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US 7,040,367 B2Granted
Lubricants for run-flat tire systems
OwnerEdward B. Kollininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lubricant for a run-flat tire system includes a water soluble, or water-miscible carrier, a thickener, and a surfactant. The thickener hereof retains its rheological properties and is not subject to permanent thinning shear. The base fluid is, preferably, a water-soluble polyhydroxyl or other polyhydric compound and the thickener is preferably a clay. When admixed with a surfactant and, optionally, a lubricity agent, the lubricant exhibits long term stability and (is resistant to heat buildup.) prevents the buildup of heat in the tire assembly when the tire is in the run flat condition.
Claims11
A run-flat tire, comprising:
- (a) an outer tire,
- (b) an inner support ring, disposed interiorly of the carcass and having a surface facing the interior surface of the tire, and
- (c) a lubricant disposed between the facing surface and the interior of the tire, the lubricant comprising:
- (1) a carrier fluid selected from the group consisting of water-soluble fluid, a water-miscible fluid and mixtures thereof;
- (2) a thickener;
- (3) a surfactant, and
- wherein the lubricant has an initial viscosity above 100,000 centipoises at 25° C. and from 1 to 20 RPM as measured with a Brookfield viscometer, the lubricant undergoing temporary shear thinning and returning to substantially its starting viscosity after contact between an inner surface of an outer tire and a support ring of the run-flat tire.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.