REPAIR PATCH

Abstract

The invention relates to a repair patch for an elastomeric component, in particular for a vehicle tire, to a use of the repair patch and to a method for repairing a vehicle tire. The repair patch has a cover layer 10, a connecting layer 30 for placement on a damaged spot 60 of the elastomeric component 40, and at least one intermediate layer 20, which is arranged between the cover layer and the connecting layer. The repair patch 1 has external dimensions such that a dimensional quotient which is at least formed by means of at least one size parameter of the damaged spot 60 is within a predetermined value range and the number of intermediate layers 20 depends on the at least one size parameter of the damaged spot 60.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A repair patch for an elastomeric component of a vehicle tire, the repair patch comprising: a cover layer; a connecting layer for placement on a damaged spot of the elastomeric component; and at least one intermediate layer arranged between the cover layer and the connecting layer, wherein the repair patch has external dimensions such that a dimensional quotient (Q), which is determined using at least one size parameter of the damaged spot, is within a predetermined value range, and the number of intermediate layers depends on the at least one size parameter of the damaged spot.

15. The repair patch of claim 14 wherein the size parameter of the damaged spot comprises a surface area of the damaged spot, a radius of the damaged spot, a length of the damaged spot in the circumferential direction of the vehicle tire and/or a length of the damaged spot in a radial direction of the vehicle tire.

16. The repair patch of claim 14 wherein: a dimensional quotient QL results at least from a width of the repair patch in relation to at least the size parameter of a length of the damaged spot in a circumferential direction of the vehicle tire, wherein the predetermined value range of QL is substantially 2QL9, and a dimensional quotient QR results at least from a length of the repair patch in relation to at least the size parameter of a length of the damaged spot in a radial direction of the vehicle tire, wherein the predetermined value range of QR is substantially 4QR13.

17. The repair patch of claim 16 wherein: the predetermined value ranges of QL and QR are substantially 3QL9 and 4QR10 for a damaged spot with a position in a region of a side wall of the vehicle tire; and the predetermined value ranges of QL and QR are substantially 2QL5 and 4QR13 for a damaged spot with a position in the region of the tread of the vehicle tire.

18. The repair patch of claim 14 wherein the dimensional quotient (Q) reflects at least one value for a size of a surface area of the repair patch in relation to at least one value of a size of the surface area of the damaged spot.

19. The repair patch of claim 14 wherein the number of intermediate layers depends on the size parameter of the damaged spot so as not to exceed a maximum permissible bulge of the repair patch.

20. The repair patch of claim 14 wherein the at least one intermediate layer substantially has structured fibers.

21. The repair patch of claim 20 wherein the material of the structured fibers comprises metal, natural fibers, in particular cotton, plastics, glass and/or carbon.

22. The repair patch of claim 14 wherein the external dimensions of the repair patch substantially correspond to the external dimensions at least of the at least one intermediate layer.

23. The repair patch of claim 14 wherein different external dimensions of the repair patch are predefined with a different number of intermediate layers as different repair patch types.

24. A method for repairing a vehicle tire using a repair patch, the method comprising: providing a repair patch comprising: a cover layer; a connecting layer for placement on a damaged spot of the vehicle tire; and at least one intermediate layer arranged between the cover layer and the connecting layer; determining the external dimensions of the repair patch and the number of intermediate layers of the repair patch based on at least one size parameter of the damaged spot, wherein the external dimensions are determined in such a way that values of a dimensional quotient (Q) of the repair patch are within a predetermined value range; and fixedly connecting the repair patch to the vehicle tire in the region of the damaged spot.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the external dimensions of the repair patch and the number of intermediate layers are determined using a repair chart, wherein the repair chart predetermines the repair patch type to be selected, the external dimensions and the number of intermediate layers, dependent on a position of the damaged spot at the vehicle tire and the at least one size parameter of the damaged spot.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the size parameter of the damaged spot comprises a surface area of the damaged spot, a radius of the damaged spot, a length of the damaged spot in the circumferential direction of the vehicle tire and/or a length of the damaged spot in a radial direction of the vehicle tire.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein: a dimensional quotient QL results at least from a width of the repair patch in relation to at least the size parameter of a length of the damaged spot in a circumferential direction of the vehicle tire, wherein the predetermined value range of QL is substantially 2QL9, and a dimensional quotient QR results at least from a length of the repair patch in relation to at least the size parameter of a length of the damaged spot in a radial direction of the vehicle tire, wherein the predetermined value range of QR is substantially 4QR13.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein: the predetermined value ranges of QL and QR are substantially 3QL9 and 4QR10 for a damaged spot with a position in a region of a side wall of the vehicle tire; and the predetermined value ranges of QL and QR are substantially 2QL5 and 4QR13 for a damaged spot with a position in the region of the tread of the vehicle tire.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the dimensional quotient (Q) reflects at least one value for a size of a surface area of the repair patch in relation to at least one value of a size of the surface area of the damaged spot.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the number of intermediate layers depends on the size parameter of the damaged spot so as not to exceed a maximum permissible bulge of the repair patch.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least one intermediate layer substantially has structured fibers.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the material of the structured fibers comprises metal, natural fibers, in particular cotton, plastics, glass and/or carbon.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the external dimensions of the repair patch substantially correspond to the external dimensions at least of the at least one intermediate layer.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein different external dimensions of the repair patch are predefined with a different number of intermediate layers as different repair patch types.

