Abstract: A method of changing or placing a tread belt 512b onto a two piece tire carcass 514 is described. The method involves jacking the vehicle 600 up so the wheel clears the ground deflating the carcass 514 and pulling a vacuum to partially collapse the carcass 514, placing the tread belt 512b about half way onto the carcass 514 to support the tread belt weight lifting or pushing the tread belt 512b the remainder of the way onto the carcass 514 and inflating the carcass 514.

Abstract: A method for applying a breaker or other reinforcement layer to a carcass strip by strip includes the steps of calculating an end gap based upon a nominal strip width, the size of the carcass, and the end count desired; calculating a distributed gap required to distribute the calculated end gap substantially equally between each strip; and applying the breaker strip by strip with each strip being separated from an adjacent strip by the distributed gap spacing.

Abstract: A segmented annular mold for forming a tread belt having a reinforcing belt structure, the belt structure having a radial thickness (t) is disclosed. The mold has a plurality of radially movable and outwardly expandable inner segments for forming the inner surface of the tread belt and a plurality of radially movable and contracting outer segments for forming the outer tread belt surface. The radially inner and radially outer segments form a mold parting line at a location radially outward of a midpoint of the belt reinforcing structure of the tread belt at a location greater than 50% (t) as measured from the radially innermost surface of the belt reinforcing structure. The radially inner segments have upper and lower lateral edge forming portions extending outwardly to the parting line. Similarly, the radially outer mold segments have upper and lower lateral edge forming portions extending inwardly to the parting line.

Abstract: The method of building and transferring a tread belt structure on a portable and collapsible building drum 10 mounted coaxially on a building machine 100 with a rotatable shaft 120 is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming the annular tread belt 4 on the building drum 10, transferring the building drum 10 with the tread belt 4 from the rotatable shaft 120 onto a pivoting transfer device 200, pivoting the transfer device 200 about 90° rendering the tread belt 4 and axis of the building drum 10 perpendicular to a horizontal plane, collapsing the building drum 10, separating the annular tread belt 4 from the building drum 10, removing the tread belt 4, expanding the tire building drum 10, pivoting the building drum 10 into coaxial alignment with the rotatable shaft 120, moving the building drum 10 onto the shaft 120. The tread belt 4 has one or more elastomeric components applied while hot and the equipment provides means for weighing the tread belt 4.

Abstract: A method of changing or placing a tread belt 512b onto a two piece tire carcass 514 is described. The method involves jacking the vehicle 600 up so the wheel clears the ground deflating the carcass 514 and pulling a vacuum to partially collapse the carcass 514, placing the tread belt 512b about halfway onto the carcass 514 to support the tread belt weight lifting or pushing the tread belt 512b the remainder of the way onto the carcass 514 and inflating the carcass 514.