Abstract: An apparatus for providing a vacuum in a segmented tire mold includes an upper sidewall assembly and lower sidewall assembly, a plurality of radially moveable tread mold segments operable with the upper sidewall assembly and lower sidewall assembly to define a tire mold cavity. A conical actuating ring assembly surrounds the tire mold segments and engages the mold segments to provide radial movement of the mold segments. The apparatus includes a first seal between the conical actuating ring assembly and the lower mold assembly, as well as a second seal between the conical actuating ring and the upper sidewall assembly, thereby sealing the space defined by the tire mold so that a vacuum can be drawn on the tire mold cavity upon the closing of the mold.

Abstract: A mold for forming elastomeric articles and the like, has vent plugs inserted in bores through the body of the mold. The vent plugs may be manufactured of sintered metal. Each vent plug has a bore therethrough that is significantly smaller than the bore through the mold body, so that very little, if any, of the elastomeric substance being formed in the mold flows into the bore of the vent plug.