Pneumatic tyre, device, method and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a pneumatic tyre (100) comprising: two sidewalls (110); a tread (112) which is arranged between the sidewalls (110); and an inner liner (114) which has a sidewall portion (116) on each sidewall (110); wherein the inner liner (114) has a tread portion (118) which lies opposite the tread (112) and is arranged between the sidewall portions (116); a foam (120) on the inner liner (114); wherein the foam (120) is fastened to the pneumatic tyre (100) by applying a precursor (181) of the foam (120) to at least part of the inner liner (114) and reacting the precursor (181) to thereby produce the foam (120); wherein at least 60% of the tread portion (118) is covered with the foam (120); and wherein more than 90% of a contact area (122) between the foam (120) and the inner liner (114) consists of the tread portion (118). The invention also relates to devices, to a method and to a computer program product.

Description

[0001] pneumatic tire, device, method and computer program product

[0002] TECHNICAL AREA

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of pneumatic tires and in particular to the field of pneumatic tires which contain a foam.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] DE 20 2023 107 514 Ul discloses an assembly comprising: a component; a foam which is attached to the component by applying a precursor of the foam to the component and converting the precursor to produce the foam; in particular wherein the foam has an open-pore surface which faces away from the component.

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] Given the situation described above, there may be a need for a technology that allows for the provision of an air tire and a method for its manufacture with improved characteristics.

[0008] This need can be met by the independent claims. Some advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the items disclosed herein, a pneumatic tire is provided. According to an embodiment of the first aspect, a pneumatic tire is provided comprising: an axis of rotation defining an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; two sidewalls; a tread arranged between the sidewalls; and an inner liner; wherein the inner liner has a sidewall section on each sidewall; wherein the inner liner has a tread section opposite the tread and arranged between the sidewall sections; a foam on the inner liner; wherein the foam is attached to the pneumatic tire by applying a precursor of the foam to at least a portion of the inner liner and converting the precursor to thereby produce the foam;wherein at least 60% of the tread area is covered with foam; and wherein a contact area between the foam and the inner liner comprises more than 90% of the tread area.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the items disclosed herein, a procedure is provided.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the second aspect, a method for introducing a foam into an pneumatic tire is provided, comprising: providing an pneumatic tire having an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation defines an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; wherein the pneumatic tire has two sidewalls, a tread, and an inner liner, the tread being arranged between the sidewalls; wherein the inner liner has a sidewall section on each sidewall and wherein the inner liner has a tread section opposite the tread and arranged between the sidewall sections;The method further comprises: attaching a foam to the pneumatic tire by applying a foam precursor to at least a portion of the inner liner and converting the precursor to produce the foam, such that at least 60% of the tread section is covered with the foam and the contact area between the foam and the inner liner exceeds 90% of the tread section. A third aspect of the items disclosed herein includes the provision of a device.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the third aspect, a device for equipping a pneumatic tire with a foam is provided, the device comprising: a receptacle for receiving a tire; equipment for introducing a foam into the tire and / or for configuring a foam in the tire and thereby producing a pneumatic tire according to the first aspect and / or at least one embodiment thereof.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the third aspect, a device is provided which includes a control device, wherein the control device is configured to perform a method according to the second aspect and / or at least one embodiment thereof.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the items disclosed herein, a computer program product is provided.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the fourth aspect, a computer program product is provided comprising a program element which is configured to perform, when executed on a processor device, a method according to the second aspect and / or at least one embodiment thereof.

[0016] DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY FORMS

[0017] Even though certain disadvantages of earlier technologies are mentioned herein, the claimed subject matter is not to be limited to implementations that overcome some or all of the aforementioned disadvantages of the earlier technologies. Furthermore, even though certain advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein are mentioned or implied in the present disclosure, the claimed subject matter is not to be limited to implementations that exhibit some or all of these advantages. Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are described below, with reference, for example, to a pneumatic tire, a method, and a device. It should be emphasized that, of course, any combination of features of different aspects, embodiments, and examples is possible.In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to a method or a computer program product, while other embodiments are described with reference to a device or a pneumatic tire. Still other embodiments are described with reference to a control device for interacting with elements of the device. However, the person skilled in the art will understand from the foregoing and subsequent descriptions, the claims, and the drawings that, unless otherwise stated, features of different aspects, embodiments, and examples are combinable, and such combinations of features are to be considered disclosed herein. For example, even a feature relating to a method or a computer program product is combinable with a feature relating to a device and / or a pneumatic tire, and vice versa.

[0018] Exemplary implementations of the items disclosed herein include, in particular, one or more of the embodiments and combinations of embodiments described herein.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a pneumatic tire, as described in the first aspect, has an axis of rotation which defines an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. According to another embodiment, the axis of rotation defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, wherein, in one embodiment, the circumferential direction lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the pneumatic tire has two sidewalls and a tread located between the sidewalls. According to another embodiment, the pneumatic tire has two bead areas. According to one embodiment, each bead area has a bead surface portion designed for contact with a rim. According to one embodiment, the axis of rotation is defined by the bead areas. For example, according to one embodiment, the axis of rotation is defined by the axis of rotation of a rim on which the tire is mounted. According to one embodiment, the axial direction of the tire is defined as the axis of rotation of a suitable rim on which the tire is mounted.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the pneumatic tire has an inner liner. As is known to those skilled in the art, the inner liner is a rubber layer inside the pneumatic tire, which ensures the tire's airtightness.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the inner liner has a sidewall section on each sidewall. According to another embodiment, the inner liner has a tread section opposite the tread and arranged between the sidewall sections of the inner liner. According to one embodiment, the tread section and the sidewall sections of the inner liner are parts of a single, continuous rubber layer.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the pneumatic tire has a foam on its inner liner, for example, a polyurethane foam. According to another embodiment, the foam is produced by applying a foam precursor to at least a portion of the inner liner and processing the precursor to create the foam. According to one embodiment, the foam is attached to the pneumatic tire by being produced within it. In other words, according to one embodiment, the foam is attached to the pneumatic tire by applying a foam precursor to at least a portion of the inner liner and processing the precursor to create the foam.

[0024] According to another embodiment, at least 60% of the tread section is covered with the foam. According to another embodiment, the contact area between the foam and the inner liner is more than 90% within the tread section. In other words, according to one embodiment, the contact area between the foam and the inner liner is formed over more than 90% between the foam and the tread section.

[0025] According to one embodiment, a method according to the second aspect involves introducing a foam into a pneumatic tire. According to one embodiment of the method, introducing the foam into the pneumatic tire involves attaching the foam to the pneumatic tire by applying a foam precursor to at least a portion of the inner liner and converting the precursor to create the foam. According to one embodiment, the foam precursor is applied to at least a portion of the inner liner and converted in such a way that at least 60% of the tread area is covered with the foam and the contact area between the foam and the inner liner exceeds 90% of the tread area.

