Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BUILDING ARBOR FOR TIRES AND LIKE ARTICL~S
HA~ING INEXTENSIBLE BEAD ~INGS
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The present invention relates to a building arbor
for tires and like articles.
According to one aspect of the invention, there
is provided a building arbor for use in building a
flexible cylindrical article having at least one end
portion turned or folded about an inextensible bead
ring, which arbor in use is free of relatively moving
metal parts, comprising, a shaft, a rigid cylindrical
building surface of a diameter smaller than said ring
and having perforations therethrough, an expandable
ring disposed close to and at the same radial level as
each end of said surface, each expandable ring having a
coaxial groove in its radially outward surface, an
expandable sleeve secured to said shaft coaxially of
each expandable ring and defining an inflation chamber,
having a plane of maximum elongation between its circum-
ferential edge offset axially of the associated
expandable ring so that on being inflated the sleeve
expands the expandable ring and rotates each axial cross-
section thereof angularly with respect to the shaft,thereby expanding more at one side of an inextensible
bead ring than at the other side.
To acquaint persons skilled in the most closely
related arts certain preferred embodiments illustrating
the best mode now contemplated of putting the invention
in practice are described hereinbelow making reference
to the attached drawings forming a part of the descrip-
tion and of this specification.
In the drawing:
3 Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a building
arbor in accordance with the invention;
Fig, 2 illustrates a further embodiment of a
building arbor in accordance with the invention.
A building arbor 10, ~ig. 1, has a central
shaft 12 which is preferably solid except for three
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passages 14 ,16~18 parallel to the rotation axis 20
o~ the sl1a.~t. The smooth exterior cy].indrical surface
22 of the shaft extends axially e~ui.distantly outward
of a reference midplane 2LI normal to the axis. At
the supported end of the shaf`t, it c:an be disposed
snugly in the axial bore of a collet; 26 having a
flange 28 adapted for mounting on a building machine
spindle (not shown) which is provided with means for
delivering two independently controlled supplies
of compressed air. The end of the collet is split
longitudinally to provide a compression clamp 33
securing the shaft therein and with a plurality
of cap screws 35 which fix the shaft axially relative
to the flange. `'
At the free end of the shaft remote from the '
collet, a shaft end piece 42 fitted in a recess 43 concen-
tric in the shaft accommodates a hardened center 44
having a passage 46 axially therethrough which com-
municates with a space 48 between the end piece and the
bottom of the recess connecting the passage Ll6 in the
center 44 with the first 14 of the passages in the
shaft 12. The arrangement provides for support by a
conventional live center at the free end of the shaft as
well as for connecting vacuum or air pressure to the
arbor by way of the port 51.
A ring 53 is mounted on the shaft symmetrically
with the midplane 24, held by the dog point screws 55 ,-
which engage the locating holes 57 in the shaft. A center
locating'rib 59 extending circumferentially about the ring
3 53 and radially outward from its circumference registers
in a conjugate circumferential groove 62 formed in the
radially inner surface of the cylindrical wall member 64
so as to locate the member symmetrically with respect to
the plane 24.
The cylindrical surface of the wall member 64
has a suitable number of small perforations communicating
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with the interior space 65. Air can be delivered under
pressure to or exhausted by -vacuum from the space 65 by
way of the port 51 and passage 14~ and the pressure
difference between the surrounding atmosphere and the
5 space 65 thus be applied to a tire carcass or other
flexible sleeve disposed on the arbor.
The member 64 comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical
shells 64a,64b which are selectivel~ interchangeable to
provide dlfferent working lengths of the arbor as
presently will appear. The axial ends of the shells
abut respectively a pair of split clamp rings 66 and are
supported radially by the respective primary end rings
68 to which the clamp rings are rigidly secured. The
cylindrical surfaces of the clamp rings and of the
shells are at equal radial heights from the axis and
cooperate to provide the cylindrical working surface
of the arbor between a spaced apart pair of annular ,
recesses 71.
In each of the annular grooves a gum rubber bead-
seating ring 73 is disposed coaxially of the shaft. Inthe radially outer surface of each of the rings 73 is a
bead set groove 75 the axially outer wall 75 ' of which
is formed by the axially inner edge portion 77 of a
turnup bladder 79. Each of the beadseating rings 73 is
25 joined integrally with the inward edge portion 77 of the
respective turnup bladder. The radially outer surface
7~ ' of the turnup bladder for at least a portion of its
axial length extends outward from the ring 73 at the same
radial level as the surface of the member 64 and of the
30 clamp rings 66. ,-
The inward edge portion of each bladder is supported
by a split clamp ring 82 which is secured rigidly to the
respecti~e primary end ring 68.
An expansion sleeve 84 of gum rubber or the like
35 extends axially across each recess 71 as well as circum-
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ferentially -thereof and supports the seating rlng 73
in its contracted condition as illustrated ln Fig. 1.
