MXPA99010892A - Method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire for the quick bonding of an electronic monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for preparing an innerliner (12) of a pneumatic tire (14) and adhering an electronic monitoring device (10) to the innerliner includes the step of providing a patch (20) having a cover (22) and a layer of uncured rubber (24). The patch is placed at a selected area (16) of the innerliner of a green tire before the green tire is cured. At least a portion of the patch is removed after the tire is cured to provide a prepared area at the selected area of the tire. The electronic monitoring device is then adhered to the prepared area.

Description

METHOD FOR PREPARING TM INTERIOR LINING OF A TIRE FOR THE RAPID UNION DE UKT ELECTRONIC VERIFICATION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention is generally related to tires and more particularly to methods for connecting electronic verification devices to the inner lining of a tire. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire, such that a verification device can be securely connected to the inner lining of the tire. BACKGROUND INFORMATION It is desired in the art to verify tire conditions while they are installed and in use in a particular vehicle. It is particularly convenient to measure tire wear, internal pressure and internal temperature. Other convenient measurements may be the number of rotations that have occurred in a given time. These measures of preference are capable of being carried out while the tire is in use, without having to remove the tire from the vehicle or otherwise interrupt the use of the vehicle to take the measurements. It is particularly convenient to verify the conditions and statistics on tires of large trucks for off-road use, because tires for off-road use are expensive and subjected to more arduous conditions than tires for typical passenger vehicles. . Tires for off-road use on large trucks and other vehicles must also be maintained regularly to maximize the efficiency of the vehicle. Numerous types of these verification devices are known in the art. One type of known verification device uses a passive integrated circuit embedded within the body of a tire, which is activated by a radio frequency transmission that energizes the circuit by inductive magnetic coupling. Other prior art devices used to check tire conditions include self-energized circuits that are placed external to the tire such as the valve stem. Other self-energized, prismatic, electronic devices are described in US Patents. Us 5,500,065, 5,573,610, 5,562,787 and 5,573,611 to be granted to the assignee of the present application. A common problem with each of these verification devices is the problem of connecting the verification device to the tire. The connection problem is difficult when the verification device is connected to the inner surface of the tire, to the outer surface of the tire or embedded within the body of the tire. The connection problem is difficult since the forces in the electronic device are significant and numerous. The tires are not only subject to rotational forces when the vehicle moves but also are subjected to various impact forces when the tire contacts bumps or irregularities in the surface. The connection of the verification device to the tire must be sufficiently strong and secure to maintain the position of the verification device with respect to the tire, while experiencing all these forces and at the same time also protecting the verification device against damage resulting from these forces . Another problem with the connection of a verification device with a tire is that the tire must be compensated with respect to its axis of rotation to perform efficiently. The verification device itself also contributes weight to the tire by requiring the tire to be compensated. In this way it is convenient to minimize the weight of the connection, so that the additional compensation weights do not have to be added to the tire. In this way it is desired to provide a connection that is strong and secure while it is small and lightweight. Another problem you experience with connecting a verification device with a tire is that the surface where the verification device is anchored, it is often not stable. The tires are designed to flex and stretch to accept various pressures and forces. The connection of the verification device to the tire must tolerate the movement and stretching of the tire surface where the verification device is connected. This tolerance must last through the life of the tire and operate at a wide range of temperatures and pressures. An additional problem is to experiment in connecting a verification device with a tire is that the tires are manufactured in automated assembly lines. The connection method should be easily subject to engineering in the existing automated tire assembly lines, to be useful. As such, the method of connecting the verification device to the tire can not include any manual stages or stages that require precise component handling. Another problem with connecting a verification device with a tire is that the inner lining of the tire does not easily bond with an adhesive. The material used to manufacture inner liners is chosen to create a good fluid-impermeable barrier, which retains air within the tire. The material however is not chosen because it allows adhesion. In this way there have been problems in the art in connecting the relatively heavy verification device to the inner liner in a way that will surely anchor the verification device without destroying the inner liner. Although scraping the inner lining to create a textured surface is effective with select interior linings, the inner liners to many tires can not be scraped because they are very thin. In this way it is desired in the art to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire such that a verification device can be connected quickly and easily to the prepared area. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire, such that a verification device can be easily attached or adhered to the inner lining of such a or allows the verification device to connect safely through the life of the tire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire, wherein the preparation steps can be carried out in an existing automated tire assembly line. A further object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire to adhere an electronic verification device without damaging the function of the inner lining of the tire. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire, for adhering an electronic verification device, wherein the prepared surface will hold a secure connection of the electronic verification device when the tire undergoes various forces while in use. use. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire, to adhere an electronic verification device, wherein the preparation of the inner liner contributes little weight to the tire. A further object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire, to adhere an electronic verification device that tolerates the stretching and movement of the inner liner when the tire is in use. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire, to adhere an electronic verification device, wherein the method can be performed in a variety of locations on the inner liner. A further objective of the invention is to provide a method for preparing the inner lining of a tire to adhere an electronic verification device, which achieves the stated objectives in a simple, effective and economical way, which solves the problems and satisfies the existing needs in The technique. These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by a method for preparing an inner liner of a tire to adhere an electronic verification device, the method includes the steps of placing a patch on the inner lining of a green tire in a select site; and curing the raw tire to provide a prepared area at the selected site. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best way in which the applicants contemplate applying the principles of the invention, are established in the following description and illustrated in the drawings and are indicated in a particular and distinctive manner and establish in the appended claims. Figure 1 is a sectional view of a tire having an electronic verification device connected to the inner lining of the tire; Figure 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a patch used to prepare the inner liner by the method of the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the patch of Figure 2 used to prepare the inner liner by the method of the present invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a patch used to prepare the inner liner by the method of the present invention; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the patch of Figure 4 used to prepare the inner liner by the method of the present invention; Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional exploded view of a selected area of a green tire and a patch, just before being applied to the tire by the method of the present invention; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a bladder for tire curing pushing the patch against the inner liner during curing of the green tire; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the patch in the process of being removed from the inner lining of the tire after the tire has been cured; Figure 9 is a plan view of the area of the inner lining that has been treated by the patch, the view is taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing an inner liner which is treated by the second embodiment of the patch of the present invention; Figure 11 is a view showing the connection of the verification device directly to the treated portion of the inner liner; and Figure 12 is a view of the verification device having a connection patch connected to the treated portion of the inner liner. Similar numbers refer to similar parts through the specification. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An encapsulated electronic verification device 10 is connected to the inner liner 12 of a cured tire 14, as illustrated in Figure 1. The tire 14 can be a tire for off-road use, a radial tire for buses and trucks or any of a variety of tires known in the specialty. The device 10 is connected to a prepared area 16 of the inner liner 12 which increases or maximizes adhesion between the device 10 and the inner liner 12. The prepared area 16 is created by using the method and apparatus of the present invention. According to one of the objects of the present invention, an anchor patch 20 is described which is used to create the prepared area 16 in the inner liner 12. The anchor patch 20 includes a cover 22 and an uncured rubber layer 24. The cover 22 is preferably in the form of a cured rubber layer 22. The cover 22 can also be manufactured from other flexible materials known in the art such as plastics and metals. For example, a mylar screen, plastic, metal or metal thin sheet or a polyurethane can be used to form the cover 22. A layer of curing material such as curing paper 26 or curing cloth 26, is disposed between the cover 22 and the layer 24 to prevent unheated rubber 24 from curing in the cured rubber 22 when the tire 14 is cured. The patch 20 may further include a detachment cover 28 connected to the uncured rubber 24, to prevent the rubber from sinking. Cure 24 gets dirty and adheres to items before use. The release cover 28 is preferably made of polyethylene, so that it can be easily released from the uncured rubber layer 24. The uncured rubber layer 24 is preferably a dual curing rubber that can be cured either with heat or appropriate chemicals. Instead of a dual curing rubber, the uncured rubber layer 24 can simply be a heat curing rubber or a chemical curing rubber. The layer 24 can also be a natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber or combinations thereof. Other rubbers may also be employed, without departing from the concepts of the present invention. The anchoring patch 20 can be prefabricated in numerous sizes and thicknesses, depending on the size of the tire 14 and the inner liner 12 and the size and weight of the encapsulated electronic verification device 10. In one embodiment, the patch 20 has approximately 10.16 x 10.16 cm . { 4 x 4"), with the cured rubber layer 22 having a thickness of approximately .071 cm (approximately .028"), the curing paper layer 26 is .013 cm. { .005") of thickness, the uncured rubber layer 24 has an approximate thickness of .03 cm (.012") and the thickness of the cover 28 is .013 cm (.005"). patch 50 in this way is .127 cm (.05"). These dimensions are provided for the purpose of describing an example of the invention, contemplating other dimensions. As can be seen in Figure 2, the cover 22 is preferably reinforced with a plurality of fibers or cords 30 that can be manufactured from nylon, polyester, aramid or other fibers that can be used to reinforce rubber. The reinforcing cords 30 can be arranged linearly or can be arranged in a mesh. The cover 22 can be manufactured essentially from any type of conventional rubber. The layer of curing paper or curing cloth, preferably it is treated