[0026] According to one embodiment of a device as described in the third aspect, the device is configured to equip a pneumatic tire with a foam. According to one embodiment, the device has a receptacle for receiving a tire. According to another embodiment, the device has equipment for introducing foam into the tire and / or for configuring foam within the tire, thereby producing a pneumatic tire as described in the first aspect and / or at least one embodiment thereof.

[0027] According to one embodiment of a device according to the third aspect, the device has a control device, wherein the control device is configured to perform a method according to the second aspect and / or at least one embodiment thereof.

[0028] According to one embodiment of a computer program product as described in the fourth aspect, the computer program product includes a program element that, when executed on a processor device, performs a method described herein. At least some of the aspects and embodiments of the items disclosed herein are based on the idea that a characteristic of a pneumatic tire can be optimized by configuring a foam on the inner liner of the pneumatic tire. For example, according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein (for example, by having a contact area between the foam and the inner liner predominantly between the tread section and the foam), a mechanical stress on the foam can be reduced, for example, because the sidewalls of a pneumatic tire are typically subject to greater deformation than the tread.Furthermore, according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein, the foam can be easily removed from the pneumatic tire, which allows for the recycling or disposal of the components of the pneumatic tire (for example, separate recycling or disposal of the rubber and the foam).

[0029] According to one embodiment, the foam is formed exclusively on the running surface section (of the inner liner). In other words, according to one embodiment, the side walls are free of the foam.

[0030] According to one embodiment, a configuration of the foam according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein (in particular a spatial distribution of the foam of the inner liner according to embodiments) can be achieved by suitable adjustment of at least one of the following parameters: 1) the location of introduction of the pre-product on the inner liner, 2) the viscosity of the pre-product and the foam during the production of the foam, 3) a force acting on the pre-product or the foam during the production of the foam, for example by rotating the pneumatic tire about its axis of rotation during the production of the foam; 4) the pot life of the foam; 5) the wettability of the surface of the inner liner by selective cleaning (in particular spatially limited cleaning) of the inner liner and / or selective introduction (in particular spatially limited introduction) of release agents onto the inner liner.According to one embodiment, the foam can be configured according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein (in particular, creating a large ratio of free surface area (i.e.,The surface of the foam (excluding the contact area with the inner liner) to the volume of the foam) can be achieved by at least one of the following measures: 1) selective application of the pre-product at spaced-apart locations on the inner liner and prevention of the foam parts produced from the pre-product flowing into one another, for example by suitable adjustment of at least one of the aforementioned parameters; 2) structuring of the foam by laser processing of the foam, for example by selectively (in particular spatially limited) removing the foam, according to one embodiment down to the inner liner; 3) structuring of the foam by spatially inhomogeneous introduction of the pre-product and / or spatially inhomogeneous conversion of the pre-product, in particular with suitable adjustment of at least one of the aforementioned parameters.

[0031] According to one embodiment, configuring the foam according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein (in particular reducing the adhesion of the foam to the inner liner) can be achieved by at least one of the following measures: 1) carefully maintaining a uniform release agent content, for example, such that the internal cohesion of the foam is higher than the cohesion of the foam with the inner liner - in other words, the tensile strength of the foam is higher than the tensile strength of the bond between the foam and the inner liner (this can, for example, allow the foam to be peeled off the inner liner in a single layer for recycling or disposal);2) Cleaning only partial areas of the inner liner; according to one embodiment, the cleaned partial area of ​​the inner liner is configured in shape and area such that at least in one direction of pull (for example, in the circumferential direction) the foam tears away at the contact surface with the inner liner (in this way it can be achieved that when the foam is removed from the inner liner, only small amounts of the foam remain on the inner liner);3) Targeted prevention of bonding between the foam and the inner liner in a non-adherent area of ​​the inner liner - for example, the non-adherent area of ​​the inner liner can be achieved by omitting cleaning, for example, the non-adherent area can extend transversely to the circumferential direction (e.g., across the entire width of the foam in the axial direction) to facilitate detachment of the foam in the circumferential direction, starting at the non-adherent area (e.g., the non-adherent area can be a 5 cm wide strip transversely to the circumferential direction).

[0032] According to one embodiment, the foam has noise absorption properties. For example, according to one embodiment, the foam is configured to reduce the rolling noise of the pneumatic tire compared to the same pneumatic tire without foam.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the foam has an open-pore surface. In this embodiment, the open-pore surface of the foam is a free (uncovered) surface of the foam, i.e., a surface that is in contact with a filling gas (e.g., air) in the tire interior, which is bounded by the inner liner. An open-pore, free surface allows sound waves to penetrate the foam more effectively and be dampened there more readily than a closed-pore surface. In this way, the noise-absorbing properties of the foam can be improved. According to embodiments of the items disclosed herein, the production of an open-pore surface can be carried out to any level of detail described in German Utility Model DE 20 2023 107 514 Ul of the applicant.

[0034] In particular, an open-pore surface of the foam can be produced by removing a (closed-pore) surface of the foam, for example by laser processing and / or by mechanical processing, for example by at least one of the following: grinding, milling, or cutting. According to a further embodiment, the production of an open-pore surface can be carried out by needling the surface. In needling, a layer of the foam is pierced at a multitude of points with one or more needles. According to a further embodiment, the foam has a closed-pore surface section opposite the inner liner. This can, for example, simplify the removal of the foam.

[0035] According to another embodiment, the foam is bonded to the inner liner in a material-bonded manner. For example, the foam and / or the precursor can be configured to adhere to the inner liner.

[0036] According to a further embodiment, the foam has a first height in a first plane which contains the tire's axis of rotation, wherein the first height of the foam is defined perpendicular to the tire's axis of rotation, and in particular wherein the first height of the foam varies along an axial direction (along the axis of rotation). The first plane is therefore a plane in which the tire's axis of rotation lies.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the foam defines a first cross-sectional area of ​​the foam in the first plane. Here, the cross-sectional area is not necessarily a surface of the foam, but is defined by a cross-section of the foam in the cross-sectional plane. Consequently, in one embodiment, the cross-sectional area can extend transversely through the volume of the foam.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the first cross-sectional area comprises a first cross-sectional area portion and a second cross-sectional area portion, wherein the first cross-sectional area portion has a first length and a first mean height in the axial direction, and wherein the second cross-sectional area portion has a second length and a second mean height in the axial direction. In other words, in one embodiment, the first cross-sectional area has a first mean height over the first length in a first cross-sectional area portion and a second mean height over the second length in a second cross-sectional area portion. According to one embodiment, the relevant mean height of a cross-sectional area portion of the first cross-sectional area (for example, the first mean height and / or the second mean height) is defined over a predetermined length. According to one embodiment, the predetermined length is 1 cm.According to another embodiment, the first mean height is at least 5 mm greater than the second mean height. For example, according to one embodiment, the first mean height is at least 8 mm greater than the second mean height, for example, at least 10 mm.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the second cross-sectional area and the first cross-sectional area are separate cross-sectional area parts. For example, in one embodiment, the separate cross-sectional area parts of the first cross-sectional area are not connected in the first plane. For example, the separate cross-sectional area parts (of the first cross-sectional area) do not touch each other and form a depression between them that extends to the inner liner and is free of foam. In other words, the height of the first cross-sectional area is zero at least at one point, thus dividing the first cross-sectional area into at least two parts.

