| 摘要 |
BEAD SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR USE DURING TIRE MANUFACTURE Bead portions of a tire are supported during tire manufacture by a bead support assembly (100, 1100, 2100) having relatively movable parts that cooperate to define an elongate, outwardly opening groove (200, 1200, 2200) that receives and supports the bead portions (B). The relatively movable parts include a flexible cover (170, 1170, 2170) that overlies a relatively rigid underlying support (120, 1120, 2120). The support (120, 1120, 2120) gives the groove (200, 1200, 2200) its shape. The cover (170, 1170, 2170) overlies the support (120, 1120, 2120) and engages bead portions (B) that extend into the groove (200, 1200, 2200). The cover (170, 1170, 2170) has a wide central portion (182, 1182, 2182) that slides freely from side to side through the region of the groove (200, 1200, 2200) to maintain non-slip engagement between the cover (170, 1170, 2170) and such bead portions (B) as engage the cover (170, 1170, 2170), thereby enabling such bead portions (B) as extend into the groove (200, 1200, (200) to "rotate" through a limited range of movement without causing malformation or distortion of the bead portions (B). Central portions (182, 1182, 2182) of the cover (170, 1170, 2170) are biased toward a selected side of the underlying support (120, 1120, 2120) so that, when the cover (170, 1170, 2170) is not engaged by bead portions (B) of a tire, excess central portion material (182, 1182, is moved toward the selected side. Interfitting spline-like formations (150, 192; 1150, 1192; 2150, 2192) are provided on the cover (170, 1170, 2170) and on the support (120, 1120, 2120) for guiding side-to-side movements of cover material (182, 1182, 2182) material relative to the support (120, 1120, 2120). These formations (150, 192; 1150, 1192; 2150, 2192) also serve to prevent movement of cover (170, 1170, 2170) material relative to the support (120, 1120, 2120) in directions that extend along the groove (200, 1200, 2200). |
