Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~05~1~3
The present inven-tion is related -to building tires
and particularly to building tires of grea-t size and
welght as compared to, for example, relatively much
sma~ler tires for road vehicle use.
In brie~ the invention lies in a method comprising
bullding in cylindrical form about a horizontal axis
a carcass including at least one tire carcass reinforc-
ing ply and axially spaced apart tire beads enfolded
in the respective ends of such ply; building apart from
said carcass a circumferentially endless tire breaker-
belt also about a horizontal axis; and then before unit-
ing said carcass and said breaker-belt, turning each
said axis from horizontal to vertical orientation, dis-
posing said breaker-belt coaxially about said carcass
into adherent contact with said breaker-belt, whereby
radial deformations of said carcass due to gravity tend
to be eliminated; thereafter applying about said breaker-
belt and carcass a circumferentially endless tread and
curing the tire.
Because of the comparatively great size and weight
of the tires of the class described herein, such tires
in the uncured state are readily deflected and deformed
from their designed shape by only their own weight.
This is particularly true in such tires wherein the
reinforcing cords of the ply or plies cross the mid-
circumferential plane of such tire at, or very nearly
at, 90 degrees, as in radial ply tires. In such radial
ply tire, the carcass comprises a single or at most few
"
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carcass plies and, in -the uncured state is limp and
flaccid, in con-trast to the large number of carcass
pJ.ies used in massive tires of the prior art. In tires
hav:Lng a large number of bias plies disposed in success-
lvely alternating bias angles across the mid-circum-
ferential plane of the tire, the resulting carcass,
even in its uncured state, is
less subject to deformation due to its relatively
greater multiple ply construction stiffness. As
used in the present specification including the appended
claims, the term, tire of the class described, refers ~`
particularly to tires of great section width, diameter,
and relatively large section periphery from bead to
bead, coupled with a relatively thin section wall due ~;
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~ 5~ ~3
-to the presence of a single or at most relatively
few plies, usually of metallic cable or filament
constructlon. Such tires of the class descrlbed are
also characterizea by always including in or ben~ath
the tread th~reof a circumferentially restrictive
breaker bel~ of relatively inextensible circumferential
length greater than the circumference of the flat band
carcass as built for such tire. Tires of the class
described are represented by tires for large earth-
moving machines, for example, of sizes of 18~00 x 24
and larger
In the heretofore practiced construction of tiresof the class described by classic methods about
horizontal axes~ a deflection due to the weight of the
uncured carcass, éven without a tread, occasioned
a sag or deformation radially inwardly above the
horizontal axis and radially outwardly below the axis
This sag is believed to have contributed sometimes to
a displacement of portions of the carcass with respect
to the mid-circumferential plane~ relative to a desired
symmetry of the construction with respect to suoh plane
A principal object of the present invention~
therefore~ is to provide methods and apparatus by which ~ ~
tires of the class described can be built more
accurately as well as more economically
Further objects and advantages will become apparent
from the following description of preferred embadiments
of the invention and from reference to the attached
drawings in which:
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~5~ ~3
Figures 1-19 illustra-te steps of a preferred
method of bullding a tire of the class described,
In particular, Flg~ 1 shows schematlcally a conventional
horlzontal tirc carcass and building drum. Fig, 2 illus-
tratcs moans for and a step of transferring the non-
sel~-supporting carcass from -the carcass building step
of Fig, 1 to subsequent operations. Fig, 3 shows
schematically means for and the step of constructing
an inextensible breaker-belt later to be combined : :
with the carcass in accordance with the invention,
Figs, ~-8 illustrate means for and successive steps o~
lifting the carcass and inserting a shaping core into
the carcass of Fig, 1 in accordance with the invention,
Figs, 9-13 illustrate the steps of and means for
placing the breaker belt of Fig, 3 about the carcass
of Fig, 1, Figs, 14-16 show ~urther steps of handling : .
the combined carcass and breaker-belt, Figs, 17-19
illustrate removal of the core from the tire after
curing therèof, .
20 Figs, 20-25 illustrate in more detail features
of the apparatus in accordance with the invention,
Fig, 20 shows the breaker-belt building means of Fig,
3, Fig, 21 illustrates the carcass lifting means,
as well as the tire shaping and curing core, shown
sGhematically in Figs, 5-87 10-13~ and 17-19, Figs,
22-23 show the core inserting apparatus acco~ding
to the invention,
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Fig. 24 shows apparatus according to the invention for
posi-tioning the breaker-belt rela-tive to the carcass
and the core, and Fig. 25 illustrates apparatus of the
lnven-tion for consolida-ting the breaker-belt and carcass,
as well a~ a tread thereon, -to complete the uncured
tire.
Practice of the method o~ the invention, in the
presently preferred mode, begins with the building of
a tire carcass C illustrated schematically in Fig. 1.
The carcass C is also commonly referred to as a first-
stage carcass and can be built in any known or preferred
manner by winding, about a rigid cylindrical surface of
a collapsible tire building drum 30, a ply or plies
preferably including radial wire cord reinforcement into
an endless cylindrical form coaxial about the horizontal
axis 32' of the drum. The usual tire beads 33, 33' are
placed on or adjacent the respective axial ends of the
cylindrical ply and the axial ends of the ply are wrapped
abou-t the beads in any known manner. This first-stage
carcass C can include also any of the circumferentially
expandable components, such as sidewalls, shoulder wedges,
and like components of a complete tire of the class
described. As is commonly done, the mid-circumferential
plane of the carcass is determined and represented on
the carcass by a visible line 35lbefore the carcass is
removed from the drum.
