Abstract: Mold assemblies include a mold section having a mold axis. The mold assembly includes a curing bladder assembly supported on the mold section in radially-offset relation to the mold axis. The curing bladder assembly includes a bladder wall that defines a bladder chamber. The bladder wall includes first and second end wall portions as well as first and second edge wall portions extending longitudinally between the first and second end wall portions. In some cases, the bladder wall further includes first and second side wall portions extending longitudinally between the first and second end wall portions and laterally between the first and second edge wall portions. Methods of manufacturing non-pneumatic tires that includes mold assemblies are also included.

Abstract: A tire manufacturing device includes: a molding drum; a first moving portion in which the molding drum moves in order to mold an inner liner layer on the molding drum; a second moving portion in which the molding drum moves in order to mold a ply layer on the inner liner layer; a stitcher position where a carcass band is formed by performing pressing from above the ply layer laminated on the inner liner layer; and a transfer position where the carcass band is transferred from the molding drum to a transport device that transports the carcass band to a subsequent process, and the stitcher position and the transfer position are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around said at least one carcass ply (4). The built tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tire is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) comprising a gripping device (30) which holds it hanging and loads it into a vulcanisation mould (101) by axially positioning an axial centreline plane (M) of the green tyre at an axial reference (51) arranged at a predetermined height along a reference axis (K) of a central body (103) of the vulcanisation mould (101).

Abstract: A wheel assembly provides an expanded air-pressurization chamber to increase the load capacity of the mounted tire. The wheel assembly includes an axle shaft, including flange plates mounted at opposite ends of the shaft and a mounting disc attached to each flange plate. There is an annular-shaped locking ring attached to each mounting disc. A cylindrical insert assembly is mounted between the pair of locking rings. A central section is defined in the tubular body extending between a pair of annular flange wall portions and includes an array of holes. The tire bead at each inner edge of a tire is located within the annular bead-receiving channels formed between the locking ring and insert assembly. A dual air-pressurization chamber is formed, one radially outward and the other radially inward of the tubular body of the insert assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire building drum with a first bladder or sleeve, wherein the tire building drum has a first release member and a first actuator for generating a relative movement between the first release member and the drum body to move the first release member in a first release direction with respect to the drum body from a first fixation position in which the first release member fixates the first circumferential edge of the first bladder or sleeve to the drum body into a first release position in which the first release member releases the first circumferential edge from the drum body. Also disclosed is a method for operating the aforementioned tire building drum.

Abstract: Provided is a tire building drum and a method for shaping tire components on the tire building drum, wherein the tire building drum has an annular sleeve that extends over turn-up arms in the longitudinal direction of the turn-up arms. The sleeve is elastic in the circumferential direction and fits elastically around the turn-up arms. The sleeve is provided with inelastic reinforcement elements extending in at least a part of the sleeve in a reinforcement direction transverse to the circumferential direction of the tire building drum, and has a fixed end that is retained in the axial direction and a movable end that is movable over the turn-up arms in their respective longitudinal directions.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for building tyres, wherein, in the process, a carcass sleeve including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures is transferred to a shaping drum including flange elements that are each engageable with one of said annular anchoring structures. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration. Before shaping, annular grip elements respectively carried by the flange elements are radially expanded, each inside one of the annular anchoring structures, in order to engage the carcass sleeve. The annular anchoring structures are moved axially apart from each other before engaging the carcass sleeve by the annular grip elements.

Abstract: The device for producing a tire component by winding, comprises: a helicoidal external wall, and means for adjusting a diameter of the wall.

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

Abstract: In the field of tire building, underbelt inserts are applied to an expandable support associated with an auxiliary drum on which the belt structure is made, simultaneously with manufacture of a carcass structure on a primary drum. Following expansion of the expandable support, the underbelt inserts are applied to the belt structure that can be directly made on the support itself in an expanded condition. The belt structure together with the underbelt inserts and a tread band are then transferred onto the carcass structure formed on the primary drum to complete building of the tire following shaping of the carcass into a toroidal conformation.

