METHOD OF CURING FLAP ON TIRE BEAD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a method of curing a flap onto a bead of a tire. More particularly, the present application involves thermally curing a flap onto a hybrid tubeless tire that has a flat seat configured for placement onto a flat seat wheel without the use of an inner tube.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Pneumatic tires for vehicles and other applications are known that include an inner hub, sometimes referred to as a wheel, onto which a pair of beads of a tire seat. The seating of the beads is air tight, and the wheel and the interior surface of the tire likewise do not permit the transfer of air therethrough. These types of tires are sometimes referred to as tubeless tires. Tube tires, on the other hand, include a tube that is positioned within the interior cavity of the tire and that is inflated with air. The interface between the beads of the tire and the wheel may or may not be air tight, and the wheel itself may include apertures around its circumferential length that allow air to move through, and thus are not air tight. Tube tires include a flap that engages the inner surface of the tire and that extends across the opening from bead to bead in order to cover the tube. The flap functions to prevent the tube from rubbing against portions of the beads that move during normal operation. The flap thus prevents the beads from puncturing the tube and causing air loss.

[0003] Tube tires are predominant in certain areas of the world. In turn, all of the wheels of vehicles in these areas are configured for use with tube tires and thus include openings and other features that render them air permeable. If one desires a tubeless tire to be used on these wheels, an air tight seal would not be formed due to the openings around the circumference of the wheel. These wheels have a flat seat, and the tires used with these wheels have a corresponding flat seat for matching engagement. Presently, the tube tires cannot work without the tube being present. With the great number of wheels in certain areas of the world that use tube tires, a way of converting them or the wheel/tire assembly into one that does not require a tube may be desired. As such, there remains room for variation and improvement within the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figs, in which:

[0005] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tire.

[0006] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a tire, flap, and wheel assembly.

[0007] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tire and attached flap.

[0008] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a curing ring.

[0009] Fig. 5 is a top view of a curing ring in an unactuated position.

[0010] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the curing ring in the flap and tire in the unactuated position.

[0011] Fig. 7 is a close up view of a portion of the curing ring, flap, and bead of the tire in which the curing ring is in the unactuated position.

[0012] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the curing ring in the flap and tire in the actuated position.

[0013] Fig. 9 is a top close up view of a pair of segments of the curing in in the unactuated position.

[0014] Fig. 10 is a top close up view of a pair of segments of the curing ring in the actuated position.

[0015] Fig. 11 is a top view of the curing ring that includes thermal elements for thermal expansion.

[0016] Fig. 12 is a top view of the curing ring that is a band that is actuated by a single cylinder.

[0017] Fig. 13 is a top view of the curing ring that is in a plurality of segments and is actuated by an inflation bladder.

[0018] Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.

[0020] It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170- 190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5.

[0021] The present invention provides for a method of attaching a flap 12 onto a tire 10. The tire 10 may be a tubeless tire 10 in that an inner tube is not present within the tire 10. The tire 10 may be mounted onto a wheel 70 that is configured for use with a tire 10 that does in fact use an inner tube. The flap 12 functions to seal an inner portion of the tire 10 so that air can be used to inflate the tire 10 between the inner surface 72 of the tire 10 and the flap 12. In this manner, the tire 10 can be tubeless but may be used on wheels 70 that are configured for use with tube tires. As such, a tube may or may not be present within the inner cavity of the tire 10. The method involves providing the flap 12 attached to a bead 16 of the tire 10 through an adhesive layer 14. A curing ring 20 is moved into position within the flap 12 and the tire 10 and applies heat and pressure to the flap 12. The heat and pressure is in turn transferred into the adhesive layer 14 and the adhesive layer 14 becomes cured through thermal vulcanization in order to effect a permanent connection between the flap 12 and the tire 10.

