Patents by Inventor Douglas Raymond Weaver
Douglas Raymond Weaver has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10259181Abstract: A tire building drum and a method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The tire building drum has a center section comprised of a plurality of segments that are radially and axially movable. The sleeve of the tire building drum over the center section has been eliminated, and instead has two seals located on the outer ends or shoulders of the center section of the tire building drum. The building drum further comprises shoulder sections that are axially movable. The shoulder sections include radially expandable bead locks. The method employs the steps of applying one or more carcass layers, locking the bead locks and moving the center section radially outwardly while moving the bead locks axially inwardly.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Lawrence Dean Shull
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Patent number: 10245796Abstract: The invention is directed to a center deck assembly for a tire building drum. The tire building drum is rotatably mounted on a central drive shaft and includes a center section. The center deck assembly is disposed in the center section of the drum and includes a hub that seats on and is secured to the central drive shaft. At least one piston extends circumferentially in the tire building drum about the hub and a plurality of segment bars are disposed about the circumference of the center deck assembly. The at least one piston is operably connected to the segment bars by a plurality of linkages, in which each of the linkages includes a scissor-lever mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Dennis Alan Lundell, Douglas Raymond Weaver, Mark John Montgomery, Kenneth Dean Conger, Kristian Daniel Johnson
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Patent number: 10124551Abstract: An intermediate article of manufacture formed as a first stage bead area subassembly for a split ply pneumatic tire carcass is disclosed. The bead area subassembly has an annular bead core; a bead apex; a ply strip; and preferably a sidewall affixed to the ply strip. The subassembly is formed into a disk-shaped bead area monocomponent. The ply strip is wrapped about the bead core and the apex to form a ply turnup and both the ply strip and the ply turnup extend radially outwardly from the bead core. The bead area subassembly when formed into the disk-shaped bead area monocomponent is placed on an annular holder device.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Steven Leonard Kitz
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Publication number: 20180022048Abstract: The invention is directed to a center deck assembly for a tire building drum. The tire building drum is rotatably mounted on a central drive shaft and includes a center section. The center deck assembly is disposed in the center section of the drum and includes a hub that seats on and is secured to the central drive shaft. At least one piston extends circumferentially in the tire building drum about the hub and a plurality of segment bars are disposed about the circumference of the center deck assembly. The at least one piston is operably connected to the segment bars by a plurality of linkages, in which each of the linkages includes a scissor-lever mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2016Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventors: Dennis Alan Lundell, Douglas Raymond Weaver, Mark John Montgomery, Kenneth Dean Conger, Kristian Daniel Johnson
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Publication number: 20150210027Abstract: An intermediate article of manufacture formed as a first stage bead area subassembly for a split ply pneumatic tire carcass is disclosed. The bead area subassembly has an annular bead core; a bead apex; a ply strip; and preferably a sidewall affixed to the ply strip. The subassembly is formed into a disk-shaped bead area monocomponent. The ply strip is wrapped about the bead core and the apex to form a ply turnup and both the ply strip and the ply turnup extend radially outwardly from the bead core. The bead area subassembly when formed into the disk-shaped bead area monocomponent is placed on an annular holder device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Steven Leonard Kitz
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Patent number: 9027619Abstract: An intermediate article of manufacture formed as a first stage bead area subassembly for a split ply pneumatic tire carcass is disclosed. The bead area subassembly has an annular bead core; a bead apex; a ply strip; and preferably a sidewall affixed to the ply strip. The subassembly is formed into a disk-shaped bead area monocomponent. The ply strip is wrapped about the bead core and the apex to form a ply turnup and both the ply strip and the ply turnup extend radially outwardly from the bead core. The bead area subassembly when formed into the disk-shaped bead area monocomponent is placed on an annular holder device. The combination of the bead area monocomponent on the holder device can be stacked for storage and latter assembly into a split ply carcass. Preferably, the ply turnup can be oriented extending inside or axially inward of the bead core on final assembly to form a split ply tire having axially inside turnups.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Steven Leonard Kitz
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Publication number: 20150114571Abstract: A tire building drum is described which includes a rotatable drum having a center section and a right and left section, wherein the right and left section are each located adjacent the center section, wherein the right and left sections each have a radially expandable bead lock mechanism mounted on a sliding cylinder, wherein the bead lock mechanisms are axially movable independent of each other, wherein the ends of the center section are each connected to a plurality of radially expandable lifter housings, wherein each lifter housing is connected to a linkage system, wherein each sliding cylinder has a front face positioned for engagement with the linkage system, wherein actuation of the sliding cylinder causes the lifter system to radially expand and the radial expansion of the center section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Jeffrey Joseph Kavali