[0040] According to another embodiment, the first cross-sectional area part and the second cross-sectional area part of the first cross-sectional area are adjacent cross-sectional area parts.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the foam has a second height in a second plane extending perpendicular to the tire's axis of rotation. In another embodiment, this second height is defined perpendicular to the inner liner. In yet another embodiment, the second height varies along a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the foam in the second plane defines a second cross-sectional area of ​​the foam. According to another embodiment, the second cross-sectional area has a first cross-sectional area portion and a second cross-sectional area portion. According to another embodiment, the first cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area has a third length at the inner liner and defines a third mean height over this third length. According to another embodiment, the second cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area has a fourth length at the inner liner and defines a fourth mean height over this fourth length. According to one embodiment, the relevant mean height of a cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area (for example, the third mean height and / or the fourth mean height) is defined over a predetermined length.According to another embodiment, the predetermined length is 1 cm. According to another embodiment, the third mean height is at least 5 mm greater than the fourth mean height. For example, according to one embodiment, the third mean height is at least 8 mm greater than the fourth mean height, for example, at least 10 mm.

[0043] According to another embodiment, the first cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area are separate cross-sectional area portions. For example, according to one embodiment, the separate cross-sectional area portions of the second cross-sectional area are not contiguous in the second plane. For example, the separate cross-sectional area portions of the second cross-sectional area do not touch each other and form a depression between them that extends to the inner liner and is free of foam. In other words, the height of the second cross-sectional area is zero at least at one point, thus dividing the second cross-sectional area into at least two parts.

[0044] According to another embodiment, the first cross-sectional area part and the second cross-sectional area part of the second cross-sectional area are adjacent cross-sectional area parts.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the second cross-sectional area has a total of at least ten separate cross-sectional area parts. According to one embodiment, the mechanical stress on the foam during the unwinding of the pneumatic tire can be reduced by having several separate cross-sectional area parts of the second cross-sectional area (or also by having cross-sectional area parts of different average heights (of the second cross-sectional area)).

[0046] According to a further embodiment, the first cross-sectional area has at least three separate cross-sectional areas. According to one embodiment, the multiple separate cross-sectional areas of the first cross-sectional area can reduce the mechanical stress on the foam, for example, during cornering (of a motor vehicle on which the pneumatic tire is mounted).

[0047] According to one embodiment, at least one of the cross-sectional area parts (for example, at least one of the first cross-sectional area part of the first cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area part of the first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area part of the second cross-sectional area, and the second cross-sectional area part of the second cross-sectional area) has an area that is at least 1.2 times larger than the area of ​​the largest possible rectangle that lies completely within the cross-sectional area part. In other words, the area of ​​the cross-sectional area part is at least 1.2 times larger than the area of ​​an inscribed rectangle. According to one embodiment, the factor is at least 1.3, for example, at least 1.5 or at least 1.6. Consequently, according to one embodiment, the shape of the cross-sectional area part deviates from a rectangular shape.This can improve the noise-absorbing properties of the foam and / or reduce mechanical stress on the foam when the pneumatic tire deforms.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the running surface section of the inner liner has a reduced release agent content in a portion of its surface area. For example, according to one embodiment, the release agent content in a portion of the running surface section of the inner liner is less than 20% of the release agent content in the remaining area of ​​the running surface section of the inner liner, in particular wherein the area of ​​the portion is at least 20% and at most 80% of the total area of ​​the running surface section of the inner liner.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the tread section of the inner liner consists of the area fraction and the remaining area of ​​the tread section. According to one embodiment, a release agent content specified herein is an average content of a release agent per area (for example, specified in grams per square centimeter (g / cm²)). 2 )), where the average content is averaged over the area in question. For example, the average content of the release agent for an area can be determined by weighing the pneumatic tire (or a tire part comprising the area) with and without release agent on the area. According to one embodiment, the weight difference divided by the area of ​​the surface yields the average content of the release agent on the surface. According to one embodiment, the removal of the release agent to determine the release agent content, as described above, can be carried out using wet chemical methods.

[0050] According to one embodiment, for at least 20% (for example, at least 50% or at least 70%) of the contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section of the inner liner, the average release agent content is less than 20% of the average release agent content on 20% of the remaining contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section of the inner liner. In other words, there is a first contact area portion of the contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section, which comprises at least 20% of the total contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section, and a second contact area portion of the contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section, which comprises 20% of the remaining contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section, wherein the first contact area portion has less than 20% of the average release agent content on the second contact area portion.For example, at least 20% (e.g., at least 50% or at least 70%) of the contact area of ​​the foam with the running surface section of the inner liner must be free of release agent. It is understood that the first contact area and the remaining contact area constitute the total contact area of ​​the foam with the running surface section.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the boundary is at least 5 cm. 2 (five square centimeters) of the contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section of the inner liner are located at an edge of the foam and have an average release agent content of less than 20% of the remaining contact area of ​​the foam with the tread section of the inner liner. For example, according to one embodiment, the first contact area portion of the contact surface of the foam with the tread section can have an area of ​​5 cm². 2exhibit and border an edge of the foam.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the contact surface between the inner liner and the foam has a first contact surface part and furthermore at least one of the following: 1) the first contact surface part is strip-shaped with an average width of at least 2 cm; 2) the first contact surface part borders an edge of the foam; 3) the first contact surface part has a first release agent content and the remaining contact surface without the first contact surface part has a second contact surface part which has a second release agent content, wherein the area of ​​the second contact surface part is 20% of the area of ​​the remaining contact surface and the first release agent content is less than the second release agent content;4) The foam forms an edge in the axial direction, and the first contact area part of the contact surface extends transversely to the circumferential direction of the tire and is at most 2 cm away from the edge.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the tread section is defined by the fact that the surface of the inner liner in the tread section forms an angle with the axis of rotation, the magnitude of which is less than or equal to 45 degrees. In other words, in one embodiment, the boundary between the tread section and a sidewall is defined by the fact that the tangent to the surface of the inner liner at this boundary forms an angle with the axis of rotation, the magnitude of which is 45 degrees.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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 (comprising one or more microprocessors, for example, a computer system) to effect and / or coordinate the execution of at least one method described herein.

