Abstract: A tire-building drum having a hollow main shaft and a swing arm rotatably positioned about the main shaft for moving the circumferential surface-defining segments of the drum between collapsed positions and fully-expanded positions as the swing arm is rotatably moved about the swing arm from a first angular position thereabout to a second angular position thereabout includes a mechanical assembly for acting between the swing arm and the main shaft so that upon rotation of the swing arm about the main shaft to its second position thereabout, the mechanical assembly biases the swing arm about the main shaft to continually urge the circumferential segments into the fully-expanded positions.

Abstract: A tire-building drum having a hollow main shaft and a swing arm rotatably positioned about the main shaft for moving the circumferential surface-defining segments of the drum between collapsed positions and fully-expanded positions as the swing arm is rotatably moved about the swing arm from a first angular position thereabout to a second angular position thereabout includes a mechanical assembly for acting between the swing arm and the main shaft so that upon rotation of the swing arm about the main shaft to its second position thereabout, the mechanical assembly biases the swing arm about the main shaft to continually urge the circumferential segments into the fully-expanded positions.

Abstract: Elongate tire-building equipment having circumference-defining apparatus wherein the circumference serves as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface utilizes ramp members which are regularly disposed about the equipment centerline and upon which the circumference-defining apparatus is mounted for movement radially toward and away from the equipment centerline. A thrust plate and an actuator are mounted at the ends of the equipment for movement toward or away from one another along the equipment centerline, and an assembly of guide tracks and guide blocks are interposed between the ramp members and the thrust plate and between the ramp members and the actuator so that the movement of the thrust plate and the actuator toward and away from one another effects the movement of the ramp members radially toward and away from the equipment centerline by a relatively large amount.

Abstract: A roller assembly for use during tire construction includes a telescoping tube arrangement and a roller positioned thereabout. The telescoping tube arrangement has an inner tube section and an outer tube section and which can be adjusted in length to accommodate the width of the tire component under construction. The roller includes a cylindrical surface of a desired hardness which is positionable into engagement with the outer surface of the tire component under construction and which includes a plurality of roller sections which are positionable about the telescoping tube arrangement and in a side-by-side relationship with one another. In addition, each roller section defines a peripheral surface so that when the roller sections are positioned in a side-by-side relationship along the tube arrangement, the peripheral surfaces of the roller sections collectively provide the cylindrical surface of the roller.

Abstract: Tire-making apparatus (20) defining an outer or inner circumference (18) to serve as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface, respectively, utilizes a frame (16) having a central axis (52) and a plurality of multi-sectional segments (28) which are moveable radially with respect to the central axis and include arcuate surfaces which collectively define the apparatus circumference. Each segment includes a primary section (60) and a secondary section (62) which flanks the primary section. The primary and secondary sections are connected so that as the segments are moved radially of the central axis, the primary and secondary sections move relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus to help maintain the uniformity, or roundness, of the surface of the circumference collectively defined by the segments.

Abstract: A transfer ring for supporting a belt and tread package about a tire carcass for inflation of the carcass within the package during a tire-making process includes a plurality of shoes which are movable inwardly and outwardly for purposes of grasping or releasing a package positioned between the shoes. Components are provided for moving the shoes inwardly to a radial position about a package; and at this radial position, the shoes apply to the package a biasing force for maintaining a substantial uniform pressure about the package if it were to contract in size after the shoes are moved to the radial position. A braking arrangement is provided which prevents the shoes from moving outwardly of the radial position when a tire carcass is thereafter inflated within the package to thereby limit the diameter of the package during the carcass-inflating process.

Abstract: Elongate tire-building equipment having circumference-defining apparatus wherein the circumference serves as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface utilizes ramp members which are regularly disposed about the equipment centerline and upon which the circumference-defining apparatus is mounted for movement radially toward and away from the equipment centerline. A thrust plate and an actuator are mounted at the ends of the equipment for movement toward or away from one another along the equipment centerline, and an assembly of guide tracks and guide blocks are interposed between the ramp members and the thrust plate and between the ramp members and the actuator so that the movement of the thrust plate and the actuator toward and away from one another effects the movement of the ramp members radially toward and away from the equipment centerline by a relatively large amount.

Abstract: A transfer ring for supporting a belt and tread package about a tire carcass for inflation of the carcass within the package during a tire-making process includes a plurality of shoes which are movable inwardly and outwardly for purposes of grasping or releasing a package positioned between the shoes. Components are provided for moving the shoes inwardly to a radial position about a package; and at this radial position, the shoes apply to the package a biasing force for maintaining a substantial uniform pressure about the package if it were to contract in size after the shoes are moved to the radial position. A braking arrangement is provided which prevents the shoes from moving outwardly of the radial position when a tire carcass is thereafter inflated within the package to thereby limit the diameter of the package during the carcass-inflating process.

Abstract: Tire-making apparatus (20) defining an outer or inner circumference (18) to serve as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface, respectively, utilizes a frame (16) having a central axis (52) and a plurality of multi-sectional segments (28) which are moveable radially with respect to the central axis and include arcuate surfaces which collectively define the apparatus circumference. Each segment includes a primary section (60) and a secondary section (62) which flanks the primary section. The primary and secondary sections are connected so that as the segments are moved radially of the central axis, the primary and secondary sections move relative to one another along the circumference of the apparatus to help maintain the uniformity, or roundness, of the surface of the circumference collectively defined by the segments.

