Patent Description:
The manufacture of a vehicle tire commonly includes the steps of forming a tire carcass, forming a belt and tread portion of the tire separately of the carcass, and thereafter marrying the belt and tread portion of the tire to the carcass to form a "green" tire. The green tire is thereafter treated to form the tread and various other features of the tire and to vulcanize the rubber components of the tire.

Formation of the various portions of a tire is typically accomplished using one or more tire building drums of the type defining a cylindrical working surface. For example, formation of the tire carcass portion of the tire is typically accomplished on a rotatable and expandable and collapsible tire building drum commonly referred to as a "first stage drum" or a "carcass drum". Certain designs of carcass drums are designed to be radially expandable and collapsible, and may be referred to as a "radial expand/collapse" drum or "REC" drum. In typical carcass drums, the rotatable drum comprises a plurality of segments defining the outer circumference of the drum. The segments forming the outer circumference of the drum are adapted to be driven between an expanded position, in which a tire carcass may be formed on the drum, and a collapsed position, in which a formed carcass may be removed from the tire building drum.

With the carcass drum configured in the expanded position, the carcass drum is rotated about a central axis. As the carcass drum rotates, individual components of the tire carcass are overlaid onto an outer circumference of the drum to form a plurality of cylindrical-shaped layers. At least one, and in some cases multiple, rigid or semi-rigid rings called "beads" are positioned surrounding each opposite circumferential end of the tire carcass layers. The circumferential ends of the tire carcass layers are then wrapped over the respective beads and joined to the more inward surface portions of the tire carcass layers to form finished outer circumferential edges of the tire carcass.

Typical carcass drums are often equipped with rounded outer circumferential edges of the working surface of the drum, called "shoulders". These outer shoulders of the drum are typically contoured to allow the beads and outer circumferential edges of a finished tire carcass to wrap over and extend slightly radially inward from the outer working surface of the drum. Thus, when the tire carcass is formed and finished on the outer working surface of the carcass drum, the radially inward extension of the beads and outer circumferential edges of the finished tire carcass serve to "trap" the carcass drum within the finished tire carcass. In other words, so long as the carcass drum remains in the expanded position, the tire carcass is form fitted to the exterior working surface and the inwardly-curved shoulders, and thus cannot be removed from the carcass drum. However, when driven to the collapsed position, the finished tire carcass may be removed from the carcass drum and transported to subsequent tire building drums for further operations in the manufacture of a tire.

When a tire carcass is transported from a carcass drum to subsequent drums for continued tire manufacture, it is not uncommon for the tire carcass to deform, thereby resulting in at least a portion of the tire carcass forming imperfections, such as for example crimps, bulges, thin spots, or the like. When a finished tire that includes these imperfections rolls across a surface, repeated contact of the portions of the tire containing the imperfections in the tire components with the surface can, in certain circumstances, result in undesirable performance features of the finished tire, such as for example vibration and/or resonance of the rolling tire. Such vibration and/or resonance can result in undesirable noise and/or shaking of the tire, increased wear and shortened life of the tire, and in some extreme instances, catastrophic failure of the tire.

For these and other reasons, various prior art designs for carcass drums include removable shoulder rings which may be fastened to the circumferential edges of the outer working surface of an expanded carcass drum to define the shoulder portions of the carcass drum while a tire carcass is being formed, and which may be unfastened from the circumferential edges of the outer working surface of the carcass drum to allow the outer working surface of the carcass drum to be collapsed. Thereafter, the finished tire carcass, along with the removable shoulder rings positioned within the inner circumference of the tire carcass, may be removed from the carcass drum. The tire carcass may then be transported with the shoulder rings held within the tire carcass inward of the bead edges, such that the shoulder rings continue to support the bead edges of the tire carcass in a substantially circular configuration during transport. Each shoulder ring typically defines a number of segments fastened together to form the rounded working surface of the carcass drum shoulder. Thus, once the tire carcass is ready to be positioned on a subsequent tire building drum for continued manufacture of a tire, each shoulder ring may be disassembled and removed from within the tire carcass.

