FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) & THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10, rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: TYRE SPREADER
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
CEAT LIMITED Indian CEAT Ltd At: Get Muwala Po: Chandrapura Ta: Halol - 389 350 Dist: Panchmahal, Gujarat, India
3. Preamble to the description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.

BACKGROUND
[0001] A tyre is made from a combination of different components, such
as steel, chemicals, natural rubber, and textiles. During tyre manufacturing process, the above-mentioned components are processed into various semi-finished products which may be utilised for manufacturing the tyre. For instance, a steel cord may be embedded into one or more layers of rubber to obtain a continuous sheet of cord and rubber. The continuous sheet so obtained may then be trimmed at a predefined angle and length according to a tyre size. Further, multiple textile threads may be embedded into a thin layer of rubber to obtain a textile cord. The textile cord so formed may then be trimmed at a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction of the tyre based on the tyre size. Furthermore, sidewall sections may be prepared and trimmed based on the tyre size. Moreover, a steel bead may be made by making a loop of multiple ring-shaped steel wires and fitting the loop with rubber apex. The semi-finished products so obtained may then be fed into a tyre building machine to assemble a semi-finished tyre referred to as a green tyre.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0002] Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tyre spreader, in
accordance with an example of the present subject matter,
[0003] Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the tyre spreader, in
accordance with an example of the present subject matter, and
[0004] Figure 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the tyre spreader,
in accordance with an example of the present subject matter.
[0005] Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate
similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however,

the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] A green tyre may be given a final shape by subjecting the same
to a curing process. In the curing process, the green tyre is put in a mould
and a pressure is applied on the green tyre to stimulate a chemical reaction
between the rubber compounds and other materials. The pressure so
applied makes the green tyre flow into the mould, thereby engraving the
tread pattern and sidewall lettering on the green tyre. At the end of the curing
process, the pressure is bled down and the tyre is stripped out of the mould.
[0007] Green tyres are usually stored on racks or trolleys before being
transported for the curing process. When a green tyre is stored for unusually longer periods on such racks or trolleys, distance between bead portions of the green tyre may change and the green tyre may be deformed. Such a deformation usually occurs when a sidewall of the tyre is smaller with respect to a weight of the green tyre and is referred to as green tyre deformation.
[0008] Further, there may be situations where a bead portion of the
green tyre may be deformed into an oval shape during the transportation of the green tyre for the curing process. Such a deformation may occur when the green tyre is stored on the trolley in a tilted manner and is referred to as bead ovality.
[0009] A green tyre with the afore-mentioned deformations doesn’t sit
well on a curing ring of a curing machine. Also, when such a green tyre is loaded on the curing machine for subjection to the curing process, such deformations leads to an off-centre loading defect which results in generation of excess scrap during the curing process.
[00010] According to examples of the present subject matter, a tyre
spreader for reducing the deformation in tyres is described.

[00011] In an example, the tyre spreader includes a shaft and a plurality
of pedals mounted at a first end of the shaft, and the plurality of pedals is to hold a first sidewall of a tyre. In an example, the tyre may be a green tyre. The tyre spreader further comprises a plurality of arms mounted along a length of the shaft, where the plurality of arms are moveable along the length of the shaft, and where each of the plurality of arms comprises a grooved portion to hold a second sidewall of the tyre.
[00012] The above aspects are further described in conjunction with the
figures, and in associated description below. It should be noted that the description and the figures merely illustrate principles of the present subject matter. Therefore, various arrangements that encompass the principles of the present subject matter, although not explicitly described or shown herein, may be devised from the description and are included within its scope.
[00013] Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tyre spreader 100,
in accordance with an example of the present invention.
[00014] The tyre spreader 100 includes a shaft 102 and a plurality of
pedals 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, …, 104-n (not shown) mounted at a first end of the shaft 102. For the ease of reference, the plurality of pedals 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, …, 104-n have been referred to as the plurality of pedals 104, hereinafter. The plurality of pedals 104 may be mounted on the shaft 102 in a manner, such that, when a tyre is placed on the tyre spreader 100, the plurality of pedals 104 may hold a first sidewall of the tyre. In an example, the plurality of pedals 104 may hold a first bead arranged on the first sidewall of the tyre.
[00015] The tyre spreader 100 further includes a plurality of arms 106-1,
106-2, …, 106-n (not shown) mounted along a length of the shaft 102. Each of the plurality of arms 106-1, 106-2, …, 106-n may include a grooved portion 108-1, 108-2, …, 108-n (not shown) to hold a second sidewall of the tyre when the tyre is placed on the tyre spreader 100. In an example, the grooved portion 108-1, 108-2, …, 108-n may hold a second bead arranged

