Abstract: A tubeless tire for a vehicle of the type adapted to be mounted on a one-piece undetachable rim of the drop-center type is provided. The tire is suitable for use with a rim having its bead-seats for the tire beads shaped like a truncated cone with the vertex axially turned towards the inside of the rim. The tire has beads having bead bases which are substantially frustum shaped for combining with the bead-seat of the rim. The angle of inclination of the beads is approximately the same as that of the bead seat. The tire beads are provided with reinforcing metallic wire cores which comprise a plurality of metallic turns closely wound together so as to constitute substantially a massive annular element that is circumferentially inextensible and has a cross-section of a polygonal shape. The core base is the radially innermost side of the polygon with respect to the tire.

Abstract: A device for protecting the head and respiratory organs is disclosed comprising a casque having a transparent bubble-screen, a headgear made of a flexible cellular material placed inside the casque, an electrically powered ventilating device for forcing in filtered air for respiration, at least one container for holding a filtering block, the said device comprising also a battery, and at least one exhaust valve, and wherein the said headgear comprises slots for housing at least the ventilating device for forcing the filtered air for respiration, and placed in such a manner that the weight of the ventilating device rests directly on the headgear itself.

Abstract: A process is provided for vulcanizing an elastomeric reinforced hose or a hose having its core tube reinforced with fibrous material. In accordance with the process a hose having an elastomeric sheath over its reinforcing material is preferably continuously passed through a tubular preheater which softens the surface of the sheath and the hose is then passed through a heated sizing die where only the surface is initially softened and then vulcanized before leaving the die. The die sizes the diameter of the hose and at the same time smooths out the surface of the sheath. The sized hose is passed immediately into a vulcanizer where it is heated to vulcanize completely. The vulcanized hose is then cooled.The apparatus provided for practicing the process has, a heated dye, a vulcanizing unit and a unit for cooling the vulcanized hose all connected in series. The apparatus may also have a tubular preheater. The preheater is steam jacketed and may be provided with a means for lubricating the surface of the hose.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for automatically disassembling and reassembling a mold for making a tire. Apparatus for automatically performing the entire tire-manufacturing operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a radial carcass is provided with a reinforcing structure between the carcass and tread having first and second layers of metallic cords having an ultimate elongation of about 3%. The cords of the first and second layers are disposed parallel to each other and at angles of about 5.degree. to about 30.degree. with the axis of the tire body with the cords in one layer crossing the cords of the other layer. A third layer of metallic cords having an ultimate elongation of from about 4% to about 8% is disposed radially outwardly over the first two layers. The cords in the third layer are wound about the carcass in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tire. The resulting assembly of layers provides a reinforcing structure which is adapted to withstand the tension stresses exerted on tires used on heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks even at high speed, giving also high steering characteristics to the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle has a carcass made from cords with the ends of the cords turned up around the beads of the tire. The crown of the tire has a tread and a reinforcing breaking structure. The breaker structure has three layers of cords superimposed one over the other with the width of the inner most layer being larger than the width of the next adjacent layer. The cords in each of the inner most and next adjacent layers are parallel to each other and are inclined at an angle of about 10.degree. to 35.degree. with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire. The cords of the innermost layer are extended in one direction and cross those of the next adjacent layer. A third layer of cords is disposed between the tread and the said next adjacent layer. The cords in this third layer are of a textile material which will shrink with increase in temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the injection molding of treads on a tire carcass which comprises feeding an elastomeric composition for molding the tire's tread to a plurality of equalization spaces symmetrically arranged with respect to the injection cavity of the mold where the tread is formed, the mix moving to the injection cavity from each of the spaces through a plurality of injection passages, the mix being fed to each of the spaces through at least one feeding passage and the ratio between average sliding gradients .gamma..sub.i of the injection passages and gradients .gamma..sub.a of the feeding passages being not lower than 8.

Abstract: A device for vulcanizing conveyor belts is disclosed consisting essentially of an improved flat platen press comprising two platens which are parallel to each other and superimposed, a plurality of frames, resting on carriages, each provided with a central aperture, the platens being inserted in the frame apertures, one of the platens being attached to the rim of the frame apertures and the other platen being supported by the pistons of cylinder/piston systems attached to the rim of the frame apertures, clamps for clamping, moving and tensioning the conveyor belt up-line and down-line of the platens, and two metal strips subtended by cylinders, one metal strip surrounding the upper platen in the longitudinal direction and the other metal strip surrounding the lower platen in the longitudinal direction, and means for heating each of the platens, and including means for substantially reducing the coefficient of sliding friction between each platen and the corresponding metal strip surrounding it.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for automatically disassembling and reassembling a mold for making a tire. Apparatus for automatically performing the entire tire-manufacturing operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for joining overlapping fore and rear ends of two pieces of deformable material which are placed in overlapping relationship through the conjunctive use of a first fixed support surface supporting a protruding rear edge of one of the pieces of material and a second rotative support surface supporting a non-protruding fore edge of the second piece of material. Each support surface is provided with associated devices for shifting an associated support edge of material to create small waves of material near the edges of the first and second pieces of material. The shifted pieces of material are overlapped by rotating the second support surface into substantial alignment with the first support surface thereby bringing the fore edge of the second piece under and in contact with the rear protruding edge of the first piece. A pressing device joins the overlapped edges of the two pieces of material by pressing them against the second support surface.