After completing such first-stage carcass C, the car-
cass is removed from the building drum 30 and
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upended by rotating the carcass and i-ts own central axis
32 from its hori.zon-tal orientation to a vertical orienta-
tion~ as is indicated in Fig 2 In its vertical orienta-
tion~ the carcass is placed on the carcass transporter
. The upending ~tep can be carried out in any suitable
manner. ~re~erably, the first-stage carcass~ as it is
beinK removed from the drum, is immediately supported
by fluid pressure acting outwardly symmetrically of its
axis 32 by placing a plurality of in~latable tubes such
as the innertubes 41 of suitable size inside the carcass
In the carcass transporter 40~ vertical support is pro-
vided by inserting a rigid plate ~2 and one of the tubes
41~ the tube 41a~ into the interior of the carcass in
such manner that when the carcass is upended the plate
42 supports the uppermost innertube 41a which is urged
by inflation air pressure within, both upwardly toward
the upper bead 33 of the upended carcass and radially
outwardly uniformly toward the adjacent sidewall and
shoulder portion of the carcass C As an equally useful
alternative~ the tube 41a can be omitted and the peripheral
edge of the`plate 42 can be provided with a rounded or
toroidal protective cover such as a length of suitable ;~
hose fastened to and about the plate In turn9 the
plate 42 is supported on a post ~4 which is carried erect ~ .
on a platform ~6 The post 44 is made telescopically .
adjustable so as to be lowered when the carcass C is
later removed as well as to accommodate different
sizes of first-stage carcasses For further support
against undesirable deformation, additional inner-
tubes are placed, as shown, in the interior of the
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carcass and suitably inflated ko form a regular and
coaxial stack of tubes between the lower bead 33' and
~he plate L~2, The height of the pos-t l~4 supporting
the plate ls adjusted to carry all or very nearly all
o:~ the weight, of the carcass and of the tubes 41, The
plat~orm 46 can be provided wlth wheels 1~6a for mobility,
or be transported otherwise if desired,
Turning to Fig, 3, a circumferentially endless
breaker-belt B is constructed, while the first-stage
carcass C is being constructed~ and at a location
independent of and apart from the location where the
carcass C is built, The breaker-belt B can be con-
structed by any known method and apparatus, In the
presently preferred embodiment of the invention~ the
breaker-belt B is assembled inside a cylindrical
ring 50 provided with a ring liner 52 comprislng
a substantially continuous circum~erential length
of flexible material, such as a length or a plurality
of lengths of conveyor belting removably secured :
to the inner cylindrical surface o~ the ring 50, The
ends of the belting composing the ring liner 52a .:
when in place~ meet but do not overlap, The ring is
mounted on supports shown schematically at 54 enabling
the ring to be rotated about its own axis 56
while an operator positions successive plies such ;
as B-l~ B-2 of the breaker belt B, splicing
each of the several plies one at a time until
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,., . . . . . - - , .
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the se~ected number of plies have been assembled.
As will be appreciated, each of khe ~uccassive p~ies~
for example~ plies B-l and B-2, will be located
symmetrically with respect to the mid-circumferential
planes 58 of the belt and 58' oE the ring 50 The
ring 50 ser~es not only as a form in which the breaker
belt is constructed but also serves, as will presently
be shown, to transport the breaker-belt B and to co-
operate, with apparatus to be described~ to apply such
breaker-belt B to the first-stage carcass C at a later
stage in the operation being described
Turning to Fig 4, the carcass transporter l~o is
mo~ed with the carcass C thereon to a position adjacent ..
the carcass lifting means~ provided by the crane 60~
such that the boom 61 of the crane can be moved to locate
its lifting axis 62 in at least approximate collinear
allgnment with the axis 32 of the carcass C The carcass
is then grasped by the fingers 63 at uniformly spaced ~;~
coplanar locations within the upper bead 33. The fingers -~
63 can readily displace the yieldable innertube 41
su~ficiently not to interfere with lifting the carcass
The carcass can~ i~ desired, be grasped about the outer
surface o~ the carcass instead of the inner surface of
the bead.
The boom 61 is then elevated~ lifting the carcass C
keeping its axis 32 vertical The boom and carcass are
s~ung to a position above a safety stand 65 whero an ~ :
~ 3
operator can remove tubes 41 and the plate ~2 through
the lower bead 33' and open end of the carcass. To
avoid the need for excessive height of the li~t o~ the
carcass~ the telescoping post 1~l~ is lowered.
In Fig l~ the first-stage carcass C as illustratedis
then supported only by the grasp o~ the eight lifting
fingers 63 spaced uniformly about the inner circumference
of the bead 33~ and while so supported the carcass is ~.
moved to the position shown in Fig 5.
The carcass shaping and curing core 70 is moved
upwardly by the core inserter 80 to a suitable height
above the operating floor 90, along its own vertical
axis 100. Three height gauges 110~ one of which is shown
in Fig ~ are disposed at equal angles about the axis
100 and are adjusted into a coplanar relation with
the mid-circum~erential plane 70a of the core sleeve 71
of the core 70. The actual mid-circumferential plane
of the core need not be exactly level or exactly
perpendicular to the vertical axis 70~ as will be noted
later herein. The gauges 110 are each fixed respectively
on one of three independently adjustably elevated
support stands 120 The height gauges~ having been
so adjusted, define a first reference plane 130. The
height gauge 110 can be a light line projector by which ~.
a narrow horizontally extending light beam can be pro-
~ected to coincide with a line or mark placed on the ~ .
sleeve 71 at its mid-circum~erential plane 70a. Al-
ternatively~ a height gauge in the form of a pointer
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can be moved radially normal to the axis 100 to approach
closely or to -touch the line or mark on -the sleeve 71.
