Abstract: A drum is provided for building of a tire. The drum includes a central sh supporting two plates mounted axially and sliding thereon and a plurality of rods are articulably mounted on each plate. The rods of each plate are covered by a sleeve and a membrane is connected to each of the sleeves. A mantle covers the assembly to provide a surface on which the tire is progressively constructed. A process for assembling a tire with the drum is also disclosed.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a tire forming drum in which rotation of left-hand and right-hand bead locking mechanisms and movement of these bead locking mechanisms in directions of approaching and separating from each other can be effected simultaneously. A state of a main shaft and an inner shaft of the driving apparatus of the tire forming drum can be switched between a connected state and a non-connected state by a clutch. The main shaft and the inner shaft are both connected to a differential gear unit. An encoder is fixed to the differential gear unit and can detect the rotational difference between the inner shaft and the main shaft. Connected to the inner shaft are a distance-between-beads changing motor and a distance-between-beads fixing brake. Mounted to the main shaft are a main shaft rotating motor and a disc brake.

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: A building drum (1) wherein two half drums (9, 10) are moved equally and oppositely along the same axis (6) between a parted idle position and an adjacent forming position. Each half drum (9, 10) supports an annular end element (29) of a tubular, axially deformable forming module (28), an intermediate tubular body (30) which is defined by a number of side-by-side, partially superimposed metal blades (40) connecting the two annular end elements (29) and movable to and from a deformed position wherein the blades (40) define a toroidal body (48) substantially corresponding negatively in shape to that of a finished tire (49).

Abstract: A building drum (1) wherein two half drums (9, 10) are moved equally and oppositely along the same axis (6) between a parted idle position and an adjacent forming position. Each half drum (9, 10) supports an annular end element (29) of a tubular, axially deformable forming module (28), an intermediate tubular body (30) which is defined by a number of side-by-side, partially superimposed metal blades (40) connecting the two annular end elements (29) and movable to and from a deformed position wherein the blades (40) define a toroidal body (48) substantially corresponding negatively in shape to that of a finished tire (49).

Abstract: A method for adjustment of the width dimension of a bead lock drum of the type used in the manufacture of vehicle tires and which includes a plurality of circumference-defining segments whose combined lengths represent the width of the drum and wherein the segments are divided into at least two sets and movably mounted on carriages for postioning of the segments apart to receive therein spacer means and together to collectively define the outer circumference of the drum.

Abstract: A tire former for use in a tire building apparatus, the tire former includes a center ring provided coaxially around a drum shaft and a pair of side rings provided coaxially around the drum shaft and on opposite sides of the center ring. The center ring consists of a plurality of circumferentially separatable ring segments. The side rings are movable closer to and away from each other along the shaft to selectively provide an axially expanded state where the side rings are positioned on opposite sides of the center ring and an outer circumferential surface of the side rings is flush with an outer circumferential of the center ring; and an axially contracted state where the side rings are positioned radially inside of the center ring.

Abstract: A green tire building apparatus includes a plurality of bead locking segments arranged in a circle concentric with the main body of the shaping drum of the apparatus. A resilient annular member is mounted in an annular groove in the outer periphery of the bead locking segments, and the bead locking segments and annular member are moved radially outward for pushing a layer of tire material on the shaping drum against a bead which is disposed thereon. The movement is accomplished by a piston/cylinder and link mechanism. A turn-up bladder is arranged over, but separate from, the resilient annular member.

Abstract: A tire building drum has a pair of drum sections axially movable along a center shaft which form an internal tire inflation chamber for inflating the carcass of a green tire when mounted between the drum sections. Each of the drum sections has a plurality of bead lock segments controlled by a plurality of straight links moved by an annular piston. The piston is mounted in an annular cylinder surrounded by an annular manifold ring, an annular sealing ring and an annular bladder ring. The annular manifold provides for the distribution of pressurized air to various components of the drum and functions as an air seal for the tire inflation chamber. A plurality of air passages are formed in the manifold ring and connect to a source of pressurized air for supplying the control air from a remote source to an inflation turn-up bladder mounted on each of the drum sections and to a control assembly mounted within each of the drum sections for actuating the bead lock segments.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for building a green tire. The process includes mounting a carcass, in the form of a cylinder, around a green tire building machine having left and right shoulder formers with radially expandable bead locking mechanisms. The left and the right shoulder formers are each moved together into an idle movable state where the shoulder formers are allowed to move freely in an axial direction either closer or farther from each other. The bead locking mechanisms are radially expanded so as to lock the beads in a set position on the outer circumferential surface of the carcass outside the respective bead locking mechanism. Once the beads are locked, each of the shoulder formers are placed in a driven movable state for driving the respective shoulder formers toward each other thereby narrowing the distance between the beads so as to shape the carcass into a toroidal form.

