Abstract: Disclosed is a tire mold for curing pneumatic tires wherein the mold includes a mold back, a tread ring and an insulator plate located between the mold back and the tread ring. The insulator plate is made of material that has a lower thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the material in the mold back or tread ring. The addition of the insulator plate between the mold back and the tread ring induces reduction in heat transfer between the mold back and the tread ring allowing the maintenance of higher heat transfer for areas of the tire not shielded by the insulator plate and achieving the lower heat transfer in the area of the tire shielded by the insulator plate.

Abstract: An adjustable tire building drum is disclosed for use during strip winding of OTR tire treads having nine replaceable segments with interfitting fingers extending circumferentially to define a rigid generally cylindrical shell whose diameter and axial length may readily be adjusted for a wide variety of different tire sizes. A unique precision actuating mechanism is provided for adjusting the segments radially including a heavy cantilever link and an associated stabilizing arm for each segment which maintains rigidity even when the segmental shell is expanded 90 to 100 percent.

Abstract: The quality and useful life of curing bladders used in standard "Bag-O-Matic" tire vulcanizing presses is greatly improved by replacing the standard split two-piece core of the bladder mold with a unitary core which forms a disc-like rubber diaphragm below the core and integral with the rubber curing bladder at the periphery of the core. A unique base plate fits in the lower mold half below the core and has a grooved upper surface to hold the diaphragm in place so that the core can be removed manually or automatically with the assistance of internal air pressure.

Abstract: A temperature compensator mounted on a gas pressure regulator having a spring loaded valve in which the amount of compression in the spring is changed by moving an adjusting member of the compensator in response to changes in temperature. The temperature compensator may include a piston and cylinder assembly containing a fluid which contracts in response to a reduction in temperature and expands in response to an increase in temperature. The piston is in engagement with the spring and is moved to change the amount of compression in the spring in response to the change in temperature.

Abstract: A radial pneumatic tire and a method of making same. The tire has a discontinuous cord belt reinforcement comprising narrow strips of fabric wound around the tire in a plurality of circumferential overlapping turns. The tire is capable of being built in one stage and shaped into toroidal shape after the circumferential belt is applied.