Abstract: The invention is for enabling one piece of rotation driving means 17 to drive to rotate both of an outer side shaft portion 3 of a drum shaft 1 and a screw shaft 4 on an inner side as a driving apparatus 10 of a tire building drum D, including an outer shaft 13 connected to the outer side shaft portion 3, a middle shaft 14 connected to the screw shaft 4, one piece of the rotation driving means 17 connected to the middle shaft 14 by way of a rotation transmitting member 18, and a clutch 26 interposed between the rotation transmitting member 18 connected to the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13, and constituted to transmit rotation of the rotation driving means 17 to both of the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13 in connecting the clutch 26 and transmit the rotation of the rotation driving means 17 only to the middle shaft 14 in cutting the clutch 26.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi bead type greentire manufacturing apparatus. The apparatus includes a rubber plate made from a raw material of the greentire and mounted on a winding drum. Additionally, a plurality of gloves and bladders are formed separately to transform the rubber plate (91), thereby automating a manufacturing process of a large-scale greentire having multi-layer beads. The multi bead type greentire manufacturing apparatus increases the productivity of large sized greentires and reduces an error rate in forming the greentires by increasing forming accuracy.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing components from composite fiber materials, at least one placeholder is inserted into a recess in a molding tool, wherein the unfinished component is subsequently produced, the placeholder is removed, at least one lifting pad is inserted into the recess and the unfinished component is removed from the molding tool by inflating the lifting pad. In a system for manufacturing components from composite fiber materials, the component removal process is monitored and controlled by a computer unit in order to prevent predetermined maximum component loads from being exceeded. The gentle component removal process makes it possible to avoid consequential costs for repairing or reworking the components.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the delivery rate of a linear element. The device forms a delivery path for the linear element between an inlet to the device at a delivery rate that is substantially constant and an outlet from the device at a delivery rate that is variable and substantially periodic and varies the length of the path of the linear element in application of a predetermined periodic relationship. The device includes a plurality of pulleys movable in rectilinear translation periodically in sinusoidal manner.

Abstract: A rotary radial expand collapse tire building drum comprises segments defining an outer circumference of said drum, said segments being divided into two sets, one set being located to each opposite side of a transverse central plane of the drum, said central plane being disposed normal to a rotational axis of the drum, said two sets being adapted to be driven by a rotatable hub assembly between a collapsed position in which a formed tire carcass may be removed from the drum and an expanded position in which a tire carcass may be formed on said drum wherein each set of segments are mounted for selective relative axial using positioning means, and adjustment means is located outside of the rotational axis of the drum, which is arranged to adjust an overall working width of said drum. The invention allows for an axial positioning mechanism of a REC building drum.

Abstract: A tread for a vehicle tire has an electrically conducting layer axially inside a portion of a first, radially outer rubber layer of the tread. The electrically conductive layer extends from a second, radially inner rubber layer of the tread on the radially inner side of the tread rubber material up to a ground contact surface of the tread. During the tire build-up, an accumulation of rubber material of higher electrical conductivity is built on a first rubber layer of higher electrical conductivity. The accumulation is formed into a ridge web and then less-conductive rubber is laid laterally next to the web, such that the web of rubber material reaches up to the ground contact surface in the finished vehicle tire. The web is shaped by forming rollers, by baffles, or by a forming ring with a corresponding shape.

Abstract: The invention provides a driving apparatus for a tire building drum which can reduce load when the drum is rotating, which enables stable expanding and contracting operations and in which a center shaft portion (2) of the building drum (D) is made up of a cylindrical outer shaft (3) and an inner threaded shaft (4), the driving apparatus including a cylindrical outer shaft (13) which is coupled to the outer shaft (3), an inner shaft (14) coupled to the threaded shaft (4), a first motor (15) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the outer shaft (13) for rotating the drum, and a second motor (20) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the inner shaft (14) via a clutch (21) in such a manner as to be engaged with and disengaged from the inner shaft for expanding or contracting the drum, wherein by switching the clutch (21), when the drum is rotating, the second motor (20) is held out of engagement with the inner shaft (14), while when the drum is expanded or contracted, the second motor (20) is he

Abstract: The constituent elements of a carcass structure of a tire are formed by laying elementary components on a building support including an inflatable bladder set in an inflated condition in which it substantially reproduces the inner configuration of the carcass structure to be obtained. A belt structure carrying a tread band, both produced separately, is coaxially disposed around the carcass structure formed on the building support and applied thereto following a radial expansion of the inflatable bladder. In a vulcanization mold, the building support is submitted to an over-inflation step to press the tire against the inner walls of the mold. The circumferential edges of the inflatable bladder are in engagement with respective anchoring flanges with possibility of movement in a radial direction, so as to be submitted to an elastic expansion during the over-inflation step.

