IP Library Granted Patent US 9,604,422
Granted Patent B2
US 9,604,422 · App. 14/114,521 · Granted Mar 28, 2017

Method for producing tire having tread with foamed material and hollow tread pattern elements

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,604,422
App. No.
14/114,521
Granted
Mar 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A layer of cellular material forms a running layer ( 14 A) of a tread ( 14 ) in which tread pattern elements ( 20, 22, 26 ) are made. In order to form the cellular material, an uncured blank is provided with a mass of material comprising p,p′-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) that forms a pore-forming agent. The uncured blank is placed in a vulcanization mold ( 28 ) comprising molding elements ( 30, 32, 34 ). At least 95% of the molding elements ( 30, 32, 34 ) each satisfy the following two conditions: a) the molding element ( 30, 32, 34 ) is separated from at least one other molding element ( 30, 32, 34 ) by a distance, expressed in millimeters, of less than or equal to DM =6.85+0.0065 T 3, T, greater than or equal to 3 phr, being the amount of p,p′-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) in the mass of material intended to form the cellular material, b) the molding element ( 30, 32, 34 ) is intended to form a tread pattern element ( 20, 22, 26 ) having a depth at least equal to 80% of the thickness of the running layer ( 14 A).

Claims (18)

1. A process for manufacturing a tire in which an uncured blank of the tire is vulcanized in a mold,

this tire comprising a layer of cellular material that forms a running layer of a tread of the tire in which hollow tread pattern elements are made,

the running layer having

a thickness E, and

a degree of expansion of greater than or equal to 50%,

wherein:

the uncured blank is provided with a mass of material, comprising p,p′-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) that forms a pore-forming agent, this material comprising the pore-forming agent being intended to form the cellular material,

the uncured blank is placed in a vulcanization mold comprising molding elements for molding the hollow tread pattern elements,

the mold being such that at least 95% of the molding elements each satisfy the following two conditions a) and b):

a) setting a value DM during the manufacturing process, and selecting a blowing agent so that the following relationship is maintained: DM=6.85+0.0065 T 3 ,

the molding element is separated from at least one other molding element by a separation distance, expressed in millimeters, of less than or equal to DM,

T being the amount of p,p′-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide) in the mass of material intended to form the cellular material, and T being greater than or equal to 3 phr,

the separation distance between two molding elements being the shortest distance between these two molding elements traveled between these molding elements, and is based on the setting of the DM and the selecting of the blowing agent,

b) the molding element is for forming a hollow tread pattern element having a depth at least equal to 80% of the thickness E of the running layer.

2. The process according to claim 1 , in which DM=5.9+0.005 T 3 .

3. The process according to claim 1 or 2 , in which the molding elements that satisfy the conditions a) and b) also satisfy the following condition: the molding element is a hollow tread pattern element chosen from

water evacuation channels that delimit, in the running layer, blocks of cellular material, and

blind holes made in these blocks so as to open radially.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2020
From: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
To: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
Reel/Frame 052863/0624 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2014
From: LOPEZ, JOSÉ MERINO; VASSEUR, DIDIER; CUSCITO, OLIVIA; PETITJEAN, SYLVAIN
To: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN; MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
Reel/Frame 032237/0359 →