Abstract: An assembly for processing bead-apexes includes a weighing device for measuring the weight of one of the bead-apexes and at least one station for supplying or receiving the bead-apexes to or from the weighing device in a supply direction or a discharge direction, respectively. The assembly further includes a frame for supporting the at least one station, wherein the weighing device has a weighing member for receiving and supporting one of the bead-apexes and a base member connected to and forming a base for the weighing member. The weighing device is arranged for measuring the weight of the one bead-apex on the weighing member, while the weighing member is arranged for keeping the one bead-apex stationary during the weighing, while the frame of the assembly and the base member of the weighing device are supported independently.

Abstract: The present invention forms bead apex rubber with good precision on the outer circumferential surface of the bead core. A molding process, in which unvulcanized rubber is made to flow into a bead apex molding chamber that is surrounded by surfaces that include the outer circumferential surface of a circular bead core and the bead apex rubber is formed directly on the outer circumferential surface of the bead core that is rotating around the core axis, is provided. The molding process comprises: a tip forming step that forms the leading end of the bead apex rubber; a middle section forming step that sequentially forms the bead apex rubber to be continuous with the leading end; and a joining step to join the back end and the leading end of the bead apex rubber by inflowing the unvulcanized rubber therebetween.

Abstract: A bead core formation apparatus includes a former, a guide device, and a clamping device. The former includes a circumferentially extending groove around which a steel wire is wound. The guide device guides the steel wire to the former. The clamping device is coupled to the former to clamp the distal end of the steel wire. The clamping device includes a first wall and a second wall that hold the steel wire in between to clamp the steel wire. The first wall is movable between a position where the first wall is opposed to the second wall and a position where the first wall is not opposed to the second wall. The guide device includes a steel wire moving portion that moves the distal end of the steel wire from a position separated from the second wall to a position adjacent to the second wall.

Abstract: A process and a drum for looping annular anchoring structures in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes: depositing a loop on a drum including a radially expandable/contractible intermediate annular portion and, in a position axially adjacent to the opposite axial ends of the intermediate annular portion, a pair of radially expandable/contractible lateral annular portions; associating an annular anchoring structure with a radially outer annular surface portion of the loop defined at the intermediate annular portion; and turning up each of opposite end edges of the loop on the annular anchoring structure through the lateral annular portions as a result of a thrusting stress imparted by a respective lateral annular portion of the pair of lateral annular portions because of a synchronous radial movement and a synchronous axial displacement of a respective plurality of circumferentially adjacent first angular sectors.

Abstract: A bead-apex assembly system comprising a bead forming system and an apex application system. In one embodiment, a supporting assembly is located at least partially between the bead forming system and the apex application system, and the supporting assembly is adapted to move an annular bead ring from the bead forming system to the apex application system.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tire bead may include a rotatable bead former having a front portion and a back portion. The rotatable bead former may include a first step with a first diameter, the first step having at least a first bead-engaging surface circumnavigating an axis and configured to receive a first tire bead, and a second step located closer to the back portion than the first step, the second step having a second diameter different than the first diameter, and the second step having a second bead-engaging surface circumnavigating the axis and configured to receive a second tire bead.

Abstract: A method for annularly mounting a band-like filler to the outer periphery of a bead core comprises a step for attaching the filler to the outer periphery of the bead core, a step for grasping the opposite ends of the filler and separating the opposite ends of the filler from the outer periphery of the bead core, a step for sequentially attaching the opposite end surfaces of the filler to each other from the inner peripheral sections of the opposite end surfaces toward the outer peripheral sections thereof, and a step for pressing the portion of the filler, which has been separated from the outer periphery of the bead core, against the outer periphery of the bead core.

Abstract: Production of carcass structures and/or production of crown structures includes: positioning a first continuous elongated element so that its end stretch is aligned with a cutting position; positioning a second continuous elongated element so that its end stretch is in side by side relationship with the end stretch of the first continuous elongated element; forming first strip-like elements from the first continuous elongated element; depositing the first strip-like elements on at least one forming drum; translating the end stretches of the first and second continuous elongated element in a transverse direction relative to their longitudinal extension to align the end stretch of the second continuous elongated element to said cutting position; forming second strip-like elements from the second continuous elongated element; and depositing the second strip-like elements on said at least one forming drum.

