Abstract: A shoulder assembly for mounting on a tire building drum is provided that includes a plurality of sections configured to interlock with another to form a shoulder ring to be mounted on a tire building drum when the tire building drum is in an expanded state, and a plurality of magnetic elements provided about a surface of the shoulder ring that is configured to contact a side of the tire building drum. The magnetic elements correspond to holding magnetic elements in the tire building drum. The shoulder ring is configured to maintain contact with the tire building drum during forming of a tire carcass, and the shoulder ring is configured to maintain its shape and stay with the formed tire carcass when the tire building drum is collapsed.

Abstract: An expandable belt and tread drum with magnetic deck fixing includes an assembly defining a portion of an arcuate outer circumferential working surface of a tire building drum. The assembly comprises a deck segment carrier and one or more magnetic members provided to the deck segment carrier and configured to attach a deck segment to the deck segment carrier by magnetic force.

Abstract: An expandable belt and tread drum with magnetic deck fixing includes an assembly defining a portion of an arcuate outer circumferential working surface of a tire building drum. The assembly comprises a deck segment carrier and one or more magnetic members provided to the deck segment carrier and configured to attach a deck segment to the deck segment carrier by magnetic force.

Abstract: A transfer ring for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires, the transfer ring including a radially expandable and collapsible segmented cylindrical gripping surface defined by a plurality of inwardly facing arcuate surfaces mounted for radial movement toward and away from a central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface, wherein each arcuate surface is mounted to a corresponding set of driven linkages comprising first, second, and third members, each set of driven linkages further including a block-and-rail cam follower secured to at least one of the first, second, and third members and configured to cooperate with the first, second, and third members to limit movement of the arcuate surface to linear movement radially toward and away from the central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface.

Abstract: A shoulder assembly for mounting on a tire building drum is provided that includes a plurality of sections configured to interlock with another to form a shoulder ring to be mounted on a tire building drum when the tire building drum is in an expanded state, and a plurality of magnetic elements provided about a surface of the shoulder ring that is configured to contact a side of the tire building drum. The magnetic elements correspond to holding magnetic elements in the tire building drum. The shoulder ring is configured to maintain contact with the tire building drum during forming of a tire carcass, and the shoulder ring is configured to maintain its shape and stay with the formed tire carcass when the tire building drum is collapsed.

Abstract: A transfer ring for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires, the transfer ring including a radially expandable and collapsible segmented cylindrical gripping surface defined by a plurality of inwardly facing arcuate surfaces mounted for radial movement toward and away from a central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface, wherein each arcuate surface is mounted to a corresponding set of driven linkages comprising first, second, and third members, each set of driven linkages further including a block-and-rail cam follower secured to at least one of the first, second, and third members and configured to cooperate with the first, second, and third members to limit movement of the arcuate surface to linear movement radially toward and away from the central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface.

Abstract: An improved belt and tread drum incorporating an improved segment is disclosed. Segments are mounted in side-by-side relationship about a central axis for radial movement inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis and include arcuate outer surfaces that collectively define an outer circumferential working surface of the drum. The segments each define an arcuate outer surface defining a circumferential dimension, the outer surface having varied curvature along the circumferential dimension.

Abstract: An improved belt and tread drum incorporating an improved segment is disclosed. Segments are mounted in side-by-side relationship about a central axis for radial movement inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis and include arcuate outer surfaces that collectively define an outer circumferential working surface of the drum. The segments each define an arcuate outer surface defining a circumferential dimension, the outer surface having varied curvature along the circumferential dimension.

Abstract: An expandable deck comprises a plurality of elongated deck carriers mounted upon an expansion mechanism in a generally parallel and cylindrical formation. A fixed rod is mounted upon a first one of the deck carriers. A pivot rod is mounted upon an adjacent second deck carrier. A pivot segment defines a rotation aperture and a guide slot. The rotation aperture is rotatably mounted upon the pivot rod and the guide slot slidingly receives the fixed rod.

Abstract: A locking spacer for use with a tire building drum is disclosed. The locking spacer includes an arcuate panel having an outer surface, an inner surface, opposite first and second curved side surfaces, and opposite first and second straight end surfaces. The panel is sized and shaped to span between and extend along the opposing inner surfaces of the segments. A first fastener is disposed along the first side surface and is configured to secure the first side surface to a first of the pair of segments, and a second fastener is disposed along the second side surface and is configured to secure the second side surface to a second of the pair of segments. The first and second fasteners limit movement of the first and second side surfaces in relation to the segments along a radial direction of the tire building drum.

Abstract: An expandable deck comprises a plurality of elongated deck carriers mounted upon an expansion mechanism in a generally parallel and cylindrical formation. A fixed rod is mounted upon a first one of the deck carriers. A pivot rod is mounted upon an adjacent second deck carrier. A pivot segment defines a rotation aperture and a guide slot. The rotation aperture is rotatably mounted upon the pivot rod and the guide slot slidingly receives the fixed rod.