a carbon-containing acid, in particular carbonic acid, a nitrogen-containing compound, in particular ammonia, an alkali solution, in particular sodium hydroxide solution and / or potassium hydroxide solution, a salt of at least one of the above compounds, in particular sodium carbonate. 5. Pneumatic tire 100 according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the treatment agent 112 contains an organic acid or an organic base, in particular a water-soluble carboxylic acid or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine, in particular ethanolamine. 6. Pneumatic tire 100 according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the treating agent 112 is an aqueous solution containing at least one surfactant that reduces the interfacial tension of the solution. 7. Pneumatic tire 100 according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein an air permeability of the open-pored surface 118 is reduced by at least 20%, but in particular by 40, 60 or 80%, compared to an air permeability of a cut surface through the volume of the foam 108. 8. Pneumatic tire 100 according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein the open-pore surface 118 of the foam 108 has a convex curvature in the axial direction 125; and / or wherein a region of the surface of the foam 108 directly adjacent to the inner surface 102 of the pneumatic tire 100 has an open-pore surface 118. 9. Pneumatic tire 100 according to one of the preceding embodiments wherein at least a portion of the open-pore surface 118 has an angle of more than 45° relative to the tire rotation axis 124. 10. Pneumatic tire 100 according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein a distribution of the pore size of the open-pore surface 118 approximated by curve fitting using a Gaussian bell curve has a standard deviation that is at least 20%, in particular 40%, 60% or 80% greater than a correspondingly approximated distribution of the pore size of a sectional area through the volume of the foam 108. 11. Pneumatic tire 100 according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the foam 108 comprises at least one of the following: (a) at least a portion of the surface of the foam 108 is a closed surface; (b) at least a portion of the surface of the foam 108 is an open-pored surface 118, wherein the open-pored surface 118 has been produced by a mechanical or thermal process; (c) a first open-pored surface portion 134 has an air permeability that is at least 20% higher than a second open-pored surface portion 136. 12. Production device for producing a foam 108 on an inner surface 102 of a pneumatic tire 100, the production device comprising: an application device 142 for applying a precursor 104 of a foam 108 to the inner surface 102 of the pneumatic tire 100 and producing a foam material 111 in which the precursor 104 is at least partially converted into the foam 108; an application device 148 for applying a treatment agent 112 to the surface of the foam material 111. 13. Production device according to the preceding claim, wherein the treatment agent 112 is a liquid treatment agent; and wherein the application device 142 comprises a spray device for applying the liquid treatment agent 112 to the surface of the foam material 111, in particular wherein the spray device is a nebulizing device; and / or wherein the application device 142 is configured to apply a gaseous treatment agent 112 to the foam material 111. 14. Production device according to one of embodiments 12 or 13, further comprising a receptacle for holding the pneumatic tire 100; in particular further comprising at least one of the following: the receptacle for holding a pneumatic tire 100 includes a rotation device for rotating the pneumatic tire 100 about its axis of rotation; the application device 148 for applying the treatment agent 112 is configured to be introduced into the pneumatic tire 100 together with the application device 142 for the precursor 104. 15. Production device according to one of embodiments 12 to 14, wherein the application device 148 for applying the treatment agent 112 is configured to apply the treatment agent 112 to a predetermined part of the surface of the foam material 111. 16. Production device according to one of embodiments 12 to 15, wherein the application device 148 for applying the treatment agent 112 is configured to apply the treatment agent 112 several times to the predetermined part of the surface of the foam material 111 at predetermined time intervals. 17. Production device according to one of embodiments 12 to 16, wherein the application device 148 has a contact element 162, 262 which is configured to apply the treatment agent 112 to the surface of the foam material 111 by contact with the foam material 111. 18. Use of a treatment agent 112 for thinning a skin of a foam material 111 located in a pneumatic tire 100 and / or opening pores of a foam material 111 located in a pneumatic tire 100 during production of the foam material 111 in the pneumatic tire 100. 19. A method comprising: Applying a precursor 104 of a foam 108 to at least a portion of an inner surface 102 of a pneumatic tire 100; Producing a foam material 111 from the precursor 104 by at least partially converting the precursor 104 into the foam 108; Treating the foam material 111 with a treatment agent 112.

[0123] It should be noted that a pneumatic tire or production device as described herein is not limited to the dedicated entities described in some embodiments. Rather, the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in numerous ways while still providing the specific functionality disclosed.

