Abstract: A first electric machine is controlled by a first pulse-width modulated control signal output by a first inverter and having a first signal parameter, and a second electric machine is controlled by means of a second pulse-width modulated control signal output by a second inverter and having a second signal parameter. The first signal parameter is output from the first inverter to the second inverter via a separate synchronization line. A third pulse-width modulated control signal having a third signal parameter is modulated by the second inverter. The third signal parameter is determined based on the first signal parameter and a predeterminable synchronization parameter. The third pulse-width modulated control signal having the third signal parameter is output by the second inverter to the second electric machine. The first pulse-width modulated control signal and the third pulse-width modulated control signal have a phase relationship predeterminable by the predeterminable synchronization parameter.

Abstract: A tire 10 has a composite ply 40. The composite ply 40 has a primary ply 40A reinforced with parallel inextensible cords 41 and a pair of ply extensions 40B having synthetic cords. The method of manufacturing the tire 10 is described. The tire 10 can be made as a runflat type tire.

Abstract: A tire 10 has a composite ply 40. The composite ply 40 has a primary ply 40A reinforced with parallel inextensible cords 41 and a pair of ply extensions 40B having synthetic cords. The method of manufacturing the tire 10 is described. The tire 10 can be made as a runflat type tire.

Abstract: A tire 10 has a composite ply 40. The composite ply 40 has a primary ply 40A reinforced with parallel inextensible cords 41 and a pair of ply extensions 40B having synthetic cords. The method of manufacturing the tire 10 is described. The tire 10 can be made as a runflat type tire.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly and method for conveying and storing a strip material in a conveyor system that is subject to changes in length of the strip material due to intermittent operation includes an upper conveyor (16), an adjustable substantially horizontal center conveyor (22) for receiving the strip material (34) from the upper conveyor, and a lower conveyor (28) for receiving the associated strip material from the center conveyor. A computer (94) controls the movement and rotation of the center conveyor, and loop detecting apparatus on the center conveyor may also detect a loop (90) in the strip material carried by the center conveyor and thereby detecting changes in length of the strip material not predetermined by the computer. A servomechanism (100) activated by signals from the computer or the loop detecting apparatus moves the center conveyor in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A tire 10 has a composite ply 40. The composite ply 40 has a primary ply 40A reinforced with parallel inextensible cords 41 and a pair of ply extensions 40B having synthetic cords. The method of manufacturing the tire 10 is described. The tire 10 can be made as a runflat type tire.

Abstract: A tire assembly method and apparatus are disclosed which utilize at least two rotatable turrets (16, 18) that each have two drums (26, 28, 58, 60) and at least one transfer unit (156) for transferring tire components from one turret to another. The preferred embodiment of the invention features three turrets (16, 18, 20) and two transfer units (156, 170), wherein a carcass band is assembled on the drums of a first turret (16) the tread package is assembled on a third turret (20), and the complete tire carcass is assembled on a second turret (18), in between the first and third turrets. Simultaneous, continuous and sequential building and assembly of tire carcass bands and tread packages for a plurality of tires is provided by the method and apparatus of this invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an elongated body of elastomeric material includes a tensioned wire which is oscillated in a generally up and down motion while traversing through the elastomeric material. The wire acts as a cutting blade and prepares the cut surface of the elastomeric material to improve splices. The wire is suspended between a pair of pivotally mounted arms so that the wire oscillates as the arms are rocked by an eccentric mounted to a rotating shaft. The cutter wire passes through the body of elastomeric material at an angle relative to the plane in which the body of elastomeric material lies. The body of elastomeric material is secured in place by clamp segments which conform themselves to the cross-sectional shape of the body. The cutter wire is traversed through the elastomeric material on a cutter frame which is moved by a ball screw driven by a variable speed electric motor.

Abstract: Tire components are assembled on a tire building drum by laying a first liner on a surface of the drum, positioning first sidewall inserts below the cylindrical surface of the drum and around the drum at insert locations spaced from each end of the drum, laying a first carcass ply around the drum, positioning second inserts over the first ply at the insert locations, laying a second carcass over the first ply and the second inserts, positioning beads at each end of the drum, expanding the drum to increase the diameter of the cylindrical surface of the drum and provide shoulders at each end of the drum, turning edges of the first ply and the second ply over each of the beads, positioning a belt and tread assembly around the second ply, and contracting the drum for removal of the assembled tire components from the drum. The inserts are positioned in grooves extending radially inwardly in the outer surface of the building drum.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10, 40) having a belt reinforcing structure (24) located between the carcass (12) and the tread portion (20) is reinforced with an overlay belt (30) located between the belt reinforcing structure (24) and the tread (20). The overlay belt (30) has a plurality of parallel cords (32) oriented at an angle with respect to the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire. The angle of the cords (32) is between 9.degree. to 24.degree. degrees. The overlay can be used by itself or in conjunction with a pair of belt reinforcing strips (42) located radially outwardly along both axial edges (46, 48) of one of the belts (26, 28) of the belt reinforcing structure (24). The belt reinforcing strips (42) also contain a plurality of cords (50) oriented at an angle of from 9.degree. to 24.degree. with respect to the equatorial plane of the tires.

Abstract: A method of making a belt overlay structure for a pneumatic tire is provided. In the method, a belt structure is wrapped circumferentially around a cylinder which is secured to a rotatable shaft, and a ribbon comprising an elastomeric substance containing side-by-side textile cords extending longitudinally in the ribbon is provided on a let-off means. A first end of the ribbon is adhered to the outermost belt ply in close proximity to the axial center line of the belt structure, and the cylinder is rotated while ribbon is supplied from the let-off device. The let-off device first traverses to a first lateral edge of the belt structure where the lateral movement of the let-off means stops while the cylinder continues to rotate and the let-off means continues to supply ribbon.

Abstract: A speed rated tire (10) is provided with an overlay structure (20) disposed radially outwardly of the belt structure (17). The overlay structure comprises a single ribbon (22) of side-by-side textile cords spirally wrapped about the belt structure such that both ends of the ribbon are in close proximity to the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire, while the axial width of the overlay structure is at least equal to that of the belt structure. The number of radial layers of cords in the overlay structure being greater at the axial edges of the belt structure than the average number of radial layers of cords in the remainder of the overlay structure. A method of manufacturing such an overlay structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (1) comprises a radial carcass (2), a tread portion (7) and a belt reinforcing structure (8) extending circumferentially around the carcass (2). Disposed radially outwardly of the belt reinforcing structure (8) is a textile reinforced overlay structure (9) having substantially circumferentially extending cords (10). The overlay structure (9) is composed of a series of helical convolutions of a textile ribbon (11) whereby adjacent helical convolutions of the textile ribbon (11) overlap. There is further disclosed a method of applying multiple layers of a single continuous helically wound textile ribbon (11) in a single continuous operation from one axial side to the other axial side of the belt reinforcing structure (8).

Abstract: A method of reducing the lateral force variation exerted by a rotating pneumatic tire on its supporting surface, which method comprises mounting the tire on a rotatable rim, inflating the tire to a preselected pressure, urging the tire against a load roll with a preselected force, rotating the tire to determine the lateral force variation, grinding the axially outer rib of the tire on the side of the tire in the direction of the maximum lateral force at the point of the maximum lateral force and grinding the other axially outer rib at the point of maximum variation from the maximum lateral force.