The respective s-tands 120 are -thereby adjusted to the
reference plarle 130 represen-ting the mid-circumferential
plane of the core 70 in accordance with the se-t~ings of
three height gauges.
The core 70 is next lowered sufficiently into the
pit 95 to permit the carcass C to be moved to position
its own now vertical axis 32 in substantial alignment
with the vertical axis 100 as illustrated in Fig. 6 of
the core 70. The boom 61 and carcass C are lowered to
locate the line 35 in the reference plane 130 as deter-
mined by the previously set height gauges 110. The car-
cass continues to be supported only by the fingers 63.
Turni~g to Fig. 7; after the carcass C has been
positioned above and in vertical alignment with the core
70, the core is again elevated into and through -the sus~
pended carcass to a height which repositions the mid-
circumferential plane 70a of the sleeve 71 in coplanar
alig~ment again with the previously established reference
plane 130 and, therefore, with the mid-circumferential
line 35 of the carcass.
~:,...
Also, or alternatively, the core 70, which at this
step is extended to a length greater than the axial ~
25 length of the carcass, can be visually observed to be ~-
located in correct axial registry with the carcass with-
in satisfactory limits.
Before the fingers 63 are moved clear of the carcass ~ ~
C, the core 70 is expanded to support the carcass by ad- ~ - i
30 mission of air into the core chamber 74. Air, preferably ~ ~ ~
air from which the oxygen has been removed, or an
equivalent inert gas, is admitted to the cavi-ty at
an above a-t~ospheric pressure of about 1/2 atmosphere,
which pressure is then maintained without decrease
until the tire is placed in the mold.
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As illus-trated in Fig, 8, the sleeve ends 71a and
71b, which are coaxially and airtightly attached~
r~specti~ely~ to the rlgid core ends 72 and 73~ are then
m~v~d toward each other and toward the reference plane 130
while the sleeve 71 is expanded radially to an extent
su~.~icient to bring the sleeve into circumferential
engagement with the inner surface of the carcass C
in an axially central zone thereof extending across
the plane of the mid-circumferential line 35 but spaced
inwardly from the respectively upper 33 and lower 33'
beads, The beads of the carcass are not at this time
engaged by the core, Engagement of the expanded sleeve
71 with the carcass is sufficient alone to support the
weight of the carcass and to permit the ~ingers 63 to
be disengaged and moved away,
While the carcass C is supported only by the
sleeve 71, Fig, 8, an upper bead mold ring 75 is lowered : `'
around the pressure dome 105 and secured concentrically ;~
on the upper core end 72, Both the ring 75 and the ~ .
lower bead mold ring 77 form parts of the mold (not
shown) in ~hich the tire is to be cured~ as well as of
the core 70~ and like the core~ remain with the carcass C
throughout the sequence of operations from the initial
shaping o~ the carcass as seen in Fig, 8~ until the ~ .
tire has been molded and curedO
At this point, it should be noted that the weight
of the carcass in a tire o~ the class described can
tend to deform the sleeve 71 sufficiently to shift the
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~35~ 3
actual or true mid-circum~erential plane 70a of the
sleeve and/or line 35 of the carcass C a small but measur-
able amount downwardly with respect to the reference
planc 130 ~n advantage of the present invention is
t;hal; such de~ormation has no appreciable effect on the
sgmmetrical relation of the carcass to its own axis 32.
~Iowever, in the event that the mentioned deEorming of
the sleeve or possible movement of the carcass relatively
of the sleeve tends to shift the actual mid-circumferential
line 35 of the carcass out of parallel with the reference
plane~ according to the invention such misalignment
can readily be dealt with, as will presently appear.
Turning now to Fig. 9; while the carcass C is
supported alone by the core 70~ the previously described
15 ring 50 together with the breaker-belt B therein is
upended, rotating the axis 56 of the ring and belt from
horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation by
employing~ for example, a strong back or beam 50a having
two lifting cables 50b which engage the trunions 50c
20 and an overhead crane or hoist (not shown) to lift and
then to rotate the ring. With its axis vertical, the
ring 50 together with the breaker-belt B are disposed
adjacent the crane 60. To locate the ring and breaker-
belt suitably in relation to the crane~ a target may
25 be painted on the floor and~ as seen in Fig. 10, the
carcass lifting boom 61 is moved to position its lifting
axis 62 collinear with the now vertical axis 56 of the
belt and ring.
.
10~ 3
The upper 72 and lower 73 core ends are moved
equally closer toward each other and toward the reference
plane 130 while additional gas is introduced into the
cavity 7L~ so that the carcass is expanded to a diameter
slightly less -than the inside diameter of the breaker belt
B to be appliad Because of the possible movement of the
actual true mid-circumferen-tial line 35 of the carcass as
previously discussed, the support s-tands 120 can be again
adjusted vertically as necessary to accord with the actual
position of the mid-circumferential line 35 of the carcass . :
itself, independently of the previously established reference
plane~ so as to locate the ring 50 and the belt B in suit-
able coplanar relatlon with the actual position of the
line 35 This relation can be accomplished by using the
height gauges 110 to adjust as may be required after the
partial expansion of the carcass the respective elevations ;
of the support stands 120 before placing the ring thereon .
