Including Heating Or Cooling Means Patents (Class 425/40)
  • Patent number: 11840002
    Abstract: An injection molding apparatus for generally toroidal or donut-shaped articles having a hollow interior includes a hollow-interior forming member that is positioned within the mold cavity during injection to form the hollow interior of the article, and that is moved away from the mold cavity to allow removal of the molded article when the injection molding apparatus is opened following molding. The hollow-interior forming member includes an open section or gap that is closed by a gap-filling member when the injection molding apparatus is closed. When the injection molding apparatus is opened following molding, the gap-filling member vacates the open section or gap to enable the molded article to be manually separated from the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: COOL THINGS CORP.
    Inventor: Yan Ping Zheng
  • Patent number: 10960623
    Abstract: A vent plug is mounted in a vent hole open in a molding face of a tire cure mold. The vent plug has a cylindrical housing having a vent path in itself, a stem that is inserted into the housing and serves as a valve element for opening and closing the vent path, and a coil-shaped spring that biases the stem toward a cavity so as to open the vent path. The vent path includes an outer inlet portion open in an annular shape between a valve seat provided to the housing and a head portion of the stem that comes in contact with the valve seat, and an inner inlet portion open in an annular shape on an inner side of the outer inlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshikazu Yasunaga, Tomohiro Deguchi
  • Patent number: 10486381
    Abstract: Tire mold subject to least energy loss from heat dissipation during a curing process and thus capable of improving a curing efficiency, the tire mold has hollow cavities therein and a heating medium that circulates inside the hollow cavities, thereby heating a tire through the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomo Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 9738043
    Abstract: An apparatus for vulcanizing a tire comprises: a side mold segment provided with a face for shaping the outer surface of a tire sidewall portion, and an opposite face not serving for shaping; and a heater part for vulcanizing the raw tire. The heater part is disposed adjacently to the side mold segment to heat the raw tire abutting on the side-shaping-face from the side of the face not serving for shaping. The side mold segment is provided with a flow path through which a first fluid whose temperature is lower than the vulcanization temperature of the raw tire can flow to prevent over-vulcanization of the sidewall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ao Imamura, Masaya Tsunoda, Shinji Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 9713907
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus of the present invention includes a liftable center post which supports a green tire, and a heating portion which is fixed to the center post, is disposed inside the green tire, and transmits heat from the inside of the green tire to the green tire by radiation heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumito Kajitani, Kazutoshi Yokoo, Koji Shintani
  • Patent number: 9289950
    Abstract: A mandrel includes a support structure; main sectors carried by the support structure and each having a main forming surface; and intermediate sectors carried by the support structure and each having an intermediate forming surface. The main sectors and intermediate sectors are alternately arranged around the axis. The main sectors are moveable relative to the support structure between a radially inner main retracted position, and a radially outer main forming position. The intermediate sectors are moveable relative to the support structure between a radially inner intermediate retracted position, and a radially outer intermediate forming position. The mandrel further includes drive means for moving the main sectors and intermediate sectors from their respective retracted positions to their respective forming positions. The drive means is configured such that each main sector reaches its main forming position before the adjacent intermediate sectors reach their respective intermediate forming positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Kristofer J. Bottome, Ian C. D. Care
  • Patent number: 9193121
    Abstract: A mould for vulcanizing a blank tire has an overall shape that is annular about an axis of revolution and includes a configuration for channelling a heat-transfer liquid in a substantially circular path about the axis. The channelling configuration includes an annular wall around the axis, separating at least two chambers in which the heat-transfer liquid circulates. Furthermore, a downstream end (respectively an upstream end) of one of the chambers has substantially the same angular position with respect to the substantially circular path as the downstream (respectively upstream) end of the other of the chambers. The mould is additionally configured for circulating the liquid in opposite directions in the two chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Pascal Goumault
  • Patent number: 8974208
    Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing a blank tire has an overall shape that is annular about an axis of revolution and includes a configuration for channelling a heat-transfer liquid in a substantially circular path about the axis. The channelling configuration includes an annular wall around the axis, separating at least two chambers in which the heat-transfer liquid circulates. Furthermore, a downstream end (respectively an upstream end) of one of the chambers has substantially the same angular position with respect to the substantially circular path as the downstream (respectively upstream) end of the other of the chambers. The mold is additionally configured for circulating the liquid in opposite directions in the two chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventor: Pascal Goumault
