A self-sealing pneumatic tire having at least one cohesive sandwich radially inward of the pneumatic tire is provided. The at least cohesive sandwich may include a cohesive material under pressure, facilitating a recovery capacity upon being pierced by a sharp object, whereby the molecules of the cohesive material cohesively reattach, self-sealing any passageway or space created by the sharp object. The self-sealing pneumatic tire may also provide a loculated-diamond-section layer located radially inward of the outer cohesive sandwich, further supporting the self-sealing pneumatic tire. The external rubber tread are disposed along the circumference of the tire in some embodiments can be separate from the surface of the tire yet secured in place by attachments. Once fully utilized, this external rubber tread can be replaced by a new version without having to replace the entire tire.

This invention discloses a technique for replenishing the level of sealant in self-sealing tires at the time that a puncture in the tire is being repaired or when the tire is being recapped. This technique provides the tire with its original level of self-sealing capabilities and will enhance the possibility of the tire remaining in service until it can be conveniently repaired. This method involves (1) injecting a liquid sealant formulation into the sealant layer of a self-sealing tire through at least one puncture hole therein, and (2) sealing the hole or holes in the supporting carcass and the innerliner of the tire. The sealant utilized is typically liquid polyisobutylene having a weight average molecular weight of 25,000 to 200,000. The sealant formulation used can optionally also contain a colorant or a pigment.

A self-sealing pneumatic tire having at least one cohesive sandwich radially inward of the pneumatic tire is provided. The at least cohesive sandwich may include a cohesive material under pressure, facilitating a recovery capacity upon being pierced by a sharp object, whereby the molecules of the cohesive material cohesively reattach, self-sealing any passageway or space created by the sharp object. The self-sealing pneumatic tire may also provide a loculated-diamond-section layer located radially inward of the outer cohesive sandwich, further supporting the self-sealing pneumatic tire. The external rubber tread are disposed along the circumference of the tire in some embodiments can be separate from the surface of the tire yet secured in place by attachments. Once fully utilized, this external rubber tread can be replaced by a new version without having to replace the entire tire.

A pneumatic tire includes a resonator attached to the inner periphery of the tire, the resonator including a tube with an opening, and a cavity connected to the tube. The pneumatic tire further includes s a tread portion and each resonator faces the tread portion, the tread portion includes at least one circumferential longitudinal groove, and the opening is provided to penetrate a circumferential longitudinal groove of the tread portion.

Provided is a pneumatic tire having sufficient sealing performance. The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire including a sealant layer located radially inside an innerliner, the sealant layer being formed by applying a sealant to the inner periphery of a tire from which mold release agents have been removed.

The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion, two bead portions, two sidewalls extending between the tread portion and the respective bead portions, an inner surface defining a tire cavity, a sealant material layer covering the inner surface radially below the tread portion within the tire cavity, and at least one noise dampening strip which is partially covering and attached to the sealant material on a radially inner side and along a circumferential direction of the sealant material layer. The sealant material layer has at least one plateau region supporting the noise dampening element and one or more bottom regions provided laterally beside the plateau region, and wherein the plateau region extends out of the bottom regions in a radially inner direction.

A sealing device comprising a flexible holding strip having an adhesive layer on a first surface, wherein the strip is configured for attachment to an inner surface of a tubeless tire via the adhesive layer, and a plurality of flexible flags attached to a second surface of the flexible holding strip opposite the first surface, wherein the plurality of flags is attached to the second surface at a fixed widthwise edge of each of the plurality of flags and wherein the plurality of flags are configured to seal a hole in the tubeless tire when the strip is attached to the inner surface of the tubeless tire is provided. Methods of protecting tires by attaching a sealing device are also described.

The manufacturing method makes it possible to manufacture a tire (10) comprising: a tread (14), an airtight internal layer (18), and at least one layer of a self-sealing product (80) extending circumferentially radially on the inside of part of the airtight internal layer (18). During the method, a strip or a bead (200) of a self-sealing product is wound through multiple circumferential turns (Nai, Nbj) radially on the inside of the airtight layer (18) of the tire, which does not have the layer of self-sealing product (80) yet, and at least partially in line with the tread (18). The winding step is carried out according to a law for winding the strip or the bead (200) in circumferential turns. During the winding step, at least one parameter of the winding law making it possible to axially vary the thickness of the layer of self-sealing product (80) is varied.

The present invention is directed to a method making a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of: mixing a sealant composition comprising an elastomer, a filler, a diluent, a quinoid curing agent, an oxidant co-curative; and a cure modifier of formula 1: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently H or C1 to C4 alkyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together form a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently H, NH.sub.2, C1 to C4 alkyl, or OR.sup.5 where R.sup.5 is C1 to C4 alkyl, with the proviso that when R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are taken together to form a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, R.sup.5 is C1 to C3 alkyl; applying the sealant composition to an inner surface of a cured tire; and curing the sealant composition.

A system (1) for applying a sealing agent to the surface (5) of an internal cavity (2) of a pneumatic tyre (3) provided with an applicator device (12) for supplying a strip of sealing agent that is applied to the surface (5) and an opto-electronic device (4*; 20) that is integral to the nozzle (18) of the applicator device (12) and that is provided with at least one sensor element (9*; 20) that is able to acquire a plurality of images of the surface (5) and to provide a plurality of signals that are indicative of said plurality of acquired images; and an electronic processing system (11) connected to the opto-electronic device (4*; 20), and to the applicator device (12) and configured so as to acquire the signals that are indicative of the plurality of images acquired by the opto-electronic device (4*; 20); and to control the application of the sealing agent as a function of the plurality of signals that are indicative of the plurality of images acquired by the opto-electronic device (4*; 20).