Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of removing an uncured tire from a tire builDing drum on which the tire has been built, wherein said drum has an open end and comprises a plurality of segments each movable in coordinately timed relation with the others of said segments and spaced about the longitudinal axis of the drum, said segments being movable simultaneously inwardly toward said axis and axially therealong to collapse said drum in response to force exerted on any of said segments in a direction toward said open end, said method comprising effecting such movement to collapse said drum simply by carrying said tire toward and over said open end.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of removing an uncured tire from a tire builDing drum on which the tire has been built, wherein said drum has an open end and comprises a plurality of segments each movable in coordinately timed relation with the others of said segments and spaced about the longitudinal axis of the drum, said segments being movable simultaneously inwardly toward said axis and axially therealong to collapse said drum in response to force exerted on any of said segments in a direction toward said open end, said method comprising effecting such movement to collapse said drum simply by carrying said tire toward and over said open end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including supporting said tire coaxially of said drum during exertion of said force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, including effecting the support of said tire by means engaging only the exterior surface of said tire while collapsing the drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, including, while said tire is so supported, moving the tire coaxially of and axially off said drum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, including engaging at least one of said segments with an interior surface of said tire while moving said tire in a direction parallel to said axis thereby to continue the movement of said segments toward said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including supporting said tire by means suspended from above the tire, and after an initial movement of said tire axially of said drum, moving said tire a small distance radially of said axis to effect a further inward movement of said segments toward said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, said tire being of greater weight than can be maneuvered manually, and said carrying including engaging a portion of the outer circumference thereof with a flexible supporting band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drum includes at least one set of segments additional to said plurality of segments, further comprising removing completely each of said at least one additional sets of segments while supporting said tire and before moving said tire coaxially of itself.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A tire building drum comprising a shaft mountable on a spindle of a tire building machine, a plurality of sets of segments cooperable to provide a rigid tire building surface, one set of segments being connected to said shaft and to each other for coordinately timed movement relative to said shaft, the remainder of said sets comprising segments individually removably connectable to the respectively associated segments of said one set, means responsive to movement of a tire coaxially of said drum and operative after removal of said remainder of said sets to collapse said one set inwardly to allow continuing coaxial movement of said tire off said drum, said means responsive to movement of said tire comprising means articulatedly connecting the segments of said one set to said shaft for effecting said movement of said segments of said one set axially away from said spindle and radially inwardly toward said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A tire building drum comprising a shaft mountable on a spindle of a tire building machine, a plurality of sets of segments cooperable to provide a rigid tire building surface, one set of segments being connected to said shaft and to each other for coordinately timed movement relative to said shaft, the remainder of said sets comprising segments individually removably connectable to the respectively associated segments of said one set, means responsive to movement of a tire coaxially of said drum and operative after removal of said remainder of said sets to collapse said one set inwardly to allow continuing coaxial movement of said tire off said drum, said means responsive to movement of said tire comprising means articulatedly connecting the segments of said one set to said shaft for effecting said movement of said segments of said one set axially away from said spindle and radially inwardly toward said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A drum as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means connecting said segments of said one set comprises a pair of collars secured coaxially on said shaft and spaced axially therealong, and a plurality of articulating links each pinconnected respectively to one of said collars and to a respectively associated end portion of one of the segments of said one set.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A drum as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said remainder of said sets of segments comprises a drum end ring extending radially inwardly from and with respect to the said one set of segments while the same are in their radially outward position to form a portion of said building surface for supporting a sidewall and bead portion of said tire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A drum as claimed in claim 11, said end ring comprising a key segment and a plurality of arcuate segments cooperable to form an endless annular ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A drum as claimed in claim 12, said end ring being cooperatively inter-engageable with the respectively associated ends of the segmEnts of said one set and disposed radially inwardly thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A drum as claimed in claim 9, including means interconnecting the respective segments of said one set for radially inward and radially outward movement in coordinated timed relation with respect to one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A drum as claimed in claim 14, said means interconnecting said respective segments of said one set comprising means slidable coaxially of said drum, and a plurality of timing links each pin-connected to said slidable means and to a respectively associated one of said connected segments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
A drum as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means connecting said respective segments comprises a pair of collars secured coaxially on said shaft and spaced axially therealong, and a plurality of articulating links each pin-connected respectively to one of said collars and to the respectively associated end portion of one of said respective segments, said sliding means comprising a collar mounted coaxially and slidably on said shaft between the first said collars.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A drum as claimed in claim 16, further including lock means for locking said at least one of said links in a position perpendicular to said shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drum as claimed in claim 17, said lock means comprising a nut threadably engageable with said shaft to bear against respectively associated links while the same are in said position.