on the second sidewall of the tyre. For the ease of reference, the plurality of arms 106-1, 106-2, …, 106-n have been referred to as the plurality of arms 106, hereinafter. Similarly, the grooved portion 108-1, 108-2, …, 108-n have been referred to as the grooved portion 108, hereinafter.
[00016] Further, the plurality of arms 106 may be moveable along the
length of the shaft 102. Accordingly, when the tyre is placed on the tyre spreader 100, the plurality of arms 106 may hold the second sidewall via the grooved portion 108 and move along the length of the shaft 102. Such a movement of the plurality of arms 106 may allow lateral expansion of the tyre, thereby facilitating maintenance of equal bead distance along a circumference of the tyre.
[00017] In an example, the plurality of arms 106 may also be configured
to move along a radial direction of the tyre. In the example, the grooved portion 108 formed on each of the plurality of arms 106 may hold and push the second sidewall of the tyre along a radial direction of the tyre, thereby removing any bead ovality present in the tyre. The manner in which the plurality of arms 106 may hold and push the second sidewall in the radial direction is explained hereunder.
[00018] The tyre spreader 100 may include a pneumatic cylinder 110
mounted at a second end of the shaft 102. The pneumatic cylinder 110 may include a piston 112 arranged within the shaft 102 and may be configured to move along the length of the shaft 102.
[00019] In an example, each of the plurality of arms 106 may be
connected to the piston 112 of the pneumatic cylinder 110. Each of the plurality of arms 106 may be connected to the piston 112 by respective connecting members 114-1, 114-2, …, 114-n. In an example, each of the plurality of arms 106 may be connected to the piston 112 by the respective connecting members 114-1, 114-2, …, 114-n in a manner, such that, the connecting members 114-1, 114-2, …, 114-n may push the plurality of arms 106 in the radial direction of the tyre during a movement of the piston towards the second end of the shaft 102. Such a movement of the plurality

of arms 106 may push the tyre radially, thereby removing any bead ovality
present in the tyre.
[00020] In an example, the tyre spreader 100 may include a radial
stopper 116 mounted on the piston 112 arranged with the shaft 102, where
the radial stopper 116 may limit a movement of the plurality of arms 106
along the radial direction of the tyre. In the example, the radial stopper 116
may limit a movement of the piston 112 within the shaft 102, thereby
controlling the movement of the respective connecting members 114 with
which each of the plurality of arms 106 is connected to the piston 112. In
this manner, the radial stopper 116 may control an extent to which the
plurality of arms 106 are to be moved along the radial direction of the tyre.
The radial stopper 116 may be arranged at different positions on the piston
112 for adjusting the connecting members 114 for tyres of different
diameters.
[00021] In an example, the plurality of arms 106 may be coated with a
non-sticky coating, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Coating the
plurality of arms 106 with the non-sticky coating prevents the plurality of
arms from sticking with the tyre, thereby preventing the tyre from being
damaged.
[00022] Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the tyre spreader 100, in
accordance with an example of the present subject matter.
[00023] As already described, the tyre spreader 100 includes the plurality
of pedals 104 mounted on the first end of the shaft 102, where the plurality
of pedals 104 is to hold a first sidewall of the tyre, when the tyre is placed
on the tyre spreader 100. Further, the tyre spreader 100 includes the
plurality of arms 106 mounted along the length of the shaft 102, where each
of the plurality of arms 106 includes a grooved portion 108 that is to hold the
second sidewall of the tyre, when the tyre is placed on the tyre spreader
100.
[00024] In an example, each of the plurality of arms may be mounted on
a disc 118, where the disc 118 may be mounted along the length of the shaft

