US4042742A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforcing element for flexible structures, in particular pneumatic tires
Assignee: Industrie Pirelli SpA
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Filing: 1971-03-30
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Granted: 1977-08-16
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Expires: 1991-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A reinforcing element, intended in particular for pneumatic tires, and a method for obtaining it, said element consisting of a rubber compound matrix wherein are dispersed individual glass fibers oriented along a preferred direction and having a diameter to length ratio comprised between 1/10 and 1/100. The reinforcing element shows a resistance to compression, in the direction of orientation of the fibers, which is substantially higher both than the resistance measured along any other significantly divergent direction and than the resistance of a like reinforcing element consisting solely of the said rubber compound matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 Luciano Bergomi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C9/00; B60C9/0007; B60C9/0028; B60C9/18; B60C9/1821; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/902; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10495; Y10T152/10513; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249924; Y10T428/249933; Y10T428/249934; Y10T428/249939; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/298; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31641; Y10T428/31645; Y10T428/31649
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An elongated rubber base element designed for forming part of and reinforcing pneumatic tires, and consisting of a rubber compound matrix and of individual fibers evenly dispersed therein, wherein said fibers consist of a mineral material having a tensional modulus of elasticity of at least 5,000 Kg/mm 2 and have a diameter comprised between 0.002 and 0.02 mm, the diameter to length ratio of said individual fibers being comprised between 1/10 and 1/100, their length being in any case not less than 0.1 mm, the amount of said fibers being comprised between 2 and 30 percent by weight of the weight of said matrix, the major part of said fibers being embedded and arranged in said matrix in essentially parallel relationship to one another in a direction essentially perpendicular to the smallest dimension of said element, the resistance of said element to compressional stress in said direction being substantially higher than that of a like element consisting solely of the said rubber compound matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An elongated rubber base element designed for forming part of and reinforcing pneumatic tires, and consisting of a rubber compound matrix and of individual fibers evenly dispersed therein, wherein said fibers consist of a mineral material having a tensional modulus of elasticity of at least 5,000 Kg/mm 2 and have a diameter comprised between 0.002 and 0.02 mm, the diameter to length ratio of said individual fibers being comprised between 1/10 and 1/100, their length being in any case not less than 0.1 mm, the amount of said fibers being comprised between 2 and 30 percent by weight of the weight of said matrix, the major part of said fibers being embedded and arranged in said matrix in essentially parallel relationship to one another in a direction essentially perpendicular to the smallest dimension of said element, the resistance of said element to compressional stress in said direction being substantially higher than that of a like element consisting solely of the said rubber compound matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 1, characterized in that the length of the most part of the fibers embedded in said element is comprised between 0.1 and 1 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing fibers embedded in said element have an average length comprised between 0.15 and 0.50 mm and a dispersion of their lengths defined by a standard deviation comprised between 0.15 and 0.06, said average and said standard deviation being referred to the weight of the fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 1, characterized in that, in the direction of the prevailing orientation of the fibers, it has a compressive modulus of elasticity equal to at least three times the compressive modulus of elasticity of the compound alone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 4, characterized in that, in the direction of the prevailing orientation of the fibers, it has a compressive modulus of elasticity equal to at least four times the compressive modulus of elasticity of the compound alone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 1, characterized in that, in the direction of the prevailing orientation of the fibers, it has a resistance to compression significantly higher than its resistance to compression in any other significantly divergent direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 1, characterized in that, in the direction of the prevailing orientation of the fibers, it has a compressive modulus of elasticity equal to at least 1.4 times the compressive modulus of elasticity in the perpendicular direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing material is constituted by glass fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A reinforcing element as in claim 1, characterized in that at least 50% of the reinforcing fibers embedded in said element has a diameter to length ratio comprised between 1/25 and 1/50.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A reinforcing element for flexible structures as in claim 7, in which the individual fibers are glass fibers, particularly intended to be used as breaker of pneumatic tires, characterized in that the weight percentage of said fibers is comprised between 8% 20% on the total weight of the compound.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A reinforcing element for flexible structures as in claim 7, in which the individual fibers are glass fibers, particularly intended to be used as breaker of pneumatic tires, characterized in that the weight percentage of said fibers is comprised between 2% and 7% on the total weight of the compound.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB870479A
Cited
US3095026A
Cited
US3095027A
Cited
US3131744A
Cited
GB1008397A
Cited
US3599696A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-15 | 1981-02-14 | 1981-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-15 | 1985-02-14 | 1985-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-15 | 1989-02-14 | 1989-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |