Abstract: Insulation board comprising a urethane foam core sandwiched between a thin flexible membrane and a thicker inflexible panel is made by dispensing foam forming materials onto a moving continuous sheet of the thin flexible membrane and depositing individual panel segments onto the foam as it expands. The manufacturing apparatus includes a conveyor press for transporting the flexible membrane past a foam dispensing device and means for consecutively depositing the individual panel segments onto the expanding foam. The panel depositing means comprise a suction apparatus for suspending the panel over the foam and a friction drive mechanism for simultaneously impelling a leading end of the panel against a trailing end of an immediately preceding panel to prevent the formation of gaps between consecutive panel segments. The resultant laminate is then passed through the conveyor press that acts as a forming and curing zone for the laminate which is thereafter cut to size at a cutting station.

Abstract: The dynamic impact resistance of an inflated tire is tested by freely supporting the tire for rotation on a fixed frame and penetrating the tire with an impact plunger protractible through an opening in the periphery of a power driven test wheel as the wheel periphery rotates against the tire tread. The plunger can be entirely retracted in the peripheral opening of the test wheel to a non-impinging position following one impact with the tire, or the plunger can be set to remain in a protracted position to impact the tire tread a designated number of times before being retracted. A plug can be substituted for the plunger to seal the peripheral opening in the test wheel.