Abstract: A press-up member presses a movable member upward, thus raising a pressing member. A support block is moved forward by means of the press-up member and a moved member. Due to the cam action brought about by such movement, the pressing member is arranged above a filler on a balloon of a molding drum. Then, the press-up member is lowered to press a distal end section of the filler onto the balloon. In this state, the molding drum is rotated to mold the filler in an annular shape. The pressing member is then separated from the filler and the pressing member is arranged at a standby position outside the molding drum. The press-up member and the moved member are separable from each other and, in the separated state, the molding drum is independently rotatable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulverulent adhesive for textile reinforcing inserts, which is dispersible in water, for the production of reinforced rubber products. The adhesive thereby comprises an at least partially capped, low-molecular isocyanate, a wetting agent, a binder and also possibly further additives.

Abstract: The present invention forms bead apex rubber with good precision on the outer circumferential surface of the bead core. A molding process, in which unvulcanized rubber is made to flow into a bead apex molding chamber that is surrounded by surfaces that include the outer circumferential surface of a circular bead core and the bead apex rubber is formed directly on the outer circumferential surface of the bead core that is rotating around the core axis, is provided. The molding process comprises: a tip forming step that forms the leading end of the bead apex rubber; a middle section forming step that sequentially forms the bead apex rubber to be continuous with the leading end; and a joining step to join the back end and the leading end of the bead apex rubber by inflowing the unvulcanized rubber therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supporting an annular bead core-apex subassembly, the apparatus comprising a spacer disc for supporting the annular bead core-apex subassembly, and a clamping device comprising a supporting surface for supporting the spacer disc, as well as a plurality of clamping elements for selectively clamping the spacer disc to the supporting surface. The clamping elements are movable between an expanded position in which the spacer disc is clamped to the supporting surface, and a retracted position in which the spacer disc is released and can be lifted from the supporting surface. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a system comprising a respective apparatus for supporting an annular bead core-apex subassembly as well as the subassembly. Finally, the present invention is also directed to a method of transporting an annular bead core-apex subassembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a tire bead transfer ring and a transfer method thereof. The tire bead transfer ring and the transfer method adopts a complete magnetic attachment method and a photoelectric detection approach to improve the stability of picking, clamping and transferring of tire beads, prevent tire beads from slippage and deformation and ensure the coaxiality and verticality between tire beads and a tire building drum. The tire bead transfer ring comprises a left semi-ring (1) and a right semi-ring (2) which are capable of separating and attaching in opposite directions, wherein the left semi-ring (1) and the right semi-ring (2) are arranged on a vertical mounting base (3) which is capable of achieving a reciprocating movement by slide guides arranged on the top part of the mounting base. A protruding boss (13) in the shape of a semi-ring is respectively arranged on the left semi-ring (1) and the right semi-ring (2) along the inner diameter thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire having laminated reinforcement layers with organic fiber over a bead core, and in the layer, a rubber-coated organic fiber cord is tilted to the center line of the bead core in a transverse section and is spirally coiled, in which each organic fiber cord in an inner and outer adjacent reinforcement layers over the bead core extends such that an organic fiber cord in the inner reinforcement layer and an organic fiber cord in the outer reinforcement layer intersect each other relative to the center line of the bead core in the transverse section, in which in the inner reinforcement layer, the cord is coiled with space at least partially in a tire circumferential direction such that the cord does not overlap in the tire circumferential direction, and the outer reinforcement layer is arranged to cover at least a part of the space.

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: An intermediate article of manufacture formed as a first stage bead area subassembly for a split ply pneumatic tire carcass is disclosed. The bead area subassembly has an annular bead core; a bead apex; a ply strip; and preferably a sidewall affixed to the ply strip. The subassembly is formed into a disk-shaped bead area monocomponent. The ply strip is wrapped about the bead core and the apex to form a ply turnup and both the ply strip and the ply turnup extend radially outwardly from the bead core. The bead area subassembly when formed into the disk-shaped bead area monocomponent is placed on an annular holder device. The combination of the bead area monocomponent on the holder device can be stacked for storage and latter assembly into a split ply carcass. Preferably, the ply turnup can be oriented extending inside or axially inward of the bead core on final assembly to form a split ply tire having axially inside turnups.

