MXPA97008304A - Apparatus with adjustable circumference made of one unclaimer of interconnect shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus that defines an outer circumference or inner circular layer serving as a shaping surface or as a coupling surface to a circumference, characterized in that it comprises a frame having a central axis, a plurality of shoes each of which include an arcuate surface which in combination with the arcuate surfaces of the other shoes collectively defines a circumference; means for hingedly mounting or hingeing each of the shoes to the frame in a circumferentially spaced relation about a central axis of the frame , the shoes are radially inwardly and outwardly offset with respect to the central axis of the frame so that the shoes move toward each other when the shoes move radially inward and separate when the shoes move radially outward; to assemble articulately each of the shoes including medi Link members or elongated links having one end inboard and one end out of edge and means that rotatably fix the link means to the frame at a location along the longitudinal dimension of the intermediate link means of their ends inside. on board and outside edge, each of the shoes includes a first recess defining a first lateral margin thereof and a second recess defined in a second margin and on the opposite side so that when the shoes are mounted in a relationship adjacent circumferentially, the first recess of each shoe faces the second recess of a circumferentially adjacent shoe, a plurality of rigid bars having first and second end portions, each of the bars having one of its end portions anchored in a first recess of a first of the shoes, and has its opposite extreme portion received slidably from a second notch of one of the to adjacent shoes circumferentially, in order to thereby interconnect and restrict the plurality of the shoes to identical degrees of rotation about their hinge or joint axes;

Description

APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLE CIRCUMFERENCE MADE OF A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED SHOES DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices that are particularly useful for manufacturing vehicle tires, and more particularly refers to an apparatus that defines an external circumference suitable for serving with a forming surface, or for gripping the inner circumference of an object. tubular or similar., or as an internal circumference to serve to grasp the inner circumference of a round or tubular circular object. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved tread drum, or an improved transfer ring useful in the manufacture of vehicle tires. The manufacture of a tire commonly includes the steps of forming a tire type by forming a portion of the tread and tire tread separately from the tire, and subsequently joining the tread portion of the tire to the tire to form a tire. green". The green rim is subsequently treated to form the tread and several other characteristics of the rim. Further steps, such as riveting, can be performed during the course of or after one or more of the previous steps. The formation of the portion of band and rolling of rim, is carried out in a drum of band and rolling. Such a drum has an outer cylindrical surface around which one or more layers of the tire material of the rim (comprising, for example, reinforcing cords embedded in a polymeric binder), and subsequently to the lower layer of the web material, are placed. puts one or more layers of rolling stock to understand a package. The tread and tread drum is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal central axis and the different layers forming the tread and tread package are placed on the drum as it rotates. The circumference of such a drum should preferably be capable of expanding and contracting, for example, accommodating the removal of a completed package Cel which is essentially non-expandable in the radial direction), from the circumference of the drum and to allow a single drum to be used to form the bundles of band and rolling of different diameters. The circumference of such a drum can collectively be composed of a plurality of rigid arched segments (basket), wherein each segment provides an arc of the cylindrical surface and is mounted to move towards and away from the longitudinal axis of the drum to accommodate the adjustment in the circumference of the drum. In addition, each segment can be provided with a plurality of rods cooperating or engaging with that segment, the rods provided at an adjacent position, so that the circumference of the drum expands and contracts the cooperating rods back to the circumference of the cylindrical surface usefully continuous . In the manufacture of vehicle tires, a fabric is formed on a drum in a manner somewhat similar to the formation of a tread and tread package, so that the drum used to form the tire type can utilize the concepts of the present invention. Further, after the fabric has been formed it is transferred to a second drum passage and held there while a web and tread pascuete is transferred from the tread and drum to the outer circumference of the fabric using a transfer ring . Subsequently, the band and roll pasuete is coupled to the genre. The transfer ring commonly used basically comprises an inverted band and a rolling drum. That is, even if the outer circumference of the tread and tread drum is ustable to accommodate the formation of the tread and tread allowance and to allow for the removal of a full tread and tread, the internal circumference of the transfer ring is adjustable to allow the ring to wrap around the outer circumference of the tread and tread pan, and contract in diameter to cause the transfer ring shoes to join and grasp the tread and tread portion to transfer said payee to the wheel rim.