  • Patent number: 8961889
    Abstract: A devulcanization apparatus for devulcanizing a plurality of cross-linked elastomer particles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor functioning as a high voltage electrode and a second conveyor functioning as a ground electrode. A generator is operable to apply an alternating electric field between the first and second conveyors. A devulcanization region is provided between the first and second conveyors in which the cross-linked elastomer particles are placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Novation IQ LLC
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Patent number: 8941036
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating unit capable of easily and inexpensively adjusting total impedance based on tire mold size so that a power source can be used at a high power factor, and a tire heating apparatus using the same. A ferromagnetic metallic member 10a heats a tire mold M1 by heat conduction. An induction heating coil C1 is disposed on the side of the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a opposite the tire mold M1 to induction-heat the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a by generating magnetic field lines. A nonmagnetic conductor 30a is disposed on the side of the induction heating coil C1 opposite the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a to shield the magnetic field lines generated by the induction heating coil C1. A heating unit 100a including these elements heats the tire mold M1 storing a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Hideaki Kuwabara, Hisashi Mitamura, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Patent number: 8940201
    Abstract: A correcting apparatus of a seamless belt includes a bottomed cylindrical main body that has an inner peripheral surface formed of mirror surface and that accommodates a seamless belt at a distance from the inner peripheral surface, a lid body detachably attached to the main body, a fixing unit that fixes an upper end and a lower end of the seamless belt to the mirror surface, a pressing unit that presses the seamless belt accommodated in the main body against the mirror surface, and a heating unit that heats the mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsunori Hashimoto, Yoshiyuki Mizumo
  • Patent number: 8815964
    Abstract: A process for forming a vulcanized elastomer composition. An alternating electric field is applied to a first composition comprising vulcanized crosslinked elastomer particles while the composition is compressed to thereby devulcanize the crosslinked elastomer particles and form a second composition comprising devulcanized elastomer particles A crosslinking agent is added to the second composition comprising the devulcanized elastomer particles. The second composition having the crosslinking agent is then vulcanized to form the vulcanized elastomer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Navation IQ LLC
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Patent number: 8759408
    Abstract: Tire vulcanizing/retreading and de-vulcanization system including an autoclave and heating based on an induction system, which will lead to vulcanization or de-vulcanization of a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Julia Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140158284
    Abstract: The invention provides an autoclave capable of creating a uniform temperature distribution inside a pressurized chamber and a method for manufacturing tires using the autoclave. The autoclave shaped as a cylindrical pressurized chamber has a heat source and a fan disposed on one end side thereof and ducts extending lengthwise on the inner peripheral wall surface thereof to discharge air blown by the fan to the other end side thereof. And the air outlets of the ducts are so designed as to discharge the air blown by the fan in a circumferential direction of the pressurized chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Nakajima, Kai Honda
  • Patent number: 8673989
    Abstract: A thermoset cross-linked elastomer material, such as scrap tire rubber, is devulcanized by subjecting the material to a mechanical mixing process in the presence of 0.5 to 2% by wt. of an organic catalyst having a thiol terminus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: New Rubber Technologies Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8662871
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing device including: an upper annular mold attaching member and a lower annular mold attaching member that respectively attach side portion forming molds for forming side portions of a tire; a plurality of segments that respectively attach a plurality of segmented tread molds for forming a tread portion of the tire; and a mold closing mechanism for radially moving the segments to close the tread molds at an advanced end. The respective segments are respectively independently provided with heat medium passages for applying heat for vulcanization to the tread molds when supplied with a heat medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Fuji Shoji Co., Ltd., Fuji Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara Takagi, Shigeaki Nomura, Yuichi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8597008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing the upper and lower portions of two-part tire molds with an expansible opening to provide clearance for the insertion of green tires, in particular large green tires of the sort used on industrial or off-road vehicles. The tire mold according to the present invention provides a segmented tire mold wherein a plurality of circumferentially arranged segments which contribute to the shaping of the circumferential tread portion of a tire. The sidewall rings and the tread segments may include internal cavities which house insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Allen Rex, Todd Andrew Bachochin, Dale Eugene Wells, William Andrew Haydu, Jr., Daniel Dale Enix