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: In a bead manufacturing method and bead manufacturing device, a former rotatably supported on a support base and pivotably holds opposite end portions of a plurality of elastically deformable spring members arranged on an outer circumference thereof with gaps in a circumferential direction for annularly winding a bead filler around the spring members, an actuation mechanism is provided for curving the spring members in the radial directions of the former, and a bead core holding portion is arranged at one end side of the former for holding a bead core. When the spring members are elastically deformed outward in the radial directions of the former to a semicircular shape, the bead filler annularly wound around the spring members are raised up to fixedly fit a short bottom side thereof on the outer circumference of the bead core held at one end side of the former.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord, wherein, while rotating an annular core at a fixed position in a peripheral direction, a reel, upon which a lateral wire is wound, repeatedly performs a pendulum swinging movement and a perpendicular movement with respect to the annular core, thereby spirally winding the lateral wire upon the annular core to form a sheath layer. When forming the sheath layer, a fulcrum of the pendulum swinging movement of the reel is determined so that, with reference to a tangential line of a circle of the annular core passing through a winding point where the lateral wire is wound upon the annular core, the lateral wire is wound upon the winding point of the annular core within 15 degrees at a position above the tangential line and within a range of 55 degrees at a position below the tangential line.

Abstract: A method for winding up and splicing a tire building component, comprising placing the tire building component on a winding drum having a winding drum main axis and an inclinationally-adjustable surface, which is adjustable in inclination relative to the winding drum main axis, rotating the winding drum to rotationally symmetrically wind up the tire building component, and splicing together free ends of the tire building component to form a closed ring.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming bead members (D), capable of improving the working efficiency by allowing switching to the bead members with different widths in short a time. The apparatus includes sector segments (24) having first sidewalls (61-64) of bead member forming grooves (72, 73), and arcuate members (51) arranged on the outer side of the sector segments (24), and having second sidewalls (68-71) of the bead member forming grooves (72, 73). The arcuate members (51) are axially moved by a changing means, to change the distance between the first sidewalls (61-64) and the second sidewalls (68-71) of the bead member forming grooves (72, 73). Thus, when bead members (D) of a different width (winding turns of bead element S) are to be formed, the width of the of the bead members bead member forming grooves (72, 73) can be changed easily, without requiring replacement of the sector segments (24).

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: In a forming method for forming an assembly of a bead core and an apex rubber, there is used a rotating body which comprises a rotating base substance having an assembly forming surface, and a core receiving portion projecting from the rotating base substance in the axially outward direction of the rotating base substance. The core receiving portion projecting has a receiving surface supporting the radially inner peripheral surface of the bead core. The apex rubber is formed by winding an unvulcanized rubber strip along the assembly forming surface from a starting position constituted by the radially outer peripheral surface of the bead core supported on the receiving surface so as to laminate in a tapered cross sectional shape.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for butt-jointing edges of an elastic material sheet is disclosed. The elastic material sheet is supported such that the two edges to be butt-jointed are oppositely opposed. By moving a pair of counterrotating conical surfaces along the edges, the surfaces of the edges portions are drawn toward the center between the two edges so that the edges are butt-jointed. Between the conical surfaces, a small space is provided so as to form a small rib-like protrusion along the butt-joint. Then, the small rib-like protrusion of the elastic material is pressed down to flatten. Therefore, at the butt-joint interface, the elastic material irregularly interfuses to increase the strength of the butt-joint.

Abstract: There are provided an annular concentric stranded bead cord which can realize a reduction in weight while ensuring its strength, a method for manufacturing the same and a vehicle tire. The manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord by forming a sheath layer by winding spirally a lateral wire round an annular core. After the sheath layer has been formed, the lateral wire is annealed in a pressure-reduced inactive gaseous atmosphere with an annealing quantity which exceeds a heating quantity (temperature×time) which is necessary for vulcanization of a vehicle tire with the annular concentric stranded bead cord embedded in a rubber of the vehicle tire when building the same and is shaped so that “Diameter shaping ratio (%)=H/D×100” becomes 20% or larger and 105% or smaller.