Several prior art designs for shoulder rings employ threaded fasteners, such as screws, bolts, or the like, to accomplish fastening together of the segments to form the shoulder ring, as well as to accomplish fastening the shoulder ring to a corresponding edge of the outer working surface of a carcass drum. For designs employing such threaded fasteners, the time taken to accomplish the physical fastening and unfastening of the removable shoulder rings from a carcass drum, as well as the physical disassembly of each shoulder ring to remove the shoulder ring from within the tire carcass, can result in significant downtime during the tire manufacture process. Furthermore, this process results in significant additional labor associated with the repeated disassembly and reassembly of the shoulder rings, as well as their repeated fastening to and unfastening from the carcass drum. Thus, there exists a need to improve the design of a carcass drum and a removable shoulder ring for a carcass drum in order to increase efficiency of tire carcass fabrication and the tire manufacture process.

<CIT>discloses a collapsible tire building drum for use in tire manufacture.

According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a shoulder assembly is provided to be easily mounted on a tire building drum without fasteners, and to maintain its position inside a tire carcass when the tire building drum is collapsed.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a shoulder assembly to be mounted on a tire building drum, the shoulder assembly including a plurality of sections configured to interlock with another to form a shoulder ring to be mounted on a tire building drum when the tire building drum is in an expanded state, and a plurality of magnetic elements provided about a surface of the shoulder ring that is configured to contact a side of the tire building drum, the magnetic elements corresponding to holding magnetic elements in the tire building drum, wherein the shoulder ring is configured to maintain contact with the tire building drum during forming of a tire carcass, and wherein the shoulder ring is configured to maintain its shape and stay with the formed tire carcass when the tire building drum is collapsed.

Other features and aspects may be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

The following example embodiments are representative of example techniques and structures designed to carry out the objects of the present general inventive concept, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to these example embodiments. In the accompanying drawings and illustrations, the sizes and relative sizes, shapes, and qualities of lines, entities, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. A wide variety of additional embodiments will be more readily understood and appreciated through the following detailed description of the example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.

Reference will now be made to the example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodiments are described herein in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modification, and equivalents of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. The progression of fabrication operations described are merely examples, however, and the sequence type of operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, description of well-known functions and constructions may be simplified and/or omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

Note that spatially relative terms, such as "up," "down," "right," "left," "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features.

According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a shoulder assembly is provided to be used with a tire building machine, the shoulder assembly being configured to be attached to a carcass drum when the drum is expanded, but remaining in the tire carcass and separating from the drum when the drum is collapsed. It is understood that a pair of shoulder assemblies, a single of which may be referred to herein simply as a "shoulder," according to the present general inventive concept may be provided, with one shoulder secured to each of two opposite sides of a carcass drum during the formation of the tire carcass. However, for the sake of clarity, only one (i.e., one side) of the pair of shoulder assemblies will typically be described and illustrated herein. Furthermore, the terms "drum," "tire building drum," and/or "carcass drum" may be used interchangeably herein.

<FIG> and <FIG> each illustrate a perspective view of a simplified representation of a carcass drum <NUM>, including a pair of shoulder assemblies <NUM> constructed in accordance with one example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. It will be recognized that the shoulder assembly of the present general inventive concept may be used in connection with any of a large variety of designs of tire building drums. However, the simplified representation of the carcass drum <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is provided in order to illustrate various components of a carcass drum <NUM> which may be provided for use in connection with the shoulder assemblies <NUM> of the present general inventive concept. In this regard, the carcass drum <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> includes generally an elongated central hub assembly <NUM>, along with a plurality of substantially arcuate segments <NUM> supported about the hub assembly <NUM> in a substantially cylindrical configuration and configured for expanding and contracting movement between an expanded position (see <FIG>) and a collapsed position (see <FIG>). In the expanded position, shown in <FIG>, the segments <NUM> are arranged in an edge-to-edge configuration such that the segments <NUM> cooperate to form a substantially smooth cylindrical outer working surface <NUM> having a pair of opposite circumferential edges <NUM> defined by cooperating end edges of the arcuate segments <NUM>. In the collapsed position, shown in <FIG>, the segments <NUM> are drawn toward the central hub assembly <NUM> in a substantially overlapping configuration such that the overall carcass drum <NUM> has a relatively small overall diameter as compared to the diameter of the outer working surface <NUM> defined when the drum is in the expanded position.

