Abstract: An assembly defining a portion of an arcuate outer surface of a tire building drum, the assembly including first and second interlacing deck segments coupled to a central support member to be moved in a radially reciprocating manner, each of the interlacing deck segments including a plurality of center sections coupled together, a plurality of first grooves between the center sections, a plurality of first finger portions extending from the center sections away from the central support member, a plurality of second finger portions extending from the center sections in an opposite direction over the central support member, and a plurality of second grooves formed adjacent each of the second finger portions, wherein the second finger portions are arranged in parallel over the central support member, and the first grooves in each of the interlacing deck segments align with the second grooves of the other of the interlacing deck segments.

Abstract: A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness ?0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.

Abstract: A tire building drum and a method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The tire building drum has a center section comprised of a plurality of segments that are radially and axially movable. The sleeve of the tire building drum over the center section has been eliminated, and instead has two seals located on the outer ends or shoulders of the center section of the tire building drum. The building drum further comprises shoulder sections that are axially movable. The shoulder sections include radially expandable bead locks. The method employs the steps of applying one or more carcass layers, locking the bead locks and moving the center section radially outwardly while moving the bead locks axially inwardly.

Abstract: The boost turn-up method comprises a belt drum, which is carried and driven by a belt drum case, and a forming drum, which is carried and driven by a forming drum case; a first boost device, which is arranged along the axial direction, is arranged at the side part of the belt drum; a second boost device, which is arranged along the axial direction, is arranged at the side part of the forming drum; the first boost device and the second boost device are symmetrical along the vertical center line of the forming drum in the turn-up preparation process of a tire blank; the first boost device and the second boost device push the Bladder or the turn-up rods towards the center from two sides of the forming drum. Thus, the same thrust is simultaneously exerted to assist implementation of the turn-up operation.

Abstract: Tire building drum having a turn-up mechanism for use in building an unvulcanized tire using rubber tire components, having two sets of turn-up arms (14), wherein each set of arms is connected to an axially shiftable arm support (17). The tire building drum is provided with means on the one hand for shifting the arm supports in a first direction to move the sets of turn-up arms axially towards each other, wherein the arras are tiltable in radial planes from a starting position to a tilting position, and on the other hand for in a second direction, opposite the first direction, shifting the arm supports to move the arms axially apart from the tilting position into the starting position. The tire building drum is provided with a pneumatic detection device (20) (23) for detecting whether at least one of the moving parts, such as the arms or the clamping device, are in the starting position, and for giving a detection signal indicating whether or not the arms are in the starting position.

Abstract: A body ply turn-up device for turning up at least one width-end portion of a body ply expanded into a toroidal shape includes a plurality of arm components movable in the axial direction of an operating shaft and pivotable radially of the operating shaft. Guide members are respectively supported on an end portion of each arm component and coil springs are interposed in respective spaces between guide members. Elastic members respectively cover the outer surfaces of the coil springs for performing pressing at spaces between spiral wire portions thereof when the arm components are pivoted radially outward of the operating shaft. Alternatively, the guide portions include portions which are smaller than the inner diameter of the coil spring and which extend to positions nearly touching each other at a center in a lengthwise direction of each coil spring in a state that the arm components are contracted.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a pneumatic tyre has a building unit designed to form a green tyre having a pair of beads. Each of the pair of beads is defined along a respective inner circumferential edge of the green tyre. The apparatus further includes bead moulding devices to tighten each bead between two axially opposite clamping surfaces. A moulding unit of the green tyre has a moulding cavity with an inner wall substantially conforming in shape to an outer surface of a moulded tyre. The apparatus further includes devices for vulcanising the green tyre, and actuating devices for transferring the green tyre together with the bead moulding devices into the moulding cavity.

Abstract: A body ply turn-up device for turning up at least one width-end portion of a body ply expanded into a toroidal shape includes a plurality of arm components movable in the axial direction of an operating shaft and pivotable radially of the operating shaft. Guide members are respectively supported on an end portion of each arm component and coil springs are interposed in respective spaces between guide members. Elastic members respectively cover the outer surfaces of the coil springs for performing pressing at spaces between spiral wire portions thereof when the arm components are pivoted radially outward of the operating shaft. Alternatively, the guide portions include portions which are smaller than the inner diameter of the coil spring and which extend to positions nearly touching each other at a center in a lengthwise direction of each coil spring in a state that the arm components are contracted.