Abstract: A device for constructing a carcass for a vehicle tire. In order to provide a device with which the core centering devices can be expanded variably in diameter, wherein the core centering devices can be used at the same time for producing small tire dimensions, and with which at the same time the diameter of the diaphragm supports can be moved by a motor. The bladder support on the side of the movement box is connected to the shaft of the movement box in a fixed manner, with the axial distance for determining the carcass width of the vehicle tire to be produced between the diaphragm support and building drum being defined by positioning of the movement box in the axial direction. The bladder support on the side of the spindlebox is movably attached to the shaft. The axial distance for determining the carcass width of the vehicle tire to be produced between the bladder support and the building drum is defined by positioning in the axial direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a green tire carcass is provided having a bladder mounted to a first and second support, a retractable support shaft mounted inside the bladder, and upper and lower bead ring for mounting the beads of the tire carcass thereon, wherein one of said bead rings has a channel in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid, wherein said channel has an outlet located between said bladder and said carcass for injecting pressurized fluid between the carcass and the bladder.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for pre-cure application of an antenna assembly to a tire comprises the method steps: forming within a rigid core defining an interior surface of the tire a core recess complementarily configured to the antenna assembly; positioning the antenna assembly within the core recess; building an uncured carcass of the tire around the rigid core entrapping the antenna assembly within the core recess; cross-bonding the antenna assembly to the inner surface of the tire during a cure cycle; and removing the cured tire and assembly from the rigid core.

Abstract: A carcass ply is applied around an outer surface of a building drum, according to an application diameter greater than the fitting diameter of the tyre. An annular anchoring structure defining the fitting diameter is coaxially engaged around each of the end flaps. A n outer sleeve including at least one belt structure possibly associated with a tread band is disposed at a coaxiaily centred position around the carcass sleeve applied onto the building drum. Through axial approaching of two halves forming the building drum, the carcass sleeve is shaped into a toroidal configuration to determine application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: Device for building a tyre having a drive unit driving a drum shaft. Around the drum shaft a building drum having a first and a second building drum half is arranged. A pressure medium coupling rotatable about the drum shaft is provided with pressure medium connections. Each building drum half is provided with a number pressure medium connections. The pressure medium connections of the first building drum half are connected to the pressure medium connections of the rotatable pressure medium coupling by means of a first tube set, wherein in the drum shaft pressure medium ducts have been arranged which at one side are connected to the rotatable pressure medium coupling and at the other side are connected to the pressure medium connections of the second building drum half by means of a second tube set.

Abstract: Provided is a rubber member sticking device which prevents a sheet material held from becoming deformed and stretching during a separation operation, thus suppressing loss of energy and eliminating traces of vacuum holes. When an unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is stuck, the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is supported by a separating surface 14A of a flat plate 14 and fitting surfaces 19A of a lifting member 16 without a difference in level being created therebetween. In this state, the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is in close contact with the fitting surfaces 19A of the lifting member 16. When the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is separated, a hydraulic jack 20 lowers the lifting member 16 to create a difference in level between the separating surface 14A of the flat plate 14 and the fitting surfaces 19A of the lifting member 16 so that the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is supported only by the separating surface 14A of the flat plate 14.

Abstract: The invention provides in a first aspect a method of converting a tire building drum into a sleeveless tire building drum. The method comprising the steps of providing a tire building drum having a center sleeve, removing the center sleeve, providing a plurality of cover plates and a plurality of segments located underneath the coverplates, the segments connected to radially oriented pistons for radial movement of the center section; Providing a plurality of holes on said coverplates, connected the holes to a fluid manifold, and connecting the manifold to a vacuum source. The invention provides in a second aspect, a sleeveless tire building drum which includes a rotatable drum comprising a left and right section and a center section. The center section is radially expandable, and the left and right sections are axially movable.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for positioning bead cores during a building of a radial tire carcass in a tire-building machine. The method includes positioning first and second bead cores on respective first and second core-centering devices, on a first side of a carcass drum and centering the first and second bead cores. Further, the method includes grasping, with a second core-setting device, the second bead core and transporting the second core-setting device and the second bead core to a second side of the carcass drum. Additionally, the method includes grasping, with a first core-setting device, the first bead core; and setting the first and second bead cores onto the tire carcass by the first and second core-setting devices.

