Tire Body Building Type Patents (Class 156/394.1)
  • Patent number: 11260613
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing mold comprises a sidewall ring for molding a sidewall portion of a tire. The sidewall ring is composed of a main body provided with a circumferentially extending groove, and mold pieces mounted in the groove so as to be adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Between the mold pieces and/or between the main body and the mold pieces, there are formed micro-gaps for discharging gas existing in the tire vulcanizing mold so as to communicate with exhaust flow paths extending from the groove toward the outside of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Nozomi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11207808
    Abstract: A mold assembly for producing a part includes a first section, a second section movably coupled to the first section, and a cavity defined by the first section and the second section, the cavity being shaped to receive a part while the first section and the second section are movably coupled to each other. The mold assembly includes a joint formed by adjacent surfaces of the first section and the second section and a seal extending along the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Patent number: 10870247
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes a side mold 14 having a side molding surface 20 for molding a side wall portion. The side mold 14 includes: a side mold body 24 having recesses 30 provided in the side molding surface 20; a side piece 26 fitted into the recess 30 to form a vent gap 28 with a wall surface of the recess; and a replacement piece 44 for displaying information closely fitted into a mounting hole 42 provided in the side molding surface 20 without a gap therebetween. The replacement piece 44 is provided in the side piece 26 or in the side mold body 24 so as not to span the side piece 26 and the side mold body 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10857700
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a tire comprising at least one component having a surface coated with a liquid release layer, a process for preparing a tire having at least one component with a surface coated with a release layer, and a cured tire comprising a tire body at least one component with a surface coated with a release layer. The release layer comprises at least one silicone rubber and at least one adhesive polymer which may be present in latex form in the liquid release layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Craig R. Balnis
  • Patent number: 10857748
    Abstract: A tire production device is provided for pressure bonding products that are presented in a product profile (120) on a forming drum surface. The device includes a multidisc roller system (100) having a frame (102) relative to which a plurality of disc assemblies (104, 104?) are disposed along a common axis. Each disc assembly includes an actuatable arm 106 that is linearly displaceable relative to the frame, a pair of removably attached demi-discs (110, 110?) and a bearing (112) that accommodates rotation of the demi-discs (110). An actuator is associated with each disc assembly (104, 104?) for bringing the disc assemblies (104, 104?) into and out of contact with the product profile (120). A method is also provided for assembling tire components for the manufacture of tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Cedric Astier, Henri-Alexandre Oursaire
  • Patent number: 10850432
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing mold is disclosed capable of accurately providing a clearance, from which air existing between a green tire and a side mold is released, on a side shaping surface and thereby preventing shaping defect. The tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces, each of which shapes a sidewall of a tire. Each of the side molds includes a side mold main body, plural pieces, and a clearance provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. The side mold main body includes plural recesses, each of which is closed in a tire circumferential direction and a tire radial direction and is opened to a side shaping surface, at spaced intervals in the tire circumferential direction. Each of the pieces is fitted into the recess and forms the side shaping surface with the side mold main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10744730
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces. Each of the side molds includes: a side mold main body including plural recesses, each being opened to corresponding one of the side shaping surfaces at spaced intervals; plural pieces, each of which is fitted into the recess; and clearances provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. Each of the recesses includes: an outer-side inner wall surface defining an outer side in a tire radial direction; an inner-side inner wall surface defining an inner side; a pair of radial inner wall surfaces that are located between the outer-side inner wall surface and the inner-side inner wall surface and define one side and the other side in the tire circumferential direction; and a curved surface that connects the outer-side inner wall surface and the radial inner wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10703058
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces. Each of the side molds includes: a side mold main body including plural recesses, each being opened to corresponding one of the side shaping surfaces at spaced intervals; plural pieces, each of which is fitted into the recess; and clearances provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. Each of the recesses includes: an outer-side inner wall surface defining an outer side in a tire radial direction; an inner-side inner wall surface defining an inner side; a pair of radial inner wall surfaces that are located between the outer-side inner wall surface and the inner-side inner wall surface and define one side and the other side in the tire circumferential direction; and a curved surface that connects the outer-side inner wall surface and the radial inner wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10695996
