Method of producing a spliceless annular tread cap
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorKarl J. Siegenthaler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of producing a spliceless annular tread cap (2), whereby a portion (23) of an extruded tube (21) of green elastomeric material is fed inside an annular body (8), the inner annular surface (17) of which presents a diameter approximately equal to but no smaller than the outside diameter of the tubular portion (23), and negatively reproduces the pattern of the finished tread cap (2). The tubular portion (23) is expanded and calendered against the inner surface (17) of the annular body (8) by means of a roller (34) moved into a position coplanar with and eccentric in relation to the annular body (8).
Claims5
A method of producing a spliceless annular tread cap, comprising the steps of extruding a continuous spliceless tube of elastomeric material;
- cutting said continuous tube into spliceless preformed tubular portions;
- feeding one of said preformed spliceless tubular portions directly inside an annular body, an inner annular surface of said annular body presenting a diameter approximately equal to but no smaller than, the outside diameter of said tubular portion, and negatively reproduces the pattern of the finished tread cap;
- fitting said tubular portion inside said annular body and about a roller positioned within said annular body;
- bringing said roller into contact with said tubular portion;
- and rolling said roller along the inner surface of said annular body, so as to radially expand and calendar said tubular portion against the inner surface of said annular body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.