Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Patent
1990-08-22
1993-04-20
Knable, Geoffrey L.
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
156123, 156174, 156184, 1564051, 19880301, B29D 3030, B29C 5342
Patent
active
052039374
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method of manufacture of a reinforced tubular article and in particular, although not exclusively, to the manufacture of a flexible reinforced tubular article such as a pneumatic tire, suspension diaphragm or flexible reinforced tubular component for such an article. The invention provides also a reinforced tubular article such as a pneumatic tire, suspension diaphragm or component for such an article manufactured by the method of the present invention.
A flexible reinforced tubular article such as a pneumatic tire comprises a large number of component parts and the quality of the finished article is related to the ease and accuracy with which these parts may be constructed and handled during the stages of manufacture.
The present invention seeks to provide in accordance with one of its aspects an improved method for the manufacture of a reinforced tubular article.
In accordance with one of its aspects the present invention provides that in a method for the manufacture of a reinforced tubular article comprising forming at a first work station a flexible tubular reinforcement structure comprising a layer of polymeric material having at least partially embedded therein at least one reinforcing element, cutting said flexible tubular reinforcement structure transversely between the axial ends of the structure when at the first work station to provide a pair of transverse edges and winding the flexible reinforcement structure into a substantially tubular form in which said transverse edges extend substantially in the circumferential direction at a second work station, said flexible reinforcement structure is fed onto a carrier at the first work station and transported from the first to the second work station whilst supported by the carrier and maintained in accurate location on the surface of the carrier and maintained in an accurate stationary location relative to the surface of the carrier.
The flexible tubular reinforcement structure may be cut transversely in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the tubular structure at said work station.
The flexible tubular reinforcement structure at the first work station may comprise at least one reinforcing element wound to extend helically and/or it may comprise a plurality of reinforcing elements each of which extends substantially circumferentially as a reinforcing ring in the tubular structure.
The reinforcing element may comprise, for example, a single monofilament or a plurality of filaments arranged as a cord or cable and said reinforcing element may be of a metallic or textile material or other reinforcing material such as Kevlar or glass.
The polymeric material may be a material such as uncured natural or synthetic rubber.
Use may be made of a carrier of a type which is extensible to permit extension of the flexible reinforcement structure whilst supported by the carrier, and of a carrier which is selectively extensible whereby some portions of the flexible reinforcement structure may be subject to greater extension than other portions.
The method may comprise use of a carrier which is flexible and in which a flexible carrier can be flexed to adopt a tubular form at the second work station. The carrier may be used to guide the flexible reinforcement structure at the second work station whereby the reinforcement structure is disposed between the carrier and a former.
The method may comprise subjecting the flexible reinforcement structure to compression at the second work station. The carrier and former may be moved relative to one another at the second work station to compress the flexible reinforcement structure therebetween. Compression may be achieved by use of an expansible or contractible former and/or an expansible or contractible carrier.
Preferably said polymeric material, at least when at the first and second work stations and during transport therebetween, is a material which inherently tends to adhere to surfaces at the first and second work stations and the carrier.
Particularly, but not
REFERENCES:
patent: 2726185 (1955-12-01), Howalo
patent: 2982667 (1961-05-01), Ness et al.
patent: 3236711 (1966-02-01), Adler
patent: 4398988 (1983-08-01), Mullender
patent: 4659417 (1987-04-01), Yamamoto
patent: 4783230 (1988-11-01), Perkins
patent: 4877468 (1989-10-01), Siengenthaler
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.
Knable Geoffrey L.
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