Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140070439 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORMING NON-PNEUMATIC TIRES - A method for molding a non-pneumatic tire includes placing a hub into a lower mold portion, and associating at least one temperature sensor with the lower mold portion. The method further includes placing an upper mold portion onto the lower mold portion and the hub, heating the mold assembly, heating a molding material, and transferring the heated molding material into the interior of the mold assembly. The method further includes heating the mold assembly and molding material until the at least one temperature sensor indicates that the molding material has reached a first temperature, and maintaining the temperature of the molding material at the first temperature for a first predetermined period of time. The method further includes reducing the temperature of the molding material to a second temperature after the first predetermined period of time, and separating the upper mold portion and molded tire from the lower mold portion. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070460 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORMING NON-PNEUMATIC TIRES - A system for separating a molded non-pneumatic tire from a tire mold is disclosed. The tire mold includes a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion configured to be associated with the lower mold portion, such that a hub associated with the non-pneumatic tire is confined between the lower and upper mold portions. The system includes a plurality of actuators associated with at least one of an inner diameter and an outer periphery of at least one of the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion, such that the plurality of actuators are spaced circumferentially about the tire mold. The system further includes a manifold providing flow communication with each of the plurality of actuators, and an operator interface associated with the manifold. The operator interface is configured to facilitate activation of all of the plurality of actuators simultaneously and independently from one another. | 03-13-2014 |
20140311643 | MOLDED TIRE HAVING DIFFERENT TREAD MATERIAL - A molded tire may include a support structure having an inner circumferential portion and an outer circumferential portion. The inner circumferential portion may be configured to be associated with a hub. The molded tire may also include a tread portion associated with the outer circumferential portion of the support structure, wherein the tread portion may be formed from a first polyurethane having first material characteristics. The support structure may be formed from a second polyurethane having second material characteristics different than the first material characteristics. The support structure may be chemically bonded to the tread portion. | 10-23-2014 |
20150034222 | TIRE AND SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING DATA ASSOCIATED WITH TIRE - A non-pneumatic tire may include a support structure having an inner circumferential portion configured to be associated with a hub. The tire may further include a tread portion associated with an outer circumferential portion of the support structure. The tire may also include at least one sensor associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion and configured to generate signals indicative of at least one characteristic associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion. The tire may further include a receiver associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion and configured to receive signals from the at least one sensor. The tire may also include a transmitter associated with at least one of the support structure and the tread portion and configured to transmit the signals to a location remote from the tire. | 02-05-2015 |