Abstract: A method and apparatus for tire uniformity correction. During a sensing phase, the tire to be corrected is rotated at a speed higher than the industry standard of 60 revolutions per minute while sensing the force variations to be removed. During a rubber removal phase, the tire is rotated at a slower speed tire while removing rubber in selected amounts from slected areas of the tire corresponding force variations. Frequency modified electrical signals are generated in response to the sensed force variations in the tire during the sensing phase, such signals being at frequencies higher than the industry standard of 60 cycles per minute. Such frequency modified signals are then filtered in summer amplifiers, processed and stored in a microprocssor and then utilized for the removal of rubber in a programmed manner.

Abstract: A servicer for conveying upper and lower breaker strip material onto a rotating cylindrical surface comprising upper and lower conveyors, each with an input end and output end, to sequentially feed the upper and lower breaker strip material along upper and lower paths of travel onto the rotating cylindrical surface; a roll of breaker strip material located in association with each conveyor at its input end; positioning means to sequentially move and pivot the output end of each conveyor between a first position in operative association with the rotating cylindrical surface and a second position remote therefrom; cutter means in each path of travel to cut the conveyed breaker strip material into strips of predetermined lengths; and drive means associated with the conveyors to move the cut breaker strips onto the rotating surface.

Abstract: An improved of processing a tire on a uniformity machine comprising the steps of sensing the radial force variations in a tire and generating a composite waveform corresponding to the sensed force variations, converting the composite waveform into a special function waveform selected from the class of waveforms which includes filtered partial square waves, partial sine waves and full sine waves, selecting either from a table or adaptively one of the special function waveforms and grinding of the tire in response to the selected special function waveform.

Abstract: An improved second stage tire building machine including a first station for receiving and supporting a first stage tire carcass; a second station axially offset from the first station for assembling a breaker and tread cylinder; a servicer for feeding breaker strip material to the second station to form a breaker cylinder; a tread conveyor for feeding tread material to the second station over the breaker cylinder to form a breaker and tread cylinder; a stitcher to stitch the tread material and the breaker material to the carcass; a transfer device to transport the breaker and tread cylinder from the second station onto the periphery of a carcass at the first station for the assembly of a green tire and to then transport a green tire to an intermediate location; a robot to transport a carcass to the first station and a green tire from the transfer ring; and control means to coordinate the movement of the servicer, conveyor, transfer ring and robot in a continuous and automatic cycle of operation.

Abstract: Apparatus to cut breaker material as it is conveyed from a roll to a rotatable drum and to align the cut breaker material comprising a conveyor to move the breaker material along a path of travel from the roll to the drum with the longitudinal centerline of the material overlying the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor; cutter means located along the path of travel to sequentially cut the material fed from the roll into strips of a predetermined length with the cut being at an angle with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the material to thereby produce an acute angle at the tip of the leading edge of each strip of cut material; and edge alignment means positioned on the side of the cutter means remote from the roll to return the tip of the cut material into proper alignment position with the opposed side edges of the cut material being at a predetermined, equal distance from the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor.

Abstract: A robot for transporting a cylindrical tire carcass between various processing locations comprising arms with contoured free ends movable toward each other to thereby grasp the exterior cylindrical surface of a carcass, the free ends also being movable away from each other to thereby grasp the interior cylindrical surface of a green tire; transport means to move the arms between a pick up location, a tire building machine, and an inspection location; and control means adapted to move the arms toward each other at the pick up location to grasp the exterior cylindrical surface of a carcass and to activate the transport means to convey the grasped carcass to the tire building machine, the control means also adapted to move the arm away from each other at the tire building machine to grasp the interior cylindrical surface of a green tire and to activate the transport means to convey the grasped green tire to the inspection location.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus to longitudinally cut a cord reinforced rubber sheet into at least two strips of tire ply stock while the sheet is being conveyed past the apparatus. The apparatus includes a slitting device that utilizes shear-type action to cut through the sheet by the interaction of rotating disc-like upper and lower slitters. The upper slitter is power driven while the lower slitter is rotated by frictional contact between the upper and lower slitter. The apparatus may include a trimming device for trimming a boundary strip of the sheet. The trimming device also utilizes shear-type action to trim the sheet by rotating disc-like upper and lower trimmers similar to the upper and lower disc-like slitters of the slitting device.

