Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein sidewalls (11) are applied on opposite sides of a carcass sleeve (12) placed on a shaping drum (13). The application of the sidewalls (11) comprises: arranging each sidewall (11) as a ring around application levers (24) of a respective support (18), making an axial appendage (35) of the sidewall (11) protrude axially beyond the free ends (25) of the respective application levers (24); radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) of each support (18) so as to make the respective sidewall (11) radially expand; axially approaching the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to the respective half-drum (17) up to engaging the axial appendage (35) with the carcass sleeve (12) and radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to adhere the sidewalls against the carcass sleeve (12).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein sidewalls (11) are applied on opposite sides of a carcass sleeve (12) placed on a shaping drum (13). The application of the sidewalls (11) comprises: arranging each sidewall (11) as a ring around application levers (24) of a respective support (18), making an axial appendage (35) of the sidewall (11) protrude axially beyond the free ends (25) of the respective application levers (24); radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) of each support (18) so as to make the respective sidewall (11) radially expand; axially approaching the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to the respective half-drum (17) up to engaging the axial appendage (35) with the carcass sleeve (12) and radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to adhere the sidewalls against the carcass sleeve (12).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein sidewalls (11) are applied on opposite sides of a carcass sleeve (12) placed on a shaping drum (13). The application of the sidewalls (11) comprises: arranging each sidewall (11) as a ring around application levers (24) of a respective support (18), making an axial appendage (35) of the sidewall (11) protrude axially beyond the free ends (25) of the respective application levers (24); radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) of each support (18) so as to make the respective sidewall (11) radially expand; axially approaching the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to the respective half-drum (17) up to engaging the axial appendage (35) with the carcass sleeve (12) and radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to adhere the sidewalls against the carcass sleeve (12).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein sidewalls (11) are applied on opposite sides of a carcass sleeve (12) placed on a shaping drum (13). The application of the sidewalls (11) comprises: arranging each sidewall (11) as a ring around application levers (24) of a respective support (18), making an axial appendage (35) of the sidewall (11) protrude axially beyond the free ends (25) of the respective application levers (24); radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) of each support (18) so as to make the respective sidewall (11) radially expand; axially approaching the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to the respective half-drum (17) up to engaging the axial appendage (35) with the carcass sleeve (12) and radially opening the free ends (25) of the application levers (24) to adhere the sidewalls against the carcass sleeve (12).

Abstract: A method of selectively controlling the self-sealing ability of a tyre obtained by application of a sealing assembly on a drum and subsequent formation thereon of a precursor of a green tyre inclusive of liner and carcass, followed by shaping, curing and molding. The sealing assembly includes: a self-supporting thermoplastic film of polyamide or polyester and a layer of sealing material possessing viscoelasticity and stickiness features, which is associated with and supported by the self-supporting thermoplastic film. The sealing assembly is easily puncturable by a sharp-pointed element while it maintains such a deformability and stickiness that it helps in the transfer of the sealing material during ejection of the sharp-pointed element and limits the transferred material amount to such an extent that holes bigger than a predetermined value are not sealed.

Abstract: A method of selectively controlling the self-sealing ability of a tire obtained by application of a sealing assembly on a drum and subsequent formation thereon of a precursor of a green tire inclusive of liner and carcass, followed by shaping, curing and molding. The sealing assembly includes: a self-supporting thermoplastic film of polyamide or polyester and a layer of sealing material possessing viscoelasticity and stickiness features, which is associated with and supported by the self-supporting thermoplastic film. The sealing assembly is easily puncturable by a sharp-pointed element while it maintains such a deformability and stickiness that it helps in the transfer of the sealing material during ejection of the sharp-pointed element and limits the transferred material amount to such an extent that holes bigger than a predetermined value are not sealed.

