Particular embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for compensating for shrinkage of a polymeric material in a mold during curing operations. Embodiments of the method include providing a mold comprising a molding cavity defining an interior mold volume separated from an exterior environment and introducing a volume of polymeric material into the molding cavity. Such methods further include impeding the development of a void in the volume of polymeric material by, either: isolating the volume of polymeric material within the molding cavity from the exterior environment, or reducing the interior mold volume of the molding cavity to at least substantially consume a volume of polymeric material shrinkage. Such methods further include curing the polymeric material to form a molded polymeric form.

Particular embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for compensating for shrinkage of a polymeric material in a mold during curing operations. Embodiments of the method include providing a mold comprising a molding cavity defining an interior mold volume separated from an exterior environment and introducing a volume of polymeric material into the molding cavity. Such methods further include impeding the development of a void in the volume of polymeric material by, either: isolating the volume of polymeric material within the molding cavity from the exterior environment, or reducing the interior mold volume of the molding cavity to at least substantially consume a volume of polymeric material shrinkage. Such methods further include curing the polymeric material to form a molded polymeric form.

A non-pneumatic tire (100) having an annular beam (200) and an annular support (103) comprising a plurality of thermoplastic elastomeric spokes formed by a thermoplastic injection process. When manufacturing this non-pneumatic tire via a mold, then the radial extent of a mold cavity is defined by the radially inner extent of the annular beam (200). The non-pneumatic tire's annular beam (200) includes a first elastomer and a circumferential reinforcement extended in a circumferential direction. The annular beam (200) is free of the circumferential reinforcement at an axial extent over a width of at least 8 mm the axial extent comprising the first elastomer. The plurality of thermoplastic elastomeric spokes are made of a second elastomer and extend radially inward from the annular beam (200). The present invention also refers to a process for forming such a non-pneumatic tire (100).

The invention relates to a method for forming a nonpneumatic tire that is constructed from a thermoplastic elastomer which is pre-tensioned during the process of its formation. The Pretention is provided by a thermal means that is naturally available in the forming process. This creates an efficient process of manufacturing by creating pretention without the complexity of adding pretention from mechanical means. The method for forming the non-pneumatic tire includes inserting a tread portion (101) and an annular beam (102) having circumferential reinforcement into a mold, the mold supporting the tread pattern only on an outer radial extent of the tread pattern, inserting a rim (104) extending radially inward from the annular beam (102), and forming an annular support (103) comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer extending radially inward from the annular beam (102)). The thermoplastic elastomer is allowed to harden and the tire is removed from the mold.

The invention relates to a method for forming a nonpneumatic tire that is constructed from a thermoplastic elastomer which is pre-tensioned during the process of its formation. The Pretention is provided by a thermal means that is naturally available in the forming process. This creates an efficient process of manufacturing by creating pretention without the complexity of adding pretention from mechanical means. The method for forming the non-pneumatic tire includes inserting a tread portion (101) and an annular beam (102) having circumferential reinforcement into a mold, the mold supporting the tread pattern only on an outer radial extent of the tread pattern, inserting a rim (104) extending radially inward from the annular beam (102), and forming an annular support (103) comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer extending radially inward from the annular beam (102)). The thermoplastic elastomer is allowed to harden and the tire is removed from the mold.

The invention discloses an inflation-free hollow tire modeling die which comprises a die base, die cores and a core holder. The front face, facing a discharge outlet of an extrusion forming machine, of the die base is provided with a concaved feeding cavity, and the bottom of the feeding cavity is provided with a modeling cavity running through the back face of the die base. The core holder is an arc support or a triangular support, supporting feet of the support are fixed to the outer edge portion of the feeding cavity, the top of the support is located in front of the modeling cavity, each die core is in suspended mode and comprises a columnar main body, each die core corresponds to an inner cavity of a tire, the length direction of each die core is perpendicular to the front face and the back face of the die holder, the head ends of the die cores are fixedly connected with the core holder, the tail ends of the die cores are extended backwards and positioned in the modeling cavity, the cross section shapes and relative positions in the modeling cavity of the die cores are matched with the internal structure and tire shapes of tires, and the cross section shape of the modeling cavity is matched with the contours of the tires. By means of the structure, the die mechanical strength is ensured, meanwhile, retardation and eddy currents are avoided for rubber materials in the whole extrusion process, and the quality of tire billets and tire products is ensured.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, a tire monitoring system is provided. The tire monitoring system utilizes a heat sensor embedded in a solid rubber tire. The heat sensor detects a temperature of the solid tire, and a transmission system transmits signals indicative of the temperature from the heat sensor to a remote monitoring system. The remote monitoring system may monitor the temperature of the solid tire and output notifications to alert a user when preventive maintenance is needed. The heat sensor may be embedded in the solid rubber tire during the manufacture of the solid tire, or the heat sensor may be embedded into the solid tire after production of the tire is complete. The system may be used track cure time and temperature as the tire is being produced and/or to log tire performance information throughout the operation of the tire.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, a tire monitoring system is provided. The tire monitoring system utilizes a heat sensor embedded in a solid rubber tire. The heat sensor detects a temperature of the solid tire, and a transmission system transmits signals indicative of the temperature from the heat sensor to a remote monitoring system. The remote monitoring system may monitor the temperature of the solid tire and output notifications to alert a user when preventive maintenance is needed. The heat sensor may be embedded in the solid rubber tire during the manufacture of the solid tire, or the heat sensor may be embedded into the solid tire after production of the tire is complete. The system may be used track cure time and temperature as the tire is being produced and/or to log tire performance information throughout the operation of the tire.

A web structure for a non-pneumatic tire includes a first corrugated ring having a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys. The first corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The web structure further includes a second corrugated ring having a second plurality of peaks and a second plurality of valleys. The second corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The second plurality of valleys are affixed to the first plurality of peaks by welding or an adhesive.

A web structure for a non-pneumatic tire includes a first corrugated ring having a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys. The first corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The web structure further includes a second corrugated ring having a second plurality of peaks and a second plurality of valleys. The second corrugated ring is a pre-strained, thermoplastic elastomer resin ring. The second plurality of valleys are affixed to the first plurality of peaks by welding or an adhesive.