AU2012201759A1

AU2012201759A1 - Tire with tire tag

Info

Publication number: AU2012201759A1
Application number: AU2012201759A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Kleckner
Original assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC
Current assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC
Priority date: 2002-12-23
Filing date: 2012-03-26
Publication date: 2012-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-22
Also published as: AU2012201759B2

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC Actual Inventor(s): James Kleckner Address for Service and Correspondence: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: TIRE WITH TIRE TAG Our Ref: 938001 POF Code: 467479/497390 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 600 ia TIRE WITH TIRE TAG The present application is a divisional application from Australian patent application number 2009202671, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to pneumatic tires and, more particularly, to a pneumatic tire in combination with a tire tag. Specifically, the 10 present invention is related to how the tire tag is mounted to the pneumatic tire and the location of the mounting. A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the 15 common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims. 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Various types of tire tags in the nature of tire monitoring devices and tire identification devices are known to the Applicant. Tire monitoring devices 20 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 25 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. One type of tire identification device known to the Applicant is a tire identification chip (tire ID chip). A tire ID chip stores a unique identification 30 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. CApo r\SPEC-93801.doc 2 Given the wide variety of monitoring and identification devices, a wide variety of mounting configurations also exist for these devices. Exemplary mounting configurations include building the monitoring device into a tire sidewall, building the monitoring device into the bead filler, attaching the 5 device with a patch to the tire sidewall, attaching the device directly to the innerliner when 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 10 According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for mounting a tag in the sidewall of a pneumatic tire; the method including the steps of: (a) providing a pneumatic tire that includes a vulcanized tire body having a crown portion and a pair of sidewalls; when seated in a tire rim, the 15 vulcanized tire body defining a pressurizable chamber; each of the sidewalls having a bead portion that is adapted to be 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 of the sidewalls adapted to face the pressurizable chamber of the tire; one of the sidewalls defining a cavity that 20 has an opening at the outer surface of the sidewall; (b) positioning a tag in the cavity; and (c) encapsulating the tag within the cavity with an encapsulation material that adheres the tag to the sidewall of the tire body. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 25 method of connecting a tag to a tire; the method including the steps of: (a) providing a tire that having a vulcanized tire body having an outer surface; the tire body defining a cavity having an opening at the outer surface of the tire body; and (b) encapsulating a tag in the cavity with an encapsulation material that 30 secures the tag to the vulcanized tire body. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting a tag to a vulcanized body; the method including the steps of: Cpfwo\SPEC-9380.doc 2a (a) providing a vulcanized body having an outer surface; the vulcanized body defining a cavity having an opening at the outer surface of the vulcanized body; and (b) encapsulating a tag in the cavity with an encapsulation material that 5 secures the tag to the vulcanized body. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for mounting a tag in the sidewall of a pneumatic tire; the method including the steps of: (a) providing a pneumatic tire that includes a vulcanized tire body 10 having a crown portion and a pair of sidewalls; when seated in a tire rim, the vulcanized tire body defining a pressurizable chamber; each of the sidewalls having a bead portion that is adapted to be 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 of the sidewalls adapted to face the 15 pressurizable chamber of the tire; one of the sidewalls defining a cavity that has an opening at the outer surface of the sidewall; step (a) further including the step of providing a cavity that has a cavity opening at the outer surface that is larger than the tag to be encapsulated in the cavity; (b) positioning a tag in the cavity with the entire tag disposed under the 20 outer surface of the tire body; the tag having a central body with wires extending from opposed sides of the central body; and (c) entirely encapsulating the tag within the cavity with a rigid epoxy encapsulation material that directly adheres the tag to the sidewall of the tire body with the wires extending away from the central body. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a section view of a pneumatic tire showing a mounting configuration for a tire monitoring or tire identification device which was considered by the Applicant, but which is not the subject of the present application. 30 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. C :feonU\SPEC-93801.doc 3 Fig. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 3A is a section view similar to Fig. 3 showing an alternate mounting configuration considered by the Applicant, but which is not the subject of the present application, wherein the tire tag replaces one of the reinforcing cords 5 of the belt. Fig. 3B is a section view similar to Fig. 3 showing an alternative embodiment considered by the Applicant, but which is not the subject of the present application, wherein the tire tag is positioned between adjacent reinforcing cords in the belt. 10 Fig. 4 is a section view of a pneumatic tire showing the tire tag mounted in a configuration according to the present invention, which is the subject of the present application. Fig. 4A is an enlarged section view of the encircled portion of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the tire showing the mounted tire tag of 15 Fig. 4. Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 20 A first arrangement of a tire and tire tag combination which was considered by the Applicant, but which is not the subject of the present application, is indicated general by the numeral 100 in Figs. 1 to 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 25 the arrangement of the 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. 30 C:pfAwoniSPC-938001.dc 4 In this arrangement, 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 5 110 is wrapped circumferentially around tire 102 with the ends of the belt 110 being joined at a splice 116. Splice 116 is generally parallel to wires 112. In the first mounting configuration, 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 10 attach belt 110 to the body of tire 102. The location also protects tag 104 from tire bending forces during tire shaping. Tag 104 may be built into splice 116 when splice 116 is formed. In the alternative, tag 104 may be prebuilt into ply 110 at splice 116 or at another suitable location. For instance, in another arrangement considered by the 15 Applicant, which is not the subject of the present application, tag 104 replaces one of the reinforcing cords 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 20 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. 25 The tire and tag combination according to the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 200 in Figs. 4 to 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 30 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. C ofodMSPEC-938001.doc 5 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 5 202 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 10 tire use. 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. 15 The embodiment also allows for removal and replacement of tag 204 depending on the type of encapsulation material 212 used. 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 20 used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. C:ApovwodSPEC-38001.do

