A tire structure includes a tire; an attachment layer positioned between an inner surface of the tire and a spike supporting layer, and allowing the spike supporting layer to be coupled to the inside of the tire; and a spike supporting layer coupled to the inside of the tire by the attachment layer and supporting the spikes operated in conjunction with deformation of the tire, thereby enabling an existing tire to be used for the power generation system using tire deformation.

A run-flat tire insert, according to particular embodiments, that is configured to be received inside a cavity of a tire. The run-flat tire insert comprising a monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert that includes (a) a first and a second sidewall, (ii) an outer surface that couples the first sidewall to the second sidewall, and (iii) an inner surface that couples the first sidewall to the second sidewall. Additionally, the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to an outer diameter of a tire in which the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert will be installed into when the tire is not inflated with air.

Expanded rubber articles (11) and processes for making such, comprising: partially curing an expandable rubber formulation (2) by heating it in a first mould cavity (1) to form a moulded blank (3); releasing the moulded blank (3) from the first mould cavity (1) and allowing the moulded blank (5) to expand to form an expanded moulded blank (4); and further curing and expanding the expanded moulded blank (4) by heating it to form the expanded rubber article (11) comprising an expanded rubber part (6), wherein the expanded moulded blank (4) is heated in a second mould cavity (5). Optionally, the expanded moulded blank (4) is contacted with a further rubber formulation (7) and a substrate comprising a base material (9) and an elastomer bonding layer (8) in the second mould cavity (5) to form an expanded rubber article additionally comprising a solid rubber part (10) and a substrate (8, 9).

Granules containing mixtures of silica powder and cross-linked rubber powder are used in the manufacture of battery separators or vehicle tires. A granule contains silica and rubber powders in proportional amounts that form a silica powder carrier within which rubber powder particles are distributed. Incorporating silica-rubber granules in the manufacturing process of polyethylene separators offers a way to limit water loss in and improve the cycle life of a deep cycle lead-acid battery. Incorporating silica-rubber granules in the manufacturing process of vehicle tires affords advantages including easier material handling, reduced production of dust, and reduction in the number of ingredients measured and added to the formulation.

Granules containing mixtures of silica powder and cross-linked rubber powder are used in the manufacture of battery separators or vehicle tires. A granule contains silica and rubber powders in proportional amounts that form a silica powder carrier within which rubber powder particles are distributed. Incorporating silica-rubber granules in the manufacturing process of polyethylene separators offers a way to limit water loss in and improve the cycle life of a deep cycle lead-acid battery. Incorporating silica-rubber granules in the manufacturing process of vehicle tires affords advantages including easier material handling, reduced production of dust, and reduction in the number of ingredients measured and added to the formulation.

Methods and systems are contemplated in which elastomer materials can be processed into flatproofing materials which may be used to produce flatproofed tires. A elastomer material can be extruded through an extrusion die to produce two or more elastomer chunks. These elastomer chunks can be ground into a granulated material, which may comprise a flatproofing material to be used to fill a tire. Air in the tire may escape through a hole in the tire, and this air can be guided through a vent wherein an air flow meter can measure the air's flow rate. If the measured air flow rate drops below a threshold value, the process of filling the tire with the flatproofing material can be ceased. The tire can be investigated, after which the tire may be further filled with the flatproofing material before sealing the hole in the tire to produce the flatproofed tire.

Methods and systems are contemplated in which elastomer materials can be processed into flatproofing materials which may be used to produce flatproofed tires. A elastomer material can be extruded through an extrusion die to produce two or more elastomer chunks. These elastomer chunks can be ground into a granulated material, which may comprise a flatproofing material to be used to fill a tire. Air in the tire may escape through a hole in the tire, and this air can be guided through a vent wherein an air flow meter can measure the air's flow rate. If the measured air flow rate drops below a threshold value, the process of filling the tire with the flatproofing material can be ceased. The tire can be investigated, after which the tire may be further filled with the flatproofing material before sealing the hole in the tire to produce the flatproofed tire.

The invention relates to a vehicle wheel assembly, comprising 1) a wheel rim having two opposed circular rim flanges; 2) an outer tire having two beads secured at the circular rim flanges; 3) a non-pneumatic inner tire comprising expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU), which inner tire is enclosed by the outer tire and the wheel rim; characterized in that the inner tire in the assembly is in a compressed state S1, which state is compressed as compared to a relaxed state S2 when the inner tire is not enclosed by the outer tire, the compression being such that the cross-sectional surface area SA of the inner tire, which area is perpendicular to the plane of the tire, is smaller in state S1 than in state S2.

The invention relates to a vehicle wheel assembly, comprising 1) a wheel rim having two opposed circular rim flanges; 2) an outer tire having two beads secured at the circular rim flanges; 3) a non-pneumatic inner tire comprising expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU), which inner tire is enclosed by the outer tire and the wheel rim; characterized in that the inner tire in the assembly is in a compressed state S1, which state is compressed as compared to a relaxed state S2 when the inner tire is not enclosed by the outer tire, the compression being such that the cross-sectional surface area SA of the inner tire, which area is perpendicular to the plane of the tire, is smaller in state S1 than in state S2.

A system is provided for applying a sealing agent to an surface of an internal cavity of a pneumatic tire. The system provides for detecting the weight of the pneumatic tire before and after the application of the sealing agent to the surface, calculating the difference between the quantity of sealing agent applied to the surface and a reference quantity of sealing agent; storing the difference within a short-term memory buffer and a long-term memory buffer; determining a short-term compensation factor and a long-term compensation factor and calculating a correction factor using alternatively the short-term compensation factor or else the long-term compensation factor; and using the correction factor to actuate an applicator device during the subsequent step of applying the strip of sealing agent to the surface.