Abstract: In forming a green tire by arranging a plurality of carcass cords on a support member and disposing bead cores, the carcass cords are precisely and accurately disposed at predetermined positions. A plurality of carcass cords (C) are arranged over the entire circumference of a core (21), and the ends thereof are attached to the end holding means (30) so that the ends are held at positions distant from each other axially outward of the core (21) in a stretched state between the core (21) and themselves. Bead cores (60) are moved from the outside of the carcass cords (C) toward bead molding portions (24) of the core (21), are brought into contact with the carcass cords (C) held at the ends, and are pressed against the core (21).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a noise damper, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for fixing the damper to the tire are disclosed. The inner surface of the tread portion of the vulcanized tire is buffed, and the noise damper is fixed to the buffed inner surface, using a double-sided adhesive tape which has specific characteristics such as adhesive force, tensile strength, thickness, cold-resistant property, heat-resistant property and water-resistant property.

Abstract: A filler rubber being triangular-shaped in cross section can be held in an upright posture to be stuck to an outer peripheral surface of a bead core and a leading end and a trailing end can be butted against each other to be joined without the generation of crack. A filler rubber (F) is held in an upright posture to be wound around an outer peripheral surface of a bead core (C) supported by a rotary support body (10), and in joining a leading end (F1) and a trailing end (F2) of the filler rubber cut to a predetermined length, the neighborhood of the leading end and the neighborhood of the trailing end, respectively, are interposed by first and second interposing means (50), (70), and one (50) of the interposing means is displaced toward the other from a state, in which the leading end (F1) and the trailing end (F2) are opposed to each other whereby end surfaces of the leading end (F1) and the trailing end (F2) are butted against each other.

Abstract: A bead filler material having a generally toric shape is produced by winding and laminating a ribbon-like rubber strip. In conjunction with completing the production of the bead filler material, in order to form linear grooves radially extending on a surface of one side of the bead filler material in the thickness direction and contributing to smooth discharge of air, the ribbon-like rubber strip is helically winded and laminated around a bead core which is concentrically arranged on a rotatable base, thereby transferring radially extending linear projections provided on the rotatable base to a surface of the bead filler material contacting the rotatable base to form the linear grooves over the whole circumference of the bead filler material.

Abstract: Tire bead rubber compositions and tire beads made therewith are provided having good dimensional stability, processability and wire adhesion Tire bead rubber compositions containing crosslinked styrene butadiene rubber are also provided having good dimensional stability, processability and wire adhesion. Methods for manufacturing tire beads and tires using dimensionally stale compositions are further provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes: a) building in a building station a substantially cylindrical carcass structure including at least one carcass ply operatively associated with annular anchoring structures axially spaced apart from each other; b) manufacturing in a finishing station a substantially cylindrical sleeve including a tread band applied at a radially outer position with respect to a belt structure including at least one belt layer including reinforcing cords; b1) assembling a first belt structure at a first working position on a first auxiliary drum of the finishing station; b2) applying a tread band at at least one second working position with respect to a second belt structure on at least one second auxiliary drum by laying down green elastomeric material; b3) positioning the first auxiliary drum supporting the first belt structure at the second working position; b4) positioning the second auxiliary drum supporting the substantially cylindrical sleeve at a picking posi

Abstract: A tire with a tire bead having a cross sectional profile including a relatively wide base section and a top section that is tapered on at least one side, with the tire bead being embedded directly in the tire body without the use of an extension. Also, a tire with a tire bead having a cross sectional profile including a relatively wide base section and a top section with one tapered side and one untapered side, with the tire bead being embedded in the tire body along with an extension. Also, a method of building a tire where the tire bead and extension are assembled into the tire body at the tire building drum of the tire assembly machine, and the tire bead and extension are not pre-assembled prior to being introduced onto or into the tire body.