It would be desirable for a transfer ring or a tread drum as used in the tire manufacturing industry, to incorporate a maximum margin adjustability margin of the transfer ring or drum, so that the transfer ring can be used in the manufacture of a relatively wide range of tire sizes (diameters). With the purpose for the individual shoes of a transfer ring for outward radial movement, the mechanism for mounting each of the shoes includes an articulated or hinge connection of the shoe to the mechanism that moves the shoe, generally radially, in and out. This hinge connection allows the shoe to rotate freely around the hinge connection. In the copending application of the present applicant S.N. 08 / 547,381; the rotation of the sections of an ultisectional arsenic segment Basket is the shoe), controlled by guide plates attached to the adjacent shoe sections and interacting with spikes on the sections of the adjacent shoes to help maintain the circular position of the legs. sections of the different shoes. The manufacture, installation and maintenance of this type of interconnection of the adjacent shoes of the drum transfer ring, however, are costly and time-consuming. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of apparatus for stabilizing the concentric alignment of the plurality of shoes of an apparatus having an adjustable circumference formed of a plurality of shoes. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tread drum or a transfer ring of the aforementioned kinds wherein the rotational movement of the shoes around their respective articulation axes is restricted. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a belt and rolling drum or transfer ring that has the shoes that have the circumference that have no complication in their construction and are effective in their operation. It is another object to provide an apparatus of many shoes expandable and capable of collapse to grip the internal or external diameter of the circular or annular type objects, and wherein the rotational movement of the shoes is restricted around their respective articulation axes. In its broader aspects, the present invention provides a frame which serves to assemble a plurality of shoes having respective argued surfaces, which collectively define the circumference of a sleep apparatus having a central axis and to be used as a shaping surface for example in the construction of a tread band and tread for a rim), or for use in gripping the inner or outer circumference of a circular, tubular or round object (as in a transfer ring). Each shoe is mounted on the frame for a radial movement in and out, with respect to the central axis of the apparatus. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided which includes a preferably circular geometry frame and having a central axis. In locations spaced around the circumference of the narco, a plurality of links or links are provided, each of which is pivotally mounted in the frame. Each link includes at least one leg portion having an off-board end. The outboard ends of the leg portions of the plurality of links are interconnected with each other, and with an actuating mechanism whose operation serves to rotate the interconnected links in unison around their respective rotational mounts in the frame. When the links rotate their respective shoes are forced to move along a defended trajectory that reacts to the shoes radially inwards and outwards, with respect to the central axis of the apparatus. By selecting the angle between the first and second leg portions of each link the rotational mounting location of the link to the frame, the degree of rotation of the link, the amount of radial displacement of the shoes per unit of movement of the actuating mechanism, may be established. To each link there is mounted articulated or with bisasra a zapata. Because each shoe is articulated to its respective link and because it is desired that the shoes to move retain their circular configuration in that they move radially in and out the frame. The present invention takes care of the retention of this circularity in the configuration of the shoes. This feature is fulfilled in the present invention, by a rigid bar having ends fixedly anchored in an outwardly open recess, of a lateral margin, of a first shoe. This bar projects from its mounting recess and moves away from the first shoe towards a second adjacent shoe circumferentially, where the outboard end of the bar is slidably received in another notch there provided, and open outward, so that lateral margin of the second gueda shoe in front of the lateral margin of the first shoe. The recesses and the disposed bar share a common longitudinal axis, so that when the shoes are displaced radially inwardly and outwardly, they are forced to identical degrees of rotation about their hinge or joint axes. When the shoes move radially outward along their argued trajectory, the distance between the adjacent shoes increases. To accommodate this change in spacer distance, the off-board end of the rigid bar slides into its notch in the second shoe. The length of the rigid bar, therefore, is selected to ensure that a material portion of the bar remains within the recess in the footing during all radial positions of the shoe. All the shoes of the apparatus are interconnected by corresponding rigid bars extending between the front side in the margin of the adjacent shoes circumferentially, so that all the shoes are forced to identical degrees of rotation about their respective articulation axes. This is done in part by orienting the recesses in the different shoes at the same angle with respect to a circular frame radius. In order to maintain the circularity of the argued surfaces of the plurality during its radial displacement