Abstract: The invention relates to methods of detecting a virus in an avian tissue sample wherein genetic material derived from feathers is tested for the presence of genetic material from the virus.

Abstract: A tire building core and method of assembly is provided to include in an assembled configuration a shell assembly having a plurality of shell segments forming a tire-building toroidal surface and a central spindle receiving throughbore. A spindle assembly extends into the shell assembly throughbore to retain the shell segments in an assembled configuration. One or more shell segments include an electrical heating element and an electrical connection is established with the heating element by a suitably positioned electrical connector(s) carried by a spindle unit. Electrical connection is established and broken by axial movement of the spindle unit in and out of the throughbore.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism and method for a tooling head is provided, the tooling head including a housing; a cord line feeding passageway extending through the housing to an applicator end, and an applicator assembly at the applicator end for application of the cord line to an annular surface. The cutting mechanism provides a reciprocally moving plunger body housed within the tooling head; a reciprocating cutting member moving between a first position cutting the cord line and a second position in a non-cutting relationship with the cord line; a cutting member being coupled to the plunger body to translate reciprocal movement of the plunger body to reciprocal movement of the cutting member between the first and second positions. A stream of air may be directed into the cord line passageway proximate the cutting member to assist in threading a severed free end of the cord through the passageway to the applicator assembly.

Abstract: A ply application station for applying a tire carcass cord ply to an annular surface includes a plurality of applicator heads disposed at respective spaced apart circumferential locations about the annular surface, each applicator head proximally positioned to a respective assigned region of the annular surface. The system coordinates the application of at least one ply cord by each head to the annular surface region assigned respectively to each head. The plurality of applicator heads operate independently within their respective assigned regions while the core annular surface is rotatably indexed in order to achieve a desired cord ply pattern.

Abstract: A synchronous drive system and method for tire cord application to an annular core surface includes an arm that moves laterally about a first axis in a forward and a reverse direction across the annular surface. A cord application head is coupled to the arm and positions one or more cords on an on the annular surface in the forward and reverse directions. First and second ring motors are coupled to synchronously move the arm and rotate the core. The cord application head may further reciprocate about a second axis of rotation.

Abstract: A tire building core assembly includes a shell assembly is formed by a plurality of shell segments and includes a central spindle-receiving throughbore. Two spindle units meet in axial alignment within the shell assembly throughbore and retain the shell segments in an expanded configuration forming a toroidal tire building surface. An open socket may be formed in a protruding end of one or both spindle units, the socket configured to couple with an end of an external arm mechanism. A latching mechanism moves between engaged and disengaged positions for releasably couple the one spindle unit to the second spindle unit within the shell assembly throughbore.

Abstract: A tooling head for bi-directional tire cord application to an annular surface is mounted to reciprocally move in a forward and a reverse direction across the annular surface. The tooling head includes a plurality of rollers for positioning one or more cords on an elastomeric layer on the annular surface in the forward and reverse directions and a tilt mechanism for angular repositioning the rollers into alternative engagement with the annular surface in the forward and reverse directions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular toroidially-shaped cord reinforced ply for a tire is described. The method involves applying an elastomeric layer on a toroidal surface and placing and stitching one or more cords in continuous lengths onto the elastomeric layer in predetermined cord paths. The method further includes dispensing the one or more cords from spools and guiding the cord in a predetermined path as the cord is being dispensed. Preferably, each cord is held against the elastomeric layer after the cord is placed and stitched and then indexing the cord path to a next circumferential location forming a loop end by reversing the direction of the cord and releasing the held cord after the loop end is formed and the cord path direction is reversed. This method allows the step of forming loop ends to occur at more than one diameter on the toroidal surface.

Abstract: A method of building and transferring a tread 12 or a tread belt reinforcing assembly 14 on a building drum 10 is disclosed. The steps include applying at least one uncured tread component 12, 14 onto a radially collapsible building drum 10, inserting the at least one uncured tread component 12 and the radially collapsible building drum 10 into an open segmented mold 2 wherein a plurality of mold tread forming segments 4 are radially expanded; contracting the plurality of mold tread forming segments 4 pressing into the at least one uncured tread component 12, 14; collapsing the building drum 10; and removing the building drum 10 thereby transferring the at least one uncured tread component 12, 14 into the mold.

Abstract: A module for manufacturing a cured tire from a plurality of tire components is disclosed. The module has a plurality of component appliers located at spaced locations along a predetermined path, and a mobile tire building trolley for movement along the predetermined path and two detachable tire building drums for mounting on the movable trolley. A tire curing station has one tire mold for curing the assembled tire components while mounted on one of the detachable tire building drums. The tire is cured as the other detachable tire building drum on the mobile tire building trolley is having tire components applied. One or more of the plurality of component appliers includes a means for forming the tire component at the location of the applier. The applied components include a liner, a pair of bead cores, a ply, a pair of sidewalls, a pair of chafers, and one or more belt layers and a tread.

Abstract: Freeze-thaw stable latex binders and latex paint compositions are prepared without the use of volatile freeze-thaw additives. The latex binder contains a polymer which is the emulsion polymerization product of a polymerizable polyethylene glycol (PPEG) monomer, wherein the molecular weight of the ethylene oxide moiety in the PPEG monomer is from about 175 to 1,100, at least one acrylic monomer and, optionally, one or more styrenic, ionic or wet adhesion monomers. Methods for preparing the freeze-thaw stable latex compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Freeze-thaw stable latex binders and latex paint compositions are prepared without the use of volatile freeze-thaw additives. The latex binder contains a polymer which is the emulsion polymerization product of a polymerizable polyethylene glycol (PPEG) monomer, wherein the molecular weight of the ethylene oxide moiety in the PPEG monomer is from about 175 to 1,100, at least one acrylic monomer and, optionally, one or more styrenic, ionic or wet adhesion monomers. Methods for preparing the freeze-thaw stable latex compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an acrylic polymer latex comprising the polymerization product of an acetoacetate moiety of the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 alkyl groups and X is a halogen, in amounts effective to improve the water resistance of the acrylic latex; and at least one monomer(s) selected from the group consisting of C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 monocarboxylic acids, C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 dicarboxylic acids and their C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 half esters, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl esters of acrylic acid, C.sub.1 C.sub.10 alkyl esters of methacrylic acid, styrene, halogenated styrene and substituted styrene and latex compositions containing the novel latexes.

Abstract: Copolymerizable amphoteric surfactants of the structural formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, R.sub.2 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, X.sup.- =SO.sub.3.sup.- or COO.sup.-, a=2-3, and b=1-6, are polymerized into copolymer latexes for use in paint formulations, in an amount of 1-3 parts per hundred parts by weight of monomers used to form the copolymer, to impart superior wet adhesion and freeze-thaw stability to the latex paints. The copolymer latexes contain no more than one part by weight carboxylic acid functionality per hundred part monomers. The monomers with which the amphoteric surfactants are copolymerized are selected from alkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid, acrylic and methacrylic acid, styrene and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Amphoteric surfactants and copolymerizable amphoteric surfactants for use in latex paints are presented. These surfactants, which contain positively charged nitrogen, are incorporated into the paint formulations at low levels and impart superior wet adhesion and freeze-thaw stability.

Abstract: Amphoteric surfactants and copolymerizable amphoteric surfactants for use in latex paints are presented. These surfactants, which contain positively charged nitrogen, are incorporated into the paint formulations at low levels and impart superior wet adhesion and freeze-thaw stability.