Abstract: A tire testing machine for measuring rolling resistance of a pneumatic tire by bringing a freely rotatably mounted tire into contact with a driven rotating load wheel. Spindles of the tire mounting structure and load wheel are supported in bearing assemblies. Each of the bearing assemblies includes an inner race rotatable with the spindle and an outer race mounted on a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeves are rotatably supported by an outer bearing assembly within a stationary housing. The speed of the sleeve and correspondingly the speed of the outer race is "slaved" to the speed of the associated spindle and inner race by drive motors whereby no relative motion exists between the bearing races and intervening bearing elements thereby negating bearing friction and associated losses. Elimination of bearing losses enables a more accurate and constant rolling resistance to be measured by the tire test machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and improved method for transversely cutting strips of deformable material with a rotating cutting blade which is moved generally transversely across the strip at a predetermined rake angle and bevel angle. A vacuum applied to certain chambers of a platen draws the strip firmly against a supporting structure at two locations on opposite sides of a cutting line during the cut cycle. A lubricant is sprayed through nozzles onto the blade as it cuts the strip and blow-off nozzles remove excess lubricant during the cut and return cycles of the blade to prevent contamination of the cut strip edges. A release bar assists in disengaging the strip from the platen after the strip is cut. Grippers remove the cut strip and then an input conveyor advances the remaining strip toward the cutting line where the grippers pull the strip forward to a predetermined position for the next cut cycle.

Abstract: A fire retardant composite roofing material comprising an upper layer of a fire retardant EPDM material and a lower layer of a non-fire retardant EPDM material, wherein this composite material is a cured sheet membrane, a vulcanizable flashing material, or non-vulcanizing flashing material.

Abstract: For assembling tires on a tire building drum, the two opposite ends of at least some of the successive superimposed layers of elastomeric material constituting the tire are secured to the drum and spliced together by means of an automatic splicing device, a concave-surface roller of which is moved parallel with the axis of the tire building drum, by virtue of a driving device, and into contact with the outer surface of the tire building drum, by virtue of an actuating device.

Abstract: A fixture for measuring the alignment of a loadwheel with respect to the centerline spindle of a tire uniformity machine. An adaptor block is formed with a conical-shaped recess and an opposed conical-shaped projection which mates with a complementary shaped nose cone and sleeve of a chuck assembly when the block is clamped therein. A bar extending parallel to the aligned centerlines of the block and spindle has a pair of sensors mounted on its ends which register on the uncoated surfaces adjacent the edges of the loadwheel. Readings from the sensors indicate the parallelism of the loadwheel to the spindle. Another sensor can be mounted on the bar and engage the bottom edge of the loadwheel at two locations to determine the squareness of the loadwheel with respect to the spindle. Another sensor can be mounted on the bar to measure the circumferential profile of the coated surface of the loadwheel. The fixture avoids removal of the chuck assembly or the dismantling of other machine components.

Abstract: A device for transversely cutting strips of deformable material, whereby a powered, rotary cutting blade is arranged with its outer edge substantially tangent with a surface supporting a strip of uncut material, and is designed to move, on a support, in a cutting direction transverse in relation to the strip itself; the aforementioned device embodying a pressure member designed to move with the blade in the cutting direction, and to press down, onto the supporting surface and during the cutting operation, the uncut portion of the strip located immediatedly ahead of the blade in the cutting direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric load cycle counter is provided for a multi-stationed strain-life tester. A plurality of test specimens are interposed between a fixed upper bracket and a lower reciprocating bracket and are cyclically flexed therebetween. Piezoelectric crystals maintained in association with the upper bracket with each of the test stations present an output signal on each flexure of the test specimen. These output signals enable a counter which counts the number of cycles of the lower bracket. When a specimen breaks, the output signal of the associated station terminates and the count for that station similarly terminates.

Abstract: A tire manufacturing unit having two tire building drums mounted on respective coaxial and independent half shafts butt connected in a rotary manner so as to define a single continuous shaft supported in a rotary manner on a platform mounted for rotation in successive 180.degree. steps about a horizontal axis; each half shaft having a respective independent driving device, and one of the drums moving, during each rotation step of the platform, between a first and second work position, through a cavity formed in the platform supporting base.

Abstract: A mobile tire curing unit having top and bottom mold halves interconnectable in releasable manner so as to define an annular chamber for receiving a green tire, with one of the mold halves incorporating a closed circuit for a given curing media supply under pressure, the circuit being defined by a deformable curing bladder, designed to occupy the annular chamber, and by a casing connectd to the inner tube by a heated supply duct and a return duct; the casing also housing a powered fan for circulating the curing media inside the closed circuit, and the circuit being externally chargeable via an inlet valve.

Abstract: A mechanical fastener for securing a flexible sheet of an elastomeric material to the upper surface of a roof via the use of a plurality of such fasteners, each of which include upper and lower retaining members, wherein the latter are anchored to the roofing surface. Both of the retaining members are formed with a series of annular concentric ridges and grooves which cooperate with each other to form a series of annular gripping zones with the elastomeric sheet when the upper retainer is drawn into a clamping relationship with the botton retainer by a threaded fastener. The fastener is engaged with an internally threaded central boss formed on the lower retainer. A sharp bottom edge of the fastener cuts an aperture in the elastomeric sheet prior to engagement with the threaded boss.

Abstract: A tire molding press having a fixed bed and a crosspiece, which crosspiece is designed to travel, by virtue of a crank mechanism, along vertical guides formed partly along the uprights and partly along extensions of the same; the guide portions extending along the upright extensions enabling extra vertical travel of the crosspiece, and each being limited at the rear by a switch element which may be operated selectively for opening the respective guide at the rear and enabling the upper end of the respective connecting rod to slide backwards, with the crank fixed, and along an end surface of the respective upright, in such a manner as to tilt back the crosspiece.

Abstract: A tire mold having air and gas venting holes is provided with synthetic resin plugs mounted in enlarged bore portions of the vent holes adjacent the inner forming surface of the mold. The plugs are axially compressible and project a slight distance beyond the inner surface of the mold. The molding pressure of the material within the mold compresses the plug whereby an outer surface of the plug becomes generally flush with the inner surface of the mold cavity to substantially eliminate the formation of runners on the molded tire. The plugs preferably are formed of a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) filter leaf membrane material.