Between the bottom of the recess 71 and the
expansion sleeve 84 a chamber 86 is formed which com-
5 municates by way of a port 88 in the end ring 68 andthe air transfer chamber 91 pro~ided by the annular
space between the inner circumference of the end ring
6~ and the cylindrical surface 22 of the shaft, and
thence by way of the shaft port 93 to the second 16 .
10 of the passages in the shaft 12. The arrangement
enables the beadseating rinK 73 to be.expanded by com-
pressed air admitted into the chamber 86 i.n the end ring
beneath the expansion sleeve-84. It is particularly to
be noted that in the present embodiment this expansion
of the ring 73 can not only be effected solely by
~luid pressure rather than by mechanical linkage but
can also be controlled completely independently of
the actuating compressed air for the turnup bladder
79 itself, about to be more fully described. '~
Moreover, to effect a rotation of the axial .
cross-section, that is, a greater expansion of the
ring 73 axially inward o~ an inextensible bead there-
around than the expansion axially outward of the bead,
a preferred arrangement of the ring 73 and sleeve 84
is employed. The sleeve 84, being fixed at each of
its edges in the recess 71, tends to expand to its
greatest extent at its own midplane, which is its
plane of maximum circumferential elongation. The
beadseating ring 84 tends to be elongated circum-
ferentially at different rates or by differingamounts between its axial edge: cIose to the ring 66
and its other edge attached to the bladder 73. In
order to accomplish'such rotation the plane of maximum "'
circumferential elongation of' the slee:ve 8li is offset
axially o~ the' beadseating ring 73 a small bu-t
sufficient amount~ abou't 5 millimeter's. The degree
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of such rotation can also be readily varled by m-inor
alkeration of the cross-section shape of khe ring 73, of
the sleeve 8LI, or of the amount of offset.
The turnup bladders 79 each terminate in a pair of
circumferential flanges 79a,79b and are supported
radially by the end ring 68. The f:Langes are spaced
apart by the channel rings 95 in wh:Lch a radial passage
provides for airflow communication between the bladder
79, the air passage 97 in the end ring, the air transfer
chamber 99 formed between the bladder support sleeve 102,
the end ring 68 and the shaft 12, and by way of the
shaft port 1~4 to the third longitudinal passage 18 in
the shaft. As previously indicated, this arrangement
permits the actuation of the turnup bladder 79
independently of the actuation of the beadseating ring 73.
~ he flanges 79a,79b of each bladder are clamped
respectively between the channel ring 95 and the split
lock ring 82 and between the ring 95 and the bladder
support sleeve 102 which is disposed slidably on the
smooth cylindrical surface 22 of the shaft. Each bladder
support sleeve is provided with longitudinal grooves 102a
giving access to the cap screws 106 which connect the
sleeve to the respective primary end ring 68 and effect
clamping of the bladder flanges. In the interior of each
support sleeve is a circumferential land 108 having
a seal, such as an 0-ring, which seals the transfer
chamber 99 to its axially outer end. The primary end
ring 68 is provided with a pair of similar circumferential
lands 111,113 of which khe land 111 seals against com-
munication of compressed air along the shaft between thespace 65 and the air transfer chamber 91 and the land
113 seals against communication between the two air
transfer chambers 91 and 99.
On consideration of Fig. 1, it will be seen that
the lengthwise adjustment of the arbor to provide a bead
set width in the present embodiment of from 5 to 10 inches,
is accomplished simply by selecting the appropriate length
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of the shells 64a,64b and sliding the primary end ring
and the parts at,tached thereto to abut the ends o~ the
shells selected. Only the shells need be exchanged~
no other assembly or disassembly of parts is required.
To maintain the desired axial ]ength adJustment,
in particular the selected bead set width, the shaft 12
has near each end a threaded section 122 and a
nut 124 threaded cooperatively thereon. Each nut can be
moved along its respective threaded section to secure the
associated end ring, and beadseating ring with their
associated parts in place axially relative to the rib 59
and midplane 24. It will be readily understood ~,hat
the diameters of the threaded sections 122 and the
respectively associated nuts 124 will differ in a usual
manner to facilitate assembly of the arbor.
The arbor 200, Fig. 2, has a center shaft 210
the description of which need not be repeated since
it is identical in all significant respects to the shaft,
Fig. 1. The arrangement of parts on the shaft 210, as
in the arbor 10, is symmetrical with respect to a mid-
plane 205 as well as to the shaft axis 207. It will,
therefore, be understood that Fig. 2 represents, in
a manner well understood in the related arts, a complete
building arbor the complete showing of which would merely
repeat the arrangement of Fig. 2. The arbor also
includes a pair of semi-cylindrical shells 212 similar
to the shells 64a,64b described in connection with
Fig. 1. In the present embodiment selected lengths
of the shells 212 can be combined with selected spacers
214 more economically to provide a range of selectable
bead set lengths.