It will be recognized that additional mechanical linkages and internal components <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> are provided to effect mounting of the segments <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> in relation to the central hub assembly <NUM> and to effect movement of the segments <NUM> between the collapsed position and the expanded position. However, a description of specific details of such mechanical linkages and internal components <NUM> is not necessary to the understanding of the present general inventive concept. Thus, for the convenience of this description, those additional internal mechanical linkages and internal components <NUM> are illustrated in a simplified manner in <FIG> and <FIG>. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand the structure and operation of the various mechanical linkages and internal components <NUM> of the carcass drum in view of multiple publications, such as for example <CIT>, issued to Painter. However, it will be understood that numerous other designs and configurations of tire building drums may also be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of one of the circumferential edges <NUM> of the cylindrical outer working surface <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>. According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the circumferential edges <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> each define a circumferential lip <NUM> which is offset slightly radially inwardly from the outer working surface <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> and which extends axially outwardly from the outer working surface <NUM> of the drum. Each circumferential lip <NUM> defines an axially outwardly facing annular planar surface <NUM>. As will be further discussed below, a plurality of magnetic elements <NUM> are provided at spaced-apart intervals about the circumferential lip <NUM>, with each magnetic element <NUM> being embedded in the lip <NUM> and facing axially outwardly along the annular planar surface <NUM> of the lip <NUM>. As described more fully herein, each shoulder assembly <NUM> may be configured to be attached to a corresponding outer circumferential edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> via the plurality of magnetic elements <NUM> disposed about the circumferential edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>, and via an additional plurality of magnetic elements disposed about the shoulder assembly <NUM>. Thus, the shoulder assembly <NUM> can be mounted upon the carcass drum <NUM> either in an assembled state, or can be assembled by mounting one piece of the shoulder assembly <NUM> at a time on the carcass drum <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a single shoulder assembly <NUM> according to one example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As can be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the view illustrated in <FIG> is of the outer side of the shoulder assembly <NUM> that faces away from the carcass drum <NUM> when mounted thereon. As illustrated in <FIG>, the shoulder assembly <NUM> includes a plurality of arcuate and interconnecting sections. In this example embodiment, four sections are provided, which for the convenience of this description can be referred to as a top section <NUM>, a bottom section <NUM>, a first side section <NUM>, and a second side section <NUM>. Each section <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is formed of a substantially rigid material, such as for example steel, aluminum, plastic, polyurethane, or the like. In various example embodiments, each section <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed of a non-magnetic material, such as for example polyurethane or other plastic, aluminum, or the like. In certain more discreet embodiments, one or more of the sections of the shoulder assembly may be formed of polyurethane.

