The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2000
Filed:
May. 04, 1998
Clark A Roberts, Greenback, TN (US);
Mark S Byerley, Greenback, TN (US);
Wyko, Inc., Greenback, TN (US);
Abstract
A rotatable drum (10) for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires, the drum including a plurality of segments which collectively define an outer circumference (32) of the drum. The segments are divided into first and second end portions (15,17) which are individually mounted for axial and radial movement between expanded and retracted positions relative to the rotational axis (16) of the drum. Each end portion of segments is further divided into first and second groupings (23,25), the segments (18,18') of the first and second groupings (23,25) being disposed in alternating juxtaposition with respect to the segments of the second grouping (18') and with the segments of the first grouping being movable axially further and radially faster than the segments of the second grouping as the segments are moved between their expanded and retracted positions so that the segments of the second grouping are received in overlying relationship to the segments of the first grouping as the segments of the first and second groupings are simultaneously moved radially inward toward the rotational axis of the drum. A third grouping 23 of the segments of each end portion of segments is provided for, with these segments (19,19') being received in overlying relationship to the segments of the first and second groupings. Further, in a preferred embodiment, each segment is provided with a shell member (24,26), with the shell members collectively defining the outer cylindrical surface (32) of the drum. A method for the production of a rotatable cylindrical drum (10) and a method for the manufacture of an OTR vehicle tire are disclosed.