Abstract: A three-piece lubrication control for a valve stem of an internal combustion engine comprises removably engaged plastic ring and sleeve members, and an elastomeric grommet positively held in the ring member.

Abstract: A tire building drum (10) has a plurality of expandable axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart segments (18) with an elastic cover sleeve (48). The radius (C) of the radially inner surface (50) of the cover sleeve (48) is greater than the radius (B) of the radially outer surface (20) of the segments (18) in the contracted condition of the drum (10) for placing the cover sleeve (48) over the segments (18) and is less than the radius (A) of the radially outer surface (20) of the segments (18) in the expanded condition of the drum (10) for gripping the segments (18) and maintaining a precise position of the cover sleeve (48). The segments have replaceable cover plates (38) of different thicknesses which are easily interchangeable to provide different drum components for different size tires.

Abstract: Tire mold vents (34) in communication with a sealed cavity (35) are pressurized for limiting the quantity of rubber entering the vents (34) and for assisting the stripping of the vulcanized tire (28) from the mold. Passages (40) in the mold communicate fluid pressure to the vents (34) and pressure regulators (58,60) control the fluid pressure communicated to the vents (34) during vulcanization and during ejection of the tire (28) from the mold (10).

Abstract: A transfer roll for transferring a strip component from a conveyor to a tire building drum has an outer rim member rotatably mounted on a cylindrical ring member which is mounted on an inner hub for movement relative to the tire building drum. A pair of piston-cylinder assemblies control the movement of the cylindrical ring member to press the outer rim member against the strip component on a tire building drum. The outer rim member is rotated by a motor mounted for movement with the cylindrical ring memebr and the amount of rotation is controlled by control means including an encoder mounted for movement with the cylindrical ring member and in engagement with the outer ring member. A pair of the transfer rolls may be mounted on a shaft with means for adjusting the distance between the rolls after the strip components are transferred from the conveyor to the rolls in a conveyor position and moved to an intermediate adjusting position.

Abstract: A fishing lure having a head member with a straight bore and a core wire extending through the bore from a leading end to a trailing end of the core wire. A fishing line connection is located at the leading end in a position spaced from the axis of the bore to maintain the lure in a generally horizontal position. The head member has a leading face at an angle to the axis of the bore for pulling the lure downward and from side-to-side as it is pulled through the water. Body means such as a spinner blade and at least one swivel bead are mounted on the core wire between the head member and the trailing end of the core wire where a hook is attached.

Abstract: A compliant tube baffle for use in a marine environment wherein a boxlike structure (10) is surrounded by an elastomeric cover (64) and includes a pair of beam plates (12,14) separated by suitable means such as bent plate springs (18,20) which may be engageable with elastic cushioning layers (54) adhered to side shields (52). The beam plates (12,14) may be tapered with the tapered sections (34) having curved surfaces in the form of an ellipse. Damping may be provided by piezoelectric elements (58) or by constrained layers (66) of elastomeric material stressed during flexing movement of the beam plates (12,14). The beam plates (72,74) may also be separated at the edges (84) by elongated members (78,80) of solid elastomer or members (92,94) of a laminate of elastomer and rigid material.

Abstract: A conduit coupler (10) for connecting adjacent sections (12,14) of a conduit system having a plurality of inner ducts (16) contained in an outer cylindrical conduit (18). The conduit coupler (10) is a one-piece cylindrical body of resilient rubberlike material with a plurality of spaced sets of circumferentially extending gripper ribs (28) at the outer surface of each end of the coupler (10). Cylindrical chambers (30) for the inner ducts (16) have inner seals extending circumferentially around the surface of the chambers (30) to seal the space between adjacent sections of the inner ducts (32,34).

