Abstract: Rotary union used for transferring a fluid between a fixed part and a rotary shaft, the rotary union having a rotary manifold coupled with the shaft in an angularly fixed manner, a stationary manifold coaxially mounted on the rotary manifold with bearings, an intermediate manifold arranged between the stationary manifold and the rotary manifold and supported by the rotary manifold with bearings, and a gear train arranged between the stationary manifold and the rotary manifold in such a way to cause the rotation of the intermediate manifold at a speed lower than the speed of the rotary manifold during operation.

Abstract: A tire building drum is described that includes an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, and the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section further includes a radially expandable bead lock device mounted on the spindle. The center section has an internal hub mounted on the sliding shaft and further comprises a plurality of tiles that are radially expandable. The outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, and further includes a radially expandable bead lock device. The center section and the outboard section are each axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: A tyre building apparatus (1) comprising a drum (2) formed by two half-drums (7, 8), which are specular with respect to a centre plane (4) of the drum (2), are axially relatively movable and are angularly coupled to a respective shaft (5; 16) to rotate about a common axis (3); the apparatus (1) being equipped with a first actuating device (6) to rotate the drum (2) about the axis (3) and continuously vary the distance between the two half-drums (7, 8); and a second actuating device (39) to radially move the drum (2) between a configuration of maximum radial expansion and a configuration of maximum radial contraction; the first actuating device (6) being placed outside the drum (2) to axially move the half-drums (7, 8) via a relative telescopic movement of the respective shafts (5, 16); and the second actuating device (39) being arranged on board the drum (2) and being operable independently of the first actuating device (6) and of the movement of the shafts (5, 16) of the two half-drums (7, 8).

Abstract: To form a tire carcass, a body ply is wound about a drum, which has two half-drums movable axially in opposite directions to and from a center plane of the drum, and having respective turn-up bladders, on each of which is laid a respective annular lateral portion of the body ply; each annular lateral portion being turned up about a respective bead bundle and onto a sidewall of a toroidal-shaped annular central portion of the body ply by inflating the relative turn-up bladder and controlling distension of a given annular portion of the turn-up bladder so that, when inflation is completed, the annular portion assumes a given final position, in which an intermediate portion of the turn-up bladder rolls outwards along the relative sidewall of the annular central portion of the body ply.

Abstract: A tyre carcass building drum (1) having a longitudinal axis (3) and two half-drums (6) movable along the longitudinal axis (3) in opposite directions away from and towards a centre plane (4) of the drum (1), each one comprising a bead carrying device (16) defining a saddle and a turn-up device (41) designed to turn up a annular side portion (42) of a carcass ply around, and on the outside of a respective bead ring; the turn-up device (43) having an end portion arranged, at rest, along a peripheral annular portion (18) of the saddle (17) and shaped so as to define an extension of the curvilinear profile of the saddle (17); and thrust means (50) being provided to directly and independently exert an axial thrust and a radial thrust on the turn-up device (43). The invention also relates to an operating method of said drum.

Abstract: To form a tyre carcass, a body ply is wound about drum, which has two half-drums movable axially in opposite directions to and from a centre plane of the drum, and having respective turn-up bladders, on each of which is laid a respective annular lateral portion of the body ply; each annular lateral portion being turned up about a respective bead bundle and onto a sidewall of a toroidal-shaped annular central portion of the body ply by inflating the relative turn-up bladder and controlling distension of a given annular portion of the turn-up bladder so that, when inflation is completed, the annular portion assumes a given final position, in which an intermediate portion of the turn-up bladder rolls outwards along the relative sidewall of the annular central portion of the body ply.

Abstract: To form a tire carcass, a body ply is wound about a drum, which has two half-drums movable axially in opposite directions to and from a center plane of the drum, and having respective turn-up bladders, on each of which is laid a respective annular lateral portion of the body ply; each annular lateral portion being turned up about a respective bead bundle and onto a sidewall of a toroidal-shaped annular central portion of the body ply by inflating the relative turn-up bladder and controlling distension of a given annular portion of the turn-up bladder so that, when inflation is completed, the annular portion assumes a given final position, in which an intermediate portion of the turn-up bladder rolls outwards along the relative sidewall of the annular central portion of the body ply.

Abstract: A tire building drum is described that includes an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, and the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section further includes a radially expandable bead lock device mounted on the spindle. The center section has an internal hub mounted on the sliding shaft and further comprises a plurality of tiles that are radially expandable. The outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, and further includes a radially expandable bead lock device. The center section and the outboard section are each axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: A method of building a tire onto a tire building drum is described. The method includes the steps of: applying one or more tire building components onto the drum to form a tire carcass having carcass ends; wherein the drum has an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, wherein the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section has a radially expandable bead lock mounted on the spindle, said center section mounted to a hub, wherein the hub is mounted on the sliding shaft. The center section has a plurality of tiles mounted thereon that are radially expandable, wherein the outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, wherein the outboard section further has a radially expandable bead lock; wherein the center section and the outboard section are axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: To build a tire carcass, a tubular carcass body is formed about a building drum, which has a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface coaxial with the longitudinal axis and defined at least partly by a ring of longitudinal articulated rods lying in respective planes of a sheaf of planes through the longitudinal axis; the building drum locking two bead bundles to the tubular carcass body and torus-shaping the tubular carcass body by moving and/or deforming the articulated rods in their planes.