Abstract: A bead lock drum for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires and including multiple carriages disposed about a central shaft and carrying a plurality of circumference-defining segments, the carriages and segments being separable about a transverse plane of the drum for removal and insertion of spacers between adjacent aligned segments and suitable to alter the width dimension of the drum and permit the use of a single drum for making various width tires of a given rim size.

Abstract: A green tire forming apparatus has a driving section (2) and a forming section (1) supported by a shaft extended from the driving section (2). A center former section (10) of the forming section (1) has a pair of first former elements (11A), (11B) and a pair of second former elements (12A), (12B) arranged at the outside of the first former elements so as to be movable in an axial direction. The total width of the center former section can be shortened to about one fourth of the maximum. According to the apparatus, during green carcass formation, the width of the center former section (10) can be set as the required one, and during toroidal shaping, the width can be shortened to about one fourth of the maximum, whereby a distance (BW.sub.3) between beads can be made close to that of a metal mold. As a result, generation of wrinkles during tire formation is largely decreased and tire quality can be improved.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus includes a former made of a plurality of segment units arranged in a circumference, an inner shaft extending through the former, an outer shaft and a sleeve mounted on the inner shaft, the outer shaft and the sleeve carrying a right guide mechanism, a left guide mechanism, a right slider, and a left slider respectively, a right link mechanism, and left link mechanism provided between the right slider and the right guide mechanism, a left link mechanism provided between the left slider and the left guide mechanism. Another tire building apparatus includes a former made of a plurality of segment units arranged having a center segment, a right side segment, and a left side segment, and a right moving device for moving the right side segment in axial and radial directions, a left moving device for moving the left side segment in axial and radial directions, and a center segment support device for supporting the center segment with radially inward biasing.

Abstract: A bead locking apparatus for a tire building machine comprises a slider (1) in a form of an axially reciprocable sleeve disposed on a shaft (Fs) of a tire building machine. A plurality of bead locking segments (2) are circumferentially arranged on an outer surface of the slider (1), and the slider (1) has a tapered surface (3) on its outer face. The bead locking segments (2) each have an inclined inner surface (21) on which inner surface (21) the bead locking segment (7) slides on the slider tapered surface (3) to change its radial position according to reciprocation of the slider (1).

Abstract: A system for movably supporting bead portions of a tire during tire manufacture utilizes a bead support assembly having relatively movable parts that cooperate to define an elongate, outwardly opening groove for receiving and supporting bead portions of a tire. The relatively movable parts include a flexible sheath of material forming a cover that overlies a relatively rigid underlying support. The support gives the groove its shape; however, the cover overlies the support and engages such bead portions as extend into the groove. The cover has an excessively wide central portion that slides freely from side to side through the region of the groove to maintain a point-to-point non-slip type of engagement between the cover and such bead portions as engage the cover, thereby enabling such bead portions as extend into the groove to "rotate" through a limited range of movement without causing malformation or distortion of the bead portions.

Abstract: A band winding apparatus for forming a bead core comprises a winding device which is composed of a drum and holding means. The drum is rotatably supported by a support shaft and has a peripheral surface on which a band for forming a bead core is wound. The holding means are installed in the drum and has a holding surface capable of detachably adsorbing a start end of the band outside in the drum's radial direction. The holding surface is arranged approximately flush with the peripheral surface of the drum.

Abstract: Mechanism for supporting and retaining the beads when building at least a portion of a pneumatic tire on a building drum, said mechanism comprising radially expandable and retractable means for laterally supporting at least a part of each bead, wherein a large number of rocker arms is arranged in a ring shape about the center line of the building drum, and means serve to shift and swivel all of these rocker arms simultaneously to an expanded position and to retract them again, said swivelling action of each rocker arm being performed in an imaginary plane extending radially through the center line of the drum and said shifting action including a component directed along the center line of the building drum.

Abstract: A tire building device wherein a unistage drum (6) includes an inner shaft (7) having an intermediate portion fitted with an innerstitching device (11), and two end portions located on opposite sides of the innerstitching device (11) and supporting two half drums (12,13) connected to the inner shaft (7) via the interposition of respective slides (18), each of which is connected, in one instance, in a sliding and angularly fixed manner to the inner shaft (7), and, in another, in a rotary manner to the respective half drum (12)(13) which may be locked in relation to the respective slide (18) by means of a friction coupling (53).