[0022] In order to define certain directions of the tire 10, reference is made to Fig. 1. A tire 10 is illustrated that has tread 74 that extends all the way around the tire 10 in a circumferential direction 64 three hundred and sixty degrees about an axis of rotation 28 of the tire 10. The axis of rotation 28 may also be referred to as a central axis 28 and extends through the center of the tire 10. The axis of rotation 28 extends in an axial direction 30 of the tire 10. A radial direction 66 is oriented at a ninety degree angle to the axial direction 30. A sidewall of the tire 10 extends from the tread 74 to a bead 16 of the tire 10 which is located at the interior of the tire 10. A second bead 18 extends from the other sidewall of the tire 10 that is not visible in Fig. 1.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows the flap 12 positioned onto the bead 16, and this resulting assembly mounted onto a wheel 70. The arrangement in Fig. 2 results after the steps are performed for adhering the flap 12 as discussed herein. The flap 12 and the layers of the tire 10 are air

impermeable. A layer of butyl rubber, sometimes referred to as a gum impermeable material, can be applied to the inner surface 72 to prevent air from leaking therefrom. Bead cement 26 may be present on the bead 16, and flap cement 24 may be present on the flap 12. The bead cement 26 and the flap cement 24 in some embodiments may be a rubber solution in solvent. The bead cement 26 and flap cement 24 when dry can be tacky and can facilitate the application of an adhesive layer 14. The adhesive layer 14 may be present between the bead cement 26 and the flap cement 24. The adhesive layer 14 may be made out of a variety of materials and in some embodiments may be made out of cushion rubber. However it is to be understood that the adhesive layer 14 may be made out of a different material or materials in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The adhesive layer 14, flap cement 24, and bead cement 26 may function to hold the flap 12 to the bead 16 through a connection secure enough to move the tire 10 and attached flap 12 around and into position for curing of the connection. However, this connection at this point is not cured and is not a permanent connection of the flap 12 to the bead 16. Although described as having bead cement 26 and flap cement 24, it is to be understood that these components are optional and one or both of them need not be present in other embodiments.

[0024] Once the adhesive layer 14, and the flap and bead cements 24 and 26 if present, are cured, the tire 10 and attached flap 12 are mounted onto the wheel 70 as shown in Fig. 2. The second bead 18 of the tire 10 is not permanently attached to the flap 12 through curing. Further, the second bead 18 does not have an adhesive layer 14, flap cement 24, or bead cement 26 thereon. The flap 12 extends from the first bead 16 past the second bead 18 in the axial direction 30. The flap 12 and the inner surface 72 are air impermeable so that the interior of the tire 10 can hold air for inflation. The flap 12 seats between the wheel 70 and the pair of beads 16, 18 to be held in place and to provide an air tight connection. The flap 12 is positioned so that it is not located within the interior of the tire 10 but is instead outside of the interior of the tire 10 in the radial direction 66. In this regard, the flap 12 engages only the outside of the second bead 18 in the radial direction, and thus does not engage a portion of the second bead 18 that forms part of the inner surface 72 of the tire 10. [0025] The flap 12 positioned onto the bead 16 is shown in Fig. 3. The flap 12 is attached all the way around the bead 16 so as to be attached 360 degrees around the axis of rotation 28 in the circumferential direction 64. The flap 12 extends in the axial direction 30 from the first bead 16 to the second bead 18 and beyond the tire 10 in the axial direction 30. The flap 12 has a flared portion 76 at the end of the flap 12 that is opposite from the end of the flap 12 attached to the bead 16. The flared portion 76 is an extension of the flap 12 in the radial direction 66 so that the flared portion 76 is larger in the radial direction 66 than other portions of the flap 12.