Claims

1. A method for mounting a tag in the sidewall of a pneumatic tire; the method including the steps of: 5 (a) providing a pneumatic tire that includes a vulcanized tire body having a crown portion and a pair of sidewalls; when seated in a tire rim, the vulcanized tire body defining a pressurizable chamber; each of the sidewalls having a bead portion that is adapted to be seated in the tire rim when the tire is mounted to the tire rim; each of the sidewalls having an inner surface and an 10 outer surface; the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 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; (b) positioning a tag in the cavity; and (c) encapsulating the tag within the cavity with an encapsulation 15 material that adheres the tag to the sidewall of the tire body.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the step of entirely surrounding the tag with the encapsulation material. 20

3. A method according to claim 2, further including the step of using a rigid encapsulation material in step (c).

4. A method according to claim 3, further including the step of using a rigid epoxy in step (c). 25

5. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of using a flexible encapsulation material in step (c).

6. A method of connecting a tag to a tire; the method including the steps 30 of: (a) providing a tire that having a vulcanized tire body having an outer surface; the tire body defining a cavity having an opening at the outer surface of the tire body; and CApof\woriSPEC-938001.doc 7 (b) encapsulating a tag in the cavity with an encapsulation material that secures the tag to the vulcanized tire body.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein step (b) includes the step of 5 entirely surrounding the tag with the encapsulation material.

8. A method according to claim 7, further including the step of using a rigid encapsulation material in step (b). 10

9. A method according to claim 8, further including the step of using a rigid epoxy in step (b).

10. A method according to claim 6, further including the step of using a flexible encapsulation material in step (b). 15

11. A method of connecting a tag to a vulcanized body; the method including the steps of: (a) providing a vulcanized body having an outer surface; the vulcanized body defining a cavity having an opening at the outer surface of the vulcanized 20 body; and (b) encapsulating a tag in the cavity with an encapsulation material that secures the tag to the vulcanized body.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein step (b) includes the step of 25 entirely surrounding the tag with the encapsulation material.

13. A method according to claim 12, further including the step of using a rigid encapsulation material in step (b). 30

14. A method according to claim 13, further including the step of using a rigid epoxy in step (b). C:Vof~worU\SPEC-938001.doc 8

15. A method according to claim 11, further including the step of using a flexible encapsulation material in step (b).

16. A method for mounting a tag in the sidewall of a pneumatic tire; the 5 method including the steps of: (a) providing a pneumatic tire that includes a vulcanized tire body having a crown portion and a pair of sidewalls; when seated in a tire rim, the vulcanized tire body defining a pressurizable chamber; each of the sidewalls having a bead portion that is adapted to be seated in the tire rim when the tire 10 is mounted to the tire rim; each of the sidewalls having an inner surface and an outer surface; the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 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; step (a) further including the step of providing a cavity that has a cavity opening at the outer surface that 15 is larger than the tag to be encapsulated in the cavity; (b) positioning a tag in the cavity with the entire tag disposed under the outer surface of the tire body; the tag having a central body with wires extending from opposed sides of the central body; and (c) entirely encapsulating the tag within the cavity with a rigid epoxy 20 encapsulation material that directly adheres the tag to the sidewall of the tire body with the wires extending away from the central body. C:\owrnSPEC-938001.doc