The present invention discloses a rubber composition, a processing method thereof, and a foamed rubber product produced by the rubber composition and a production method thereof. The rubber composition comprises a rubber matrix and essential components, wherein, based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber matrix, the rubber matrix comprises a branched polyethylene with a content represented as A, in which 0<A100 parts; and an EPM and an EPDM with a total content represented as B, in which 0B<100 parts, and the essential components comprises 0.5-10 parts of a crosslinking agent, and 1.5-25 parts of a foaming agent. The rubber composition is useful in the production of sponge seal strip, foamed rubber compound of high expansion ratio, shock absorbing foamed rubber sheet, light-colored high-strength foamed sheet, foam-solid composite seal strip, and solid cycle tires internally filled with foamed elastomer. The branched polyethylene replaces a part or all of the ethylene-propylene rubber in the foaming rubber composition, which can increase the melt strength, the foamability and particularly the pre-foamability of the rubber composition, and make the rubber product has a lower compression set.

A method and apparatus for molding non-pneumatic wheels is provided. The exemplary method and apparatus allow for the use of the same molding system to manufacture wheels with different hub constructions. Different configurations of removable mold elements are utilized within the same molding system to provide wheels with different hub constructions.

A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle) or other device, in which the wheel comprises a non-pneumatic tire that may be designed to enhance its use and performance, including, for example, to be able to be used longer and/or in more challenging conditions, such as, for instance, by being more resistant to cracking or other damage which could lead to premature failure (e.g., due to manufacturing artifacts and/or rocks and other hazards that can cut, chip, or tear it during use). The non-pneumatic tire comprises an annular beam configured to deflect at a contact patch of the non-pneumatic tire and an annular support extending radially inwardly from the annular beam and configured to support loading by tension. An elastomeric material of at least one of the annular beam and the annular support may have selected properties, including greater crack propagation resistance when subject to tensile stress.

A method and apparatus for molding non-pneumatic wheels is provided. The exemplary method and apparatus allow for the use of the same molding system to manufacture wheels with different hub constructions. Different configurations of removable mold elements are utilized within the same molding system to provide wheels with different hub constructions.

A tire comprising a continuous channel defined by spaced apart sidewalls coupled at a first end to a bridging member and at a second end to a contact member that is coupled to a disc contact portion, said tire being formed by rotational molding of a polyurethane and configured for mounting on a wheel rim.

To provide a rubber compound for tires, a pneumatic tire and an airless tire capable of improving the steering stability of the tire while exerting excellent low fuel consumption performance. A rubber compound for tires characterized in that, of vulcanized rubber's physical properties, a complex elastic modulus E*.sub.70 (unit: MPa) and a loss tangent tan .sub.70 under initial strain of 10%, dynamic strain of 2% and temperature of 70 degrees C., satisfy 90<E*.sub.70<250, and E*.sub.70/tan .sub.70>800. A pneumatic tire provided with a rubber member made of the above-mentioned rubber compound. An airless tire provided with a rubber member made of the above-mentioned rubber compound. An airless tire provided in a tread ring with a shear rubber layer made of the above-mentioned rubber compound.

A shear band that may be used e.g., in a non-pneumatic tire is provided. The shear band uses interlaced reinforcing elements positioned within a shear layer of elastomeric material. A variety of configurations may be used to create the interlaced positioning of the reinforcing elements including e.g., a horizontal diamond or vertical diamond configuration. The shear layer formed from a rubber composition having a very low hysteresis.

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

A disclosed example embodiment of a gauge wheel tire includes a first polyurethane sidewall portion, a second polyurethane sidewall portion, a polyurethane ground-engaging portion, and a polyurethane axial support portion. The first polyurethane sidewall portion is spaced apart from the second polyurethane sidewall portion, and the polyurethane ground-engaging portion extends from the first polyurethane sidewall portion to the second polyurethane sidewall portion and is adapted to contact a ground surface as the gauge wheel tire rotates about an axis of rotation. The polyurethane axial support portion extends from the first polyurethane sidewall portion to the second polyurethane sidewall portion, and is spaced apart from the polyurethane ground-engaging portion to form a gap that allows radial movement of the polyurethane ground-engaging portion relative to the polyurethane axial support portion.

A shear band that may be used e.g., in a non-pneumatic tire is provided. The shear band uses interlaced reinforcing elements positioned within a shear layer of elastomeric material. A variety of configurations may be used to create the interlaced positioning of the reinforcing elements including e.g., a horizontal diamond or vertical diamond configuration. The shear layer formed from a rubber composition having a very low hysteresis reinforced with silica.