Abstract: An uninflated unmounted tire is supported in a frame of the apparatus for engagement with a sealant applicator head that contacts the interior tire liner after a bead spreading device on the frame spreads apart the tire beads, and an elevator member on the frame raises the tire. The applicator head has a tire engaging profile corresponding to that of the tire and an elongated opening for which highly viscous, sticky sealant is discharged onto the tire liner under the tread in a layer of predetermined cross section as the tire is rotated on the frame past the applicator head. A complete coating of sealant is applied during one revolution of the tire, with the sealant having a butt joint, or an overlapping splice formed when the elevator member is lowered a predetermined amount by a drop-off mechanism as the tire completes one revolution of sealant application.

Abstract: A breaker reinforcing tape for belted pneumatic tires, a method of making such tape, and a method of constructing such tires therewith, are disclosed. The tape includes a generally sinusoidally crimped strip of uncured rubber and a plurality of similarly crimped parallel cords having their undulations following and nesting in the undulations of the crimped strip, the cords at successive apexes being secured to successive apexes of the strip. A second uncured rubber strip in a flat condition is secured to alternate ones of the apexes of the undulations of the array of cords and the crimped strip at one face of the latter. At least one frangible element is interposed in a fixed and substantially flat condition between the crimped and flat strips for releasably reinforcing and stabilizing the flat strip against inadvertent expansion that would prematurely reduce the amplitude and frequency of the undulations of the crimped strip and its associated cords.

Abstract: A breaker reinforcing tape for belted pneumatic tires, a method of making such tape, and a method of constructing such tires therewith, are disclosed. The tape includes a generally sinusoidally crimped strip of uncured rubber and a plurality of similarly crimped parallel cords having their undulations following and nesting in the undulations of the crimped strip, the cords at successive apexes being secured to successive apexes of the strip. A second uncured rubber strip in a flat condition is secured to alternate ones of the apexes of the undulations of the array of cords and the crimped strip at one face of the latter. At least one frangible element is interposed in a fixed and substantially flat condition between the crimped and flat strips for releasably reinforcing and stabilizing the flat strip against inadvertent expansion that would prematurely reduce the amplitude and frequency of the undulations of the crimped strip and its associated cords.

Abstract: A rubber, radially expansible ring in a tire building drum is provided for gripping the bead of a tire carcass. The ring is radially expansible in a continuous, circumferential channel of the drum. The ring has an outer surface suitably shaped for holding the bead of the tire carcass, and a pair of continuous, circumferential pressure sealing flaps extending inwardly from both sides of the ring. The flaps are adapted for sealing engagement with adjacent side members of the circumferential channel, so that the ring may be radially expanded without the use of an inflatable bladder. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.

Abstract: The single-stage building of 0.degree. belted pneumatic tires completely in flat band form on standard building drums, is disclosed. The feasibility of the process rests on the provision of the substantially inextensible metallic or non-metallic belt cords in the form of longitudinally extensible high "soft stretch" tapes. In a preferred version of the invention, the tape is composed of a plurality of cords each having formed therein a multiplicity of undulations which in any given straight length of the tape are substantially planar, the cords being disposed in side by side relation so that the planes of the undulations of each cord are generally parallel to the planes of the undulations of each adjacent cord, and the cords together with a relatively weak and frangible but only minimally undulated stabilizing yarn for the tape being secured to each other and held in their undulating state by a relative weak, chain stitch knitted, frangible stitching yarn or thread.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber is modified by the addition of a resin at a temperature above the melting point of said resin. Shaped articles are formed from the resulting blend and cured without restraining pressure at a temperature below the melting point of said resin. The resin portion is present in said articles in the form of particles having a cross sectional dimension (D) not greater than 1/2 micron and a length (L) to cross sectional dimension (D) ratio of 2 or greater.

Abstract: An expandable bladder for shaping a pneumatic tire, comprising a thick, substantially cylindrical center section having a multiplicity of convolutions perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical section on the inner surface of said section, said convolutions providing local reductions in thickness and additional axial extensibility to the bladder, a pair of annular, beaded end sections extending inwardly from each end of the cylindrical center section, and reinforcing material extending through the center section and end sections to limit the axial extensibility of the bladder. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.

Abstract: A method for cooling a tire during a post-inflation treatment utilizing aspirator jets for discharging air internally of the tire and for entraining the inflation air of the tire to cause turbulent air flow against the internal surface of the tire and against tire-supporting means which is water-cooled to remove heat from the internal air of the tire. This invention results in tires which are at least as uniform, and generally more uniform, than externally jet air-cooled tires.