Tire construction with flattened summit and circumferential reinforcement
AssigneeCompagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
InventorsWilliam Bennett Clayton, Daniel McEachern Hicks, Timothy B. Rhyne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire constructed with a plurality of reinforcement belts is provided. At least one of the reinforcement belts extends along the axial width of the tire summit and is constructed according to an equilibrium curve that is flat throughout the summit. The reinforcement belts include cable reinforcements that are substantially parallel to the equatorial plane. Substantial reductions in the tension experienced by the cables can be achieved to provide, as a result, improvements in e.g., tread wear.
Claims20
A tire defining axial, circumferential, and radial directions, the tire also defining equatorial and meridian planes and having a summit region positioned between sidewall portions of the tire, the tire comprising:
- a carcass extending between the sidewall portions and through the summit region of the tire;
- a working ply positioned radially outside of said carcass and extending along the axial direction of the tire;
- a plurality of reinforcement belts positioned radially outside of said carcass and positioned in the summit region of the tire,
- at least one of said reinforcement belts extending along the axial direction and through the equatorial plane, and at least one of said reinforcement belts extending to one of the sidewall portions of the tire;
- said reinforcement belts each comprising a plurality of circumferentially-oriented cables;
- wherein said reinforcement belts each have a straight profile within a meridian plane of the tire;
- and,
- a tread portion positioned radially outside of said reinforcement belts and extending through the summit region and between the sidewall portions of the tire.
A tire defining axial, circumferential, and radial directions, the tire defining a meridian plane and having a summit region positioned between sidewall portions of the tire, the tire comprising:
- a carcass extending between the sidewall portions and through the summit region of the tire;
- a working ply positioned radially outside of said carcass and extending along the axial direction of the tire;
- at least one reinforcement belt positioned radially outside of said carcass and positioned in the summit region of the tire, said at least one reinforcement belt having at least one axially outer end that extends to one sidewall portion of the tire and another outer end extending to the other sidewall portion of the tire, said reinforcement belt comprising a plurality of circumferentially-oriented cables, said reinforcement belt having a flat profile within a meridian plane of the tire;
- and,
- a tread portion positioned radially outside of said reinforcement belts and extending through the summit region and between the sidewall portions of the tire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.