Method for forming a compartmented puncture sealant package by co-extrusion
AssigneeThe General Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsThomas E. Codispoti, James M. Giustino, Richard M. Griffith, James T. Tsai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A puncture sealant package for incorporation into a pneumatic tire is formed by coextruding a puncture sealant, and a skin forming material. The ribs are formed in an initially circular package profile as chords. After flow in a sheet die, the chords form divider ribs making small angles with the encapulating skin. The compartments formed by the ribs prevent flow of the sealant toward the center of a tire.
Claims7
A method of forming a compartmented package containing puncture sealant for use in a tire, the steps of the method comprising
- (a) providing a first stream of uniform cross-section of a puncture sealant.
- (b) providing a second stream of a package forming material;
- (c) encapsulating the puncture sealant stream within the package forming material;
- (d) forming continuous ribs of the package forming material through the puncture sealant surrounded by package forming material;
- (e) supplying the compartmented stream of the puncture sealant to an extrusion die defining an elongate slot like orifice;
- and
- (f) forming and expanding the composite stream into a generally elongate configuration with ribs extending from package wall to package wall each rib forming a juncture angle of from 1.degree. to 90.degree. with a package wall.
An apparatus for forming a compartmented package comprising:
- (a) a means for providing a first stream of uniform cross-section of a puncture sealant and a second stream of a package forming material.
- (b) a means for encapsulating the puncture sealant stream within the package forming material;
- (c) a means for forming non-parallel continuous ribs of the package forming material through the puncture sealant surrounded by package forming material;
- (d) a means for supplying the compartmented stream of the puncture sealant to an extrusion die defining an elongate slot like orifice;
- and
- (e) a means for forming and expanding the composite stream into a generally elongate configuration with ribs extending from package wall to package wall each rib forming a juncture angle of from 1.degree. to 25.degree. with a package wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.