Abstract: A tire building drum having radially expandable shoulder forming means and radially expandable bead seating means. The drum includes an independently operable pair of annular pistons associated respectively with the shoulder forming means and the bead setting means such that the shoulder forming means can be operated independently in time, in radial extent and in force applied, of the bead seating means. The latter is in like manner operable independently in time, in radial extent, and in force applied at the bead setting means. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: In a tire mold press having a steam dome defining a chamber in which steam applies heat to the exterior of a tire mold, condensate which accumulates in the top center plate is simply and effectively removed after the end of the curing cycle and before the mold is opened by a passage through the top center plate controlled by a valve opened in response to a reduction of pressure acting on the lower surface of the plate as the tire cavity is emptied. The costs and hazards of removal of condensate or of operating and maintaining siphons are avoided. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanyiing drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: Tendency of a tire bead core to be rotated by the tire ply wrapped around the core, when the tire is expanded from a cylindrical or collapsed state to its normal toroidal operating state, particularly after the tire is cured, is inhibited, or eliminated by arrangement of the ply relative to the bead core which disposes the ply tension force direction at or nearly at the bead core centerThe foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: An endless tread assembly is fabricated on a ring having grooves and ridges which mold the radially inward surface of the tread assembly. The ring is a thin walled cylinder having a single slit or gap. The tread assembly on the ring is suspended by rotatable wheels rollable on the inward surface of the ring, so as to position an arcuate portion of the ring and tread assembly between a fixed press arm and a single movable heated press mold shoe operable to mold about a 40 degree arc of the tread assembly between the shoe and the ring backed by the press arm. Lugs on the inward surface of the ring cooperate with a latch fixed on the press arm to index selected increments of the tread assembly and ring between the press arm and mold segment. After all arcuate increments of the tread assembly have been molded and cured, the ring is opened at the gap and then simply flexed to reduce its diameter sufficiently to remove the cured tread assembly.

Abstract: An autoclave comprises a long upwardly open channel-shaped vessel, a gas and pressure resistant lid closing the vessel, means for actuating the lid for simultaneously closing and opening the autoclave along its entire length, the structure of the vessel being unitary and supported at a plurality of locations along its length for permitting heat promoted variations in length of the autoclave.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for assembling a tire carcass comprising a precarcass band and a pair of inextensible bead rings. The band is built and consolidated on a form having a rigid cylindrical surface. The band includes at least one cord or wire-reinforced ply and one or more tire liners of a rubbery gum, and may include additional tire components, in particular the components which will form the sidewalls of the tire. The band is removed from its building form and then moved axially freely over a shaping apparatus. An axially narrow central part of the band is expanded sufficiently to resist axial displacement of the band, which is then spread and smoothed outward from its central part by expanding and then moving outwardly a pair of expandable spreading elements.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus employing a formed guide shoe assembly controls the placement of successive convolutions of elastomer-coated wire on a bead-winding drum. The guide shoe assembly is not rotatable but accommodates the softly coated wire slidably along an extended curvilinear groove to initial contact with the winding drum or with preceding convolutions of coated wire thereon. A convergent channel in the assembly ensures safe smooth approach to the curvilinear groove. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: A hose built on a non-expanding, non-collapsing mandrel is removed readily lengthwise of and off the mandrel, facilitated by a tube of tough, flexible, thin anti-adherent film disposed in snug fitting contact with the length and girth of the mandrel. The tube is secured to the rigid metal member only close to the end thereof from which the hose is removed. Preferably, the tube is invaginated so as to provide inner and outer slidably juxtaposed walls. The hose built on such mandrel is moved lengthwise together with the outer wall of the tube which slides on the inner wall or the metal member. Lubrication, as by an air film, can facilitate the sliding, and does not contact the hose.

Abstract: A simple direct acting mechanism moves a circular rotatable disc cutter or two such cutters first to rollably engage a hard surface and then to traverse the surface to part the stock between a side-by-side pair of cords or wires. The cutter or cutters are blunt edged, as well as unheated and so avoid baring the cords or wires while parting the stock without the undesired effect of sharp or hot knives. The cutter or cutters are shiftable along the axis or axes to accommodate deviation of the cords with respect to the travel of the cutter. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: An apparatus having a grooving tool for carving grooves in a tire tread drives the tool transversely of the tread while varying the elevation of the tool so as to carve curvate, chevron, herringbone, lazy-S, or other non-linear grooves. Means for orienting the cutting edge of the tool normal to the actual direction of traversing movement is disclosed. The elevation of the tool is controlled by a sensor which follows the template profile or contour as the tool travels. The orientation of the tool is also controlled by a sensor cooperating with a template. The apparatus includes a base adapted for movement to grooving relation with a tire mounted on a rotatable chuck or away from the tire. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: A traveller useful for either Z- or S-twisting in an otherwise conventional twisting or spinning frame. The traveller is provided with a roller which has a cylindrical surface mounted for rotation about an axis which, when in operation, lies in a plane normal to the path of the traveller and which plane contains the axis of the associated spool. The axis of the roller cylindrical surface intersects the rotation axis of the spool at an angle of from 30 to 60 degrees and preferably between 45 and 60 degrees. The traveller, therefore, is independent of rotation direction. Specific length to diameter ratios are disclosed as are relations of roller diameter to thickness of threads and the like engaging the roller during operation.