Abstract: A process is provided for the manufacture of radial tires for vehicle wheels, having an annular reinforcement structure inserted between the tread and the casing. The reinforcement structure has two layers of metal cord and in a radially outer position a third layer of cords arranged in a longitudinal direction. The third layer is made of a textile material which shrinks when heated. The process comprises the steps of first shaping the vulcanized casing to form a toroid, then applying to the shaped casing the two layers of metal cords together with a portion of the layer of textile cords at each side zone of the reinforcement structure. The width of the side zone is between 1/3 and 1/10 of the total width of the structure. The casing is shaped a second time to increase the external equatorial development thereof to a value greater than that reached during the first shaping step. The remaining central portion of the layer of textile cord is then applied on top of the layers of metal cords.

Abstract: A process is provided for turning-up sidestrips and the ends of body plies on the sidewalls of a torus-shaped tire body. The body of the tire is expanded circumferentially, the ends are turned over and the sidewall strips are stitched simultaneously.An apparatus for practicing the process has a device provided with a support for the assembly which turns-up the sidestrips and ends of the body plies which permits insertion and removal of the assembly in the cavity of the tire.

Abstract: A vehicle tire combining improved riding comfort, road gripping characteristics and tire tread wear has the conventional radial carcass and tread and an improved annular breaker structure reinforcing the crown portion of the tire. The improved breaker structure has two or more layers of metallic cords disposed at an angle of about 10.degree. to about 35.degree. with the longitudinal direction of the tire. The metallic cords of one layer cross those of the adjacent layer. At least one layer of nylon or similar textile cords which shrink when the tire is heat cured is disposed between the radially outermost layer of metallic cords and the tread. The textile cords are disposed around the circumference of the tire in planes which are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tire and at densitities along the lateral edges of the breaker which are at least about 50% higher than the density thereof in the crown zone of the breaker.

Abstract: A mold is provided for injection molding a vehicle tire such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,868 having a bead of elastomeric material. The mold has an outer envelope and an inner body member having a core formed of radially collapsible sectors which combine to enclose a mold cavity. The inner body member has at least two annular elements, an upper and lower one, which are separable from one another and from the core along the direction of the core axis. The annular elements have surfaces which form axially inner surfaces of the tire's beads. The inner body member is also provided with members for blocking the annular elements with the core and with the envelope. The core of the mold is divided into two series of alternate collapsible sectors which are displaced radially inwardly when the tire is released from the mold. Apparatus is provided for actuating the mold parts to disassemble and assemble the mold.

Abstract: A process is provided for molding a tread on a vehicle tire body in which a tire body requiring a tread is supported in a mold which combines with the surface of the tire body to form a cavity conforming to the configuration and dimensions of the tread. The cavity is filled with a flowable vulcanizable elastomeric composition by injection at equally spaced points around the equatorial axis of the mold of measured volumes of material which will combine to fill the cavity and develop a low pressure in the mold cavity to insure flow of material until the cavity is completely filled. The invention also provides an injection molding apparatus having a mold which combines with a tire body supported therein to form a cavity corresponding to the configuration and dimensions of a tire tread.

Abstract: An extrusion head for extruding a plastomeric or elastomeric material on at least two filaments having a diameter of the order of 0.1 mm. and having a high modulus of elasticity while maintaining a constant spacing between the filaments and a process for such extrusion. The head comprises a mandrel with a cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical portion, the mandrel having grooves equal in number to the number of filaments extending along the surfaces of both portions for guiding the filaments. The frusto-conical portion has channels between the grooves for feeding the material between the filaments. A die with an opening having parallel walls for guiding the filaments and having a conical surface spaced from the frusto-conical portion is mounted adjacent the latter to provide a space for flow of the material. A further element adjacent the die may be used to extrude further material over the filaments embedded in the material extruded therebetween.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle such as an agricultural tractor or the like has a tread with lugs along each side thereof spaced circumferentially from each other a distance of from 1.5 to 6 times the circumferential width of the lug. The lugs on each side extend obliquely towards the equatorial plane of the tire with the lugs along one side being spaced relative to the lugs along the other side. The surface of the tire between lugs has corners which extend between adjacent lugs and the profile between the corners along a plane parallel to the lugs is concave or rectilinear.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately aligning two elements of a press which have relative movement between them is provided in the form of a pair of interconnected levers and a cooperating tooth. The pair of interconnected levers are mounted on one of the two elements with each lever having a tooth engaging face, the pair of tooth engaging faces forming a vise which selectively engages the tooth located on the other element. Accurate alignment between the two elements is achieved by relative movement between the two elements caused by the vise engaging the tooth.

Abstract: A power transmission belt has an elastomeric body which is frusto-triangularly shaped in cross-section. Such power transmission belts are commonly referred to as V-shaped belts. The belt provided by the invention has a plurality of laterally spaced cords which are parallel to each other and are arranged longitudinally throughout the length of the belt. At least those portions of the sides or flanks of the belt which bear against the walls of grooves of a pulley wheel when the belt is rotated are covered with an elastomeric composition having cut lengths of fibrous material embedded therein and disposed so the longitudinal axes of the fibers are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the belt. The fibers may be impregnated with an organic polyisocyanate solution.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for injection molding a pneumatic tire having corresponding symmetrical parts such as the sidewalls of the tire which are geometrical symmetrical and have substantially the same physical characteristics. The process involves providing a feed stream of suitable plastic or elastomeric compound such as rubber, separating the feed stream into intermediate streams and remixing the intermediate stream before injection into the mold. The compound is injected into the mold cavities at uniformly spaced points along at least one of the annular zones of the cavity. The feed stream is preferably separated into two streams, one of which comes primarily from the outer portion of the stream and the other predominantly from near the center of the stream and then these streams are intermixed to provide a stream which is substantially uniform in composition throughout.