  • Patent number: 8529236
    Abstract: In a vulcanizing system of the present invention, a temperature booster and a pressure booster are provided on a steam supply path connecting vulcanizers that belong to groups and a boiler allocated to the groups. The temperature booster and the pressure booster are sequentially arranged from an upstream side, a second branch supply path for supplying the steam to a mold between the temperature booster and the pressure booster is branched from the steam supply path. The second branch supply path is preferably in a form of allowing the steam temperature-boosted by the temperature booster to be supplied to the mold by bypassing the pressure booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Tanaka, Naohiko Matsuda, Kazutoshi Yoko, Hideki Fukuda, Koji Shintani, Keiichi Tomoto
  • Patent number: 8500430
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vulcanizing press comprising two plates capable of adopting a proximal position in which said plates close a mold, so as to give a tire a predetermined shape, and a distal position in which the mold is open; and at least one bore formed in one of said plates called the support plate, the diameter of said bore being defined so as to let the head of a pin pass thereinto. The vulcanizing press further includes a locking/unlocking device comprising a first movable stop that can move between a rest position and an active position, in which said stop is interposed between the head of the pin and the support plate in order to keep said pin in the bore, the shank of said pin being fixed to the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Stéphane Herault
  • Patent number: 8470897
    Abstract: A process for devulcanizing crosslinked elastomer particles comprising applying an alternating electric field to a composition comprising crosslinked elastomer particles under compression. The alternating electric field preferably has a frequency between 1 and 100 MHz and a voltage between 1000 and 10,000 V, and may be applied between an apparatus that continuously conveys the particles through the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Vertex L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Patent number: 8357726
    Abstract: A process for devulcanizing crosslinked elastomer particles comprising applying an alternating radio frequency dielectric field to a composition comprising crosslinked elastomer particles. The alternating radio frequency dielectric field preferably has a frequency between 1 and 100 MHz and a voltage between 1000 and 10,000 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Vertex L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Publication number: 20120251645
    Abstract: To provide a tire vulcanizer which is configured to slide back a lifting/sliding mechanism to a waiting position, and which is featured in being capable of making uniform the squeezing force applied by the upper metal mold at the time of vulcanization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Fukuda, Kunio Matsunaga, Joji Yusa
  • Publication number: 20120128809
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for heating a surface by induction, in particular for molding or transforming a part made of thermoplastic or thermosetting composite material. The device comprises a body having at least one portion made of magnetic and heating conducting material wherein is provided a plurality of closed cavities proximate the surface to be heated, each cavity surrounding a field winding. The heat produced by induction on the walls of the cavity is transferred by conduction to the heating surface. The distance between the cavities and the position of said cavities relative to the heating surface are such that the heating is substantially uniform on said surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Roctool
    Inventors: Alexandre GUICHARD, José FEIGENBLUM
  • Publication number: 20120111464
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a base tire ensuring a cure-molding of a green tire therefor without overcure or undercure in the thin-walled shoulder portions of the tread region and the bead regions, a curing machine that preferably enables the base tire manufacturing method, and a base tire thus manufactured are provided. To that end, a base tire is enclosed within a curing mold, the side regions of the base tire are heated by a first heating means, the tread region of the base tire is heated by a second heating means, and a cure-molding is performed such that the amount of heat given to the tread region by the second heating means is smaller than the amount of heat given to the side regions by the first heating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA BRIDGESTONE
    Inventor: Yosuke Kimiya
  • Publication number: 20120025428
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for molding of thermoplastic matrix composite materials or thermosetting materials. Two mold casings that are mobile relative to each other, electrically conductive material include a molding zone designed to be in contact with the material to be transformed, and an induction circuit for generating a magnetic field. The faces of one of the two mold casings are situated so as to be facing induction circuit, except for the molding zones, being coated with a shielding layer made of a non-magnetic material preventing the magnetic field from penetrating into the mold casings. The mold casings are electrically insulated from each other during the molding phase to define an air gap wherein flows the magnetic field that induces currents at the surface of the molding zones, thus localizing the heating at the interface between the molding zone and the material to be transformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Roctool