[0056] The (non-transient) program element can be implemented as computer-readable instruction code using any suitable programming language, such as Java, C#, Python, etc., and can 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 processing device to perform the intended functions. The computer program can be available on a network, such as the World Wide Web, from which it can be downloaded.

[0057] The items disclosed herein can be realized by means of a computer program product (program element) or software. However, the items disclosed herein can also be realized by one or more specific electronic circuits or hardware. Furthermore, the items disclosed herein can also be realized in hybrid form, i.e., in a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0058] According to one embodiment, one or more of the control devices disclosed herein may include a processor device configured to execute a program element disclosed herein.

[0059] According to embodiments of the first aspect, the pneumatic tire is configured 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, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, and / or the fourth aspect. According to embodiments of the second aspect, the method is configured 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, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, and / or the fourth aspect.

[0060] According to embodiments of the third aspect, the device is configured 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, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect and / or the fourth aspect.

[0061] According to embodiments of the fourth aspect, the computer program product is configured 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, in particular the embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect and / or the fourth aspect.

[0062] It is noted that a reference to an aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein naturally includes a reference to one or more embodiments of that aspect. For example, the statement that a predetermined feature of a container controls the operation of a device according to the third aspect includes embodiments according to which the container is configured according to one or more embodiments and / or according to which the device is configured according to one or more embodiments of the third aspect.

[0063] Unless otherwise stated, numerical values ​​are to be understood as including a ±5% window, i.e., for example, a specification of 5 cm. 2 According to one embodiment, it comprises an area within an interval of (5 cm 2 ± 5% of 5 cm 2 ) = [4.75 cm 2 5.25 cm 2] 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 another embodiment, numerical values ​​and / or percentages are to be understood as including a ±10% window.

[0064] According to one embodiment, a method disclosed herein can define the functionality of a device disclosed herein without being limited to the device-specific features. In this respect, each functionality of a device disclosed herein is intended to implicitly disclose a corresponding method that is defined exclusively by the disclosed functionality. Conversely, according to one embodiment, a method disclosed herein can be carried out with any suitable known device (which may have a single element or several interacting elements). In this respect, each method disclosed herein is intended to implicitly disclose a corresponding device configured to carry out the method.

[0065] A general reference to embodiments (for example, of a pneumatic tire), for example by the wording "according to at least one embodiment", by the wording "according to one or more embodiments" or the wording "according to embodiments" also includes in particular the combination of features of a corresponding independent claim without further restrictions (for example, the pneumatic tire according to claim 1).

[0066] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, a list of features or process steps according to one embodiment does not define a sequence of the features or process steps in the order of the list. According to another embodiment, a list of features or process steps defines a sequence of the features or process steps as specified in the list.

[0067] In some embodiments mentioned above, the first occurrence of a feature was referred to as the feature with the indefinite article, for example, both when describing embodiments of the first aspect and when describing embodiments of the second aspect. However, it should be understood that the use of the indefinite article or the definite article in this disclosure is not restrictive, and that a feature referred to in different embodiments, regardless of whether it is designated with the definite article or the indefinite article, refers to the same feature in at least one embodiment. Therefore, in a combination of different embodiments, the feature can be referred to with the indefinite article at its first occurrence and with the definite article at subsequent occurrences.Furthermore, according to one embodiment, a feature referred to in the specific article can be designed without the embodiments described above. In addition, in one embodiment, the first aspect and the second aspect are two different aspects of the same object.

[0068] It should be noted that, unless explicitly stated otherwise, numerical terms (first, second, third, etc.) serve solely to identify different elements (e.g., cross-sectional areas, contact surface parts, etc.) without implying a sequence of process steps or requiring or implying the existence of any of the other different elements. For example, a reference to a second cross-sectional area alone does not require that a first cross-sectional area be generated prior to the second. Furthermore, a reference to a second cross-sectional area does not require that a first cross-sectional area already exists or is even provided for. Additionally, numerical terms may be chosen depending on a combination of embodiments.For example, in an implementation that refers to the first and second cross-sectional areas, a first cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area can also be referred to as the third cross-sectional area portion, and a second cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area can also be referred to as the fourth cross-sectional area portion. This allows for unambiguous identification of the cross-sectional area portions without having to specify whether the cross-sectional area portion is part of the first or the second cross-sectional area. Similarly, the third mean height and the fourth mean height described above (of the first and second cross-sectional area portions of the second cross-sectional area) can also be referred to as the first mean height of the first cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area and the second mean height of the second cross-sectional area portion of the second cross-sectional area.

[0069] Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following exemplary description of currently preferred embodiments, to which, however, the claimed subject matter is not limited. The individual figures in the drawings of this document are to be regarded merely as schematic and not to scale.

[0070] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] Fig. 1 shows a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0072] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic tire from Fig. 1 seen along line II-II.

[0073] Fig. 3 shows the tire in a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2 in a further process stage.

[0074] Fig. 4 shows in a cross-sectional view a part of a tread section of the pneumatic tire in a further first plane according to embodiments of the objects disclosed herein.

[0075] Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein in a second plane, which extends perpendicular to the tire axis.

[0076] Fig. 6 shows a tread section of an inner liner of another pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. Fig. 7 shows a device for fitting a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein.

[0077] Fig. 8 shows in an unrolled view an inner liner of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0078] Fig. 9 shows in an unrolled view another inner liner of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0079] Fig. 10 shows in an unrolled view another inner liner of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0080] Fig. 11 shows in an unrolled view another inner liner of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0081] Fig. 12 shows in a cross-sectional view parts of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0082] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] It is noted that similar or identical elements or components in different figures are designated with the same reference numbers, or with reference numbers that differ only in the leading digit or an appended letter. Such features or components, which are identical or at least functionally equivalent to the corresponding features or components in another figure, are described in detail in the following text only upon their first occurrence; the description is not repeated for subsequent occurrences of these features and components (or the corresponding reference numbers). In the drawings, cross-sectional areas are sometimes not hatched to improve clarity.It is understood that an exemplary implementation of the elements described below and referenced is shown in the relevant drawings and configured according to the following description, unless otherwise specified.

[0084] Fig. 1 shows a pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire has an axis of rotation 102, which defines an axial direction 104, a radial direction 106, and a circumferential direction 108. According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire further has two sidewalls 110, one of which is visible in Fig. 1, as well as a tread 112 arranged between the sidewalls 110 and a bead area 113, with which the pneumatic tire 100 can be mounted on a rim.

[0085] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic tire 100 along line II-II as seen in Fig. 1.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire 100 has an inner liner 114, which has a sidewall section 116 and a tread section 118 on each sidewall 110, the latter being opposite the tread 112. Fig. 2 shows the pneumatic tire 100 before the application of a foam precursor.

