Abstract: A continuously operating bead filler assembly system for forming filler material on top of a tire bead includes a multiple station assembly machine having at least one station for placing the bead and positioning the filler material in cylindrical form adjacent the bead and at least one station for forming and rotating the filler material on top of the bead. The multiple station assembly machine is used in conjunction with a rubber extruder, which continuously extrudes the filler material onto an accumulator, which delivers the filler material to a cutting and measuring device which cuts the filler material in predetermined lengths for deposit of the filler material in cylindrical form onto accumulator station.

Abstract: A bead manipulator subassembly for a bead supply apparatus for setting beads, at given intervals, at both side-portions of a green tire inner layer formed on a tire molding former. A movable bead setter is disposed between said tire molding former and a bead stocker is provided with a bead retaining means for concentrically collecting and retaining two beads from a bead stocker. A posture controlling means for controlling the posture of the retaining means is provided so that said two beads may align with the center of the former. A motion controlling means for controlling the motion of the bead setter can be added so that said two beads may align with the center of the former.

Abstract: To "set" the relative angular disposition of cords in plural inextensible belts on an inflated green tire carcass before it is cured in a mold, a roller is provided which momentarily presses a belt upon the carcass, thus "printing" the belt thereon at a fixed distance from the longitudinal axis of the carcass, and thereafter releases the belt. The carcass is inflated into a toroidal shape so that a point on the circumference of the carcass is at a predetermined inflated distance from the longitudinal axis of the carcass. The roller is placed on each belt to be "set" so that the roller contacts each belt prior to printing it on the carcass. The roller biases each belt on the carcass toward its (the carcass') longitudinal axis, and it is essential that the distance between the bottom surface of the roller and the longitudinal axis of the inflated carcass is maintained constant while each belt is in contact with the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically filling a vehicle tire bead-core with an elastomeric filler having one or more drums, for encasing the bead-core in which the filler is applied when the drum rotates around its own axis.The apparatus is provided with means suitable for stretching the filler when it is pulled into rotation with the bead-core on the drum to stiffen the filler and resist bending, and therefore maintain the filler substantially in the drum midline.The apparatus is further provided with means for discharging the bead-core/filler assembly in a plane unchanged with respect to that determined by the stretching means in order to permit the collection of the various filler/bead-core assemblies one after the other.

Abstract: A radial tire carcass fabricated by a first stage process has bead portions which are placed over a pair of spaced-apart coaxial bead seats. The bead seats may be segmented radially expandable rings which are expanded by fluid pressure into engagement with the bead portions. The tire carcass is initially positioned on the drum with the bead seats at a spaced-apart distance so that upon expansion of the segments of the bead seats at a low pressure and axial movement apart of the bead seats the ply of the tire carcass is stretched and the bead portions moved into register on the bead seats. The fluid pressure expanding the segments of the bead seats is then increased to secure the bead portions on the bead seats at predetermined positions with a predetermined diameter. Annular sealing members may be mounted on the segments of the bead seats at the tire-supporting surfaces of the segments for compression upon application of high pressure.

Abstract: The method of shaping and securing an uncured tire bead filler material to a tire bead ring consisting of initially placing a piece of bead filler material over one of the peripheral surfaces of the bead ring; stitching a filler material first portion to this surface; folding, juxtaposing and thereby adhering a part of a filler material second portion over and on at least the filler material first portion; and adjusting the final angular position of the remainder of the filler material relative to the bead ring. Several embodiments of this method are presented.

Abstract: A second stage building drum assembly (10) mounted on a rotatable drive shaft (15) for the application of belts and the like to a carcass includes a drum (12) rotatably carried by the drive shaft (15) for mounting a carcass (143) and first and second belt guide ply rings (13 and 14) reciprocably movable with respect to the drum. Further provided are means (30) for reciprocably moving one side (32) of the drum (12) with respect to the other (33) and, means (22, 23 and 96) for moving the first and second belt guide ply rings into engagement with the drum (12) for the application of at least one belt (154) to a carcass (143) mounted thereon.

Abstract: The bead area of a pneumatic tire is vented of trapped air by inserting an air guide into the bead area from the outer side of the tire adjacent the tire wheel rim area, whereby the trapped air is guided from the bead area along the air guide to the outer side of the tire. The air guide is an elongated flexible member provided with an enlarged head at its inner end. It is inserted into the tire by an elongated hollow shaft provided with an exterior spiral screw thread. The air guide is inserted into the hollow bore of the shaft, with the enlarged head of the guide abutting one end of the shaft. The opposite end of the shaft is secured to the chuck of a conventional low speed reversible electric drill. The enlarged head of the air guide is provided with a plurality of spaced, outwardly projecting stops which serve to prevent retraction of the head and air guide from the tire.

Abstract: A tire building machine of the expandable bead lock type employs an elastomeric specially shaped radially expanding bead lock including a shaping and turning bladder which includes an air passage system therethrough. The elastomeric bead lock is confined for radial expansion in an annular outwardly opening chamber in the form of an isosceles trapezoid in radial section with the elastomeric bead lock being of similar configuration and expanded by direct application of air pressure within the chamber. The configuration of the annular chamber and the bead lock compensate for stretching of the bead lock upon enlargement. The edges of the bead lock at the axial sides of the chamber are undercut for flexibility while the walls of the chamber are specially coated to maintain the seal. The bead lock incorporates interconnected metallic segment side plates which not only limit the stroke of the moving seal but insure stability axially of the bead and provide the desired concentricity.