Each of the sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> defines a substantially smooth, arcuate outer surface <NUM>, and, as will be described in further detail below, each section <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is adapted to be releasably connected to each of opposite adjacent sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in an end-to-end configuration, such that the sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> cooperate to form a circular ring shape. In this configuration, the various outer surfaces <NUM> of the sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> cooperate to define a substantially cylindrical outer working surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM>. Additionally, each section <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> defines an outermost edge <NUM> having a rounded shape, such that when the sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are connected in an end-to-end configuration, the various outer edges <NUM> of the sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> cooperate to define a substantially smooth and rounded contour defining a radiallyinwardly curved shoulder surface suitable for use in forming a finished outer circumferential edge of a tire carcass. In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the outer working surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> is formed to be substantially flush with the outer cylindrical working surface <NUM> of a carcass drum <NUM> when the carcass drum <NUM> is in the expanded position (see <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the inner side of the shoulder assembly <NUM> of <FIG>. As previously described, <FIG> illustrates the side of the shoulder assembly <NUM> that faces away from the carcass drum <NUM> when mounted thereon. Thus, <FIG> illustrates the side of the shoulder assembly <NUM> that faces and contacts the outer circumferential edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> when the shoulder assembly <NUM> is mounted thereon. The shoulder assembly <NUM> is formed such that an innermost circumferential edge <NUM> of the outer working surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> defines a lip <NUM> that is sized and shaped to fit onto and conform to the corresponding circumferential lip <NUM> of the corresponding edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> when the shoulder assembly <NUM> is mounted thereon. Thus, when the shoulder assembly <NUM> is positioned onto the outer circumferential edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> with the circumferential lip <NUM> of the drum <NUM> fully received within the lip defined by the circumferential edge <NUM> of the outer working surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM>, the two lips engage one another to position and maintain the outer working surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> flush and coaxial with the outer working surface <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>.

With further reference to <FIG>, the shoulder assembly <NUM> has an axially inward facing annular planar surface <NUM> that is offset axially inwardly from the lip <NUM> defined by the circumferential edge <NUM> of the outer working surface <NUM>, and that extends radially inwardly from the lip <NUM>. This radially inwardly extending annular surface <NUM> is configured to contact the above-discussed outer side surface <NUM> of the circumferential edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> when the lip <NUM> defined by the circumferential edge <NUM> of the outer working surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> is fully received onto the corresponding circumferential lip <NUM> of the corresponding edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>. The radially inwardly extending annular surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> is provided with a plurality of magnetic elements <NUM> arranged thereon which correspond to the magnetic elements <NUM> provided about the outer side surface <NUM> of the circumferential lip <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>. Thus, when the carcass drum <NUM> is moved to the expanded position and the shoulder assembly <NUM> is positioned onto the outer circumferential edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> with the circumferential lip <NUM> of the drum <NUM> fully received within the lip defined by the circumferential edge <NUM> of the outer working surface <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM>, each of the magnetic elements <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> may magnetically couple with and attract a corresponding one of the magnetic elements <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> to establish a releasable magnetic connection, thereby releasably securing the shoulder assembly <NUM> in position along the axial edge <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the top section <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> of <FIG>, mounted to one of the arcuate segments <NUM> forming the outer working surface <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in various example embodiments, the magnets <NUM>, <NUM> in the shoulder assembly <NUM> and the carcass drum <NUM> may be housed within aluminum shells <NUM>, <NUM> in which the magnet position may be adjustable, so that the force of magnetic attraction on the shoulder assembly <NUM> may be changed to an optimal force. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> is defined by a magnetic steel plug which is contained within a correspondingly sized aluminum shell <NUM>, <NUM> disposed within a blind bore defined in the corresponding shoulder assembly <NUM> or the carcass drum <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, each magnetic element <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> is fixed within the corresponding aluminum shell <NUM> via a frictional connection, adhesive, or the like. However, the magnetic element <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> is slidably received within the corresponding aluminum shell <NUM>. An adjustable set screw <NUM> is disposed within a through bore <NUM> defined by the arcuate segment <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> and is configured to extend into the aluminum shell <NUM> to threadably engage the corresponding magnetic element <NUM>. Thus, the adjustable set screw <NUM> may be rotatably adjusted to extend the magnetic element <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> toward the magnetic element <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM>, or to retract the magnetic element <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> away from the magnetic element <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM>. In this manner, the distance between corresponding pairs of mated magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be adjusted when the shoulder assembly <NUM> is mounted to the circumferential edge of the carcass drum <NUM>, thereby adjusting the force of attraction between each of the mated pairs of magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> to achieve optimal force. With such an arrangement of magnetic elements, no other fastening/attachment devices are needed to hold the shoulder assembly <NUM> on the carcass drum <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the magnetic element <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> is shown as fixed, while the set screw <NUM> and adjustable magnetic element <NUM> is illustrated in connection with the arcuate segment <NUM> forming the outer working surface <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>. However, this arrangement may be reversed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. In other words, in other example embodiments, the magnetic elements <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> may be adjustable, while the magnetic elements <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> may be fixed. In various other example embodiments, each of the magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> in the shoulder assembly <NUM> and the carcass drum <NUM> may be fixed within a corresponding shell, or within blind bores defined within the corresponding shoulder assembly <NUM> or carcass drum <NUM>. In still other embodiments, a carcass drum may be used in which no magnetic elements are provided thereon, and in which the magnetic elements <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> are configured to magnetically couple directly to the arcuate segments <NUM> forming the outer working surface <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM>.