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes a side mold 14 having a side molding surface 20 for molding a side wall portion. The side mold 14 includes: a side mold body 24 having a plurality of recesses 30 provided at intervals in a tire circumferential direction; a plurality of side pieces 26 fitted into the recesses 30 and forming an annular side molding surface 20 together with the side mold body 24; and a plurality of vent gaps 28 provided between side surfaces 26A on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the side pieces 26 and wall surfaces 30A of the recesses 30. An inner end 26E in a tire radial direction of the side piece 26 is positioned inwardly in the tire radial direction from an inner end 20E in the tire radial direction of the side molding surface 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10661483
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing mold is disclosed capable of accurately providing a clearance, from which air existing between a green tire and a side mold is released, on a side shaping surface and thereby preventing shaping defect. The tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces. Each of the side molds includes a side mold main body, plural pieces, and a clearance provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. The side mold main body includes plural recesses, each of which is opened to the side shaping surface and an outer surface, at spaced intervals. Each of the pieces is fitted into the recess and forms the side shaping surface with the side mold main body. The clearance is opened to the side shaping surface and extends from an inner side to an outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 9457529
    Abstract: The invention can surely accomplish lamination without the generation of voids in building a tire constructed to comprise a plurality of rubber members for a tire when a ribbon-shaped rubber strip (R) is spirally wound and laminated, and uses holding rolls (30) and two sets of stitching rolls (40a), (40b) arranged in parallel with a center of a rubber strip width (W) therebetween to enable performing of an independent pressing motion, such that the rubber strip (R) is pressed and bonded by the holding rolls (30) in a position, in which the rubber strip (R) is wound, and the stitching roll (40a) or (40b) positioned fore in an advancing direction of traverse movement, out of the two sets, is caused to perform a pressing motion in a regional part just after the press whereby a fore part of the rubber strip in the advancing direction is pressed and bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tatara, Yu Hatayama, Masami Tanabe, Taizo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20150083301
    Abstract: A tyre layer application assembly and a method for applying a tyre layer around a substantially circular circumferential surface of an object. The assembly is provided with a drive which, during application, is coupled to the object for driving the object in a driven rotation about a concentric axis of rotation with respect to the circumferential surface, wherein the assembly includes a tracking device which, during application, is arranged to be fixed to a part of the tyre layer that is applied to the circumferential surface, wherein the tracking device is rotatable in a tracking rotation about the axis of rotation of the object, independent of the driven rotation of the object about the same axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Florian Fischer, Cornelis Wouteres Janszen
  • Publication number: 20150000826
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus configured to adhere a belt-shaped tire member onto a mold drum including: a feeding device including the belt-shaped tire member arranged so as to be capable of being fed and a transferring and adhering device configured to transfer the belt-shaped tire member from the feeding device side to the mold drum side and adhere the belt-shaped tire member onto the mold drum, wherein the transferring and adhering device includes: a transferring device configured to circulate between the feeding device side and the mold drum side and transfer the belt-shaped tire member sucked on the feeding device side to the mold drum side; and a separating unit configured to separate the transferred belt-shaped tire member on the mold drum side from the transferring device and adhere the belt-shaped tire member onto the mold drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Nakatani, Tomoyuki Kobayashi, Yasuhisa Masuda, Makoto Komo, Taizo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140360656
    Abstract: In the process for producing a rubber for manufacturing a tire: a calender forms a ply with a mixture of ingredients of the rubber whilst a conveyor moves the ply in a first direction, a mass of product other than the rubber is deposited on the ply, and the conveyor displaces the ply in a second direction , such that the mass is arranged between two faces of the ply extending one against the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicants: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: André Magne, Christian Vacheron
  • Publication number: 20140202619
    Abstract: A system for constructing a pneumatic tire includes a tread component having two opposite tread splice ends, a water based adhesive applied to the tread splice ends for securing the tread splice ends to each other; and a heating means applied to the tread splice ends and water based adhesive for reducing drying duration of the water based adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: The Goodvear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Paul Harry Sandstrom
