A system for handling a flexible thin wall tubular extrudate of an elastomeric material of the type used as a body ply element for the manufacture of tires, and for cutting-off a predetermined length sleeve of the extrudate and delivering the sleeve to a discharge station. A pair of grippers is movably mounted on carriage assemblies which move the grippers horizontally and transversely with respect to the axis of the extrudate. The leading gripper provides tension to the extrudate and pulls it a...

An extrusion head 1 for producing sheet material 2, particularly elastomeric material, reinforced internally with relatively close-packed metal or textile cords 3; on which a die adapter 8 houses a "mandrel" 23 aligned with an output die 16 for the extruded sheet material 2 and having an axial slot 31 for feeding the reinforcing cords 3 to the die 16; the aforementioned mandrel 23 having, on its front end facing the die 16, an insert 32 defining, together with the die adapter 8, an upper channel...

In the combination of detachable addition members with rubber articles, particularly tire sidewalls, wherein each article has a circumferentially discontinuous first coupling portion adapted to operatively interact with a second coupling portion on the addition member for securing the member to the article, the improvement being characterized in that either the coupling portions or addition members are adapted to produce a perceptive physical change during abnormal operating conditions of the ar...

The method of shaping and securing an uncured tire bead filler material to a tire bead ring consisting of initially placing a piece of bead filler material over one of the peripheral surfaces of the bead ring; stitching a filler material first portion to this surface; folding, juxtaposing and thereby adhering a part of a filler material second portion over and on at least the filler material first portion; and adjusting the final angular position of the remainder of the filler material relative ...

The combination of detachable addition members with rubber articles, and particularly for tire sidewalls, wherein each article has a circumferentially discontinuous first coupling portion adapted to operatively interact with a second coupling portion on the addition member for securing the member to the article. Preferably a plurality of addition members are utilized and interact with a plurality of independent circumferentially discontinuous first coupling portions. The addition members may tak...

An improved screw-on throwaway-type fluid filter assembly adapted to be screwed onto a filter mounting means having fluid flow passages therein that extend to and from the filter bowl interior, with the improved filter assembly, which is capable of withstanding surge pressures up to about 500 P.S.I., including a base plate of uniform cross section, with but a single concentric opening through which both fluid passages extend, and sealing means coaxial with and closely radially disposed to the co...

A family of multispeed constant-mesh-gear reversible transmissions has a basic structure that includes five drivingly connected shafts, with all of these shafts lying in a common plane. A plurality of gear trains selectively drives the output shaft at various speed ratios, and pluralities of clutches are used for connecting several of the shafts and for connecting various ones of the gears to various shafts for conjoint rotation therewith. Several embodiments of connecting means are used for con...

A transmission system including a hydrodynamic torque converter having a torque regenerative element interconnected with the impeller and capable of absorbing energy from the torque converter fluid flow circuit, this energy absorption being at a maximum when the torque converter is stalled and diminishing as the torque converter increases in speed ratio. Included in the several modes of operation, the torque absorbed from the fluid flow circuit may be redirected to the impeller and/or utilized t...

A trailer auxiliary hydraulic brake system completely independent of the conventional brake system and including a wheel-driven hydraulic pump, an accumulator, a main brake control valve, a back-up release valve and a fluid reservoir. An automatic actuation member, responsive to a longitudinally slidable connection between the tractor and trailer, controls the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to and from the trailer brakes. The trailer auxiliary system, in addition to automatically energizing...

A pressure modulator which upon the application of pressurized fluid achieves a gradual increase to line pressure instead of an abrupt increase. When pressure is applied initially a spool moves and uncovers vent which because of its discharge or bleeding off of fluid produces a low pressure. At the same time, fluid flows through a restricted passageway to an accumulator, and as the pressure builds up in the accumulator it moves the spool back toward its initial position, causing a gradual increa...