[0026] A curing ring 20 is used to cure the adhesive layer 14 to permanently attach the flap 12 to the bead 16. One example of a curing ring 20 is shown in Fig. 4. The curing ring 20 has a central framework 82 through which the central axis 42 of the curing ring 20 extends. Four equally positioned arms 84 extend outward from the central framework 82 in the radial direction from the central axis 42. In other embodiments, three arms 84 are used, and in yet other exemplary embodiments any number of arms 84 are present. Each one of the arms 84 carries a standoff 78 that extends from the arm 84 in the axial direction. An interface surface 22 extends 360 degrees around the curing ring 20. The standoffs 78 are positioned outward from the interface surface 22 in the radial direction. The interface surface 22 is composed of a plurality of segments 44 that are equally sized, although they need not be equally sized in other embodiments. There are 8 segments in the plurality of segments 44 shown in Fig. 4. However, there may be any number of segments in the plurality of segments 44 in other arrangements. For example, from 3-7, from 9-12, from 12-15, from 16-22, or up to 50 segments may make up the plurality of segments 44 in other exemplary embodiments. The plurality of segments 44 may be made of aluminum. The interface surface 22 is formed by the outer radial surfaces of the plurality of segments 44 which are each convex in shape. The plurality of segments 44 can be carried by the central framework 82, or may be carried partially or completely by the arms 84 in various embodiments. Although difficult to see in Fig. 4 (although illustrated in other figures such as Fig. 6) the outer surfaces of the plurality of segments 44 may also be conical in shape in that they extend closer to the central axis 42 upon their extension in the axial direction. The top circumference formed by the plurality of segments 44 has a larger diameter than the bottom circumference.

[0027] A top view of another curing ring 20 is shown in Fig. 5. A control system 80 is present and can be located and carried by the central framework 82. The control system 80 may include elements only carried on the curing ring 20, only located remote from the curing ring 20 such as in a control cabinet, or located both on and off of the curing ring 20. The control system 80 may be a closed loop controller that is implemented with an analog circuit. Alternatively, the control system 80 may include a microprocessor. Each one of the plurality of segments 44 includes a pair of heaters 50 that are used to heat the segment into which they are located. Although two heaters 50 are assigned to each segment in the plurality 44, any number of heaters 50 may be included with each segment in the plurality 44 in order to heat the particular segment 44. The control system 80 may be in communication with the heaters 50 in order to cause the heaters 50 to emit heat. One of the segments in the plurality of segments 44 is identified with reference character 46. The segment 46 includes a temperature measuring device 52 that can sense the temperature and communicate this information back to the control system 80. Based on this data, the control system 80 can control the heat emitted by the heaters 50 to thus control the temperature that is emitted by the curing ring 20 to cause the curing to be affected at the desired temperature. The single temperature measuring device 52 may thus be used to regulate all of the heaters 50 of the curing ring 20 to tell them when and how much heat to release. Although shown in but a single segment 46, additional temperature measuring devices 52 may be included in other ones of the segments in the plurality of segments 44 to further sense and in turn regulate heating by the curing ring 20. In this regard, the heating by the included heaters 50 of each segment of the plurality of segments 44 may be controlled by the temperature measuring device 52 of that particular segment in the plurality of segments 44. The heaters 50 and the temperature measuring device 52 are all spaced radially inward from the interface surface 22.

[0028] The plurality of segments 44 are in an unactuated position in Fig. 5. A cylinder 86 is associated with each one of the segments in the plurality of segments 44. Each cylinder 86 is in communication with the microprocessor 80. Based on the size of the bore of the cylinder 86 and the pressure applied to the cylinder 86, the pressure applied by the cylinder 86 can be calculated.

Movement of the cylinder 86 is translated into movement of the segment 46 in the radial direction towards or away from the central axis 42. The movement of all of the segments in the plurality of segments 44 can be controlled by the control system 80 so that they all move the same amount and at the same time towards or away from the central axis 42. In the unactuated position 54 each one of the segments of the plurality of segments 44 may engage a subsequent, sequential segment 54. Each one of the segments of the plurality of segments 44 may have its own cylinder 86, or one or more segments 44 may be actuated by a single cylinder 86. Further, although described as having cylinders 44 to cause actuation, other mechanisms of moving the plurality of segments 44 may be used in other arrangements. For example, an annular bladder may be used. [0029] With reference to Fig. 6, the curing ring 20 can be moved into position with the tire 10 and flap 12. The curing ring 20 is in the unactuated position 54. With respect to the ground, the curing ring 20 could be lowered into the tire 10, raised into the tire 10, or if the tire 10 is on its side so the tread 74 is oriented to ground then it can be moved into the tire 10 from the side. The curing ring 20 can be moved into the tire 10 until the standoffs 78 engage the bead 16. Before this insertion, the temperature of the curing ring 20 may be raised or maintained at a curing temperature so that it is already hot before insertion into the tire 10. A force sensor could be located at one or more of the standoffs 78 and be in communication with the control system 80 in order to inform the control system 80 that the bead 16 has been engaged by the standoffs 78. At this time, the position of the tire 10 with respect to the curing ring 20 is known so that the interface surface 22 is properly positioned inside of the tire 10. The central axis 42 of the curing ring 20 is coaxial with the axis of rotation 28 of the tire 10 when the curing ring 20 is positioned within the tire 10. The curing ring 20 is positioned within the portion of the flap 12 that is on an opposite end from the flared portion 76.

