Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling automated measurement of both balance and force variation of a pneumatic tire on a single machine. The preferred embodiment modifies a production force variation machine to provide a top spindle housing with mechanically quiet bearings between the housing and a rotatable top spindle; mounts balance measuring sensors on the top spindle housing; provides a variable speed rotational drive motor with a clutch at the top spindle; and provides a mechanically quiet rotary air coupling to interface an air line with a rotatable bottom flange. After loading the tire, the rotatable bottom flange is disconnected from a bottom spindle. For balance measurements, a loading wheel is disengaged from the tire, tire rotation is accelerated to a high speed, and the clutch disconnects the motor which can, if desired, be turned off for balance measurements. The motor is re-connected to decelerate tire rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a warm-up cycle for each tire being tested on a force variation machine to stabilize the measurement parameters and optimize the warm-up cycle. The method for cycling each tire comprises the following steps. A tire type and preset tolerance values for each parameter of the tire being measured is inputted into the force variation machine. The tire is rotated in a first direction for two successive revolutions, data values for each of the parameters are calculated, and the differences between the calculated data values and the preset tolerance values are determined. Then the tire is rotated in a second opposite direction and the warm-up cycle is repeated. Continuing, the tire is rotated for one or more additional revolutions and the data values for the measured parameters are again calculated if necessary.

Abstract: A process for the continuous polymerization of one or more alpha-olefins with a transition metal catalyst, in a reactor having a fluidized and/or mechanically stirred bed, in which a very small amount of an activity retarder, generally less than 0.1 ppm, is introduced continuously into the reactor at a flow rate which is varied with time so as to keep substantially constant either the polymerization rate or the content of transition metal in the polymer produced. Suitable activity retarders include polymerization inhibitors such as, for example, oxygen, alcohols, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and electron donor compounds such as amides and ethers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for determining the presence of bulges and valleys in the sidewall of a tire (12). Displacement transducers (16-20) monitor deflections in the sidewalls of the tire (12) and provide output signals characteristic of such deflections. A differentiator (38) determines the slope of such deflections and, for such periods that the output of the differentiator (38) exceeds particular thresholds (40a,40b), integrators (42a,42b) integrate the output. The maximum integrated values sensed about the tire (12) are stored (44a,44b) and displayed (46a,46b).