[0087] Fig. 3 shows the tire 100 in a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2 in a further process stage.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire 100 has a foam 120 on the inner liner 114. According to one embodiment, the foam 120 is produced from a precursor (not shown in Fig. 3). According to one embodiment, at least 60% of the tread section 118 of the inner liner is covered with the foam 120, with a contact area 122 between the foam 120 and the inner liner 114 comprising more than 90% of the tread section 118. According to one embodiment, a boundary 124 between the tread section 118 of the inner liner and the sidewall section 116 of the inner liner is defined by a tangent 126 at the boundary 124 to a surface of the inner liner 114 with axial direction 104 forming an angle 128 of 45 degrees, for example, as schematically shown in Fig. 3.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the foam 120 has a first height 130 in a first plane 129, which is defined in Fig. 3 by the plane of the drawing and which has the axis of rotation 102. This first height 130 is perpendicular to the axis of rotation 102, for example as shown in Fig. 3. According to another embodiment, the first height 130 varies along the axial direction 104, for example as shown in Fig. 3 by the first height 130 being at different axial positions.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the foam 120 defines a first cross-sectional area 132 in the first plane 129, which, according to another embodiment, has several separate cross-sectional area parts, for example, five separate cross-sectional area parts, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. In other words, the term "first cross-sectional area" refers to the entirety of the cross-sectional area parts of the foam 120 in the first plane 129. According to one embodiment, a separate cross-sectional area part has an area that is at least 1.2 times larger than the area of ​​the largest possible rectangle 133 that lies completely within the cross-sectional area part, for example, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. According to another embodiment, the first cross-sectional area 132 has a first cross-sectional area part 134, which is shown in Fig.Figure 3 identifies a first cross-sectional area 134, identified by two dashed lines, and a second cross-sectional area 136, also identified by two dashed lines in Figure 3. According to one embodiment, the first cross-sectional area 134 and the second cross-sectional area 136 each have a length of 1 cm in the axial direction 104. Furthermore, the first cross-sectional area 134 has a first mean height 138 (over its length of 1 cm), and the second cross-sectional area 136 has a second mean height 140 (over its length of 1 cm). According to one embodiment, the first mean height 138 is at least 5 mm greater than the second mean height 140, for example, as shown in Figure 3. In other words, according to one embodiment, the height difference 142 between the first mean height 138 and the second mean height 140 is 5 mm or more, for example, as shown in Figure 3.It should be noted that the contact angle between the foam and the inner liner can, in principle, deviate from the contact angle shown in Fig. 3 (where it is less than 90 degrees). For example, the contact angle can also be greater than 90 degrees, e.g., depending on the release agent content on the inner liner 114.

[0091] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a tread section 118 of the pneumatic tire 100 in a further first plane 229 according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the further first plane 229 is rotated relative to the first plane 129 about the axis of rotation 102 (both the first plane 129 and the further first plane 229 contain the axis of rotation by definition). According to one embodiment, the foam 120 in the (further) first plane 229 has a single first cross-sectional area 132 with a first cross-sectional area part 134, a second cross-sectional area part 136, and a difference 142 between a first mean height 138 and a second mean height 140, for example, as shown in Fig. 4. According to one embodiment, the cross-sectional area parts 134 and 136 are different parts of the same contiguous first cross-sectional area 132, for example, as shown in Fig. 4.According to one embodiment, the foam 120 has a surface structure which has a varying first height 130 along the axial direction 104, for example as shown in Fig. 4. According to one embodiment, the surface structure has at least one raised area 144 and at least one recessed area 146, for example as shown in Fig. 4. According to one embodiment, the foam 120 has a wave-like surface structure in the first plane 229, for example as shown in Fig. 4. According to one embodiment, the first cross-sectional area portion 134 of the first cross-sectional area 132 and the second cross-sectional area portion 136 of the first cross-sectional area 132 on the inner liner 114 each have a length 135, 137 of 1 cm.

[0092] Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another pneumatic tire 100 in a second plane 149, which extends perpendicular to the tire axis 102. According to one embodiment, the foam in the second plane 149 has a second height 150 perpendicular to the inner liner 114. According to another embodiment, the foam in the second plane 149 has a second cross-sectional area 152, which, according to one embodiment, can have several separate cross-sectional area parts 154, for example, as shown in Fig. 5. In other words, the term "second cross-sectional area" 152 refers to the entirety of the cross-sectional area parts 154 of the foam 120 in the second plane 149. According to one embodiment, the second cross-sectional area 152 has a first cross-sectional area part 156 and a second cross-sectional area part 158.According to one embodiment, the first cross-sectional area 156 and the second cross-sectional area 158 on the inner liner 114 each have a length of 1 cm. According to another embodiment, the first cross-sectional area 156 of the second cross-sectional area 152 defines a third mean height 160 of the foam 120, and the second cross-sectional area 158 of the second cross-sectional area 152 defines a fourth mean height 162 of the foam 120. According to another embodiment, the difference 164 between the third mean height 160 and the fourth mean height 162 is at least 5 mm. In other words, in the second plane 149, according to one embodiment, there is a first cross-sectional area 156 and a second cross-sectional area 158 of the foam, which have different mean heights over a length of 1 cm, differing by at least 5 mm, for example, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the second cross-sectional area 152 has a total of at least five separate cross-sectional area parts 154, for example nine separate cross-sectional area parts 154, for example as shown in Fig. 5. According to another embodiment, the second cross-sectional area 152 has a total of at least ten separate cross-sectional area parts 154, for example at least twenty separate cross-sectional area parts.

[0094] Fig. 6 shows a tread section 118 of an inner liner 114 of another pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein. For ease of illustration, the tread section 118 is shown rolled up in Fig. 6, i.e., the tread section 118 shown is closed in a ring shape in the circumferential direction 108 on the pneumatic tire (contrary to the illustration in Fig. 6).

[0095] According to one embodiment, the running surface section 118 has at least one cleaned area 166 and at least one uncleaned area 168. For example, the cleaned areas 166 can be strip-shaped, as shown in Fig. 6. According to one embodiment, on a surface area portion of the running surface section 118, for example, on the cleaned surface area portion of the running surface section 118 (for example, the cleaned areas 166 of the running surface section 118, as shown in Fig. 6), the release agent content is less than 20% of the release agent content on the remaining surface area (for example, the uncleaned areas 168) of the running surface section 118. According to one embodiment, the surface area of ​​the surface area portion (for example, the surface area of ​​the cleaned areas 166) is at least 20% and at most 80% of the surface area of ​​the running surface section 118, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0096] According to one embodiment, at least 20% of the contact area 122 of the foam 120 (shown by a dashed line in Fig. 6) with the running surface section 118 of the inner liner 114 has an average release agent content (also referred to as the first average release agent content) that is less than 20% of the average release agent content on 20% of the remaining contact area of ​​the foam. In other words, on the remaining contact area of ​​the running surface section 118 with the foam 120 (for example, outside the cleaned areas 166, particularly in a non-adherent area, such as a central area of ​​the uncleaned areas 168), there is a contact area fraction where the average release agent content (also referred to as the second average release agent content) is such that the first average release agent content is less than 20% of the second average release agent content.For example, according to one embodiment, at least 20% of the contact area of ​​the foam with the running surface section 118 is free of release agent.