[0030] A close up view of the curing area of Fig. 6 is shown in Fig. 7 in which the interface surface 22 is spaced from the flap 12 and is not in engagement with the flap 12. The shape of the interface surface 22 is oriented with respect to the shape of the terminal end 34 of the bead 16 so that the pressure exerted by the interface surface 22 is evenly transferred to the terminal end 34 so that the adhesive layer 14 is likewise evenly pressed during curing. The flap 12 is cured to the terminal end 34 of the bead 16 that is inclined relative to the axis of rotation 28 of the tire 10. In this regard, the terminal end 34 is not parallel to the axis of rotation 28, but instead is angled. The terminal end 34 gets closer to the axis of rotation 28 in the radial direction 66 upon extension of the terminal end 34 in the axial direction 30 towards the flared portion 76. The interface surface 22 is complimentary to the terminal end 34 in that the distance of the interface surface 22 to the axis of rotation 28 in the radial direction 66 is reduced upon extension of the interface surface 22 in the axial direction 30. This reduction is in the axial direction 30 toward the flared end 76. The interface surface 22 may be described as conical in shape, and the terminal end 34 may likewise be described as having a complimentary inverted conical shape. The interface surface 22 and the terminal end 34 may also be described as both being angled in shape. The interface surface 22 may thus be described as being a conically shaped ring.

[0031] The interface surface 22 has a surface normal 32, and the terminal end 34 of the bead 16 has a bead surface normal 36. The surface normal 32 and the bead surface normal 36 are oriented with respect to one another so as to lie along the same line as one another. In this regard, the terminal end 34 faces the interface surface 22. The surface normals 32 and 36 extend outward perpendicularly from their respective surfaces 22 and 34. The angle of the interface surface 22 may match the angle of the terminal end 34 of the bead 16. Although described as being oriented towards one another, the terminal end 34 and the interface surface 22 need not be oriented towards one another in other exemplary embodiments of the method. For example, the bead surface normal 36 could be angled with respect to the interface surface normal 22 so that they do not lie along the same line as one another but are angled with respect to one another. The shape and orientation of the interface surface 22 and the terminal end 34 can be the same 360 degrees around the axis of rotation 28 in the circumferential direction, However in some embodiments the shape and/or orientation of these two surfaces 22 and 34 may change so that they are not uniform 360 about the axis of rotation 28.

[0032] The bottom of the interface surface 22 can have a round 88, and this round 88 may be present on all of the segments 44 so as to be located across the entire interface surface 22. The round 88 on the bottom corner of the segments 44 helps to allow the curing ring 20 to be easily inserted into the interior of the tire 10 and to self-center into the tire 10 during the insertion.

[0033] The adhesive layer 14 that is located at the terminal end 34 has a length 40 in the axial direction 30. This length 40 is less than the actual length of the terminal end 34 because the terminal end 34 is angled with respect to the axial direction 30. Additionally, as the terminal end 34 is angled, the adhesive layer 14 itself is angled with respect to the axis of rotation 28, and the adhesive layer 14 has a length across the terminal end 34 that is greater than its length 40 in the axial direction 30. The interface surface 22 has a length 38 in the axial direction 30. The length 38 is less than the overall length of the interface surface 22 because the interface surface 22 is angled with respect to the axis of rotation 28. The length 38 is greater than the length 40, but in some exemplary embodiments the lengths 38 and 40 may be the same. A portion of the interface surface 22 may extend in the axial direction 30 beyond the adhesive layer 14 to be located axially beyond the adhesive layer 14. This extension may be away from the flap 12 in the axial direction 30. This relative positioning between the interface surface 22 and the flap 12 with respect to the extension of the interface surface 22 in the axial direction 30 may be in both in the unactuated position 54 and the actuated position 56.

