Patent ID: 8394311
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: B29D,B60C

Abstract:
1. A method of constructing a self-inflating tire comprising: forming a pre-cure green tire body having a tire cavity between first and second sidewalls that extend respectively from a pair of annular tire core bead cores to a tire tread region; positioning an air passageway body within the green tire body to extend between an outward facing green tire body surface and the tire cavity, the air passageway body having an enclosed air passageway extending between a hollow body outlet end of the air passageway body facing the tire cavity and a hollow inlet end of the air passageway body facing outward from the outward facing green tire body surface; curing the green tire body into a finished cured tire body with the air passageway body in position within the green tire body; affixing at least one tapping device over at least one of the ends of the air passageway body; and establishing through the tapping device an air flow path extending between the air passageway within the air passageway body and a vent opening within the tapping device; and penetrating a hollow protrusion member from the one tapping device through a sidewall of the air passageway body to operatively establish the air flow path.