with silicone. Only one side of the curing paper 26 is coated with the silicone and its adjacent uncured rubber layer 24. The silicone allows the cover 22 and the cure material 26 to be easily removed from the uncured rubber layer 24 as will be described then. The curing material 26 does not extend fully to the edges of the cover 22, such that there is direct contact between the cover 22 and the layer 24 as indicated by the number 32. The direct contact with respect to the peripheries of the cover 22 and the layer 24, prevents the patch 20 from peeling off due to the adhesive properties of the uncured rubber 24. It is preferred that the cover 22 and the layer 24 be connected to each other as in 32 completely around these peripheries. A connection 32 on only one edge of layers 22 and 24 also functions to maintain the position of layers 22, 24 and 26. A second embodiment of the anchor patch of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and is indicated generally by the number 40. The patch 40 includes substantially the same cured rubber cover 22, curing material 26 and release cover 28 as in the first embodiment of the patch 20. According to another objective of the present invention, the second embodiment patch 40 includes an uncured rubber frame 42 disposed between the release cover 28 and the layer of curing material 26. The frame 42 forms an opening 44 which allows the curing material 26 to contact the surface on which the patch 40 is placed after the release cover 28 is removed. The overall dimensions of the patch 40 can be substantially similar to the patch 20 and the cover 22 and the frame 42 are connected to each other. or is indicated by the number 32, to maintain the integrity of the patch 40, when it is not in use. The patches 20 and 40 are used substantially in the same way to create the prepared area 16 of the inner liner 12, such that the electronic verification device 10 can be connected to the prepared area 16. As such, the od of using patches 20 and 40, will be described primarily with respect to the patch 20 with only the unique results of the use of the patch 40 that are described in detail. The first step of creating the prepared area 16 in the inner liner 12 is to provide the patch 20 having the construction previously described. The patch 20 is connected to a selected area of the inner liner 12 in a raw tire 50. The selected area is the area where the electronic verification device 10 is preferably placed. Although not required, it is often preferred to locate the verification device 10 adjacent the rim ring 52 of the tire 14. As such, the selected area is positioned adjacent the rim ring 52 in the green tire 50. After the area is chosen in the green tire 50, it is remove the release cover 28 as illustrated in figure 6 by the arrow 5. The release cover 28 can easily be peeled back from the patch 20. Once the release cover 28 is removed, the patch 20 is placed in the selected area of the inner liner 12 and adhered thereto by natural adhesion of the cover layer. uncured rubber 24. In some situations, it may be convenient to sew the patch 20 to the inner liner 12 to maintain a secure connection between the patch and the inner liner. The sewing can be done manually or automatically. The raw tire 50 is then cured by a known curing process. When the green tire 50 is cured, an inflatable bladder 56 is placed within the green tire 50 and inflated to create an outwardly directed force in the green tire 50 to maintain its correct shape. The interior of the green tire 50 is coated with a release agent to prevent the bladder 56 from adhering or one to the green tire 50. The bladder 56 thus presses or presses the patch 20 against the inner liner 12, while the raw tire 50 is cured. The curing process of the green tire 50 cures the layer 24 to the inner liner 12. The layer 24 does not adhere to the cover 22 due to the presence of curing material 26. After the green tire 50 is cured to form the tire 14, the cover 22 and the curing material 26 are removed from the layer 24 '(now cured) as illustrated in Figure 8, to form an anchoring layer prepared area 16. The removal step can occur at any time after the raw tire 50 has cured. The cover 22 prevents the prepared area 16 from being soiled or coated with release agent used during the curing process. The removal of the cover 22 and the layer 26 leaves the anchoring layer 24 (now cured) deposited in the selected area of the inner liner 12, where the encapsulated verification device 10 will be connected. As illustrated in Figure 9, the removal of curing material 26 from layer 24 (now cured) leaves a textured area 58 where curing material 26 contacts layer 24. Both layer 24 (now cured) and the textured area 58 are good surfaces for adhering the verification device 10, because they have convenient adhesive properties. The layer 24 having the textured area 58, thus forms the prepared area 16 where the device 10 can be connected to the inner liner 12. A direct connection between the encapsulated verification device 10 and the prepared area 16 is illustrated in the Figure 11, wherein an adhesive is used to directly attach the verification device 10 to the prepared area 16. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 10 is connected to the prepared area 16 with a connection patch 60 as illustrated in the Figure 12. The connection patch 60 includes a cured rubber layer 62 which is connected to the uncured rubber layer 64. The device 10 can be connected to the layer 62 by a convenient connection or fastening means such as an adhesive. The connecting patch 60 can then adhere to the prepared area 16 by applying an activating fluid in each layer 24 and 64 and then pressing the joined layers 24 and 64 to allow the activating fluid to cure the joined layers 24 and 64. The bond between the layers 24 and 64 creates a secure and strong connection between the device 10 and the inner liner 12. The layers 24 and 64 can also be cured together using heat and pressure. In such embodiment, a heated bladder can be used to press layer 64 against layer 24, while supplying a convenient amount of heat to cure the two joined layers. When the mode of the second patch 40 is employed during the tire curing process, the prepared area 68 appears as illustrated in Figure 10. As explained above with respect to the uncured rubber layer 42, the frame 42 is deposited on the inner liner 12 during the curing process. The opening 44 allows the curing material 26 to directly contact the inner liner 12 during the curing process. When the cover 22 and the curing material 26 are removed, the curing material 26 texturizes a portion of the frame 42 