Abstract: A bead locking apparatus for a tire building machine comprises a slider (1) in a form of an axially reciprocable sleeve disposed on a shaft (Fs) of a tire building machine. A plurality of bead locking segments (2) are circumferentially arranged on an outer surface of the slider (1), and the slider (1) has a tapered surface (3) on its outer face. The bead locking segments (2) each have an inclined inner surface (21) on which inner surface (21) the bead locking segment (7) slides on the slider tapered surface (3) to change its radial position according to reciprocation of the slider (1).

Abstract: A method of detecting a deflated tire on a vehicle by comparing the rolling radii of the tires by comparing angular velocity signals from wheel speed sensors at each wheel comprising the steps of calculating the factors ##EQU1## where C1, C2, C3 and C4 are the signals for the speeds of the front left-hand, front right-hand, rear left-hand and rear right-hand wheels of the vehicle, monitoring these factors and if the value of one or more factor becomes greater than 1.0005 or less than 0.9995, producing a warning signal to indicate that a tire has become partially or completely deflated.

Abstract: A tire exhibiting improved handling and stability on wet roads when the land ratio (Ra) of the ground bearing surface of the tire at a normal internal pressure under a normal load is in the range of:0.5.ltoreq.Ra.ltoreq.0.58,and the radius of curvature (R2) of the shoulder of the tire and the radius of curvature (R3) of the shoulder edge portion thereof are in the relationship of:14.0.ltoreq.R2/R3.ltoreq.20.0.

Abstract: A green tire building process wherein a cylindrical belt (B) comprising a tread (A) and a breaker (3) are applied around a toroidally shaped tire carcass (1) on a tire carcass building drum (13) to assemble a green tire. The breaker cushions (6) are fit to the inner circumferential surfaces of the opposite edge portions of the breaker (3) prior to applying the belt (B) around the tire carcass (1). The breaker cushions are fit to the breaker by first winding the cushions around axial end portions of a belt forming drum in a manner such that the diameter of the radially inner peripheral surfaces of the breaker cushions decrease in diameter towards the axially outer extremities of the drum and the radially outer surfaces of the cushions are generally flat. Then the breaker and tread are wound onto the breaker cushions to form the belt which is later removed from the belt forming drum before being applied onto the tire carcass.

Abstract: A method of detecting a deflated tire on a vehicle by comparing the rolling radii of the tires by comparing angular velocity speed signals from wheel speed sensors. One wheel speed sensor being provided at each wheel. Before the comparison of the signals is carried out, corrected wheel speed signals for each of the second, third and fourth wheels are calculated giving corrections for a set of factors comprising vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and longitudinal (fore/aft) acceleration. The corrections each comprise a constant for the factor concerned times the respective factor. The set of constants for each wheel is derived by taking the vehicle through a range of speeds, lateral and fore/aft accelerations and using multiple regression techniques and the respective factors are calculated from the set of uncorrected wheel speed signals so that comparison of the wheel speeds can be made without false signals from tire deflections caused by speed, lateral or fore/aft acceleration induced tire deflections.

Abstract: A method of vulcanizing an elastomer product such as a tire including placing the product in a mould, supplying a heating medium to the interior of the product to effect vulcanization, then supplying a pressurizing medium to the interior of the product. In this method the heating medium or the heated fluid mixture is exhausted or removed from the interior of the product at least once by opening an exhaust and simultaneously supplying a cooling pressurizing medium to cool the product to a required temperature level. The heating medium may be exhausted immediately after the completion of the heating medium supply process. The heated fluid mixture may be exhausted in and/or after the pressurizing medium supply process. Preferably the rate of exhaustion is limited by a control orifice. As a result the product is cooled without giving temperature differences in different parts of the product and avoiding unfavorable pressure drop so that efficient vulcanization with good homogeneity in the product results.

Abstract: A bead locking apparatus includes bead support segments disposed in an annular arrangement at each of the axially opposite ends of a building drum mounted on a rotary shaft, the support segments being movable outward or inward radially of the drum, an elastic ring fitted in an annular recess formed in the outer periphery of the annular arrangement of segments, a segment drive device for moving the bead support segments radially outward, and a device for radially expanding the elastic ring independently of the segments. The bead is first primarily locked by the elastic ring and then secondarily locked by the support segments.

Abstract: A method for improving uniformity level of a tire having a plurality of projections over a surface thereof includes the steps of measuring a variation in lateral force exerted on a contact are a of the tire while the tire is rotated in at least one of a normal direction and a reverse direction, determining two regions at a tire surface, one region including at least one position where the lateral force variation becomes maximum and the other region including at least one position where the lateral force variation becomes minimum based on the measurement result, and scouring over the determined two regions on at least one of the projections for each half part of the tire surface divided by the center line thereof, which satisfies the following conditions: 1) located on the side of the tire surface corresponding to a first direction in which the lateral force varies, and 2) located neither on a center line of a tire tread nor most outwardly with respect to the center line of the tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition which is useful for the treads of studless tires which provides improved grip properties on frozen roads and preserves good performance after being used for a long period of time. The rubber composition of the present invention comprises a base rubber and an inorganic halide which has a melting point of 180.degree. C. or more, an average particle size of 20 to 600 micrometer and a solubility of 5 g or more in 100 g of water at 0.degree. C.; said inorganic halide being present in an amount of 3 to 35 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said base rubber.

Abstract: A tire tread compound, particularly useful for truck tires, comprises a base polymer of natural or synthetic rubber, a filler at least 50% of which is carbon black and between 2 and 10 parts of epoxy resin per hundred parts of polymer.