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Publication number: 20140048212Abstract: A tire building drum and a method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The tire building drum has a center section comprised of a plurality of segments that are radially and axially movable. The sleeve of the tire building drum over the center section has been eliminated, and instead has two seals located on the outer ends or shoulders of the center section of the tire building drum. The building drum further comprises shoulder sections that are axially movable. The shoulder sections include radially expandable bead locks. The method employs the steps of applying one or more carcass layers, locking the bead locks and moving the center section radially outwardly while moving the bead locks axially inwardly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Inventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Lawrence Dean Shull
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Publication number: 20140048213Abstract: A tire building drum and a method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The tire building drum has a center section comprised of a plurality of segments that are radially and axially movable. The sleeve of the tire building drum over the center section has been eliminated, and instead has two seals located on the outer ends or shoulders of the center section of the tire building drum. The building drum further comprises shoulder sections that are axially movable. The shoulder sections include radially expandable bead locks. The method employs the steps of applying one or more carcass layers, locking the bead locks and moving the center section radially outwardly while moving the bead locks axially inwardly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Dennis Alan Lundell
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Patent number: 8585845Abstract: Apparatus and methods of forming a tire. A drum has an expansion device that is configured to turn-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass about respective bead-and-apex assemblies while generally maintaining a constant orientation of the bead-and-apex assemblies. Further, the expansion device turns-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass while at the same time radially expanding the tire carcass. The methods entail turning-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass around the bead-and-apex assemblies and also moving a portion of the tire carcass lying between the bead-and-apex assemblies in a radially-outward direction relative to an axis of rotation of the drum.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: Douglas Raymond Weaver
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Publication number: 20130186554Abstract: Tire-building apparatus and methods. The apparatus includes a mandrel over which tire components may be assembled and built into a tire. The mandrel includes a central cylindrical portion defining a crown supporting surface, a first frusto-conical portion defining a first sidewall supporting surface, and a second frusto-conical portion defining a second sidewall supporting surface. The crown supporting surface, the first sidewall supporting surface, and the second sidewall supporting surfaces are arranged so that a radial cross section of the mandrel has a trapezoidal shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Inventors: Dennis Alan Lundell, Douglas Raymond Weaver
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Publication number: 20130037195Abstract: An intermediate article of manufacture formed as a first stage bead area subassembly for a split ply pneumatic tire carcass is disclosed. The bead area subassembly has an annular bead core; a bead apex; a ply strip; and preferably a sidewall affixed to the ply strip. The subassembly is formed into a disk-shaped bead area monocomponent. The ply strip is wrapped about the bead core and the apex to form a ply turnup and both the ply strip and the ply turnup extend radially outwardly from the bead core. The bead area subassembly when formed into the disk-shaped bead area monocomponent is placed on an annular holder device. The combination of the bead area monocomponent on the holder device can be stacked for storage and latter assembly into a split ply carcass. Preferably, the ply turnup can be oriented extending inside or axially inward of the bead core on final assembly to form a split ply tire having axially inside turnups.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANYInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Steven Leonard Kitz
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Publication number: 20120111481Abstract: Apparatus and methods of forming a tire. A drum has an expansion device that is configured to turn-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass about respective bead-and-apex assemblies while generally maintaining a constant orientation of the bead-and-apex assemblies. Further, the expansion device turns-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass while at the same time radially expanding the tire carcass. The methods entail turning-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass around the bead-and-apex assemblies and also moving a portion of the tire carcass lying between the bead-and-apex assemblies in a radially-outward direction relative to an axis of rotation of the drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANYInventor: Douglas Raymond Weaver
