Abstract: A brake or clutch having two relatively rotatable members and a hollow fluid-distensible resilient annular tube frictionally engaging one of the members. The tube is split and the ends butted together. And at the butt ends of the tube means are provided for increasing the durability and life of the tube.

Abstract: A coupling includes a rim assembly, a drum assembly rotatable relative to the rim assembly about an axis of rotation, a pneumatically expandable tube having an exterior surface attached to the rim assembly, a plurality of spaced apart lugs disposed on the exterior surface of the tube element and a plurality of shoe members each of which includes first and second spaced apart parallel surfaces. Each of the shoe members includes means on the first surface thereof which is connectable with one of the lugs on the tube element to support the first surface of the shoe member contiguous to the exterior surface of the tube member.

Abstract: An expandable carrier apparatus for transferring a tread and a radial tread ply band from a first work station to a further work station in a tire building machine includes an annular support member and a fluid expandable annular tube element having an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion. The lower wall portion of the tube element is movable radially away from the upper wall portion upon expansion of the tube element and is movable radially toward the upper wall portion upon contraction of the tube element. The upper wall portion includes an annular peripheral surface which is bonded along a portion of the width thereof to the support member and the lower wall portion includes an annular outer peripheral surface having a plurality of gripper means disposed in an annular array supported thereon which are operable to engage and grip tread and a radial tread ply band upon expansion of the tube element.

Abstract: A fluid expandable drum for building portions of tires in a tire building machine includes an annular supporting drum and an expandable annular tube element having an inner peripheral surface supported on the annular drum. The tube element includes an outer peripheral surface upon which building means is secured for movement therewith. The building means define an annular building surface thereon which is movable in a radial direction toward and away from the annular support drum upon contraction and expansion, respectively, of the tube element. The tube element is expanded to expand the diameter of the building surface to enable a tire portion to be built thereon and retracted to decrease the diameter of the building surface to enable a built tire portion to be removed therefrom.