Method for forming sealant layer in tire

Abstract

To provide an improved method and apparatus for forming a tire having a sealant layer that does not have dynamic imbalance.SOLUTION: A method for forming a sealant layer in a tire includes: supplying tires; and coating one or more rolls of sealant with each roll having a straight part aligned at an angle of 0 degrees to a center circumference of the tire to form a sealant layer on an inside of the tire under a crown. A portion of an outer edge of the sealant layer is removed to form a balanced tire.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to tire manufacturing, and more particularly to a method of forming a tire having a post-cured sealant. [Background technology]

[0002] Pneumatic tires with puncture sealants, or tire structures with puncture sealing properties, are known to those skilled in the tire art. Generally, such tires include a sealant layer that is typically sprayed onto the inside of the tire. The sealant layer typically represents a significant amount of mass added to the tire at the most critical diameter as far as tire imbalance is concerned. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Prior art sealant stacks often result in asymmetric patterns relative to the tire centerplane, which can result in dynamic imbalance of the tire. Therefore, it would be desirable to have an improved method and apparatus for forming tires with sealant layers that do not have dynamic imbalance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The method of forming a sealant layer in a tire of the present invention includes providing a tire and applying one or more wraps of sealant, each wrap having a straight portion aligned at a 0 degree angle with respect to the tire center circumferential plane, to form a sealant layer inside the tire under the crown, wherein a portion of an outer edge of the sealant layer is removed to form a balanced tire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved method and apparatus for forming a tire having a sealant layer that does not have dynamic imbalance can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front view of a tire sealant spray device and a tire. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the nozzle of the tire sealant spray device and the tire. [Figure 3] 1 shows a sealant laminate spirally wrapped using a tire sealant spraying device. [Figure 4A] 1 shows a close-up view of a spirally wrapped sealant laminate. [Figure 4B] 1 shows a balanced spirally wound sealant laminate. [Figure 5] 1 shows the sealant laminate of the present invention using a tire sealant spray device. [Figure 6] 1 shows an enlarged view of a sealant laminate of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0008] (definition) "Aspect ratio" means the ratio of the tire's section height to its section width.

[0009] "Axial" and "axially" mean lines or directions parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire.

[0010] "Bead" or "bead core" generally means that portion of a tire including the radially inner bead annular tensile member associated with securing the tire to the rim, the radially inner bead being wrapped with ply cords, and may be molded with or without other reinforcing elements such as flippers, chippers, apex or fillers, toe guards, and chafers.

[0011] "Belt structure" or "reinforcing belt" means at least two annular layers or plies of woven or non-woven parallel cords underlying the tread and not fixed to the bead, the left and right cord angles of which range from 17 degrees to 27 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire.

[0012] "Bias ply tire" means that the reinforcing cords in the carcass plies extend diagonally across the tire from bead to bead at approximately 25 to 65 degrees relative to the tire's equatorial plane, with the cords in each ply extending at opposing angles in each layer.

[0013] "Breaker" or "tire breaker" is synonymous with belt or belt structure or reinforcing belt.

[0014] "Carcass" means a laminate of tire ply material and other tire components cut to length for splicing or already spliced together, formed into a cylindrical or toroidal shape. Additional components may be added to the carcass before the carcass is vulcanized to produce the molded tire.

[0015] "Circumferential" means lines or directions extending along the perimeter of the surface of the annular tread perpendicular to the axial direction, and may also refer to the direction of the set of adjacent circular curves whose radii define the axial curvature of the tread in cross-section.

[0016] "Cord" means one of the fiber-containing reinforcing strands used to reinforce a ply.

[0017] "Innerliner" means the layer or layers of elastomer or other material that form the inside surface of a tubeless tire and that contain the inflating fluid.

[0018] "Insert" means a reinforcement typically used to reinforce the sidewall of a runflat tire, and also refers to an elastomeric insert located under the tread.

[0019] "Ply" means a cord-reinforced layer, consisting of a plurality of radially arranged or parallel elastomer-coated cords.

[0020] "Radial" and "radially" means directions radially toward or away from the axis of rotation of the tire.

