Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a first side plate having a first annular base, axially protruding first claw members projecting axially outward from the first annular base, axially protruding first hub mounts projecting axially outward from the first annular base, and axially protruding first spring mounts projecting axially outward from the first annular base; a hub member attached to the first side plate; and a tire assembly laid over the hub member such that spokes of the tire assembly are radially adjacent corresponding first claw members of the first side plate, a plurality of friction members and the first claw members sandwiching each of the spokes.

Abstract: A second stage tire building drum is disclosed. The tire building drum has two hubs with an inner sleeve mounted to a central shaft of the tire building drum and configured for axial movement. At least one of the hubs is configured for free axial movement. Preferably, each hub further include a sliding sleeve mounted on the inner sleeve for unconstrained sliding in the axial direction relative to the inner sleeve. Preferably, each hub has a bead receiving mechanism mounted on the sliding sleeve and comprised of one or more segments that are radially expandable. Preferably, each segment has a pocket with a curved surface for receiving a bead.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire having a first and second bead on a tire building drum is disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying a green tire carcass onto the tire building drum, said tire building drum having a left and right hub, each hub having a bead pocket. The method includes the steps of placing the first and second bead onto a first and second respective bead pocket of the tire building drum and then inflating the carcass into engagement with a belt and tread package while moving at least one of the left and right hubs in the axial direction at a controlled velocity towards the other respective hub.

Abstract: A method of building a tire on a second stage tire building drum is disclosed. The method employs the steps of mounting a green cylindrically shaped tire carcass onto a tire building drum so that each bead are seated in a respective bead pocket segment, inflating the carcass under low pressure and expanding the carcass into engagement with tread and belt assembly while allowing the one or more of the hubs or one or more of the bead pocket segments to freely slide in the axial direction.

Abstract: A second stage tire building drum is disclosed. The second stage tire building drum comprises a first and second hub, wherein each hub is mounted on a central shaft of the second stage tire building drum. Each hub is axially movable and has a bead receiving mechanism. The bead receiving mechanism includes one or more bead segments, wherein each bead segment has a pocket.

Abstract: A method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The method of building the tire carcass includes the steps of applying one or more tire building components onto a drum forming a cylindrically shaped tire carcass. Placing a first and second bead onto the tire building components on the drum so that the tire carcass ends of the tire carcass extend laterally between the beads. Radially expanding a first and second bead lock mechanism into engagement with a respective first and second bead. Inflating the carcass under low pressure into engagement with a belt and tread package while moving the beads axially inward. Moving the beads axially inward to the axial width of the widest breaker position; Turning up the outer lateral ends of the cylindrically shaped tire carcass about a respective first and second bead.

Abstract: A method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The method of building the tire carcass includes the steps of applying one or more tire building components onto a drum forming a cylindrically shaped tire carcass. A first and second bead is placed onto a respective bead pocket. Then the carcass is inflated under low pressure into engagement with a belt and tread package while the bead pockets are moved axially inward. The beads are continued to move axially inward to the axial width of the widest breaker position. Then the outer lateral ends of the cylindrically shaped tire carcass are turned up about a respective first and second bead.

Abstract: A system manufactures a tire assembly. The system includes a core having a cylindrical hub and radially protruding extensions projecting radially outward from the hub, a plurality of internal arcuate members for positioning a reinforcing layer of the tire assembly about the core, the internal arcuate members being disposed in spaces between the extensions of the core, a first side plate for securing the internal arcuate members in place relative to the core, and a second side plate for securing the core and internal arcuate members to each other.

