Method of and means for forming the bead portions of pneumatic tires

Claim 1

THE HEREIN DESCRIBED METHOD OF APPLYING A BEAD RING TO AN END OF A PLY BAND THAT OVERLIES AN END SHOULDER OF A TIRE BUILDING DRUM WHICH COMPRISES PRESSING A BEAD RING AXIALLY AGAINST THE PORTION OF THE PLY BAND OVERLYING SAID DRUM SHOULDER, EXPANDING AN ANNULAR INFLATABLE AIR BAG AGAINST THE PORTION OF THE PLY BAND WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE BEAD RING, THE MAXIMUM DIAMETER OF SAID BAG IN ITS RELAXED CONDITION BEING LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM DIAMETER OF SAID DRUM, EXERTING AN AXIAL OUTWARD PULL ON THE PORTION OF THE BAG ENGAGING THE PLY BAND, EXPANDING THE PORTION OF THE BAG DISPOSED AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE BEAD RING TO FOLD THE PLY BAND RADIALLY OUTWARDLY PAST THE OUTER SIDE OF THE BEAD RING, SHIFTING THE EXPANDED PORTION OF THE BAG AXIALLY INWARDLY TO PRESS THE PLY BAND AGAINST THE OUTER SIDE OF THE BEAD RING, FORCING THE RADIALLY OUTER PORTION OF THE INFLATED BAG AXIALLY INWARDLY OVER THE DRUM SHOULDER AND HOLDING SAID PORTION AGAINST AXIAL OUTWARD MOVEMENT WHILE RAPIDLY DEFLATING THE BAG TO CAUSE THE PORTION OF THE BAG SURROUNDING THE DRUM PERIPHERY TO COLLAPSE AND CONSTRICT INTO GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TURNED BACK PORTION OF THE PLY BAND SURROUNDING THE END PORTION OF THE DRUM PERIPHERY TO STITCH THE SAME TO THE PORTION OF THE BAND WHICH IT OVERLIES, AND RELEASING SAID BAG FROM THE DRUM AND RETURNING IT TO A POSITION CLEAR OF THE DRUM.