Patents for November
Patents as compiled by the editors of Rubber World Magazine for November 2023
Tire with intrinsic sealant containing intrinsic cellular innermost layer
U.S. patent: 11,794,530
Issued: October 24, 2023
Inventors: Ramendra Nath Majumdar and Wang Dapeng
Assigned: Triangle Tyre
Key statement: A tire with in-situ generated intrinsic puncture sealant layers and intrinsic noise
damper comprising a supporting tire carcass having one or more layers of ply, an outer
circumferential tread, and a radially inner layer, a pair of beads, sidewalls extending radially inward
from the axial outer edges of a tread portion to join the respective beads, a sealant comprising at least
one layer of sealant, disposed radially inwardly from said radially inner layer of said tire carcass, an
intrinsic cellular noise damper as the innermost layer adjacent to the sealant, wherein said noise
damper has a density less than 0.13 g/cm3; and wherein said sealant provides self-sealing properties
to the tire.
Depolymerizer and recycled rubber
U.S. patent: 11,713,362
Issued: August 1, 2023
Inventors: Yi-Ting Wei, Jyh-Horng Wu, Yao-Zu Wu and Ming-Tsong Leu
Assigned: Industrial Technology Research Institute
Key statement: A depolymerizer is formed by grafting thiol groups on parts of the double bonds of a
polymer of linear conjugated diene monomer. The linear conjugated diene monomer can be 1,3-
butadiene, isoprene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl- 1,3-pentadiene, 2,3-
dimethyl-1,3-pentadiene, 2-phenyl-1,3-butadiene, or 4,5-diethyl-1,3-octadiene. The depolymerizer has
a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 400,000.
Rubber articles with improved fire properties
U.S. patent: 11,708,482
Issued: July 25, 2023
Inventors: Michael C. Howard, Brandon C. Adcock and Hang Li
Assigned: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations
Key statement: Tires and tire components are provided having improved fire properties, as well as the
vulcanizable compositions for making the tires and tire components. A vulcanizable composition is
provided that includes at least one vulcanizable polymer, a curative, a halogenated hydrocarbon and
expandable graphite. The tires and tire components have improved properties including one or more
of improved flame retardancy, reduced smoke density and/or toxicity and reduced heat release.
Method of preparing graphene/natural rubber composite with enhanced mechanical properties,
thermal conductivity and wear resistance
U.S. patent: 11,732,112
Issued: August 22, 2023
Inventors: Yaqing Lu, Guizhe Zhao and Mingshan Gong
Assigned: North University of China and Shanxi Zhongbei New Material Technology
Key statement: This application relates to natural rubber (NR) composites, and more specifically to a
method of preparing a graphene/natural rubber composite. In the method provided herein, nanosilica loaded graphene oxide (SiO2-GO) is formed by electrostatic interaction between silica and
graphene oxide (GO) and then the SiO2-GO is added to natural rubber (NR) latex to obtain a SiO2-
GO/NR masterbatch by an aqueous phase synergistic aggregation-precipitation process. The SiO2-
GO/NR masterbatch is subjected to mechanical blending and vulcanization to obtain the graphene/NR
composite.
Stimulus-responsive dynamic liquid crystal elastomers
U.S. patent: 11,710,895
Issued: July 25, 2023
Inventor: Peter Boul
Assigned: Saudi Arabian Oil
Key statement: Compositions, systems and methods for use in monitoring an environment or a
formation. The compositions can include electrically conductive material that can be used as a sensor.
The sensor can have a non-writeable, writeable and stimulated state. A first signal is used to induce
the non-writeable material into a writeable state. In the writeable state, the electrically conductive
material has the capacity for actuation in response to an orthogonal signal. In response to the
orthogonal signal, the electrically conductive material then undergoes a conformation or shape
change. The conformational or shape change induces a strain or actuation that can be used to
generate a signal. The stimulated state can be reversible, and in the absence of the orthogonal signal
the electrically conductive material may resume its original shape or conformation.
Stabilizer structure for a tread of a tire
U.S. patent: 11,701,925
Issued: July 18, 2023
Inventors: Ashley Amanda Jones, John Stephen Guilford and Derek John Becker
Assigned: Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Key statement: A tread for a tire includes a first circumferential main groove, a second circumferential
main groove, a third circumferential main groove and a fourth circumferential main groove. The fourth
main groove has a stabilizing structure for increasing tread stiffness. The stabilizing structure has a
circumferentially extending wavy subgroove in a radially innermost bottom of the fourth
circumferential main groove.
Rubber tree rain guard seal assembly
U.S. patent: 11,707,024
Issued: July 25, 2023
Inventor: Carl Cooper
Key statement: The main objective of this invention is to improve the efficiency and service life of a
rubber tree rain guard seal. The performance of existing rubber tree rain guard seals depends on a
fixed mechanical and or chemical attachment of the seal to the tree. These methods of attachment
prevent the seal from expanding with the circumferential growth of the tree, resulting in premature
seal failure and damage to the tree within a year of operation. In this invention, the seal is comprised
of five components that are not fixed to the tree, allowing the seal to expand along with tree growth.
An adjustable outer seal connector regulates the pressure required to establish consistent sealing
contact against the tree, thus providing extended service life of the seal assembly. The seal assembly
comes apart for easy maintenance.
Attachment system for box for measuring characteristics of a tire
U.S. patent: 11,703,422
Issued: July 18, 2023
Inventors: Vianney Leroy and Denis Martin
Assigned: Michelin Key statement: A fastening system for fastening an electronic device (2) in a
measurement housing (1), comprising: an electronic device holder (10) designed to accommodate an
electronic measurement device (2); and a prestressing ring (20) that is able to cooperate with said
holder (10) for assembly and comprises a plurality of prestressing beams (22, 25) designed to bear on
said electronic device (2) when said ring is assembled together with the holder, said electronic device
(2) being inserted into said holder (10).
Rubber-steel cord composite and pneumatic tire
U.S. patent: 11,718,700
Issued: August 8, 2023
Inventors: Yuma Nishikawa and Norio Minouchi
Assigned: Toyo Tire
Key statement: A rubber-steel cord composite according to an embodiment is formed by vulcanizing
and bonding a rubber composition containing 1 to 10 parts by mass of sulfur, 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of
N,N-dibenzylbenzothiazole- 2-sulfenamide and 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of either one or both of
hexamethylene bis-thiosulfate disodium salt dihydrate and 1,6-bis(N,N-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)
hexane, with respect to 100 parts by mass of diene rubber containing natural rubber and a steel cord.
A pneumatic tire according to an embodiment includes the rubber-steel cord composite.