Abstract: Tire designed to be mounted on a mounting rim comprising rim seats 11 that are inclined outwards. This tire comprises beads 1 designed to come into contact with the mounting rim, each bead having a circumferential reinforcing element which serves to anchor to a carcass reinforcement, this element having a center of rotation about which this element is able to rotate while the bead is being mounted on the rim.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord, wherein, while rotating an annular core at a fixed position in a peripheral direction, a reel, upon which a lateral wire is wound, repeatedly performs a pendulum swinging movement and a perpendicular movement with respect to the annular core, thereby spirally winding the lateral wire upon the annular core to form a sheath layer. When forming the sheath layer, a fulcrum of the pendulum swinging movement of the reel is determined so that, with reference to a tangential line of a circle of the annular core passing through a winding point where the lateral wire is wound upon the annular core, the lateral wire is wound upon the winding point of the annular core within 15 degrees at a position above the tangential line and within a range of 55 degrees at a position below the tangential line.

Abstract: A method of forming a bead filler (10) by laminating a rubber ribbon (11) on a bead core (12) in a direction from the radially inner side to the radially outer side. The rubber ribbon (11) has a portion forming the radially innermost layer of the bead filler (10), which is thicker than its portion forming the radially outermost layer. A tip end (19) of the bead filler having a sharp shape can be accurately formed, thereby allowing an efficient formation of a bead filler (10) having a complicated cross sectional shape, or a bead filler (10) comprised of two or more kinds of rubber.

Abstract: A chipper and apex subassembly 100 as an intermediate article of manufacture in a pneumatic tire has an apex strip 30 formed as a continuous elastomeric strip of unvulcanized material having a bottom base portion 31 and two opposing sides 33, 34 extending towards the narrow outer tip 32 and a chipper ply strip 40 reinforced with parallel cords oriented on a bias angle relative to the length of the strip cojoined to the apex 30 along the length of the strips and attached to one side of the unvulcanized apex strips on an outer surface. The chipper 40 is spaced from the bottom base portion 31 of the apex 30 and extends widthwise towards the narrow outer tip 32 to form a subassembly 100 of a chipper 40 and apex 30 as an intermediate article of manufacture. Additionally the subassembly 100 can be attached to bead core 12 to make a subassembly 200 as a further intermediate article of manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cable bead, the method of constructing the cable bead and a tire constructed by a process incorporating the cable bead wherein the cable bead is formed with a bead core wound from a single filament of bead core wire having a rubber or elastomeric coating, first annular wrap of bead wrapping wire helically wound around the bead core, and a coating of lubricant or fatty acid disposed about the bead core.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing tire bead cores, in which a bead wire extending tangentially relative to a bead core winding drum is guided by a guide means that extends radially relative to the winding drum, and the guide means is moved toward clamp jaws of a chuck to cause a translation movement of the bead wire to a position between the clamp jaws, for clamping a leading end of the bead wire by the chuck. The winding drum is rotated together with the chuck so that the bead wire with its leading end clamped by the chuck is helically wound in a circumferential groove of the winding drum as a plurality of layers, thereby forming a bead core having a predetermined cross-section. The segments are then synchronously moved radially inwards, so as to reduce an outer diameter of the winding drum to a value smaller than the inner diameter of the bead core.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a pneumatic tire (300) with oppositely disposed annularly-shaped beads (324) for mounting on flange shoulders (304) of a wheel rim (302) with the opposed beads (324) spaced apart from one another by a distance “i”. The process comprises the steps of: forming a green tire assembly (308) including a tread (312), and a carcass (316) with a ply (320) and opposed sidewalls (318) that each include a radial inner-end bead portion (322) with one of the beads (324) and wherein each bead portion (322) is spaced apart from one another by a distance “f”. The green tire assembly (308) is cured by applying pressure thereto at an elevated temperature in a vulcanization mold (400). The process is characterized by the steps of spacing the opposed beads (324) apart from one another by a distance “g” which is substantially equal to the distance “f” therebetween when the green tire assembly (308) was formed.

Abstract: A system for producing tires having a toroidal carcass, a tread and defined internally by two annular beads. The system includes a production line for manufacturing the tires and a control station for measuring the electrical conductivity of each tire. The production line includes a conveyor which transports the tires between successive parts of the system. A pair of gripping bodies engages the bead portion of the tires and moves the tires vertically from a start position to a measuring position. At least one of the gripping bodies being electrically connected to a first terminal of a measuring instrument. A conducting element is electrically connected to a second terminal of the measuring instrument and is moved into contact with the tread of the tires. The measuring instrument measures the electrical conductivity between the tread and the bead portion of the tires.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a tire bead core (40) by winding a length of wire into a coil with at least one radially outermost layer (30) having a side-by-side relationship where each successive winding of the wire is placed adjacent to the previous winding except for the final two windings (18,19) where the wire of the next to last winding (18) is wound with a uniform gap (43) relative to the previous winding (17) and where the final winding (19) of the wire and its cut end (20) cross over the top of the next to last winding (18) and are pressed into the gap (43) and constrained by the wire of the two previous windings (17, 18).