and the portion 72 of the inner liner 12 which is exposed to the material 26. The prepared area 68 in this manner includes the frame 42 , a textured portion of rubber 70 and a textured portion of inner liner 72. Verification device 10 may be joined to prepared area 68 by the two methods described above or by other methods known in the art. Accordingly, the improved method for preparing an inner liner of a tire for quick attachment of an electronic verification device is simplified, provides an effective, safe, economical and efficient device that achieves all the objectives listed, allows to eliminate difficulties who meet with the previous devices and solve problems and obtain new results in the specialty. In the previous description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding; but unnecessary limitations should not be implied therein beyond the requirement of the prior art, because these terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be widely considered. Still further, the description and illustration of the invention are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the method for preparing an inner lining of a tire for quick attachment of an electronic verification device, the characteristics of the construction and the advantageous results is achieved. , new and useful obtained; The new and useful structures, devices, elements, assemblies, parts, combinations and methods are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (22)

1. CLAIMS 1. - A method to prepare an area in an inner lining of a tire for the connection of an electronic verification device, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: A) selecting an area of the inner lining of a green tire to prepare; B) place a patch on the inner lining in a selected area; and C) curing the raw tire with which the patch provides the prepared area in the inner liner in the selected area.
2. 2. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the step of providing the patch with a layer of cured rubber and a layer of uncured rubber.
3. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that step B) includes the step of connecting the uncured rubber layer to the inner lining.
4. 4. - The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of providing the patch with a release cover on the uncured rubber layer and removing the release cover of the patch before placing the patch on the liner inside.
5. 5. - The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the step of placing the patch on the inner liner also includes the step of sewing the patch to the inner lining.
6. 6. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the step of D) removing at least a portion of the patch after the step of curing the green tire.
7. 7. - The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of placing the patch on the inner liner further includes the steps of providing a patch having a cover and a layer of uncured rubber and connecting the rubber layer without cure the inner lining.
8. 8. - The method according to claim 7, characterized in that step D) includes the step of removing the cover.
9. 9. - The method according to claim 6, characterized in that step D) texturizes the surface of the inner liner.
10. 10. - The method according to claim 6, characterized in that step D) includes the steps of depositing a rubber frame on the surface of the inner lining and texturizing the surface of the inner liner within the frame.
11. 11. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that step C) includes the step of pressing the patch against the inner lining of the tire with the expandable bladder used during the curing process.
12. 12. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that step A) includes the step of selecting an area of the inner lining adjacent the rim ring of the tire.
13. 13. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises step E) of providing a patch having an uncured rubber frame and a cured rubber layer.
14. 14. - The method according to claim 6, wherein step D) includes the step of depositing a layer of rubber in the inner liner.
15. 15. - A method for preparing an area in an inner lining of a tire and adhering an electronic verification device to the inner lining in the prepared area, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: A) placing a patch on the inner lining of a raw tire in a selected location; B) cure the tire in raw; C) removing at least a portion of the patch to provide a prepared area at the selected location; and D) attaching an electronic verification device to the prepared area.
16. 16. - The method according to claim 15, characterized in that step C) includes the step of depositing rubber in the inner lining of the tire.
17. 17. - The method according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises the step of providing a connection patch connected to the electronic verification device, the connection patch has an uncured rubber layer.
18. 18. - The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it also comprises the step of placing activating fluid in the rubber that is deposited in the inner lining and the uncured rubber of the connection patch, before connecting the electronic verification device to the inner lining.
19. 19. - The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it also comprises the step of pressing the uncured rubber of the connection patch against the rubber deposited in the inner lining of the tire and curing the two layers joined together with heat and pressure .
20. 20. A method for preparing an area in an inner lining of a tire and adhering an electronic verification device to the prepared area of the inner lining, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: A) placing a patch on the inner liner of a raw tire in a selected site, the patch has a layer of uncured rubber that contacts the inner lining, a cover and a layer of curing material between the layers of uncured rubber and cover; B) curing the raw tire with which the uncured rubber layer of the patch cures the inner lining of the tire; C) remove the cover and curing material from the patch, to provide an area prepared at the selected site; D) providing a connection patch connected to the electronic verification device, the connection patch has an uncured rubber layer; and E) curing the uncured rubber layer of the connection patch to the prepared area of the inner liner.
21. 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that step (E) is achieved by chemically curing the two layers as a whole.
22. 22. - The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the step (E) is achieved with heat and pressure.