Abstract: A cutter clamp assembly for holding the elongated strip of tire material during the cutting process, whereby predetermined lengths of tire material are created to be formed into a tire. The cutter clamp is an air actuated clamp that is pivoted into engagement with a sidewall section of the elongated strip of tire material as air suction from an air manifold holds the entire elongated strip down so as to assure a uniform and even cut. The cutter clamp includes a clamp bar that is spring loaded by a tension bar such that during engagement the clamp bar evenly distributes a force along the entire sidewall adjacent to the cutter such that an even cut is started upon contact by the cutter with the elongated strip of tire material, whereby the air suction manifold holds down the entire elongated strip during cutting.

Abstract: A tire grinding apparatus includes at least one support arm pivotally connected to a base. A pair of grinding wheels are rotatably carried by the support arm and are adapted to engage the outer surface of a tire. The grinding wheels are disposed such that one of the grinding wheels is a leading grinding wheel and the other is a trailing grinding wheel. The grinding wheels rotate in opposite directions. The grinding wheels are partially disposed in a hood that is in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A source of pressurized air is in fluid communication with a blower head that is disposed between the grinding wheels such that it directs pressurized air against the surface of the tire being ground. The pressurized air removes dust from the tread grooves and sipes of the tire where it is collected by the hood and removed from the hood from the vacuum system. The position of the trailing wheel is adjustable with respect to the leading grinding wheel and the support arm.

Abstract: A toroidal carcass is formed using a toroidal frame defined by two annular beads and by a removable outer ring divided into angular sectors; a winding device for feeding a spool, housing a cord, about and through the frame from a first to a last of the angular sectors; and an actuating device, which, before the cord is wound completely, moves the first angular sector into an operating position defining, with the last angular sector, an opening for the passage of the spool.

Abstract: A high impact logo structure for a tire sidewall includes a pattern formed in the body of the sidewall. The structure of the pattern creates the appearance that the pattern is recessed into the tire sidewall without actually extending inwardly past the outer surface of the sidewall. The pattern has an interior wall that projects outwardly from the outer surface of the body of the sidewall above the reference plane of the outer surface of the sidewall. The interior wall defines at least part of the pattern. An outline wall projects outwardly from the outer surface of the body of the sidewall above the reference plane of the outer surface of the sidewall. The outline wall extends about at least part of the perimeter of the interior wall of the pattern. The outline wall is spaced from the interior wall by a groove that increases the visual impact of the pattern. The lower surface of the groove is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the sidewall.

Abstract: A method of forming a complete carcass of a tire, whereby an inner carcass (5) of the tire, formed on a collapsible forming device (2) supporting the beads (8) of the inner carcass (5), is inserted, together with the collapsible forming device (2), inside a toroidal body (19) supporting, internally, an outer carcass (9); is made to adhere to the outer carcass (9) to form the complete carcass; is clamped with respect to the toroidal body (19) by means of a pair of fastening rings (24) fitted laterally to the toroidal body (19) and having radial arms (26) for supporting and clamping the two beads (8); and, finally, is detached from the forming device (2) by collapsing and extracting the forming device (2) from the toroidal body (19).

Abstract: An improved capping mechanism which self-aligns as it is tightened irregardless of alignment at the initiation of capping. The capping mechanism being for use with any valve such a pressure relief valve with an outlet including radial vents. The valve body having a plurality of truncated threads about its periphery in between the vents. These truncated threads work in unison with internal threads on the cap.

Abstract: An air spring has a pair of axially spaced end members and an intervening elastomeric sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. An annular clamp ring having a smooth inner diameter coacts with an annular wall on the end members, which has an outer diameter with annular indentations formed therein to clamp the ring thereto. The clamp ring is of a tear-drop shape which corresponds to the general conical shape of the end members so as to provide greater fabric displacement, ring/component interference as opposed to clearance, larger stress area, and a self-locking mechanism.

Abstract: An air spring has a pair of spaced end members and a fluid pressure chamber therebetween formed by an elastomeric flexible sleeve. The air spring is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle suspension system in close vicinity to one of the vehicle tires. The air spring and the vehicle tires each includes a monitoring device for sensing an engineering condition of the air spring and/or tire. The tire monitoring device transmits the sensed engineering condition of the tire to the air spring monitoring device which retransmits to received tire data and the collected air spring engineering condition data to a distance location with less power and more efficient signal than possible if transmitted directly by the monitoring device of the tire due to the reduced wall thickness of the sleeve of the air spring in contrast to the sidewall thickness of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved tire design including a continuous annular band or a belt formed of a plurality of relatively flat rigid plates embedded in the rubber between the tread and body plies. The plates are curved to conform to the radius of the tire and are pivotally linked or otherwise pivotally connected together thereby creating a flexible annular belt that is extremely stiff in the in-plane or steering torsional direction due to the engagement of the side edges of the adjacent plates when experiencing an in-plane or steering torsional force but flexible in the radial direction due to the pivotal connection between the adjacent plates.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus permits the insertion and removal of an electronic monitoring device from a tire, while securing the electronic monitoring device to the tire so that stress, strain, impact, cyclic fatigue and vibration are minimized. After a rubber patch is vulcanized, the patch is permanently assembled to the inner liner of a vulcanized tire by affixing it to the tire inner liner. An electronic monitoring device, after having been encapsulated in a suitable rigid potting material to form a rigid tag, is fitted with a power source to form a tag assembly in a shape which allows for insertion into a cavity in the patch. The tag is carefully inserted into the cavity housing. The tag assembly is locked into place within the cavity using a suitable removable locking means.

Abstract: A vehicle tire and wheel assembly for use in high brake heat generated service has an overall tire diameter (TD) of approximately 43 inches and an overall wheel diameter (WD) of approximately 24.5 inches to provide a ratio of approximately 1.76. The tire section height (H) is approximately 9.2 inches and the tire section width (W) is approximately 11.5 inches. The tire is of a radial construction containing steel reinforcing cords.