It will be recognized that, in various embodiments similar to those shown in <FIG>, when the carcass drum <NUM> is in an expanded state, and the shoulder assembly <NUM> is mounted thereon and held in place by the magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM>, a tire carcass may be formed on the carcass drum <NUM> and shoulder assembly <NUM>. When the carcass drum <NUM> is collapsed, the interlocking shoulder assembly <NUM> stays in place within the tire carcass. The separation of the carcass drum <NUM> from the shoulder assembly is relatively easy, as the magnetic elements <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> and the magnetic elements <NUM> of the carcass drum <NUM> are facing each other when the carcass drum is in an expanded state, and when the carcass drum is collapsing, the carcass drum segments <NUM> move in a "wiping" or "shearing" radial force that separates the paired magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> in an easier fashion than would be encountered by pulling the elements axially apart from one another.

<FIG> illustrates the shoulder assembly of <FIG> with the top section <NUM> disassembled from the shoulder assembly <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the top section <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> is formed with a tongue or tenon <NUM> extending from each end, the tenon <NUM> corresponding to a groove <NUM> formed in the top ends of both the first and second side sections <NUM>, <NUM>. Similarly, the bottom section <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM> is formed with tenons <NUM> extending from each end, corresponding to grooves <NUM> formed in the bottom ends of the first and second side sections <NUM>, <NUM>. In various example embodiments, the tenons <NUM> and grooves <NUM> may be configured with substantially the same curvature as the outer diameter <NUM> of the shoulder assembly <NUM>. Thus, as illustrated in <FIG>, assembly of the top section <NUM> to the first and second side sections <NUM>,<NUM> is performed by moving the top section <NUM> in a lateral motion to slide the tenons <NUM> into the grooves <NUM>. With such a configuration, assembly and disassembly is convenient and relatively easy, and the pieces of the shoulder assembly <NUM> can spin with the drum during forming of a tire carcass without being spun off by the force of the spin. In various example embodiments the tenons <NUM> and corresponding grooves <NUM> may be formed at an angle relative to the outer diameter <NUM> or may be formed with an increasing width or thickness from one end to the other. In various example embodiments the tenons <NUM> could be configured with a profile to use various other connections such as, for example, a hook, a T-shape, a jigsaw profile, and so on, to secure the pieces of the shoulder assembly <NUM> to be able to spin with the drum without being spun off by the force of the spin. These tenon <NUM> interlocks may, in various example embodiments, be a separate bolt on part to be coupled to the side sections of the shoulder assembly <NUM>. Such configurations may improve wear, ease of manufacture, maintenance, etc. In various example embodiments the shoulder segments may be formed of polyurethane or aluminum. In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept a shoulder assembly can be formed without the innermost edge <NUM> lip and may rely on the magnetic elements alone to hold the shoulder assembly on the tire building drum.

Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a "loose shoulder" concept that does not use any fixed fasteners, and that relies only on the above-discussed magnetic elements to secure the shoulders to the carcass drum, the aim being to reduce de-core time when building triple and double bead tires, typically aircraft, agricultural, and off-the-road (OTR) tires. Various example embodiments may use polyurethane shoulder segments that are held in place on the drum by magnets. The shoulder segments themselves are tenon jointed to each other to form a complete ring, and the tenons act as a safety feature to stop segments displacing radially as the drum is spun. Corresponding magnets in the drum may be housed within aluminum shells, and the magnets may be adjustable in position to optimize the magnetic force required to hold the shoulder in place but also allow the drum to collapse. Various example embodiments of the loose shoulders may have a steel plug embedded or a magnet, the plugs or magnets aligning with the holding magnets in the aluminum shells and therefore providing shoulder alignment.

