Patent GB-1373120-A (GB)
Title: Tyre making apparatus
IPC: B29D30/24
Filed: 1971-11-17
Abstract: 1373120 Tyre making apparatus NATIONAL-STANDARD CO 17 Nov 1971 [24 Sept 1971] 53340/71 Heading B7C  In a tyre making apparatus including a central radially expansible drum 4 and end drum assemblies 5, 6, which, when the drum 4 is unexpanded  can together receive and support a preformed cylindrical tyre carcass 1, having bead cores 205, for subsequent shaping to toroidal form by expansion of the drum 4, each assembly 5, 6 includes bead supporting means 80 movable from an inoperative position, Fig. 5, in which the means are out of engagement with the-carcass 7, to an operative position, Figs. 1a and 1b, in which the means are in slipping engagement with the carcass 7 axially and radially inwardly of a bead core 205. The assemblies 5, 6 are mounted on sleeves 90 slidable on a hollow shaft 32 carrying the drum 4, the sleeves being connected to members 31 which move axially to expand and contract the drum 4 such that, on expansion and contraction of the drum 4, the assemblies 5, 6 move towards and away from one another respectively. Each means 80 is supported on carrier means movable axially of the associated sleeve 90 and is connected to an actuating member 135 movable axially inwardly relative to the carrier means to dispose the means 80 to the inoperative position and movable axially outwardly relative to the carrier means to move the means 80 to the operative position, a stop 160 being provided on the carrier means to limit the axially outward travel of the member 135 and thus ensure that, in the operative position, the means 80 are in slipping engagement with the carcass 7. In the illustrated embodiment the drum 4 is formed from a plurality of segments 8 each supported on a pair of arms 17 having gear quadrants 24 which mesh at the centre plane of the drum, each arm 17 being pivotally mounted to a respective one of the members 31 and the members 31 being connected to respective nuts 30 mounted on oppositely screw-threaded portions of a shaft 26 whereby rotation of the shaft 26 effects the axial movement of the members 31 and hence radial movement of the segments 8. The segments 8 are covered by an elastic sleeve 36 anchored at its ends in the assemblies 5, 6. Each carrier means comprises a first sleeve 89 mounted on the associated sleeve 90 and a second sleeve 122 mounted on the first and connected to the associated means 80. The sleeves 89 are adjustable in axial position on the sleeves 90, by rotation of a shaft 81 carrying screwthreaded collars 85, 86 engaged with tapped pins 83 fixed to the sleeves 89, in order that the apparatus may be adapted for operation on carcasses 7 of various lengths. Pistons 166 and 170 are contained between each sleeve 89 and the associated sleeve 122, temporary admission of pressurized fluid to a chamber 173 between the pistons on initial expansion of the drum 4 causing the piston 170, which is fixed to the sleeve 122, to be held against a stop, e.g. 175, and hence causing the sleeve 122, and therefore the means 80, to be held in the position shown in Figs. 1a and 1b whilst the drum 4 expands thereby causing tensioning of the carcass 7. Axial movement of each member 135 is effected by the action of pressurized fluid on pistons 148, 152 contained between the member 135 and the associated sleeve 122, the axial movement of the member 135 being translated into pivotal movement of the means 80 through a lever system constructed as shown in Figs. 1a and 1b. The assemblies 5, 6 may have covering shells 144, 182 respectively and there may be a member 101 on the shell 144, which member serves to roughly centre the carcass 7 when it is initially positioned on the apparatus. The covering shells may also carry inflatable bladders for applying sidewall rubbers to the carcass 7 when the latter has been shaped (Fig. 11, not shown). Specification 1,361,679 is referred to.