Abstract: A segmental drum (10) has spaced-apart inflatable turnup bladders (24) for folding each edge (28) of a belt (30) applied to the drum (10). The spacing of the bladders (24) is adjustable by axial movement in opposite directions of central hub assemblies (42,44) threaded on screws (76). Fine adjustment of the spacing to straigten the fold line (32) of each bladder (24) is provided by axial adjustment of rigid polyurethane bladder support brackets (18) connected to the central hub assemblies (42,44). Radial expansion of the segments (16) is provided by links (84) between each of the segments (16) and spaced drum expanding hub assemblies (86,88) threaded on a drum control screw (96). A molded central filler block (62) of rigid polyurethane is mounted on each segment (16) to fill the space between the bladder support brackets (18).

Abstract: A viscoelastic fluid molding material is injected into a tire tread cavity between the mold and an inflatable tread supporting body. The clearance distance between the mold and the inflatable tread supporting body is varied to increase the flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material into remote portions of the tire tread cavity and provide for the flow of the final amount of fluid molding material into gate portions while the tread supporting body is being deflected.Circumferentially spaced gates may be spaced from the centerplane of the mold and have runners extending toward the shoulders of the tread supporting body for increased flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material into remote shoulder portions of the tread cavity. Sealing rings at the side edges of the tread cavity prevent flow of fluid molding material into sidewall areas of side members of the mold.

Abstract: A shaft connection (10) for rapid mounting and dismounting of a tire building drum by rotating a clamping ring (38) on a sleeve member (20) of a main shaft (14) around an end piece (24) of a drum shaft (12) positioned in the sleeve member (20) to engage or disengage overlapping lugs (42,44) on the clamping ring (38) and end piece (24). Screw members (56,58) connect the clamping ring (38) to a segmental ring (54) in a circumferential slot (68) in the sleeve member (20) for rotating the clamping ring (38). Resilient means (60) are associated with at least some of the screw members (56) and biasing the clamping ring (38) and outer lugs (42) against the inner lugs (44) of the end piece (24) to provide a tight fit between the sleeve member (20) and end piece (24). A central shaft (104) has a sliding connection 112' between a retractable inboard section (116) with a sliding connection (112') with an outboard section (114) for engagement after mounting of the sleeve member (20) over the end piece (24).

Abstract: A plant tray (10) having a plurality of cups (14) in a flat sheet (12) of moldable material wherein the cups are in parallel rows (1-7) with at least some of the rows (2,4,6) having spaces (24) between some of the cups (14) for air openings (26) in the flat sheet (12) to supply air to the foliage of plants growing in the cups (14). The cups (14) in adjacent rows may be offset and have a variable width shape such as a hexagon to provide a maximum number of cups in the available space and which are located close to the air openings (26). The cups (14) of hexagonal cross section also have corners (46) for directing the root growth of the plants. The sidewalls (38) of adjacent cups (14) surrounding the air openings (26) form funnels (43) for improved air drainage.

Abstract: A segmental drum (10) has a plurality of axially extending circumferentially spaced segments (36) with flexible connections (56) to shoulder pistons (32) at opposite ends of each segment (36). Wedge shaped bars (62) are positioned between the segments (36) and connected to center pistons (64) for urging tapered side faces (80) of the bars (62) into engagement with sloping side faces (78) of the segments (36). Elastic turnup bladders (42) are positioned outward of the segments (36) with nose portions (40) overlapping the ends of the segments (36) for resiliently returning the segments (36) and bars (62) to a retracted condition after expansion by radially outward movement of the shoulder pistons (32) and center pistons (64).

Abstract: A die supporting ring member (67) is removably supported in an opening (20) of a surrounding frame (12). Pusher members (24,26) are positioned around the die supporting ring member (67) with sloping surfaces (28,30) in engagement with the circumferentially spaced dies (72) in the ring member (67). The sloping surfaces (28,30) are also engageable with sloped surfaces (32,34) in the frame opening (20). A piston and cylinder assembly (38) is mounted on the frame (12) for moving the pusher members (24,26) toward one side of the opening (20) causing them to slide along the sloping surfaces (32,34) in the frame opening (20) and move the dies (72) radially inward to crimp a tubular fitting positioned within the die supporting ring member (67).

