One aspect of this invention involves a process for producing a non-pneumatic tire comprising a structure and a shear band, said process comprising providing a structure comprising a thermoplastic material having a surface intended to be brought into contact with a shear band; pretreating the surface of the structure to obtain a pretreated surface; providing an atmospheric pressure plasma generated from a gas mixture; depositing a plasma polymerized coating layer from the atmospheric pressure plasma on the pretreated surface to produce a structure with a coated surface comprising a plasma polymerized coating layer; providing a shear band with a layer of rubber material and contacting the coated surface of the structure with said layer of rubber material; and co-vulcanizing the coated surface of the structure with the layer of rubber material of the shear band.

A post-cure inflation machine for processing a tire may include a tire holder shaft. The tire holder shaft may include a chuck to secure the tire to the tire holder shaft. A hollow passage may be defined in the tire holder shaft. A spray nozzle may be connected to a spray shaft that is telescopically disposed in the hollow passage of the tire holder shaft. The spray nozzle may extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire.

A post-cure inflation machine for processing a tire may include a tire holder shaft. The tire holder shaft may include a chuck to secure the tire to the tire holder shaft. A hollow passage may be defined in the tire holder shaft. A spray nozzle may be connected to a spray shaft that is telescopically disposed in the hollow passage of the tire holder shaft. The spray nozzle may extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire.

A system in accordance with the present invention cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes: a functional wheel member being slid into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongate spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongate inserts for creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and flap members of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.

A post-cure inflation machine for processing a tire may include a tire holder shaft. The tire holder shaft may include a chuck to secure the tire to the tire holder shaft. A hollow passage may be defined in the tire holder shaft. A spray nozzle may be connected to a spray shaft that is telescopically disposed in the hollow passage of the tire holder shaft. The spray nozzle may extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire.

A tread extension device (10) is provided that has first (12) and second (14) tread extensions for holding a tread during brushing operations. A first connecting device (28) connects the first tread extension (12) to a first longitudinal end (18) of the tread, and engages both the first tread extension (12) and the first longitudinal end (18) of the tread. A second connecting device (30) is included that connects the second tread extension (14) to the second longitudinal end of the tread. The second connecting device (30) engages both the second tread extension and the second longitudinal end of the tread. The tread is able to be brushed in both a first direction and a second direction along its underside.

Provided is a vulcanized rubber surface treatment agent that enables firm adhesion between vulcanized rubbers without heating and has little effect on rubber deterioration. The vulcanized rubber surface treatment agent is used for adhering vulcanized rubbers to each other, which is an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid having a pH value of 2 or more and 7 or less and an effective chlorine concentration of 100 ppm or more and 13000 ppm or less.

A system manufactures a tire assembly. The system includes a core having a cylindrical hub and radially protruding extensions projecting radially outward from the hub, a plurality of internal arcuate members for positioning a reinforcing layer of the tire assembly about the core, the internal arcuate members being disposed in spaces between the extensions of the core, a first side plate for securing the internal arcuate members in place relative to the core, and a second side plate for securing the core and internal arcuate members to each other.

A system in accordance with the present invention cures and manufactures a partially-cured tire assembly. The system includes: a functional wheel member being slid into a corresponding annular, radially inner surface of the partially-cured tire assembly; a plurality of elongate spacer members; a first annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; a second annular curing platen for axially securing the wheel member and spacer members relative to each other; and a plurality of elongate inserts for creating a substantially smooth, uniform outer cylindrical surface formed by a radially outer surface of each insert and flap members of the tire assembly positioned by the radially outermost surfaces of the spacer members.

A pneumatic tire includes a tire case, a tread and a single-layer belt. The tire case includes a carcass that extends from one bead portion to another bead portion. An outer side portion of the carcass is covered with a side rubber layer formed of a first rubber material. The tread is disposed at the tire radial direction outer side of the tire case and is formed of a second rubber material. The belt is disposed between the tire case and the tread. The belt includes a resin-covered cord that is wound in a spiral shape. The resin-covered includes a cord covered with a resin with a greater tensile modulus of elasticity than the first rubber material and the second rubber material. The resin at one winding and another winding of the resin-covered cord, which are adjacent in the tire width direction, are welded together.