[0034] The interface surface 22 can extend in the opposite direction to again be beyond the adhesive layer 14 in the axial direction 30. In this regard, the interface surface 22 may extend farther than the adhesive layer 14 in the axial direction 30 so as to be closer to, or deeper within, the interior of the tire 10. The interface surface 22 may thus be located closer to the flared portion 76 of the flap 12 in the axial direction 30 than the adhesive layer 14 in the axial direction 30. The relative positions between this portion of the interface surface 22 and the adhesive layer 14 may be present in both the unactuated position 54 and the actuated position 56 of the curing ring 20.

[0035] The interface surface 22 may thus extend beyond the adhesive layer 14 on both sides of the adhesive layer 14 in the axial direction 30. In other embodiments, the interface surface 22 may overlap on only one side of the adhesive layer 14, or exhibit no overlap. This overlap or lack of overlap may be present in the unactuated position 54 and/or the actuated position 56 of the curing ring 20.

[0036] When the cylinders 86 actuate, the curing ring 20 is moved from the unactuated position 54 to the actuated position 56 as shown in Fig. 8. The interface surface 22 extends beyond the adhesive layer 14 on both sides in the axial direction 30. The cylinders 86 apply pressure to the segments 46 that in turn apply pressure to the flap 12 and then to the adhesive layer 14 and the bead 16. Heat from the heaters 50 is transmitted through the segments 46 into the flap 12 and then into the adhesive layer 14. Heat and pressure applied by the segments 46 are transmitted into the adhesive layer 14 for a sufficient amount of time to cure the adhesive layer 14 to cause a permanent connection to be formed between the flap 12 and the bead 16 of the tire 10. As such, the only thing being cured in the present method is the attachment point between the tire 10 and the flap 12 as the tire 10 and the flap 12 are cured prior to their initial attachment. If the flap cement 24 and the bead cement 26 are present, these items are likewise cured by the curing ring 20 when the segments 46 apply heat and pressure.

[0037] In the unactuated position 54, the interface surface 22 may be spaced from the flap 12 and out of engagement with the flap 12. The interface surface 22 may then contact the flap 12 when in the actuated position 56. Alternatively, the interface surface 22 may in fact engage the flap 12 when the curing ring 20 is in the unactuated position 54. Movement of the interface surface 22 to the actuated position 56 causes the interface surface 22 to still contact the flap 12, but additional pressure will be applied. Also, the interface surface 22 may move some small degree outward in the radial direction 66 when moved to the actuated position 56 as there will be some give in the materials making up the tire 10, adhesive layer 14, and flap 12.

[0038] Any suitable amount of heat, pressure, and time may be used to cure the adhesive layer 14, and flap and bead cements 24 and 26 if present. In one embodiment, the heaters 50 may heat the interface surface 22 to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius. The interface surface 22 may be pressed against the flap 12 in the actuated position 56 at a pressure of 120 pounds per square inch at the contact point between the interface surface 22 and the flap 12. The heat and pressure just mentioned may be applied for a time of 30 minutes, and the adhesive layer 14 and any associated cements 24, 26 may be cured to effect a permanent connection between the already cured flap 12 and the tire 10.

[0039] Once the adhesive layer 14 is cured, the cylinders 86 can be moved towards the axis of rotation 28 in the radial direction 66 to in turn cause the interface surface 22 to move towards the axis of rotation 28 in the radial direction 66. The control system 80 may include or be in

communication with a timer that alerts the operator that the curing period has expired to thus inform the user that the curing ring 20 should be removed. This movement in the radial direction 66 will cause the pressure on the flap 12 to decrease, or be eliminated if the interface surface 22 is moved completely out of engagement. The curing ring 20 may then be moved out of the tire 10 in the axial direction 30 such that the standoffs 78 can likewise be moved out of engagement with the bead 16. The curing ring 20 may then be removed as the connection between the tire 10 and the flap 12 is complete. The curing ring 20 is not used to cure the flap 12 to the opposite bead 18. The tire 10 with the attached flap 12 after curing of the adhesive layer 14 may be seated onto the wheel 70 as previously described with reference to Fig. 2.