  • Publication number: 20140166189
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Gary Robert Burg, David Alan Henthorne
  • Patent number: 8684057
    Abstract: The invention is for enabling one piece of rotation driving means 17 to drive to rotate both of an outer side shaft portion 3 of a drum shaft 1 and a screw shaft 4 on an inner side as a driving apparatus 10 of a tire building drum D, including an outer shaft 13 connected to the outer side shaft portion 3, a middle shaft 14 connected to the screw shaft 4, one piece of the rotation driving means 17 connected to the middle shaft 14 by way of a rotation transmitting member 18, and a clutch 26 interposed between the rotation transmitting member 18 connected to the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13, and constituted to transmit rotation of the rotation driving means 17 to both of the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13 in connecting the clutch 26 and transmit the rotation of the rotation driving means 17 only to the middle shaft 14 in cutting the clutch 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takatsuka, Hirokatsu Mizukusa
  • Patent number: 8679272
    Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an elastomeric casing and a tire cavity formed therein. A longitudinally-extending and approximately planar length of strip material is helically arranged within the tire cavity to pre-stress the length of strip material for usage of the pneumatic tire during under-inflated and non-inflated conditions. A method of making a run-flat pneumatic tire assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Edward G. Markow
  • Publication number: 20140060730
    Abstract: The subject invention includes methods and apparatus for joining treads. Such methods include the step of providing a first tread portion and a second tread portion for forming a joined tread, each tread portion comprising a section of tire tread extending lengthwise from a terminal end. Additional steps include providing a first fixture configured to retain the first tread portion and a second fixture configured to retain the second tread portion and securing the first tread portion into the first fixture and securing the second tread portion into the second fixture, each of the first and second fixtures being arranged within the first and second fixtures such that the terminal end of each tread portion is in communication with a joining side of each fixture. The methods further include directing the terminal ends towards each other and into forceful engagement with an elastomeric joining material arranged between the terminal ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Chinglin Pan, David Chan Wah Lung, Michael D. Petrovich
  • Publication number: 20130333824
    Abstract: An automatic zipper device having a pair of bevel gears for biting and joining joint end portions of a sheet member wound around a periphery of the molding drum and having a plurality of magnet attractive metallic cords, and the device is provided with an inclined portion following cylinder which is attached to a lateral movement device laterally moving on the molding drum so as to be laterally movable and which adjusts a height of the bevel gear in accordance with an inclined surface of the sheet member to be joined, a clamping cylinder for adjusting a bitten amount of the bevel gears, and introduction magnet rollers for taking in the sheet member, and a member contact position stabilizing magnet for maintaining a constant position of the sheet member so that the sheet member to be joined can be brought into contact with the bevel gear at a constant angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Yazawa
  • Publication number: 20130333826
    Abstract: A forming method of an annular rubber member comprises the step of forming a laminated body in which a plurality of layers overlap in a thickness direction, by continuously extruding a sheet-like rubber via a mouth piece provided in a leading end side of an extruder, and winding the extruded sheet-like rubber around a rotation support body. The layers having different widths are overlapped by changing an opening width of the mouth piece, at a time of changing from a stage of forming the layer which is positioned relatively at an inner peripheral side, to a stage of forming the layer which is positioned relatively at an outer peripheral side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 8596322
    Abstract: A tire support device for supporting the bead area of a tire is described. The tire support device includes an inner support member having a plurality of support vanes mounted to the support member, the support vanes radially extend from the inner support member. The tire support device further comprises a plurality of cover plates forming an outer cylindrical surface for supporting the bead area of a tire. The cover plates having an inner rib which extends radially inward, said rib having one or more guide members, each slide member slidably mounted on the support vane, wherein the guide members are slidably from a radially inward position to close the cover plates, and to a radially outward position to radially expand the tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: George Michael Stoila, Dale Eugene Wells, Thomas Alan Sells
  • Publication number: 20130220520
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes associating at least one reinforcing structure with at least one surface portion of at least one tyre component laid on a forming support, wherein associating the at least one reinforcing structure includes bringing, through a handling and deposition member, at least one reinforcing element to the forming support and depositing, through said handling and deposition member, the reinforcing element on a respective deposition part defined on a surface portion of the component. The depositing includes gradually laying the reinforcing element on the deposition part following the profile of the deposition part in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Christian De Col