    Inventors: José Feigenblum, Alexandre Guichard
  • Patent number: 8007710
    Abstract: A green tire disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mold. The mold is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tire. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tire tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tire against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full molding and vulcanisation of the tire carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tire itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Fiorenzo Mariani, Pierangelo Misani
  • Publication number: 20100104676
    Abstract: The invention aims to provide a vulcanized tire cooling apparatus configured to blow cooling air to a vulcanized tire in rotation, thereby achieving uniform cooling of the vulcanized tire and shortening of cooling time as well as preventing the vulcanized tire from being deformed due to centrifugal force. It includes a blower unit (4) set to blow air in a direction to the outer circumferential surface of a vulcanized tire (1) and a tire rotator (6) rotating the vulcanized tire supported with an upper rim (2) and a lower rim (3) in a circumferential direction. The apparatus is configured to cool down the vulcanized tire by blowing air to the outer circumferential surface thereof by the blower unit while the tire is rotated in the circumferential direction by the tire rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: HIROTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironobu Ichimaru, Naofumi Yoshimi
  • Publication number: 20100032873
    Abstract: A green pneumatic tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to the inner shape of a tyre. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle. During vulcanisation, axial moving apart of side portions of the toroidal support is caused so as to press the beads and sidewalls of the tyre against the vulcanisation mould.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Marco Cantu, Pierangelo Misani
  • Patent number: 7604760
    Abstract: An automatic pressure and temperature control apparatus and method for use in curing tire assemblies including retread tire assemblies is provided. Using water as a heating medium, a new process control method and apparatus is described that allows a more precise control of process variables during steady state conditions such that heat transfer is improved and the undesirable formation of steam is eliminated. Existing processes and equipment for curing tire assemblies can be modified, using the teaching disclosed herein, to implement and achieve the benefits of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Norman Christopher, Stephen Manuel, Robert Young
  • Publication number: 20090211689
    Abstract: An automatic pressure and temperature control apparatus and method for use in curing tire assemblies including retread tire assemblies is provided. Using water as a heating medium, a new process control method and apparatus is described that allows a more precise control of process variables during steady state conditions such that heat transfer is improved and the undesirable formation of steam is eliminated. Existing processes and equipment for curing tire assemblies can be modified, using the teaching disclosed herein, to implement and achieve the benefits of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Norman Christopher, Stephen Manuel, Robert Young
  • Patent number: 7572120
    Abstract: The invention provides a segmented mold having a plurality of segments arranged to form an annular cavity to mold a tire. Each of the segments have an inner face for molding the tread, one or more channels, and one or more members received in each channel. The members are joined together to form a fluid manifold for circulating a fluid medium therein. Preferably, the channels are located on the outer radial surface of the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Yacine Ouyahia, Christophe Jean Alexis Pierre
  • Publication number: 20090158573
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for assembly and disassembly in axial and radial directions mold segments forming a toroidally shaped mold. The apparatus includes mold gripping apparatus operatively engaging and disengaging the mold; and mold transport apparatus for operatively moving the mold gripping apparatus and engaged mold between a mold assembly and disassembly station and a tire curing station. The mold gripping apparatus engages and unlocks an upper mold sidewall segment and mold loading apparatus engages and unlocks a lower mold sidewall segment. Tread segment closing apparatus is provided for operatively opening and closing the tread segments of the mold in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne
  • Patent number: 7540730
    Abstract: A segmented mold comprising a plurality of segments is provided. The segments are arranged to form an annular cavity to mold a tire, the segments comprising an inner face for molding the tread, and an outer radial surface. The mold further includes a plurality of slide blocks located radially outwards of the segments. Each slide block may have flanged ends and an inner cavity for receiving a segment therein. One or more channels are provided between each segment outer surface and the adjacent slide block inner surface forming a fluid passageway, wherein each fluid passageway is joined together by a fluid connector to form a fluid manifold for circulating a fluid medium. Steam may be circulated in the fluid manifold during curing of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Yacine Ouvahia, Nicolas Daniel Dumont, Christophe Jean Alexis Pierre
