Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing automotive tire beads wherein a pair of bead winding and transfer units for forming respective beads each present an inner ring which defines part of a bead winding unit for winding a continuous metal wire constituting the respective bead, and consists of two coaxial rotatable annular bodies designed to move between a detached and mated position; and an outer grip ring consisting of a number of segments designed to move back and forth in relation to the inner ring; which segments are carried on an annular support designed to move both transversely, between a position coaxial with the respective inner ring and a position coaxial with a tire building drum, and axially along the tire building drum.

Abstract: A shuttle head which can be translated along a longitudinal axis between an assembly table and a lead-in table, wherein the shuttle head has a vacuum pick-up for picking up a ribbon of uncured elastomeric material. The shuttle head includes a pick-up plate having a plurality of apertures communicating with the source of vacuum. A cutting knife is provided on the edge of the assembly table for cutting the strip of ribbon, and the assembly table and cutting knife can be adjusted angularly with respect to the lead-in table. The pick-up plate has an inverted V-shaped edge at the leading end of the shuttle head immediately adjacent the cutting knife, such as to allow a variety of angular displacements of the assembly table relative to the lead-in table without having to change the pick-up plate.

Abstract: A gear metering pump for delivering precise amounts of a compounded elastomeric material into a die. The gear pump has a housing formed with a hollow interior chamber containing a pair of rotating meshing gears mounted on shafts, one of which is power driven, for passing controlled quantities of the compounded material out of the chamber and into the die. A side plate is removably mounted on the housing and encloses an open side of the chamber and is moved between open and closed positions by fluid pressure cylinders mounted on the housing to provide ready access into the chamber for cleanout. A first bearing assembly for the gear shafts is mounted on the removable side plate and retains the gears mounted thereon for removing the gears from within the chamber along with the side plate.

Abstract: Coextrusion apparatus for varying the outer profile of a generally tubular extrudate formed by inner and outer streams of elastomeric material by varying the annular end opening of an elastic die ring which varies the size of an outer extrusion orifice and consequently the flow of the outer stream of elastomeric material which is deposited on the outer surface of the tubular extrudate. A hydraulically moveable piston is axially slideably mounted for engagement with the elastic die ring and has a wedge-shaped camming surface which moves along the outer surface of the elastic die ring to vary the size of the outer extrusion orifice and consequently the amount of elastomeric material extrudated therethrough. A linear motion detector is connected to the piston to detect the amount of linear axial movement of the piston to provide control signals for controlling the movement of the piston.

Abstract: The accurate positioning of an ultrasonic beam (21) to nondestructively test an object (11) is achieved by an ultrasonic beam aiming apparatus (10) including an ultrasonic transducer (20) generating an ultrasonic beam (21) having a focal point (22) and axis (23), and a point-source lamp (30) and mirror (31) generating a visible light beam (32) having a focal point (33) and axis (34). The visible light beam focal point (33) is selectively coaxially movable into and out of coincident at points exterior and interior to the object (11). The location of the ultrasonic beam focal point (22) may be found by aligning the ultrasonic beam focal point (22) and the visible light beam focal point (33) to coincide at an alignment spot, and moving the aligned ultrasonic beam focal point (22) to a point of interest within the object while maintaining the visible light beam focal point (33) at the alignment spot.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire bead is formed into a spiral coil consisting of a plurality of convolutions or turns of wire. The wire may be round, square, oval or hexagonal in cross section. A crimp or offset bend is made in each of the convolutions a distance of one wire width or a fraction of the wire width in each full 360 degree wire turn such that the ends of the bead wire permit the bead side walls to remain in flat parallel planes. This offset relationship reduces nonuniformity in the tire heretofore produced by spirally wound wire beads. The bead wire can be wound in a vertical plane or in a radial spiral clock-like spring fashion. In another embodiment a pair of mirror image offset coils are joined together to form a composite bead preferably for use in heavy duty applications. In still another embodiment a single flat hoop may be placed between a pair of mirror image offset coils to increase resistance to circumferential distortion.

