A system pretensions part of a wheel and tire assembly. The system includes a plurality of support elements for supporting part of a load of a vehicle and an annular shear band extending circumferentially around the support elements. The band has a radially inner circumferential membrane, a radially outer circumferential membrane, and a shear layer interconnecting the inner membrane and the outer membrane. The shear layer has a structure pretensioned prior to installation of the assembly on a vehicle.

A reinforcing element, having a cross section with a flattened overall shape and extending in a main direction and comprising at least one lateral edge made of a polymeric composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, the lateral edge extending in a general direction substantially parallel to the main direction is treated by heating at least a part of the lateral edge, during which at least a part of the lateral edge is subjected to a plasma flow so as to raise the temperature of the part of the lateral edge above the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer.

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.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of assembling a rubber part and a thermoplastic part into a composite structure. The method comprises providing a rubber part having a surface, providing the thermoplastic part having a surface comprising a plasma polymerized coating comprising a carbon-carbon double bond, applying a rubber adhesive on the coating. The method further comprises bringing the rubber part surface and the thermoplastic part surface with the rubber adhesive into contact so as to form a composite structure and heat-treating the composite structure to bond the rubber part to the thermoplastic part. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a non-pneumatic tire having the rubber part and the thermoplastic part.

A process and a system are provided for controlling an addition of water to a rubber mixture during a mixing cycle in which the mixture is transported as a continuous sheet. The process includes obtaining data for the mixture, including a predetermined water flow rate, a predetermined air flow rate, and a target temperature and a target water content for the mixture; adding water to the continuous sheet during the mixing cycle; detecting an amount of water added at an elapsed time during the mixing cycle; determining, using a detection result, a predicted temperature and a predicted water content for the mixture at an end of the mixing cycle; comparing the target temperature with the predicted temperature, and the target water content with the predicted water content; and, before a next mixing cycle, adjusting an actual water flow rate when a comparison result indicates non-equivalence.

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 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.

According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for forming a strip of rubber is described. The apparatus comprises a support frame; a first and second roller mounted on the support frame, wherein the first and second rollers are spaced apart from each other; and an application roller located adjacent a head, and a channel formed between the head and the outer surface of the application roller and the inner surface of the head; wherein said channel has an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is located near the second roller, and the outlet is located adjacent a die. A method of forming a rubber strip is also described which includes the steps of providing a support frame with a first and second roller mounted thereon, wherein the first and second rollers are spaced apart from each other; threading a rubber stock about the first and second roller, and then through a channel formed between a head and a rotating application roller, and then through an outlet die.

A method and system for cleaning the inner surface of a tire, comprising the steps of: emitting a laser beam that is directed against the inner surface using at least an emitter device; performing deeper cleaning within at least a first annular zone of the inner surface in applying, using at least the laser beam, to the first annular zone a first surface energy density; and performing less thorough cleaning within at least a second annular zone of the inner surface by applying, using at least the laser beam to the second annular zone a second surface energy density that is lower than the first surface energy density.

A process for manufacturing a tire by the steps of producing and assembling the tire structural elements on a toroidal support to form a green tire, and the step of precuring at least an inner surface of the green tire by heating the toroidal support. The radially inner surface of the toroidal support is provided with a plurality of protruding elements to reduce the time required for the outer surface of the toroidal support to reach a temperature which is suitable for ensuring a uniform and homogeneous precuring of the inner surface of the green tire, preferably of the inner surface and the bead regions of the green tire.