Description

[0028] The invention is described below by way of example with respect to the enclosed, schematic drawings, wherein

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through the repair patch and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a repair process flow.

[0031] In the following, various examples of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. Equal or similar elements in the drawings are designated with equal reference signs. However, the present invention is not limited to the described design features but also comprises modifications of features of the described examples and the combination of features of various examples on the basis of the scope of protection of the independent claims.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a repair patch 1 for vehicle tires according to the present invention by way of example. A cover layer 10 is formed on the top side of the repair patch 1. The cover layer 10 can have the function of a protective layer against outer damage of the underlying, in particular power-transmitting, layers, provide the user with information, such as instructions for use or type designations of the repair patch, and/or include graphic and/or decorative elements.

[0033] An intermediate layer 20 is formed adjacent to the cover layer 10 and has a plurality of fibrous inserts 70. These inserts 70 are usually arranged across the thickness of the intermediate layer 20 in one or more layers, wherein each individual fiber layer has a structural arrangement of the fibrous inserts 70. The orientation of the individual fiber layers in the intermediate layer 20 can be different with respect to one another. In particular in the case of major damage in the tread or side wall region, these inserts 70 serve to bridge the reinforcing materials cut off in the damaged area.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a repair patch type which has an intermediate layer 20. According to the invention, the number of intermediate layers 20 can be larger, e.g. two to ten intermediate layers 20 can be provided. The number of intermediate layers 20 is determined by using a repair patch type having external dimensions predetermined with respect to the size of the damaged spot and precisely the number of intermediate layers 20.

[0035] A connecting layer 30 is formed on the bottom side of the repair patch 1 and is in contact with a wall 80 of the vehicle tire during and after the repair. Furthermore, the connecting layer 30 is in contact with a raw rubber composition 50 before and after a vulcanization of the vehicle tire.

[0036] According to the repair of the damaged vehicle tire, the damaged spot of the vehicle tire is roughened so as to remove dust and dirt and to expose an intact layer of the components in the vehicle tire, wherein a substantially conical design is formed for a repair spot or damaged spot 60 in the vehicle tire. Then, the repair spot 60 is filled with the raw rubber composition 50 prior to the vulcanization of the connecting layer 30.

[0037] Then, the repair patch 1 preheated to a corresponding joining temperature is placed on the damaged spot 60. With respect to an operationally reliable repair result, the dimensions of the repair patch 1 are determined such that a dimensional quotient Q is within a predetermined value range and the number of intermediate layers 20 can be coordinated therewith.

[0038] After the stitching of the repair patch, the repair spot and the repair patch are vulcanized under pressure and at a temperature by means of a suitable device or in the autoclave.

[0039] The design of a vehicle tire is here shown by way of example for the side region of a radial truck tire in such a way that the wall 80 of the vehicle tire is formed by the inner liner 90, which is adjoined by a carcass 100, which includes cord 150 in the form of an insert. The side wall rubber 110 of the vehicle tire is located adjacent to the carcass 100.

[0040] FIG. 2 also shows a possible process flow for the assembly of the repair patch. For example, the size of the damage is measured in a step. This step can comprise e.g. the detection of the length and/or width of a damage, e.g. of a crack or a hole in the tire. It is preferable to use a repair chart which permits to determine the correct external dimensions and the number of intermediate layers for the present damage with minor effort.

[0041] When the external dimensions and the number of intermediate layers have been determined, the assembly of the repair patch 1 can be carried out. For this purpose, patch 1 is fixedly connected by means of the connecting layer 30 to the damaged surface of the component. The fixed connection can be brought about in different ways, wherein it is particularly preferred to form an adhesive connection by means of adhesives and/or to connect the patch by means of a vulcanization process to the rubber of the component to be repaired.

[0042] In summary, the invention provides a repair patch or kit patch, which can be handled with little effort, and an associated repair method for elastomeric components, which can be manufactured with less effort and provides the repaired component with a better operational reliability.