U.S. patent application number 10/743694 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for tire with tire tag.
Invention is credited to Kleckner, James P..
Application Number | 20040134578 10/743694 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32682328 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040134578 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kleckner, James P. |
July 15, 2004 |
Tire with tire tag
Abstract
A pneumatic tire includes a tire body having a crown portion and
a pair of sidewalls. At least one reinforcing belt is disposed in
the crown portion of the tire. A tag is carried by the reinforcing
belt. In one embodiment, the tag is disposed in the location of one
of the reinforcing cords that is disposed in the reinforcing belt.
In another embodiment, the tag is disposed at the splice of the
reinforcing belt. An alternative version of the tire has the tag
carried in a depression formed in the outer surface of the tire
sidewall. The tag may be encapsulated with an encapsulation
material that is also disposed in the depression.
Inventors: |
Kleckner, James P.; (Akron,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael R. Huber
Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.
1200 Firestone Parkway
Akron
OH
44317
US
|
Family ID: |
32682328 |
Appl. No.: |
10/743694 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60436057 |
Dec 23, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
152/152.1 ;
152/525; 152/526 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60C 19/00 20130101;
Y10T 152/10765 20150115; B29D 2030/0083 20130101; B60C 23/00
20130101; B60C 23/0493 20130101; B60C 13/00 20130101; B60C 9/18
20130101; Y10T 152/10495 20150115; Y10T 152/10 20150115; Y10T
152/10801 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
152/152.1 ;
152/526; 152/525 |
International
Class: |
B60C 023/00; B60C
019/00; B60C 009/18; B60C 013/00 |
Claims
1. A tire comprising: a tire body having a crown portion and a pair
of sidewalls; at least one reinforcing belt disposed in the crown
portion of the tire body; and a tag carried by the reinforcing
belt.
2. The tire of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing belt includes a
plurality of reinforcing cords; the tag disposed adjacent the
reinforcing cords.
3. The tire of claim 2, wherein the tag is disposed intermediate a
pair of the reinforcing cords.
4. The tire of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing belt includes a
splice; the tag disposed at the splice.
5. The tire of claim 4, wherein the splice is parallel to the
reinforcing cords.
6. The tire of claim 4, wherein the splice includes a layer of
adhesive; the tag being carried by the adhesive.
7. The tire of claim 1, wherein the body of the tire includes at
least two reinforcing belts; one of the belts being disposed
radially outwardly of the other belt; the tag being carried by the
outermost belt.
8. The tire of claim 1, wherein the belt includes a plurality of
spaced cords; the tag replacing the position of one of the
cords.
9. A tire adapted to be mounted to a tire rim; the tire comprising:
a tire body having a crown portion and a pair of sidewalls; each of
the sidewalls having a bead portion that is seated in the tire rim
when the tire is mounted to the tire rim; each of the sidewalls
having an inner surface and an outer surface; the inner surfaces
adapted to face the pressurizable chamber of the tire; one of the
sidewalls defining a cavity that has an opening at the outer
surface of the sidewall; and a tag disposed in the cavity.
10. The tire of claim 9, wherein the tag is encapsulated with an
encapsulation material; the encapsulation material disposed in the
cavity.
11. The tire of claim 10, wherein the encapsulation material
entirely surrounds the tag within the cavity.
12. The tire of claim 11, wherein the encapsulation material is
rigid.
13. The tire of claim 12, wherein the encapsulation material is a
rigid epoxy.
14. The tire of claim 11, wherein the encapsulation material is
flexible.
15. The tire of claim 9, wherein the cavity is disposed radially
outward of the bead portion of the sidewall.
16. The tire of claim 15, wherein the cavity is disposed
immediately above the bead portion such that the cavity is not
obstructed by the tire rim when the tire is mounted to the tire
rim.
18. The tire of claim 9, wherein no portion of the tag protrudes
from the cavity.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This applications claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent application serial No. 60/436,057 filed Dec. 23, 2002, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention generally relates to pneumatic tires
and, more particularly, to a pneumatic tire in combination with a
tire tag. Specifically, the present invention is related to how the
tire tag is mounted to the pneumatic tire and the location of the
mounting.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Various types of tire tags in the nature of tire monitoring
devices and tire identification devices are known in the art. Tire
monitoring devices may be configured to read temperature or
pressure and store the information for later retrieval. These
devices may also be configured to transmit the information from the
tire to an outside reader. Tire monitoring devices may use the
information to trigger an alarm when the temperature or pressure of
the tire reaches a limit. Tire identification devices allow a tire
to be identified through its manufacturing process and after the
tire is placed into service. Tire monitoring and identification
devices may be passive or active depending on design and desired
functions.
[0006] One type of tire identification device known in the art is a
tire identification chip (tire ID chip). A tire ID chip stores a
unique identification number that may be read by an interrogation
signal sent by a device that obtains the information from the tire
ID chip. Tire manufacturers wish to mount one tire ID chip into
each tire manufactured so that the tire may be tracked during the
manufacturing process and during use on vehicles.
