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US 6,706,132 B2Granted
Rubber structural members and methods for forming rubber structural members from tire parts
AssigneeTire Recycling and Development, Inc.
InventorJoseph H. Coffin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for fabricating laminations to form structural elements of predetermined shapes (120, 220, 420, 520, 620) are provided. Laminations include parts (22, 24) fabricated from the tread portion (42) of discarded rubber tires. The parts are typically arranged in layers with various relationships therebetween. The parts are pressed to remove all voids therebetween causing dynamic tension which creates rigidity and then bonded with methods including vulcanization, chemical vulcanization, epoxy and adhesive.
Claims31
A rubber structural member, the member fabricated by a method comprising:
- providing a first layer having built-in curvature fabricated from a used tire;
- providing a second layer having built-in curvature fabricated from a used tire;
- compressing the first layer and the second layer to remove at least some of the built-in curvature and facilitate bonding;
- and
- bonding the first layer to the second layer to form the rubber structural member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.