Abstract: A bearing expansion lock useful in locking linear axial movement of a push-pull rod driven by a potential energy source, where the push-pull rod is housed in a hollow shaft, is disclosed. A hollow elongated housing is provided to be mounted along an axial dimension of the hollow shaft. A shaft subassembly is received within the housing and adapted to be interposed between an outboard end of the push-pull rod and the potential energy source. The shaft subassembly is reconfigurable between a first position in which the shaft subassembly is braced against slidable movement within the housing along the hollow shaft and a second position in which the shaft subassembly is slidable within the housing along the central shaft. Configuration of the shaft subassembly in the first position restricts movement of the shaft subassembly along the housing, thereby restricting movement of the push-pull rod along the hollow shaft.

Abstract: The “Anti-Flex Assembly” is an assembly for maintaining axial stability in a rotatable, expandable and collapsible drum used in tire manufacturing. A cylindrical rod with at least one helical groove is defined in the outer surface of the cylindrical rod and at least one hardened dowel is aligned so as to protrude into the helical groove of the cylindrical rod. A means to maintain the orientation and protrusion of the hardened dowel protruding into the helical groove(s), and a clamping lock is provided to lock the cylindrical rod in place once the desired width of the rotatable, expandable and collapsible drum has been set, thus providing axial stability of the rotatable, expandable and collapsible drum during tire carcass manufacturing.

Abstract: A transfer ring especially suitable for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires including a skeletal cylindrical cage which houses an oscillatable circular drive member therewithin. The drive member includes a plurality of cam followers disposed about the outer perimeter thereof and which operatively engage respective camming grooves defined in each of a plurality of hinged driven links which are individually hingedly mounted internally of the cage about the outer perimeter of the cage. Each driven link includes an inboard end hinged within the cage and an outboard end having an articulating shoe mounted thereon. The shoes on the several driven links are interconnected to provide like simultaneous substantially equal articulative and rotational movement of the shoes radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the cage upon rotational movement of the drive member and resultant rotational movement of the hinged driven links effected through the cam followers and camming grooves of the driven links.