  • Patent number: 7435068
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire production system comprises production lines each including a green tire building station for assembling unvulcanized members of pneumatic tires into green tires. The green tires are vulcanized at a vulcanizing station which includes at least one vulcanizing unit equipped with a plurality of vulcanizing molds. The number of the vulcanizing mold is determined so as to satisfy the vulcanizing capacity which is substantially equivalent to the number of green tires formed at the building station within a predetermined unit time. The system serves to minimize the intermediate stock amount of green tires due to minimized changeover between different types of tires to be alternately produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Oku, Keishi Mineo, Shigeru Kaneko, Shigeru Miyazaki, Taizo Ito, Akio Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7189069
    Abstract: A segmented annular mold for forming a tread belt having a reinforcing belt structure, the belt structure having a radial thickness (t) is disclosed. The mold has a plurality of radially movable and outwardly expandable inner segments for forming the inner surface of the tread belt and a plurality of radially movable and contracting outer segments for forming the outer tread belt surface. The radially inner and radially outer segments form a mold parting line at a location radially outward of a midpoint of the belt reinforcing structure of the tread belt at a location greater than 50% (t) as measured from the radially innermost surface of the belt reinforcing structure. The radially inner segments have upper and lower lateral edge forming portions extending outwardly to the parting line. Similarly, the radially outer mold segments have upper and lower lateral edge forming portions extending inwardly to the parting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Albert James Yovichin, Larry Eugene Steidl, Daniel Patrick Hentosz
  • Patent number: 7160090
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring heat into a product, such as a tire, formed at least in part by molding is provided. The apparatus includes a mold that has a central axis with a forming surface disposed radially outward from the central axis. A heating conduit is included and is at least partially located radially outward from the forming surface of the mold. The heating conduit is configured for use with a gas, such as saturated steam, in order to effect heat transfer to the forming surface of the mold. The heating conduit extends helically with respect to the central axis in order to allow condensation formed in the heating conduit to be drained therefrom via the force of gravity. A drainage connector may be in communication with the exit of the heating conduit and have a lower longitudinal axis than the heating conduit to allow condensation to drain more easily therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Shaw Yang, Chris Kerechanin
  • Patent number: 7078660
    Abstract: An apparatus for effectively heating a green tire generates heat to a metal member embedded therein using electromagnetic induction, to complete a heating formation of a green tire in a sufficiently short time. Particularly, in the thick portion of the green tire which is hard to heat, the efficiency of heat generation due to electromagnetic induction is increased by effectively concentrating a high frequency magnetic field on the metal member embedded therein. The apparatus for heating a green tire includes a local heating coil for forming a high frequency magnetic field along a portion of extending direction of a metal member, a high frequency power supply for supplying high frequency power to the local heating coil, and a mechanism for moving the local heating coil relatively in the extending direction of the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hisashi Mitamura, Shigeto Adachi, Kazuto Okada, Hirohiko Fukumoto, Kenichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6841113
    Abstract: A method for curing a tyre includes the steps of closing the tyre in a mould, heating at least one lower hot table, at least one upper hot table, and at least one annular hot table to transmit heat to the tyre. The at least one lower hot table, the at least one upper hot table, and the at least one annular hot table are associated with the mould. The at least one annular hot table is thermally-connected to a circumferential development of the mould. A quantity of heat provided to the at least one lower hot table is different from a quantity of heat provided to the at least one upper hot table. An associated apparatus includes a mould; at least one lower, upper, and annular tables; and devices for supplying one or more heating fluids to the at least one lower, upper, and annular tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Caretta
  • Publication number: 20040247717
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a vulcanization molding and its vulcanizing machine in which a heating pressure medium, which is nitrogen gas, is heated at high heat exchange ratio without an increase in the running cost and an increase in size. The vulcanizing machine includes a mold mechanism such as a lower side mold 5 and an upper side mold 25 and the like, which removably accommodate a green tire 4, an agitating mechanism 30, which agitates a heating pressure medium such as nitrogen gas or the like, which vulcanization mold the green tire 4 by heating the green tire 4 while pressing it against the mold mechanism, and an induction heating mechanism 41, which preferentially heats the agitating mechanism 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho.
