Abstract: An apparatus is provided for assembling reinforcing rings and bead filler with a vehicle tire carcass. The apparatus has an expandable drum and a device for centering and locking the rings on the drum. The device comprises a support member which is coaxial with the drum and has bars which form a cage slidably disposed on the drum. The device also has a centering device for centering the rings on the drum.

Abstract: A contractible segmented rigid core of a tire-curing mold is disclosed comprising a plurality of sectors, and means which permit a reduction of the transversal dimensions of the sectors to facilitate removal thereof from the cured tire, said means comprising forming each of the sectors in three parts transversely of the mold, one a central part provided with means for producing a movement under the action of resistant elastic or resilient biasing means along the symmetrical plane of the sector, and two lateral parts being adapted to oscillate, in contrast with the elastic or resilient biasing means, with respect to an axis in the symmetrical plane of the sector and thereby having reduced transversal dimensions. Means are included for preventing any displacement of the sectors when in their expanded position relative to the parts which comprise them, no matter what stresses may be applied to them during the tire curing operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for vehicles has a tread band provided with grooves which extend circumferentially about the tire. The grooves are formed by a series of substantially rectilinear sections which are disposed at a predetermined angle with the equatorial plane of the tire and intersect to impart a zig-zag arrangement to the grooves about the tire. The intersections between said groove sections are situated in planes parallel to the equatorial plane of the tire, and each tread surface portion between one of the parallel planes and a pair of adjacent sections of a groove is shaped so the distance at its points from the tire axis gradually decreases from the parallel plane toward the region in which the sections of the pair of adjacent sections intersect.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition is shaped into a conveyor belt and cured in three steps. In the first step the uncured composition is heated to the curing temperature of the elastomer and pressed at a pressure which is at least equal to the vapor pressure of volatile constituents in the composition to avoid bubbles but less than 6 kg/cm.sup.2 until the composition becomes plastic. At this point, the pressure is increased to about 6 to 10 kg/cm.sup.2 to shape the composition into the configuration of a conveyor belt while maintaining the temperature of the composition at the curing temperature of the elastomer. In a third step, the pressure is reduced to a pressure of not less than the vapor pressure of volatile constituents of the composition and less than 6 kg/cm.sup.2 while maintaining the temperature of the composition at the curing temperature of the elastomer until the elastomer is cured.

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.

Abstract: A toothed belt adapted to be used while wet with a mineral oil has a ring of elastomeric material for a body, a tension resistant member inserted in the body, teeth on at least one side of the body, a rigid covering which is substantially non-deformable under flexion stresses for the teeth and intermediate groove surfaces made by doubling a rubberized fabric over an elastomeric layer as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,094. The body, the teeth and rubberized fabric are all made from an oil resistant elastomer such as an epichlorohydrin rubber composition.

Abstract: A device for removing a tire from the drum of a tire building machine is mounted on the transfer ring of the device which transfers the assembled plies of a breaker structure to the tire building drum. The device has a frame-like cradle with a pivotable bottom member and a drive member for moving the frame-like member against a bottom segment of the tire. It also has a swinging arm member and a fluid actuated cylinder for disposing the arm against a side of the tire. The swinging arm structure is movable parallel to the axis of the drum to slide a shaped tire from the drum. The pivotable bottom of the cradle-like member is pivoted to discharge the tire.

Abstract: An optical fiber band comprising a pair of thermally sealed thermoplastic films with a plurality of optical fibers in side-by-side relation and following undulate paths embedded therebetween, and a telecommunication signal cable formed by winding a plurality of such bands around an insulated metal rope. The thermoplastic films and the fibers are fed between rollers or cylinders while the fibers are undulated. The films are heated to their softening temperature on at least parts of their facing surfaces prior to reaching the cylinders. The films may each be composite films of different temperature characteristics or may be wider than the final band, heated only at their central portions and then trimmed to the final band size.

Abstract: A process for injection molding a crown of a vehicle tire from one composition and the sidewalls from a different composition involves the steps of shaping the reinforcing structure in the mold, injecting a first composition over one side of the reinforcing structure to form a crown with a tread and injecting a second composition to form the sidewalls with an interface within the proximity of the edges of the reinforcing structure. In a preferred embodiment, the tire has the configuration of the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,868. The annular reinforcing structure is shaped to be generally convex but concave towards the tread along its edges.

