Metal forming module for a building drum
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorKarl J. Siegenthaler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A building drum (1) wherein two half drums (9, 10) are moved equally and oppositely along the same axis (6) between a parted idle position and an adjacent forming position. Each half drum (9, 10) supports an annular end element (29) of a tubular, axially deformable forming module (28), an intermediate tubular body (30) which is defined by a number of side-by-side, partially superimposed metal blades (40) connecting the two annular end elements (29) and movable to and from a deformed position wherein the blades (40) define a toroidal body (48) substantially corresponding negatively in shape to that of a finished tire (49).
Claims3
A forming module connectable releasably to a tire building drum comprising two annular end elements connectable releasably to respective half drums;
- an intermediate tubular body connected at opposite ends to said annular end elements;
- the tubular body comprising a number of side-by-side, partially superimposed elastic metal blades;
- each of said blades comprising a pair of ends and an intervening wider central portion circumferentially overlapping the wider central portion of the adjacent blade;
- a plurality of recesses formed in each of the annular end elements and spaced circumferentially therealong;
- and each blade end having an end portion connected to the central portion of the blade by a narrow hinge portion, said narrow hinge portions engaging respective recesses to hingedly mount the blades to said annular end elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.