Bridgestone Bandag, LLC

Bridgestone Bangag, LLC

Wade L Terrill

Eric M Henriksen

Noel K Stineman

Matthew S Bartenhagen

James A Kendall, Jr

Jaime J Benitez

Matthew J Abraham

Alexander G Tomtschik

Zachary Milliron

Jeffrey A Wachtel

Jeremiah J Nartker

Robert P Hardy

Devin T Smith

Jr James A Kendall

Systems and methods of buffing tire casings are provided. A tire buffing machine includes a tire hub assembly selectively rotating a mounted casing, a buffer configured to buff the casing, a tire belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors to detect a first belt depth of one or more belts at a first lateral position in a tire casing and a second belt depth of the one or more belts at a second lateral position within the tire casing, and an electronic controller. The controller determines the first belt depth and the second belt depth using a belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors of the belt detection apparatus and adjusts the operation of the buffer based on the first belt depth or the second belt depth.

Non-destructive belt detection apparatus and method

A rim for mounting a tire includes a base portion and a rim portion. The rim portion includes a rim segment, a first flange segment positioned on one side and a second flange segment positioned on an opposite side of the rim segment. The rim segment defines a circular curvature and has an original rim width measured along a rotation axis of the rim between inward facing surfaces of the first flange segment and the second flange segment. A band is positioned around a circumference of the rim segment contiguous with an inward facing surface of the first flange segment. The rim portion has an adjusted rim width, measured between a band inward facing surface and the inward facing surface of the second flange segment, which is different from the original rim width.

Adjusting expandable rim width using a band

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Letts, IA, United States of America

Wade L Terrill