Abstract: A method for setting up and molding or forming thin coated fabrics as in the production of diaphragms, where a hard die is installed on one plate of a pair of molding plates and a comparably sized or somewhat large die cavity is provided on the opposing plate, the plate set being then assembled in a molding press in conventional fashion. The die cavity is filled with an uncured elastomer and the press closed under enough heat and pressure to mold in place an exact elastomer mating die, unique to that plate and press setup. Once the elastomer is cured or vulcanized, the mold is opened and the excess flash is trimmed off. From this point on, the mold is used in the same manner as a traditional mold for molding formed articles such as diaphragms from thin coated fabrics, until the setup is disassembled or otherwise disturbed, after which the elastomer mating die is no longer useful.

Abstract: A rolling head diaphragm and dome-shaped piston configuration where the geometry of the diaphragm and piston, and the length of stroke, are modified to enable the commonly known rolling wall action of rolling wall diaphragms to be extended into the center section of the diaphragm up over the piston head when it is at the lower end of it's stroke, thus eliminating the right angle of the head/wall juncture of common pistons and the tight radius of the head/wall shoulder molded into other diaphragms, thereby extending the maximum available stroke and improving diaphragm reliability and longevity.