[0097] According to one embodiment, a contact surface 122 between the inner liner 114 and the foam 120 has a first contact surface portion 170 which is strip-shaped with a mean width of at least 2 cm and a distance 171 from an edge 172 (axial edge) formed by the foam 120 in the axial direction 104. According to one embodiment, the foam 120 is arranged exclusively on the running surface section 118. According to another embodiment, the running surface section 118 is covered by the foam 120 to at least 60%, for example at least 80%, or for example completely, as shown, for example, in Fig. 6. According to one embodiment, the first contact surface portion has a first release agent content, and the remaining contact surface, excluding the first contact surface portion, has a contact surface portion which has a second release agent content that is higher than the first release agent content.According to one embodiment, the area of ​​the contact surface fraction is 20% of the area of ​​the remaining contact surface.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the contact surface portion 170 can adjoin the edge 172 of the foam. For example, the contact surface portion 170 can have an area of ​​5 cm². 2 exhibit.

[0099] According to another embodiment, the contact surface part can extend in the circumferential direction with its longest dimension and only abut a single axial edge 172 of the foam.

[0100] Fig. 7 shows a device 174 for equipping a pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0101] According to one embodiment, the device 174 has a receptacle 176 for receiving a pneumatic tire 100. Furthermore, the device 174 has equipment 178 for introducing foam into the pneumatic tire and / or for configuring foam within the pneumatic tire to produce a pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein. For example, the equipment 178 has an application device 180 for applying a pre-product to the pneumatic tire 100. According to one embodiment, the pre-product 181 is stored in a container 182 and is available to the application device 180 for application to the pneumatic tire 100, for example, via a line 183. According to one embodiment, the pre-product 181 can be converted into the foam 120. According to another embodiment, the device 178 has a laser device 184 with which the foam 120 can be processed by means of laser radiation 185.According to a further embodiment, the laser device 184 (or another laser device, not shown) can be configured to emit laser radiation that causes or assists the conversion of the pre-product 181 into the foam 120. According to a further embodiment, the equipment 178 can include a detection device 190, for example, a light section sensor, wherein the detection device 190 is configured, according to one embodiment, to provide a state of the foam 120 (for example, a surface profile of the foam or an open-pore structure of the foam) to a control device 186 (for example, in the form of signals, such as sensor signals).According to one embodiment, the control device 186 of the device 174 comprises a processor device 187 and a memory 188 in which a computer program product according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein is stored. According to one embodiment, the control device 186 is configured to control components of the device 174 (for example, the laser device 184 and / or the application device 180), for example, to control them depending on signals from the detection device 190, in particular according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0102] The following describes spatial configurations of the foam 120 on an inner liner according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. The inner liner is always shown unrolled, i.e., the circumferential direction extends in the plane of the drawing, analogous to Fig. 6.

[0103] Fig. 8 shows an unrolled view of an inner liner 114 of a pneumatic tire, in which a tread section 118, a sidewall section 116 and a shoulder area 117 of the tread section 116 are identified in Fig. 8.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the shoulder area 117 of the side wall section 116 is free of foam 120, for example as shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the foam 120 comprises a plurality of separate foam parts, some of which are labelled 192 in Fig. 8. In a second plane 149 perpendicular to the axis of rotation 102, the separate foam parts 192 each form a separate cross-sectional area portion of a second cross-sectional area (not shown in Fig. 8; see, for example, Fig. 5). According to another embodiment, the foam parts 192 extend at a distance from the side wall sections 116 of the inner liner 114 and between the side wall sections 116, for example as shown in Fig. 8. For example, the foam parts 192 have a distance 194 from each side wall section 116 in a range between 1 mm and 10 mm.

[0105] Fig. 9 shows in an unrolled view a further inner liner 114 of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0106] According to a further embodiment, the foam 120 comprises a plurality of separate foam parts, some of which are designated by reference numeral 292 in Fig. 9 and which, according to one embodiment, are generally circular or approximately circular. For example, the dimension of each separate foam part of the plurality of foam parts differs in the circumferential direction 108 and perpendicular to the circumferential direction 108 by at most 50%, for example by at most 25%.

[0107] Fig. 10 shows in an unrolled view a further inner liner 114 of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the foam 120 comprises a plurality of separate foam parts, some of which are designated by reference numerals 392 in Fig. 10. According to one embodiment, the separate foam parts 392 have an elongated shape, i.e., in the direction of their longest dimension 193, the foam parts 392 have, for example, a dimension that is at least twice the dimension perpendicular to the direction of the longest dimension 193, for example, as shown in Fig. 10. According to one embodiment, the direction of the longest dimension 193 of the foam parts 392 extends parallel to the circumferential direction 108, for example, as shown in Fig. 10.According to another embodiment, the direction of the longest dimension 193 of the foam parts 392 extends transversely to the circumferential direction 108, for example at an angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, for example at an angle between 20 degrees and 70 degrees.

[0109] Fig. 11 shows in an unrolled view a part of a further inner liner 114 of a pneumatic tire 100 according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0110] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire 100 has a marking 195, 295 indicating the position of a contact surface portion with a reduced release agent content, for example, the position of the first contact surface portion 170, as shown in Fig. 11. For example, the marking 295 may be located in a foam-free area of ​​the inner liner 114 and / or the marking 195 may be located on the foam 120, as shown in Fig. 11. According to another embodiment, the marking 195 may be incorporated into the foam. In one embodiment, the marking may be a color marking or a surface profile in the foam.According to a further embodiment, the marking (for example, the marking 195) can be arranged at the position of the first contact surface part 170 and, according to one embodiment, can trace an edge of the first contact surface part 170, for example as shown in Fig. 11. Furthermore, the marking 195, 295 can be arranged next to the first contact surface part 170 and point to the first contact surface part 170, for example by arrows, for example as shown in Fig. 11.

