Patent Application
20160052352
The invention relates generally to tires and more specifically, to adhering mechanical components to a tire.
It is often desirable to incorporate devices into tires, such as for example, an air maintenance feature within a tire that will maintain correct air pressure within the tire, or a device for monitoring tire parameters such as a tire pressure monitor system. An air maintenance feature typically includes rigid mechanical components such as an air filter, regulator or valve mechanism. These mechanical components must be secured to the tire, and be able to sustain rotational and centrifugal forces. These devices must also be assembled in such a way to minimize the stresses at the bonding interfaces and allow for ease of assembly.
The invention provides a method of mounting a device to a tire comprising the following steps: buffing an inside surface of the tire, forming a rubber layer and a rubber extension on a mounting surface of the device, wherein the rubber extension extends past the support frame; applying rubber cement to the mounting surface and then affixing the mounting surface of the device to the inside surface; and then curing the rubber cement.
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
As shown in
The pump passageway itself may also be integrally formed or molded into the sidewall of the tire during vulcanization, eliminating the need for an inserted tube. An integrally formed pump passageway is preferably made by building into a selected green tire component such as a chafer, a removable strip made of wire or silicone. The component is built into the tire and cured. The removable strip is then removed post cure to form a molded in or integrally formed pump air passageway.
Hereinafter, the term “pump passageway” refers either to installed tubes or an integrally molded in passageway. The location selected for the pump passageway within the tire may be within a tire component residing within a high flex region of the tire, sufficient to progressively collapse the internal hollow air passageway as the tire rotates under load thereby conveying air along the air passageway from the inlet to the pump outlet.
The pump air passageway 42 has an inlet end 42a and an outlet end 42b in fluid communication with a regulator or valve assembly 200, as shown in
An air filter assembly 300 is positioned on the outer sidewall of the tire, opposite the regulator assembly 200 and in the vicinity of the pump passageways, as shown in
The regulator assembly 200 is shown in
The regulator assembly 200 is preferably affixed to the inside of the tire, near the bead area. In this embodiment, the regulator assembly 200 is detachably mounted to a docking station 204. The docking station 204 has a lower surface 206 that is permanently affixed to the inside of the tire. The docking station 204 has an inlet port 202 that is in fluid communication with a central air conduit 210, opposite the inlet 202. The central air conduit extends from the upper surface 208 of the docking station to the inlet 202. The central air conduit 210 is in fluid communication with the air filter assembly 300, and communicates filtered air to the regulator assembly inlet 222 as shown in
The following steps are followed to mount the docking station 204 to the inside surface of the tire. These steps could also be used to mount any mechanical device, including the regulator without the docking station. The lower mounting surface 216 and sides 201 including the flanged surface 213 are buffed with abrasive material such as sandpaper. Next the mounting surface and sides of the docking station are pretreated with Chemlock or other suitable adhesive, ensuring the holes 202,203,205 located on the lower surface of the docking station are protected from the application of adhesive. Next, the docking station is placed in a mold 600, so that the upper surface 208 is seated against a lower surface 602 of the mold 600 as shown in
Next, the inner liner surface of the tire is buffed. Depending upon the adhesion strength required, the inner tire surface may need to be buffed down to expose the better bondable material i.e. the ply-coat, removing the inner liner. A green rubber patch 1100 is used to secure the docking station to the tire inner liner surface. The docking station is affixed to the tire sidewall. The green rubber patch 1100 is preferably larger in size than the mounting surface of the docking station. The rubber patch 1100 is coated with a suitable adhesive on both sides and then inserted onto the inner surface of the tire. The patch 1100 may require holes that are aligned with holes of tire and the device to be mounted. One suitable adhesive is Fast Dry Self-vulcanizing Cement made by the Rubber Patch Company. The patch 1100 is then stitched. Next, the device mounting surface is mounted over the rubber patch 1100, ensuring the rubber patch holes are aligned with the device holes and any tire holes. The device is then clamped to the tire, and then allowed to cure at ambient temperature or with heat, depending upon the adhesive selected.
Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
