Abstract: An expandable belt and tread drum with magnetic deck fixing includes an assembly defining a portion of an arcuate outer circumferential working surface of a tire building drum. The assembly comprises a deck segment carrier and one or more magnetic members provided to the deck segment carrier and configured to attach a deck segment to the deck segment carrier by magnetic force.

Abstract: An improved belt and tread drum incorporating an improved segment is disclosed. Segments are mounted in side-by-side relationship about a central axis for radial movement inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis and include arcuate outer surfaces that collectively define an outer circumferential working surface of the drum. The segments each define opposite first and second longitudinal side margins, at least one of the first and second longitudinal side margins defining an irregular longitudinal profile.

Abstract: A transfer ring of the type having a plurality of shoes arranged in a substantially circular configuration to define an inwardly-facing segmented cylindrical gripping surface, and a shoe for use in such a transfer ring, are disclosed. Each shoe comprises an arcuate interior surface defining a segment of the cylindrical gripping surface. The interior surface of each shoe has a first arcuate edge and an opposite second arcuate edge arranged substantially parallel to one another, and opposite first and second end edges extending between respective ends of said first and second arcuate edges. Each first end edge of each arcuate surface is mounted adjacent the second end edge of an adjacent arcuate surface, and the first end edge of at least one of the arcuate surfaces defines a varied or irregular shape along its arcuate surface.

Abstract: An improved belt and tread drum incorporating an improved segment is disclosed. Segments are mounted in side-by-side relationship about a central axis for radial movement inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis and include arcuate outer surfaces that collectively define an outer circumferential working surface of the drum. The segments each define an arcuate outer surface defining a circumferential dimension, the outer surface having varied curvature along the circumferential dimension.

Abstract: A tire building drum is disclosed. A thrust plate is mounted at a tapered end of a central shaft. An actuator is slidable along the shaft between first and second positions. Arcuate segments are arranged in a circumferential relationship about the shaft to define a working surface. First guide rails are slidably secured to the thrust plate, with a first end of each first rail mounted near a first end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially inwardly along the thrust plate. Second guide rails are slidably secured to the actuator, with a first end of each second rail mounted near a second end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially and axially inwardly along the actuator. Each of the guide rail second ends extends radially inward toward the inwardly tapered shaft portion when the actuator is in the first position.

Abstract: A tire building drum is disclosed having first and second sets of deck segments, disposed in an alternating configuration about a central shaft. Each of the segments is mounted to a pair of axially movable hub units via an associated scissor linkage. The scissor linkages of the first segments are slidably mounted to the hub units and biased toward a median plane of the tire building drum. When the hub units are separated, the second segments are disposed radially inwardly of and between the first segments. Movement of the hub units toward one another through a first range of motion expands the first deck segments to an expanded diameter of the drum, and movement of the hub units toward one another through a second range of motion expands the second deck segments to allow the second deck segments to be received between the first deck segments.

Abstract: A tire building drum is disclosed. A thrust plate is mounted at a tapered end of a central shaft. An actuator is slidable along the shaft between first and second positions. Arcuate segments are arranged in a circumferential relationship about the shaft to define a working surface. First guide rails are slidably secured to the thrust plate, with a first end of each first rail mounted near a first end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially inwardly along the thrust plate. Second guide rails are slidably secured to the actuator, with a first end of each second rail mounted near a second end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially and axially inwardly along the actuator. Each of the guide rail second ends extends radially inward toward the inwardly tapered shaft portion when the actuator is in the first position.

Abstract: An expandable deck comprises a plurality of elongated deck carriers mounted upon an expansion mechanism in a generally parallel and cylindrical formation. A fixed rod is mounted upon a first one of the deck carriers. A pivot rod is mounted upon an adjacent second deck carrier. A pivot segment defines a rotation aperture and a guide slot. The rotation aperture is rotatably mounted upon the pivot rod and the guide slot slidingly receives the fixed rod.

Abstract: A transfer ring of the type having a plurality of shoes arranged in a substantially circular configuration to define an inwardly-facing segmented cylindrical gripping surface, and a shoe for use in such a transfer ring, are disclosed. Each shoe comprises an arcuate interior surface defining a segment of the cylindrical gripping surface. The interior surface of each shoe has a first arcuate edge and an opposite second arcuate edge arranged substantially parallel to one another, and opposite first and second end edges extending between respective ends of said first and second arcuate edges. Each first and second end edge defines a substantially non-linear shape with each first and second end edge being shaped for mating engagement with an end edge of an adjacent shoe in the circular configuration.

Abstract: A tire building drum is disclosed having first and second sets of deck segments, disposed in an alternating configuration about a central shaft. Each of the segments is mounted to a pair of axially movable hub units via an associated scissor linkage. The scissor linkages of the first segments are slidably mounted to the hub units and biased toward a median plane of the tire building drum. When the hub units are separated, the second segments are disposed radially inwardly of and between the first segments. Movement of the hub units toward one another through a first range of motion expands the first deck segments to an expanded diameter of the drum, and movement of the hub units toward one another through a second range of motion expands the second deck segments to allow the second deck segments to be received between the first deck segments.