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Hisashi Mitamura, Kenichi Inoue, Hideaki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 6818872
    Abstract: An apparatus for effectively heating a green tire generates heat to a metal member embedded therein using electromagnetic induction, to complete a heating formation of a green tire in a sufficiently short time. Particularly, in the thick portion of the green tire which is hard to heat, the efficiency of heat generation due to electromagnetic induction is increased by effectively concentrating a high frequency magnetic field on the metal member embedded therein. The apparatus for heating a green tire comprises a local heating coil for forming high frequency magnetic field along a portion of extending direction of a metal member, a high frequency power supply for supplying high frequency power to the local heating coil, and a mechanism for moving the local heating coil relatively in the extending direction of the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Mitamura, Shigeto Adachi, Kazuto Okada, Hirohiko Fukumoto, Kenichi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20040069391
    Abstract: The disclosed information describes a preheating method and apparatus for preheating raw tire including metal members embedded therein prior to vulcanization molding process, to heat whole part of the raw tire up to desirable temperature rapidly and certainly to complete vulcanization molding in a short time. The disclosed apparatus comprises a retaining means for retaining raw tire in a predetermined attitude in a releasable manner; a induction heating means for heating the metal members inductively by means of a high frequency magnetic field, the high frequency magnetic field being applied to raw tire retained by the retaining means; and a radiation heater for heating a rate-limiting portion radiatively, the temperature of the rate-limiting portion rising slowly under only induction heating for the metal members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho.
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Hisashi Mitamura
  • Publication number: 20040046286
    Abstract: A tire press includes a sectional type mold which has an annular lower mold section secured to an upper surface of a lower plate, an annular upper mold section disposed under an upper plate which is vertically moveably placed above the lower plate so that the upper mold section moves vertically along with the upper plate, and a side mold section having a plurality of sectors divided along a circumferential direction thereof and located radially outwardly of the lower mold section in an openable and closable manner. Holding segments which hold the sectors are provided on outer peripheral sides of the sectors. The holding segments are placed on the lower plate so as to move forward and away from the center of the annular lower mold section. Guide segments which are engagable with and disengagable from outer peripheral sides of the holding segments are suspended from the upper plate radially outwardly of the upper mold section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Akikazu Seko, Takuzuo Sano, Noboru Takada
  • Patent number: 6655940
    Abstract: A tire press comprising a center post 22 vertically movably extended through a center part of a lower ring mechanism 12 and vertically moving an upper ring 19 with respect to a lower ring mechanism 12, a heater 103 arranged in an outer peripheral position of the center post 22 on the tire inner peripheral side of a green tire 4 held by the lower ring mechanism 12 and the upper ring 19, heater 103 to apply a heat to the green tire 4, a first driving mechanism such as a tubular member vertically moving cylinder 98 capable of vertically moving the heater 103 to a suitable height position so as to move the heater 103 to a suitable position independently of vertical movement of the center post 22, and a second driving mechanism such as a driving motor 99 capable of rotating the heater 103. By the provision of such a mechanism as described, press molding relative to a green tire 4 can be completed in a sufficiently short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Mitamura, Yasuhiko Fujieda, Kazuto Okada, Hirohiko Fukumoto, Akira Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20020185780
    Abstract: A method for curing a tire includes the steps of closing the tire in a mold, heating at least one lower hot table, at least one upper hot table, and at least one annular hot table to transmit heat to the tire. The at least one lower hot table, the at least one upper hot table, and the at least one annular hot table are associated with the mold. The at least one annular hot table is thermally-connected to a circumferential development of the mold. A quantity of heat provided to the at least one lower hot table is different from a quantity of heat provided to the at least one upper hot table. An associated apparatus includes a mold; at least one lower, upper, and annular tables; and devices for supplying one or more heating fluids to the at least one lower, upper, and annular tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Renato Caretta