[0021] "Radial ply construction" means one or more carcass plies, or at least one ply having reinforcing cords oriented at an angle between 65 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire.

[0022] "Radial ply tire" means a belted or circumferentially confined pneumatic tire in which the ply cords extending from bead to bead are arranged at cord angles between 65 and 90 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire.

[0023] "Sidewall" means that portion of a tire between the tread and the bead.

[0024] "Laminate structure" means an unvulcanized structure made up of one or more layers of tire or elastomeric components such as innerliner, sidewall, and any ply layers.

[0025] 1 and 2 show a tire T rotatably mounted on a sealant dispensing stand 20. The sealant dispensing stand 20 includes a tire gripper 30 for holding the tire and a tire spreader 40 for expanding the tire width. The sealant dispensing stand 20 further includes a robotic arm 50 having an applicator bar 60. The applicator bar 60 includes a sealant dispensing nozzle 70. The robotic arm 50 can move the applicator bar 60 axially of the tire to dispense a layer of sealant. FIG. 3 shows the dispensing nozzle applying a layer of sealant in a spirally wound configuration 80 as the dispensing nozzle moves in a direction parallel to the tire's axis of rotation. A close-up of the spirally wound configuration is shown in FIG. 4A. The spirally wound configuration 80 is spirally wound at a slight angle (measured from the tire equatorial plane), typically in the range of 3 to 6 degrees. The cross-hatched edges 82, 84, 86, and 88 result in tire imbalance. FIG. 4B shows a spirally wound configuration 100 with ends 82, 84, 86, 88 removed, resulting in a balanced sealant configuration.

[0026] 5-6 illustrate a second embodiment of a tire having a balanced sealant layer. A sealant layer configuration 200 is shown in FIG. 6. The sealant layer 200 is formed by wrapping a continuous strip of sealant over multiple turns. The sealant layer 200 has a first turn 201 with a beginning 202 and an ending 204, and the sealant is applied in a strip between the beginning and ending turns in a zero-degree orientation or "straight line." The sealant spray orientation is 0 degrees relative to the tire center circumferential plane L. The first turn 201 remains oriented at 0 degrees until approximately 320 to 358 degrees of tire rotation (i.e., less than 360 degrees of rotation), and the end 204 of the first sealant turn is angled within the transition section 210. The end of the transition section 212, or the beginning of the second turn 214, is axially spaced from the beginning 202 of the first turn 201. The sealant layer is formed from a plurality of turns 201, 214, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 oriented at zero degrees relative to the tire center circumferential plane and forming straight sections. Each straight section of each turn has a terminal end 204 that wraps from 0 degrees to less than 360 degrees and is connected to an optional transition section. The transition section is angled.

[0027] Variations of the present invention are possible in light of the description of the invention provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described that are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 20 Sealant Dispensing Stand 30 Tire Gripper 40 Tire spreader 50 Robot Arm 60 coating bar 70 sealant dispensing nozzle 80 spirally wound configuration 82, 84, 86, 88 Ends 100 spirally wound configurations 200 sealant layer 201, 214, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 rolls 202 Start part 204 End part 210 Transition Section 212 Transition part T Tire

Claims

1. 1. A method for forming a sealant layer in a tire, comprising: Supplying tires; applying one or more wraps of sealant, each wrap having a straight portion aligned at a zero degree angle with respect to the tire center circumferential plane, to form a sealant layer on the inside of the tire under the crown; A portion of the outer edge of the sealant layer is removed to form a balanced tire.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant is sprayed continuously.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each turn is connected to another by an angled transition section.

4. 1. A method for forming a sealant layer in a tire, comprising: Supplying tires; applying the sealant layer to the inside of the tire below the crown, the sealant layer being spirally wound and sprayed, and a portion of the outer edge of the sealant layer being removed to form a balanced tire.

5. A balanced tire having a tread, opposed sidewalls, and an inner surface opposite the tread, the inner surface has a sealant layer formed by applying a plurality of spiral wraps of sealant, each wrap having a straight portion; A tire characterized in that a portion of the outer edge of the sealant layer is removed.

6. 6. The tire of claim 5, wherein each winding is connected with an angled transition section.

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