Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an apex or an apex in combination with a bead, the method comprising the steps of: winding a strip of rubber onto a rotatable platen to form an apex, wherein the rotatable platen may further include a radially expandable bead chuck for supporting a bead. The rotatable platen may optionally include a nonstick coating such as titanium nitride and optionally include one or more radially oriented bars. The optional one or more radially oriented bars may be movable into a first position flush with the outer surface of the platen, and movable into a second position that preferably is nonflush and protrudes from the outer surface of the platen. The rotatable platen is further optionally retractable from the bead chuck to facilitate removal of the apex from the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an apex or an apex in combination with a bead, the method comprising the steps of: winding a strip of rubber onto a rotatable platen to form an apex, wherein the rotatable platen may further include a radially expandable bead chuck for supporting a bead. The rotatable platen may optionally include a nonstick coating such as titanium nitride and optionally include one or more radially oriented bars. The optional one or more radially oriented bars may be movable into a first position flush with the outer surface of the platen, and movable into a second position that preferably is nonflush and protrudes from the outer surface of the platen. The rotatable platen is further optionally retractable from the bead chuck to facilitate removal of the apex from the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire apex and bead assembly is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes mounting a bead in a rotatable bead holder, rotating the bead and bead holder and extruding one or more passes of a continuous strip of elastomeric material onto the outer surface of the bead, and shaping the one or more passes of elastomeric material between two opposed rotating rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a blended rubber composition directly onto a tire building drum or core is described. The method includes the steps of extruding a first rubber compound through a main extruder and a main gear pump. A second rubber compound is extruded through a second extruder and into a second gear pump. The output from the second gear pump is fed into the main extruder. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound is varied by adjusting the speed of the main gear pump and the speed of the second gear pump. A continuous strip of rubber formed of said first compound and said second compound is layed directly onto a tire building machine to form a first layer of rubber having a first blend ratio. The speed of the main gear pump and the second gear pump is adjusted to obtain a second blend ratio of said first compound to said second compound, and then a strip of rubber formed of said second blend ratio is applied to the tire building drum or core.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire apex and bead assembly is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes mounting a bead in a rotatable bead holder, rotating the bead and bead holder and extruding one or more passes of a continuous strip of elastomeric material onto the outer surface of the bead, and shaping the one or more passes of elastomeric material between two opposed rotating rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a blended rubber composition directly onto a tire building drum or core is described. A first extruder and a first gear pump for a first compound is provided. A second extruder and a second gear pump for a second compound is provided. The output of the first and second gear pump is fed into the inlet of the main extruder. A third pumping means is provided for pumping an accelerator mixture into the inlet of the main extruder; mixing together said first compound and said second compound and said accelerator mixture in said extruder and applying the mixture onto a tire building drum or core.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply runflat tire is described. The tire has a carcass structure having at least one radial carcass ply, two bead regions, two sidewalls, each sidewall having an upper sidewall portion that connects to the shoulders and being reinforced by an insert, a belt structure between the tread and the carcass, and an air impermeable inner liner formed of a butyl rubber located radially inward of the carcass structure wherein the air impermeable inner liner extends from a first shoulder region to a second shoulder underneath the crown portion of the tire, and does not extend from the shoulder to the bead portion of the tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for separating two or more annular members such as bead assemblies or bead and apex assemblies. First, a flexible member is inserted into the annulus of the annular members. Next, the flexible member is inflated until the outer surface of the flexible member contacts the inner diameter of the annular member. Then the flexible member is axially expanded until the annular members are separated. Then the flexible member is deflated so that the annular members can be removed.

Abstract: A method of forming an elastomeric tire component is provided, comprising the following steps. An apparatus is provided which includes a rotating applicator head and a non-rotating portion. The non-rotating portion has an internal channel having a first end in fluid communication with a gear pump and a second end in fluid communication with a first channel of the rotating applicator head. The first channel is substantially aligned with the Z axis. The rotating applicator head further includes a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel, and wherein the second channel is oriented at an angle with respect to a Y axis and is in fluid communication with a nozzle. The method further includes pumping a strip of elastomeric material through said internal channel and then into said first and second channel, and then through an outlet of said nozzle onto a surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an annular tire component such as a tire bead includes locating a toroidal support; placing an ejector nozzle in an interference relationship to the toroidal support; and simultaneously ejecting through the nozzle a continuous stream of an elastomeric belt component material in a suitably fluid state and a continuous length of at least one thread component disposed within the stream onto the toroidal support in a predetermined bead configuration. The bead configuration is at least partially defined by a relief in the nozzle ejection port and by the toroidal support onto which the bead is formed. Rotation of the toroidal support may be coupled with the simultaneous ejection of the elastomeric component and thread component in order to create an annular bead structure. A tire may be constructed having a desired bead configuration and location by means of the method and apparatus.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for reducing the tension on an elastomeric feed strip. The method includes providing a device for engagement with the feed strip, pushing the feed strip forward by the device when the feed strip stops or when the tension exceeds a certain value, and then pushing the strip in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for separating two or more annular members such as bead assemblies or bead and apex assemblies. First, a flexible member is inserted into the annulus of the annular members. Next, the flexible member is inflated until the outer surface of the flexible member contacts the inner diameter of the annular member. Then the flexible member is axially expanded until the annular members are separated. Then the flexible member is deflated so that the annular members can be removed.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for reducing the tension on an elastomeric feed strip. The method includes providing a device for engagement with the feed strip, pushing the feed strip forward by the device when the feed strip stops or when the tension exceeds a certain value, and then pushing the strip in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 100 for forming an annular elastomeric tire component has the steps of extruding at least one elastomeric material annularly onto a support surface 60 and shaping the at least one strip 2 of elastomeric material to a predetermined profile by forming the at least one strip 2 of material between a shaping die 84 and the support surface 60 thereby smoothing and spreading the strip to the desired profile. The method may include applying additional strips 2 to form multilayered components. The support surface 60 may be separate from a tire building station 200 or may be integral to a tire building station 200. The formed strips may include any one or more tire components such as a sidewall 20, a chafer 30, a bead apex 10, ply stock coatings 40, an innerliner 50, or a tread 22.

Abstract: A method for grounding reinforcement (12) and composites (17) on a calender line reduces static build up on the composite (17), and makes it possible to subject a wire reinforced composite to electron beam processing (EBP). The method employs a slip ring (36) attached to rolls which contact composite (17) on the calender (11), and reinforcement (12) before it reaches the calender (11), wherein the slip ring (36) rotates with the rolls while the rolls are working polymer into the reinforcement, and a terminal (34) connected to the slip ring (36) remains stationary, and the terminal (34) is attached to ground (27). The method effectively grounds the composite as well as the reinforcement to prevent electrical discharge during EBP.