# US 10,864,782 B2 · Devices for reducing tire noise

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,864,782 B2
- Document ID: US10864782B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/693,636
- Filed: 2017-09-01
- Published: 2018-03-08
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-07
- Assignees: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
- Applicants: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
- Inventors: Martin A. Yurjevich; Amy M. Randall
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864782B2

## CPC

- B60C 19/002: {Noise damping elements provided in the tyre structure or attached thereto, e.g. in the tyre interior}
- B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES

## Abstract

A noise damper, noise attenuation device, and tire and noise damper assembly are disclosed. The noise damper, noise attenuation device, and tire and noise damper assembly mitigate sound produced by a moving tire. The noise damper and noise attenuation device fit within a tire cavity and expand in reaction to a stimulus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A noise damper, configured for use within a passenger, light-truck, or truck-and-bus-radial tire, comprising:
a foam that transitions from a compressed state foam to an expanded state foam upon introduction to an atmospheric environment having a relative humidity of at least 20%, wherein
the compressed state foam includes a primary axis having a compressed abscissa length (CAL), a secondary axis having a compressed ordinate height (COH), and a tertiary axis having a compressed applicate depth (CAD);
the expanded state foam includes a primary axis having an expanded abscissa length (EAL), a secondary axis having an expanded ordinate height (EOH), and a tertiary axis having an expanded applicate depth (EAD), wherein
the EAL is configured to extend across 20-120% of a tire section width,
the EOH is configured to extend across at least 20-120% of a tire section height, and
the EAD is configured so that the expanded state foam contacts two points on an tire inner circumference; and
the foam has a sound absorption coefficient between 0.4 and 1.5.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The noise damper of claim 1, wherein the damper is made of a foam material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyether, and melamine.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The noise damper of claim 1, wherein the damper transitions from a compressed state foam to an expanded state foam in 24-96 hours after introduction to the atmospheric environment having the relative humidity of at least 20%.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The noise damper of claim 1, wherein the noise damper further comprises ethylene glycol.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The noise damper of claim 1, wherein the expanded state foam further includes tunnels.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The noise damper of claim 1, wherein the extended abscissa length is between 220 and 350 mm.

### Claim 7

A noise attenuation device comprising:
at least three distinct foam masses, including a first foam mass, a second foam mass, and a third foam mass, all of which expand in volume upon introduction to an atmospheric environment having a relative humidity of at least 20%, to at least partially fill a tire cavity; and
an annular, extensible cord that connects the distinct foam masses, wherein
the first, second, and third foam masses have a first density before introduction to the atmospheric environment having a relative humidity of at least 20%, and
the first, second, and third foam masses have a second density that is 70-96% of the first density after introduction to the atmospheric environment having a relative humidity of at least 20%.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The noise attenuation device of claim 7, wherein the noise attenuation device further comprises a fourth foam mass that expands in volume upon introduction to a stimulus the atmospheric environment having a relative humidity of at least 20%, to at least partially fill a tire cavity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The noise attenuation device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the three distinct foam masses has an elliptical cross section.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The noise attenuation device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the three distinct foam masses has a trapezoidal cross section.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The noise attenuation device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the three distinct foam masses is configured to contact both a tire and wheel rim.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The noise damper of claim 1, wherein the expanded state foam has an elliptical cross section.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The noise damper of claim 1, wherein the expanded state foam has a trapezoidal cross section.