Abstract: A tire bundle is molded in a mold cavity formed by closing a mold having upper and lower mold halves with intermeshing fingers (20, 24) for enclosing bead wires and providing a molded bead ring for placing in a bead apex mold.

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 bead apex subassembly (2) which is formed simultaneously to the formation of a tire carcass (10) but independent of and spaced near the tire building machine (100) is disclosed. The subassembly (2) is transferred to the tire building drum (5) preassembled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cable bead, the method of constructing the cable bead and a tire constructed by a process incorporating the cable bead wherein the cable bead is formed with a bead core wound from a single filament of bead core wire having a rubber or elastomeric coating, first annular wrap of bead wrapping wire helically wound around the bead core, and a coating of lubricant or fatty acid disposed about the bead core.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing tire bead cores, in which a bead wire extending tangentially relative to a bead core winding drum is guided by a guide means that extends radially relative to the winding drum, and the guide means is moved toward clamp jaws of a chuck to cause a translation movement of the bead wire to a position between the clamp jaws, for clamping a leading end of the bead wire by the chuck. The winding drum is rotated together with the chuck so that the bead wire with its leading end clamped by the chuck is helically wound in a circumferential groove of the winding drum as a plurality of layers, thereby forming a bead core having a predetermined cross-section. The segments are then synchronously moved radially inwards, so as to reduce an outer diameter of the winding drum to a value smaller than the inner diameter of the bead core.

Abstract: A tire includes a toroidal carcass and a tread band. The toroidal carcass includes a central crown and two sidewalls terminating in a pair of annular beads. Each annular bead includes a metallic bead core for anchoring to corresponding bead seats of a wheel rim. The metallic bead cores include at least one annular portion made of a material having characteristics of superelasticity and shape memory. The material having characteristics of superelasticity and shape memory is deformable at ambient temperature in response to a constant force and recovers to an original shape upon removal of the constant force to facilitate mounting the tire on the wheel rim. The wheel rim includes a central cylindrical channel from which branches off, axially and outwardly, from opposite sides, diverging surfaces each terminating in a peripheral flange. The diverging surfaces form the bead seats for respective annular beads of the tire.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band, at least a reinforcing belt between the tread band and the carcass, a pair of bead cores disposed one at each end of the carcass with ends of the carcass wrapped around the pair of bead cores to form a pair of beads, and at least one clamp disposed around each bead core, wherein the at least one clamp is made of a shape-memory material. A bead core including at least one clamp made of a shape-memory material, a method for manufacturing a tire including at least one clamp made of a strip of shape-memory material, and a method for manufacturing a bead core including at least one clamp made of a strip of shape-memory material are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a tire bead (16) with a tape (10) composed of two parallel wires (12a, 12b) having a coating (28) of resilient elastomeric material and connected by a web (14). The tire bead (16) can be built by winding the tape (10) in side by side relation and in successive superposed layers of predetermined widths and with convolutions spanning superposed layers to provide the tire bead (16) of predetermined cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a sub forming an elastomeric extrusion into a bead apex filler and for applying the same to an annular bead (120) to form a bead/apex subassembly for use in the construction of a pneumatic tire. The apex filler (100) is formed from a triangular shaped extrusion (8) that is initially wrapped around a rotating mandrel (40) having a diameter of between about 50% to about 75% of the outer diameter of the annular bead to which the filler is attached. A helical former (50, 60) disposed around the mandrel causes the extrusion to move in a helical path as it traverses the mandrel. As the extrusion is removed from the mandrel, the extrusion is sufficiently uncoiled to relieve and compressive or tensile stresses. Then, the partially uncoiled extrusion is wrapped around the outer periphery of the bead to form a bead/apex filler subassembly (118) which is substantially without compressive or tensile stresses when mounted onto the tire being constructed.