Abstract: A method of selectively controlling the self-sealing ability of a tyre obtained by application of a sealing assembly on a drum and subsequent formation thereon of a precursor of a green tyre inclusive of liner and carcass, followed by shaping, curing and molding. The sealing assembly includes: a self-supporting thermoplastic film of polyamide or polyester and a layer of sealing material possessing viscoelasticity and stickiness features, which is associated with and supported by the self-supporting thermoplastic film. The sealing assembly is easily puncturable by a sharp-pointed element while it maintains such a deformability and stickiness that it helps in the transfer of the sealing material during ejection of the sharp-pointed element and limits the transferred material amount to such an extent that holes bigger than a predetermined value are not sealed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a manufacturing process of components of a tire for vehicle wheels, wherein at least one elongated element fed by a dispensing member is distributed onto a forming support by means of at least one pressing member acting on the at least one elongated element along a pressing direction. The method includes the steps of substantially continuously detecting the value of a characteristic quantity indicative of the displacement of the at least one pressing member along the pressing direction, comparing the detected value of the characteristic quantity with a threshold value and generating a warning signal when the detected value of the characteristic quantity exceeds the threshold value. Such a control method allows the presence of possible deposition anomalies to be identified right from the deposition step of the elongated elements on the forming support so as to ensure ever higher quality levels in tires manufactured through continuous processes.

Abstract: A method of selectively controlling the self-sealing ability of a tyre obtained by application of a sealing assembly on a drum and subsequent formation thereon of a precursor of a green tyre inclusive of liner and carcass, followed by shaping, curing and molding. The sealing assembly includes: a self-supporting thermoplastic film of polyamide or polyester and a layer of sealing material possessing viscoelasticity and stickiness features, which is associated with and supported by the self-supporting thermoplastic film. The sealing assembly is easily puncturable by a sharp-pointed element while it maintains such a deformability and stickiness that it helps in the transfer of the sealing material during ejection of the sharp-pointed element and limits the transferred material amount to such an extent that holes bigger than a predetermined value are not sealed.

Abstract: In a process for producing self-sealing tires for vehicle wheels, a continuous sealing assembly, including a self-supporting thermoplastic film and a layer of polymeric sealing material, is wound from a reel holder on which is stocked, separated by a protective film associated with the layer of polymeric sealing material, cut to size and then wound around a forming drum. Winding the sealing assembly cut to size includes: feeding the sealing assembly cut to size onto a chute from top to bottom up to the forming drum; depositing a leading end of the sealing assembly cut to size on a radially outer surface of the forming drum; locking the leading end on the forming drum by means of a locking bar; setting the forming drum in rotation with the locking bar dragging the sealing assembly cut to size and winding it on the forming drum up to overlapping; and sealing a trailing end of the sealing assembly cut to size on the leading end.

Abstract: In a process for producing self-sealing tyres for vehicle wheels, a continuous sealing assembly, including a self-supporting thermoplastic film and a layer of polymeric sealing material, is wound from a reel holder on which is stocked, separated by a protective film associated with the layer of polymeric sealing material, cut to size and then wound around a forming drum. Winding the sealing assembly cut to size includes: feeding the sealing assembly cut to size onto a chute from top to bottom up to the forming drum; depositing a leading end of the sealing assembly cut to size on a radially outer surface of the forming drum; locking the leading end on the forming drum by means of a locking bar; setting the forming drum in rotation with the locking bar dragging the sealing assembly cut to size and winding it on the forming drum up to overlapping; and sealing a trailing end of the sealing assembly cut to size on the leading end.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an elastomeric tire component includes the steps of a) preparing an elongated element including a cross-linkable elastomeric material by feeding it to an extruding device having a plurality of units, each having a respective thermal inertia, and b) delivering the elongated element onto a building support, and further includes at least one non-productive step of c) submitting at least one of the units of the extruding device to a thermal transition selected from heating or cooling, substantially reducing the risk of scorching during the thermal transition from and to the non-productive step ranking the units according to their thermal inertia and heating the units starting with the top-ranked unit sequentially to the bottom-ranked unit to reach the respective working temperature or cooling the units starting from the maximum working temperature unit sequentially to the minimum working temperature unit to reach the respective non-working temperature.