Abstract: A ring tread (12) or a continuous tread (16) may be injection molded in a generally cylindrical segmental mold (20) having a core (42) and radially movable segments (46) forming a mold cavity (54). A container ring (60) is movable into engagement with the segments (46) during closing of the segmental mold (20) to retain the segments (46) during closing of the segmental mold (20) to retain the segments (46) in position during injection and curing. The container ring (60) may have an opening for a continuous tread section to extend from the mold cavity (54) through the side of the container ring (60) and through a space between two of the segments (46). Roller supports on the core (42) support the continuous tread (16) when the segmental mold (20) is opened and sections of the continuous tread (16) are shifted circumferentially through the mold cavity (54).

Abstract: A tire tread (74,76,194) is injection molded by increments in a mold cavity (56,58,119,224,262) having an open end (110,272) closed by a trailing end (116) of a cured section (114,228). A temperature moderating closed end (109,207,268) prevents complete curing of a trailing portion (116) of the cured section (114,228) while the rest of the section is cured. The mold (14,16,90,188,236) is opened so that the cured section (114,228) may be shifted to a position where the trailing portion (116) is clamped in the open end (110,272) of the mold cavity (56,58,119,224,262). A second section (118,228,264) is injection molded in the cavity (56,58,119,224,262) and the partially cured trailing portion (126) of the cured section (114,228,264) is cured and adhered to the leading portion (130) of the second section (114,228,264) as the second section is cured. This process may then be repeated for later sections to provide a desired length of cured tire tread stock (74,194,264).

Abstract: Tire mold vents (34) in communication with a sealed cavity (35) are pressurized for limiting the quantity of rubber entering the vents (34) and for assisting the stripping of the vulcanized tire (28) from the mold. Passages (40) in the mold communicate fluid pressure to the vents (34) and pressure regulators (58,60) control the fluid pressure communicated to the vents (34) during vulcanization and during ejection of the tire (28) from the mold (10).

Abstract: A tread splicer (10) including two rows (60,64) of splicing blade assemblies (68) mounted with the blades (76) of one row (60) tilted toward and overlapping the blades (76) of the other row (64). Each of the blade assemblies (68) is operable independently to control the pressure applied to selected portions of the tread ends. Guide rollers (54,56,58) on the tread splicer (10) provide stitching of the tread (14) as well as positioning of the blades (76) relative to the tread (14) and tire building machine drum (18).

Abstract: A viscoelastic fluid molding material (50) is injected into a tire tread cavity (32) between the mold (10) and an inflatable tread supporting body (30). The clearance distance (A) between the mold (10) and the inflatable tread supporting body (30) is varied to increase the flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material (50) into remote portions of the tire tread cavity (32) and provide for the flow of the final amount of fluid molding material (50) into gate portions (52) while the tread supporting body (30) is being deflected.Circumferentially spaced gates (76) may be spaced from the centerplane (20"--20") of the mold (10") and have runners (80) extending toward the shoulders of the tread supporting body (30") for increased flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material (50") into remote shoulder portions (52") of the tread cavity (32").

Abstract: A rack (28) which supports the beads (12) in a separated condition is transported to the storing and feeding apparatus (10) where the rack (28) is used to place the beads (12) around a plurality of continuous conveyors (20) which are expanded to grip the beads (12). After the rack (28) is removed from the feeding and storing apparatus (10), the conveyors (20) are actuated to simultaneously and intermittently feed the beads (12) to a bead transfer member. The apparatus (10) includes means (64,66,89) to adjust and level the conveyors (20) to accommodate a range of bead sizes and means (118) to insure feeding of one bead (12) at a time.

Abstract: Two side-by-side roofing panels (12,14) are connected by a reinforced connecting sheet member (40) extending between the panels (12,14) and fastened to the outside surfaces of the panels (12,14). A bead (56,58) of flowable material is positioned between the connecting sheet member (40) and the outside surface of at least one of the panels (12,14) in a space adjacent the respective side (18,20) so that upon movement of the panels (12,14) apart the connecting sheet member (40) will be straightened out and the flowable material of the bead (56,58) will be displaced into the gap (22) between the sides (18,20) of the panels (12,14).