[0124] According to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein, each entity disclosed herein (e.g., components, units and devices, elements, etc.) is not limited to a dedicated entity as described in some embodiments. Furthermore, the subject matter described herein may be provided in various ways with varying granularity at the device level, method level, or, in computer program products, software module level, while still providing the specified functionality. Further, it should be noted that according to embodiments, a separate entity may be provided for each of the functions disclosed herein. According to other embodiments, an entity may be configured to provide two or more functions as described herein.According to yet other embodiments, two or more entities may be configured to jointly provide a function as described herein. For example, the literal disclosure of an applicator provides an embodiment comprising a single applicator according to the literal disclosure. Furthermore, the literal disclosure of an applicator also provides an embodiment comprising two or more applicators acting as one applicator (e.g., with enhanced movement capabilities).

[0125] According to one embodiment, the control device includes a processor device having at least one processor for executing at least one program element, which may correspond to a corresponding software module.

[0126] A reference to laser radiation can, of course, also be defined analogously by reference to a radiation path of the laser radiation, and vice versa. In this respect, any reference to laser radiation herein analogously discloses a reference to a radiation path of the laser radiation.

[0127] It should be noted that the implementations described herein, in particular the implementations illustrated in the drawings, represent only a limited selection of possible combinations of embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, it is generally possible to combine the features of various embodiments in a suitable manner, so that a person skilled in the art will consider the embodiments explicitly disclosed here to be a disclosure of a multitude of combinations of various embodiments. Furthermore, it should be noted that terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Terms such as "containing" or "having" do not exclude further features or method steps. Consequently, according to one embodiment, the term "having" or "containing" stands for "among other things." According to a further embodiment, the term "having" or "containing" stands for "consisting of."

[0128] The term “pore” of a foam used herein is synonymous with and can be used synonymously with the equally common term “cell” of a foam.

[0129] According to one embodiment, the term "configured for" includes, among other things, the meaning of "configured to." Furthermore, by disclosing a function performed by an entity, it is implicitly disclosed that the entity is configured to perform the function, according to one embodiment.

[0130] The term "in particular" generally refers to optional features. In other words, the term "in particular" is used synonymously with the term "for example" and is interchangeable with it.

[0131] The expression “A and / or B” usually always includes “only A”, “only B” and also “A and B”. In an expression that refers to a list of characteristics, “at least one” always includes a single one of the individual characteristics as well as any combination of the characteristics. For example, the expression “at least one of the characteristics A and B” includes the characteristic “only A”, “only B”, and “A and B”. Analogously, the expression “at least one of the characteristics A or B” also includes the characteristic “only A”, “only B”, and “A and B”. Analogously, the expression “at least one of the characteristics A, B” also includes the characteristic “only A”, “only B”, and “A and B”.

[0132] If two or more ranges of values ​​for a quantity are specified herein, or more than two values ​​are specified for a quantity, any range having two of these values ​​as endpoints or any open range having one of these values ​​as a lower / upper limit is hereby deemed to be disclosed, according to one embodiment.

[0133] It should also be noted that reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that reference numerals in the description and the description's reference to the drawings should not be construed as limiting the scope of the description. Rather, the drawings illustrate only one exemplary implementation of a particular combination of several embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein; any other combination of embodiments is equally possible and is to be considered disclosed in this application. In summary, it remains to be stated:

[0134] Disclosed is a pneumatic tire comprising: an inner surface; a foam on the inner surface; wherein the foam has an open-pore surface; and wherein at least a portion of the open-pore surface is created by treating the foam with a treatment agent during production of the foam in the tire. Furthermore, a production device, a corresponding use, and a corresponding method are disclosed. List of reference symbols 100 pneumatic tires 101 Production stage 102 Interior surface 104 Pre-product 106 second production stage 108 foam 109 foam core 110 skin 111 Foam material 112 treatment agents 114 Interior 116 third stage of production 118 open-pored surface 120 side surface parts 122 angles of 120 versus 124 124 Tire rotation axis 125 axial direction 126 further production stage 128 laser beam 130 further production stage 132 Deepening 134 first open-pore surface portion 136 second open-pore surface portion 140 production device 142 Application device 144 surface of 108 / 111 146 Direction of rotation 148 Application device 149 nozzle 150 control device 152 Processor device 154 Storage device 158 recording 160 predetermined part of 111 162 contact element 164 carriers 262 contact element QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2023 107 514 U1 [0002, 0057] DE 20 2025 101 068 U1 [0055, 0057] DE 20 2024 001 792 U1

[0057] DE 20 2024 104 283 U1

[0057] Cited non-patent literature

[0000] DIN EN ISO 9053-1

[0049]

