Bridgestone/firestone, Inc.

The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company

Horizons Incorporated, a Division of Horizons Research Incorporated

Richard W Sicka

Dale A Tompkins

Ralph A Maglio

John C Vicic

Peter Kundig

Reuben A DeBolt

James E Thompson

Coextrusion apparatus for varying the outer profile of a generally tubular extrudate formed by inner and outer streams of elastomeric material by varying the annular end opening of an elastic die ring which varies the size of an outer extrusion orifice and consequently the flow of the outer stream of elastomeric material which is deposited on the outer surface of the tubular extrudate. A hydraulically moveable piston is axially slideably mounted for engagement with the elastic die ring and has a wedge-shaped camming surface which moves along the outer surface of the elastic die ring to vary the size of the outer extrusion orifice and consequently the amount of elastomeric material extrudated therethrough. A linear motion detector is connected to the piston to detect the amount of linear axial movement of the piston to provide control signals for controlling the movement of the piston. The orifice for the inner stream of elastomeric material is located slightly upstream of the orifice for the outer stream of elastomeric material and is generally fixed. A reinforcing guide directs a plurality of fiber-type reinforcing elements into the tubular extrudte generally at the merger of the inner and outer streams of elastomeric material. A method for varying the outer profile of the tubular extrudate is also presented.

Coextrusion apparatus and method using an elastic die for varying the

Coextrusion apparatus for varying the outer profile of a generally tubular extrudate formed by merging inner and outer streams of elastomeric material by varying the size of the annular outer extrusion die opening by an axially moveable die ring which varies the flow of the outer stream of elastomeric material which is deposited on the outer surface of the tubular extrudate. The die ring is formed on the end of a hydraulically moveable piston and is axially slideably moved along and is located concentrically about the tubular extrudate. A first annular tapered surface of the die ring moves along a similar tapered surface of a fixed conical-shaped die pin to vary the size of the outer extrusion orifice formed therebetween. A second surface, oppositely tapered to that of the first tapered surface of the die ring and formed integrally therewith as a one-piece member, communicates with the flow channel of the outer elastomeric material stream and continuously compensates for a change in pressure within the outer flow stream caused by varying the flow volume of the outer stream at a location generally adjacent the application of the outer stream on the outer surface of the tubular extrudate. A reinforcing guide directs a plurality of fiber-type reinforcing elements into the tubular extrudate generally at the merger of the inner and outer streams of elastomeric material. A method for varying the outer profile of the tubular extrudate is also presented.

Coextrusion apparatus and method using a rigid die for varying the outer

Coextrusion apparatus for varying the inner profile of a generally tubular extrudate formed by a first stream of elastomeric material by an axially movable inner die ring which varies the size of an orifice and consequently the flow of a second stream of elastomeric material which is deposited on the inner surface of the tubular extrudate. A compensating ring is axially slidably mounted within the inner die ring and moves generally in an opposite direction to the movement of the die ring to compensate for pressure changes within the second stream of material caused by varying the size of the orifice, to provide an accurately controlled initiation and termination of the material. Pistons are formed integrally on the inner die ring and compensating ring and are located within annular fluid pressure chambers whereby the flow of fluid into the chambers will coordinate the movement of the die ring and compensating ring. A reinforcing guide directs the plurality of fiber reinforcing elements into the tubular extrudate prior to depositing the variable stream of elastomeric material on the inner surface of the extrudate. In another embodiment, a generally constant outer layer of a different elastomeric material may be applied to the outer surface of the tubular extrudate simultaneously with the varying of the inner profile thereof.

