Pneumatic core shaft

Claim 1

A CORE SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY FOR WINDERS COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS ONE-PIECE CENTER SHAFT HAVING JOURNAL ENDS AND HAVING A CENTER PORTION OF REDUCED DIAMETER DEFINING ANNULAR SHOULDERS SPACED AXIALLY INWARDLY FROM THE ENDS AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID CENTER PORTION, AN ELASTOMERIC TUBE COAXIALLY POSITIONED OVER SAID CENTER SHAFT, CLAMPING MEANS HOLDING THE ENDS OF THE TUBE AGAINST THE ANNULAR SHOULDERS TO FORM AN ANNULAR AIR CHAMBER BETWEEN THE CENTER PORTION OF THE SHAFT AND THE TUBE, ANNULAR SLOPING SURFACES EXTENDING BETWEEN EACH OF THE SHOULDERS AND SAID CENTER PORTION AND COACTING WITH SAID CENTER PORTION TO FORM A SEAT FOR THE TUBE WHEN IT IS COLLAPSED RADIALLY INWARDLY, MEANS DEFINING AN INFLATION PASSAGE EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM ONE END OF THE CENTER SHAFT AND OPENING INTO SAID AIR CHAMBER, AN OUTER TUBULAR SHELL CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED AT ITS ENDS ON THE CENTER SHAFT AND HAVING AXIALLY AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RADIAL OPENINGS THEREIN, INDIVIDUAL EXPANDER PLATES EXTENDING AXIALLY AND LOCATED BETWEEN THE TUBE AND OUTER SHELL FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF THE AIR CHAMBER PROVIDING CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPACES BETWEEN THE PLATES WHEN FORCED OUTWARDLY AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OUTER SHELL, AND OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FRICTION BUTTONS ON EACH OF THE EXPANDER PLATES ALIGNED WITH THE OPENINGS IN THE OUTER SHELL FOR FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE INNER SURFACES OF A CORE ON THE ASSEMBLY.