Abstract: In a body ply turn-up device, a plurality of arm components are circumferentially arranged to be movable in the axial direction of an operating shaft and to be pivotable radially of the operating shaft, guide members are respectively supported at both sides on an end portion of each arm component to be rotatable about an axis parallel to a pivot axis of each arm component, coil springs are interposed in respective spaces each between two guide members respectively supported on the arm components adjoining to be rotatable about respective arc axes around the operating shaft, and pressing members, which supplementarily cover respective spaces between the coil springs are rotatably supported on the arm components ahead of or behind the coil springs. Thus, the turn-up device can turn up both width-end portions of the body ply by an even pressing force without leaving any spaces in the circumference even in the case of being high in turn-up height.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for turning up the carcass plies in a tire, the tire including a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply provided with at least one reinforcing element coated with at least one layer of elastomeric material, and at least one annular reinforcing structure. The apparatus is equipped with a support drum conveniently shaped for supporting at least one ply and with at least one turning up device provided with an annular continuous presser element. The latter is axially translatable along an axis of the support drum and radially expandable or contractible relative to the axis of the support drum between a contracted position and an expanded position to turn up the carcass ply around an annular reinforcing structure. The device is further provided with means of adjusting the contracted position of the annular element depending on the size of the tire to be manufactured.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of forming a tire. A drum has an expansion device that is configured to turn-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass about respective bead-and-apex assemblies while generally maintaining a constant orientation of the bead-and-apex assemblies. Further, the expansion device turns-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass while at the same time radially expanding the tire carcass. The methods entail turning-up the lateral ends of the tire carcass around the bead-and-apex assemblies and also moving a portion of the tire carcass lying between the bead-and-apex assemblies in a radially-outward direction relative to an axis of rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass comprised of at least one carcass ply containing a steel cord(s) arranged at a cord angle of 70-90° with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire and toroidally extending between a pair of bead cores and turned up around the bead core inward or outward in a radial direction to form a turnup portion, wherein a wrap part wrapping on a peripheral face of the bead core therealong is formed in the turnup portion of the carcass ply.

Abstract: In a body ply turn-up device, a plurality of arm components are circumferentially arranged to be movable in the axial direction of an operating shaft and to be pivotable radially of the operating shaft, guide members are respectively supported at both sides on an end portion of each arm component to be rotatable about an axis parallel to a pivot axis of each arm component, coil springs are interposed in respective spaces each between two guide members respectively supported on the arm components adjoining to be rotatable about respective arc axes around the operating shaft, and pressing members, which supplementarily cover respective spaces between the coil springs are rotatably supported on the arm components ahead of or behind the coil springs. Thus, the turn-up device can turn up both width-end portions of the body ply by an even pressing force without leaving any spaces in the circumference even in the case of being high in turn-up height.

Abstract: The method for molding a bead portion for a green tire includes a bead core supporting step for supporting the bead core through a carcass ply upon expanding a diameter of a bead core supporter including a seating surface for supporting a radially inner surface of the bead core. Since the bead core supporter comprises an outer piece outside of the seating surface in a tire axial direction that rises up towards outside in the radial direction with a clearance between the same and the bead core, that is larger than the thickness of the carcass ply, it is possible to flip a carcass outer region up, that is outside in the tire axial direction than a sandwiched region of the carcass ply, sandwiched and held between the seating surface and the bead core, and to deform the carcass outer region into an outer inclined piece that is inclined and extended towards radially outside without including any partially bent portions.

Abstract: Device (D) for winding a cylindrical sleeve (C) of axis XX? around a toric ring (R) so that the end (E) of the said cylindrical sleeve is engaged between the toric ring (R) and the cylindrical sleeve (C) itself in order to make at least one complete turn around the substantially circular radial section of the said toric ring (R). The device comprises a winding fabric (T) also formed by a sleeve sliding freely in the axial direction on the external surface of a concentric set of winding heads (10, 10?) having an external profile comprising a back (104) constituting a substantially cylindrical surface, a convex front annular surface (102) connected to the previous surface and a concave annular surface (103) connected to the latter so that the winding fabric (2) produces S-shaped loops when the said winding fabric (T) substantially follows the radial profile of the convex annular surface (102) and of the concave annular surface (103) of the winding heads (10, 10?).

