Inflatable membrane and method for shaping pneumatic tires

Claim 2

A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBRANE WHICH IS EXPANDABLE TO A GENERAL CONFIGURATION OF A TORUS FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING TIRES, SAID MEMBRANE COMPRISING A CENTRAL PORTION EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THEREABOUT, TWO END PORTIONS EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THEREABOUT AND DISPOSED ONE EACH ON AXIALLY OPPOSED SIDES OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, AND A CORD REINFORCING

Claim 3

A membrane as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central portion extends for at least 4 inches in axial directions and is disposed midway between the axially outer ends of said membrane.

Claim 4

A membrane as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cord reinforcing structure includes a layer of cords with said cords extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said membrane.

Claim 5

A membrane as claimed in claim 2, wherein said central portions is free of any cord reinforcing structure.

Claim 6

A membrane as claimed in claim 3, wherein said central portion is free of any cord reinforcing structure.

Claim 7

In a tire building drum of the type including a generally cylindrical membrane for supporting tire components and adapted to be axially collapsed in conjunction with inflation of the membrane to a general configuration of a torus, the improvement comprising; said membrane having a central portion extending circumferentially thereabout and a pair of portions extending circumferentially about said membrane and disposed on axially opposite sides of said central portion, each portion of said pair of portions having a greater resistance to expansion than said central portion.

Claim 8

In a tire building drum of the type including a generally cylindrical membrane for supporting tire components and adapted to be axially collapsed in conjunction with inflation of the membrane to a general configuration of a torus, the improvement comprising; said membrane having a central portion extending circumferentially thereabout and a pair of portions extending circumferentially about said membrane and disposed on axially opposite sides of said central portion, each portion of said pair of portions having a greater resistance to expansion than said central portion.

Claim 9

The improvement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the central portion of said membrane extends for at least 4 inches in axial directions and is disposed midway between the axially outer ends of said membrane.

Claim 10

The improvement as claimed in claim 7, further including a fabric reinforcing structure disposed in each portion of said pair of portions, each said fabric reinforcing structure extending from the respectively axially outer end of said membrane toward said central portion but terminating short of said central portion.

Claim 11

The improvement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said reinforcing structure includes a layer of cords with said cords extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said membrane.

Claim 12

In a tire building drum of the type including a generally cylindrical membrane and adapted to be axially collapsed in conjunction with inflation of the membrane from a generally cylindrical configuration to a configuration of a torus, the improvement comprising; said membrane having an elastically isotropic central portion extending circumferentially thereabout and a pair of elastically non-isotropic portions extending circumferentially about said membrane and disposed on axially opposite sides of said central portion.

Claim 13

In a tire building drum of the type including a generally cylindrical membrane and adapted to be axially collapsed in conjunction with inflation of the membrane from a generally cylindrical configuration to a configuration of a torus, the improvement comprising; said membrane having an elastically isotropic central portion extending circumferentially thereabout and a pair of elastically non-isotropic portions extending circumferentially about said membrane and disposed on axially opposite sides of said central portion.

Claim 14

The improvement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the central portion of said membrane extends for at least 4 inches in axial directions and is disposed midway between the axially outer ends of said membrane.

Claim 15

The improvement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said central portion of said membrane is free of aNy cord reinforcing structure.

Claim 16

The improvement as claimed in claim 12, further including a fabric reinforcing structure disposed in each portion of said pair of elastically non-isotropic portions, said fabric reinforcement extending from the respective axially outer end of said membrane toward the central portion of said membrane but terminating short of said central portion.

Claim 17

The improvement as claimed in claim 13, wherein said fabric reinforcing structure includes a layer of cords with said cords extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said membrane.