Woven endless tire reinforcing belt and method for producing same

A method for weaving an endless tire reinforcing belt of a predetermined circumference from coated continuous cord reinforcement on an endless weaving surface comprising:

• (a) supporting an endless weaving surface having a perimeter effective to produce a reinforcing belt of predetermined circumference and a width greater than that of the reinforcinng belt to be woven about at least one support member rotatable about an axis;
• (b) forming a first belt portion by laying a first portion of coated continuous cord reinforcements on said endless weaving surface in a zig-zag pattern having a width W.sub.1 from edge to edge, said cord being positioned in timed relation with said support members across said surface from one side to the other, at an angle to the edges of the belt with reversals at the edges, and lengths of said cord reinforcement between reversals being interleaved with lengths disposed at an opposite angle along at least one line substantially parallel to and intermediate the edges of said belt being formed;
• and
• (c) after said first belt portion has been formed, reducing the width W.sub.1 to width W.sub.2 and continuing to lay said reinforcement in a similar zig-zag pattern onto said weaving surface and superimposed onto the radially outward side of said first belt portion, thereby forming a second belt portion superimposed onto said first belt portion, said second belt portion being woven onto said first belt portion to cover only approximately forty percent of said first belt portion overlaid by said second belt portion,
• whereby said reinforcing belt has increased uniform stiffness from edge to edge.

A woven tire reinforcing belt for a pneumatic tire, said belt comprising:

• (a) a first belt portion having a width W.sub.1, said first belt portion comprising at least one coated continuous cord reinforcement woven in a zig-zag pattern across said first belt portion from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side of said first belt portion at an angle to the edge of said first belt portion, said first belt portion forming areas of increased thickness adjacent said sides relative to a belt region between said sides;
• and
• (b) at least one additional belt portion having a width W.sub.2, said additional belt portion comprising at least one coated continuous cord reinforcement woven in a zig-zag pattern, said additional belt portion being positioned adjacent said first belt portion and substantially centered therewith, said W.sub.2 being less than W.sub.1 for fitting in between said areas of increased thickness,
• whereby said endless tire reinforcing belt has increased uniformity of thickness and stiffness from one edge to the other.

A woven endless tire reinforcing belt comprising at least two belt portions, said belt comprising:

• (a) a first endless belt reinforcement portion which comprises a unitary strip including a multiplicity of continuous cords, the strip being positioned across a width W.sub.1 of the reinforcement from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side at an angle to the edges of the reinforcement in a plurality of wraps with successive lengths of the strip being folded with respect to each other at the edges in a generally zig-zag pattern to form a first belt portion of substantially uniform thickness, with the cords of said unitary strip being in contiguous relationship throughout the entire length of said unitary strip, said lateral first portion having lateral sides of increased thickness relative to a belt region between said sides;
• and
• (b) a second endless belt reinforcement portion joined to said first belt portion, said second belt portion comprising the said unitary strip further being positioned across a width W.sub.2, less than said width W.sub.1, of the second reinforcement portion from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side at an angle to the edges of said second reinforcement in a plurality of wraps with successive lengths of the strip being folded with respect to each other at the edges in a generally zig-zag pattern to form a second belt portion increasing the thickness of said reinforcing belt where said second belt portion overlies said first belt portion and fits substantially between said lateral sides of increased thickness, whereby said reinforcing belt is of increased uniform thickness and stiffness from edge to edge thereof.

A woven tire reinforcing belt for a pneumatic tire, said belt comprising:

• (a) a first belt portion having a width W.sub.1 in the range of substantially about 5 to 12 inches, said first belt portion comprising at least one coated continuous cord reinforcement woven in a zig-zag pattern across said first belt portion from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side of said first belt portion at an angle to the edge of said first belt portion;
• and
• (b) a second belt portion having a width W.sub.2, said second belt portion being woven onto the radially outward side of said first belt portion, said width W.sub.2 being less than W.sub.1 and being in the range of substantially about 4 to 11 inches, said second belt portion comprising at least one coated continuous cord reinforcement woven in a zig-zag pattern, said additional belt portion being positioned adjacent said first belt portion and substantially centered therewith,
• whereby said endless tire reinforcing being has increased uniformity of stiffness from one edge to the other.

A woven endless tire reinforcing belt comprising at least two belt portions, said belt comprising:

• (a) a first endless belt reinforcement portion which comprises a unitary strip including a multiplicity of continuous cords, the strip being positioned across a width W.sub.1 of the reinforcement from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side at an angle to the edges of the reinforcement in a plurality of wraps with successive lengths of the strip being folded with respect to each other at the edges in a generally zig-zag pattern to form a first belt portion of substantially uniform thickness, with the cords of said unitary strip being in contiguous relationship throughout the entire length of said unitary strip;
• and
• (b) a second endless belt reinforcement portion joined to said first belt portion, said second belt portion comprising the said unitary strip further being positioned across a width W.sub.2, less than said width W.sub.1, of the second reinforcement portion from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side at an angle to the edges of said second reinforcement in a plurality of wraps with successive lengths of the strip being folded with respect to each other at the edges in a generally zig-zag pattern to form a second belt portion increasing the thickness of said reinforcing belt where said second belt portion overlies said first belt portion, said second belt portion covering only substantially about forty percent of said first belt portion under said second portion, whereby said reinforcing belt is of increased uniform stiffness from edge to edge thereof.

A woven endless tire reinforcing belt comprising at least two belt portions, said belt comprising:

• (a) a first endless belt reinforcement portion which comprises a unitary strip including a multiplicity of continuous cords, the strip being positioned across a width W.sub.1 of the reinforcement from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side at an angle to the edges of the reinforcement in a plurality of wraps with successive lengths of the strip being folded with respect to each other at the edges in a generally zig-zag pattern to form a first belt portion of substantially uniform thickness, with the cords of said unitary strip being in contiguous relationship throughout the entire length of said unitary strip, said first belt portion being substantially a two ply belt at least two strips thick at substantially each point encompassed by the edges thereof;
• and
• (b) a second endless belt reinforcement portion joined to said first belt portion, said second belt portion comprising the said unitary strip further being positioned across a width W.sub.2, less than said width W.sub.1, of the second reinforcement portion from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side at an angle to the edges of said second reinforcement in a plurality of wraps with successive lengths of the strip being folded with respect to each other at the edges in a generally zig-zag pattern to form a second belt portion increasing the thickness of said reinforcing belt where said second belt portion overlies said first belt portion, said second belt portion being positioned radially outward of said first portion and woven onto said first belt portion, and said second belt portion covers approximately forty percent of said first belt portion under said second belt portion, whereby said reinforcing belt is of increased uniform stiffness from edge to edge thereof.