The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

William R Casey

Terry John Waibel

Michael W Smith

Robert P Loser

A tire carcass (55) is built on a generally cylindrical drum (10) rotatable about an axis (12) by applying green tire components (50) to the cylindrical surface (14) and curved shoulder surfaces (32,34) of the drum (10). The radially inner surfaces (58) of the lower sidewalls (56) of the tire carcass (55) are formed on the surfaces (32,34) of the curved shoulders (28,30) which have a curvature which can be generated as a segment of a conic section which is at an angle other than a right angle to the axis of a cone. The curvature for each of the lower sidewall inner surfaces (58) as measured along a line of intersection (36) of a shoulder surface (32,34) of the drum (10) and a radial plane (A--A) containing the drum axis (12) is decreased from positions (38) adjacent the axially outer edges (40) of the drum (10) to positions (42) on the cylindrical surface (14 ) of the drum. As a result, there is minimum change in the shape of the lower sidewalls (56) during shaping of the tire carcass (55) to the cured shape of the tire.

Tire building apparatus and method

Apparatus for gripping a tire bead, moving the tire vertically and axially over an extruder nozzle die to a position within the tire chamber where a continuous extruded strip is applied to an inside surface of the tire as the tire is rotated. The extruded strip may be applied in a plurality of side-by-side turns connected by angular portions provided by axial indexing of the tire in a predetermined amount for a predetermined time. Means are also provided for spreading the tire beads and pressing the strip against the tire surface without interfering with the movement of the tire over and around the extruder nozzle die.

Apparatus for applying an extruded strip to an inside tire surface

A continuous strip of puncture sealing material is applied to an inside surface of a tire by laying and adhering a plurality of side-by-side turns of the strip with the different turns connected by angular crossing portions in the area of a first circumferential position of the tire. The first crossing portion overlaps a first end of the first turn. The other end of the strip is tapered and overlaps the last crossing portion and a portion of the last turn of the strip. The first circumferential position of the tire may be at a light spot circumferentially of the tire for improved balance of the tire. By overlapping the edge of the strip and pressing the material against the tire surface, the resulting puncture sealing layer is continuous and completely covers the surface of the tire under the crown portion for protection against punctures due to nails and other sharp objects.

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

William R Casey