US 4,263,074 A · Tire liner and method of preparation

Abstract

An improved annular shaped tire liner which is adapted to fit inside of, around and in contact with a casing of a pneumatic tire and in compression by the casing and a method for preparing the tire liner is described. The liner has a thickness which provides substantial protection against penetration of the tire to the inside of the casing. The tire liner is characterized by having a section which is an annular strip of high pressure and temperature vulcanized and molded rubber, preferably of the type used for bonding to the outside of a tire casing as a tread, with ends joined by a thin section of low temperature and pressure vulcanized rubber. The low temperature and pressure vulcanized rubber is preferably derived from a vulcanizable rubber used to bond the molded rubber to a tire casing and is sometimes referred to as "cushion rubber". Preferably sheets of flexible low temperature and pressure vulcanized rubber encase the annular strip of high pressure and temperature molded rubber and strips of low temperature and pressure vulcanized rubber are provided along the sides of the first annular strip. The low temperature and pressure vulcanized rubber preferably has been vulcanized in a mold cavity which has the shape and dimensions of the inside of a tire casing and preferably a tire casing is used as the mold cavity.

Claims13

Dependent claims

The method for fabricating a shaped annular tire liner of the type adapted to fit inside of, in contact with and around a casing forming a pneumatic tire, wherein the tire includes a road contacting width of annular tread supported by two spaced apart annular sidewalls each having a centrally located circular hole and an annular bead around the hole for mounting the tire on a wheel rim and with a generally U-shaped surface inside the casing and wherein the liner has a thickness which provides substantial protection against and resistance to penetration to the inside of the casing through the liner thereby reducing the frequency of flat tires which comprises:

(a) providing an elongate strip of rubber with a length and two opposing ends such that the strip will conform to the U-shaped surface around a pneumatic tire casing of a selected size with the ends together and with the strip in compression by the casing, wherein the elongate strip includes a high temperature and pressure vulcanized and molded rubber section along the length which has a width defined by two long sides which is at least about two-thirds times the width of the tread and includes a low temperature and pressure vulcanizable rubber bonded along at least the sides of the vulcanized and molded rubber section;
(b) forming an annular strip from the elongate strip by joining the ends of the elongate strip together with a thin section of low temperature and pressure vulcanizable rubber material;
and
(c) vulcanizing the vulcanizable material between the ends and along the sides of the annular strip thereby forming the tire liner.

1 more element

The method for fabricating an annular shaped tire liner of the type adapted to fit inside of, in contact with and around a casing forming a pneumatic tire, wherein the tire includes a road contacting width of annular tread supported by two spaced apart sidewalls each having a centrally located hole and an annular bead around the hole for mounting the tire on a wheel rim and with a generally U-shaped surface inside the casing and wherein the liner has a thickness which provides substantial protection against and resistance to penetration to the inside of the casing through the liner thereby reducing the frequency of flat tires which comprises:

(a) providing a mold having a cavity with a configuration and a circumference conforming to the U-shaped surface of a tire casing of a selected size;
(b) providing an elongate strip of rubber with two opposing ends and with a length such that the strip will conform to the U-shaped surface around the tire casing of the selected size in compression, wherein the elongate strip includes a width defined by two long sides of a high temperature and pressure vulcanized and molded rubber as a section along the length which is at least about two-thirds times the width of the tread of the selected size tire casing and includes a low temperature and pressure vulcanizable rubber bonded along at least the sides of the vulcanized and molded rubber section;
(c) forming an annular strip from the elongate strip by joining the ends of the strip together with a thin section of a low temperature and pressure vulcanizable rubber material;
(d) positioning the annular strip in compression in the mold cavity with a conforming pressure means against the annular strip to hold the annular strip against the U-shaped surface of the mold and with a mold release material on the mold and on the pressure means;
and
(e) vulcanizing the vulcanizable material between the ends and along the sides of the annular strip in the mold cavity thereby forming the tire liner.

3 more elements

The method for fabricating an annular shaped tire liner of the type adapted to fit inside of, in contact with and around a casing forming pneumatic tire wherein the tire includes a road contacting width of annular tread supported by two spaced apart sidewalls each having a centrally located hole and an annular bead around the hole for mounting the tire on a wheel rim and with a generally U-shaped surface inside the casing and wherein the liner has a thickness which provides substantial protection against and resistance to penetration to the inside of the casing through the liner thereby reducing the frequency of flat tires which comprises:

(a) providing a mold having a cavity with a configuration and a circumference conforming to the U-shaped surface of a tire casing of a selected size;
(b) providing a rectangular cross-sectioned elongate first strip of a high temperature and pressure vulcanized and molded rubber which has a length and two opposing ends of the length such that the first strip will conform to the U-shaped surface around the tire casing of the selected size in compression and has a width formed by two long sides along the length which is at least about two-thirds times the width of the tread of the selected tire casing and a thickness defined by two short sides;
(c) providing two elongate second strips of unvulcanized low temperature and pressure vulcanizing rubber each with a length, two opposing ends of each length and a width such that the second strips fit the U-shaped surface of the casing;
(d) joining the lengths of the elongate second strips near or at the short sides and along the length of the first strip with a low temperature and pressure vulcanizable rubber cement containing a vulcanizing agent and an activator and an accelerator for the agent;
(e) forming an annular strip by joining the ends of the elongate strips together with a low temperature and pressure vulcanizable rubber material including a vulcanizing agent and an activator and an accelerator for the agent between the ends of the first strip to form a joint;
(f) positioning the annular strip in compression in the mold cavity with a conforming pressure means against the annular strip to hold the annular strip against the mold and with a mold release material on the mold and on the pressure means;
and
(g) vulcanizing the vulcanizing rubber to the first strip in the mold and thereby forming the tire liner, wherein the tire liner is essentially U-shaped.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tire liner and method of preparation

Life of this patent

Tire liner and method of preparation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13