  • Publication number: 20130213557
    Abstract: The invention includes methods and apparatus for preparing a tire surface for receiving a tire patch. Such methods include selecting a desired depth marking template for use in forming one or more depth marking apertures within a tire surface and within a desired tire patch application area, each of the one or more depth marking apertures having a desired depth corresponding to a desired depth of the patch receiving area, the template having one or more openings extending through a thickness of the template corresponding to the one or more marking apertures to be formed. The methods further include forming one or more depth marking apertures within the tread by inserting a material removal member of a power tool into each of the one or more openings in the template, the power tool removing tire material to the desired depth for each aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicants: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Metodi Lubenov Ikonomov, Cesar Enrique Zarak, Nathan Joel Panning
  • Publication number: 20130213559
    Abstract: Systems and methods for decentralized tire manufacturing permit the pre-selection of properties of a new casing by individually selecting properties of the casing. The components and raw materials are pre-selected to provide improved and individualized performance characteristics when combined with separately-manufactured new cured tire treads. The new cured treads are manufactured separately in such a manner that pre-selected processing and raw materials may be used to selectively improve performance characteristics. The pre-selected materials and processing used in the separate manufacture of the cured treads from the casing are chosen so as to provide an improved final result that is coordinated through the pre-selections. In this manner, a final tread-casing combination can be made in such a way as to improve one or more performance properties of a final tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Damon
  • Publication number: 20130218699
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing a tire selected having a certain performance and/or size characteristic from a range of tread-casing combinations having a range of performance and/or size characteristics from a reduced inventory supply. The systems and methods for producing tires can be used to build tires having a selected performance characteristic from an inventory supply having reduced storage time. A customized tire can be produced by providing, either at or near a point-of-sale facility, a set of cured tire casings manufactured without tire treads and a set of cured tire treads manufactured without tire casings. A tire that is customized to the customer is built upon demand at an assembly facility at or near the point-of-sale and delivered to the customer at or near the time of building upon demand by the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Damon
  • Patent number: 8512494
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a green tire using a building drum and a transfer device. In the method tire components are arranged on a building drum. In one step of the method the transfer device is placed around the building drum. The method further comprises a step during which a last manufacturing process for a green tire is carried out on the building drum, and a removal step during which a removal device removes the green tire from the building drum, wherein the removal device is provided with projecting elements that can be placed up to a distance from and around the outer circumference of the green tire and which projecting elements can be placed such so as to engage the outer side of the green tire. The removal step further comprises during the step in which the transfer device is placed around the building drum, placing the projecting elements up to a distance from and around the outer circumference of the building drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Wubbo Pieter De Vries, Gerrit Mulder
  • Publication number: 20130199704
    Abstract: Methods and systems for on demand, customized manufacture of vehicle tires at a point-of-sale are disclosed. At a point-of-sale, tire casings and tire treads that have been manufactured separately to enhance certain performance characteristics are assembled to provide a final customized tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Damon
  • Publication number: 20130168008
    Abstract: When end portions of a tire constituent member are to be brought into contact with each other and joined together, the end portions to be joined together are prevented from being caught by a pair of joining rollers. The end portions of the tire constituent member are arranged opposite to each other. The pair of joining rollers is made to roll on the end portions of the tire constituent member and the end portions are brought into contact with each other and joined together by the joining rollers. An entanglement preventing member is moved together with the pair of joining rollers and the end portions of the tire constituent member in front of the joining rollers. The end portions of the tire constituent member are pressed by the entanglement preventing member, and entanglement of the end portions is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichiro Ogawa, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8474499
    Abstract: A tire and methods of manufacture thereof comprising a tire body and a metal reinforcing strip comprising at least one metal alloy foil layer to provide puncture resistance, wherein the at least one metal alloy foil layer comprises a spinodal glass matrix microconstituent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The NanoSteel Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Tuffile, David P. Paratore, Daniel James Branagan
