Manufacture of radial-carcass tires

A tire building machine including a drum having a flexible surface adapted to be converted from a generally cylindrical to a tire shape, flange means forming the ends of said drum, said flexible surface extending axially between said flange means, rigid tire crown form sectors supporting said surface internally, and means to move said flanges inwardly and said sectors outwardly with the surface conforming to said sectors to form a drum of tire shape.

A tire building machine including a drum having a flexible surface adapted to be converted from a generally cylindrical to a toric shape, rigid support means for said surface in the center of said drum, first drive means operative to move the ends of said drum toward each other, and second drive means operative to move said support means radially outwardly in synchronized fashion with said first drive means to obtain positive controlled conversion.

A tire building machine comprising a drum adapted to be converted from generally cylindrical to toroidal shape, said drum including a uniformly distensible flexible surface and a rigid support for said surface in both the generally cylindrical and toroidal conditions of said drum, said distensible flexible surface including a plurality of circumferentially extending extensible springs.

A tire building machine comprising a drum adapted to be converted from generally cylindrical to toroidal shape, said drum including a uniformly distensible flexible surface and a rigid support for said surface in both the generally cylindrical and toroidal conditions of said drum, said rigid support comprising a plurality of sectors, and means to move said sectors radially comprising levers of equal length, each being pivoted to one end of each sector.

A tire building machine including a drum having a flexible surface adapted to be converted from a generally cylindrical to a toric shape, rigid support means for said surface, drive means operative radially to expand said rigid support means as said drum is converted to toric shape uniformly circumferentially to distend said flexible surface, axially extending flexible members overlying said rigid support means, and circumferentially extensible spring means overlying said members.

A tire building machine comprising a drum adapted to be converted from generally cylindrical to toroidal shape, said drum including a uniformly distensible flexible surface and a rigid internal support for said surface in both the generally cylindrical and toroidal conditions of said drum, said rigid support for said surface comprising a plurality of preformation sectors, means to move said sectors radially as said drum is converted from generally cylindrical to toroidal shape, and link means supporting said preformation sectors for such radial movement, the inner end of each of such link means being connected to a screw drive for moving the inner ends toward and away from each other symmetrically.

A tire building machine including a drum having a flexible surface adapted to be converted from a generally cylindrical to a toric shape, rigid support means for said surface internally thereof, drive means operative radially to expand said rigid support means as said drum is converted to toric shape uniformly circumferentially to distend said flexible surface, said rigid support means including a plurality of tire crown shaped sectors movable radially beneath said surface to provide a rigid support in both conditions of conversion of said drum, and means to move the ends of said drum axially as said sectors are moved radially.

A tire building machine comprising a drum adapted to be converted from generally cylindrical to toroidal shape, said drum including a uniformly distensible flexible surface and a rigid internal support for said surface underlying and directly supporting said surface in both the generally cylindrical and toroidal conditions of said drum, and including flexible members extending inwardly from the ends of said drum, said rigid support being connected to and centered with respect to said members.

A tire building machine including a drum having a flexible surface adapted to be converted from a generally cylindrical to a toric shape, rigid support means underlying and supporting said surface in both the cylindrical and toric shape internally thereof, drive means operative radially to expand said rigid support means as said drum is converted to toric shape uniformly circumferentially to distend said flexible surface, and axially extending flexible members overlying said rigid support means.

A tire building machine including a drum having ends with a flexible cylindrical surface extending between said ends adapted to be converted from a generally cylindrical to tire shape, rigid tire crown form sectors supporting said surface centrally internally, a control shaft extending axially through said drum, and drive means interconnecting said control shaft and said sectors to move said sectors radially outwardly uniformly with the flexible surface conforming to said sectors as the drum ends move toward each other to form a drum of tire shape.