Abstract: A device (1) for manufacturing a tire bead (2) consisting of an annular element (3) formed from a metal wire (4) wound in such a manner as to form a number of coils packed by a flexible packing member (6) wound about the annular element (3) and having its opposite ends (7) tied in a knot (8). An annular mandrel (9) on the device (1) defines a first annular duct (38) for forming the annular element (3), and a second duct (39) coiled about the first duct (38). The mandrel (9) is connected to a pneumatic knotting machine (10) having an input duct (62) and an output duct (63) defining the two halves of a flat knot (64) and communicating respectively with the inlet (46) and outlet (47) of the second duct (39).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an automotive tire bead (1), whereby an annular element (2) having a substantially circular section and consisting of a coiled metal wire (3) is formed by winding the wire (3) about a mandrel (17) defining a duct (9) coiling about the annular element (2). One end of a flexible packing member (5) of heat-shrinkable material is then inserted inside duct (9), blown along the whole length of the same, cut to size, and the two ends joined to form a loop.

Abstract: A liquid tight seam for an overlapping seam of two waterproof elastomeric membranes of a roof covering and the method of forming the seam. The overlapped edge portions of the two membranes are sealed by an intervening adhesive layer. A second adhesive layer is applied along the seam and covers adjacent exposed areas of the two membranes and stepped edges thereof which form the seam. Next, a bead of sealant is applied along the seam and over adjacent portions of the second adhesive layer. This seam and method eliminates washing and cleaning the seam areas with solvents before applying the sealant thereby enhancing seam quality and strength.

Abstract: Coextrusion apparatus for varying the outer profile of a generally tubular extrudate formed by merging inner and outer streams of elastomeric material by varying the size of the annular outer extrusion die opening by an axially moveable die ring which varies the flow of the outer stream of elastomeric material which is deposited on the outer surface of the tubular extrudate. The die ring is formed on the end of a hydraulically moveable piston and is axially slideably moved along and is located concentrically about the tubular extrudate. A first annular tapered surface of the die ring moves along a similar tapered surface of a fixed conical-shaped die pin to vary the size of the outer extrusion orifice formed therebetween.

Abstract: Coextrusion apparatus for varying the inner profile of a generally tubular extrudate formed by a first stream of elastomeric material by an axially movable inner die ring which varies the size of an orifice and consequently the flow of a second stream of elastomeric material which is deposited on the inner surface of the tubular extrudate. A compensating ring is axially slidably mounted within the inner die ring and moves generally in an opposite direction to the movement of the die ring to compensate for pressure changes within the second stream of material caused by varying the size of the orifice, to provide an accurately controlled initiation and termination of the material. Pistons are formed integrally on the inner die ring and compensating ring and are located within annular fluid pressure chambers whereby the flow of fluid into the chambers will coordinate the movement of the die ring and compensating ring.

Abstract: A contoured liner for rolling of a preassembled uncured rubber tire component with a variable cross-sectional thickness into a coil with minimal dimensional distortion. A filler of compressible material such as polyester, is sandwiched between a flexible base and a flexible cover so as to cover only a portion of the base to provide a contour thereto generally inverse to the contour of the tire component. The base is woven polypropylene and the cover is knitted polyester tricot. The cover is preferably secured to the base by a diamond pattern stitching to form a single unit liner. The liner and rubber tire component, when in overlying relationship, provide a generally symmetrical thickness to reduce telescopically, conical coils when assembled into roll form on a supporting reel.

Abstract: A dynamic load simulator is provided to simulate the suspension system of a vehicle. A spindle, connected to a suspension system, receives a tire in engagement with a rotating drum. A force gauge and velocity gauge are maintained at the spindle to monitor axle forces and movement. Road force is monitored by gauges maintained within the rotating drum. Adjustable springs, dampers, resonators, and weights allow the characteristics of the suspension system to be tailored to simulate those of an actual or conceptual.

Abstract: A system for handling a flexible thin wall tubular extrudate of an elastomeric material of the type used as a body ply element for the manufacture of tires, and for cutting-off a predetermined length sleeve of the extrudate and delivering the sleeve to a discharge station. A pair of grippers is movably mounted on carriage assemblies which move the grippers horizontally and transversely with respect to the axis of the extrudate. The leading gripper provides tension to the extrudate and pulls it along a production axis. The trailing gripper engages the extrudate and moves in unison with the extrudate and the leading gripper along the production axis. The grippers completely circumferentially envelop the length of sleeve to be cut from the extrudate and retain the shape of the extrudate by applying a vacuum thereto. A cutting mechanism having a fixed motor driven blade and a pair of similar pivotally mounted blades moves vertically down into contact with the extrudate between the pair of grippers.