William Michael Head

US Patent:

6645334, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Jun 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/869234

Inventors:

Michael Wallace Smith - Mogodore OH
Michael Raymond Dzurko - Massillon OH
Patrick David Marks - Uniontown OH
William James Head - Ravenna OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B29D 3070

US Classification:

156124, 152532, 156130, 156133, 156199, 156212, 15624425

Abstract:

A method for applying a plurality of reinforcement belts upon a toroidal tire carcass ( ). First and second reinforcement belts ( ) are first wrapped around the tire carcass. Then a first belt assembly ( ) of a third reinforced belt ( ) with elastomeric wedges ( ) embedded into side edges ( ) of the third belt is wrapped around the second belt ( ) so that the side edges ( ) of the second belt are spaced from the side edges ( ) of the third belt. An outer belt ( ) and a tread ( ) are applied about the third belt, and the tire carcass is ready to be cured in a tire mold.

US Patent:

54258359, Jun 20, 1995

Filed:

Sep 23, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/311233

Inventors:

Lawrence E. Chlebina - Akron OH
William J. Head - Ravenna OH
Donald C. Kubinski - Medina OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B29D 3052

US Classification:

1564062

Abstract:

An improved method for mounting an annular tread 1 onto a tire casing 2 is described. The improved method comprises the steps of expanding the tread 1 radially and encircling the expanded tread with a transfer mechanism 30. The transfer mechanism 30 has a means 90 for holding the lateral edges 5 of the tread 1 in the expanded condition independent of the center 6 of the tread 1. The means 90 for holding the lateral edges 5 of the tread 1 is accomplished without contacting the radially inner surface 7 of the tread 1. The transfer mechanism 30 has a means 92 for circumferentially clamping the central portion of the tread 1 to the casing 2. The transfer mechanism 30 with expanded tread 1 is centered over the casing 2. The means 92 for clamping the central portion 6 of the tread 1 is actuated while holding the lateral edges 5 of the tread 1 in the transfer mechanism 30. Then the lateral edges 5 of the tread 1 are released from the transfer mechanism 30 thereby transferring the tread 1 to the casing 2 while preventing entrapment of air between the casing 2 and the tread 1.

US Patent:

6109322, Aug 29, 2000

Filed:

Oct 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/947611

Inventors:

James Alfred Benzing - Stow OH
Daniel Ray Downing - Uniontown OH
William James Head - Ravenna OH
Frederick Forbes Vannan - Clinton OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B60C 902

US Classification:

152548

Abstract:

A laminate composite structure is provided in continuous lengths or rolls for making an unvulcanized carcass for a radial ply pneumatic tire as an intermediate article of manufacture. The laminate has a ply and a plurality of elastomeric components hot formed and attached directly to the ply. Each component has a predetermined cross-sectional profile. The elastomeric components including, but not limited to, a liner, a sidewall, and a chafer. Additional other elastomeric components for the carcass can be formed and attached to the laminate structure. The laminate forms an intermediate article of manufacture that at a later stage of tire building can be cut to length and spliced along common ends to form a cylindrical carcass structure.

US Patent:

57461023, May 5, 1998

Filed:

Dec 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/770634

Inventors:

James Alfred Benzing - Stow OH
William James Head - Ravenna OH
Daniel Ray Downing - Uniontown OH
Larry James Gehrett - Atwater OH
Harold Aloysius Wolbert - North Canton OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B26D 1547

US Classification:

83 34

Abstract:

This invention pertains to a method and for cutting an intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article of manufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate. The laminate, when cut to length, becoming a carcass for a pneumatic tire. The laminate is cut by a cutting element at angles. theta. greater than 60. degree. relative to a normal plane (NP) perpendicular to a cord reinforced ply of the laminate and parallel to the cords to thereby create large substantially flat planar splice surfaces without significant deformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric materials. To facilitate this cut, the relative position of the cutting element and the ply is changed to an angle. beta. ,. beta. being less than. theta. The ply is cut a short distance, at the angle. beta.

US Patent:

57461015, May 5, 1998

Filed:

Nov 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/758401

Inventors:

James Alfred Benzing - Stow OH
William James Head - Ravenna OH
Daniel Ray Downing - Uniontown OH
Larry James Gehrett - Atwater OH
Harold Aloysius Wolbert - North Canton OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B26D 1547

US Classification:

83 34

Abstract:

This invention pertains to a method and for cutting an intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article of manufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate. The laminate when cut to length, becomes a carcass for a pneumatic tire. The laminate is cut by a cutting element at angles. theta. greater than 60. degree. relative to a normal plane (NP) perpendicular to a cord reinforced ply of the laminate and parallel to the cords to thereby create large substantially flat planar splice surfaces without significant deformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric materials. To facilitate this cut, the relative position of the cutting element and the ply is changed to an angle. beta. ,. beta. being less than. theta. The ply is cut a short distance, at the angle. beta.

US Patent:

57627401, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

May 8, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/854070

Inventors:

James Alfred Benzing - North Canton OH
William James Head - Ravenna OH
Daniel Ray Downing - Uniontown OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B29D 3030

US Classification:

156133

Abstract:

A method and apparatus 200 for building a laminate 10A and in forming a subassembly 10 for a pneumatic tire from an assembly of reinforced or unreinforced tire components wherein the method has the steps of providing an apparatus 200 for simultaneously forming, positioning, attaching and conveying a plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components and activating the apparatus simultaneously forming, positioning and attaching the plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components to adjacent strips of tire components as they are conveyed thus forming a laminate 10A of reinforced or unreinforced tire components suitable for use as a subassembly for a neumatic tire.

US Patent:

55135609, May 7, 1996

Filed:

Jan 5, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/369027

Inventors:

Daniel R. Downing - Uniontown OH
William J. Head - Ravenna OH
James A. Benzing - Stow OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B30B 300

US Classification:

100 35

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for rapid exchanging of calender rollers 350,352 for a calendering apparatus 302 is disclosed. The apparatus 302 has two or more generally cylindrical calender rollers 350,352 which are clamped and supported at each end by a rotatable support 314,316. A pair of the supports 314,316 are axially aligned and movable relative to the other axially aligned support. The method of exchanging rollers 350,352 includes the step of unclamping a roller 350 or 352 by increasing the spacing between the first and second rotatable supports 314,316, removing the roller 350,352, and clamping a different calender roller 350,352 between the first and second supports 314,316 by decreasing the spacing between them and engaging the respective ends of the different roller 350,352 with the first and second supports 314,316. This apparatus and method greatly facilitates rapid calender roller changeover and is particularly useful in the tire building art.

US Patent:

46891064, Aug 25, 1987

Filed:

Apr 10, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/721854

Inventors:

Cletus A. Becht - Akron OH
Peter M. Cressman - Akron OH
William J. Head - Ravenna OH
John R. White - Wadsworth OH

Assignee:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B29D 3026

US Classification:

1564062

Abstract:

Spacer segments (24) of various thicknesses are attached to radially movable master segments (14) of a transfer ring (16) for gripping and transferring tread belt packages of different diameters. The spacer segments (24) are of a resilient material and may have molded arm members (32) with flexible, resilient ribs (42) for engaging edge portions (46) of the master segments (14). Handles (70) may be provided on the arm members (32) for bending the arm members (32) to install and remove the spacer segments (24). Axial movement of the spacer segments (24) relative to the master segments (14) is limited by circumferentially extending raised edges (58,60,66,68) on the cylindrical mating surfaces (26,28) of the master segments (14) and the spacer segments (24).