FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
“Multi-segment drum for building carcass of tyre”
APPLICANT
CEAT LIMITED
of RPG HOUSE 463, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 030, India; an Indian company
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present disclosure relates to a tire building machines, and more particularly to a Multi-segment drum for building carcass of tyre.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A tyre building is a process of assembling together different components of a tyre like tread, carcass plies (inner liner and plurality of plies), side wall, bead, Chafer etc. on a carcass drum to get a green tyre. The tire building drums is used for construction and shaping of the tire carcass. The construction of the tire carcass conventionally is accomplished in two stages. In the first stage, one or more sheets of body or carcass ply material are run onto the surface of a rotating building drum, cut to the required size, are spliced and stitched to form a generally cylindrical, endless belt-type covering over the surface of the drum. The drum ceases rotation and is expanded such that the extensible ply material tightly contacts the interior circumference of the beads. The drum is then collapsed. The second stage operations may be performed on radial tire building machines of conventional design or on the second stage building drum. Due to frequent replacement of tooling and Quality of the tire, there will be a frequent variation in run out / accuracy in the cylindrical surface and a probability of a drum failure.
[0003] Thus, it is desired to address the above mentioned disadvantages or other shortcomings or at least provide a useful alternative.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The principal object of the embodiments herein is to provide a multi-segment drum for building a carcass of a tyre. The multi-segment drum with higher accuracy of about 0.25 mm runout, compact in-built cylinder design, low operating pressure and withstand against turn-up operation due to center link.
[0005] Another object of the embodiment herein is to provide stable accuracy/ runout /TIR as well as eliminate the drum collapse phenomena during turn-up operation

[0006] Another object of the embodiment herein is to improve product/carcass drum capability to increase a cut-tyre rating and uniformity yield of tyres.
[0007] Another object of the embodiment herein is to a spacer mounted in a square type slot to locate and position. A side segment hold the spacer from top to reduce effort and time of a spacer change over.
SUMMARY
[0008] In one aspect object is satisfied by providing a multi-segment drum for building a carcass of a tyre. The drum comprises a circumferential ring of drum segments defining a cylindrical surface to layup components of the tyre, at least two centre links for each of the drum segments, a Linear-motion (LM) bearing to guide each of the drum segments, and a cylindrical component connected to the drum segments to expand or collapse the cylindrical surface of the drum.
[0009] In an embodiment, the at least two centre links takes a vertical position of 90 Degree to the drum segment during the expansion to prevent or withstand the drum during turn-up operation.
[0010] In an embodiment, the at least two centre links withstands a turn¬up force during a turn-up operation to prevent the drum from collapse during the turn-up operation.
[0011] In an embodiment, the cylindrical component is one of a Pneumatic cylinders and a cylindrical shaft.
[0012] In an embodiment, the at least two centre links takes load and pressure during turn-up operation to prevent the load on the LM bearing.
[0013] In an embodiment, each of the drum segments move linearly during and be guided by the LM bearing during linear movement so as to expand or collapse the cylindrical surface of the drum.
[0014] In an embodiment, the drum comprises a spacer mounted in a square type slot to locate and position, wherein the side segment of the drum

segments hold the spacer from top to reduce effort and time of a spacer change over
[0015] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0016] This method and system is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a tire building machine, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0018] FIG. 2a illustrates a sectional view of a multi-segment drum in expand condition for building a carcass of a tyre, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0019] FIG. 2b illustrates another a sectional view of the multi-segment drum in collapse condition for building a carcass of a tyre, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0020] FIG. 3a illustrates a sliding type of the multi-segment drum, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0021] Fig 3b illustrates a conventional spacer mounting design and disadvantages thereof, according to prior art; and
[0022] Fig 3c illustrates a spacer mounting design (sliding type design), according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments. The term “or” as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0024] The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings. Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are generally only used to distinguish one element from another.
[0025] Accordingly, embodiments herein discloses a multi-segment drum for building a carcass of a tyre. The drum comprises a circumferential ring of drum segments defining a cylindrical surface to layup components of the tyre, at least two centre links for each of the drum segments, a Linear-motion (LM) bearing to guide each of the drum segments, and a cylindrical component connected to the drum segments to expand or contract the cylindrical surface of the drum.
[0026] The proposed multi-segment drum provides stable accuracy, require low operating pressure, and eliminate the drum collapse phenomena

during turn up operation. The proposed multi-segment drum is used to improve off-center application of inner line and Ply reflect in tyre as Cord length variation / turn up height variation. Further, the multi-segment drum reduces Variation of turn-up or cord length which affect the tyre quality in terms of a uniformity or Quality parameter. Further, the design of the proposed multi-segment drum is compact due to inbuilt pneumatic cylinder for expand and collapse the drum. The proposed multi-segment drum provides robust design due to the center link. The center link to eliminate the drum collapse during turn up operation or due to balder pressure. The drum segment with the LM bearing provides high accuracy of about 0.25 mm run out and friction free operation.
[0027] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3 there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a tire building machine (1st stage -Main machine), according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The tire building machine comprises a finger-ply-Down (left) (100), a guide ring (left) (200), a Turn-up ring (left) (300), a bead centering segments (400), a bladder unit (left) (500), a multi-segment drum (600), a bladder unit (right) (700), a Turn-up ring (right) (800), a guide ring (right) (900), and a finger-ply-Down (left) (1000). The arrangement of all the components of the tire building machine conventionally known. The description of it is not repeated for the sake of brevity. The multi-segment drum (600) is a critical tooling on which tyre is getting made. The accuracy and tolerance of the multi-segment drum (600) will reflect in tyre quality and uniformity. This application focus on the design and functional aspect of the proposed multi-segment drum (600) as defined in the FIGS. 2-3.
[0029] FIG. 2a illustrates a section view of a multi-segment drum (600) in expand condition for building a carcass of a tyre, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The multi-segment drum (600) includes drum segments (602), at least two centre links (604), Linear-motion (LM) bearing (606), and a cylindrical component (608). The multi-segment drum (600) comprises a circumferential ring of the drum segments (602) defining a cylindrical surface (610) to layup components of the tyre. The at least two centre links (604) for each of the drum

