US4003419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tire filled with lubricant coated cellular particles
Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
•
Filing: 1974-12-23
•
Granted: 1977-01-18
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Expires: 1994-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A tire has its tire cavity filled with inexpensive lubricated light cellular particles and thereby avoids deformation and flattening of the tire upon loss of inflation pressure while maintaining vehicular control.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri Verdier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C5/00; B60C17/00; B60C17/04; B60C17/06; B60C17/066; B60C17/10; B60C5/002; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10279; Y10T152/10378; Y10T152/10387; Y10T152/10396
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A tire mounted on a wheel rim so as to form a tire cavity which can be inflated with a gas under pressure, characterized by the fact that the tire cavity is filled at least partially with solid light-weight discrete particles of cellular material having a very low apparent density of less than about 100 g./dm 3 but resistant to stresses due to tire travel, said particles bearing a lubricant which is inert with respect to the materials present in the tire cavity, thus, the particles are free to move relative to one another, with low friction and low generation of heat when they have to cushion the tire after a puncture of the tire cavity and plug the puncture hole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A tire mounted on a wheel rim so as to form a tire cavity which can be inflated with a gas under pressure, characterized by the fact that the tire cavity is filled at least partially with solid light-weight discrete particles of cellular material having a very low apparent density of less than about 100 g./dm 3 but resistant to stresses due to tire travel, said particles bearing a lubricant which is inert with respect to the materials present in the tire cavity, thus, the particles are free to move relative to one another, with low friction and low generation of heat when they have to cushion the tire after a puncture of the tire cavity and plug the puncture hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles have a rounded shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles are selected from a cellular material of the group consisting of cross linked and uncross linked polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyesters, derivatives of cellulose, foams of polyvinyl alcohol and formaldehyde, phenolic resins, epoxy resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, polyimides, polyamides, fluorinated polymers, polycarbonates, polyvinyl carbazoles, pyranyl foams from acrolein, phenylene polyoxides and polysulfones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tire according to claim 3 wherein the particles are of expanded polystyrene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles are of a cellular metal alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles are of a cellular refractory material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles are of an inorganic foam having a base of glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles are spheres whose diameter is between about 1 mm. and about 8 mm., withstand a gas pressure of at least 2 bars and are stable in shape up to a temperature of about 80° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tire according to claim 8 wherein the particles have an apparent density of about 15 g/dm 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles are of a material whose thermal conductivity increases with temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the lubricant is a solid which is inert with respect to its environment and becomes fluid at a temperature above ambient temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the lubricant has a high thermal conductivity which increases with temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the lubricant in liquid state has a low vapor tension so as to evaporate at the temperature of tire travel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the lubricant is a mixture of a volatile liquid and a liquid of high boiling point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of polyglycol ethers and their derivatives obtained by the action of ethylene oxide on compounds having one or more free hydrogen atoms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the lubricant contains water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the tire cavity has, in addition to an inflation valve, a particle filling orifice provided with a plug.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A tire according to claim 1 wherein the particles in the tire cavity are contained in at least one bag, said bag being formed of a film of flexible material and having a circular cross section with a diameter substantially equal to the largest dimension of the tire cavity, the length of said bag or the total length of said bags corresponding substantially to the mean circumferential length of the tire cavity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tire according to claim 18 wherein the bag film is a heat-fusible material having a low softening point of below about 65° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tire according to claim 19 wherein the bag film is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tire according to claim 18 wherein the bag is adhered to the inner wall of the tire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tire according to claim 1 which is mounted on a wheel rim with a plugged mounting groove.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the tire contains an inner tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the tire is a tubeless tire.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-07-19 | 1981-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-18 | 1984-07-19 | 1985-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-18 | 1988-07-19 | 1989-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |