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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1, 1914. 



New Machines and Appliances. 



THE STEVENS SOLID TIRE MACHINE. 



AMONG the newer machines relating to the construction of 

 tires is one designed by William C. Stevens, of Akron, 

 Ohio. This machine, which is illustrated in the accom- 

 panying drawings, is designed for building up the base portion 

 of solid rubber tires on metallic rims, preparatory to vulcanizing 

 upon the solid base the softer tread portion. In building up 

 solid tires it is usual to form the base of hard rubber, which is 

 grooved or dovetailed into the metal rim, and then to vulcanize 

 the tread of aaft rubber onto the hard rubber base. It is the 

 object of this machine to provide a means of forcing the hard 

 rubber into the metal grooves and to apply the successive layer.s 

 in such a manner that the top layer will present a comparatively 

 smooth surface to which the tread may be more easily vulcanized. 

 Referring to the drawings. A' shows a side view of the com- 

 plete machine, }' shows a section through the special roller for 

 applying the hard rubber base, and Z is a section through the 

 rim and completed tire. The ordinary metal rim A is supported 

 upon an adjustable spider B which is pivoted on the arm C. 

 The opposite end of this arm bears a gear D which engages 

 another gear E fixed to the end of the arm F. This arm may 

 be raised or lowered with respect to the gear E by adjusting a 

 ratchet which engages the teeth of the gear and which is operated 

 by the lever G. The outer end of the arm F bears a weight H, 

 which, through the spur gears, causes the rim A to bear down 

 with considerable pressure upon the roller /. The construction 

 of this roller is the principal feature of the machine, and it may 

 be better understood by referring to the sectional view Y. The 

 roller is made up of a number of plates / fastened to the shaft 

 K. Between these plates are a number of annular disks L. 

 These disks are slightly larger in diameter than the plates and 



HYDRAULIC PRESS FOR RUBBER SCRAP, 



The hydraulic press illustrated herewith, and which was only 

 recently brought out in this form, is being used by a number 

 of manufacturers for pressing crude scrap rubber into slabs for 



Ste\t:ns New Solid Tire Machine. 

 their central openings are slightly larger than the hubs of the 

 plates J. As the drum revolves upon the rollers M the disks L 

 are pushed up so that the top of the drum assumes a corrugated 

 appearance. The strip of rubber N, which is to form the base 

 of the tire, is fed between the rim A and the drum /, and the 

 disks L force the rubber into the grooves in the rim. As each 

 succeeding layer of rubber is laid upon the rim, the material be- 

 comes less susceptible to the pressure of the disks, and when the 

 last layer is reached the rubber base has almost a plain surface. 

 In order to keep the disks pressed up against the rubber as the 

 latter is being applied, the pressure rolls M are forced up against 

 the drum by means of a pair of heavily weighted levers R. The 

 cross-section of the completed tire indicates the manner in which 

 the rubber is forced into the grooved rim and shows the gradual 

 elimination of the deep ridges as each layer of rubber is applied. 



M.achixe for Sl.^bbi.n'g Scr.ap Rubber. 



convenience in handling and storing. This press is operated 

 by a hydraulic plunger which is actuated either by an accumu- 

 lator or from a single pump installation. The 

 apparatus is of the upward pressure type, 

 the plunger having a working pressure of 

 1,000 pounds, with a travel of 13 inches. A 

 track running through the press between the 

 frame members carries two steel mold boxes 

 which receive the crude rubber and carry it 

 into the press. One box is always in posi- 

 tion for unloading and refilling while the 

 other is under pressure. This saves time 

 and labor and makes the operation a continu- 

 ous one. One side and end of each mold 

 box are provided with hinges which permit 

 the boxes to be opened for removal of the 

 pressed rubber. The pressure head is 

 machined to fit the boxes, which are 22 

 mches wide, 26 inches long and 13 inches 

 deep. When pressure is applied, the box with 

 the crude rubber is forced upward and 

 over the pressure head, and the rubber is pressed into a slab 

 in the bottom of the box. The machine is fitted with the usual 

 hydraulic gages and valves for controlling and registering the 

 pressure. The apparatus is constructed of steel throughout, 

 which adapts it for long and hard service. [The Hydraulic 

 Press Manufacturing Co., Mount Gilead, Ohio.] 



RUBBER ROLLS FOE TANUING. 



.•\n improvement has been made in the rubber rolls used for 

 tanning by the introduction of one or more layers of tough 

 rubber over the layers of softer resilient rubber. This tough 

 rubber resists the influence of grease and oil, without affecting 

 the resiliency of the rubber covering of the rolls. [Felten & 

 Guilleaume, Miilheim-on-Rhine.] 