It will be apparent that radial space between the circum- :
ference of the partially expanded carcass and the inner
surface of the belt must be provided to allow the ring
and belt to move into the required coplanar rèlation, and .~
further that the line 35 will then be inaccessible to -~ ~ -
direct view and measurement. Moreover, some additional
movement of the carcass can occur during its further
expansion toward contac-t with the belt. As a preferred
alternative to the above step, we temporarily attach or -
adhere to the carcass, in at least approximate alignment . -
with each of the support stands 120~ a gauge strip S, :;
as illustrated in Fig. 10. Each strip S is a straight
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length of thin metal about 3/~ inch in width having a
zero mark placed at the line 35 Each gauge strap is so
attached as to extend parallel to the axis 32 beyond the
respecti~re upper and lower edges o:E the ring 50 and has
l su:Ltable alignment mark to which an edge o:E the ring
c~n be reglstered visually The ring 50 and the belt are
then moved by the crane 60, first to align the axis 56
with the axis 100 then to place the ring on the support
stands The stands 120 can then be ad~usted individually
10 as required to register one~ or both~ edges of the ring
with the alignment marks on the gauge strips when the :
carcass has been expanded almost to touch the belt
The true mid-circumferential plane 58 of the belt B
is thereby disposed in coplanar relation with the actual
true position of the mid-circumferential line 35 of the
carcass~ independently of the previously discussed
reference plane
As may be seen in Fig 12~ the carcass C is then
further expanded into adherent contact with the breaker-
belt B while the core ends 72 and 73 are moved equally
closer toward each other and toward the mid-circumferential
plane 58 The gauge strips S can then be easily removed
When the carcass and the belt are adhered to each other~ ~ :
the flexible connectors 63b are attached to three of the
lifting fingers 63 and to the eyes 50d to lift the ring ~ -
vertically from the assembled carcass and belt The ring
liner 52 remains adhered to the belt while the ring 50 is
being removed The belting forming the liner 52 can then :
easily be peeled from the assembled breaker-belt and car-
cass~ and subsequently be replaced in the ring for reuse
~ 3
Fig. 13 illustrates a further stage in which the
core ends 72,73 and the bead mold rings 75,77 fixed
r0spectivel~ the:reon are moved closer together to their
final~ axiall~ spaced~ relation wherein the beads 33~33'
o~ the carcass are spaced apart by the di.stance there-
between at which the tire is to be cured Then the core ..
ends are locked to one anot~ler rigidly fixing such distance. :
The cooperation of the vertically adjustable support ~.`
stands with the breaker belt ring ~0 yields a further and
important advantage in that the core inserter 80 can be
less complex and expensive than the classic horizontal . `
axis tire building apparatus In the latter~ complex ` .
and expensive mechanism is required for aligning a breaker
belt and a carcass in reasonably accurate coaxial relatlon . : .
In contrast, a core inserter oriented along a verticalaxis according to the present invention can readily accommo-
date some tilting of the axis from the true vertical such
that the mid-circumferential plane of the core and of the
carcass may not be exactly level but by appropriate readily ; ~ .
20 made adjustment of the support stands 120 to the actual .
mid-circumferential plane, the belt can be applied to the
carcass in symmetrical alignment with the mid-circumferential . ~ .
plane of the carcass within limits at least as small as -~
could be obtained by horizontal axis apparatus of com-
parable size. The core inserter of the invention~ there-
~ore, does not require closely fitted slide ways and the
like to obtain very satis~actory accuracy in shaping the
carcass and applying the breaker-belt :
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.
.
~5~ 13
Moving on to Figs. 1~ and 15~ the now united
carcass and belt with -the core 70 expanded and secured
therein are next li~ted as a unit from the core ~nserter
~0 and low~red coaxially onto an arbor 1~0 which is
5 accommodated in coaxial open bores in the core ends
72~73 The core, carcass and belt assembly~ including
the arbor are then turned from the axis-vertical to an
axis-horizontal position aided by the tilting device 150
From the tilting device, the assembly on its arbor is
transferred to a trans~er truck 160 in which the arbor
is supported by the semi-cylindrical saddles 161 in
which the arbor 1~0 is supported with the core between
the two saddles
The truck 160 is then moved to a tire rotating
stand 170~which is located apart from the core inserter
8~ in which stand the breaker-belt B and carcass C are ;
rotated in stitching contact with conventional stitching ~ :
mechanism (not shown) and further consolidated me
stitching mechanism is not~ as in the prior art hereto- ;~ .
fore~ associated immediately with the tire building drum
on which assembly of carcass and breaker belt are
performed
After the breaker-belt has been consolidated with
the carcass~ the shaped and belted carcass is transported
by the truck 160 to a ~urther station (not shown) whereat
a circumferentially endless tread is applied~ pre~erably
in the ~orm of a continuing plural~ty o~ revolu~ions
.