Abstract: A transfer ring suitable for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires including a skeletal cylindrical cage which houses an oscillatable circular drive member. The drive member includes a plurality of cam followers disposed about the outer perimeter thereof and which operatively engage respective camming grooves defined in each of a plurality of hinged driven links which are individually hingedly mounted internally of the cage about the outer perimeter of the cage. Each driven link includes an inboard end hinged within the cage and an outboard end having an articulating shoe mounted thereon. The shoes are interconnected to provide like simultaneous substantially equal articulative and rotational movement of the shoes radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the cage upon rotational movement of the drive member and resultant rotational movement of the hinged driven links effected through the cam followers and camming grooves of the driven links.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bead lock arrangement for use in tire building equipment, and to tire building equipment utilizing such a bead lock arrangement. A bead lock assembly is disclosed comprising first and second parallel, coaxial, axially spaced bead lock arrangements (13, 14), each bead lock arrangement including an annular, extensible, bead seating ring (38) encircling the radially movable segments (33) of the bead lock arrangement and having, at its radially outermost face, a circumferentially extending bead seating surface (39), and an annular sealing ring (42) positioned coaxial with the respective bead seating ring (38) and disposed adjacent a side face of the respective bead seating ring (38) presented generally towards the bead seating ring (38) of the opposing bead lock arrangement. The use of a bead seating ring (38) and a separately formed sealing ring (42) has considerable advantages over the use of a conventional bead seating ring.

Abstract: The “Anti-Flex Assembly” is an assembly for maintaining axial stability in a rotatable, expandable and collapsible drum used in tire manufacturing. A cylindrical rod with at least one helical groove is defined in the outer surface of the cylindrical rod and at least one hardened dowel is aligned so as to protrude into the helical groove of the cylindrical rod. A means to maintain the orientation and protrusion of the hardened dowel protruding into the helical groove(s), and a clamping lock is provided to lock the cylindrical rod in place once the desired width of the rotatable, expandable and collapsible drum has been set, thus providing axial stability of the rotatable, expandable and collapsible drum during tire carcass manufacturing.

Abstract: A transfer ring suitable for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires including a skeletal cylindrical cage which houses an oscillatable circular drive member. The drive member includes a plurality of cam followers disposed about the outer perimeter thereof and which operatively engage respective camming grooves defined in each of a plurality of hinged driven links which are individually hingedly mounted internally of the cage about the outer perimeter of the cage. Each driven link includes an inboard end hinged within the cage and an outboard end having an articulating shoe mounted thereon. The shoes are interconnected to provide like simultaneous substantially equal articulative and rotational movement of the shoes radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the cage upon rotational movement of the drive member and resultant rotational movement of the hinged driven links effected through the cam followers and camming grooves of the driven links.

Abstract: A locking spacer for use with a tire building drum is disclosed. The locking spacer includes an arcuate panel having an outer surface, an inner surface, opposite first and second curved side surfaces, and opposite first and second straight end surfaces. The panel is sized and shaped to span between and extend along the opposing inner surfaces of the segments. A first fastener is disposed along the first side surface and is configured to secure the first side surface to a first of the pair of segments, and a second fastener is disposed along the second side surface and is configured to secure the second side surface to a second of the pair of segments. The first and second fasteners limit movement of the first and second side surfaces in relation to the segments along a radial direction of the tire building drum.

Abstract: A bearing axle adapted to rotatably secure a mounting ring between opposing interior surfaces of respective spaced apart first and second housing rings of a tire transfer ring and to allow removal of the bearing axle from between the housing rings absent additional separation of the housing rings is disclosed. The bearing axle comprises an elongated shaft sized and shaped to extend between and terminate along the housing ring interior surfaces and at least one releasable fastener for securing the shaft between the housing ring interior surfaces. A roller bearing is mounted on the shaft and is adapted to engage the mounting ring to allow the mounting ring to rotate in relation to the housing rings. Release of the fastener allows the shaft to slide from between the housing ring interior surfaces absent additional separation of the housing rings.

Abstract: A transfer ring especially suitable for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires including a skeletal cylindrical cage which houses an oscillatable circular drive member therewithin. The drive member includes a plurality of cam followers disposed about the outer perimeter thereof and which operatively engage respective camming grooves defined in each of a plurality of hinged driven links which are individually hingedly mounted internally of the cage about the outer perimeter of the cage. Each driven link includes an inboard end hinged within the cage and an outboard end having an articulating shoe mounted thereon. The shoes on the several driven links are interconnected to provide like simultaneous substantially equal articulative and rotational movement of the shoes radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the cage upon rotational movement of the drive member and resultant rotational movement of the hinged driven links effected through the cam followers and camming grooves of the driven links.