Abstract: A flanged tank (1) is sealed by a covering of fiber-resin composites (16,17). At each tank flange (4,5), the composite (17) extends continuously from a point on one tank half shell (2), across the flange (4,5), to a point on the other tank half shell (3). The composite (17) is pressed and conformed to the flange surfaces (9) and flange end (10) by means of a clamping member (30) incorporated with the composite (17) by curing.

Abstract: An elongated member (20) is fed by a feed conveyor (12) through a cutter (14) which is actuated to cut a first section (21). A takeaway conveyor (16) carries the first section (21) and a second section with a gap between the trailing end of the first section (21) and the leading end of the second section. Detection means (22) located along the takeaway conveyor (16) at a predetermined distance (L) from the cutter (14) actuates the cutter (14) in response to detection of the leading end of the second section providing a second section of a predetermined length (L). Other detection means (42,132) located at other positions along the conveyors (12,16) provide for stopping the apparatus (10) in the event of jamming or after the trailing end of the elongated member (20) reaches the feed conveyor (12).

Abstract: An apparatus and method especially adapted for applying and cutting a predetermined length of sidewall in strip form on a transfer roll. The strip material is carried by a strip applier assembly which is mounted on a supporting structure for movement of the strip applier assembly toward the transfer roll to carry the strip into position for stitching the end of the strip on the roll so that a predetermined length can be wound on the roll. The strip applier assembly has a primary means for moving the assembly away from the transfer roll to clear a knife assembly which is pivotally mounted on the supporting structure. Tilting of the knife assembly moves an anvil into a cutting position proximate to the strip. The strip applier assembly also has a secondary means for moving the assembly away from the knife before the knife is retracted to prevent smearing of the white sidewall.

Abstract: A bead former (14) has a gripping mechanism (90,92) for gripping a leading end (106) of a bead ribbon (12) at a position recessed in the surface (18) of the former (14) during the initial rotation of the former (14). The gripping mechanism (90,92) has a seat member (92) movable radially outward of the former (14) into a supporting position at the surface (18) of the former (14) after releasing the leading end (106) for supporting the leading end (106) during the latter rotation of the former (14). A pressure roller (20) is rotatably supported in a guide cage (54) mounted on a dual arm (22,48) having a dual actuation system (34,60) for moving the guide cage (54) and pressure roller (20) into position for guiding and compacting the convolutions of bead ribbon (12) wrapped around the former (14) and for providing a high pressure force to crimp the splice area (124 ) of the bead (16).

Abstract: An overlapping layer (24) of a first body of deformable material is pressed by an edge (78) of each of a plurality of blade members (42) into an overlapped layer (26) of a second body of resilient material forming slots (74) in the second body with ribs (88) of the first body displaced therein. The blade members (42) are removed while the ribs (88) are retained in the slots (74) and gripped by the surrounding resilient material. The blade members (42) may be adjustably clamped in a cartridge (40) which is removable from the splicing apparatus (10) for adjustment and replacement of the blade members (42) so that they conform to the surface profile (82) and splice interface line (80) of the bodies to be spliced.

Abstract: A safety support system in which an annular safety support of resilient material having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the tire is positioned around a rim and within the tire. The resilient material of the safety support is under pressure and reinforcing cords are wrapped around the annular safety support to control expansion and maintain the safety support in position between the bead portions in the deflated condition of the tire. The resilient material may be of foam having closed cells containing gas under pressure or it may be a generally solid material which is compressed upon installation or formed under pressure in the tire. The safety support may also have safety support flanges at the edges for positioning between folded portions of the tire sidewalls during operation of the tire in the deflated condition.

Abstract: Upper and lower rollers have grooves for a bead ring having a clamp area portion produced by a bead winding machine. The bead ring is placed in the groove of the lower roller with the beginning of the clamp area portion in position for pressing by lowering of the upper roller so that the bead ring is engaged by the groove in the upper roller. The rollers are oscillated between the pressing position at the beginning of the clamp area and the end of the clamp area to roll the top, bottom and sides of the clamp area portion during the movement of the bead ring. The pressure on the bead ring is released by raising the upper roller at the initial pressing position at the beginning of the clamp area so that the bead ring may be removed with the same orientation it had when it was placed in the groove.

Abstract: The end portions of a flexible strip (46,48,50,52) are deflected from the path (54) of an automatic end cementer (10) along which the strip (46,48,50,52) is moved into engagement with cement appliers (62,94) spaced from the path (54). The weight of the unsupported leading end portion (92) causes the end (56) of the strip (46,48) to be deflected downwardly into contact with a cement applier (62) adjustably positioned below the path (54). The trailing end portion (58) is deflected upwardly by changing the direction of the path (54) for the strip (50,52) to lift the trailing end portion (58) from the path (54) into contact with a cement applier (94) adjustably positioned above the path (54).

Abstract: A safety support system for a tubeless tire and rim assembly which is adaptable for field mounting of the tire on the rim. The tire cavity within the tire contains a safety support body made up of an outer ring member and an inner ring member. The outer ring member is of resilient foam material providing cushioning and support of the tire. The inner ring member is of a substantially incompressible material which is flowable for injection into the tire cavity of the outer ring member and maintain the bead portions of the tire on said bead seats of said rim during operation.

Abstract: A sheet member is transported over a knife anvil by a feed conveyor movable from a first position adjacent the knife anvil to a second position overlapping the knife anvil. The feed conveyor has a moving belt which is driven in a forward direction for transporting the sheet member over the anvil and to a takeaway conveyor. The belt is driven in an opposite direction to pull the cut leading edge of the sheet material away from the end of the feed conveyor after cutting of the sheet material and during movement of the feed conveyor to the overlapping position over the anvil. A rotary knife is moved along the knife anvil and is mounted for rocking of the knife in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the knife to provide a positive shear point.