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~V~ 3
of a cord, ribbon, or ~lat band of tread compound
wound continuously about -the belted carcass to ~orm
the full depth o:~ tread desir~d A~ter the tread
apply.ing operation~ the t:Lre is returned to the stand
170 and the so-applied tread is also stitched and
consolidated to the belted carcass~ after which the
assembled uncured tire on the core is placed as a
unit in a curing mold It should be noted here that~ ~ ;
as previously mentioned, the upper and lower bead
mold rings 75~77 form parts of the mold in which the
~cured tire is placed and which mold then is subjected
to heat and to internal pressure for molding and curing
the tire The gas pressure introduced into the core 70
during the initial shaping of the carcass is not
decreased therein throughout the operations following
the first introduction of pressure into the carcass
After the tread has been applied to the belted
carcass and before the uncured tire is placed in a
. mold for curing9 the assembled carcass~ core~ and
arbor are slowly rotated~ at about one revolution per
minute to avoid radial distortion of the uncured tire
which can otherwise result from the weight of the tread
applied to the carcass. The saddles 161 . of the
truck 160 provide bearing support for rotation of the
arbor 1~0
After the in-mold curing of the tire has been
accomplished~ the tire with the core 70 remaining
(see Fig 17)
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~5~ 3
~ .
therein is removed from the mold and carried back ~ ~
to the core inserter 80 and placed upon a parallel ~ -
pair of beams 182 placed across the pit 95 to support
the tire, The upper and lower core ends 72~73 are
disengaged from each other, The lower core end 73
.
is again secured to the platen 84 and the upper
core end 72 is again secured to the shaft 85 by the
spider 107 and the pressure retaining dome 105 is
reaffixed9 whereupon the core ends 72~73 are moved
away from each other which movement operates to
withdraw the sleeve 71 from the tire,
As seen in Fig, 18~ after the core ends have
~ . .. .: .
been moved apart to the maximum extent and the
sleeve extended therebetween to assume its minimum
diameter~ the core 70 is lowered into the pit 95
to the position illustrated in Fig, 19 whereupon
the boom 61 may be swung over the pit and lowered ~ :
to pick up the tire and to carry it away from the
inserter, The boom is then ready to return with a
first-stage uncured carcass C to repeat the sequence
of operations described~ :~
APparatu~ ~ :
The invention ~urther includes apparatus about
to be described which is particularly suited to the
. ..
practice of the method hereinbefore descri.bed,
: -17-
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~)S ~i ~ 3 `
Breaker-Belt AssemblY, TransPort~ and AP~lYin~ Me3~s
The ring 50 shown but sche~atically in Fig, 3
i9 illustrated ~n greater de-tail in Fig, 20, This ring
so~ves as a bui~ding ~orm providing means ~or building
a breaker belt from a plurality of plies in a conventional
manner. In accordance with the invention, the bel-t building
ring 50 is provided with means which cooperate to serve
also for handling the breaker~belt~ particularly for turn-
ing the belt from an axis-horizontal position as built to
an axis-vertical position, and for transporting the belt.
The ring serves further for positioning the break~r-belt
relative to the carcass and for applying the breaker-belt
to the carcass as the latter is expanded~ which operations
have been described hereinabove,
The ring 50 comprises an arcuate steel plate formed
as a cylinder, The respective ends of the plate are clamped
together to form the complete cylindrical ring or released
by a pair of turnbuckle clamps 51 or the like,
In contrast to belt-transferring devices of the prior
20 art, the ring 50 is~ in the present embodiment~ an endless ~-
ring not sub~ect to radial enlargement during the practice
of the invention, We have found~ however, that by pro-
vlding a single cylindrical plate with a separation or
parting line 55 which is held closed in rigid endless form
.- ...
during use, a further advantage can be obtained, The oppos-
ing ends of the plate can be separated sufficiently to
accommodate an extension plate 50x which is inserted and
held fixedly to the opposing ends of the cylindrical plate
so as to enlarge the circumference of the ring 50 as much
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l~S~13
as about s~x inches and thereby economically acco~nodate
minor di:Eferences in the belt circumferences of different
tires without altering the rigid endless character oP
t;he ring 50 while assembl:1ng any single tire,
. The ends O:e the plate are retained in alignment
by slldable llnks 53 attached to one end O:e the plate
to extend across the parting li:ne 55 into engagement
respectively wlth a pair of slides 57 attached to the
matching other end of the plate. For lifting the ring 50
to and from its position surrounding the carcass~ flexible
connectors~ such as the short~ and equal, lengths of chain
63b~ are removably attached to the crane arms 65 ad~acent
the fingers 63, Each chain 63b has a hook engageable in
a respective one of the lifting eyes 50d secured on the
ring 50, Although equivalent means of connecting the ring
50 to the boom 61 may be readily apparent to persons skilled
in the art~ we have found the use of the chains 63b to be
quick and.simple, To position the ring and the breaker-belt
therein in a coplanar relation with the mid-circum~erential
line on the carcass~ three support lugs 59 are fixed on
the ring at three e~ual angular intervals about the axis,
- Each of the ~lugs has a surface 59a located in precise
parallal relation with the mid-circumferential plane of the
ring with which the breaker-belt has been aligned, In the
present embodiment the surfaces 59a are provided by the :.
~ `
~lat ends of the cylindrical bores in ths respeotive lugs,
The oylindrical wall 59b of the bore protects the surface
59a against damage and provides a secure engagement with :
.. . :
the support stand 120 which will be described presently, ;~
3 It will be evident that other support surfaces for engage- ~ .
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ment with support stands could be provided and it will
further be evident that the support sur~aces can as well
be parallel to but o~set from the mid-circumferential
plane oP the ring as well as coplanar therewith.
