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AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsGeorge Jim Papakonstantopoulos, Michael Lawrence Gersman, Andreas Frantzen
Estimating the term…
This invention discloses a technique for replenishing the level of sealant in self-sealing tires at the time that a puncture in the tire is being repaired or when the tire is being recapped. This technique provides the tire with its original level of self-sealing capabilities and will enhance the possibility of the tire remaining in service until it can be conveniently repaired. This method involves (1) injecting a liquid sealant formulation into the sealant layer of a self-sealing tire through at least one puncture hole therein, and (2) sealing the hole or holes in the supporting carcass and the innerliner of the tire. The sealant utilized is typically liquid polyisobutylene having a weight average molecular weight of 25,000 to 200,000. The sealant formulation used can optionally also contain a colorant or a pigment.
A method for replenishing sealant that has escaped from a self-sealing pneumatic tubeless tire through one or more holes, wherein said self-sealing pneumatic tire is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped supporting carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead, sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, a sealant layer which is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass, and an innerliner which is disposed inwardly from the sealant layer, and wherein said circumferential tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, said method comprising (1) injecting a liquid sealant formulation into the sealant layer of the tire through at least one of the holes, wherein the liquid sealant formulation is a polyisobutylene, wherein the liquid sealant formulation is void of fillers, wherein the liquid sealant formulation is void of peroxides, and wherein the liquid sealant formulation is injected into the sealant layer in an amount which is sufficient to replace the quantity of sealant that has escaped, and (2) repairing the hole or holes in the supporting carcass and the innerliner of the tire, wherein the hold or holes are repaired after the liquid sealant has been injected into the sealant layer.
A method for replenishing sealant that has escaped from a self-sealing pneumatic tubeless tire through one or more holes, wherein said self-sealing pneumatic tire is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped supporting carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead, sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, a sealant layer which is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass, and an innerliner which is disposed inwardly from the sealant layer, and wherein said circumferential tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, said method comprising (1) injecting a liquid sealant formulation into the sealant layer of the tire through at least one of the holes, wherein the liquid sealant formulation consists of a polyisobutylene, and wherein the liquid sealant formulation is injected into the sealant layer in an amount which is sufficient to replace the quantity of sealant that has escaped, and (2) repairing the hole or holes in the supporting carcass and the innerliner of the tire, wherein the hold or holes are repaired after the liquid sealant has been injected into the sealant layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.