inwards and outwards, the present invention has found that the common longitudinal axis which is shared by the recesses in the frontal side margins of some of the adjacent shoes circumferentially, it aligns itself angularly in a suitable way, with a radian crue originating in the central axis of the frame. According to one aspect of the present invention, this angular alignment establishes in a manner the common axis of the recesses in the frontal side margins of the circumferentially adjacent shoes. Basket is the longitudinal axis of the rigid bar which occupies these recesses), is oriented perpendicular to a radius or radius emanating from the central axis of the frame equidistantly between the articulation axes of two circumferentially adjacent shoes. It is important that the construction of the present shoe alignment restriction arrangement provide efficient and relatively inexpensive manufacture of the shoes, according to the aspect of the present invention, the shoes define the circumference of the transfer ring or drum, Mounting holes for the hinge assembly of the shoes, the recesses in the front side margins of the circumferentially adjacent shoes, and the access openings for receiving removable attachments for guidingly anchoring one end of a bar in a respective shoe, are they initially form as a continuous ring in a single assembly or manufacturing step. Later, this ring is cut into individually identical defended shoes. By this means, there is a certainty of accuracy in positioning the recesses angularity of the axis of each recess with respect to an apparatus radius and access openings for the insertion of removable fasteners for guidingly anchoring one end of the bar in a respective recess . In addition, the ability to perform the multiple manufacturing operation in one step, minimizes the cost of manufacturing the apparatus. According to the feature of the present invention, the rigid arms, which interconnect the first outboard ends of the adjacent links circumferentially in the drive train for the apparatus, are made adjustable in length to offer the distance adjustment between the adjacent shoes that are associated with the adjacent links. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be better understood with the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which. FIGURE 1 is a side view of an eagle for manufacturing tires that presents, among other things, a band and roll drum and a transfer ring. FIGURE 2 is a flat elevation view of a transfer ring, partly cut, embodying several of the features of the present invention. FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the transfer ring of FIG. 2. FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of approximately the upper left quadrant of the transfer ring shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a non-driving link and includes a shoe attached thereto as employed in one embodiment of the present invention. FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a non-driving link as used in the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the link shown in FIG. 6. FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the drive or actuator link as used in the present invention. FIGURE 9 is a side elevation view of the link shown in FIG. 8. FIGURE 10. is a plan view of a shoe as used in the present invention. FIGURE 11 is an extreme elevation view of the shoe shown in FIG. 10. FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken generally along line 12-12 of FIG. 11. FIGURE 13 , is a diagrammatic representation of the design of a solid ring and of several manufacturing operations performed to produce ears where the shoes are mounted in the apparatus of the present invention. Referring now to Figs. in which the same reference figures indicate the same or corresponding characteristics, it is shown in Fig. 10, a machine for building a rim 10, in which the characteristics of the present material, including a tread and tread drum 12, materialize an expander drum 14, and a transfer ring 16, as noted above, the manufacture of a tire has multiple stages. In the first stage the so-called tire type is formed; This fabric comprises a sheet of polymeric material which has embedded reinforcement cords and formed around two wires to form the flexible inner race of the rim, a second stage of the rim-making process includes forming or modeling a band and rolling pouch on the tread and drum drum 12. The fabric formed in the first stage is transferred to an expander drum 14, which contacts the beds of the fabric to form an airtight seal and inflate the fabric, so that the outer diameter of the fabric It is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tire tread and tread. Once the first stage of the fabric has been placed on the expansion drum 14, a transfer ring 16 is placed around the tread and tread pads, and the tread and tread drum is allowed to collapse, so that the paguete guede supported by the transfer ring 16. Then this ring 16, transfers the pays of band and rolling to the expander drum 14, and places the pagúete around the outer side of the partially inflated gender that is already placed on the expander 14. Then, the gender is inflated more for each contact with the inner side, the paging of the band and the tread, and subsequently the paging of the tread and tread joins the gender. As far as the construction of the tread and drum drum 12 is concerned, the drum circumference 12 is capable of expanding to various diameters to accommodate the formed part of the tread and tread bundles to tires of different diameters. Therefore, when several tire sizes need to be made in a given drum, the diameter of the circumference of the tread drum should be conveniently adjusted. Additionally, the tread and tread drum must be capable of collapse from the expanded position to allow the tread and tread to be removed to transfer it to a subsequent stage of the tire manufacturing process. Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a circular frame 20 is provided, which in the embodiment shown includes first and second lateral annular members, indicated with the figures 22 and 24. These annular members are arranged in a relationship opposite to define opposite sides of the frame. The spaced apart relationship of the side rings is established and maintained by cross connector bars 26, (which are typical), located at certain distances around the circumference of the lateral rings. The edges 28 and 30, outboard of the side rings 22 and 24, are provided with respective circumferential grooves 31 and 33, (see Fig. 5), crue open inward from the distanced side rings. A basically circular riaid cover 32 fits within these grooves and extends substantially around the circumference of the frame. In this way the rings and the cover define a circular cavity 34, inside the frame, this frame also includes a central axis of rotation 36. Inside the interior cavity 34, of the frame 20, and at circumferentially spaced locations, there are rotationally mounted a plurality of links 38, (typical). In this presented embodiment there are ten links, nine of which are basically identical, and the tenth comprises a link or drive link 40. The different links 38, are interconnected with each other and with the drive link 40.; the drive link is connected to an impeller means 42, such as a piston cylinder 44, so that the links and the impeller constitute an actuating train for the simultaneous rotational movement of the links. The plunger cylinder device preferably works pneumatically but can be hydraulic, from a pressurized fluid source (not shown) and employing a control mechanism such as that presented in the copending application S.N. 08 / 547,381; or by a conventional control mechanism. As shown in Fig. 3, the cylinder plunger means 42 is pivotally mounted by a clamp 46 to the outer surface 48 of the cover member 32 of the frame 20. As noted in an apparatus of the present invention use ten shoes arranged circumferentially around the frame 20, nine will be identical and the tenth is designed to operate connected to the driver 42. Figs. 5, 6 and 7, present one of the nine links 38, and Figs. 8 and 9, have a drive link 40. As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the link or link 38, comprises a flat central body portion 50, side arms 52, 54, generally flat, are fixed to them. opposite side edges 56 and 58, of the body portion, for example by welding. The arms 52 and 54, in this embodiment have first respective ends 60 and 62, (inside the board with respect to the frame), each having a through hole 64 and 66, provided through its first end adjacent to its thickness. These perforations share a common central axis 68, and therefore, they are in an integrating mechanism. The first and second side arms 52 and 54 are generally identical with the exception that the arm 54 includes an extension 70, whose function is to connect the link 38, in the drive train for the simultaneous rotational movement of the different links. For this purpose, the extension 70, of the second side arm 54, includes two holes 72 and 74, through its thickness which serve as connection points in the drive train providing rotation for the links 38. Intermediary to the first end 62 , and to the extension 70, of the arm 74, this arm is provided with another perforation 76, through its thickness, which is used to pivotally mount the link 38, to the frame 20. The end 60, of the first lateral arm 52, it is also provided with a perforation 88, by its thickness, which is integrated with the perforation 76, of the second arm 54. In addition, the outboard sides 80 and 82, of the lateral arms 52 and 54, are provided with tubular spacers 84 and 86, whose respective central cavities are aligned soaxially with their respective perforations 88 and 76. One of the ends 90 and 92, respectively of each spacer, is fixedly fixed to its side arm by welding. As best seen in FIG. 5, a pivot pin 94 is inserted into the through bores 88 and 76, and through the spacers 84 and 86, and also through the holes 96 and 98, into the frame to pivotally mount the link. 38 to the frame, this pivotal pin also serves to define an axis of rotation 99, for the link 38. The distances from the perforations 60, 62, of the arms 52, 54, to their respective perforations 88 and 76, are equal to ensure All the arched surfaces of the shoes placed with hinges or hinged, are retained in a real circumferential relation with respect to the central axis of the frame, that is, no shoe is displaced from the concentricity with the central axis of the frame. With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, the driving link 40, includes a flat central portion 100. Similarly, to the link 38, the generally first and second side arms 102 and 104 are fixed to the opposite edges 106 and 108 of the body portion of the drive link, for example by welding . The first and second side arms in this embodiment are essentially mirror images of each other, and include first ends 110 and 112, each having a bore 114, and 116, respectively, provided through its bulk adjacent its far end respective. These perforations share a common central axis 118, and are therefore integrated. The first and second side arms 102 and 104 of the drive link further include respective ends 120 and 122, which project from the link outwardly from the frame radially. As best seen in Fig. 8, these off-board ends 120 and 122, of the lateral margins of the drive link 102 and 104, are connected together by a cross member 124, which extends between them. At the center of the length of the cross member 124, a pair of stationary poles 126 and 128 are provided, which are spaced apart from one another to receive a connector 130, CFig. 4), which is fixed at the outboard end of the plunger rod 132, of the impeller 42, intermediate the opposite ends of the respective lateral arms 102 and 104, each side arm is provided with a bore 134 and 136, a Through their thickness, these perforations serve to receive through them a pivot pin 138, CFig. 4), for pivotally mounting the drive link 40, to the frame 20. As needed, the cylindrical spacers 140 and 142 are fixed to the outboard sides 144 and 146 of each of the side arms of the drive link 40. With specific reference to Figs. 4 and 10, each link 38, and the drive link 40, include a shoe 150, hinged to and between the opposite distant ends of, the side arms of each link by means of a hinge pin 152, (see Fig. 5). ), sue further serves to define a pivotal ee 153, for the shoe 150. With reference to Figs. 10 and 11, in one embodiment, each shoe 150, includes a body portion 154, which has opposite surfaces 156, and 158. The shoe shown in Figs. 10 and 11, further includes first and second elongated ears 162 and 160 which are secured to the outermost radially surface 154 of the adjacent opposite side edges of the shoe 164 and 166 of the shoe. Each of these ears is provided with a perforation 168 and 170 through its thickness to receive there the pivotal pin 152 used to mount the shoe to the outboard ends of the arms 52 and 54 of a link 38. In the embodiment shown, the surface 158 of each shoe defines a argued surface which is oriented facing into the frame 20, as would be used in a transfer ring, for example. The collective barred surfaces of the shoes, aguí, define a circumferential surface for use gripping the outer surface of an object having a cylindrical, round tubular outer surface or the like. In the manufacture of tires, the grabbed object can be a paguado of band and rolling. In an alternative embodiment the shoes may be arranged around the outer circumference of the frame with their arcuate surfaces defining an outer circumferential surface which is suitable for gripping the inner surface of a tube, a toroid, a hollow cylinder etc. or to serve as a drum in a vehicle tire manufacturing process. Because of the pivotal mounting of the links or links to the frame and likewise of each shoe to its respective link, the diameter of the circumference defined by the shoes may vary to accommodate different sizes of objects. In the case of vehicle rim components, the field of desirable diameters is large so that a single transfer ring or drum can be used in the manufacture of rims of different sizes. All the links are pivotally mounted to the frame in places that lie within a common circle about the central axis of rotation 36 of the frame. When the links pivot around their axes in the process of changing the diameter of the circumferential surface defined by the shoes, these move radially inward or outward, this is in a argued trajectory. This trajectory 171 is presented in Figure 4. It will be recognized that each shoe moves along its argued trajectory, it is imperative that the pivotal movement of the shoes be restricted to such a degree that the surfaces argueades of the shoes continue to collectively define a circle that be concentric with the central axis of the frame, if the shoes fail to maintain that circle in all the field of possible diameters, this will result in an unequal pressure applied by the device when grasping the object. The different links 38 and the drive link 40 are interconnected for a simultaneous and equal rotation of the links or links around their axes of rotation, where they are mounted to the frame 20, as driven by the drive unit 42. In the embodiment presented in Figures 3 and 4 specifically, the distal extensions 70 of the different links 38 are interconnected by means of a plurality of rigid connecting rods 210, each of which is provided with a pin 212 to adjust the length of the bar 210. One end 214 of each bar 210 is pivotally connected by a pin 216 (typical) FIG. 4) to a transpassing bore 74 in the distal extension 70 of a link 38. The opposite end 218 of the bar 210 is connected in the same manner to a perforation 72 'of an adjacent link 38', for example. A fixing plate 219 is used to fix the connection of the ends of the bar to each link. In the same way all the links 38 are interconnected for a rotational movement. The links 38 are similarly connected to the drive link 40 using bores 220 and 222 provided at each end 120 of the drive link 40, so that with the rotation of the drive link 40 by the drive unit 42, all links rotate about their axes respective rotational the same amount and simultaneously. Therefore this rotational movement of the links produces a radial displacement of the shoes 150 along their arcuate trajectories, the movement of the shoe being the same amount and simultaneously. To ensure that all the shoes move radially the same amount, the linear distance between each of the adjacent extensions 70 of the links 38, and between the drive link 40 and its adjacent links 38, is adjustable by means of the manipulation of the turnstiles 212. It should also be noted that the perforations 72 and 74 of each of the links 38 (and the perforations 220 and 222 of the drive link 40) are displaced radially by different sanctities as the links or links are rotated so the perforations they are radially displaced by different distances to accommodate the radial displacement of these perforations when the links are rotated around their respective rotational axes. According to the present invention the first and second mounting ears 160, for example, Figure 10) of each shoe is provided with a first recess 172 defined therein with an adjacent end 174 of the ear 160 and a second recess 176 therein. defined adjacent the opposite end 178 of the ear. Each ear opens outward from the respective end of your ear. The first recess 172 of the ear 160 is configured to receive one end 180 of a rigid bar 182 with the opposite end and outboard 184 of the bar 182 projecting from the ear 160 in the direction of an adjacent shoe syncunferentially (see Figure 4). ). The second recess 176 'of the adjacent shoe 38' is configured to slidably receive the outboard end 184 of that bar 182. According to one feature of the present invention, the first recess 172 of the shoe 150 and the second notch 176 'of an adjacent shoe 150', are in a common plane and furthermore are oriented along a common longitudinal axis which is the axis of the bar 182. The rigidity of the bar 182 thus prevents crue the adjacent shoes 150 and 150, for example, have a common degree of pivotal rotation in their axes when the shoes move along their respective defended trajectories, when the diameter defined by the shoes increases or decreases. The length of the bar 182 is chosen to ensure that its off-board end 184 remains within its second recess 176 'of the adjacent shoe 152, when the shoes 150 and 150' move to their maximum limit of the collectively defined circumferential surface. by the shoes, this is the extreme radial position with respect to the frame. In the embodiment shown, the end 180 of the bar 182 is stochable in a guidable manner within its first recess 172 by two separate counter-sinking bolts 190 and 192, which are received by screwing into the perforations 194 and 196 (FIG. 10) provided in FIG. Ear 160 adjacent the first recess 172, so that the bolt heads engage and stop the end of the bar in the first recess 172 of the shoe. As noted, the off-board end 184 of the bar slides into the second recess 176 'of the adjacent shoe 38' so that the longitudinal axes of the first recess 172 of the shoe 38 and of the second recess 176 ' of the shoe 38 'remain in the integration with their individual lengths aligned with the common longitudinal axis of the bar 182. By this means the adjacent shoes are interconnected and impeded in the same degree of pivotal rotation about their axes, when the shoes they move radially inward and outward with respect to the central axis of the frame. With specific reference to Figure 13 in a preferred method for the manufacture of the ears 160 and 162 of the individual shoes 150, initially a ring 230 is provided which has an internal diameter 232 which is equal to the anticipated operative diameter of the apparatus of the present invention. invention. The ring also has an outer diameter 234 which establishes the radial dimension of an ear. This ring is divided by cutting lines 238 into a preselected number of segments of equal size 236, 236 ', for example, (ten segments are presented in Figure 13), the cutting lines being spaced by 36 degrees on the circumference of the ring. The division of cutting line between the segments extends along a radius 240 extending from the center 242 of the ring. Each of these divisions constitutes a cutting line for the eventual cutting of the segments in individual ears. Prior to cutting the annular segments into individual lugs, the ring is provided with a perforation 244 through the thickness of the ring 230 in an eguided position of the adjacent cutting lines 238 and 238 '. This perforation constitutes the perforation 170 (see Figure 11) which serves as the mounting location for the pivotal pin 152 employed in pivotally mounting a link 38, for example, to the frame 20. This action locates the perforations 244 with a spacing of 36 degrees. in the circumference of the ring. In addition, before cutting the annular segments into individual ears, the face 246 of the ring is maged to form a recess 250. It extends through a cut line 238 between the adjacent segments 236 and 236 '. This recess includes a closed end 252 which is located within one of the segments 236 '. Its opposite end 254 leaves the outer circumferential marsen 256 of the adjacent segment 236. It should be noted that when the ring is cut into individual segments along different cut lines, the end 252 of the cutout 250 becomes a part of the segment 236. and the opposite end 254 of the recess 250 becomes a part of the circumferentially adjacent segment 236. In addition, each segment of the ring is provided with at least one, and preferably two, internally threaded bores 260 and 262 which serve to receive the pins 190 and 192 (see Figure 10) that mount the rigid bar to an ear. After the drilling 244the recess 250 and the threaded holes 260 and 262 have been sharpened in the ring, the ring is cut along the cut lines to divide the ring into substantially equal ears. Remarkably, the maguey of the perforations and notches around the circumference of the ring is performed immediately with a single step of the maguina. In addition, the manufacturing technique provides a very precise location of each of the holes and recesses around the circumference of the ring and precisely spaced from each other. Furthermore, this maging technique provides an exact alignment of the longitudinal axis of the notch 250 at right angles to a radius 240 of the ring so that when the ears are used in the mounting of the shoes to the frame, that portion of an associated notch 250 with a first ear 236 'gueda aligned coaxially with that second portion 254 of the same recess 250 which is associated with the ear 236 of a circumferentially adjacent shoe 150'. Therefore, the manufacture of the ears is made more precisely and with a lower expenditure sue if each ear is individually maguinara.