Unlike conventional shoulders, the shoulders of the present general inventive concept can remain in the carcass while the tire drum is collapsed and the carcass, complete with the shoulders, is removed from the tire building machine. The drum will collapse away from the shoulders, breaking the magnetic effect via a wiping action instead of a straight pull away, which would demand more force. The shoulders may be in four sections. Steel equivalent shoulders have six sections and weigh approximately <NUM> kilograms each. The polyurethane sections of the present general inventive concept may weigh only approximately <NUM> kilograms each. In various example embodiments, there may be two parallel cut key section shoulders, the parallel cut coupled with a tenon that will allow the key shoulders to be passed in to form the shoulder ring assembly, and then the same key segments can be withdrawn internally with the tire carcass encasing the shoulder assembly, until the tire carcass is removed from the tire building machine with the shoulders, and the shoulders will be trapped in place by the register of the tire carcass.

Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a shoulder assembly to be mounted on a tire building drum, the shoulder assembly including a plurality of sections configured to interlock with another to form a shoulder ring to be mounted on a tire building drum when the tire building drum is in an expanded state, and a plurality of magnetic elements provided about a surface of the shoulder ring that is configured to contact a side of the tire building drum, the magnetic elements corresponding to holding magnetic elements in the tire building drum, wherein the shoulder ring is configured to maintain contact with the tire building drum during forming of a tire carcass, and wherein the shoulder ring is configured to maintain its shape and stay with the formed tire carcass when the tire building drum is collapsed. One or more of the sections may be formed of, or include, polyurethane. The shoulder assembly may further include a lip extending to cover a portion of a circumference of the tire building drum when the shoulder ring is mounted on the tire building drum. The sections may interlock with one another at each end with tenon and groove connections configured to prevent the sections from displacing radially when the tire building drum spins.

One primary benefit of the present general inventive concept is reducing de-core time compared to conventional methods of tire assembly. Conventional shoulder methods demand manual intervention to remove each section prior to the drum being collapsed. Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept eliminate such manual intervention at this early stage in production, as the drum simply collapses, leaving the shoulder ring in situ. In various example embodiments the use of polyurethane, aluminum, etc., presents the opportunity to have lighter and/or fewer shoulder assembly sections, and as such the re-assembly of the shoulders post removal from the carcass will be quicker than with conventional systems.

Numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated.

It is noted that the simplified diagrams and drawings included in the present application do not illustrate all the various connections and assemblies of the various components, however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement such connections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components, figures, and descriptions provided herein, using sound engineering judgment. Numerous variations, modification, and additional embodiments are possible, and, accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

Claim 1:
A shoulder assembly (<NUM>) to be mounted on an expandable and collapsible tire building drum (<NUM>), the shoulder assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
top, bottom and lateral arcuate sections (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), each top and bottom section (<NUM>,<NUM>) having at least one tenon (<NUM>) extending from each end and each lateral section (<NUM>,<NUM>) having at least one groove (<NUM>) extending from each end,
the tenons (<NUM>) and grooves (<NUM>) being configured to allow the sections to slidably interlock with one another along an axial dimension thereof to form a shoulder ring to be mounted on a tire building drum (<NUM>) when the tire building drum (<NUM>) is in an expanded state; and
a first plurality of magnetic elements (<NUM>) provided about a surface of the shoulder ring that are configured to magnetically secure the shoulder ring to a side of the tire building drum (<NUM>);
wherein the shoulder ring is configured to maintain contact with the tire building drum (<NUM>) during forming of a tire carcass, and
wherein the shoulder ring is configured to maintain its shape and detach from the tire building drum (<NUM>) when the tire building drum is collapsed.