Coextrusion apparatus for varying the inner and/or outer profile of a

A system for handling a flexible thin wall tubular extrudate of an elastomeric material of the type used as a body ply element for the manufacture of tires, and for cutting-off a predetermined length sleeve of the extrudate and delivering the sleeve to a discharge station. A pair of grippers is movably mounted on carriage assemblies which move the grippers horizontally and transversely with respect to the axis of the extrudate. The leading gripper provides tension to the extrudate and pulls it along a production axis. The trailing gripper engages the extrudate and moves in unison with the extrudate and the leading gripper along the production axis. The grippers completely circumferentially envelop the length of sleeve to be cut from the extrudate and retain the shape of the extrudate by applying a vacuum thereto. A cutting mechanism having a fixed motor driven blade and a pair of similar pivotally mounted blades moves vertically down into contact with the extrudate between the pair of grippers. The rotating blades are rotated through at least 120.degree. arc to achieve a 360.degree. cut on the extrudate as it is being moved under tension longitudinally by the grippers. After completion of the actual cutting operation the leading gripper transfer the severed sleeve to a discharge station and returns to a home position and now becomes the trailing gripper. The previous trailing gripper becomes the leading gripper and continues to advance the extrudate along the production axis and apply tension thereto for the next cutting operation.

Tubular sleeve handling and cut-off system

A coextrusion head for producing a generally tubular elastomeric ply made up of first and second concentric tubular streams of elastomeric material having interposed, adjacent to their interface, a closely spaced array of parallel reinforcing elements wherein the coextrusion head includes a reinforcing element guide subassembly including a generally annular guide element as well as a mechanism for individually and independently directing and accurately positioning a circular array of uniformly spaced individual reinforcing elements. A generally annular inner die assembly cooperates with the annular guide element to form a first distribution channel and a generally annular outer die assembly also cooperates with the annular guide element to form a second distribution channel, with the guide element cooperating with the inner and outer die assemblies the produce concentric first and second tubular extrudate paths which thereafter merge into a third such path with the individual reinforcing elements being introduced into the interface between the first and second tubular streams of elastic material as they merge into a third tubular stream so as to produce the tubular elastomeric reinforced ply. A method for coextruding an annular seamless component of reinforced elastomeric material is also presented.

Coextrusion method

A coextrusion head for producing a generally tubular elastomeric ply made up of first and second concentric tubular streams of elastomeric material having interposed, adjacent to their interface, a closely spaced array of parallel reinforcing elements wherein the coextrusion head includes a reinforcing element guide subassembly including a generally annular guide element as well as a mechanism for individually and independently directing and accurately positioning a circular array of uniformly spaced individual reinforcing elements. A generally annular inner die assembly cooperates with the annular guide element to form a first distribution channel and a generally annular outer die assembly also cooperates with the annular guide element to form a second distribution channel, with the guide element cooperating with the inner and outer die assemblies to produce concentric first and second tubular extrudate paths which thereafter merge into a third such path with the individual reinforcing elements being introduced into the interface between the first and second tubular streams of elastic material as they merge into a third tubular stream so as to produce the tubular elastomeric reinforced ply. A method for coextruding an annular seamless component of reinforced elastomeric material is also presented.

Coextrusion apparatus

High modulus and high performance composite vehicle wheels are prepared as laminate or sandwich structures having a fiber-reinforced syntactic foam core with disc member reinforcing means contained therein. This wheel is lightweight and for pneumatic tires wherein the syntactic foam is bonded to impact resistant rim and disc-nave sheets such as those made of thin steel. The reinforcing disc member transfers stresses from the vehicle wheel hub to the syntactic foam when, for example, cornering a vehicle.

Wheel laminate with syntactic foam core

Fire resistant poly(phosphazene) vulcanizates can be produced as foams or as foam coatings. The resulting articles exhibit excellent flame retardancy.

Poly(phosphazene) vulcanizates and foams

The properties of fluoroalkoxyphosphazene polymers are improved by compounding the polymers with certain fillers some of which may be reactive, a class of polyfunctional coagents, a vulcanizing agent and possibly other additives and thereafter vulcanizing the resulting compositions. The resulting vulcanizates have improved properties and extend the utility of the phosphazene polymers for use as mechanical goods, seals, O-rings and gaskets for extreme service environments.

Growing community of inventors

Brecksville, OH, United States of America

Richard W Sicka