[0111] According to a further embodiment, the foam 120 comprises a first plurality of foam parts and (at least) a second plurality of foam parts, wherein the foam parts of the first plurality and the foam parts of the second plurality are configured differently (for example, implementing different combinations of embodiments). Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of parts of a pneumatic tire according to embodiments of the items disclosed herein.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the foam 120 has a closed-pore surface section 121 which faces the inner liner 114. In another embodiment, the surface section 121 is arranged at a distance from the inner liner 114, for example as shown in Fig. 12. According to a further embodiment, the closed-pore surface section 121 can at least partially contact the inner liner 114. The closed-pore surface section 121 can be formed, for example, by selectively applying the precursor to the inner liner 114, for example, by applying it in spaced-apart application areas, for example, two spaced-apart application areas 196, for example as shown in Fig. 12.Due to the increase in volume during the conversion of the pre-product in the application areas, a foam with a larger volume is formed. According to one embodiment, foam components formed from the pre-product in the application areas 196 combine to form a common foam element, for example as shown in Fig. 12. In this way, according to one embodiment, a cavity 197 can be created between the foam 120 and the inner liner 114 between the application areas 196, for example as shown in Fig. 12. According to one embodiment, the cavity 197 covers an area of ​​at least 0.5 square centimeters (0.5 cm²) on the inner liner. 2 ), for example, at least 0.7 cm 2 , at least 1 cm 2 , at least 2 cm 2 or at least 5 cm 2. The cavity according to embodiments of the objects disclosed herein is therefore larger (in particular significantly larger) than the diameter of a pore of the foam 120.

[0113] According to another embodiment, the closed-pore surface section 121 opposite the inner liner can be produced by selecting the release agent and / or the release agent content.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the foam 120 has an open-pore surface section 198, which, according to one embodiment, forms a free surface of the foam 120 and which is produced, for example, by removing foam, for example by laser processing.

[0115] It should be noted that elements of the objects disclosed herein, such as a foam part, a cross-sectional area part, a contact surface section, etc., as described herein, are not limited to the specific entities described in some embodiments. Rather, the objects disclosed herein can be implemented in numerous ways while still providing the disclosed specific functionality.

[0116] According to embodiments of the items disclosed herein, any suitable entity (e.g., components, units and devices, elements, etc.) can be at least partially in the form of corresponding

[0117] Computer programs may be provided that enable a processor device to deliver the functionality of the corresponding entity as described herein. According to other embodiments, any suitable entity as described herein may be provided in hardware. According to other hybrid embodiments, some entities may be provided in software while other entities are provided in hardware.

[0118] It should be noted that each entity disclosed herein (e.g., components, units, devices, elements, etc.) is not limited to a single, dedicated entity as described in some embodiments. Furthermore, the items described herein may be provided in various ways with varying degrees of granularity at the device level or at the software module level, while still providing the specified functionality. It should also be noted that, according to some embodiments, a separate entity (e.g., a software module, a hardware module, or a hybrid module) may be provided for each of the functions disclosed herein. According to other embodiments, one entity (e.g., a software module, a hardware module, or a hybrid module) may be configured to provide two or more functions as described herein. According to yet other embodiments, two or more entities (e.g.,Components, units and devices, elements, etc.) may be configured together to provide a function as described herein. For example, the literal disclosure of two cross-sectional area parts provides an embodiment in which the cross-sectional area parts are connected to each other directly or by means of another cross-sectional area part. Furthermore, the literal disclosure of a cross-sectional area provides an embodiment comprising a single cross-sectional area or two or more separate cross-sectional area parts.

[0119] According to one embodiment, the control device includes a processor device which has at least one processor for executing at least one program element, which may correspond to a corresponding software module.

[0120] 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, every reference to laser radiation here analogously reveals a reference to a radiation path of the laser radiation.

[0121] It should be noted that the implementations described herein, in particular those illustrated in the drawings, represent only a limited selection of possible combinations of embodiments of the present disclosure. It is generally possible to combine the features of different embodiments in a suitable manner, so that, for a person skilled in the art, a multitude of combinations of different embodiments are to be considered disclosed with the embodiments explicitly disclosed herein. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that terms such as "a" or "one" do not exclude plurality. Terms such as "containing" or "having" do not exclude further features or process steps. Consequently, according to one embodiment, the term "having" or "containing" means "having, among other things." According to another embodiment, the term "having" or "having" means "consisting of."According to one embodiment, the term "set up for" includes, among other things, the meaning "configured to". The term "in particular" here refers generally to optional features.

[0122] The expression "A and / or B" usually includes "only A," "only B," and also "A and B." In an expression referring to a list of features, "at least one" always includes the individual features as well as any combination of features. For example, the expression "at least one of the features A and B" includes the feature "only A," "only B," and "A and B." Similarly, the expression "at least one of the features A or B" includes the feature "only A," "only B," and "A and B." Similarly, the expression "at least one of the features A, B" includes the feature "only A," "only B," and "A and B."

[0123] It should also be noted that reference numerals in the claims should not be interpreted 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 interpreted as limiting the scope of the description. Rather, the drawings merely illustrate an exemplary implementation of a particular combination of several embodiments of the items disclosed herein, with any other combination of embodiments being equally possible and considered disclosed with this application.

[0124] Reference symbol list

[0125] 100 pneumatic tires

[0126] 102 Rotary axis

[0127] 104 axial direction

[0128] 106 radial direction

[0129] 108 Circumferential direction

[0130] 110 side wall

[0131] 112 tread surface

[0132] 113 Bead area

[0133] 114 Innerliner

[0134] 116 Side wall section

[0135] 117 Shoulder area

[0136] 118 Tread section

[0137] 120 foam

[0138] 121 closed-pore surface section

[0139] 122 contact area

[0140] 124 Border between 118 and 116

[0141] 126 Tangent to surface of 114

[0142] 128 angles

[0143] 129 first level

[0144] 130 first height

[0145] 132 first cross-sectional area

[0146] 133 largest possible rectangle

[0147] 134 first cross-sectional area part of 132

[0148] 135 Length of 134 on the inner liner

[0149] 136 second cross-sectional area part of 132

[0150] 137 Length of 136 on the inner liner

[0151] 138 first mean height

[0152] 140 second mean height

[0153] 142 Difference between 138 and 140

[0154] 144 Survey

[0155] 146 In-depth study

[0156] 149 second level

[0157] 150 second height

[0158] 152 second cross-sectional area separate cross-sectional area parts of 152 first cross-sectional area part of 152 second cross-sectional area part of 152 third mean height fourth mean height

[0159] Difference between 160 and 162: cleaned area, uncleaned area, first contact surface part

[0160] Distance between 170 and 172

[0161] Edge of 120

[0162] device

[0163] Recording

[0164] Equipment for introducing and / or configuring a foam

[0165] Application device

[0166] intermediate product

[0167] container

[0168] Line

[0169] laser device

[0170] Laser radiation

[0171] Control device

[0172] Processor device

[0173] memory

[0174] Detection device separate foam parts

[0175] Direction of longest dimension

[0176] Distance

[0177] mark

[0178] Area of ​​responsibility

[0179] Cavity between 120 and 114 open-pore surface section first level separate foam parts

[0180] Marking separate foam parts

Claims

Patent claims 1. Pneumatic tire (100) comprising: an axis of rotation (102) which defines an axial direction (104) parallel to the axis of rotation (102) and a radial direction (106) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (102); two sidewalls (110); a tread (112) which is arranged between the sidewalls (110); and an inner liner (114); wherein the inner liner (114) has a sidewall section (116) on each sidewall (110); wherein the inner liner (114) has a tread section (118) which is opposite the tread (112) and which is arranged between the sidewall sections (116); a foam (120) on the inner liner (114); wherein the foam (120) is attached to the pneumatic tire (100) by applying a pre-product (181) of the foam (120) to at least a part of the inner liner (114) and converting the pre-product (181) to produce the foam (120);wherein at least 60% of the tread section (118) is covered with the foam (120); and wherein a contact area (122) between the foam (120) and the inner liner (114) consists of more than 90% of the tread section (118).

