METHOD FOR FORMING A SEALANT LAYER IN A TIRE

Abstract

A method for forming a sealant layer in a tire is described, wherein the tire produced is balanced. The method comprising the steps of: providing a tire; and spraying a sealant layer on the inside of the tire, under the crown, wherein the sealant layer is sprayed at a zero degree angle with respect to the tire mid-circumferential plane as the tire is rotated.

Claims

1. A method for forming a sealant layer in a tire, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tire; and applying one or more windings to form a sealant layer to the inside of the tire under the crown, wherein each winding has a straight portion aligned at a zero degree angle with respect to the tire mid-circumferential plane.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sealant is sprayed in a continuous manner.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each winding is joined together by an angled transition section.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of the outer edges of the sealant layer are removed to form a balanced tire.

5. A method for forming a sealant layer in a tire, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tire; and applying a sealant layer on the inside of the tire underneath the crown, wherein the sealant layer is sprayed in a spirally wound manner, wherein a portion of the outer edges of the sealant layer are removed to form a balanced tire.

6. A tire having a tread, opposed sidewalls and an inner surface opposite the tread, wherein said inner surface has a sealant layer formed by spirally applying a plurality of sealant windings, wherein each winding has a straight portion.

7. The tire of claim 6 wherein a portion of the outer edges of the sealant layer are removed to form a balanced tire.

8. The tire of claim 6 wherein each winding is joined with a angled transition section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view of a schematic of a tire sealant spray apparatus and tire.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the tire and nozzle of the tire sealant spray apparatus.

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a spirally wound sealant layup using the tire sealant spray apparatus.

[0024] FIG. 4A illustrates a close-up view of the spirally wound sealant layup, while

[0025] FIG. 4B illustrates the balanced spirally wound sealant layup;

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a sealant layup of the present invention using the tire sealant spray apparatus.

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a close-up view of the sealant layup of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a tire T rotatably mounted in a sealant dispensing stand 20. The sealant dispensing stand 20 has tire grippers 30 for holding the tire and tire spreaders 40 for enlarging the tire width. The sealant dispensing stand 20 further includes a robot arm 50 having an application bar 60. The application bar 60 has a sealant dispensing nozzle 70. The robot arm 50 can move the application bar 60 in the axial direction of the tire to dispense a layer of sealant. FIG. 3 illustrates the dispensing nozzle applying a layer of sealant in a spirally wound configuration 80 as the dispensing nozzle translates in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire. A close-up view of the spirally wound configuration is shown in FIG. 4A. The spirally wound configuration 80 is spirally wound at a slight angle, typically in the range of 3-6 degrees (as measured from tire equatorial plane). The end portions 82,84,86,88, shown as cross-hatched shading, result in the tire imbalance. FIG. 4B illustrates a spirally wound configuration 100 with the end portions 82,84,86,88 removed, resulting in a balanced sealant configuration.

[0029] FIGS. 5-6 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention of a tire with a balanced sealant layer. The sealant layer configuration 200 is shown in FIG. 6. The sealant layer 200 is formed of multiple windings of a continuous strip of sealant. The sealant layer 200 has a first winding 201 having a starting portion 200 and an ending portion 204, wherein the sealant is applied in a strip between the start and end at a zero degree orientation or straight. The sealant spray orientation is at zero degrees with respect to the tire midcircumferential plane L. The first winding 201 remains oriented at zero degrees until approximately in the range of 320-358 degrees of tire rotation (i.e., less than 360 degrees of rotation), wherein the end 204 of the first sealant winding is angled in a transition section 210. The end of the transition portion 212 or the start of the second winding 214 is axially spaced apart from the start 202 of the first winding 201. The sealant layer is formed of multiple windings 201, 214, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 that are oriented at zero degrees with respect to the tire midcircumferential plane and form a straight portion. Each straight portion of each winding is wound from 0 degrees to less than 360 degrees, and has an ending 204 connected to an optional transition section. The transition section is angled.

[0030] Variations in the present inventions are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.