Claims

[1] Pneumatic tires (100) comprising: an inner surface (102); a foam (108) on the inner surface (102); wherein the foam (108) has an open-pore surface (118); and wherein at least a portion of the open-pore surface (118) is produced by treating the foam (108) with a treatment agent (112) during production of the foam (108) in the pneumatic tire (100). [2] Pneumatic tire (100) according to claim 1, wherein the foam (108) is produced by reacting a precursor (104); and wherein the treatment agent (112) comprises a component which is also contained in the precursor (104) and contributes to the conversion of the precursor (104). [3] Pneumatic tire (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the treatment agent (112) contains at least one substance having nucleophilic properties; in particular wherein the at least one substance with nucleophilic properties is an alcohol, an amine, a carboxylic acid or water. [4] Pneumatic tire (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment agent (112) contains an acid or a base, in particular at least one of the following chemical compounds: a halogen-containing acid, in particular hydrochloric acid, a sulphur-containing acid, in particular sulphuric acid, a phosphorus-containing acid, in particular phosphoric acid, a carbon-containing acid, in particular carbonic acid, a nitrogen-containing compound, in particular ammonia, an alkali solution, in particular sodium hydroxide solution and / or potassium hydroxide solution, a salt of at least one of the above compounds, in particular sodium carbonate. [5] Pneumatic tire (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment agent (112) contains an organic acid or an organic base, in particular a water-soluble carboxylic acid or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine, in particular ethanolamine. [6] A pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment agent (112) is an aqueous solution containing at least one surfactant that reduces the interfacial tension of the solution. [7] Pneumatic tire (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an air permeability of the open-pored surface (118) is reduced by at least 20%, but in particular by 40, 60 or 80%, compared to an air permeability of a cut surface through the volume of the foam (108). [8] Pneumatic tire (100) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the open-pore surface (118) of the foam (108) has a convex curvature in the axial direction (125); and / or wherein a region of the surface of the foam (108) directly adjacent to the inner surface (102) of the pneumatic tire (100) has an open-pore surface (118). [9] Pneumatic tire (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the open-pore surface (118) has an angle of more than 45° with respect to the tire rotation axis (124). [10] Pneumatic tire (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a distribution of the pore size of the open-pore surface (118) approximated by curve fitting using a Gaussian bell curve has a standard deviation that is at least 20%, in particular 40%, 60% or 80% greater than a correspondingly approximated distribution of the pore size of a sectional area through the volume of the foam (108). [11] A pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foam (108) comprises at least one of the following: (a) at least a portion of the surface of the foam (108) is a closed surface; (b) at least a portion of the surface of the foam (108) is an open-pore surface (118), wherein the open-pore surface (118) has been produced by a mechanical or thermal process; (c) a first open-pored surface portion (134) has an air permeability that is at least 20% higher than a second open-pored surface portion (136). [12] Production device for producing a foam (108) on an inner surface (102) of a pneumatic tire (100), the production device comprising: an application device (142) for applying a precursor (104) of a foam (108) to the inner surface (102) of the pneumatic tire (100) and producing a foam material (111) in which the precursor (104) is at least partially converted into the foam (108); an application device (148) for applying a treatment agent (112) to the surface of the foam material (111). [13] Production device according to the preceding claim, wherein the treatment agent (112) is a liquid treatment agent; and wherein the application device (142) comprises a spray device for applying the liquid treatment agent (112) to the surface of the foam material (111), in particular wherein the spray device is a nebulizing device; and / or wherein the application device (142) is configured to apply a gaseous treatment agent (112) to the foam material (111). [14] Production device according to one of claims 12 or 13, further comprising a receptacle for holding the pneumatic tire (100); in particular further comprising at least one of the following: the receptacle for holding a pneumatic tire (100) contains a rotation device for rotating the pneumatic tire (100) about its axis of rotation; the application device (148) for applying the treatment agent (112) is configured to be introduced into the pneumatic tire (100) together with the application device (142) for the precursor product (104). [15] Production apparatus according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the application device (148) for applying the treatment agent (112) is configured to apply the treatment agent (112) to a predetermined part of the surface of the foam material (111). [16] The production apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the application device (148) for applying the treatment agent (112) is configured to apply the treatment agent (112) a plurality of times to the predetermined part of the surface of the foam material (111) at predetermined time intervals. [17] Production device according to one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the application device (148) comprises a contact element (162, 262) configured to apply the treatment agent (112) to the surface of the foam material (111) by contact with the foam material (111). [18] Use of a treatment agent (112) for thinning a skin of a foam material (111) located in a pneumatic tire (100) and / or opening pores of a foam material (111) located in a pneumatic tire (100) during production of the foam material (111) in the pneumatic tire (100).

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