segments (602). The LM bearing (606) guides each of the drum segments (602) that makes the drum (600) more robust and having consistent accuracy and run out. The cylindrical component (608) connected to the drum segments (602) to expand or collapse the cylindrical surface of the drum (600).
[0030] The drum segments (602) are supported or guided through the LM bearing (606) in order to provide stability, repeatability and accuracy or runout of the drum (600). The Centre Link (604) will further strengthen the drum segments (602) and take a vertical position of 90 Degree to the drum segment during expansion and withstand a turn-up force during the turn-up operation. This require less Operating /expansion force of the drum hence reduce the vibration and improve the accuracy. The cylindrical component (608) operates the drum (600) having compact and air leakage free design and also improve the reliability of the drum (600).
[0031] In an embodiment, the LM bearing (606) has zero friction and high accuracy of positioning. The centre link (604) take load and pressure during the turn-up operation to prevent the load on the LM bearing (606). In an embodiment, the centre link (604) take 90 degree position in expand condition with respect to the cylindrical component (608). This prevent the drum collapse during the turn¬up operation even at ow operating pneumatic pressure. Further, the cylindrical component (608) makes the drum compact and friction less movement which reduce the overall weight of the drum (600) and hence overall accuracy and operating sequence of the drum (600) is improved.
[0032] In an embodiment, the cylindrical component (608) is a Pneumatic cylinder or a cylindrical shaft.
[0033] FIG. 2b illustrates another segment view of the multi-segment drum (600) in collapse condition for building a carcass of a tyre, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.
[0034] FIG. 3a illustrates a sliding type of the multi-segment drum (600), according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. Earlier Effect of spacer change (shown in FIGS. 4b) require high force which affect the accuracy and run out of

the drum (600). The sliding type makes the spacer change easy and smooth which help in the runout accuracy.
[0035] Fig 3b illustrates a conventional spacer mounting design (Male female type) and disadvantages thereof, according to prior art. In this the spacer (612) mounted in round dowel used only to locate the spacer (612) in center and side segment (614) positioned the spacer (612) through c slot -Male-female type (616). This require extra effort / hammering force as per tolerance between spacer (612) and side segment (614) and waste the time of spacer change over hence the life /accuracy of the drum is deteriorated.
[0036] Fig 3c illustrates proposed spacer mounting design (sliding type design), according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. Unlike the conventional spacer design, in the proposed invention, the spacer (612) mounted in square type slot to locate as well as position and the side segment (614) hold the spacer (612) from top (616). This will reduce the effort and time of the spacer change over. Hence the life/accuracy of the multi-segment drum (600) will be increased.
[0037] Unlike the conventional drums and mechanism thereof, the proposed multi-segment drum is advantageous to eliminate the run-out variation and drum collapse during the turn-up operation & improve turn-up height variation and hence improves the radial force variation, uniformity, and quality of the tyre.
[0038] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

STATEMENT OF CLAIM
I/We Claim:
1. A multi-segment drum (600) for building a carcass of a tyre, wherein the
drum (600) comprises:
a circumferential ring of drum segments (602) defining a cylindrical surface (610) to layup components of the tyre;
at least two centre links (604) for each of the drum segments (602);
a Linear-motion (LM) bearing (606) to guide each of the drum segments (602); and
a cylindrical component (608) connected to the drum segments to expand or collapse the cylindrical surface of the drum (600).
2. The multi-segment drum (600) of claim 1, wherein the at least two centre links (604) takes a vertical position of 90 Degree to the drum segment (602) during the expansion to prevent or withstand the drum (600) during turn-up operation.
3. The multi-segment drum (600) of claim 1, wherein the at least two centre links (604) withstands a turn-up force during a turn-up operation to prevent the drum (600) from collapse during the turn-up operation.
4. The multi-segment drum (600) of claim 1, wherein the cylinder (608) is one of a Pneumatic cylinder and a cylindrical shaft.
5. The multi-segment drum (600) of claim 1, wherein the at least two centre links (604) takes load and pressure during turn-up operation to prevent the load on the LM bearing.
6. The multi-segment drum (600) of claim 1, wherein each of the drum segments (602) move linearly during and be guided by the LM bearing

during linear movement so as to expand or collapse the cylindrical surface of the drum (602).
7. The multi-segment drum (600) of claim 1, comprises a spacer (612) mounted in a square type slot to locate and position, wherein the side segment (614) of the drum segments (602) hold the spacer (612) from top (616) to reduce effort and time of a spacer change over.