  • Patent number: 6474968
    Abstract: A vulcanizer includes a vulcanizer body for heating a green tire by making use of heat quantity to vulcanize an mold it and repetitiously using the heating medium used for the vulcanizing and molding for heating. A heat quantity supplementing device heats the heating medium to thereby supplement a lost part of the heat quantity of the heating medium. Thereby, vulcanizing and molding can be carried out with less energy loss of the heating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hisashi Mitamura, Yasuhiko Fujieda, Hirohiko Fukumoto, Kazuto Okada
  • Patent number: 6416305
    Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating a bladder (25) relative to a tire (B) in a tire curing press (11) including, a lower plate ring (31) for carrying a lower bead (26) of the bladder, an upper plate ring (50) for carrying an upper bead (27) of the bladder, a first cylinder mechanism (35) for selectively moving the lower plate ring and the upper plate ring, a piston rod (56) attached to the upper plate ring and extending through the lower plate ring, a second cylinder mechanism (55) located within the first cylinder mechanism for selectively actuating the piston rod to move the upper plate ring relative to the lower plate ring, a stretch-height control mechanism (57) for controlling the position of the upper plate ring relative to the lower plate ring upon actuation of the second cylinder, and a bladder detector mechanism (110) for positioning the upper plate ring at a predetermined position relative to a tire in the tire curing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: McNeil & NRM, Inc.
    Inventor: Anand P. Singh
  • Patent number: 6413068
    Abstract: A tire mold heat transfer system in which heat pipes are enclosed in tubular passages in the tire mold to transfer heat to heated positions adjacent the tread and sidewall forming sections of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Larry Eugene Steidl, James Anthony Bukowski, George Michael Stoila
  • Patent number: 6338620
    Abstract: A tire-vulcanizing machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a base frame, a guide column erected on the base frame, an upper movable beam guided by the column so as to move up and down, and two connection/disconnection units for connecting or disconnecting the upper movable beam to or from tire mold assemblies disposed on both sides of the column, wherein both the tire mold assemblies are opened or closed simultaneously or individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yamada, Nobuhiko Irie
  • Patent number: 5931086
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the sequential assembly of a sandwich-type comestible product, such as an ice cream sandwich, and comprises an essentially horizontal conveyor, sequentially placed wafer dispensing assemblies and an extrusion assembly for the dispensing of a regulated amount of a comestible material. Wafer dispensing is controlled by a screw drive. Extrusion is accomplished by a front-loadable rotary head extruder. The wafer dispensing assemblies and the extruder are mounted in cantilevered fashion on a vertical wall, thereby facilitating the ease of repair, removal for retrofitting and cleaning. In addition, the extruder and the wafer dispensing assemblies are individually removable and may be replaced with like components of differing internal diameter, to accommodate the preparation of sandwich-type comestible products of differing size and shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Interbake Dairy Ingredients
    Inventors: Cory R. Kennedy, Yancey Grubzak
  • Patent number: 5908531
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a machine for the manufacture of tires on a core 1 which is used for the manufacture of sa8d tires from the start of the assembling until the vulcanizing. The machine comprises, arranged adjacent to each other on a frame 5, a tire assembly station 2 comprising means for forming the raw tire by depositing the different compounds on the core 1 in the order and place required by the architecture of the tire, a vulcanization station 3, and a support handling station 4, as well as a crane 7 for transporting the core 1 between the different stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Sedepro
    Inventor: Daniel Laurent