102. In an example, the disc 118 may be moveable along the length of the shaft 102. In the example, the disc 118 may be moved along the length of the shaft 102 to configure the plurality of arms 106 for different widths of the tyres.
[00025] In an example, each of the plurality of arms 106 may comprise a
head portion 120 and a leg portion 122 coupled to the head portion 120. In the example, the head portion 120 may extend further than the leg portion 122 in a radial direction of the tyre. Further, as illustrated, the grooved portion 108 may be defined between the head portion 120 and the leg portion 122.
[00026] As already described, the plurality of arms 106 may be connected
to the piston 112 of the pneumatic cylinder 110 by the connecting members 114-1, 114-2, …, 114-n. For the ease of reference, the connecting members 114-1, 114-2, …, 114-n have been referred to as the connecting member 114, hereinafter. In an example, a first end of the connecting member 114 may be connected to a first end of the piston 112, where the first end of the piston 112 may be proximal to the first end of the shaft 102. In the example, a second end of the connecting member 114 may be connected to the plurality of arms 106 at the leg portion 122. The second end of the connecting member 114 may be connected to the leg portion 122 in a manner, such that, the connecting member 114 may push the plurality of arms 106 in the radial direction of the tyre during a movement of the piston towards the second end of the shaft 102.
[00027] Further, as described above, the tyre spreader 100 may include
the radial stopper 116 mounted on the piston 112 to limit a movement of the piston 112 within the shaft 102, thereby controlling the movement of the respective connecting members 114 with which each of the plurality of arms 106 is connected to the piston 112. The radial stopper 116 may be arranged at different positions on the piston 112 for adjusting the connecting members 114 for tyres of different diameters.

[00028] Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the tyre spreader 100, in
accordance with an example of the present subject matter.
[00029] As illustrated, each of the plurality of arms may be mounted on a
disc 118, where the disc 118 may be mounted along the length of the shaft 102. The disc 118 may be moveable along the length of the shaft 102. The disc 118 may be moved along the length of the shaft 102 to configure the plurality of arms 106 as per different widths of the tyres.
[00030] In an example, the disc 118 may act as an axial stopper and may
be configured to limit the movement of the plurality of arms 106 along the length of the shaft. The disc 118 may be arranged at different positions along the length of the shaft for adjusting the plurality of arms 106 for different tyre sizes.
[00031] Although examples of the present subject matter have been
described in language specific to methods and/or structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not limited to the specific methods or features described. Rather, the methods and specific features are disclosed and explained as examples of the present subject matter.

I/We Claim:
1. A tyre spreader comprising:
a shaft;
a plurality of pedals mounted at a first end of the shaft, wherein the plurality of pedals is to hold a first sidewall of a tyre; and
a plurality of arms mounted along a length of the shaft, wherein the plurality of arms are moveable along the length of the shaft, and wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises a grooved portion to hold a second sidewall of the tyre.
2. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises a head portion and a leg portion coupled to the head portion, wherein the head portion extends farther than the leg portion in a radial direction of the tyre.
3. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 2, wherein the grooved portion is defined between the head portion and the leg portion.
4. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic cylinder mounted at a second end of the shaft, wherein a piston of the pneumatic cylinder is arranged within the shaft and is configured to move along the length of the shaft.
5. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of arms is connected to the piston of the pneumatic cylinder.
6. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of arms is connected to the piston of the pneumatic cylinder by a connecting member, wherein the connecting member is configured to push each of the plurality of arms in a radial direction of the tyre during a movement of the piston towards the second end of the shaft.

7. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an axial stopper mounted along the length of the shaft, wherein the stopper is to limit a movement of the plurality of arms along the length of the shaft.
8. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a radial stopper mounted on the piston, wherein the radial stopper is to limit a movement of the plurality of arms in a radial direction of the tyre.
9. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of arms are coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene coating.
10. The tyre spreader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of pedals is to hold a first bead arranged on the first sidewall of the tyre, and wherein the plurality of arms is to hold a second bead arranged on the second sidewall of the tyre.