  • Publication number: 20130146212
    Abstract: A method for jointing an external layer (12) of material to a base layer (14) to produce a green tire, the green tire having an axis of revolution (X), the method comprising a step of applying the outer layer (12) to the base layer (14), followed by a step of jointing the outer layer (12) to the base layer (14). The jointing step is done using a pressing element (18) surrounding the outer layer (12) and elastically deformable between a configuration called the enlarged configuration and a configuration called the outer-layer (12) pressing configuration, in which the pressing element (18) applies a radial pressure to the outer layer, the jointing step comprising the following steps: the passage of the pressing element (18) from the enlarged configuration to the layer-pressing configuration, the movement of the pressing element (18) in the pressing configuration, in the axial direction (X) of the green tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERAL DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Jerome Frecon, Alain Charles, Fabrice Canadell
  • Publication number: 20130133800
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes an innerliner forming an internal cavity and an enveloping member. The innerliner maintains pneumatic pressure within the internal cavity. The enveloping member defines a pocket for removably receiving and removably securing an item to the pneumatic tire. The enveloping member is cured simultaneously with the innerliner to secure the enveloping member to the innerliner for the operational life of the pneumatic tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Patrice Philippe Griffoin
  • Patent number: 8431062
    Abstract: A tire unloading apparatus for separating a cured tire from a toroidally shaped segmented core body configured to carry the cured tire includes a plurality of tire engaging paddle mechanisms positioned in a spaced apart circular array defining a cured tire receiving central opening, the cured tire mounted to a core body. The paddle mechanisms operatively move between a radially outward tire release position and a radially inward tire gripping position. The tire unloading apparatus further includes a core segment manipulating apparatus operative to move individual core segments from a radially outward tire supporting core body position to a radially inward segment removal position. A plurality of segment support arms forming a circular array below the tire receiving opening are in an operative location to support respective core body segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne, Mary Beth Dombrosky
  • Publication number: 20130087259
    Abstract: A tread band of raw elastomeric material is circumferentially applied around a bearing structure incorporating reinforcing cords, for forming a green tyre subsequently submitted to a curing treatment. The tread band is formed by: making an underlayer of raw elastomeric material; making blocks of raw elastomeric material; and applying the blocks mutually spaced apart according to a predetermined tread pattern, onto the underlayer. During introduction of the tyre into a curing mould, the blocks are put in alignment with respective forming recesses before closing the mould, so that each block is engaged in the respective forming recess, following closure of the mould.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Gianni Mancini
  • Patent number: 8312908
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the delivery rate of a linear element. The device forms a delivery path for the linear element between an inlet to the device at a delivery rate that is substantially constant and an outlet from the device at a delivery rate that is variable and substantially periodic and varies the length of the path of the linear element in application of a predetermined periodic relationship. The device includes a plurality of pulleys movable in rectilinear translation periodically in sinusoidal manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Henri Hinc, Dominique Leblanc
  • Patent number: 8282372
    Abstract: Provided are a apparatus and a method for vulcanizing a pneumatic tire, where are capable of: smoothly releasing a vulcanized pneumatic tire from multiple sectors separated from one another in a circumferential direction in each of an upper mold and a lower mold; and thereby lightening load on each mold. In addition to springs for biasing the sectors to always move into a smaller diameter, respectively, pushpins for moving the sectors into larger and smaller diameters are actuated by the respective cylinder rods of drive cylinders, and thereby the movements of the individual sectors into the larger and smaller diameters are controlled. Accordingly, even though the sectors would otherwise move abruptly into the smaller diameter due to biasing forces of the springs after the vulcanized tire is released from the sectors at the larger diameter, a radius-reducing movement speed of the sectors is control led by the cylinder rods in contact with rear ends of the push pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akikazu Seko
  • Patent number: 8272417
    Abstract: A rotary radial expand collapse tire building drum comprises segments defining an outer circumference of said drum, said segments being divided into two sets, one set being located to each opposite side of a transverse central plane of the drum, said central plane being disposed normal to a rotational axis of the drum, said two sets being adapted to be driven by a rotatable hub assembly between a collapsed position in which a formed tire carcass may be removed from the drum and an expanded position in which a tire carcass may be formed on said drum wherein each set of segments are mounted for selective relative axial using positioning means, and adjustment means is located outside of the rotational axis of the drum, which is arranged to adjust an overall working width of said drum. The invention allows for an axial positioning mechanism of a REC building drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Wyko Tire Technology Limited
