US 11,993,106 B2
Self-sealing pneumatic tire
George Jim Papakonstantopoulos, Medina, OH (US); and Michael Lawrence Gersman, Cleveland, OH (US)
Assigned to THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, OH (US)
Filed by THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/953,915.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/252,700, filed on Oct. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0158761 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. B60C 19/12 (2006.01); B29C 73/16 (2006.01); B29D 30/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60C 19/12 (2013.01) [B60C 19/122 (2013.01); B29C 73/163 (2013.01); B29D 30/0685 (2013.01); B29D 2030/0687 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An uncured pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped supporting carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead, sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, a sealant layer which is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass, wherein polyisobutylene is present in the sealant layer at a level of at least 50 weight percent, based upon the total weight of elastomers in the sealant layer, and an innerliner which is disposed inwardly from the sealant layer, wherein said circumferential tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the sealant layer is encapsulated by a stiff composition, wherein the stiff composition breaks down at temperatures used for vulcanization and forms a sealant material, wherein the stiff composition does not interfere with the function of the surrounding tire components, and wherein the sealant layer is comprised of a low viscosity material that requires little or no depolymerization to act as a sealant material, wherein the stiff composition is comprised of (a) polyisobutylene, (b) a peroxide, and (c) a reinforcing filler, and wherein the polyisobutylene is present in the stiff composition at a level of at least 50 weight percent, based upon the total weight of elastomers in the sealant layer.
 
15. An uncured pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped supporting carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead, sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, a sealant layer which is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass, and an innerliner which is disposed inwardly from the sealant layer, wherein said circumferential tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the sealant layer is encapsulated by a stiff composition, wherein the stiff composition breaks down at temperatures used for vulcanization and forms a sealant material, wherein the stiff composition does not interfere with the function of the surrounding tire components, and wherein the sealant layer is comprised of a low viscosity material that requires little or no depolymerization to act as a sealant material, wherein the sealant layer is further comprised of a reinforcing filler and a plasticizer, wherein the reinforcing filler is polypropylene, and wherein the plasticizer is included at a level which is within the range of about 1 phr to about 40 phr, wherein said sealant layer is void of reinforcing fillers other than the polypropylene.
 
19. An uncured pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped supporting carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead, sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, a sealant layer which is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass, and an innerliner which is disposed inwardly from the sealant layer, wherein said circumferential tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the sealant layer is encapsulated by a stiff composition, wherein the stiff composition breaks down at temperatures used for vulcanization and forms a sealant material, wherein the stiff composition does not interfere with the function of the surrounding tire components, and wherein the sealant layer is comprised of a low viscosity material that requires little or no depolymerization to act as a sealant material, wherein the stiff composition is comprised of (a) a polyisobutylene rubber and/or a butyl rubber, (b) a peroxide, and (c) polypropylene, and wherein the stiff composition is void of reinforcing fillers other than the polypropylene and carriers for the peroxide.