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a former used in the manufacture of tires. Two green covers (52, 53) devoid of sidewalls for pneumatic tires are assembled and shaped side-by-side. The two covers (52, 53) may be joined together during assembly but separated during manufacture.

Abstract: A tire forming drum includes a pair of bead lock devices, a shaping device, ply turning-up devices for turning up a ply, and a plurality of stitching supports circumferentially arranged between the pair of bead lock devices. Each of the stitching supports is composed of a rigid lever having one end pivotally connected to a housing of one of the bead lock device and the other end provided with a close contact portion to be brought into close contact with an inner circumferential surface of one bead portion of a tire being formed. An actuating device for each of the stitching supports is composed of a rigid link having one end pivotally connected to a mid portion of the stitching support and the other end pivotally connected to one of sleeves movable in axial directions of the forming drum. The stitching supports are able to expand by movements of the sleeves and the bead lock devices arranged on both sides toward each other.

Abstract: The front end and rear end of a belt-shaped member having a predetermined length are grasped by front end grasping pawls and rear end grasping pawls, respectively, movable in synchronism with and independently from each other when required. The front and rear end grasping pawls are moved in synchronism with each other until the front end of the belt-shaped member arrives at the forming drum. After the front end of the belt-shaped member has been pressure-joined with the forming drum, only the rear end grasping pawls grasping the rear end of the belt-shaped member are moved to attach the belt-shaped member to the circumference of the forming drum. The length of the belt-shaped member is modified to a predetermined length or the circumferential length of the forming drum while the front and rear ends are grasped by the front and rear end grasping pawls, respectively, or the belt-shaped member is being attached to the forming drum.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus includes a main hollow shaft, a rotatable screw shaft inserted in the main shaft, a pair of slider units axially movably supported so that upon rotating the screw shaft the slider units move through equal distances toward and away from each other, a pair of support member assemblies expansibly and contractibly supported by the slider units for supporting the bead portions of the green case on radially insides by the support member assemblies when expanded to increase their diameters, a pair of movable blocks axially movably supported to be able to abut against the slider units, a drum core in the form of a ring to surround the main shaft between the slider units, a link mechanism connecting the drum core and the movable blocks for expanding the drum core when the movable blocks move axially inwardly toward each other and contracting the drum core when the movable blocks move axially outwardly away from each other, a pair of stoppers for limiting axially outward movement of the movabl

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a tire in which a carcass ply is formed by winding a continuous cord around a pair of spaced members to form a ply (31) having loops (36) at its edges. The cord ply is rubberized and support elements (32)(33) are located in the loops (36) to form a cylindrical ply having spaced hooped support elements at each ply edge. Bead wire assemblies (40) and (41) are located coaxially of the ply together with the support elements which are subsequently incorporated in the bead wire assemblies.There is also provided a tire building former on which the above method can be performed. The former (100) comprises at least three coaxial discs (101), (102), (106) for supporting a carcass ply 30 on their radially outer surfaces. The central disc (106) is axially movable between the two other discs so as to support a portion of an elastomeric ply (103) helically wound onto the former (100) from a strip (1040.

Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire having an inner liner to which a sealant strip is to be laminated, comprises a rotary drum having a surface in which a trough or "groove" is provided. The depth of the groove corresponds approximately to the thickness of a layer of an elastomeric sealant which is to be placed in the groove. If the walls of the groove are contoured so as to confine the sealant layer in a specified manner while accommodating the thermo-viscous properties of the laminate, the completed first stage carcass may be removed without damaging the sealant layer which is adhered to the inner liner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a green tire on a curving apparatus that includes a fixing head system having two rotatable and axially movable, one-piece bead-holding disks are provided. The bead-holding disks are swiveled about an axis perpendicular to their axis of rotation. The essentially cylindrical carcass member is disposed on the bead-holding disks concentric to their axis of rotation. The bead-holding disks are subsequently swiveled back into a position vertical to their axis of rotation. After the carcass is fixed on the disks, it is curved into a belt unit.

Abstract: A segmental drum (1) has a plurality of circumferentially spaced drum segments (28) radially movable by a set of links (36) pivotally connected to a pair of axially movable hub assemblies (34) slidably mounted on a drum shaft (12). Each of the segments (28) has a cylindrical center portion (30) and end portions (32) with recesses providing pockets (68) for the tire bead portions. The links (36) are positioned between the end portions (32) providing space for large bead portions in the pockets (68) and at the same time the segments (28) are retractable to a small diameter to facilitate placing of a tire band (64) over the drum (10).