Abstract: A method of detecting a partially deflated pneumatic tire on a vehicle having four tires each mounted on a wheel comprising sensing the angular velocity of each wheel by providing for each wheel, a signal generator to provide a single signal or pulse for each turn of the wheel, characterized by selecting a first wheel and measuring the time for one rotation of that first wheel, after beginning the first measurement similarly measuring the times of rotation for each other wheel, storing the times for each of the wheels for at least three rotations of each wheel and averaging the times to produce an average angular velocity value for each wheel, processing the four signals in a processor unit which subtracts the sum of the signals from one pair of diagonally opposite wheels from the sum of the signals from the other pair of diagonally opposite wheels, sensing when the magnitude of the result is between 0.05% and 0.

Abstract: A high speed tire for heavy duty vehicles includes a carcass in a radial structure, a belt layer, tapered bead apex rubbers, side packing rubbers of small thickness, and side wall rubbers. The carcass has a main body part extending from a tread part through side wall parts to a bead core in each of two bead parts, and folding-back parts each being folded back around the bear core at each edge of the main body. Each of the bead apex rubbers extends outward in the radial direction between the main body part and the folding-back part from the bead core. Each of the side packing rubbers is disposed along the outside surface in the tire axial direction of the carcass. Each of the side wall rubbers covers the packing rubber and extends from the bead part to the side wall part so as to form the outside surface of the tire. Furthermore, the 100% modulus MP of the side packing rubber is 53 to 95 kg/cm.sup.2, the 100% modulus MA of the bead apex rubber is 78 to 120 kg/cm.sup.

Abstract: An apparatus for vulcanizing elastomer product including separate passages to supply the heating and pressurizing medium through respective blow supply nozzles with the heating medium being blown to a lower portion of the vulcanizing chamber and the pressurizing medium being blown to an upper portion of the vulcanizing chamber.

Abstract: A method for vulcanizing an elastomer product includes heating under pressure an elastomer product placed in a mold by supplying a heating medium such as steam, stopping the supply of the heating medium when the elastomer product rises to a predetermined temperature or after the lapse of a specified period of time, supplying a pressurizing medium such as nitrogen gas at a pressure equal to or higher than that of the heating medium until the heating process is completed, and discharging the vulcanizing medium after the heating process. The heating and pressurizing medium are supplied through respective blow supply means with the heating medium being blown to a lower portion of the vulcnizing chamber and the pressurizing medium being blown to an upper portion of the vulcanizing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for vulcanizing an elastomeric product includes a mold in which the elastomeric product to be vulcanized is disposed, a piston gland having a first supply passage for supplying a heating medium, and an annular junction chamber. The first supply passage communicates with the interior of the junction chamber. The junction chamber has an outer wall which separates the junction chamber from the interior of the product, and a nozzle in the outer wall directs heating medium from the junction chamber into the interior of the product in a downward direction toward the lower portion of the product. An enclosure overlies the junction chamber. The piston gland has a second supply passage for supplying a pressurizing medium which communicates with the enclosure to supply pressurizing medium to the enclosure, the pressurizing medium passing from the enclosure to the interior of the product.

Abstract: Apparatus for vulcanizing an elastomeric product includes separate passageways for supplying a heating medium to a lower portion of the vulcanizing chamber and an inert gas pressurizing medium to the upper portion of the chamber. The mixing of the fluids minimizes the temperature difference in the inner space of the product and ensures a uniform vulcanization.

Abstract: Pneumatic tires having an improved steering response have a tread portion which comprises an elastomeric composition containing a long chain hydroxy fatty acid or a derivative thereof, or an inter-condensed or intracondensed form thereof. The hydroxy fatty acid can be a saturated monocarboxylic acid having:(a) 9 to 25 (for example 13 to 17 and especially 15, 16, or 17) carbon atoms as well as the carbon atom of the carboxylic acid group; and(b) 1 to 6 (for example 2, 3 or 4) hydroxy groups.Suitable compounds are di- and tri-hydroxy palmitic and stearic acids. The invention is concerned particularly with the use of shellac as the hydroxy fatty acid compound.

Abstract: A heat reserve material having excellent physical properties. The heat reserve material comprises;(A) a hydrophilic polymer having a hydroxyl group on a principal chain,(B) oxide glass, and(C) water and/or a water-soluble alcohol,wherein an amount of component (B) is within the range of 1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of component (A), and an amount of component (C) is 6 to 50 times larger than the total weight of components (A) and (B).

Abstract: A one piece wheel rim for a pneumatic tire having flanges adjacent to tapered bead seats one of the flanges having a reduced high portion of a length of 0.25 to 0.5 times the bead seat circumference. The reduced height portion being in the range of 0.15 to 0.6 times the height of the remainder of the flange, which construction allows a tire to be fitted to the rim without the necessity for a conventional tire fitting well.

Abstract: A tire test machine which provides four attitudes of motion to the tire comprising a pair of triangular upper and lower main suspension frames each lying in a horizontal plane and having a first long side extending in the direction of movement of the test road surface, one end of the long side of each frame pivotally connected to the upper and lower ends of a vertically extending axle support, load applying means acting on one of the long sides, upper and lower actuators applying horizontal movement to the third corners of the upper and lower main frames parallel to the long sides and a steering means so that the upper and lower actuators may act together to provide tire lateral movement proportional to the average movement and chamber movement proportional to the difference of the movements.