To ~acilitate release o~ the breaker-belt and
r~ng ~rom each other~ the ring liner 52~ previously
rePerred to~ is provided by a flexible strip or strlps
of conveyor belting attached to the inner cylindrical sur-
face of the ring in any convenient manner In the present
embodiment the strips extend the full circumference of the
ring so that the open ends meet but do not overlap
Carcass Liftin~ Means
Turning now to Fig. 21~ the carcass lifting means~
the ~unctions o~ which have been made apparent throughout the
successive stages of the method already described~ is illus-
trated more completely in Fig 21, While the functions
described can be accomplished by alternative means~ for
example~ by suitably equipped gantry crane or the like, in
the present embodiment~ the pre~erred lifting means is pro-
~ ,
vided by the jib crane 60 which includes the vertical
column 60a mounted for rotation about its own vertical axis
on a base 60b fixed to the operating ~loor 90 adjacent to
the pit 95 A traveler 60c mounted for vertical movement up
and down the column 60a carries the boom 61 which extends -
radially outwardly of the column. In its radially outward end
61a~ the boom supports a center post 61b in line vertically
with the lifting axis 62. A spreader 64 comprising beam
6~a extending at equal angular intervals radially of
the lifting axis are fixed to and carried by the center
post 61b. One of the carcass supporting
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arms 65 is mounted on each of the beams 64a to move
radially inwardly and outwardly of the lifting axis.
A lifting finger 63, fixed on each of the arms 65~
ls shaped suitably to 0ngage the upper baad portion 33
of the carcass C These fingers can be removed ~rom
the arms 65 or interchanged with fingers particularly
adapted for carcasses of other climensions as the need
arises The arms 65 can also be employed to support
a firs~-stage carcass by engaging the axially inter-
10 mediate and radially outward surface of the carcass ratherthan within the upper bead of such carcass.
A scroll 66 is mounted rotatably coaxially of
the center post 61b immediately above the spreader
beams 64a and has a plurality of spiral ~rooves each of
which acccmmodates a cam follower (not visible in the ;
~igure) associated respectively with one of the arms
65 such that rotation of the scroll controls the radial
movement of the arms toward and away from the axis 62.
The scroll, spiral grooves, and cam followers~ are of
20 well-lmown construction, hence the details thereof~ not
being within the scope of the invention claimed, are
not further described.
The major movements of the boom 61 upward and
downward along the column 60a are effected by a major
25 lift drive including a chain 60d which passes at its
upper end about a sprocket 60e driven by a drive 60f
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:Eixed at the upper end of the co:lumn. The chain extends
downward about an idler sprocket 60b fixed near the
lower 0ncl o~ the column, The respective ends o:~ the
chain are ~olned to th0 traveler 60c. In addition to
the ma~or ll:et drive~ an inching or vernier drive 61c
is mounted on the boom 61 to facilitate the precise
vertical location o~ the lift fingers 63, Screw threads
on the upper end o:f the post 61a engage a rotatable nut
61d held in its axial position on a thrust bearing (not.
shown), The nut 61d is rotated relatively o~ the post
61b by the vernier drive 61c to raise or lower the center
post 61b and thereby the arms 65 and fingers 63 to
ef~ect minor adjustments of the vertical elevation o~
the ~ingers.
The column is rotated by a drive 66 and is con-
trolled to locate the li~ting axis 62 in alignment with
the axi 5 100 0~ the core inserter 80~ about to be
described in greater detail, by conventional means
well understood in the arts, .
Vertical movement of the boom 61 relative to the
column 60a is controlled by conventional limit switches,
Carcass ShaPin~ and Tire CurinÆ Core
~he core 70 itself as illustrated in Fig, 21
comprises a radially expansible elastomeric sleeve 71
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the axial ends 71a~71b of which are fluidly tlghtly
connected respectlvely to a rigid upper core end
72 and a rigld lower core end 73 which latter is
removably secured coaxially on the platen 84 of the
corc ln~erter 80~ presentl~ to be more fully described,
The lower core end includes the integral lower bead
mold ring 77, The upper core end 72 is provided with
a seat 72a on which is removably affixed the upper bead
mold ring 75 which can be removed to permit the upper
core end 72 to pass axially through the open center of
the first-stage carcass after which the bead ring 75
can be secured on the core end 72, An open cylindrical
bore 78 extends through each of the core ends to
accommodate the central shaft 85 as well as an arbor 140
on which the core 70 and uncured belted carcass can be
mounted, me further details of the core 70 are con-
ventional and not wlthin the scope of the present
invention~ hence do not appear to require further :~ .
description,
Core Insertin~
me core inserting means provided by the core
inserter 80 in the illustrative embodiment of the -~
present invention is shown in Figs, 22 and 23, Movements
of the core inserter 80 have been discussed in connection
with the stages of the method set forth hereinabove,
The core inserter comprises a rigid elevator 82 mounted -
for straight line movement vertically up and down, The
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~tructure 82 is provided with downwardly extending
stabilizing legs 82a rigidly secured to the elevator,
Each of the legs carries a wheel 82b which rolls on
a vertical xail 96 rigidly mounted on a vertical wall
97 o~ the plt 95 in which the inserter is housed,
An upwardly extending yoke 86a secured integrall~ to
the elevator 82 is connected to the elevating ram 86
parmitting the elevator 82 to move downwardly below the
upper end 87a of the elevating cylinder 87, The
elevator ls raised and lowered by the ram 86 in the
hydraulic elevating cylinder 87 which is fixed on and
extends vertically upward from the floor 98 o~ the
plt 95 , In the present embodiment a pair of such
cylinders 87 are disposed equally and oppositel~
relatively of the vertical axis 100~ as shown in Fig, 22.