Abstract: A method of selectively controlling the self-sealing ability of a tyre obtained by application of a sealing assembly on a drum and subsequent formation thereon of a precursor of a green tyre inclusive of liner and carcass, followed by shaping, curing and molding. The sealing assembly includes: a self-supporting thermoplastic film of polyamide or polyester and a layer of sealing material possessing viscoelasticity and stickiness features, which is associated with and supported by the self-supporting thermoplastic film. The sealing assembly is easily puncturable by a sharp-pointed element while it maintains such a deformability and stickiness that it helps in the transfer of the sealing material during ejection of the sharp-pointed element and limits the transferred material amount to such an extent that holes bigger than a predetermined value are not sealed.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing elastomeric components of a tire for a vehicle wheel includes feeding a continuous elongated element from a delivery member by exerting a feeding pressure inside the delivery member, rotating a building support around a geometrical rotation axis of the support, carrying out controlled relative displacements between the delivery member and the support to form a tire component, stopping the feeding of the elongated element when formation of the tire component is complete, and exerting a counter-pressure inside the delivery member after stopping the feeding. Rotating the support assists circumferential distribution of the elongated element on the support. Carrying out controlled relative displacements assists transverse distribution of the elongated element on the support. The tire component is defined by a plurality of coils laid in a pre-established deposition pattern depending on a predetermined cross-section outline to be given to the tire component.

Abstract: A method for controlling a manufacturing process of components of a tyre for vehicle wheels, wherein at least one elongated element fed by a dispensing member is distributed onto a forming support by means of at least one pressing member acting on the at least one elongated element along a pressing direction. The method includes the steps of substantially continuously detecting the value of a characteristic quantity indicative of the displacement of the at least one pressing member along the pressing direction, comparing the detected value of the characteristic quantity with a threshold value and generating a warning signal when the detected value of the characteristic quantity exceeds the threshold value. Such a control method allows the presence of possible deposition anomalies to be identified right from the deposition step of the elongated elements on the forming support so as to ensure ever higher quality levels in tyres manufactured through continuous processes.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an elastomeric tire component includes the steps of a) preparing an elongated element including a cross-linkable elastomeric material by feeding it to an extruding device having a plurality of units, each having a respective thermal inertia, and b) delivering the elongated element onto a building support, and further includes at least one non-productive step of c) submitting at least one of the units of the extruding device to a thermal transition selected from heating or cooling, substantially reducing the risk of scorching during the thermal transition from and to the non-productive step ranking the units according to their thermal inertia and heating the units starting with the top-ranked unit sequentially to the bottom-ranked unit to reach the respective working temperature or cooling the units starting from the maximum working temperature unit sequentially to the minimum working temperature unit to reach the respective non-working temperature.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing elastomeric components of a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes feeding a continuous elongated element from a delivery member by exerting a feeding pressure inside the delivery member, rotating a building support around a geometrical rotation axis of the support, carrying out controlled relative displacements between the delivery member and the support to form a tyre component, stopping the feeding of the elongated element when formation of the tyre component is complete, and exerting a counter-pressure inside the delivery member after stopping the feeding. Rotating the support assists circumferential distribution of the elongated element on the support. Carrying out controlled relative displacements assists transverse distribution of the elongated element on the support. The tyre component is defined by a plurality of coils laid in a pre-established deposition pattern depending on a predetermined cross-section outline to be given to the tyre component.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing elastomeric material components of a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes feeding a continuous elongated element from a delivery member for application onto a support, giving the support a rotary motion around a geometrical rotation axis of the support, so that the elongated element is circumferentially distributed on the support, and carrying out controlled relative displacements for transverse distribution between the support and the delivery member to form the elastomeric material components of the tyre with the elongated element. Feeding the elongated element takes place by extrusion of elastomeric material through at least one extrusion screw and at least one gear pump. The component is defined by a plurality of coils laid down in a pre-established deposition pattern depending on a cross-section outline to be given to the component. An apparatus for manufacturing elastomeric material components of a tyre for a vehicle wheel is also disclosed.