Abstract: A scroll shaping drum useful in the construction of tires and including an internal air cylinder having an inner sleeve member and a roller member positioned about the inner sleeve member includes a plurality of cam follower assemblies anchored within the inner sleeve member. Each cam follower assembly includes a hub and a cam follower member positioned about the hub, and the cam follower member of each assembly is accepted by an appropriately-shaped slot defined in the roller member. The inner sleeve member defines an internally-threaded opening for accepting the hub of each assembly, and each hub includes a mounting portion positioned within a corresponding internally-threaded opening of the inner sleeve member.

Abstract: A roller assembly for use during tire construction includes a telescoping tube arrangement and a roller positioned thereabout. The telescoping tube arrangement has an inner tube section and an outer tube section and which can be adjusted in length to accommodate the width of the tire component under construction. The roller includes a cylindrical surface of a desired hardness which is positionable into engagement with the outer surface of the tire component under construction and which includes a plurality of roller sections which are positionable about the telescoping tube arrangement and in a side-by-side relationship with one another. In addition, each roller section defines a peripheral surface so that when the roller sections are positioned in a side-by-side relationship along the tube arrangement, the peripheral surfaces of the roller sections collectively provide the cylindrical surface of the roller.

Abstract: A scroll shaping drum useful in the construction of tires and including an internal air cylinder having an inner sleeve member and a roller member positioned about the inner sleeve member includes a plurality of cam follower assemblies anchored within the inner sleeve member. Each cam follower assembly includes a hub and a cam follower member positioned about the hub, and the cam follower member of each assembly is accepted by an appropriately-shaped slot defined in the roller member. The inner sleeve member defines an internally-threaded opening for accepting the hub of each assembly, and each hub includes a mounting portion positioned within a corresponding internally-threaded opening of the inner sleeve member.

Abstract: A flange for a tire building drum having a transverse central plane and including a central shaft having a longitudinal axis which defines a rotational axis of the drum including first and second sets of outer-circumference defining shoes which are expandable from radially retracted positions internally of the drum to radially extended positions to define first and second mirror image circumferential radial flanges which are disposed on respective ones of the opposite sides of, and parallel to, the transverse central plane of the drum, each set of shoes including a plurality of individual shoes, each of which is a generally triangular geometry when viewed in a plan view thereof and having respective apices, bases and opposite sides.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided improved means for centering of a green vehicle tire carcass on a shaping drum. “Centering” as used herein and unless otherwise stated or obvious from the context of its use, includes positioning of the bead ring-containing. opposite ends of a carcass substantially equidistantly from the centerplane of the drum and substantially radially equidistant from, and substantially concentric about, the rotational axis of the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for minimization of the separation of a plurality of radially collapsible, generally circular, mandrels which are mounted for axial movement along the longitudinal axis of a central shaft. The method and apparatus is useful for shaping of a green vehicle tire carcass employing a shaping drum which includes dual mandrels which are axially displace able along the longitudinal axis of the drum and adapted to engage respective ones of first and second beads of the carcass.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus and a method for converting circular motion to radial motion. In one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, a mandrel is provided which includes a generally circular tubular housing. Internally of the tubular housing there are disposed a plurality of partitions which are anchored at spaced apart locations about the toroidal dimension of the housing and which define fixed fluid-tight seals across the cross-sectional area of the housing. Within the chamber defined between adjacent ones of the partitions, there is provided a piston member, each piston member has operatively associated therewith the proximal end of a linkage adapted to convert circular motion of its piston member within the housing into radial movement of the distal end of the linkage.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus and a method for converting circular motion to radial motion. The present invention is particularly useful in variable diameter mandrels (drums and/or transfer rings) employed in the manufacture of vehicle tires. In one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, a mandrel is provided which includes a generally circular tubular housing. Internally of the tubular housing there are disposed a plurality of partitions which are anchored at spaced apart locations about the toroidal dimension of the housing and which define fixed fluid-tight seals across the cross-sectional area of the housing. Adjacent ones of the partitions define therebetween a fluid-tight chamber whose outer wall is defined by the housing wall.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided improved means for centering of a green vehicle tire carcass on a shaping drum. “Centering” as used herein and unless otherwise stated or obvious from the context of its use, includes positioning of the bead ring-containing opposite ends of a carcass substantially equidistantly from the centerplane of the drum and substantially radially equidistant from, and substantially concentric about, the rotational axis of the drum.

Abstract: A drum for the formation of a vehicle tire carcass including bead positioning features, the drum including multiple subsystems which are operatively and cooperatively interconnected to enhance the definition of embryonic sidewalls of the tire.

Abstract: A rotatable drum useful in the manufacture of vehicle tires. A plurality of segments collectively define the outer circumferential surface of the drum. These segments are divided into two sets, one set being disposed on each of the opposite sides of a transverse center plane of the drum, the center plane being oriented normal to the rotational axis of the drum. The two sets of segments are mounted for selective positioning thereof axially of the drum from a location external of the drum to adjust the overall working width of the drum. Further, the segments are selectively positionable between expanded positions radially of the rotational axis of the drum to provide a relatively continuous circumferential outer surface of the drum for the layup of a tire carcass thereon, and collapsed positions radially of the drum to permit the removal of a formed toroidal carcass from the drum.