Abstract: An apparatus is used in the manufacture of a pneumatic tire. The apparatus includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of arcuate segments defining an arc of a cylindrical surface such that the arcuate segments collectively define the cylindrical surface and the arcuate segments are supported for movement radially relative to the longitudinal axis for adjusting the circumference of the cylindrical surface. Each arcuate segment includes at least one of two side sections of each arcuate segment having a row of spaced fingers corresponding in a fitted arrangement with gaps of an adjacent arcuate segment such that, as the circumference is adjusted and the side sections of each segment hingedly move relative to an intermediate section about a corresponding pivot axis, the fingers move into and out of the gaps provided between the fingers of the adjacent arcuate segment. The fingers and gaps both are tapered at a taper angle relative to the circumferential direction of the apparatus.

Abstract: Tire including a continuous pressure membrane. The tire includes a carcass, a rubber layer surrounding the carcass, and a belt. The carcass includes at least one continuous pressure membrane defining a generally U-shaped cross section. The pressure membrane includes a crown portion, a first sidewall portion, and a second sidewall portion connected with the first sidewall portion by the crown portion. The belt may be composed of at least one additional continuous pressure membrane adjacent the crown portion.

Abstract: A tire building system includes a first loop of travel track, a plurality of first carriage housings movably mounted on the first loop, a second loop of travel track, a plurality of second carriage housings movably mounted on the second loop, and a first transfer station of the first loop and a second transfer station of the second loop for interrelating the first loop and the second loop.

Abstract: A bead core-apex subassembly comprises an annular bead core, a flipper and an apex. The flipper is wrapped about the bead core such that it encloses the bead core. The apex is in contact with the flipper and comprises at least a first segment and a second segment, the first segment having a composition different from the composition of the second segment. A method comprises the steps of providing an annular bead core; wrapping a flipper about the annular bead core; positioning the bead core with the flipper on a rotatable support surface; providing a nozzle in fluid communication with a pumping or extrusion device; rotating the support surface about an axis; and discharging a rubber compound through the nozzle onto the rotating support surface and forming an apex from the discharged rubber compound, the apex being attached to the flipper.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a rubber compound is disclosed. The process comprises providing a multiple shaft extruder device; feeding the multiple shaft extruder device with at least one polymer raw material or with a mixture of at least two different polymer raw materials; feeding the multiple shaft extruder device with at least one further raw material; mixing the at least one polymer raw material or the mixture of the different polymer raw materials and the at least one further raw material in the multiple shaft extruder device to prepare a rubber compound; and extruding the rubber compound from the multiple shaft extruder device. A plurality of multiple shaft extruder devices may be used in parallel or in sequence.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for manufacturing a rubber compound is disclosed. The mixing apparatus comprises a plurality of multiple shaft extruder devices, each comprising at least one inlet for receiving a plurality of materials to be fed into the extruder device and an outlet for discharging a mixed material extruded by the extruder device. The multiple shaft extruder devices are either arranged in such a way that operatively the extrudate of at least one of the plurality of multiple shaft extruder devices can be fed into the inlet of at least one other of plurality of multiple shaft extruder devices, or are arranged to operate in parallel in such a way that operatively the extrudates of the plurality of multiple shaft extruder devices can be fed together into the inlet of at least one further mixing device.

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: Tire including a continuous pressure membrane. The tire includes a carcass, a rubber layer surrounding the carcass, and a belt. The carcass includes at least one continuous pressure membrane defining a generally U-shaped cross section. The pressure membrane includes a crown portion, a first sidewall portion, and a second sidewall portion connected with the first sidewall portion by the crown portion. The belt may be composed of at least one additional continuous pressure membrane adjacent the crown portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a mixtures of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising: a first extruder and a first gear pump for a first compound; a second extruder and a second gear pump for a second compound, a third extruder and a third gear pump for an accelerator mixture; a mixing device for mixing together said first compound and said second compound and said accelerator mixture, wherein said mixing device is located downstream of said first, second and third extruders and said first, second and third gear pumps.

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 second gear pump is fed into the main extruder. A third gear pump is provided for adding an accelerator mixture; mixing together said first compound and said second compound and said accelerator mixture.

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 laid 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 tread comprising two or more layers of rubber is described. The method includes the steps of: extruding a rubber compound through an extruder and a gear pump and mixing with an accelerant and then applying a continuous strip of rubber directly onto a tire building machine to form a first layer of rubber having a first cure rate; adjusting the amount of accelerant to obtain a second cure rate different than said first cure rate, and then applying a strip of rubber having a second cure rate onto the tire building machine, wherein one of the cure rates is faster than the other cure rate.

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 may include the steps of: (a) providing a tire mold; (b) providing an extruder operatively connected to a head with a die assembly; (c) inserting at least a first compound into the first extruder; (d) forming an extrudate from the die assembly; (e) applying the extrudate directly from the die assembly into the tire mold to form a tire tread component; and, (f) controlling movement of the tire mold to correspond to the extrudate delivery.

Abstract: A method for analyzing and controlling the formation of a green tire component by component on a target region of a curved build surface includes: measuring in three dimensions each component on the target region by rotating the build surface past at least one optical scanner. The optical scanner directs a sheet or a plurality of sheets of light against a target region of the rotating build surface; and measures component by component build-up on the target region surface for component dimensional, positional, and mass parameters. Component by component measurements are made in three-dimensions by rotation of the target regions through the optical sheets of light and feedback from component measurements may be used to correct for tire imbalance and uniformity anomalies on a real-time basis.

Abstract: A gear pump for moving elastomeric material includes a housing, a first beveled gear, a second beveled gear, and a drive mechanism. The housing has first and second side plates, an internal gear chamber, a material inlet communicating with the chamber, and a material outlet communicating with the chamber. The first beveled gear is disposed within the chamber. The first beveled gear is rotatably mounted about a first axis of rotation to the housing. The second beveled gear is disposed within the chamber. The second beveled gear is rotatably mounted about a second axis of rotation to the housing. The second beveled gear engages the first beveled gear such that rotation of the first beveled gear in a first direction affects rotation of the second beveled gear in a second opposite direction. The first axis of rotation is parallel to the second axis of rotation. The drive mechanism directly drives rotation of the first beveled gear and simultaneously and indirectly drives rotation of the second beveled gear.

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.