A pair of shaping cylinders 88 are rigidly fi~ed to the
structure 82 for movement upwardly and downwardly
together therewith, The two shaping cylinders 88 are
also disposed equally and oppositely relatively of the
vertlcal axis 100 as shown in Fig, 22, Each of the ~`
shaping cylinders 88 contains a ram 89 which is fixed
at its upper end to the platen 84 to which the lower
core end 73 is removably attached, The shaping cylinders
are each supported in a saddle 88a secured integrally
to the elevator 82, me ver-tical center sha~t 85
extends slidably through the platen 8~. A spider 107
removably secured to the sha~t upper end by a C-ring
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3L~)5t:i~'13
is locked to and released from the upper core end
by a conventional serrated ring lock, The lower end
portion 85a of the center sha~t 85 has a plurality o~
gear rackg 8~b ~ixed on or made integral therewith,
The racks 85b extend vertically parallel to the axis
100, Each o:E the racks 85b is in meshing engagement
with a pinion 83 mounted for rotation about a pinion
axis 83a fixed in the elevator in a plane normal to
the vertical axis 100, Fixed to the platen 84 and
10 extending downwardly therefrom parallel to the axis 100
are a plurality of racks 84a each of which is held in
meshing engagement with one of the pinions 83 by a
backing roller 84b mounted in the elevator for rotation
about an axis parallel to and suitably spaced from the
15 respective pinion axis 83a so that the roller bears
rollably on the plain back surface 84c of the rack,
It will be seen in Fig, 23 that as the rams 89 of the
shaping cylinders 88 are extended to move the platen
84 upwardly the racks 84a move upwardly therewith and
20 cause rotation of the respective pinions 83 which in
turn exert downward force on the center shaft 85 by
virtue o~ the engagement of the pinions 83 wlth the
racks 85~ on that shaft, In this way~ the upward
movement of the platen 84 is accompanied by an equal
25 and opposite downward movement of the upper core end
720 In like manner~ downward movement of the platen
84 as the rams 89 retract results in equal and opposlte
upward movement of the upper core end 72, Both of the
described shaping movements are independent of the
3 position o~ the elevator 82 which is itself raised
or lowered by the elevator rams 86,
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~u~ort Stand~
The support stands 120 shown schematically in
~igs, 5 and 11-13 are illustrated in greater detail
in Fig. 24, The plurality o~ support stands 120~
pre~erably three~ are equally spaced about the axis
100 Since these support stands are ldentical~ a
description of one will suffice for all three Each
stand comprises a hollow post 121 extending upwardly
~rom the floor 90. An elevating screw 122 is disposed
telescopically within the post and extends upwardly~
being engaged in an internally screw-threaded worm
wheel 123. The worm wheel ~s carried on a thrust bearing
124 on the upper end of the post A hand-wheel shaft
12~ mounted ln a suitable bracket fixed on the post
1~ carries a worm 125a which meshes with the worm wheel
123 The worm 125a is turned by the hand-wheel 125b
to rotate the worm wheel which moves the screw 122
upward or downward in the post 121 A hollow support
beam 126 is fixed horizontally on a swivel housing
126a mounted on the upper end of the screw 122~ the ~:
beam 126 extending as a cantilever outwardly therefrom.
A beam extension 126b slidable within the hollow beam
126 can be ~xtended toward the axls 100 ma~ually or
moved into the hollow beam away from the axis as
Z5 required in the operation described The distal
end of the extendable and retractable beam extension
126b carries the support sur~ace 126c on which the
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respective surface 59a of a lug 59 of the ring 50 are
placed to position the ring in the above-described
coplanar relation with the mid-circumferential line
35 o:~ the carcass C As has been mentioned~ the
support stand 120 also carries a height gauge 110 by
which the true actual position of the mid-circumferential
plane of the carcass C is determined. The height gauge~
illustrated by a light beam projector~ is mounted on
the housing 126a in ad~ustably fixed relation to the
support surface 126c so that by vertical adjustment
of the screw 122 the projected ~ight beam or equivalent
height gauge can be aligned with the mid-circumferential
plane of the core 70 or of the carcass C as has been
described hereinbefore In this manner~ the support
surface 126c of each beam 126 defines one point o~ a
plane parallel to or coplanar with the desired mid-
circumferential plane and the three support stands
together cooperate to place the ring 50 and belt B
in the desired plane~as has been described
Means for ad~usting the position of each of the
stands radially of the axis to accommodate larger
or smaller diameter tires as is also shown in Fig
2L~ can be provided if desired
Truck and S~h~a~LArran~ement :~
Turning to Fig 25~ apparatus for the practice ;~
of the method described includes the truck 160 adapted
to transport the uncured belted carcass or the tire
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and the core as wall as to enable rotation of the
tire and core assembly about the axis 32. In
addition to a conven-tional truck frame 162 and wheels
163 th0reon~ a pair of uprights 16L~ ~ixed on the
frame support the pair of saddles 161 previously
described, which are half bearings on which the arbor
lL~o previously referred to can be supported for
rotation about the tire axis The truck7 as has been
mentioned, serves to transport the core with the
carcass and belt assembly thereon, to a conventional
stitching mechanism located apart from the tire drum
30 and from the inserter where the carcass and bel-t
have been assembled. The saddles 161 are at such
elevation~ relative to the operating floor 90 that
the tire axis 32 is supported a fraction of an inch
below the rotation axis 171 of the headstock 172
and cooperating tailstock 173 of the tire rotating
stand 170
A freely rotatable coned center 173a mounted on
the tailstock non-rotating spindle 173b cooperates .