2. Pneumatic tire (100) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following features: the foam (120) has an open-pore surface; the foam (120) has a closed-pore surface section (121) which is opposite the inner liner (114); the foam (120) is bonded to the inner liner (114).

3. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foam (120) has a first height (130) in a first plane (129) which has the axis of rotation (102); wherein the first height (130) of the foam (120) is defined perpendicular to the tire axis of rotation (102); and wherein the first height (130) of the foam (120) varies along the axial direction (104).

4. Pneumatic tire (100) according to claim 3, wherein the foam (120) in the first plane (129) defines a first cross-sectional area (132) of the foam (120); wherein the first cross-sectional area (132) has a first cross-sectional area part (134) and a second cross-sectional area part (136); wherein the first cross-sectional area part (134) has a length of 1 cm in the axial direction (104) and has a first mean height (138); wherein the second cross-sectional area part (136) has a length of 1 cm in the axial direction (104) and has a second mean height (140); and wherein the first mean height (138) is at least 5 mm greater than the second mean height (140).

5. Pneumatic tire (100) according to claim 4, wherein the second cross-sectional area part (136) and the first cross-sectional area part (134) are separate cross-sectional area parts.

6. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising wherein the foam (120) has a second height (150) in a second plane (149) which extends perpendicular to the tire's axis of rotation (102); wherein the second height (150) is defined perpendicular to the inner liner (114); and wherein the second height (150) varies along a circumferential direction (108) about the axis of rotation (102).

7. Pneumatic tire (100) according to claim 6, wherein the foam (120) in the second plane (149) defines a second cross-sectional area (152) of the foam (120); wherein the second cross-sectional area (152) has a first cross-sectional area part (156) and a second cross-sectional area part (158); wherein the first cross-sectional area part (156) of the second cross-sectional area (152) has a length of 1 cm at the inner liner (114) and defines a third mean height (160); wherein the second cross-sectional area part (158) of the second cross-sectional area (152) has a length of 1 cm at the inner liner (114) and defines a fourth mean height (162); and wherein the third mean height (160) is at least 5 mm greater than the fourth mean height (162).

8. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the first cross-sectional area part (156) of the second cross-sectional area (152) and the second cross-sectional area part (158) of the second cross-sectional area (152) are separate area parts.

9. Pneumatic tire (100) according to claim 8, wherein the second cross-sectional area (158) has a total of at least 10 separate cross-sectional area parts (156, 158).

10. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein at least one of the cross-sectional area parts (134, 136, 154, 156, 158) has an area that is at least 1.2 times larger than the area of ​​a largest possible rectangle (133) that lies completely within the cross-sectional area part (134, 136, 154, 156, 158).

11. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein on a surface area of ​​the tread section (118) of the inner liner (114) a release agent content of less than 20% of a release agent content on the remaining surface of the tread section (118) of the innerliner (114) and wherein the area of ​​the surface fraction is at least 20% and at most 80% of the area of ​​the running surface section (118) of the innerliner (114); in particular wherein at least 20% of the area of ​​the running surface section (118) of the innerliner (114) is free of release agent and at least 20% of the area of ​​the innerliner (114) contains the release agent.

12. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least 20% of the contact area (122) of the foam (120) with the tread section (118) of the inner liner (114) has a mean release agent content of less than 20% of the mean release agent content on 20% of the remaining contact area (122) of the foam (120) with the tread section (118) of the inner liner (114), in particular wherein at least 20% of the contact area (122) of the foam (120) with the tread section (118) of the inner liner (114) is free of release agent.

13. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 5 cm 2the contact surface (122) of the foam (120) with the running surface section (118) of the inner liner (114) adjoins an edge of the foam (120) and have a mean release agent content of less than 20% of the remaining contact surface (122) of the foam (120) with the running surface section (118) of the inner liner (114).

14. Pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact surface (122) between the inner liner (114) and the foam (120) comprises a first contact surface portion (170) and furthermore at least one of the following: the first contact surface portion (170) is strip-shaped with a mean width of at least 2 cm; the first contact surface portion (170) borders an edge of the foam (120); the first contact surface portion (170) has a first release agent content and the remaining contact surface (122) without the first contact surface portion has a contact area portion, which has a second release agent content, wherein the first release agent content is lower than the second release agent content; wherein the foam (120) forms an edge (172) in the axial direction (104) and the first contact area portion (170) of the contact area (122) extends transversely to the circumferential direction of the tire and has a distance of at most 2 cm from the edge (172).

15. Device for equipping a pneumatic tire (100) with a foam (120), the device comprising: a receptacle (176) for receiving a tire (100); equipment (178) for introducing a foam into the pneumatic tire (100) and / or for configuring a foam in the pneumatic tire (100) and thereby producing a pneumatic tire (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 16. Method for introducing a foam (120) into an air tire (100), comprising the method: Providing a pneumatic tire (100) having an axis of rotation (102), wherein the axis of rotation (102) defines an axial direction (104) parallel to the axis of rotation (102) and a radial direction (106) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (102); wherein the pneumatic tire (100) has two sidewalls (110), a tread (112) and an inner liner (114), wherein the tread (112) is arranged between the sidewalls (110); wherein the inner liner (114) has a sidewall section (116) on each sidewall (110) and wherein the inner liner (114) has a tread section (118) opposite the tread (112) and arranged between the sidewall sections (116); the method further comprising: Attaching a foam (120) to the pneumatic tire (100) by applying a pre-product (181) of the foam (120) to at least a part of the inner liner (114) and repositioning the pre-product (181) to produce the foam (120) such that at least 60% of the tread section (118) is covered with the foam (120) and a The contact area (122) between the foam (120) and the inner liner (114) consists of more than 90% of the running surface section (118).

17. Device comprising a control device, wherein the control device is configured to perform a method according to claim 16.

18. Computer program product comprising a program element which, when executed on a processor device (187), is configured to perform a method according to claim 16.

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