Abstract: There are provided a method and a drum for building a tire in which residual air can be effectively removed by enhancing a pressing force of a carcass band to a bead filler in the turning of the carcass band around a bead core, wherein a cylindrical green case is arranged on an outer peripheral side of a building drum, and a central portion of the green case is expansion-deformed in a radial direction while approaching both the bead cores to each other under a restraint of the bead core through the building drum, and the green case is pressed onto an inner peripheral face of a belt-tread band, and thereafter both the end portions of the carcass band are turned around the bead cores so that the carcass band is pushed onto rigid support members disposed at an inner peripheral side of the carcass band together with the bead cores and bead fillers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a core of plies, belts and beads and for positioning the core in a mold for forming an elastomeric tire. The core is built up on a mandrel of the inner mold that is formed from hard foam core segments positioned between top and bottom hub plates, around a center hub that includes flow passages formed therethrough and through the hub plates. Plies for building the core are formed as a woven sleeve for passage along an expander cone and over the mandrel whereon a separator has been positioned, and a bead is passed over each sleeve end that receives a bead centering plate fitted through the sleeve, capturing the bead and positioning it on the mandrel side and provides for folding the plies end over the bead and up each mandrel side.

Abstract: A tire building drum includes a hollow main shaft, a pair of bead lock sections arranged concentric with the main shaft and respectively holding a bead core of a tire, and a radially expansible/contractible carcass-supporting body defining an inner shape of a carcass member extending between the bead cores. The carcass-supporting body is composed of a pair of core bodies which are concentric with the main shaft and have a plurality of expansible/contractible rigid segments circumferentially abutting on and engaging with each other. The tire building drum is provided with a pair of sliders on which the core body and the bead lock section are mounted on a single side in the axial direction, slider-moving means for moving these sliders to any required radial position and segment-expanding/contracting means for expanding/contacting the segments of each core body to any required radial position.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacture of a tire, the apparatus including a drum with shoulder having a generally cylindrical main receiving surface to receive the products to be assembled, the main receiving surface being radially retractable. The drum has a shoulder axially to the side edges of said main receiving surface. The drum is mounted on a shaft. At least one associated axially movable side crown is mounted coaxially with the drum. The drum has a lateral protuberance coaxially juxtaposed to at least one of its shoulders. The side crown is axially slidable at least partly under the lateral protuberance, the lateral protuberance forming a quasi-cylindrical support surface whose outside diameter is smaller than the diameter of the main receiving surface. The side crown has a substantially cylindrical outer surface capable of passing axially outside of the lateral protuberance.

Abstract: Device for turning up sidewalls of a tire, wherein the device includes a first lever supporting body arranged on a first side of a drum center and being movable in an axial direction. A first lever system pivotally connected to the first lever supporting body. A second lever supporting body arranged on a second side of the drum center and being movable in an axial direction. A second lever system pivotally connected to the second lever supporting body. The first and second sides are arranged on opposite sides of the drum center. A base spindle is adapted to move the first and second lever supporting bodies in an axial synchronous manner relative to each another. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacture of a tire, the apparatus including a drum with shoulder having a generally cylindrical main receiving surface to receive the products to be assembled, the main receiving surface being radially retractable. The drum has a shoulder axially to the side edges of said main receiving surface. The drum is mounted on a shaft. At least one associated axially movable side crown is mounted coaxially with the drum. The drum has a lateral protuberance coaxially juxtaposed to at least one of its shoulders. The side crown is axially slidable at least partly under the lateral protuberance, the lateral protuberance forming a quasi-cylindrical support surface whose outside diameter is smaller than the diameter of the main receiving surface. The side crown has a substantially cylindrical outer surface capable of passing axially outside of the lateral protuberance.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacture of a tire, the apparatus including a drum with shoulder having a generally cylindrical main receiving surface to receive the products to be assembled, the main receiving surface being radially retractable. The drum has a shoulder axially to the side edges of said main receiving surface. The drum is mounted on a shaft. At least one associated axially movable side crown is mounted coaxially with the drum. The drum has a lateral protuberance coaxially juxtaposed to at least one of its shoulders. The side crown is axially slidable at least partly under the lateral protuberance, the lateral protuberance forming a quasi-cylindrical support surface whose outside diameter is smaller than the diameter of the main receiving surface. The side crown has a substantially cylindrical outer surface capable of passing axially outside of the lateral protuberance.