[0040] Figs. 9 and 10 show a close up top view of the segments 44 in the unactuated position 54 and the actuated position 56. With reference to Fig. 9, successive segments 44 contact one another about the circumference of the interface surface 22. The interface surface 22 is also in engagement with the flap 12 in the unactuated position 54. The flap 12 and the adhesive layer 14 may be slightly compressed due to this engagement, or the engagement may be so light, or not even touching, that no appreciable compression of the flap 12 and adhesive layer 14 occurs because the pressure exerted by the interface surface 22 in the unactuated position 54 is too light or none at all. This engagement may extend 360 degrees about the interface surface 22 and the flap 12. The interface surface normal 32 directly faces and lies along the same line as the bead surface normal 36. In the unactuated position 54 heat may be applied by the heaters 50. Alternatively, heat may not be applied in the unactuated position 54, but instead may be applied once the interface surface 22 is moved to the actuated position 56.

[0041] The curing ring 20 of Fig. 9 is illustrated in the actuated position 56 in Fig. 10. At this point in time, heat may be applied by the heaters 50 simultaneously with the application of pressure through placement in the actuated position 56. As the interface surface 22 is broken up into a plurality of segments 46, a gap may be formed between successive segments 46. As shown, a gap 48 is made when two successive segments 44 are moved into the actuated position 56. In some instances, the two successive segments 44 do not engage one another at all in the actuated position 56 and the gap 48 represents the space between the two successive segments 44. The gap 48 has a circumferential length 58 which is the distance between the two successive segments 44 in the circumferential direction 64. The circumferential length 58 may be the greatest distance of the gap 48 in the circumferential direction 64 as the spacing between the successive segments 44 may change in the radial direction 66 due to the arrangement of the successive segments 44.

[0042] In the actuated position 56, heat and pressure may be applied by the interface surface 22, and the flap 12, adhesive layer 14, and/or the bead 16 may compress in the radial direction 66. In some circumstances, the bead 16 is of sufficient rigidity that it will not compress when the pressure from the interface surface 22 is applied, and instead the compression will be limited to the adhesive layer 14 and the flap 12. This heat and pressure is used to cure the adhesive layer 14, and the heat and pressure may be applied simultaneously through the same interface surface 22. The flap 12 has a radial length 60 which is the distance from the adhesive layer 14 to the interface surface 22 in the radial direction 66. The magnitude of the radial length 60 is greater than the magnitude of the circumferential length 58. The gap 48 will cause a discontinuity in the heating applied by the interface surface 22 because portions of the interface surface 22 that includes the gaps 48 do not generate heat or pressure due to the fact they lack the presence of the segments 44.

Because the circumferential length 58 of the gap 48 is small compared to the radial length 60, heat applied by the segments 44 will transfer to the adhesive layer 14 in a uniform manner as the heat will become uniform in profile upon transfer through the larger flap 12 outward in the radial direction 66. Likewise, the pressure missing at the portions of the interface surface 22 that includes the gaps 48 will not impact the pressure transferred to the adhesive layer 14 for compression due to the larger distances of the radial length 60 as compared to the circumferential length 58. In so far as there are discontinuities formed, the amount of discontinuous heat and pressure applied is negligible in the curing process of the adhesive layer 14. As such, the presence of the gaps 48 is insignificant in the uniform application of pressure and temperature.

