Shear band

Abstract

A shear band for a tire includes a first belt layer extending circumferentially around the tire, a second belt layer extending circumferentially around the tire, and a shear band radially interposed between the first belt layer and the second belt layer. The shear band includes a first reinforcing ply radially adjacent the first belt layer, a third reinforcing ply radially adjacent the second belt layer, and a second reinforcing ply radially interposed between the first reinforcing ply and the second reinforcing ply. The first reinforcing ply includes a first flattened, braided tube layer enclosed by a first rubber layer. The second reinforcing ply includes a second flattened, braided tube layer enclosed by a second rubber layer. The third reinforcing ply includes a third flattened, braided tube layer enclosed by a third rubber layer.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for constructing a belt package of a tire, the method comprising the steps of:
 enclosing flattened, braided tube layers with rubber layers;   orienting the flattened, braided tube layers and rubber layers relative to an equatorial plane of the tire;   enclosing all of the flattened, braided tube layers with a fabric layer to form a shear band coupon;   orienting the shear band coupon radially between a first belt layer and a second belt layer; and   curing the first belt layer, the shear band coupon, and the second belt layer to form a complete belt package.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shear band coupon includes a first flattened, braided tube layer with a structure angled between −45 degrees and −35 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shear band coupon includes a second flattened, braided tube layer with a structure angled between −5 degrees and +5 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shear band coupon includes a third flattened, braided tube layer with a structure angled between +35 degrees and +45 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shear band coupon includes a first rubber layer with cords angled between +35 degrees and +45 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shear band coupon includes a second rubber layer with cords angled between −5 degrees and +5 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shear band coupon includes a third flattened, braided tube layer with cords angled between −45 degrees and −35 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         8 . The shear band as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first belt layer includes cords angled between −5 degrees and +5 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         9 . The shear band as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the second belt layer includes cords angled between −5 degrees and +5 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
     
     
         10 . The shear band as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first belt layer and the second belt layer both include reinforcing cords angled between −5 degrees and +5 degrees relative to the equatorial plane of the tire.