Abstract: A mold for molding a foamed tube for a tire of the present invention is formed from a first mold and a second mold. Each mold has an annular concave portion for tube molding, and joining faces which are continuous with the annular concave portion and are formed at an inner side and an outer side, in a radial direction, of the annular concave portion. Each of the joining faces of the first mold and the joining faces of the second mold has horizontal joining faces provided adjacent to the annular concave portion in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction at a radially inner side and a radially outer side of the annular concave portion, and an inclined joining face provided continuously with the horizontal joining face so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal joining face at one of an inner side and an outer side in the radial direction.

Abstract: The thread 4, intended to form a carcass reinforcement, is laid in continguous hoops on a rigid core 1 by a system with at least two oscillating arms transporting an orifice 6 so as to enable it to pass over a core 1 and thus lay adjacent hoops.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacture of tires and a tire assembly drum having a body with a receiving surface for the products to be assembled, the body being mounted on a center shaft, and at least one lifting device situated at one of the ends of the receiving surface, the lifting device including a plurality of lifting fingers distributed circularly around the center shaft, the fingers extending appreciably radially and presenting a bearing surface for the products to be assembled, the fingers being controlled to be deployed essentially radially toward the outside of the drum.

Abstract: A device for the substantially vertical suspension of tire carcasses, which includes a plurality of articulated supports, the latter being able to bear on the inside of a tire carcass, each of said supports having a convex bearing surface capable of adopting a plurality of angular positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a tire reinforcement from a cord, cooperating with a substantially toroidal form on which arches of the cord are deposited according to a desired trajectory for the cord on the surface of the form, the apparatus having depositing members arranged on a support, the depositing members including a guide member in which the cord may slide freely, a mechanism for actuating the guide member in a cyclical, to-and-fro, movement, to bring the guide member in successive oscillations into the vicinity of each of the desired ends for the cord in the trajectory. The apparatus further includes a first motor imparting the desired movements to the actuating mechanism and a second motor for imparting to the depositing member support a cyclical movement synchronized with the actuating mechanism, allowing deflection of the final trajectory of the cord on the form.

Abstract: The invention concerns a radially expansible assembly drum for the manufacture of tires, having a body mounted on a center shaft and presenting a receiving surface for the products to be assembled, the ends of which have different diameters; the drum contains retractable means capable of covering the end of the receiving surface of smaller diameter, and means of expansion of the drum to two different expanded positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a tire in which the sidewalls overlap the ends of the tread band. The method comprises the steps of inserting an extensible tubular releasing element around the carcass plies at each end of an assembly drum, wrapping the sidewalls on these elements, applying another tubular element on the sidewalls, and overturning the tubular elements to spread apart the sidewalls in an open position aside of the assembly drum. The carcass, in the form of a first-step cylindrical sleeve comprising open sidewalls, is transferable to a (second-step) forming drum to be torically formed against a separately prepared assembly comprising the belt pack and the tread band. Next, the band ends are turned down onto the toric carcass and the sidewalls are folded back against the carcass and over the ends of the tread band.

Abstract: By turning toward the radially outer direction a turned-up region of a tire component by reciprocating turning fingers, and by positioning the reciprocation centre (the base of a short finger part) of the turning finger at the immediate vicinity of the departing point of the tire component from a bead-locking device, the compressing force provided at the turned-up region in the vicinity of the bead is effectively decreased, and therefore the generation of creasing is controlled.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tire-building process in which a so-called "shaping" building drum is used and in which a ply turn-up bladder (2) is clamped on the outside of each bead recess (6) by an assembly of pallets (11) which can open in fan shape and cover the turn-up bladder completely in circumferential direction and in part in axial direction. The axial displacement of the said pallets (11), controlled by the axial displacements of two pistons (7) and (8), makes it possible to modify the shape of the ply turn-up bladder (2).

Abstract: Tire components are assembled on a tire building drum by laying a first liner on a surface of the drum, positioning first sidewall inserts below the cylindrical surface of the drum and around the drum at insert locations spaced from each end of the drum, laying a first carcass ply around the drum, positioning second inserts over the first ply at the insert locations, laying a second carcass over the first ply and the second inserts, positioning beads at each end of the drum, expanding the drum to increase the diameter of the cylindrical surface of the drum and provide shoulders at each end of the drum, turning edges of the first ply and the second ply over each of the beads, positioning a belt and tread assembly around the second ply, and contracting the drum for removal of the assembled tire components from the drum. The inserts are positioned in grooves extending radially inwardly in the outer surface of the building drum.

