Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and applying a strip component (11) such as a tire tread is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing the strip component on a belt conveyer (16), determining a guideline (52) of the strip component (11) at an exit end (20) of the belt conveyor (16), and laterally adjusting the exist end (20) of the belt conveyor (16) to align the guideline (52) of the strip component (11) with a predetermined guideline such as the guideline of a tire building drum (12). The apparatus includes a belt support transverse housing (76) which is laterally moveable by a motion controller (64) in response to a sensor (58) which detects the guideline (52) of the strip component (11). Guides on the transverse housing (76) move the belts of the conveyor (16) on slider plates without physically touching the conveyed strip component (11), thereby preventing damage to the component material.

Abstract: A poppet valve assembly having a spring for holding the valve in a closed position and permitting opening of the valve in response to air pressure including valve stem alignment provided by a sleeve in engagement with the spring and having a cross pin supporting surface for engagement with the pin in shear to avoid bending.

Abstract: A disc cutter is rotatably mounted on a self-contained power unit which is detachably mounted on lift arms of a hydraulic excavator for locating the disc cutter at a position on the opposite side of a stump from the excavator and providing curling movement of the rotating disc cutter through the stump towards the excavator in the line of sight of the operator for discharging the debris away from the operator.

Abstract: A wide throat internal mixer and method of mixing a batch of petrochemical material wherein bales are fed by a corresponding large size ram weight from a large size hopper into a mixing chamber through a corresponding large size throat opening having wear plates.

Abstract: A tire mold opener having an opening lever pivotally mounted on an upper mold half with one end of the lever positioned for engagement with a lower mold half and the other end of the lever connected to a hoist for rotating the opening lever and pushing the lower mold half away from the upper mold half to separate the mold halves and lift the upper mold half away from the lower mold half upon lifting movement of the hoist to separate the tire from the upper mold half and the lower mold half.

Abstract: A tire mold has vent pins extending axially into the mold cavity for penetration of the lower sidewall bead area of the tire providing vents in the tire upon opening of the mold.

Abstract: A tire drum turret having an outboard support and direct drive of the frame with adjustable drum shaft bearings for precise positioning of the drums.

Abstract: A multiple insert tire mold (10) has inserts (26) with radially extending ribs (28) for sliding engagement in a slot (22) in the outer ring back (12) of the mold and abutting surfaces (48) for venting exhaust gases from the mold (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a tire mold with frozen CO2 cleaning material wherein a portable frame is positioned on a bottom mold of a tire press and has a rotatable frame on which a nozzle support is mounted for swivel action to clean the upper mold half and the lower mold half as the nozzle support is moved radially and circumferentially of the tire mold.

Abstract: Forming a tubular tire ply from a flat sheet of wire reinforced material, cutting the ply to length and applying the ply to a drum.

Abstract: Tread guides (24, 26, 28) supported on a frame (16) over a conveyor (10) have rollers (28) for engaging edges of the tread (14) an the conveyor and a constant centering force is provided by ball nuts (50, 52) in engagement with a ball screw (44) connected to a pneumatic torque applying actuator (56). Conicity adjustment (62, 66) is provided by lateral adjustment of the ball screw (44), ball nuts (50, 52) and tread guide assembly as a unit relative to the conveyor (10).

Abstract: An ejector pin assembly for a split mold in which the ejector pin is held in a retracted position in a movable mold half, pushed into the mold cavity by a knock out pin contacted by the ejector pin during opening of the mold and held in contact with the knock out pin until it is pulled into the retracted position by the knock out pin upon opening of the mold.

Abstract: Circumferentially spaced folding modules of a tire building drum have axially movable belt lifting and conveying nose pieces which carry wide breaker ply edges over narrow breaker ply edges laid on the drum.

Abstract: Use of the proprietary drug amiloride for the treatment of cancer types that depend on an enzymatic cascade triggered by the activation of plasminogen to plasmin by the specific activating enzyme Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA). Administration of amiloride inhibits the action of uPA, inhibits the ability of the cancer cell to attract new blood supply, blocks the Na+/H+ transporter, and inhibits ornithine decarboxylase necessary for DNA synthesis. Further, in combination with amiloride, a different step in the enzymatic cascade is targeted by a secondary agent, Batimistat, for example, which is a metalloprotease inhibitor. Additionally, the use of hydrochlorothiazide promotes excretion of potassium.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the quantity of sample materials which provides stable measurements for extended periods of time. A source beam containing measuring radiation and reference radiation is directed through a sample material. The measuring radiation consists of spectral energy that interacts substantially with the sample material. The reference radiation consists of spectral energy with substantially different interaction properties with the sample material. Radiation is directed along separate analyzing and normalizing information channels wherein the radiation has substantially different sample interaction. Analyzing and normalizing detectors provide responses to radiation in respective analyzing information channel or normalizing information channel. A measuring mode is established by inserting a first filter into the source beam to allow substantially only measuring radiation to propagate to the detectors, creating measuring responses.

Abstract: A high speed rotary cutter assembly for cutting sheets of elastomeric materials wherein a rotary blade is affixedly mounted on one end of a spindle and rotates therewith at a rotational speed greater than 2000 rpm. The rotary blade includes a generally planar cutting surface and a tapered back surface to provide a clean cut and minimize abrasion of the cut surface. The rotary blade further includes between 4 and 40 peripheral lobes, each having an attack surface and a trailing surface. The trailing surface is cut more sharply than the attack surface to provide relief to the cut elastomeric material. The spindle includes a spindle bore which communicates cooling air to the rotary blade. The rotary cutter assembly also includes preloaded, permanently lubricated, angular contact ball bearings and a labyrinth seal to provide high speed operation without heat build-up.

Abstract: Molds for injection molding tire components have controlled temperature passages leading to a manifold surrounding each mold cavity. The manifold is positioned to minimize weld lines in the injected tire component. In addition, a narrow gate opening between the manifold and mold cavity provides an elevated temperature of the injected material for decreasing the curing time of the tire component in the mold. Blade members may support and position tire components such as bead apex assemblies in the mold. These tire components may be unloaded by an unloader ring in communication with a source of vacuum for pulling the tire component out of the mold.

Abstract: A turret for a tire building system having two drums with drum shafts mounted on the turret and adjusted so that the axes of the drum will be offset and parallel providing a compact turret assembly with a minimum shaft length and weight. The offset drum shafts provide for positioning of the drums in operating positions of different heights relative to the floor surface so that manual operations can be carried out at the lower drum position where there is easy access by an operator. Safety provisions are incorporated to disengage the motor and stop rotation of the turret if the motor does not stop and thereby protect the operator and the turret mechanism.

Abstract: A tire liner applier and method wherein a die and anvil shape the ends of the liner at a predetermined section which is transferred to a position adjacent the tire building drum where the section is stretched and the trailing end stitched against the drum. The leading end is clamped and applied to the drum where the next tire is built. The leading end and trailing end are tapered so that they slope away from the drum and provide a smooth transition where the ends contact the drum and outer layer of liner material. A butt splice may also be provided.

Abstract: A strip of resilient material is clamped uniformly across the width of the material at a first position by vertically spaced clamps which are separated to stretch a section of the material beyond the elastic limit. The stretched section of material is released and transported on a horizontal conveyor to a second position where the stretched section is cut by a cutter providing edges of reduced thickness which are suitable for overlapping other stretched edges of reduced thickness for splicing.