| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090089992 | TIRE BEAD SEPARATION METHOD AND DEVICE - A method and apparatus is provided for separating two or more annular members such as bead assemblies or bead and apex assemblies. First, a flexible member is inserted into the annulus of the annular members. Next, the flexible member is inflated until the outer surface of the flexible member contacts the inner diameter of the annular member. Then the flexible member is axially expanded until the annular members are separated. Then the flexible member is deflated so that the annular members can be removed. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090108493 | EXTRUDING TREAD COMPONENTS DIRECTLY INTO A TIRE MOLD - A method may include the steps of: (a) providing a tire mold; (b) providing an extruder operatively connected to a head with a die assembly; (c) inserting at least a first compound into the first extruder; (d) forming an extrudate from the die assembly; (e) applying the extrudate directly from the die assembly into the tire mold to form a tire tread component; and, (f) controlling movement of the tire mold to correspond to the extrudate delivery. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090255613 | TIRE WITH TREAD HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE RUBBER LAYER CONTAINING A MICROSPHERE DISPERSION - The invention relates to a tire with a tread having an intermediate rubber layer which contains a dispersion of high strength hollow glass and/or ceramic microspheres. In particular, such tire tread is comprised of at least three radially disposed zones of rubber layers composed of a radially outer tread rubber cap layer, a radially inner tread base rubber layer and an intermediate, transition rubber layer positioned between said outer rubber cap layer and said inner rubber base layer. The intermediate tread rubber contains a dispersion of glass and/or ceramic microspheres together with a coupling agent. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20100051177 | BEAD CONSTRUCTION METHOD FOR A TIRE - A method and apparatus for manufacturing an annular tire component such as a tire bead includes locating a toroidal support; placing an ejector nozzle in an interference relationship to the toroidal support; and simultaneously ejecting through the nozzle a continuous stream of an elastomeric belt component material in a suitably fluid state and a continuous length of at least one thread component disposed within the stream onto the toroidal support in a predetermined bead configuration. The bead configuration is at least partially defined by a relief in the nozzle ejection port and by the toroidal support onto which the bead is formed. Rotation of the toroidal support may be coupled with the simultaneous ejection of the elastomeric component and thread component in order to create an annular bead structure. A tire may be constructed having a desired bead configuration and location by means of the method and apparatus. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20110033330 | GEAR PUMP FOR VISCOUS MEDIA - A gear pump for moving elastomeric material includes a housing, a first beveled gear, a second beveled gear, and a drive mechanism. The housing has first and second side plates, an internal gear chamber, a material inlet communicating with the chamber, and a material outlet communicating with the chamber. The first beveled gear is disposed within the chamber. The first beveled gear is rotatably mounted about a first axis of rotation to the housing. The second beveled gear is disposed within the chamber. The second beveled gear is rotatably mounted about a second axis of rotation to the housing. The second beveled gear engages the first beveled gear such that rotation of the first beveled gear in a first direction affects rotation of the second beveled gear in a second opposite direction. The first axis of rotation is parallel to the second axis of rotation. The drive mechanism directly drives rotation of the first beveled gear and simultaneously and indirectly drives rotation of the second beveled gear. The rotation of the first and second beveled gears transports the elastomeric material from the material inlet to the material outlet. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110146883 | CONTINUOUS MIXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS - An apparatus for applying a mixtures of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising: a first extruder and a first gear pump for a first compound; a second extruder and a second gear pump for a second compound, a third extruder and a third gear pump for an accelerator mixture; a mixing device for mixing together said first compound and said second compound and said accelerator mixture, wherein said mixing device is located downstream of said first, second and third extruders and said first, second and third gear pumps. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146884 | CONTINUOUS MIXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS - A method and apparatus for applying a blended rubber composition directly onto a tire building drum or core is described. A first extruder and a first gear pump for a first compound is provided. A second extruder and a second gear pump for a second compound is provided. The output of the second gear pump is fed into the main extruder. A third gear pump is provided for adding an accelerator mixture; mixing together said first compound and said second compound and said accelerator mixture. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146885 | METHOD FOR FORMING STRATIFIED RUBBER ARTICLE - A method and apparatus for applying a blended rubber composition directly onto a tire building drum or core is described. The method includes the steps of extruding a first rubber compound through a main extruder and a main gear pump. A second rubber compound is extruded through a second extruder and into a second gear pump. The output from the second gear pump is fed into the main extruder. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound is varied by adjusting the speed of the main gear pump and the speed of the second gear pump. A continuous strip of rubber formed of said first compound and said second compound is laid directly onto a tire building machine to form a first layer of rubber having a first blend ratio. The speed of the main gear pump and the second gear pump is adjusted to obtain a second blend ratio of said first compound to said second compound, and then a strip of rubber formed of said second blend ratio is applied to the tire building drum or core. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146888 | METHOD FOR FORMING STRATIFIED RUBBER ARTICLE WITH VARIABLE CURE RATE - A method of forming a tread comprising two or more layers of rubber is described. The method includes the steps of: extruding a rubber compound through an extruder and a gear pump and mixing with an accelerant and then applying a continuous strip of rubber directly onto a tire building machine to form a first layer of rubber having a first cure rate; adjusting the amount of accelerant to obtain a second cure rate different than said first cure rate, and then applying a strip of rubber having a second cure rate onto the tire building machine, wherein one of the cure rates is faster than the other cure rate. | 06-23-2011 |