Abstract: Tire building apparatus for building complete uncured tires includes a triad of orthogonally oriented tire building drums mounted on a turret rotatable about an axis inclined at an angle of between 35 and 36 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. Each of the drums occupies successively two tire fabricating stations wherein the respective drums are oriented horizontally and a third station wherein the building drums successively occupying such third station are oriented vertically and from which completed tires fabricated in the apparatus can be removed vertically and at an elevation above the two fabricating stations so as to eliminate completely interference between the movements of tire building material coming to the machine and of the completed tires removed from the machine.

Abstract: A device for coating wire tire cord on a spool with an agent for increasing the bond between the wire tire cord and rubber material used in the production of tires. The device is composed of at least one hollow pipe which forms a chamber in which the spools of wire are coated. The pipe is declined to help facilitate movement of the spools of wire through the pipe and allow drainage of any trapped liquid from the pipe. A hydraulic cylinder is provided adjacent the mouth of the pipe to engage and push a number of spools, in tandem, through the pipe in axially aligned, end-to-end relation. Means are supplied for circulating a liquid, containing the agent, into the chamber and for alternately creating a vacuum and pressure within the chamber to increase penetration of the liquid coating into the interstices between segments of wire cord wrapped on the spools. Other means are provided for circulating a heated fluid in the chamber to dry the liquid coating on the wire of each spool being treated.

Abstract: In a tire mold press having a steam dome defining a chamber in which steam applies heat to the exterior of a tire mold, condensate which accumulates in the top center plate is simply and effectively removed after the end of the curing cycle and before the mold is opened by a passage through the top center plate controlled by a valve opened in response to a reduction of pressure acting on the lower surface of the plate as the tire cavity is emptied. The costs and hazards of removal of condensate or of operating and maintaining siphons are avoided. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: Tendency of a tire bead core to be rotated by the tire ply wrapped around the core, when the tire is expanded from a cylindrical or collapsed state to its normal toroidal operating state, particularly after the tire is cured, is inhibited, or eliminated by arrangement of the ply relative to the bead core which disposes the ply tension force direction at or nearly at the bead core center.The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: In apparatus for dusting an exposed upper elastomeric surface of a fabric reinforced vulcanizable tape, the tape is entrained about rollers such that a horizontal portion passes below at least one slit, of a feedbox containing zinc stearate, for spreading of the powder evenly on the tape, whereafter on a downstream portion of the tape which is inclined upwardly a brush serves to remove any excess powder from the dusted tape.

Abstract: An equipment for continuously producing tapes in rubbery vulcanizable material, adapted to the manufacture of hoses, the equipment comprising at least one pair of calendering rollers, means for causing a rubbery composition to pass and be calendered into a tape between said rollers, and a set of internally cooled hollow cylinders and guide means for guiding the tape in surface engagement with said cooled cylinders.

Abstract: A device for cutting strip material across its length has a single plate frame in which a tool slide is reciprocable by a toggle linkage driven by moving cylinders the piston rods of which are fixed to the frame. Fluid delivered by way of passages in the piston rods powers the movement of the cylinders for smooth vibration free action. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: A kettle having a chamber sealed from the ambient atmosphere and designed to receive a plurality of tires retreaded with precured treads. Steam and air are supplied to the chamber in such a way that they are thoroughly mixed within the chamber to eliminate any hot or cold spots previously encountered in devices wherein the steam and air are each supplied to the chamber through a single inlet.

Abstract: A simple compact apparatus for applying sheet material, e.g., gum liner or radial ply stock, to a tire building drum has a plurality of rings carried on flanged rolls on three shafts. The rings form a hollow cylinder in which a cylinder actuates shoes disposed respectively between adjacent rings to lift the sheet cut off by a pair of piercing blades (for ply stock) traversed oppositely each way from center or by a single blade (for gum liner stock). One flanged roll with the rings between respective pairs of flanges forms a continuous line nip with a tire building drum for transferring the sheet from the apparatus to the building drum. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.