US-12623422-B2 - Use of injected sealant to improve dynamic tire balance

US12623422B2US 12623422 B2US12623422 B2US 12623422B2US-12623422-B2

Abstract

A method of applying a sealant layer to an inner surface of a tire and a resulting tire are disclosed. Prior to sealant application first and second balance light spots on first and second sides of the tire are identified. A starting location for the sealant bead adjacent the first side of the tire is determined as a function of the location of the first balance light spot. An ending location for the sealant bead adjacent the second side of the tire is determined as a function of the location of the second balance light spot. Balance of the tire is improved by the application of the sealant layer.

Inventors

John D. Clothiaux

Assignees

BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220724

Claims (10)

1 . A method of applying a sealant layer to an inner surface of a tire, the method comprising: (a) identifying a circumferential location of a first balance light spot on a first side of the tire as a first angle θr measured about a rotational axis of the tire from a physical indicia on the tire; (b) identifying a circumferential location of a second balance light spot on a second side of the tire as a second angle θB measured about the rotational axis of the tire from the physical indicia; (c) determining a target starting location for a sealant bead adjacent the first side of the tire as a target starting angle θS measured about the rotational axis of the tire from the physical indicia, the target starting angle θS being determined as a function of the first angle θr; (d) determining a target ending location for the sealant bead adjacent the second side of the tire as a target ending angle θF measured about the rotational axis of the tire from the physical indicia, the target ending angle θF being determined as a function of the second angle θB; and (e) applying the sealant bead to the inner surface of the tire in a spiral pattern beginning at an actual starting location selected based upon the target starting angle θ S and ending at an actual ending location selected based upon the target ending angle θ E .
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the applying of the sealant bead in step (e) improves both static and dynamic balance of the tire as compared to the static and dynamic balance of the tire prior to application of the sealant bead.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: in step (c) the target starting angle θ S is determined by the function: θ S = θ T + 90 ⁢ ° .
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein: in step (d) the target ending angle θ E is determined by the function: θ E = θ B - 90 ⁢ ° .
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the actual starting angle and the actual ending angle are each within an acceptable spotting error range of the target starting angle and the target ending angle, respectively.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein: the acceptable spotting error range is plus or minus 45 degrees.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein: the acceptable spotting error range is plus or minus 30 degrees.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein: the acceptable spotting error range is plus or minus 15 degrees.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the physical indicia is a bar code located on a first side wall defining the first side of the tire.
10 . A tire manufactured by the method of claim 1 .

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present disclosure relates generally to methods of applying a sealant layer to an inner surface of a tire so as to improve the balance of the tire. 2. Description of the Prior Art A typical prior art tire sealant cell used for applying a sealant layer is described in WO2019123272A1 and WO2019123275A1. There is a need for improved methods for applying a sealant layer to an inner surface of a tire such that the sealant layer improves the balance of the tire. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure is directed to methods for improving the inherent balance of the tire when the sealant layer is applied to the tire, and to the improved tire manufactured by such a process. In one embodiment a method of applying a sealant layer to an inner surface of a tire may include steps of: (a) identifying a circumferential location of a first balance light spot on a first side of the tire as a first angle θT measured about a rotational axis of the tire from a physical indicia on the tire;(b) identifying a circumferential location of a second balance light spot on a second side of the tire as a second angle θB measured about the rotational axis of the tire from the physical indicia;(c) determining a target starting location for a sealant bead adjacent the first side of the tire as a target starting angle θS measured about the rotational axis of the tire from the physical indicia, the target starting angle θS being determined as a function of the first angle θT;(d) determining a target ending location for the sealant bead adjacent the second side of the tire as a target ending angle θE measured about the rotational axis of the tire from the physical indicia, the target ending angle θE being determined as a function of the second angle θB; and(e) applying the sealant bead to the inner surface of the tire in a spiral pattern beginning at an actual starting location selected based upon the target starting angle θS and ending at an actual ending location selected based upon the target ending angle θE. The application of the sealant bead may improve both static and dynamic balance of the tire as compared to the static and dynamic balance of the tire prior to application of the sealant bead. In any of the above methods the target starting angle θS may be determined by the function θE=θT+90°. In any of the above methods the target ending angle θE may be determined by the function θE=θB−90°. In any of the above methods the actual starting angle and the actual ending angle may each be within an acceptable spotting error range of the target starting angle and the target ending angle, respectively. In any of the above methods the acceptable spotting error range may be plus or minus 45 degrees. In any of the above methods the acceptable spotting error range may be plus or minus 30 degrees. In any of the above methods the acceptable spotting error range may be plus or minus 15 degrees. In any of the above methods the physical indicia may be a bar code located on a first side wall defining the first side of the tire. In another embodiment a tire manufactured by any of the above methods may include a tread portion and first and second sidewall portions extending radially inward from the tread portion. The tire may have a first balance light spot location on a first side of the tire prior to sealant application measured as a first angle θT about a rotational axis of the tire from a physical indicia on the tire and a second balance light spot location on a second side of the tire prior to sealant application measured as a second angle θB about the rotational axis of the tire from the physical indicia on the tire. An inner surface of the tire may define an inner cavity of the tire between the first and second sidewall portions. A spiral wound sealant bead may be laid down on the inner surface, the sealant bead having a starting location closest to the first sidewall and ending location closest to the second sidewall. The starting location may be within a range of 45 degrees to 135 degrees ahead of the first balance light spot location OT relative to a direction of winding of the sealant bead and the ending location may be within a range of 45 degrees to 135 degrees behind the second balance light spot location θB relative to the direction of winding of the sealant bead. In another embodiment of the above tire the starting location may be within a range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees ahead of the first balance light spot location OT relative to a direction of winding of the sealant bead and the ending location may be within a range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees behind the second balance light spot location θB relative to the direction of winding of the sealant bead. In another embodiment of the above tire the starting location may be within a range of 75 degrees to 105 degrees ahead of the first balance light spot location OT relative to a direction of winding of the sealant bead and