WO1999004953A2

WO1999004953A2 - Improvements in tyre manufacture

Info

Publication number: WO1999004953A2
Application number: PCT/GB1998/002198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric Holroyd; Colin Holroyd
Original assignee: Holroyd Associates Limited
Priority date: 1997-07-23
Filing date: 1998-07-22
Publication date: 1999-02-04
Also published as: WO1999004953A3; GB2327396A; GB9715456D0; AU8454898A; GB2327396B

Abstract

A support for use in tyre manufacture comprises a profile portion (24) corresponding to the near final shape of a tyre to be manufactured, and turn up means (38) arranged either side of the profile portion (24). Each turn up means (38) includes a flange movable into an upstanding state, in which state the turn up means defines a support surface against which a component of a tyre can be wound.

Description

Title: Improvements in Tyre Manufacture

The present invention is concerned with improvements in tyre manufacture.

Conventional apparatus for manufacturing a pneumatic tyre forms the tyre as a cylindrical carcass which is then deformed extensively to achieve a tyre shape. One apparatus for manufacturing tyres in that way is illustrated in UK Patent Application GB-A-2212460.

Components such as the tyre bead and apex components are generally wound onto a former carrying the reinforcing ply. It is an object of the present invention to provide alternative apparatus for introducing bead and apex to a tyre carcass.

According to the invention there is provided a support for use in tyre manufacture, the support comprising a profile portion corresponding to the near final shape of a tyre to be manufactured, and turn up means arranged either side of the profile portion, each turn up means including a flange movable into an upstanding state, in which state said turn up means defines a support surface against which a component of a tyre can be wound. In that way, a winding face can be selectively presented for use in tyre manufacture steps. The winding face can be withdrawn for ease of removal of a tyre from the support.

It is an advantage of the invention that material wound onto a tyre carcass carried on the support is supported; deformation from the intended shape is thereby ameliorated.

Preferably, the turn up means comprises a flange pivotable tangentially of the support.

In that case, the turn up means may comprise a plurality of flanges, each flange being pivotable tangentially of the support, the pivot axes being coplanar.

Each turn up means preferably comprises a bladder which is inflatable to move the or each flange. The bladder may be arranged such that inflation thereof causes the or each flange to move into the upstanding condition.

Return means may be provided, which return means is arranged to urge the or each flange out of the upstanding condition.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a support incorporating features of a specific embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a schematic side elevation of a support similar to that of Figure 1 wherein flanges thereof are in the upstanding condition.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a support 10 comprises two halves 12, 14. Each half 12, 14 has a cylindrical body 16. The cylindrical body 16 has front and rear circular faces 18, 20. The front faces 18 of the respective bodies 16 face each other as illustrated in Figure 1. The front face of each body 16 includes an axial attachment 22 for releasable attachment to the corresponding feature of the other body 16. In that way, the halves 12, 14 are releasably connectable to one another.

A plurality of fingers 24 are spaced around the circumference of the front face 18 of each body 16. Each fmger 24 has a supporting arm 26 corresponding generally to a half profile of a tyre to be constructed, and a locating arm 28 substantially perpendicular thereto. Each finger 24 is pivotally mounted on the respective body 16 in a plane radial of the body 16 and on an axis tangential of the body 16 so that the locating arm 28 is directed generally radially inwardly of the body 16. The front face 18 of each body 16 includes a circular recess 30. A circular locking plate 34 is provided on each half 12, 14 of the support 10, about the axial attachment 22, and is arranged to move axially into and out of the recess. The locking plate 34 abuts the locating arm 28 of each finger 24. In that way, movement of the locking plate 34 out of the corresponding recess 30 is operative to splay the supporting arms 26 of the fingers 24 radially outwardly.

The right hand half 14 of the support 10 of Figure 1 illustrates two possible positions of the fingers 24 and the locking plate 34. The fmger 24A illustrated in ghosted line is in a withdrawn or retracted position and the corresponding position of the locking plate has reference numeral 34A. The other position of the locking plate 34 corresponds with the extended position of the fmger 24 illustrated in solid line.

The fingers 24 of the two halves 12, 14 are interdigitated in order to prevent clashes from occurring during movement of the fingers 24.

The rear face 20 of each half 12, 14 has attachment means to allow attachment of the support to an assembly station.

Adjacent the fingers 24 on the periphery of the body 16 of each half 12, 14 of the support 10 is a circumferentially extending bladder 36. A metal turn up 38 is mounted pivotally on the body 16 adjacent the bladder 36. On inflation of the bladder 36, a metal turn up 38 is caused to extend radially outwardly of the body 16.

That feature is better illustrated in Figure 2. The support 10 of Figure 2 is a slight variant of that of Figure 1, in that the fingers 24 are of a more simplified shape. In Figure 2, the bladder 36 is in an inflated state. Inflation of the bladder causes the turn up 38 to pivot into a position wherein it extends substantially radially outwardly of the body 16.

In that way, as shown in Figure 2, each turn up 38 and its respective fmger 24 define a circumferential groove in which a tyre bead 40 and apex 42 are illustrated as being wound. After the winding of the tyre beads 40 and apices 42, the bladders 36 can be deflated, which leads to the turn ups 38 collapsing back into the body 16.

The support as described above is a lightweight and versatile structure which allows a bead and apex to be wound onto a tyre carcass without removal of the carcass from its initial support. The support is particularly advantageous in that the wound components are supported throughout the winding process.

Claims

1. A support for use in tyre manufacture, the support comprising a profile portion (24) corresponding to the near final shape of a tyre to be manufactured, and turn up means (38) arranged either side of the profile portion (24), each turn up means (38) including a flange movable into an upstanding state, in which state said turn up means defines a support surface against which a component of a tyre can be wound.

2. A support according to claim 1 wherein the turn up means comprises a flange (38) pivotable tangentially of the support.

3. A support according to claim 2 wherein the turn up means comprises a plurality of flanges (38), each flange being pivotable tangentially of the support, the pivot axes being coplanar.

4. A support according to any preceding claim wherein each turn up means comprises a bladder (36) which is inflatable to move the or each flange.

5. A support according to claim 4 wherein the bladder (36) is arranged such that inflation thereof causes the or each flange (38) to move into the upstanding condition.

6. A support according to any preceding claim including return means arranged to urge the or each flange (38) out of the upstanding condition.