Abstract: An apparatus has a main tire-building drum and auxiliary tire-building drums which are mounted coaxially with one another. The main tire-building drum has a rotation drive. The auxiliary tire-building drums are mounted on supports which are connected to drives for their axial movement, have actuators for opening and closing the auxiliary tire-building drums and are operatively connected to the drive of the main tire-building drum. The supports are mounted on fixed guide members. The operative connection between the auxiliary tire-building drums and the drive of the main tire-building drum is so constructed as to transmit rotation to the auxiliary tire-building drums when they are closed.

Abstract: A segmental drum (10) has spaced-apart inflatable turnup bladders (24) for folding each edge (28) of a belt (30) applied to the drum (10). The spacing of the bladders (24) is adjustable by axial movement in opposite directions of central hub assemblies (42,44) threaded on screws (76). Fine adjustment of the spacing to straigten the fold line (32) of each bladder (24) is provided by axial adjustment of rigid polyurethane bladder support brackets (18) connected to the central hub assemblies (42,44). Radial expansion of the segments (16) is provided by links (84) between each of the segments (16) and spaced drum expanding hub assemblies (86,88) threaded on a drum control screw (96). A molded central filler block (62) of rigid polyurethane is mounted on each segment (16) to fill the space between the bladder support brackets (18).

Abstract: A cylindrical tire building former has two sets of radially expandable segments or located one set at each axial end of the former.The sets of segments or are expanded by engagement of each segment with an axially moveable wedge member. The wedge member may comprise an annular body, or an annular array of individual wedges. The wedge member is moved by operation of a plurality of screw struts which are arranged on a pitch circle and which are each rotated by a planet gear. The planet gears are driven simultaneously by a central sun gear to move the wedge member evenly along the screw struts.

Abstract: A tire building machine that allows for free axial movement of positioned beads towards a tire drum during expansion of the tire drum. The axial movement of the bead is effected by a rubber sleeve that envelops the tire drum and a pair of bead carrier assemblies, each one located axially outwardly of the drum. Subsequent to positioning the bead in a tire building process, the beads are locked into place by means attached to each of the bead carrier assemblies. Expansion of the drum causes the sleeve to effect inwardly axial movement of the bead carrier assemblies toward the drum carrying the tire beads towards the drum, and retraction of the drum causes outwardly axial movement of the bead carrier assemblies away from the drum.

Abstract: In a cylindrical tire forming member building method or apparatus, after the front end portion of a belt-shaped material is pressed against the drum, the belt-shaped material is wound on the drum while being centered, and with the central portion of the rear end portion of the belt-shaped material pressed against the drum with a robot hand, both edge portions of the rear end portion of the belt-shaped material are elongated longitudinally and pressed against the drum with the robot hand, so tha front and rear ends of the belt-shaped material are butt-joined without forming a gap therebetween or without being overlapped.

Abstract: A tire building machine including flanges which have a surface to allow for the positioning and disengagement of a tire. The positioning and disengagement of the tire on the machine is effected by the surface interaction between the bead portions of the tire and the surface area of the flange. The surface area of the flange in the present invention includes a plurality of bead portion bearing surfaces to facilitate the release of the bead portions. In addition, the surface area of the flange is designed to reduce friction between the bead portions and the flange.

Abstract: The build-up drum of build-up machines is frequently interchangeably mounted on its drive shaft in order to be able to adapt to changes in dimension in the production program with one and the same machine. If the operating and control elements associated with the drum bear directly against the end walls of the drum, each change of the drum requires considerable expense for adjustments and alignments. This is avoided by providing the build-up drum on both sides with a respective spacer and abutment sleeve against which the movable operating and control elements can bear in a constantly uniform orientation relative to the middle of the drum as the critical reference plane.