[0043] An alternative embodiment of the curing ring 20 is shown in Fig. 11 in which the interface surface 22 is completely continuous 360 degrees about the central axis 20 in the

circumferential direction 64. The interface surface 22 lacks segments 44 and also lacks any cylinders 86 and thus lacks a mechanical means of moving the interface surface 22 in the radial direction 66. The curing ring 20 includes a number of thermal elements 68 that are distributed against the curing ring 20 spaced from the interface surface 22. Four such thermal elements 68 are shown and are each oriented 90 degrees from one another about the central axis 42. However, any number of thermal elements 68 may be used in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. For example, from 1-3, from 5-10, or up to 25 thermal elements 68 may be used and may be spaced uniformly or non-uniformly circumferentially about the central axis 42. The thermal elements 68 supply heat through conduction to the interface surface 22. The heat functions to thermally expand the curing ring 20 so that the curing ring 20 can move from an unactuated position 54 to an actuated position 56. The curing ring 20 expands when heated so as to be farther from the central axis 42 in the radial direction 66 when in the actuated position 56 than when in the unactuated position 54. The heat generated by the thermal elements 68 is likewise transferred into the adhesive layer 14 for curing. In effect, the heat functions to both heat the adhesive layer 14 and to apply pressure to the adhesive layer 14 due to the thermal expansion of the curing ring 20. Heat from the thermal elements 68 may be removed in order to stop heat transfer into the adhesive layer 14 and to cause the curing ring 20 to contract in size back to the unactuated position 54.

[0044] Another alternate embodiment of the method is shown in Fig. 12 in which the curing ring 20 is a band that extends greater than 360 degrees around the central axis 42 as it slightly overlaps itself. The curing ring 20 in some instances may extend less than 360 degrees, or exactly 360 degrees around the central axis 42. The curing ring 20 is shown in the unactuated position 54. A cylinder 62 can be attached to the inner surface of the curing ring 20 at two places. The cylinder 62 can be actuated in order to expand. This expansion may cause the curing ring 20 to likewise expand in the radial direction 66 to cause the interface surface 22 to expand outward in the radial direction 66 to the actuated position 56. This expansion in turn causes pressure to be applied by the interface surface 22 to the adhesive layer 14 during curing of the adhesive layer 14. Although not shown, the curing ring 20 could be heated by a heating element or other member and this heat in turn may be transferred by the curing ring 20 to the adhesive layer 14 during application of the pressure by the interface surface 22. The curing ring 20 can be expanded so that a gap is present at the overlap portion of the curing ring 20. The pressure applied by the curing ring 20 may not be consistent over the circumferential length of the interface surface 22. However, in some instances the cylinder 62 may be placed and the curing ring 20 may be sized and configured so that uniform pressure is applied by the interface surface 22 around its entire circumferential length, and so that no gap is present at the overlap portion of the curing ring 20.

[0045] Another arrangement of the curing ring 20 is shown in Fig. 13 in which the curing ring 20 includes a plurality of segments 44 that define an interface surface 22. The plurality of segments 44 are shown in the actuated position 56 engaging the flap 12 and applying pressure to the adhesive layer 14 through the flap 12. Heat from heaters 50 is transferred through the segments 44 into the flap 12 and into the adhesive layer 14 in order to cure the adhesive layer 14. The mechanism of actuation of the segments 44 is through the use of an inflation bladder 90 that is located closer to the central axis 58 in the radial direction 66 than the interface surface 22. A pump 92 is used to inject air or other gas into the inflation bladder 90 to cause the inflation bladder 90 to expand and then apply force onto the segments 44 to cause them to move outward in the radial direction 66 and be pressed against the bead 12. The inflation bladder 90 can be attached to the segments 44 through adhesive or a mechanical interface so that when pressure within the inflation bladder 90 is released it will deflate to cause the segments 44 to likewise move inward in the radial direction 66 and remove force against the bead 12. In other arrangements, deflation of the inflation bladder 90 will not cause movement of the segments 44, as the segments 44 may move back somewhat if necessary when the cure ring 20 is removed from the tire 10.

[0046] Upon permanent bonding of the flap 12 to the bead 16, a tube may or may not be present within the interior of the tire 10. As such, the method of attachment and curing herein may include the insertion of a tube, or may not include the insertion of a tube in accordance with various exemplary embodiments.

[0047] While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.