Drum for building and shaping blanks for radial-ply tyres

Claim 2

A tire carcass building and shaping drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing therebetween, an extension drum being coaxially fixed to each of said bead holders and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire carcass axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire carcass, said bead holders and tire carcass closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire carcass disposed between said bead holders, and a fastening means at said supporting element for axially fixing thereto of a tire carcass.

Claim 3

A tire carcass building and shaping drum according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means has a ring which surrounds the building and shaping drum and is provided with an element adapted to be pressed from the outside against the tire carcass.

Claim 4

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-shaped bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, at least one extension drum being coaxially fixed to at least one of said bead holders and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, wherein said fastening means comprises a fastening device having a ring which surrounds the mounting drum and includes an element adapted to be pressed from the outside against the tire band.

Claim 5

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-shaped bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, at least one extension drum being coaxially fixed to at least one of said bead holders and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, wherein said fastening means comprises a fastening device having a ring which surrounds the mounting drum and includes an element adapted to be pressed from the outside against the tire band.

Claim 6

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, at least one extension drum being coaxially fixed to at Least one of said bead holders and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, wherein said fastening means comprises a fastening device having suction apertures, a chamber and an evacuation device and being carried by one of said supporting element and bead holder, said apertures leading into said chamber which is connected to said evacuation device.

Claim 7

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, at least one extension drum being coaxially fixed to at Least one of said bead holders and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, wherein said fastening means comprises a fastening device having suction apertures, a chamber and an evacuation device and being carried by one of said supporting element and bead holder, said apertures leading into said chamber which is connected to said evacuation device.

Claim 8

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, an extension drum coaxially fixed to a said bead holder and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, only one of the bead holders having an extension drum and the other bead holder being provided with said fastening means for the axial fastening thereto of the tire band, wherein a movable support is provided for the supporting element and other bead holder and said one bead holder is axially stationary.

Claim 9

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, an extension drum coaxially fixed to a said bead holder and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, only one of the bead holders having an extension drum and the other bead holder being provided with said fastening means for the axial fastening thereto of the tire band, wherein a movable support is provided for the supporting element and other bead holder and said one bead holder is axially stationary.

Claim 10

Device according to claim 5, wherein said extension drum has a closed, jointless peripheral surface and is of one piece.

Claim 11

Device according to claim 7, wherein the fastening means comprises a bead core surrounding said radially expandible element of said other bead holder and fixing said tire band therebetween upon expansion of said last mentioned expandible element for pulling said tire band substantially off said single extension drum and locating the trailing end thereof on said one bead holder for thereafter allowing application of a further bead core at said one bead holder.

Claim 12

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, an extension drum coaxially fixed to a said bead holder and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, only one of the bead holders having an extension drum and the other bead holder being prOvided with said fastening means for the axial fastening thereto of the tire band, said fastening means comprising a bead core surrounding said radially expandible element of said other bead holder and fixing said tire band therebetween upon expansion of said last mentioned expandible element for pulling said tire band substantially off said single extension drum and locating the trailing end thereof on said one bead holder for thereafter allowing application of a further bead core at said one bead holder, including means for moving said support element axially toward and away from said one bead holder upon corresponding relative movement between said bead holders and at a fraction of the speed thereof.

Claim 13

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, an extension drum coaxially fixed to a said bead holder and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially fixing the tire band on a supporting element or a given bead holder to axially locate the tire band, only one of the bead holders having an extension drum and the other bead holder being prOvided with said fastening means for the axial fastening thereto of the tire band, said fastening means comprising a bead core surrounding said radially expandible element of said other bead holder and fixing said tire band therebetween upon expansion of said last mentioned expandible element for pulling said tire band substantially off said single extension drum and locating the trailing end thereof on said one bead holder for thereafter allowing application of a further bead core at said one bead holder, including means for moving said support element axially toward and away from said one bead holder upon corresponding relative movement between said bead holders and at a fraction of the speed thereof.

Claim 14

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, an extension drum being associated with and coaxially fixed to each bead holder and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially bead fixing and locating the tire band, said fastening means comprising a fastening device at said supporting element for axial fastening thereto of the tire band.