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: Tire drum (1) including a turn-up mechanism for use in building an unvulcanized tire having tire components of rubber or provided with reinforcement cords and two bead cores which either may or may not be provided with a bead filling strip, which tire drum is provided with a central axis (5), two ring segments (6) placed around the axis and spaced apart each for supporting a bead core (3), means for radially expanding the part of the tire components that is situated within the ring segments, in which the tire building drum on either side outside of the ring segments is provided with a set of radially extending hinging arms (11), in which each arm is provided with an end oriented towards the ring segment which end has a first turn-up means, such as a first roller (12), means (20) for axially and radially moving each set of arms from a first position in which the first rollers of the set of arms form a virtually closed ring into an expanded second position for pressing the part of the tire components situated o

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved radially expansible tire assembly drum (10) and a method forming tires (2) from an assemblage of tire components utilizing the assembly drum (10).

Abstract: A drum (1) for building tires (2), the drum (1) having two half-drums (12), each of which has an expandable bead clamping device (20), and at least one shaping bladder (27) and a turn-up bladder (33) fixed to an outer tubular body (16) of the half-drum (12) on opposite sides of the respective bead clamping device (20); each turn-up bladder (33) having an outer annular lip (34) extending, at rest, along the respective half-drum (12) and covering the respective bead clamping device (20) and substantially the whole respective shaping bladder (27).

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for shaping a tire wherein an outboard pocket assembly (26) and an inboard pocket assembly (24) are radially movable outwardly into engagement with preshaped bead/apex assemblies (60, 76) of a tire band (74) and are movable axially to a cured tire width of the bead/apex assemblies for shaping other tire components to a cured tire shape and for positioning the ply edges at predetermined cured tire positions.

Abstract: Expandable drum for constructing a green carcass of a tire has a periphery and includes a plurality of metal segments positioned to form a substantially cylindrical arrangement, adapted for radial expansion and compression. A thick-walled casing, positioned over the plurality of metal segments, forms the drum periphery. The thick-walled casing includes rubber and a plurality of voids arranged to have an outer periphery in the thick-walled casing. An evacuating pump is coupled to the plurality of voids. The plurality of voids form suctioning voids to suction the green carcass onto the drum periphery during compression of the drum periphery, and are coupled at radially outermost extents to a network of grooves arranged to provide wave-free and smooth contraction of green carcass during its compression, thereby avoiding bulges and creases in contracting green carcass. Radially innermost extents of the voids are coupled to evacuating pump to create vacuum in the grooves.

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: On a building drum (14) a cylindrical carcass sleeve (3) is made which comprises at least one carcass ply (4) having end flaps (4a) turned up at respective annular reinforcing structures (5). An outer sleeve (19) comprising a tread bend (9) externally applied to a belting structure (8) is buildingd on an auxiliary drum (18). The carcass sleeve (3) is transferred onto the intermediate drum (18) on which two sidewalls (10) have been previously positioned. Inner end flaps (10a) of the sidewalls (10) are engaged against the annular reinforcing structures (5). The carcass sleeve (3) is then transferred onto a shaping drum (27) and shaped into a toroidal conformation to be coupled with the outer sleeve (19). On the shaping drum (27) the sidewalls (10) are overturned and applied against the side surfaces (3a) of the carcass structure (3).

Abstract: A green tire holding device (10) including a frame (12), a rod (14) extending horizontally from the frame (12), and a bladder (16) mounted on the rod (14). The bladder (16) is inflatable to an inflated shape so that it contacts a substantial portion of an inner circumference of a green tire (T) to support the green tire during a pre-curing wait cycle. The green tire holding device (10) can comprise a plurality of rods (14), a plurality of bladders (16), and/or a plurality of bladders (16) on each rod (14). The bladders (16) can be inflated at substantially the same time and/or certain bladders (16) can be deflated independently of other bladders (16). In a tire manufacturing method, the loaded green tire storage device (10) is transported to a doping/curing area with the bladders (16) deflated. At the doping/curing area, the tires (T) are removed from the rods (14), doped, and re-hung on the rods (14).

Abstract: A unistage drum (1) for producing an agricultural tire (2), the drum (1) having a fixed central body (16) for supporting a relatively thin central portion (11) of the carcass (3) of the tire (2), and two movable half-drums (15) located on opposite sides of the central body (16) to support respective thicker lateral portions (12) of the carcass (3). Each half-drum (15) has a respective expandable bead clamping device (23), and is, at least along a portion projecting outwards of the relative bead clamping device (23), of a diameter (D2) smaller than the diameter (D1) of the central body (16) so as to compensate for the differences in thickness between the central portion (11) and the lateral portions (12) of the carcass (3).