Abstract: A tire building drum having radially expandable shoulder forming means and radially expandable bead seating means. The drum includes an independently operable pair of annular pistons associated respectively with the shoulder forming means and the bead setting means such that the shoulder forming means can be operated independently in time, in radial extent and in force applied, of the bead seating means. The latter is in like manner operable independently in time, in radial extent, and in force applied at the bead setting means. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: The ply turn-down fingers are mounted between an inner and outer ring. One ring being formed of an elastomer having mechanical properties of those of rubber and plastic. To remove a finger, the mounting screws nearest the fingers turn-down each side thereof and are removed. The elastomer ring is then bent or distorted away from the finger a distance to free its toe and the finger is withdrawn. A replacement finger is inserted in the same way. The operation can be carried out without freeing the adjacent fingers.

Abstract: A tire building machine of the expandable bead lock type employs an elastomeric specially shaped radially expanding bead lock which includes an air passage system therethrough. The bead locks are expanded by a pneumatic tube which seats the bead lock against reentrant shoulder stops securing the bead locks in their expanded condition both precisely radially and axially with respect to the two centerlines of the machine. Such bead locks may be used in connection with an expandable axially fixed center deck for first stage operations or in connection with a substantially rigid axially expandable and contractible center deck for single stage operations. The bead locks may also be employed for second stage operations. For a single stage machine, the preferred form of center deck includes axially oppositely extending fingers which slide in respective slots in the center support forming a substantially rigid working surface.

Abstract: Colored and/or transparent, low-expansion, crystallized glass-ceramics formed by thermal in situ crystallization from a differently colored crystallizable base glass and having lithium-containing crystals as the predominant crystalline species. The products have coefficients of thermal expansion of less than about 12 x 10.sup.-7 per .degree.C. over the range of 0 to 300.degree. C. Telescope mirror blanks can be made from the transparent, low-expansion, crystallized glass-ceramics.

Abstract: An apex is cohered to the bead wire bundle or core to form a unitary bead assembly. The core is supported on a rigid continuous planar surface. The apex strip in endless form is supported on the uninflated inflatable cylindrical surface of a turn-up bladder arrangement. Inflation of the bladder arrangement turns or rolls the apex angularly outward to surround the bead core and into an appropriate radial orientation and shape. The bladder action is found to cohere the apex-core so strongly together that conventional roller stitching is not required.

Abstract: A rubber, radially expansible ring in a tire building drum is provided for gripping the bead of a tire carcass. The ring is radially expansible in a continuous, circumferential channel of the drum. The ring has an outer surface suitably shaped for holding the bead of the tire carcass, and a pair of continuous, circumferential pressure sealing flaps extending inwardly from both sides of the ring. The flaps are adapted for sealing engagement with adjacent side members of the circumferential channel, so that the ring may be radially expanded without the use of an inflatable bladder. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the production of highly-crystalline, transparent glass-ceramic articles, wherein the predominant crystal phase is a beta-quartz solid solution, and which exhibit transmittances of infra-red radiations in excess of 75%, and, frequently in excess of 85%, at a wave length of 2.5 microns in articles having cross sections of about 3 mm. The articles also demonstrate excellent resistance to attack by acids and detergents, and possess coefficients of thermal expansion over the range of room temperature (R.T.) to 600.degree. C. of less than 10 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.7 /.degree. C. Compositions operable in the invention are encompassed within a very narrow range of the Li.sub.2 O--MgO--ZnO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 quinary nucleated with a combination of TiO.sub.2 + ZrO.sub.2. Where desired, coloring agents conventional in the glass art can be added to yield colored, transparent, glass-ceramic articles.

Abstract: A drum for producing blanks for car tires of rubber with straps wherein the drum consists of coaxial rings movable axially relatively to each other and having supporting surfaces for the beads of tire blanks. According to the invention each ring has an annular groove containing a ring insert of an elastomeric material with a high E-modul. The insert is radially stretchable and consists of a cylindrical supporting part and a disk part firmly connected therewith. The disk part in cross-section has a toggle-like bend and is supported upon the base of the groove. The supporting part is fixed to a limiting flange.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus comprising an expandible former embodying axially movable former expanding and contracting means to dispose the former in positions defining firm supporting surfaces of different radii, said expanding and contracting means ensuring symmetrical expansion and contraction of the former with respect to a transverse plane of the former. Axially-movable tire bead core locating and supporting means are disposed on opposite sides of said transverse plane. Further means, for example at least one rack and pinion mechanism connecting the two bead core locating and supporting means, is provided to ensure that axial movements of the two bead core locating and supporting means occur symmetrically with respect to said transverse plane.

Abstract: A tire building machine in which a tire building drum of variable diameter is connected to a rotatable driving shaft for rotation therewith while a plurality of bead applying means respectively arranged at opposite end faces includes annular sections surrounding the rotatable shaft in radially spaced relationship thereto. The machine furthermore comprises guiding means separate from the rotatable driving shaft and slidably engaged by the bead applying means which are adjustable on the guiding means in planes perpendicular to the driving shaft in two directions perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: Tire building machine includes a pair of carriages axially movable in unison toward and away from opposite ends of the tire building drum on which are mounted bead carriers for supporting tire beads radially outwardly of the drum ends. Suitable controls and adjustments are provided for moving the carriages symmetrically about the center line of the drum into precise positions for positioning the tire beads with precision over the ends of the drum and holding the tire beads in place during expansion of the drum. Pusher rings may also be provided on the carriages to assist in obtaining symmetrical movement of the ply turnup bladders for obtaining the same amount of stitching and turnup of the plies on both sides of the tire.