Abstract: A tire building drum (10) has a central shaft (13) and a pair of end drum assemblies (12) mounted for axial movement along the shaft. The end drum assemblies (12) include a main sleeve (19) slideable on the shaft (13), and an annular housing (24) mounted on the sleeve to form an annular chamber (32) surrounding the sleeve (19) which houses an annular piston (31). There is an annular expansion means (bead seating segments) (27) mounted on the housing (24) which are moved radially by a ramp means (35) attached to the piston (31). This ramp means (35) have a cam surface (29) thereon comprising an inclined radially outer portion (29a) and a convex arcuate radially inner portion (29b). Further, the end drum assemblies have annular bladders (39), (41), (42), and (44) thereon that each have solid annular lip portions (51, 52) (61, 62), (63), (64 ) respectively, by which they are secured to the end drum assemblies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use at the stage of a radial tire building process at which a tread and breaker, and sidewall rubbers, are added to the expanded carcass. A tread assembly is built, comprising tread rubber breaker and sidewall rubbers and is then located around the carcass which is then expanded into the tread assembly. A tread assembly former has a central portion expansible to bring side portions to a frusto-conical shape.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring a looped article to a cylindrical structure, comprising a collapsible ring structure having a center axis aligned with the center axis of the cylindrical structure and a centering plane parallel with the central plane of the cylindrical structure, the ring structure being radially deformable about the center axis thereof, a carrier supporting the ring structure and operative to move the ring structure toward and away from the cylindrical structure, and plural pairs of centering elements provided radially inside the ring structure. Each pair of centering elements are located on both sides of the centering plane of the ring structure and consist of centering elements located on both sides of the centering plane of the ring structure and movable toward and away from the centering plane of the ring structure.

Abstract: An adjustable tire building drum is disclosed for use during strip winding of OTR tire treads having nine replaceable segments with interfitting fingers extending circumferentially to define a rigid generally cylindrical shell whose diameter and axial length may readily be adjusted for a wide variety of different tire sizes. A unique precision actuating mechanism is provided for adjusting the segments radially including a heavy cantilever link and an associated stabilizing arm for each segment which maintains rigidity even when the segmental shell is expanded 90 to 100 percent.

Abstract: A tire molding apparatus having a hollow rotary shaft, a plurality of first drum segments are arranged substantially in the form of a cylinder around the front end portion of said rotary shaft. The second drum segments are paried with the first drum segments, thus forming a molding drum. A diameter changing mechanism is provided between the rotary shaft and the first and second drum segments for transmitting rotation of said rotary shaft to the first and second drum segments and additionally for moving the first and second drum segments radially. A plurality of threaded shafts, each having both end portions threaded in the opposite directions, are screwed respectively into the first and second drum segments thus paired. Rotation of the threaded shafts causes the first and second drum segments to move towards each other or to move away from each other to change the width of the molding drum.

Abstract: A bead lock device comprises mutually separable and engageable shafts, and a pair of left and right bead lock members consisting of a plurality of segments, each segment having one end pivoted to the shafts and the other end adapted to expand in diameter in the radial direction and to hold the bead portion of a green tire case in substantially circular form. A slide member capable of moving in the radial direction of the shafts is provided and is connected to the segments through a link member for expanding and contracting the diameter of the segments in the radial direction through a link mechanism. A mechanism for moving the slide member in the direction of an expansion in diameter is provided for the segments and also provided is a mechanism for moving the segments in the direction of contraction in diameter of said segments.

Abstract: A radial tire building drum for forming a radial tire green case having bead portions into a toroidal shape, includes a drive shaft rotatable about a center axis of rotation and movable in a fore-and-aft direction thereof, a pair of drum units carried on the drive shaft and having a common center axis of rotation which is in axially alignment with the center axis of the drive shaft, the drum units being axially movable toward and away from each other along the center axis of the drive shaft by driving at least one of the drum units to move along the common center axis of rotation, a plurality of arcuate drum segments each retained to the pair of drum units and formed with an annular groove circumferentially extending therethrough, each of the arcuate drum segments being radially movable toward and away from the common center axis.

Abstract: A radial mandrel is provided having a plurality of alternating and interfitting large and small segments mounted on a pair of cones, which cones are movable axially toward and away from one another to in turn move the segments radially inwardly and outwardly between a contracted and expanded position. The radial mandrel includes an improved mechanism for axially moving the cones comprising a quill adapter and scroll sleeve adapted for use with a drive shaft of standard configuration. The scroll sleeve is formed with spiral grooves which engage the cones and are operable to move the cones axially toward and away from one another as the scroll sleeve is rotated.