[0007] Given the wide variety of monitoring and identification
devices, a wide variety of mounting configurations also exist for
these devices. Exemplary known mounting configurations include
building the monitoring device into a tire sidewall, building the
monitoring device into the bead filler, attaching the device with a
patch to the tire sidewall, attaching the device directly to the
innerliner with an adhesive, connecting the device to the rim that
supports the tire, and mounting the device to the valve stem of the
wheel.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention provides a first configuration that mounts the
tire identification or tire monitoring device in one of the belts
of reinforcing cords positioned in the crown of the tire. The
identification or monitoring device may take the place of one of
the reinforcing cords, may be positioned between reinforcing cords,
or may be positioned at the splice that is used to form a loop out
of the reinforcing cord ply.
[0009] The invention also provides an embodiment wherein the tire
identification or tire monitoring device is mounted in a depression
formed in the outer surface of the sidewall. The tire
identification or tire monitoring device may be encapsulated with
an encapsulation material in the depression.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a section view of a pneumatic tire showing the
first mounting configuration for the tire monitoring or tire
identification device.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the tire
crown showing the tire tag mounted at the splice in the belt.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 3A is a section view similar to FIG. 3 showing an
alternate mounting configuration wherein the tire tag replaces one
of the reinforcing cords of the belt.
[0014] FIG. 3B is a section view similar to FIG. 3 showing an
alternative embodiment wherein the tire tag is positioned between
adjacent reinforcing cords in the belt.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a section view of a pneumatic tire showing the
tire tag mounted in a second configuration.
[0016] FIG. 4A is an enlarged section view of the encircled portion
of FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the tire showing the mounted
tire tag.
[0018] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the
specification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] A first embodiment of a tire and tire tag combination is
indicated generally by the numeral 100 in FIGS. 1-3. Combination
100 generally includes a tire 102 and a tag 104 that is mounted to
tire 102. Tag 104 may be an identification device or a monitoring
device. In the embodiment of tag 104 shown in the drawings, tag 104
has a central body 106 with wires 108 extending from opposed sides
of body 106. Body 106 may include any of a variety of elements that
are used to store and present information about tire 102 to a
reader (not shown) that requests the information.
[0020] In the first mounting configuration, tag 104 is built into
one of the reinforcing belts 110 disposed in the crown of tire 102.
Each reinforcing belt 110 includes a plurality of reinforcing cords
112 disposed adjacent each other. Each reinforcing cord 112 is
encased in a rubber material 114 or other suitable materials. Each
belt 110 is wrapped circumferentially around tire 102 with the ends
of belt 110 being joined at a splice 116. Splice 116 is generally
parallel to wires 112. In the first mounting configuration, tag 104
is located at splice 116 in order to create a built-in mounting
location for tag 104. Tag 104 may be embedded in the adhesive of
splice 116. Tag 104 may be built into the outermost belt 110 in
order to improve readability and to decrease its exposure to the
curing heat used to attach belt 110 to the body of tire 102. The
location also protects tag 104 from tire bending forces during tire
shaping.
[0021] Tag 104 may be built into splice 106 when splice 106 is
formed. In the alternative, tag 104 may be prebuilt into ply 110 at
splice 106 or at another suitable location. For instance, in
another embodiment of the invention, tag 104 replaces one of
reinforcing cords 112 as shown in FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3B, tag 104 is
positioned between adjacent reinforcing cords 112. These locations
have the benefit of protecting tag 104 from curing heat, protecting
tag 104 during tire shaping, and placing tire tag 104 in a location
where there is less interference with other tire structures. This
location also places tag 104 in a location where it does not
protrude from an internal or external surface of tire 102. The
location also does not rely on adhesive for durability of the
connection between tag 104 and tire 102. Adjacent belts may use
suitable mechanisms in opposed locations to tag 104 for tire
uniformity.
[0022] The second embodiment of the tire and tag combination is
indicated generally by the numeral 200 in FIGS. 4-5. Combination
200 generally includes a pneumatic tire 202 and a tag 204 that is
mounted to one of the sidewalls 206 of tire 202. Tag 204 is mounted
to sidewall 206 in a location that is adapted to be above the rim
208 when tire 202 is mounted to rim 208. In one embodiment, tag 204
may be mounted immediately above rim 208 where the sidewall is
thicker and flexes less. This area is identified by numeral 209 in
FIG. 4.
[0023] Tag 204 is disposed in a cavity 210 defined by sidewall 206.
Cavity 210 has sufficient dimensions to receive the entire body of
tag 204 with additional room for an encapsulation material 212. In
this specification, encapsulation material 212 may be any of a wide
variety of materials that will adhere to tire 202 in order to help
secure tag 204 to tire sidewall 206. A variety of known adhesives
or repair compounds/materials may be used as encapsulation material
212. Encapsulation material 212 may be a rigid material or a
relatively flexible material. One exemplary rigid encapsulation
material is an epoxy that prevents the elements of tag 204 from
flexing with respect to each other during tire use.
[0024] This embodiment allows tag 204 to be installed after tire
202 is fabricated and cured. The embodiment also allows tag 204 to
be selectively placed in tire 202. This mounting position does not
expose tag 204 to curing heat and prevents tag 204 from extending
above the profile of sidewall 206. The embodiment also allows for
removal and replacement of tag 204 depending on the type of
encapsulation material 212 used.
[0025] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed.
[0026] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention
is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details
shown or described.
* * * * *