Claim 15

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, comprising a cylindrical mounting drum for mounting of a tire band, said mounting drum having two initially close-spaced bead holders, at least one of said bead holders being axially shiftable to increase the spacing between said bead holders, an extension drum being associated with and coaxially fixed to each bead holder and extending from the outer end thereof for supporting an end portion of said tire band axially slidably thereon, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space, a supporting element for the tire band and which is disposed between said bead holders, and fastening means for axially bead fixing and locating the tire band, said fastening means comprising a fastening device at said supporting element for axial fastening thereto of the tire band.

Claim 16

Device according to claim 9, wherein the fastening device has a ring which surrounds the mounting drum and is provided with an element adapted to be pressed from the outside against a tire band.

Claim 17

Device according to claim 10, including means for moving said bead holders axially in opposite directions away from said supporting element.

Claim 18

Device according to claim 9, including an inner shaft, a hollow intermediate shaft and a hollow outer shaft arranged telescopingly and relatively slidably, one said bead holder being carried by said inner shaft, said support element being carried by and adjacent the end of said intermediate shaft, said outer shaft carrying the other bead holder adjacent the end of said outer shaft to permit close axial spacing of the peripheries of said bead holders and support element upon sliding of said shafts one into the other.

Claim 19

Device according to claim 9, wherein said bead holders comprise radially inner and outer portions, the radially inner portions defining chamber portions radially inward of said outer portions and opening axially toward the support element located therebetween, said bead holders in their initial close-spaced position having axially facing walls on the radially outer portions thereof engageable with the periphery of said support element located therebetween for defining a substantially axially continuous peripheral wall for radially supporting the central portion of the tire band thereon, said bead holders having the outer portions thereof axially spaced from the periphery of said support element upon being axially shifted to increase said spacing therebetween, and said chamber portions thereby being enlarged to extend radially to the tire band.

Claim 20

Device according to claim 13, in which said radially expandible elements on said bead holders each include a circumferentially continuous resilient part incorporating said groove and being recessed in and radially expandible from said outer portion of the corresponding bead holder, said continuous resilient part having a substantially conical surface at the axially inner end thereof, a seal band on said outer portion having an edge slidable agAinst such conical surface during expansion and contraction of said continuous resilient part for preventing pressure medium flow therepast between the exterior of the mounting drum and said chamber portion despite radial expansion and contraction of said continuous resilient portion.

Claim 21

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, said blank having a central portion flanked by bead receiving end portions, said device comprising an axially segmented cylindrical mounting drum having a rigid and substantially continuous but axially segmented peripheral surface for directly contacting and supporting the length of a tire band, said mounting drum having one segment of said substantially continuous peripheral surface which comprises two initially close-spaced bead holders, said mounting drum having only one extension drum, said one extension drum defining the remaining segment of said substantially continuous peripheral surface and being coaxially fixed to one of said bead holders and extending from the outer end thereof to an extent sufficient for supporting a corresponding bead receiving end portion and the major part of said central portion of said tire band directly axially slidably thereon with the other bead receiving end portion on the other said bead holder, means axially shiftably supporting the extension drum for separating said bead holders and sliding said corresponding bead receiving end portion from said extension drum to the bead holder fixed thereto, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band directly closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space to expand said tire band to torodial shape, said other bead holder being provided with fastening means for allowing said axial movement of the extension drum relative to the tire band by axially fixing the tire band.

Claim 22

Device for building and shaping of a blank for a belted tire, said blank having a central portion flanked by bead receiving end portions, said device comprising an axially segmented cylindrical mounting drum having a rigid and substantially continuous but axially segmented peripheral surface for directly contacting and supporting the length of a tire band, said mounting drum having one segment of said substantially continuous peripheral surface which comprises two initially close-spaced bead holders, said mounting drum having only one extension drum, said one extension drum defining the remaining segment of said substantially continuous peripheral surface and being coaxially fixed to one of said bead holders and extending from the outer end thereof to an extent sufficient for supporting a corresponding bead receiving end portion and the major part of said central portion of said tire band directly axially slidably thereon with the other bead receiving end portion on the other said bead holder, means axially shiftably supporting the extension drum for separating said bead holders and sliding said corresponding bead receiving end portion from said extension drum to the bead holder fixed thereto, radially expandible elements on the periphery of said bead holders, said radially expandible elements having grooves and being expandible to bring said grooves into direct air-tight engagement with the tire band, said bead holders and tire band directly closing an air-tight space therewithin, means for introducing a pressure medium into said space to expand said tire band to torodial shape, said other bead holder being provided with fastening means for allowing said axial movement of the extension drum relative to the tire band by axially fixing the tire band.