Abstract: A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body is described. The sheet of material may be ply or a tire building component such as a liner. The method includes the steps of receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in the X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt so they can rotate about an axis aligned with the X direction. The method further includes aligning a lateral edge of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table and then tilting the conveyor table back to a level position. The method further includes moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body; and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body is described. The sheet of material may be ply or a tire building component such as a liner. The method includes the steps of receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in the X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt so they can rotate about an axis aligned with the X direction. The method further includes aligning a lateral edge of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table and then tilting the conveyor table back to a level position. The method further includes moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body; and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A tire building drum is described that includes an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, and the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section further includes a radially expandable bead lock device mounted on the spindle. The center section has an internal hub mounted on the sliding shaft and further comprises a plurality of tiles that are radially expandable. The outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, and further includes a radially expandable bead lock device. The center section and the outboard section are each axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: A method of building a tire onto a tire building drum is described. The method includes the steps of: applying one or more tire building components onto the drum to form a tire carcass having carcass ends; wherein the drum has an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, wherein the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section has a radially expandable bead lock mounted on the spindle, said center section mounted to a hub, wherein the hub is mounted on the sliding shaft. The center section has a plurality of tiles mounted thereon that are radially expandable, wherein the outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, wherein the outboard section further has a radially expandable bead lock; wherein the center section and the outboard section are axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides in a first aspect an applier apparatus for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body such as a tire building drum. The apparatus includes a support frame; a conveyor table having one or more conveyor belts mounted thereon; said conveyor table further comprising a plurality of support legs, each support leg having an outer leg portion and an inner leg portion, wherein each inner leg portion is mounted to the support frame, said conveyor table being connected to each of the outer leg portion of the support legs; the outer leg portion of each support leg having a first end slidably received over the inner leg portion and a second end connected to a nut; and wherein the nut is mounted onto a linear screw which is rotatably mounted onto a second end of the inner leg portion; said linear screw being driven by a motor wherein the nut is raised and lowered by operation of the screw.

Abstract: A tire support device for supporting the bead area of a tire is described. The tire support device includes an inner support member having a plurality of support vanes mounted to the support member, the support vanes radially extend from the inner support member. The tire support device further comprises a plurality of cover plates forming an outer cylindrical surface for supporting the bead area of a tire. The cover plates having an inner rib which extends radially inward, said rib having one or more guide members, each slide member slidably mounted on the support vane, wherein the guide members are slidably from a radially inward position to close the cover plates, and to a radially outward position to radially expand the tires.

Abstract: The invention provides in a first aspect an applier apparatus for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body such as a tire building drum. The apparatus includes a support frame; a conveyor table having one or more conveyor belts mounted thereon; said conveyor table further comprising a plurality of support legs, each support leg having an outer leg portion and an inner leg portion, wherein each inner leg portion is mounted to the support frame, said conveyor table being connected to each of the outer leg portion of the support legs; the outer leg portion of each support leg having a first end slidably received over the inner leg portion and a second end connected to a nut; and wherein the nut is mounted onto a linear screw which is rotatably mounted onto a second end of the inner leg portion; said linear screw being driven by a motor wherein the nut is raised and lowered by operation of the screw.

Abstract: A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body is described. The sheet of material may be ply or a tire building component such as a liner. The method includes the steps of receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in the X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt so they can rotate about an axis aligned with the X direction. The method further includes aligning a lateral edge of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table and then tilting the conveyor table back to a level position. The method further includes moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body; and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A tire support device for supporting the bead area of a tire is described. The tire support device includes an inner support member having a plurality of support vanes mounted to the support member, the support vanes radially extend from the inner support member. The tire support device further comprises a plurality of cover plates forming an outer cylindrical surface for supporting the bead area of a tire. The cover plates having an inner rib which extends radially inward, said rib having one or more guide members, each slide member slidably mounted on the support vane, wherein the guide members are slidably from a radially inward position to close the cover plates, and to a radially outward position to radially expand the tires.

Abstract: A tire support device is disclosed having an annular support member having an inner surface and an outer surface. A support flange is mounted to the annular support member, the support flange has an inflatable bladder mounted into its inside surface. The inflatable bladder has an inflated position for supporting the tire and an uninflated position for releasing the tire.

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: An apparatus for shaping a green tire carcass is provided having a bladder mounted to a first and second support, a retractable support shaft mounted inside the bladder, and upper and lower bead ring for mounting the beads of the tire carcass thereon, wherein one of said bead rings has a channel in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid, wherein said channel has an outlet located between said bladder and said carcass for injecting pressurized fluid between the carcass and the bladder.