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Patent number: 7909080Abstract: Apparatus and method in the use thereof attaches an annular transponder unit to an annular tire surface, the transponder unit being of a type having a sensor housing coupled to an annular antenna. The apparatus includes a rotary turntable for supportably rotating a tire having an annular tire surface in an accessible disposition and an arm proximately disposed to the turntable and having end-of-arm tooling for attaching the transponder unit section by section to the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated. The tooling includes a gripping mechanism engaging the sensor housing and placing the sensor housing at a preselected location on the annular tire surface and a guide mechanism engaging the annular antenna and positioning the annular antenna section by section along the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: Douglas Raymond Weaver
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Patent number: 7289021Abstract: Apparatus and method in the use thereof attaches an annular transponder unit to an annular tire surface, the transponder unit being of a type having a sensor housing coupled to an annular antenna. The apparatus includes a rotary turntable for supportably rotating a tire having an annular tire surface in an accessible disposition and an arm proximately disposed to the turntable and having end-of-arm tooling for attaching the transponder unit section by section to the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated. The tooling includes a gripping mechanism engaging the sensor housing and placing the sensor housing at a preselected location on the annular tire surface and a guide mechanism engaging the annular antenna and positioning the annular antenna section by section along the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Gary Edwin Tubb, Dwayne Richard Huston, James Michael Hart, William Allen Rex, Robert Allen Birch
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Patent number: 7220330Abstract: Nozzle apparatus and method for affixing an annular transponder unit to an annular surface of a tire includes a nozzle block having an adhesive conduit extending therein to an inward end; a transverse channel open along an outward side and extending into the block, the channel being dimensioned for close receipt segment by segment of the annular transponder unit therein; and at least one adhesive port opposite the open channel side in fluid communication with the channel and the adhesive conduit inward end. The block channel open side is positioned opposite the annular tire surface and the adhesive port is positioned to direct adhesive material therefrom into the block channel to surround a segment of the annular transponder unit located within the channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Gary Edwin Tubb, William Allen Rex, Douglas Raymond Weaver, Joseph Carmine Lettieri
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Patent number: 7126489Abstract: Guide mechanism and method for axially directing an annular transponder unit segment by segment to an adhesive application station for subsequent attachment of the annular transponder unit segment by segment to an annular tire surface, the transponder unit being of a type having a sensor housing coupled to an annular antenna. The guide mechanism includes opposed fingers proximately positioned adjacent to an adhesive application station. The opposed fingers pivot to capture the annular assembly therebetween and slideably direct the assembly segment by segment to the adhesive application station. The guide mechanism is adjustable to a preferred proximal height from the annular surface of a tire and presents the annular transponder unit to the adhesive application station at a specified diameter and height above the tire surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Gary Edwin Tubb, William Allen Rex, Douglas Raymond Weaver, Joseph Carmine Lettieri
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Patent number: 6827119Abstract: This invention relates to an improved radially expansible tire assembly drum (10) and a method forming tires (2) from an assemblage of tire components utilizing the assembly drum (10).Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell
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Patent number: 6827801Abstract: The method of folding overlap side edges of a wide breaker ply over side edges of a narrow breaker ply wrapped around the wide breaker ply on circumferentially spaced modules wherein the modules have axially movable belt lifting and conveying nose members to carry the overlap side edges of the wide breaker ply axially over the side edges of the narrow breaker ply and position the wide side edges of the wide breaker ply over the narrow breaker ply side edges. The nose members are then retracted to peel the belt away from the folded overlap side edges of the wide breaker ply.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2001Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Joseph Anthony Farelli
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Patent number: 6746557Abstract: A method for mounting beads on a tire carcass which is being laid up on tire building drum, particularly applicable to cases wherein the drum has a free end and an opposite end which is supported by a drum support (or comparable impediment to installing a bead from the opposite end of the drum). The method comprises disposing a first of two beads on the drum in an area which is between a carcass layup area and the drum support. The bead is moved into this position from the free end of the drum, and this is done before the process of laying up the carcass has resulted in there being an impediment to installing the bead from the free end of the drum, such as bumps resulting from tire insert components. This may be prior to any carcass components have been laid up, or after an inner liner has been laid up, or after an inner liner and inserts and a ply have been laid up on a drum having pockets (recesses) to alleviate bump formation.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Jean-Marie Durand, Douglas Raymond Weaver, Francis Cornet