Abstract: Microporous material comprising water insoluble thermoplastic organic polymer and particulate amorphous precipitated silica not only exhibits low particulate emissions during handling and use, but also has a low extactable alkali metal content. Microporous material having these characteristics is especially useful in clean rooms where electronic devices such as integrated circuits are manufactured. Such microporous material may be produced by employing amorphous precipitated silica particles having low alkali metal content as all or a substantial proportion of the amorphous precipitated silica particles constituting the microporous material.

Abstract: The device comprises a ply turn-up bladder 1 capable of moving axially tods the center of the drum 3 in the manner of a caterpillar. It's movement is controlled by the inflation of a thrust bladder 2.

Abstract: A tire building machine having opposed support shafts for engagement with opposed ends of a tire building drum and opposed ply turn down and bead setting mechanisms movable axially along the support shafts toward and away from the drum. The machine includes parallel bearing rails extending substantially the length of the machine. The ply turn down and bead setting mechanisms are carried by opposed housings which are supported by bearings which ride on the bearing rails. The ply turn down and bead setting mechanisms also carry bearings which ride along the shafts during axial advancement thereof. Finally, the turn down mechanism is supported on the housing at multiple points about its periphery to insure correct alignment thereof.

Abstract: A spring finger ply down for a tire building machine comprising an annular array of spring fingers, an annular support for the fingers and a constrictable clamp for securing each finger to the support at an axial interference between each finger and the support. The constrictable clamp includes an elastic band stretched circumferentially around the fingers and/or a clamping ring of relatively inextensible material that is adjustably constricted or cinched around the fingers or, if used, the elastic band for holding rigidly or relatively rigidly the fingers to the support. The elastic band is locally radially deformable to permit radial release of the axial interference for easy insertion and removal of a finger without disturbing adjacent fingers.

Abstract: The tire building apparatus was an axially elongated drive shaft which is rotatable about its center axis. The tire building drum of the apparatus includes an axially elongated retainer sleeve which is interchangeably received on the drive shaft and rotatable with the drive shaft about the center axis of the drive shaft. A slider sleeve is slidably received on the retainer sleeve and is rotatable with the drive shaft about the center axis of the drive shaft. A plurality of link members are provided each being pivotally connected at its one end to the slider sleeve. A plurality of arcuate drum segments are provided each being equiangularly spaced apart from one another about the center axis of the axially elongated drive shaft and pivotally connected with the other end of each of the link member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in the manufacture of pneumatic tires, in which a pair of tire bead assemblies are held in accurately spaced relationship against opposite ends of a tube. Tire carcass material carried on an expansible former is located within the tube and expanded to engage the bead assemblies, projecting ends of the carcass material being turned radially outwardly around the bead assemblies while the bead assemblies are supported by the tube.

Abstract: A ply-turning device for use in tire-building is disclosed herein which is adapted to turnup a surplus portion of a carcass ply around a bead core in the manufacture of large size tires each having a pair of axially protruding side portions. The device comprises a plurality of ply-turning vanes being arranged concentrically to a first drum for the formation of a green case and circumferentially in the form of a cylinder at a collapsed position and being movable from the collapsed position to an opened position of a frustoconical shape in opposition to each axially protruding side edge portion of the drum by means of link means, a hydraulically driving means moving toward and away from the drum, and a retractably moving means for moving all the ply-turning vanes together with the link means.

Abstract: A process is provided for turning-up sidestrips and the ends of body plies on the sidewalls of a torus-shaped tire body. The body of the tire is expanded circumferentially, the ends are turned over and the sidewall strips are stitched simultaneously.An apparatus for practicing the process has a device provided with a support for the assembly which turns-up the sidestrips and ends of the body plies which permits insertion and removal of the assembly in the cavity of the tire.