    Inventor: Brian Painter
  • Publication number: 20120168060
    Abstract: A mandrel for building a tire is described having a torus shape. The mandrel is formed of a first annular layer for forming the outer tread surface of a tire. The first annular layer of material has outer ends joined to a second and third layer of material for forming the sidewalls. The first annular layer is formed of a woven material reinforced with circumferential cords, and the second and third layer of material is formed of a woven material having reinforcement cords arranged in concentric circles. The second and third layer of material has a radially inner end received in a clamp of a mandrel support device which includes means for inflating the tire mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Carmine Lettieri
  • Patent number: 8202604
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an air permeation preventive layer formed by adhering a resin film containing thermoplastic resin as a main component thereof to a tire inner wall surface, wherein the resin film is laminated, as a narrow width slit film shape, with an elastomer and the resultant ribbon-shaped laminate is continuously and spirally wound in a tire circumferential direction so that the edges thereof partially overlap to thereby form the air permeation preventive layer, whereby a pneumatic tire having a light weight and superior air permeation preventive property, no splice openings of the air permeation preventive layer at the time of tire processing, and capable of shortening the processing time can be obtained as well as the production method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shusaku Tomoi
  • Publication number: 20120145328
    Abstract: A tire support device is disclosed having an annular support member having an inner surface and an outer surface. A support flange is mounted to the annular support member, the support flange has an inflatable bladder mounted into its inside surface. The inflatable bladder has an inflated position for supporting the tire and an uninflated position for releasing the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: George Michael Stoila, Dale Eugene Wells, Thomas Alan Sells
  • Publication number: 20120145329
    Abstract: A tire support device for supporting the bead area of a tire is described. The tire support device includes an inner support member having a plurality of support vanes mounted to the support member, the support vanes radially extend from the inner support member. The tire support device further comprises a plurality of cover plates forming an outer cylindrical surface for supporting the bead area of a tire. The cover plates having an inner rib which extends radially inward, said rib having one or more guide members, each slide member slidably mounted on the support vane, wherein the guide members are slidably from a radially inward position to close the cover plates, and to a radially outward position to radially expand the tires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: George Michael Stoila, Dale Eugene Wells, Thomas Alan Sells
  • Patent number: 8171619
    Abstract: Device for manufacturing a cut-to-length pre-assembly for a tire, wherein in the pre-assembly first and second side walls are situated on either side of an inner liner. The device comprises a supply conveyor for conveying the cut pre-assembly to the building drum. The device is provided with a first side wall measuring device for measuring the length of the first side wall of the cut pre-assembly and for giving a first side wall measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the first side wall, with a second side wall measuring device for measuring the length of the second side wall of the cut pre-assembly and for giving a second side wall measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the second side wall, and with an inner liner measuring device for measuring the length of the inner liner of the cut pre-assembly and for giving an inner liner measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Antonie Slots, Gerrit Mulder
  • Patent number: 8171971
    Abstract: The invention provides a driving apparatus for a tire building drum which can reduce load when the drum is rotating, which enables stable expanding and contracting operations and in which a center shaft portion (2) of the building drum (D) is made up of a cylindrical outer shaft (3) and an inner threaded shaft (4), the driving apparatus including a cylindrical outer shaft (13) which is coupled to the outer shaft (3), an inner shaft (14) coupled to the threaded shaft (4), a first motor (15) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the outer shaft (13) for rotating the drum, and a second motor (20) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the inner shaft (14) via a clutch (21) in such a manner as to be engaged with and disengaged from the inner shaft for expanding or contracting the drum, wherein by switching the clutch (21), when the drum is rotating, the second motor (20) is held out of engagement with the inner shaft (14), while when the drum is expanded or contracted, the second motor (20) is he
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takatsuka, Hirokatsu Mizukusa
  • Publication number: 20120037298