Abstract: Extrusion device and the continuous manufacture of a handrail of elastomeric material, C-shaped in cross section.The extrusion device is provided with separate and distinct openings for the introduction of the various elements of the handrail, and with means which shape continuously said elements and arrange them continuously in mutual correct position into elastomeric material.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a vehicle wheel using a flanged rim has a bead structure which provides for a gradual decrease in rigidity between the area of the bead and the sidewall of the tire. The bead has an annular wire, at least one ply of the carcass wound about the wire and extending axially therefrom into the sidewall of the tire and a rubber filler filling the space between the turned-up portion of the ply and that portion on the opposite side of the annular wire. An annular fabric member is disposed over the turned-up portion of the carcass ply and extends beyond the end of the carcass ply into the sidewall of the tire. The rigidities of the metallic fabric and of the filler are balanced against each other so that the rigidity in the bead area of the tire gradually decreases from the bead into the sidewall of the tire. The filler is rubber having a Shore A hardness between 70.degree. and 80.degree. or 100% modulus between 65 and 85 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for receiving a length or section of a tire tread or the like and transferring it to a storage means. The apparatus has a cylindrical member which receives the section from an extruder or other source, inverts the section and deposits it on a first endless conveyor. A second conveyor is looped about the downstream roller of the first endless belt and receives the section from the first belt. A vertically movable carriage has an endless belt which carries the section from the second belt to a storage means. A slide member movable in the same direction as the endless belts is provided for transferring a section from the carriage to a storage surface.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for accurately and readily forming a continuous band of rubberized fabric having transversal reinforcing metal elements by butt-splicing wherein a first and second piece of rubberized fabric having transversal reinforcing metal elements are positioned such that the initial end of the second piece is a predetermined distance from the terminal end of the first piece on a common plane with the reinforcing metal cords running parallel to the ends of the pieces, butt-splicing the pieces, without overlapping, by mutually approaching the pieces, obtaining a uniform accumulation of the rubber of the rubberized fabric about the reinforcing cords as well as a local thickening of the latter at a zone symmetrically situated with respect to the contact surface of the ends and whose width is proportional to the pre-established distance wherein the pieces are bound by the operating parts of the splicing apparatus, releasing the pieces from the operating parts of the splicing apparatus and winding up th

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for a motor vehicle having a tread, beads and a radial carcass combines a carcass having radially disposed cords which extend from about one bead cord to about the other bead cord and having a strip of metal cords which extend substantially perpendicularly to the circumferential axis of the tire, a breaker structural member disposed between the carcass and tread having at least two superimposed layers of cords which are disposed in each layer to cross those of the adjacent layer and a layer of heat shrinkable cords disposed parallel to the equatorial plane of the tire, and a sidewall reinforcing structure of cords which are disposed radially outwardly of the radially disposed cords of the carcass. The cords of the sidewall reinforcing plies are parallel to each other and are inclined at an angle of 20.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to the circumferential line of the tire. The reinforcing ply for the sidewall is folded and the fold is disposed between the carcass and the breaker structure.

Abstract: A reinforcing element, intended in particular for pneumatic tires, and a method for obtaining it, said element consisting of a rubber compound matrix wherein are dispersed individual glass fibers oriented along a preferred direction and having a diameter to length ratio comprised between 1/10 and 1/100.The reinforcing element shows a resistance to compression, in the direction of orientation of the fibers, which is substantially higher both than the resistance measured along any other significantly divergent direction and than the resistance of a like reinforcing element consisting solely of the said rubber compound matrix.

Abstract: A molded cellular polyurethane upholstery article having a flexible inner cellular polyurethane core, a microporous polyurethane skin with predominantly closed cells is provided with a fabric reinforcing material between the skin and core over at least the load bearing portions of the article to improve its resistance to rupture, the fabric being a net having a resistance to perforation as measured by the sphere method, UNI Standard No. 5421-64 of not smaller than 8 kg, and a thickness comprised between 20 and 100 meshes per dm.

Abstract: A composite optical fiber element for telecommunication cables comprising an optical fiber with at least three metal filaments parallel thereto, spaced therefrom and disposed therearound in planes intersecting the fiber and at substantially equal angles to each other. The optical fiber and the filaments are surrounded by and embedded in a synthetic thermoplastic resin material. Filaments of the same diameter are equally spaced from the optical fiber. Individual elements, or groups of such elements in a sheath, may be helically wound around a supporting core to form a telecommunication cable.

Abstract: The beads of a pneumatic tire having sidewalls of a cross-sectional shape, wherein upon inflation the midline thereof between the tread reinforcement and bead is convex with respect to the interior of the tire, are gripped by a rim having an annular channel generally elliptically shaped in cross-section and having its open side directed radially outwardly with respect to the axis of the wheel and inwardly directed annular flanges only partially closing the open side of the channel.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for vehicle wheels is disclosed having an annular substantially inextensible reinforcing structure in the tread and sidewalls which are convexly curved towards the midplane of the tire so that the sidewalls will be placed under compression, wherein the lateral edges of the annular structure extend axially outward with respect to the connection zone between the tread and the sidewalls.

Abstract: A tension resistant structure for driving belts and driving belts containing the tension resistant structure are provided. The tensioning structure comprises laterally spaced cords which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the belt, the cords contain only seven threads of the polyamide, polyester or rayon with at least six of the threads being helically twisted together and disposed concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the cord, the physical characteristics of the cords are such that p (1 + K) = Rd wherein p is the pitch of the spiral of each thread; d is the diameter of the thread; R is between 27.4 and 35.1 and K is 0 to 0.03 when the thread is rayon; 0.01 to 0.07 if the thread is polyester; and 0.01 to 0.1 if the thread is polyamide.