Abstract: A core, which can be disassembled, for forming a beaded radial ply tire including arcuate beams forming a circular support ring, mold pieces removably supported on the ring and forming an inner mold for the tire tread, side panels removably secured to the mold pieces and forming an inner mold for each of the tire side walls, and bead formers pivotally connected to and extending from the side panels to receive, in one position, bead wedge portions and pivoting to another position so that the ends of plies can be doubled back over the bead wedge portions and the ends of a tire liner can then be folded over the ends of the plies. The core can be disassembled after the tire is cured by first removing the ring. Thereafter, the side panels can be disassembled by moving towards the core center a side panel which is a key panel followed by disassembly of the remaining side panels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a closed torus pneumatic tire in which the components of the tire, exclusive of the belt and tread structures, are wrapped about a cylindrical former, inextensible bead rings are positioned about the former in positions spaced axially apart substantially the same as the final desired axial spacing. The former is radially expanded and expands the carcass structure to clampingly engage the bead rings. Each axially outer end portion of the carcass structures is folded over toward the axial centerplane of the drum in a manner in which the carcass is free of internal restraint at the fold. Each axially outer end of the folded over end portion of the carcass structure freely contracts radially into position to be clamped by a pull-over ring and is pulled axially across the former to a predetermined position past the midcircumferential centerplane of the former and released. A sidewall restraint ring moves into position adjacent the fold to prevent roll back of each end portion.

Abstract: A closed torus tire in which the cord or wire reinforcement ply, or plies, surround the inflation chamber which can retain pressure without being mounted on a wheel. The reinforcement ply is continuous circumferentially of the tire and axially in the crown and sidewalls. The circumferential ply edges are lap-spliced in the inner wheel-engaging part, rather than being folded around bead cores. The tire is made without use of a building core of any kind, thus avoiding the cost and difficulty of removing such core from the completed tire. The tire is made by wrapping the reinforcement ply, or plies, about a cylindrical drum to form a sleeve. An inner liner is then wrapped about the sleeve, a reversal of normal tire building practice. One circumfferential edge of the sleeve is then moved outward and axially over the remaining sleeve, beyond the other, unmoved edge. The one edge is then moved inward and axially under the other edge to form the lapped splice.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for fabricating a pneumatic rubber fender comprising a cylindrical body of a combination of a plurality of rubber and reinforced rubber layers, both of the terminal ends of which are closed so that compressed air can be sealed therein. In the fabrication process, the cylindrical body of a non-vulcanized rubber fender, one end of which is closed by a first end plate, is firstly formed on a fabrication drum provided with a cylindrical portion and an end plate portion closing one end of the cylindrical portion. The connection of a second end plate with an opened free end of the above-mentioned cylindrical body of the non-vulcanized rubber fender is carried out in such a condition that the above-mentioned opened free end is turned back while the cylindrical body of the non-vulcanized rubber fender is mounted on the fabrication drum.

Abstract: A building drum for building first-stage, steel-reinforced, radial monoply, pneumatic tire carcasses, is disclosed. The drum comprises a circumferential array of drum-forming segments which are supported for radial displacement to and from contracted and expanded dispositions, and apparatus for displacing the segments radially between the contracted and expanded dispositions. Each of the segments has the same axial extent and terminates at each end in a respective flange projecting radially inwardly. Each of the flanges has a respective recess exposed radially outwardly, corresponding ones of the recesses which are at the same segment end defining co-operatively with one another at each such segment end a radially outwardly exposed annular bead-seat. The segments, when in a fully contracted disposition, present a substantially cylindrical outer carcass-ply support-surface having a diameter which is less than the inner diameter of any annular metallic bead-core to be thereby operated upon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which a radially and axially expandable and contractable tire building drum is used in a single-stage building of a pneumatic tire carcass, particularly tire carcasses for heavy service. The essential parts of the tire are applied and the manufacturing steps are accomplished without transferring or removing the tire carcass from the drum upon which it is built. The essential parts are applied and steps are accomplished including applying the carcass layers, positioning of the bead wire rings, turning the marginal edges around the bead wire rings, rolling and stitching, shaping the carcass into the toroidal configuration, applying, rolling and stitching of a reinforcing belt and a tread and application and shaping of the sidewalls. Shaping of the carcass into the toroidal configuration is accomplished by pneumatic pressure being applied between the carcass and the building drum.

Abstract: Drum for manufacturing radial-carcass tires, characterized in that it comprises means acting in synchronism for transforming a plane cylindrical surface, on which the rubber layers are laid together with the radial plies and the bead wires, into a toroidal surface by producing a geometrical preformation both in development and in section, and by a positive turning of the fabric and layers after shaping same.