    Abstract: Tyre building drum comprising a main housing having a drum shaft extending from the main housing and two first and second drum halves arranged at least almost substantially symmetrical with respect to the centre of the tyre building drum and around the drum shaft, which drum halves can be moved in axial direction along the drum shaft. Each drum half comprises a folding arm unit having folding arms that are connected to the drum half in question in a swivelling manner and wherein the folding arm unit can be moved in axial direction along the drum shaft. In the drum shaft at least two pull/push rods are arranged that are movable in axial direction and extend up into the main housing and in the main housing on the one hand are coupled to a drive mechanism. On the other hand a first pull/push rod is coupled to the folding arm unit of the first drum half, and a second pull/push rod is coupled to the folding arm unit of the second drum half.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Martin De Graaf
  • Patent number: 8082965
    Abstract: A rubber sheet joining apparatus includes a cutting unit for cutting a ribbon of rubber sheet reinforced with cords to generate rubber sheet strips having different lengths; a sheet overlapping unit for overlapping and joining the rubber sheet strips having different lengths to make an overlapped and joined strip. First holding members hold a front end portion of a following overlapped and joined strip. Second holding members hold a rear end portion of a preceding overlapped and joined strip. Support guides movably support the first holding members relative to the second holding members. An operating unit moves the first holding members relative to the second holding members to butt-join the side surfaces of two successive overlapped and joins strips held respectively by the first holding members and the second holding members to generate a ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Fuji Seiko Co., Ltd., Fuji Shoji Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemasa Takagi, Chikara Takagi, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20110284168
    Abstract: In obliquely cutting a belt band-shaped material (B) to a predetermined length and joining belt material pieces (b) as cut to fabricate a belt member (B10) for a tire, according to the invention, a space, in which an apparatus is mounted, is decreased, a belt member of good quality and high accuracy of joining is manufactured, a cut processing section (A1) for a band-shaped material and an alignment processing section (A2) for belt material pieces as cut are arranged in parallel, in the cut processing section, whenever the band-shaped material (B) is intermittently forwarded, a leading end portion of the band-shaped material is held on a holding table 40 and obliquely cut by a cutter unit (30), the belt material pieces (b) as cut are attracted and held on an underside of a holding member (53) of a transfer unit (T) to be transferred onto and placed on an alignment conveyor (60) with oblique cut ends trued up, and in the alignment processing section, whenever a belt material piece (b) is transferred, the align
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tatara, Tomoyuki Takatsuka, Hirokatsu Mizukusa, Osamu Fujiki
  • Patent number: 8048247
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, a green tyre, once formed, is transferred into a vulcanisation mould and pressed against the holding walls of a moulding cavity. Concurrently with the pressing step, a fluid present between the green tyre and the holding walls is evacuated through vent valves. The tyre is brought into contact with the closing head of each valve so as to push it toward a closed position of the valve itself. The closing head has a distal portion facing the moulding cavity and includes at least one grip element for the tyre blend, so that the closure member is pulled toward the open position while the moulded and cured tyre is moved away from the inner surface of said moulding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Cazzanti, Alfredo Balini
  • Publication number: 20110232848
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an arrangement in a tire retreading rolling machine including a structure composed of a lower frame (Q) provided with adjustable feet (P) and one column (C) on one of its vertices. Column (C) has on its outer side a motoreducer set (MR) which rotates a hub (CB) positioned on the column inner side. A bearing (M) held to column (C) supports the hub (CB) shaft, on which the tire to be processed is mounted. The rolling device mounted on the frame (Q) comprises arms (1) with end rolls (2), on which the tire is rested on the wheeling position. The rolls (2) press the new tread against the tire carcass, expelling the air that may have been trapped. The arms (1) are centrally pivoting in transversal gears (3), by the action of cylinders (4), allowing to get rolls (2) closer or farther to/from the new tread applied to the tire carcass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Lucas MÖLLER
  • Publication number: 20110120625
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a tyre for vehicle wheels, comprises the step of building, on a forming support (50) extending about an axis (X-X) r a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass ply (2) and, at at least one end edge (2a) of said at least one carcass ply (2), at least one annular anchoring structure (10). The step of building the carcass structure comprise steps of laying the carcass ply (2) on the forming support (50), bringing the annular anchoring structure (10) in contact position with the end edge (2a) of the carcass ply (2) and turning up the end edge (2a) about the annular anchoring structure (10) so as to form a turned up end portion of the carcass ply (2) including the annular anchoring structure (10). A first part of the step of turning up the end edge (2a) of the carcass ply (2) is carried out while at least one positioning device (110) retains the annular anchoring structure (10) in contact position with the end edge (2a) of the carcass ply (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Gianni Mancini, Maurizio Marchini
  • Patent number: 7909078
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Gary Robert Burg, Shaun Matthew Immel