Abstract: A tire building machine that allows for free axial movement of positioned beads towards a tire drum during expansion of the tire drum. The axial movement of the bead is effected by a rubber sleeve that envelops the tire drum and a pair of bead carrier assemblies, each one located axially outwardly of the drum. Subsequent to positioning the bead in a tire building process, the beads are locked into place by means attached to each of the bead carrier assemblies. Expansion of the drum causes the sleeve to effect inwardly axial movement of the bead carrier assemblies toward the drum carrying the tire beads towards the drum, and retraction of the drum causes outwardly axial movement of the bead carrier assemblies away from the drum.

Abstract: A rim assembly and a spindle assembly including locking ramps for releasably coupling them for concurrent rotation. The rim assembly has an exterior peripheral flange, an interior axial opening, a plurality of locking ramps extending radially inwardly into the opening with locking ramps having inclined surfaces on one face thereof. The spindle assembly has a taper body with an exterior face to be received within the opening of the rim assembly, a locking rotor coupled to the taper body, locking ramps extending radially outwardly therefrom with inclined surfaces on one face thereof couplable with the inclined surfaces of the rim assembly upon the rotation of said locking rotor. Locking pins are also included to lock the locking rotor in a first orientation with respect to the taper body when the inclined surfaces of the assemblies are out of contact. Also disclosed are the assemblies, per se.

Abstract: An inflatable hot tub is provided with one or more stacked endless loops of inflatable tubes and sidewalls and a floor or bottom wall. An insulating cover, preferably secured around its entire periphery with an elastic band to the topmost tube, is manually removable and provides insulation by preferably either rigid closed cell synthetic foam or one or more inflation chambers. The tubes may be connected together and to the bottom wall. Pressurized gas may be provided in air jet bubbles to the bottom of the tub through a motor driven pump and heater, with a supply hose extending over the top periphery of the tubes or through the bottommost tube and side wall if present. The air jets may lead from a rigid or flexible pipe or combinations thereof, extending around the lower periphery of the floor, which pipe may be circular in cross section or of quarter-round cross section having its right angle portion fitting in the corresponding right angled joint between the side and bottom walls of the tub.

Abstract: An inflatable deicer boot for mounting on an airfoil with at least one leading edge tubular member positioned in the area of the stagnation line of the airfoil. The boot also has a plurality of upper and lower inflatable passages on either side of the leading edge tubular member. In the inflation sequence of the deicing cycle, the leading edge tubular member is inflated before inflation of the upper and lower inflatable passages to crack the ice formed on the outside surface of the boot at the stagnation line of the airfoil. The upper and lower inflatable passages are then inflated to shatter and eject the ice formed on the boot over the upper and lower inflatable passages. Means are then provided to deflate the tubular member for a predetermined time after which the deicing cycle is repeated.

Abstract: A davit launched inflatable life raft in a rigid container fastened to a deck by releasable latches is released and the raft inflated at a predetermined depth in a float free mode. A painter line fastened to the life raft is releasably connected to a retaining member mounted on the deck so that upon release of the container the retaining member will be actuated and the painter line secured to the retaining member to limit movement of the raft on the surface of the water to the area over the retaining member. A release lanyard for the davit hook and raft actuating cables connected to the lid fasteners are also releasably held in the retaining member for releasing the davit hook from the raft supporting davit ring and for releasing the fasteners holding the lid in place. Lifting of the flotable container provides relative movement of the retaining member mounted on the deck and the container to actuate a locking hook of the retaining member.

Abstract: A system for decompacting modules of compacted seed cotton. The system includes apparatus moveable through the compacted modules to feed the cotton to a remote location for further processing. Improved electronic controls permit automatic activation of a containment door against the trailing face of the last module, automatic reversal of the apparatus after containment of the last module and automatic inactivation of the system in the event of a malfunction.