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:
Apr. 01, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2000
Horst Sergel, Hannover, DE;
Hans Menell, Hannover., DE;
Continental Aktiengesellschaft, Hannover, DE;
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.