Abstract: To build a tyre carcass, a tubular carcass body is formed about a building drum, which has a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface coaxial with the longitudinal axis and defined at least partly by a ring of longitudinal articulated rods lying in respective planes of a sheaf of planes through the longitudinal axis; the building drum locking two bead bundles to the tubular carcass body and torus-shaping the tubular carcass body by moving and/or deforming the articulated rods in their planes.

Abstract: To form a tyre carcass, a body ply is wound about a drum, which has two half-drums movable axially in opposite directions to and from a centre plane of the drum, and having respective turn-up bladders, on each of which is laid a respective annular lateral portion of the body ply; each annular lateral portion being turned up about a respective bead bundle and onto a sidewall of a toroidal-shaped annular central portion of the body ply by inflating the relative turn-up bladder and controlling distension of a given annular portion of the turn-up bladder so that, when inflation is completed, the annular portion assumes a given final position, in which an intermediate portion of the turn-up bladder rolls outwards along the relative sidewall of the annular central portion of the body ply.

Abstract: A tyre building drum, wherein two coaxial half-drums move in opposite directions along a common axis, and each half-drum has an expandible bead clamping device defined by a ring of sectors, each having a radial rod; the sectors are movable to and from an expanded position, clamping a respective bead bundle, by an actuating device having a powered body movable back and forth along the axis and supporting a number of individual guide members, each of which is connected positively to the radial rod of a respective sector to move the relative sector to and from the expanded position in response to axial displacements of the powered body.

Abstract: To build vehicle tires, portions (9) of elastomeric material are placed successively one on top of the other on a building drum (18) having two halfdrums (22) of independently variable diameters; the longitudinal dimensions of at least one portion (9) being measured prior to feeding the portion (9) onto the building drum (18); and the diameter of each half-drum (22) being varied as a function of the longitudinal dimensions of the portion (9) to obtain an even overlap at all times of the opposite end edges (9a, 9b) of the portion (9) on the building drum (18).

Abstract: A unistage drum (1) for building tires (2) , the drum (1) having two half-drums (13), each of which has a ring of sectors (43a) movable by a first actuator (37, 46) to and from an expanded position to clamp a respective bead (7); each sector (43a) being defined by a first and a second block (49, 50) defined externally by respective cylindrical surfaces (55a, 55) and having respective mutually-contacting inclined surfaces (52, 53); and the second block (50) sliding on the first (49), by virtue of a second actuator (33, 37), to and from an outer position in which the second block (50) defines a relative portion of an annular shoulder (56) located, in use, between the two beads (7) and in a position adjacent to one of the beads (7).

Abstract: A conveyor assembly for strip material, wherein a conveyor feeds a strip of material axially through a centering device presenting two guide elements, which are movable into respective positions contacting the strip and symmetrical in relation to a reference axis parallel to the traveling direction of the strip.

Abstract: A tire building drum (1) wherein two coaxial cylindrical half-drums (5) are fitted in sliding manner to a tubular central shaft (2), are moved in opposite directions along the central shaft (2) by a central screw (3), and are connected to each other by a telescopic central body (6) defined by a central tubular element (8) fixed in relation to an intermediate point of the central shaft (2), by two tubular end elements (10) integral with respective half-drums (5), and by at least an intermediate segment (13) interposed between the central tubular element (8) and each tubular end element (10), supported in sliding manner by the central tubular element (8), and movable towards the central tubular element (8) in opposition to a number of springs (23) and by virtue of the relative tubular end element (10).

Abstract: An extrusion device (1) the extrusion head (2) of which features a number of superimposed shaped plates (9, 10, 11, 12) clamped together by a clamping device (3) located and operating externally of the extrusion head (2) about which it defines a releasable ring device; the extrusion device (1) having an automatic release device (4) for separating the shaped plates (9, 10, 11, 12) when the ring device is released.

Abstract: A collapsible motorcycle, the frame of which presents an intermediate body from the opposite ends of which extend two arms respectively supporting a front and rear wheel; which arms are connected to the intermediate body by means of respective hinge devices enabling displacement of the arms, in relation to the intermediate body, between a distended position, wherein the arms extend in substantially diverging manner from the intermediate body, and a collapsed position wherein the arms extend from the intermediate body in converging, crossover manner, with the rear wheel located to the front of the front wheel.

Abstract: A method and device whereby an automatic device for feeding and setting beads onto a tire building drum provides for the loose hanging of two beads and, after centering them in relation to a first axis through expansion of a hanging and automatic centering device, provides for transferring them parallel with the aforementioned first axis and coupled with respective annular transfer and setting bodies, which bodies are spaced a given adjustable distance apart and are transversely mobile between a first position, coaxial with the first axis, and a second position coaxial with a second axis coincident with the drum axis; the feeding and setting device being designed to move along the second axis for positioning the beads on the drum.