Method of preparing a tire for mounting
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorsNeel K. Mani, John L. Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of preparing a tire for mounting includes providing a tire having a central axis and at least two bead portions, including a first bead portion and a second bead portion. The method also includes providing a plurality of members and moving the plurality of members outward until each of the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the tire and causes the first bead portion to deflect outwards at a plurality of locations. The method further includes rotating at least one of the tire and the plurality of members about the central axis of the tire while the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the tire.
Claims17
A method of preparing a vulcanized tire for mounting on a wheel, the method comprising:
- providing a vulcanized tire having a pair of bead portions, including a first bead portion and a second bead portion;
- providing a plurality of tire engaging members comprising oppositely disposed telescopic arms;
- moving the plurality of tire engaging members outward, such that a radially outward force is applied to the first bead portion at a plurality of locations and the first bead portion deflects outward by a distance of 5 to 10 centimeters;
- and
- rotating the plurality of tire engaging members in a first direction about a central axis of the vulcanized tire, such that each of the tire engaging members moves relative to the vulcanized tire while engaging the first bead portion.
A method of preparing a vulcanized tire for mounting, the method comprising:
- providing a vulcanized tire having a central axis and at least two bead portions, including a first bead portion and a second bead portion;
- providing a plurality of members;
- moving the plurality of members outward until each of the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the vulcanized tire and causes the first bead portion to deflect outwards at a plurality of locations by a distance of 5 to 10 centimeters;
- and
- rotating the vulcanized tire and the plurality of members about the central axis of the vulcanized tire while the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the vulcanized tire, such that the plurality of members rotates relative to the vulcanized tire.
The method of preparing a vulcanized tire for mounting on a wheel, the method comprising:
- providing a vulcanized tire having a central axis;
- providing a plurality of rollers;
- moving each of the plurality of rollers into contact with at least one bead portion of the vulcanized tire such that each of the plurality of rollers applies a radially outward force to the at least one bead portion and causes an outward deflection of between 5 and 10 centimeters;
- rotating the plurality of rollers about the central axis of the vulcanized tire;
- and
- rotating the vulcanized tire about the central axis relative to the plurality of rollers, while each of the plurality of rollers continues to apply a radially outward force to the at least one bead portion and cause an outward deflection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.