with a driving coned center 172a mounted corotatably
on a hollow driving shaft 172b on the headstock not
only to mount the core and tire thereon ~or rotation :
during stitching o~ the belt to the carcass~ and
later the tread to the belt and carcass~ but also to :.
lift the arbor 1~0 with the tire and core assembly ; ...
the aforesaid small fraction of an inch~ sufficient
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l~St;1~3
only to separate the arbor from the saddles 161
A push rod 17~c mounted coaxially in the hollow
shaft 172b connects the driving center 172a with
the plston 171~a of a power cylinder 171~b mounted at
th~ d~stal ~nd of the shaft and which is operable to
move the driving center 172a toward and away from the
tailstock 173 The arbor 140 has coned centers 140a
formed coaxially and in each of its ends, into which
the headstock and tailstock centers can be first
freely entered and then~ by additional fluid pressure ~ .
in the cylinder 17~b~ forced into full engagement
with the arbor thereby lifting the arbor with the core
and tire thereon into coaxial alignment with the rotation
axis 171 A drive motor 176 in the headstock is con~
nected~ by the chain 176aand sprockets 176b~176c to
the shaft 172b to rotate the tire at a speed or speeds
suitable for stitching the belt and/or the tread
To adjust the location of the mid-circumferential
plane of the belted carcass~ the tailstock spindle
173b is slidable in the tailstock tube 173c and is
moved axially by a screw 173d engaged with internal
threads formed coaxially within the spindle. The
screw extends outwardly from the tube and is supported
for rotation but axially fixed in the tube. A drive .:-
chain 173~ connects the screw drivably with an air
motor 177 fixed on the tailstock frame 178 ~he motor .
and screw can move the core and arbor toward or away :~
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~ 3
from the headstock 172 while the piston 174a maintains
thrust axially on the arbor.
When the stitching has been completed~ the
c~nter 172a 1~ moved axially awa~ from the arbor so
as to lower the arbor to rest again in the saddles
To mlnimize radial distortion of the tire~
particularly after a tread has been placed around
the belt and carcass~ it has been found advantageous
to rotate the uncured tire slowly~ for example~ at
about one revolution per minute, until the tire is
trans~erred to a curing mold The truck 160 and
ln particular the saddles 161 allow the tire to be so
rotated by any suitable motor drivingly connected to
the arbor 140.
By assembling a tire of the class described
while the axes of the carcass, of the breaker-belt~
and of the tire shaping and curing core~ are vertical
and coincident~ the weight of the uncured tire-acts
parallel to and generally in line with the common axis
so that any sag or distortion of such a tire has no
harmful effect on the radial uniformity of the tire
about its operating axis ~his is contrary to the
classic method of assembling tires about a horizontal
axis.
By locating the mid-circumferential plane of the
breaker-belt variably to suit the actual position of
the mid-circumferential plane of the carcass just ~ s
~` ` ' '
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1~35~1~L3
prior to uniting the belt and carcass, thus com-
pensating for the somewhat unpredictable vertical
sag or deformation due to the weight o~ the carcass~
and of the shaping-curing bladder if used~ the
aocuracy of the position o~ the breaker-bel-t relative
to the mid circumferential plane of the tire can be
improved. Again, this is contrary to the classic
procedure in ~uilding tires about a horizontal axis,
in which no compensation for angular misalignment has
been provided by the prior art.
By shaping the tire from its cylindrical to its
toroidal shape and applying an inextensible breaker-
belt on a curing core having a central open coaxial
bore isolated from the tire cavity~ less time and effort
are expended in subsequent operations and quality is
improved.
Capital expenditure for equipment is made less
than heretofore incurred by utilizing apparatus capable
both: of shaping a carcass and applying an inextensible
breaker belt; and of mounting and dismounting the
uncured carcass and tire on and from a curing core;
as contrasted with the prior art practice of providing~
for smaller tires than tires of the class described,
one apparatus for shaping and applying a breaker to a
carcass~ and other apparatus for mounting and dis-
mounting a tire on and from a curing bag or bladder.
This advantage is particularly enhanced in providing
for manufacture of tires of the class described~
. : :
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It is no longer required to dismolmt and remount
a partially completed tire on successi~e different
buildlng or shaplng forms, yielding an advantage in
both accuracy and in cost of manufacturing ~dditionally,
5 by shaping the carcass initially wi-th air, or preferably
an inert gas~ and maintaining such pressure within the
core throughout the building process, less undesirable
deformation of the carcass occurs during its manufacture
While the foregoing description relates, as to
utility~ primarily to radial ply tires, neither the
practice of the invention nor the subject matter expressed
in the claims are intended in any way to exclude any
tire of the class described as large and having a
breaker-belt in or beneath the tread
While certain representative embodiments and
details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating
the invention~ it will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that various changes and modifications may
be made therein without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention.
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