Abstract: A drum (1) for building tires (2), the drum (1) having two half-drums (12), each of which has an expandable bead clamping device (20), and at least one shaping bladder (27) and a turn-up bladder (33) fixed to an outer tubular body (16) of the half-drum (12) on opposite sides of the respective bead clamping device (20); each turn-up bladder (33) having an outer annular lip (34) extending, at rest, along the respective half-drum (12) and covering the respective bead clamping device (20) and substantially the whole respective shaping bladder (27).

Abstract: Process and drum for constructing a green tire on a radially expandable drum having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The process includes collapsing the radially expandable drum at a minimum first diameter, and positioning a casing on the radially expandable drum to form a drum periphery being composed of an elastic material, and having an inner diameter at least as great as the first diameter, and including a plurality of voids coupled to an evacuating pump. The radially expandable drum is radially expanded from the first diameter to a second diameter greater than the first diameter to expand the casing, and producing a carcass, having at least one carcass ply with at least one of sidewalls and an air-tight inner layer, on the drum. A vacuum is produced in the voids to suction the carcass onto the drum periphery and at least axial end areas of the expandable drum are radially compressed to a third diameter to enable bead cores to traverse the drum periphery without touching the drum periphery.

Abstract: An elastomeric member for a tire-building machine, such as an inflatable bead turn-up bladder, center sleeve or bead lock sleeve, includes at least one base layer or sleeve of elastomeric material which terminates in a pair of end members for mounting the sleeve on the tire-building machine. A plurality of reinforcing cords may be embedded within the sleeve to provide internal reinforcement. A strip of an abrasion-resistantmaterial is bonded to all or a portion of the inner or outer surfaces of the sleeve to protect those areas of the sleeve that are subject to abrasion when contacting various portions of the tire or tire-building machine during assembly of a green tire carcass. A coating of an adhesion-release material may be applied to portions of the strip of abrasion-resistant material to reduce adhesion of the sleeve to the tacky elastomeric portions of the green tire carcass when contacted by expansion or movement of the sleeve during assembly of the green tire.

Abstract: A method and unit for producing a road vehicle radial tire, whereby an impermeable innerliner (10) is applied to the inner surface of a toroidal tire carcass (3) by placing the innerliner (10) on a substantially cylindrical inner support (13), which is radially deformable to gradually assume a deformed configuration capable of mating with an inner surface of the carcass (3); the inner support (13) being fitted through the toroidal carcass (3) and through a toroidal outer support (14) housing the carcass (3), and being moved into the deformed configuration to lift the innerliner (10) towards the carcass (3) and compress the innerliner (10) against the inner surface of the carcass (3), (FIGS. 1 and 2).

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 module (1) used for the manufacture of tires, comprising an inflatable flexible bladder (10) provided with two beads (11) which is used for the assembling and vulcanization of the tire on the bladder, each bead being anchored on a plate (30, 31). The module (1) has at least one rigid wall mounted on a plate (30, 31) which is adjacent said flexible bladder (10) when the latter is inflated and can be retracted so as to be able to separate the tire from said module (1) after vulcanization and can be spread out radially so as to constitute a reference surface for the assembling of the tire.

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: 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 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: The forward end of a belt-shaped member is transferred to a predetermined position on the outer circumferential surface of a bladder, and pressurized air is filled into the bladder, while it is rotated. When the bladder has been inflated to a predetermined diameter, the filling of the pressurized air is stopped and at the same time the rotation of the bladder is stopped to set it at the predetermined diameter. The forward end of the belt-shaped member is fixed on the bladder by means of a fixture, and the bladder is rotated together with the fixture to wind and attach the belt-shaped member around and to the outer circumferential surface of the bladder. Thereafter, the fixture is removed from the bladder after completion of the attaching of the belt-shaped member to the bladder.

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 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: A thin, membrane-like cylindrical rubber tire curing bladder is provided with reinforcing cords wound in parallel spiral paths at any composite angle to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. When installed on the centerpost mechanism of a tire curing press and inflated in the curing process, the bladder length increases due to partial and reversible straightening of the spirally wound cord reinforcement. This permits optimum fit of the bladder in the tire being processed with uniform controlled growth of the membrane providing improved cured tire uniformity. Longer service life of the bladder is thereby achieved. The bladder is a good heat conductor inherent to its thin matrix, unlike previously known bladders. The bladder of the present invention also provides for a unique venting mechanism during the curing process to provide a tire having reduced potential for trapped air related anomalies.