Patents by Inventor Phillip T. Brasher, JR.

Phillip T. Brasher, JR. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230241850
    Abstract: An automatic splicing apparatus and methods thereof are provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a frame, a splicer foot assembly, and a splicer roller assembly. The frame is configured to support the apparatus relative to the drum. The splicer foot assembly and the splicer roller assembly are independently longitudinally translatable relative to the frame. The splicer foot assembly includes a splicer foot having forward lower preparation rollers and rearward lower splicer rollers, and upper preparation rollers configured to operate in coordination with the forward lower preparation rollers to pull the two ends of the sheet of tire material together over the splicer foot. The splicer roller assembly includes upper splicer rollers configured to act in coordination with the rearward lower splicer rollers to splice the two ends together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Phillip T. Brasher, JR., Chad P. Wright, Wesley R. Minton, Angel M. Carvajal
  • Patent number: 11691369
    Abstract: An automatic splicing apparatus is provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a splicer foot including a splicer foot frame, a first continuous unitary V-shaped axle, and two non-powered lower rollers. The splicer foot frame has an opening defined therein having opposing sides. The first continuous unitary V-shape axle has two arms attached to the opposing sides of the opening. The two non-powered lower rollers are mounted on the two arms of the first continuous unitary V-shaped axle so that the two non-powered lower rollers are arranged in a V-shape pattern. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of powered upper rollers configured to operate in coordination with the lower rollers to engage the two ends of the sheet of tire material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip T. Brasher, Jr., Chad P. Wright, Wesley R. Minton, Angel M. Carvajal
  • Patent number: 11654646
    Abstract: An automatic splicing apparatus and methods thereof are provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a frame, a splicer foot assembly, and a splicer roller assembly. The frame is configured to support the apparatus relative to the drum. The splicer foot assembly and the splicer roller assembly are independently longitudinally translatable relative to the frame. The splicer foot assembly includes a splicer foot having forward lower preparation rollers and rearward lower splicer rollers, and upper preparation rollers configured to operate in coordination with the forward lower preparation rollers to pull the two ends of the sheet of tire material together over the splicer foot. The splicer roller assembly includes upper splicer rollers configured to act in coordination with the rearward lower splicer rollers to splice the two ends together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip T. Brasher, Jr., Chad P. Wright, Wesley R. Minton, Angel M. Carvajal
  • Publication number: 20230146624
    Abstract: A tire turn-up apparatus for selectively engaging a cylindrical tire building drum may include a base and a first plurality of finger assemblies. The tire building drum may be a selected drum from a group of drums of different drum diameters. Each finger assembly may have a backstop connected to the base and a finger pivotally connected to the backstop. Each finger may be moveable between a radially retracted and extended position to turn-up the tire carcass. Each finger may be radially adjustable on its respective backstop to align with different drum diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Nikolas R. Tomassoni, Phillip T. Brasher, JR.
  • Patent number: 11618229
    Abstract: A tire turn-up apparatus for selectively engaging a cylindrical tire building drum may include a base and a first plurality of finger assemblies. The tire building drum may be a selected drum from a group of drums of different drum diameters. Each finger assembly may have a backstop connected to the base and a finger pivotally connected to the backstop. Each finger may be moveable between a radially retracted and extended position to turn-up the tire carcass. Each finger may be radially adjustable on its respective backstop to align with different drum diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Nikolas R. Tomassoni, Phillip T. Brasher, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220314566
    Abstract: An automatic splicing apparatus and methods thereof are provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a frame, a splicer foot assembly, and a splicer roller assembly. The frame is configured to support the apparatus relative to the drum. The splicer foot assembly and the splicer roller assembly are independently longitudinally translatable relative to the frame. The splicer foot assembly includes a splicer foot having forward lower preparation rollers and rearward lower splicer rollers, and upper preparation rollers configured to operate in coordination with the forward lower preparation rollers to pull the two ends of the sheet of tire material together over the splicer foot. The splicer roller assembly includes upper splicer rollers configured to act in coordination with the rearward lower splicer rollers to splice the two ends together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Phillip T. Brasher, Jr., Chad P. Wright, Wesley R. Minton, Angel M. Carvajal
  • Publication number: 20220266559
    Abstract: An automatic splicing apparatus is provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a splicer foot including a splicer foot frame, a first continuous unitary V-shaped axle, and two non-powered lower rollers. The splicer foot frame has an opening defined therein having opposing sides. The first continuous unitary V-shape axle has two arms attached to the opposing sides of the opening. The two non-powered lower rollers are mounted on the two arms of the first continuous unitary V-shaped axle so that the two non-powered lower rollers are arranged in a V-shape pattern. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of powered upper rollers configured to operate in coordination with the lower rollers to engage the two ends of the sheet of tire material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Phillip T. Brasher, Jr., Chad P. Wright, Wesley R. Minton, Angel M. Carvajal
  • Publication number: 20210362449
    Abstract: A tire turn-up apparatus for selectively engaging a cylindrical tire building drum may include a base and a first plurality of finger assemblies. The tire building drum may be a selected drum from a group of drums of different drum diameters. Each finger assembly may have a backstop connected to the base and a finger pivotally connected to the backstop. Each finger may be moveable between a radially retracted and extended position to turn-up the tire carcass. Each finger may be radially adjustable on its respective backstop to align with different drum diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Nikolas R. Tomassoni, Phillip T. Brasher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11034111
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a pivoted dual roller tire sidewall and body ply stitching apparatus for stitching tire components, the apparatus including a first roller having a toroidal shape and connected to a first supporting arm, a second roller having a toroidal shape and connected to a second supporting arm and a supporting member connected to the first roller, the second roller and a third supporting arm wherein the second supporting arm is longer than the first supporting arm and the first roller and the second roller are configured to pivot on the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Sandro Daidoji, Christopher D. Ellis, Phillip T. Brasher, Jr., Jason J. Para, Blair Kim
  • Publication number: 20200391462
    Abstract: A tire building machine for assembling tire plies to build a tire carcass may include a drum for receiving the tire plies. The tire building machine may also include a retractable backing strip. The retractable backing strip may be configured to extend over the drum. The tire building machine may further include a stitcher. The stitcher may be configured to stitch ends of the tire plies when the ends are between the stitcher and the retractable backing strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jason J. Para, Phillip T. Brasher, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190126579
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a pivoted dual roller tire sidewall and body ply stitching apparatus for stitching tire components, the apparatus including a first roller having a toroidal shape and connected to a first supporting arm, a second roller having a toroidal shape and connected to a second supporting arm and a supporting member connected to the first roller, the second roller and a third supporting arm wherein the second supporting arm is longer than the first supporting arm and the first roller and the second roller are configured to pivot on the supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Sandro Daidoji, Christopher D. Ellis, Phillip T. Brasher, JR., Jason J. Para, Blair Kim