Abstract: An improved machine for fabricating tire carcasses.

Abstract: A mold for curing a green tire which is made of an elastomeric material capable of flowing prior to curing. The mold includes a surface defining a cavity in the mold for receiving the green tire. A passage communicates the cavity with the exterior of the mold. A vent plug is located in the passage. The vent plug has an opening extending therethrough communicating the cavity with the passage. Elastomeric material may flow into the opening to form a projection extending from the tire as the green tire is pressed against the surface defining the cavity during a molding operation. The vent plug has a portion extending into the cavity a predetermined distance from the surface to form a recess in the tire adjacent the projection. The recess provides a space that the projection may deflect into to prevent shearing off of the projection during removal of the tire from the mold.

Abstract: These polymers are copolymers or overpolymers having a substrate of styrene butadiene copolymer overpolymerized with an amine substituted alkyl acrylate. The polymers promote adhesion between organic and inorganic substrates and unsaturated polymers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing radial force variations of pneumatic tires by removing rubber in selected areas of the tire wherein a tire is rotated at a suitable high speed for nongrinding functions such as warmup and testing and the tire is rotated at a suitable slow speed for removing rubber from the selected areas of the tire. A tire with distinct suitable texture features was unexpectantly found using an apparatus and method.

Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire comprises a supply of elastomeric sheet material of a predetermined length and having spaced apart first and second end portions. A plurality of parallel extending reinforcing members are contained in the elastomeric sheet material of which adjacent reinforcing members are spaced apart a substantially equal first distance. An embosser for elastically deforming the first and second end portions of the elastomeric sheet material increases the distance between the adjacent reinforcing members in each of the first and second end portions to a second distance greater than the first distance. A drum is provided to receive the elastomeric sheet material with the first and second end portions overlapped. A mold is provided to bond together the first and second end portions of the elastomeric material in the overlapped portion under heated pressure to form a joint.

Abstract: A system for curing a green tire made from elastomeric material includes a tire mold with a surface defining a cavity for shaping the tire. A plurality of vent passages communicate the cavity with the exterior of the tire mold. An inflatable bladder presses the tire against the surface defining the cavity for a predetermined time in response to fluid pressurization. A fluid pressure source pressurizes the bladder. A conduit communicates the fluid pressure source with the bladder. A restrictor member is located in the conduit for restricting the rate of increase of fluid pressure in the bladder to a predetermined rate of increase during the first one-third of the predetermined time. During the first one-third of the predetermined cure time, portions of the tire adjacent the plurality of vent passages cure and restrict the flow of other uncured portions of elastomeric material into the vent passages.

Abstract: Dimensional change in a tire cord (13) under thermomechanical stress is determined by a device (10) including an oven (12) for receiving and controlling the temperature of a preselected length of the cord (13), grips (14,15) for holding and selectively positioning the entire preselected length of cord (13) within the oven (12), and means (16) including an angular displacement transducer (51) for measuring changes in the preselected length of cord (13). Means (16) may also include weights (52,53) for the selective application of mechanical stress to the material. The steps employed in determining such dimensional change include inserting a length of cord (13) into grips (14,15), positioning the entire length of cord (13) (including the portion of grips (14,15) holding the cord (13)) within oven (12), controlling the temperature of the cord (13) in the oven (12), and measuring changes in the length of cord (13).

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for measuring tire force and tire tread motion in a common area of a tire under test. The apparatus comprises a tire test block having a bearing surface over which a tire to be tested is rolled. A force sensor is received in an opening in the block and adapted to be engagable by the tire under test. The force sensor includes a longitudinally extending member having a longitudinally extending opening therein. The member has a central axis, the central axis being oriented substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the test block. The force sensor further includes strain gages secured to the member and having an electrical characteristic indicative of force applied to the member by the tire under test. A motion sensor is located within the longitudinally extending opening in the member.

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.