Abstract: An overlapping layer (24) of a first body of deformable material is pressed by an edge (78) of each of a plurality of blade members (42) into an overlapped layer (26) of a second body of resilient material forming slots (74) in the second body with ribs (88) of the first body displaced therein. The blade members (42) are removed while the ribs (88) are retained in the slots (74) and gripped by the surrounding resilient material. The blade members (42) may be adjustably clamped in a cartridge (40) which is removable from the splicing apparatus (10) for adjustment and replacement of the blade members (42) so that they conform to the surface profile (82) and splice interface line (80) of the bodies to be spliced.

Abstract: Injection molding a tread on an annular tire casing (44) positioned in a mold (10') by introducing a fluid molding compound (76',78') at high pressures and high temperatures into a tread molding space (105) through runner passages (114) extending from an edge (116) to a centerplane (20'--20') of the mold (10') and having gates (118) opening into the tread molding space (105). Alternatively the runner passages (56,58) may be defined by annular runner surfaces (60,62,64,66) in communication with the tread molding space (48) through annular gates (52,54). The fluid molding compound (76,78) may be ejected from annular transfer recesses (68,70) in the mold (10) by squeeze rings (84,86) movable into the transfer recesses (68,70) to introduce the fluid molding compound (76,78) into the runner passages (56,58).

Abstract: A heat pad for pressing against a curved surface of an annular tire to vulcanize a tire patch having a channel-shaped sheet member of resilient conductive rubber material with reinforcing electrodes adhered to the sheet member at the elongated side edges, a cover of insulating rubber material encasing the sheet member and an intermediate portion between the electrodes stretchable to conform to the curved surface of the tire under pressure from a pressing member urging the pad against the tire.

Abstract: A flexible tubular finger-end sheath has a cavity comprised of an open-end finger-gripping portion and a closed-end protector portion separated by a finger-stopping barrier. The walls of the protector portion converge and terminate in a truncated pressing face at the closed end. Additional stiffening may be provided to the protector-portion by a longitudinal rib thereon.

Abstract: Spacer segments (24) of various thicknesses are attached to radially movable master segments (14) of a transfer ring (16) for gripping and transferring tread belt packages of different diameters. The spacer segments (24) are of a resilient material and may have molded arm members (32) with flexible, resilient ribs (42) for engaging edge portions (46) of the master segments (14). Handles (70) may be provided on the arm members (32) for bending the arm members (32) to install and remove the spacer segments (24). Axial movement of the spacer segments (24) relative to the master segments (14) is limited by circumferentially extending raised edges (58,60,66,68) on the cylindrical mating surfaces (26,28) of the master segments (14) and the spacer segments (24).

Abstract: A rod gland (28) has axially extending inlet and outlet grooves (64,66) at circumferentially spaced positions on a cylindrical outer surface (34) and is provided with an annular seal (60) for preventing leaks between the grooves (64,66). The annular seal (60) is positioned in a groove (59) between an adapter hub (36) and a lower clamping ring hub (38) surrounding and in sliding engagement with the cylindrical outer surface (34) of the rod gland (28) so that at the inlet and outlet grooves (64,66) the sealing is on three sides of the annular seal (60) and between the grooves (64,66) the sealing is on four sides of the annular seal (60).

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 simultaneously and intermittently to 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: A heliochronometer (10) for providing accurate clock time readouts at any known latitude and longitude location on the earth including, a base (15) to effect precision orientation and level mounting and having an unpstanding post (40), a latitude member (45) adjustably angularly positionable relative to the post for selecting a particular latitude, a gnomon assembly (65) extending upwardly from the latitude member, a longitude correction member (75) adjustably pivotally mounted about the gnomon assembly for effecting a longitude correction, a time dial support (20) pivotally mounted about said gnomon assembly and having an arcuate time dial (150) on which the shadow of the gnomon assembly is projected, and assemblies (90, 130) interconnecting the longitude correction member and the time dial support for adjusting the angular position of the time dial for daylight savings time and the equation of time.

Abstract: A mixing faucet assembly especially adaptable for frostfree installation has a casing with a mixing chamber containing valve means for controlling the flow of hot and cold water into the chamber. The mixed water is conveyed from the mixing chamber to a tubular member having a nozzle spaced from the casing. A control rod is connected to the valve means and extends through the tubular member to a single handle control adjacent to the nozzle so that upon rotation of the control rod hot and cold water is selectively metered into the mixing chamber and from there communicated to the nozzle. The control rod may be detachedly connected to the valve means at the casing and the casing may be detachably connected to the tubular member for servicing the faucet assembly from the inside of a building.

Abstract: A tire carcass (55) is built on a generally cylindrical drum (10) rotatable about an axis (12) by applying green tire components (50) to the cylindrical surface (14) and curved shoulder surfaces (32,34) of the drum (10). The radially inner surfaces (58) of the lower sidewalls (56) of the tire carcass (55) are formed on the surfaces (32,34) of the curved shoulders (28,30) which have a curvature which can be generated as a segment of a conic section which is at an angle other than a right angle to the axis of a cone. The curvature for each of the lower sidewall inner surfaces (58) as measured along a line of intersection (36) of a shoulder surface (32,34) of the drum (10) and a radial plane (A--A) containing the drum axis (12) is decreased from positions (38) adjacent the axially outer edges (40) of the drum (10) to positions (42) on the cylindrical surface (14 ) of the drum.