Cured tire including encapsulated high modulus composite
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorsRussell W. Koch, Charles D. Spragg, Edward G. Markow, James M. Kirby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laminate contains a composite, comprising a high melting point thermoplastic such as polyphenylene or epoxy and high modulus fibers such as carbon or graphite, which is encapsulated with a resin. A primer adheres the encapsulated composite to a rubber material such as a tire tread. Alternatively, an undertread layer adheres the tire tread to the primed encapsulated composite. The laminate can be used as a run flat belt in a tire.
Claims18
A cured tire having a reinforcing layer comprising a laminate;
- wherein said laminate comprises an encapsulated high modulus composite;
- wherein said high modulus composite comprises a binder, a high modulus fiber, and a metal primer;
- wherein said binder is a thermoplastic binder having a melting point of at least 225° C., or a thermoset binder;
- and wherein said primer adheres to at least one side of said encapsulated composite.
A cured pneumatic run flat tire comprising:
- a carcass, sidewalls, tire beads, a tire tread, and at least one laminate located beneath said tread, said laminate including a high modulus composite belt comprising:
- a thermoplastic or thermoset binder, wherein, when said binder is selected from a thermoplastic binder, said thermoplastic binder has a melting point of at least 225° C., and
- a reinforcing fiber selected from graphite, carbon, boron, nylon, polyester, glass, and combinations thereof, said reinforcing fiber being present in an amount from about 40 to about 90 parts by volume for every 100 parts by volume of said thermoplastic or thermoset binder, wherein said high modulus composite belt has a modulus of elasticity of at least 750,000 psi;
- a resin encapsulating said high modulus composite belt, said resin selected from urethane resin, polyimide resin, cured epoxy resin, and combinations thereof;
- and
- a metal primer on said resin.
A method for building a run flat tire comprising the steps of:
- forming a body ply carcass;
- forming a tire tread;
- providing an encapsulated annular high modulus composite comprising a thermoplastic or thermoset binder and a reinforcing fiber;
- assembling said encapsulated composite between said body ply carcass and tire tread;
- adhering said encapsulated composite to said body ply carcass and said tire tread with a metal primer;
- molding said body ply carcass, said encapsulated composite, and said tire tread into a cured tire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.