Claims (1)

R E I V I ND I CAC I ON E S-In an apparatus which defines an external circumference or an internal circumference capable of serving as a shaping surface or as a mating surface, characterized by a frame comprising a central axis; a plurality of shoes each of which includes a surface argueda which in combination with the arsenic surfaces of the other shoes collectively defines a circumference; means for hingedly mounting or hingeing each of the shoes to the frame in a circumferentially spaced relation about a sentral axis of the arss, the shoes are displaceable radially hasia in and outwards are respects the sentral axis of the frame so that the shoes are move one towards the other when the shoes move radially inward and separate when the shoes move radially outward; means for articulately mounting each of the shoes including linking means or elongated links having one end inboard and one end out of the edge and means rotationally rotating the link means to the frame at a location along the longitudinal dimension of the intermediate linking means of their ends inside the board and outside the edge, one of the shoes includes a first card defining a first lateral margin thereof and a second card defined in a second margin and on the opposite side of the card. In this way the shoes are assembled in a completely circular manner, the first of which is a shoe in front of the second shoe of an additional shoe, sirsunferensially. a plurality of rigid rods having first and second end portions, one of the rods having one of its end portions anchored in a first squeegee of a first of the shoes, and having its opposite end portion slidably received within a second end of the footing. one of the adjacent shoes sirsunferensially, so as to intersign and restrain the plurality of the shoes to identical degrees of rotation around their respective hinge or joint axes. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second scissors have a longitudinal axle 3.- Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the longitudinal common axis of the first recess and the second is oriented at a right angle with respect to a frame radius. 4. -Appliance according to claim 1 and a plurality of enlases or links is included, and a plurality of sonar bars are operatively operative with each other so that the rotation of a link around its rotational axis results in rotation equal of each of the other links around their respective rotational axes, therefore the equal displacement of the shoes mounted on that linking means. 5. - Apparatus of agreement are the claim

1. characterized by the plurality of shoes are sesmentos cut from a solid ring. RE S UME N An apparatus is presented which includes a estrustura or marso, preferably circular in its geometry and which has a central axis. In places spaced around a sirsunferensia of the marso are provided a plurality of enlases or links, sada one of the suals is mounted pivstal on the marso and sada one of the suals carries a shoe that has a superfisie argueada. Each line includes less a portion of leg having an outboard end. The outboard ends of the leg portions of the plurality of links are interconnected with each other and with a drive whose operation serves to rotate the intersubstances to the unison around their resounding rotasional assemblies. When the links or joints rotate, their resilient shoes move along an armored tray. These are new positions of the shoes, generally radially inward or outward with respect to the central axis of the appliance. In order to retain the formation in the corpus of the arched superfisies of the subara shoes, they move radially inside and outside., the shoes are interspersed by rigid bars. One end of the bar is fi xed firmly in a recess that opens outwardly from a side margin of a first shoe and is projected to have its opposite end slidably received in a second recess v in an adjacent shoe sirsunferensially. The recesses and the bar share a common longitudinal axis, whose axis is normally oriented to a radius of the sea.