The present arbor 200 differs from the previously
described arbor 10 in that there is disposed between the
smooth cylindrical surface 216 of the shaft and the
primary end ring 225 a shaft sleeve 232 having an outer
smooth cylindrical surface 234 and slidably fitted in the
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primary end ring 225 as well as on the shaf't 210. The sleeve
232 has three internal circumf'erential lands 2LI1,243,2LI5, each
o~ which accommodates a sealing 0-ring. An air transfer
chamber 247 is located axially between the lands 241 and 243.
Another airflow chamber 249 is formed between the lands 243 and
2115 .
Each primary end ring 225 is disposed coaxially of
the sha~t sleeve 232 and is fitted slidab:ly thereto.
Three circumferential lands 251,253,255 each accommodates
a seal slidably sealing the primary end ring to the shaft
sleeve. The two transfer chambers 257,259 are formed,
respectively, between the lands 251,253 and between the
lands 253,255. Airflow communication is established to
actuate the expandable sleeve 264 by way of the passage
16' in the shaft 210 through the port 93' in the shaft,
the air transfer chamber 247, the port 266 in the ~all of
the shaft sleeve, the chamber 257, the port 268 in the
primary end ring 225 leading to the chamber 270 within the
expandable sleeve.
Airfl~w communication for actuating the bladder 79" is
established by way of passage 18', the shaft port 104',
the air transfer chamber 249, the port 273 in the ~all
of the shaft sleeve, the air transfer chamber 259 and the
port 275 into the spacer 95' between the flanges 79"a,
79"b of the turnup bladder 79".
As in the previously described arbor the expandable
sleeve 264 is secured across and circumferentially in
the annular recess 282 by the split clamp rings 284
rigidly fixed to the primary end ring 225 to function as a
part thereo~. The gum rubber expandable beadseating ring
286 circumferentially surrounds and is supported by the
expandable sleeve 264. The forward edge portion 287
of the bladder is supported by the radially outer surface of '
the clan~p ring 288 so that the radially outer surface of the
turnup bladder 79", the beadseating ring 286, the split clamp
ring 284, the shells 212 and the spacer segments 214, when ~;
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used, are all at the uniform radlal height wlth respect
to the a~is 207.
A particular feature is provided in the shape of
the bead accommodating groove 291 extending circum-
ferentially about the beadseating ring 286. This groove291 is formed with a short side 291' forming approximate-
ly 30 degrees with a plane normal to the axis and a long-
er side 291" disposed at an angle of about 80 to 85
degrees with respect to the same plane.
The beadseating ring 286 is adhered to and made
integral with the forward edge 287 of the turnup bladder
79", the flange T9"a of which is secured by the split
ring clamp 288. The arrangement provides, as described
previously, that the beadseating ring when expanded by
the expandable sleeve 264 tends to expand to a greater
circumference at its edge axially inward of a bead ~, ,
thereon than it does at its axially outer edge adjoined
to the bladder. This difference in the degree of
expansion tends to rotate a typical axial cross-section
20 of the ring 286 thus to expand plies adjacent the bead
thereon to a diameter at least slightly greater than
the inside diameter of the inextensible bead. As in
the previously described arbor 10 this expansion of the
seating ring 286 is controlled independently of the
25 expansion of the turnup bladder itself.
Axially outwardly of the channel ring 95 ' the
turnup bladder is supported by the cylindrical surface ;
of the support sleeve 297, the flange 297 ' of which is
secured to and made a part of the primary end ring 225.
3 The sleeve 297 serves also to clamp the respective
flanges of the bladder to the primary end'ring.
In the arbor, Fig. 2, it will be observed upon
inspection of the drawing that the axial adjustment
capacity is increased considerably by the use of the
additional pair of air transfer chambers pro~ided by the
shaft sleeve. This adjustment is effected without the
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need to employ flexible tubing in the drum to connect
the expandab:Le sleeve and the turnup bladder with the
compressed air supply in the shaft. A part of the bead
set length adjustment can be effected by manipulating
the nut 296 on the threaded section 298, moving the
entire assembly a distance corresponding to the axial
length of the air transfer chambers relative to the
respective shaft ports without changing the axial
relation between the primary end ring and the shaft
sleeve. Additional, or independent adjustment of bead
set length can be accomplished similarly by moving the
primary end ring axially relative to the shaft sleeve
by the distance corresponding to the axial length of
the air transfer chamber~s. This is effected by providing
an annular spacer 301 of selected axial length between
the face of the flange 303 on the shaft sleeve 232 and
the opposing face of the primary end ring 225, and
of course substituting a cap screw of appropriate
length for the cap screw 305 illustrated.
The particular mechanical elements of the arbor 200
not described are identical to or similar in structure
and function to those described in connection with the
arbor of Fig. l.
While certain representative embodiments and
details have been shown ~or 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.
