Stephen T Griebling

US Patent:

53001800, Apr 5, 1994

Filed:

Jun 10, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/075194

Inventors:

Stephen T. Griebling - Akron OH

Assignee:

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. - Akron OH

International Classification:

B29D 3032

US Classification:

156403

Abstract:

An improved bead setter for mounting on a retractable bead setter carrier ring of a tire building drum for carrying a steel tire bead from a load position to a pickup position on the drum where the bead is coaxial and radially aligned with radially expanding bead locks. The bead setter has a holder which is secured to the ring and has a finger which is slidably pivotally mounted in a cutout formed in the holder. A spring biases the finger to an at-rest outwardly extending bead gripping position. One or more permanent magnets are mounted on an extended end of the finger for gripping a bead. The finger is displaced radially as the bead lock extends radially outwardly to engage the bead and then pivots in a generally axial outward direction as the bead carrier ring axially withdraws to a retracted position, enabling the finger to pass freely over tire plies previously applied on the drum. The spring automatically returns the finger to the outwardly extending position, providing a smaller diameter between fingers for subsequent pickup of another bead at the bead load position.

US Patent:

50046357, Apr 2, 1991

Filed:

Sep 2, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/239907

Inventors:

Stephen T. Griebling - Akron OH

Assignee:

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. - Akron OH

International Classification:

B65D 85671

US Classification:

428 33

Abstract:

A contoured liner for rolling of a preassembled uncured rubber tire component with a variable cross-sectional thickness into a coil with minimal dimensional distortion. A filler of compressible material such as polyester, is sandwiched between a flexible base and a flexible cover so as to cover only a portion of the base to provide a contour thereto generally inverse to the contour of the tire component. The base is woven polypropylene and the cover is knitted polyester tricot. The cover is preferably secured to the base by a diamond pattern stitching to form a single unit liner. The liner and rubber tire component, when in overlying relationship, provide a generally symmetrical thickness to reduce telescopically, conical coils when assembled into roll form on a supporting reel.

US Patent:

39511928, Apr 20, 1976

Filed:

Jan 30, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/545263

Inventors:

James Dennis Gardner - Akron OH
James Philip Lawrence - Wadsworth OH
Stephen Thomas Griebling - Akron OH

Assignee:

The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

International Classification:

B60C 1700
B60C 1506
B60C 1300

US Classification:

152379R

Abstract:

This disclosure relates to a pneumatic tire construction which has a bead latch located axially outwardly of the rim flange in the lower sidewall area of the tire. This construction provides a safer configuration for the tire when it is run flat or under abnormal conditions. The bead latch prevents the bead from becoming unseated on the rim and moving into the drop center portion of the rim.