Abstract: The present drum can find application mainly for assembling large-size tire casings.The drum comprises sectors with shoulders provided with a drive for their radial movement. The drive incorporates slide-blocks arranged concentrically with each other on a shaft axially movable therealong. The slide-blocks are articulated, through levers, with the sectors. The midpoint of one of the levers of each slide-block is articulated with the shaft through the link which is half as long as the lever.The shoulders are provided with a mechanism for their relative movement with respect to the sector. The mechanism is made as a cam associated with the lever of radial movement drive of the sector. The cam is adapted to engage one of the toothed segments articulated to the sector. The toothed segments are kinematically associated with each other and are in mesh with the respective toothed racks connected to the shoulders, so that the toothed segment engages the cam through the agency of a pin provided on the cam.

Abstract: A tire forming drum provided with two half drums axially mobile relative to each other and arranged to support on their outer periphery tubular plies of a carcass to be formed, each half drum being arranged to produce automatic folding of the relative end of said tubular plies about a respective annular bead by means of a respective multiple air chamber element rigid at one end with an outer flange of the relative half drum, and at the other end with a tubular support member mobile under the thrust of said multiple air chamber element between a retracted rest position inside said flange and an extracted working position in which said tubular member projects axially outward from the relative half drum.

Abstract: A tire building machine including an axially contractible and expandable drum is characterized by an annularly continuous center deck for the drum having a rigid, axially segmented yet continuous, generally cylindrical deck surface. The center deck includes a center support, end supports, and two symmetrically arranged sets of telescoping rings extending respectively between the center support and opposite end supports. The telescoping rings are axially expandable as the end supports move away from each other to form such rigid, axially continuous deck surface and axially collapsible into or upon one another as the end supports move toward each other. Each ring of the set has flanged ends forming both a stop and an annular sliding bearing surface for the adjacent ring. The rings and their flanges may be precisely formed so that each intermediate ring of the ring set has four annular supporting and sliding surfaces, contributing to the overall rigidity of the deck.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus having two end drums disposed on respective opposite sides of an intermediate drum, with the intermediate drum embodying a perforated sleeve for supporting the portion of a tire carcass to be disposed between the beads of a completed tire and for permitting air to flow therethrough into direct contact with the aforementioned tire carcass for pneumatically expanding the latter, and with the end drums carrying bead lock clamping members and ply turn-up bags that are movable inwardly toward the longitudinal center of the apparatus during the aforementioned expanding of the tire carcass, the bags being of dual-compartment construction, having inner compartments for effecting ply turn-up operations at air pressures greater than the air pressure for expanding and supporting the tire carcass, and outer compartments for effecting additional sidewall-applying operations at internal air pressure less than the pressures in the inner compartments, and with the components of the intermediate drum

Abstract: A tire building drum can readily and reliably be adjusted in drum width, and comprises; a plurality of arcuate base segments radially expansible to collectively define a cylindrical shape; a pair of arcuate side flanges mounted on each of the arcuate base segments in opposing and spaced relation with each other to be axially slidable toward and away from each other; and an arcuate spacer section mounted on each of the arcuate base segments between the arcuate side flanges to form a cylindrical outer surface and a certain drum width of the tire building drum, the arcuate spacer section being hooked to the arcuate side flanges so as to be readily detached from and attached to the arcuate side flanges.

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: Herein disclosed is a tire building drum which is constructed expansible in diameter and stretchable in width.

Abstract: An annular tire building drum having an infinitely variable width for building portions of tires having various widths in a tire building machine includes a hub portion, an annular fluid expandable tube element supported on the hub portion for movement therewith and a plurality of pairs of shoes supported on an exterior surface of the tube element for movement therewith in a radial direction upon expansion and contraction of the tube element. The shoes define an annular tire building surface which is movable in a radial direction upon expansion and contraction of the tube element. Piston means is supported by the hub portion for moving one of the shoes of each of the pairs of shoes in a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum and to effect movement of the other of the shoes in a direction opposite to the first direction to thereby infinitely vary the axial width of the building surface. Stop means is provided for limiting the axial movement of the shoes.

Abstract: An expandible tire-building drum for making toric shaped tire carcasses built in the form of cylindrical sleeves is provided. The cylindrical sleeves have at their extremities, annular bulges which are circumferentially inextensible and are radially developed towards the inside. These bulges form the beads on the carcass. The height of the bead is one-half the difference between the internal diameter of the said sleeve and the internal diameter of the said bead. The drum comprises two co-axial discs, constituted substantially by a hub and an annular flange fixed to the hub, axially slidable reciprocally and fixed with each other in rotation. The said discs are supported on a rotating shaft which projects in cantilever fashion from a driving device. The discs comprise a radially external surface having a first part, capable of receiving the beads of the sleeve, and being defined as "bead-seat".