Abstract: A tire mold having relatively reciprocable first and second mold halves is provided with a heat shield which includes first and second relatively reciprocable shield members. One of these shield members is fixedly secured to one of the mold halves; the other shield member is fixedly secured to the other mold half. The shield members are spaced from the mold halves so that they enclose a space which surrounds the mold halves. A vacuum tight seal between the shield members is provided. A nipple which is adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum extends through one of the shield members so that the space enclosed by the shield members can be placed under vacuum, thereby inhibiting heat transfer to the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus. Heat transfer is further inhibited by the thin reflective chrome plate layer on the inside wall surfaces of both heat shield members. Preferably the mold halves are arranged one above the other and each is secured to a platen.

Abstract: The steam platen comprises spaced flat horizontal exterior walls each having a horizontal outside surface, and concentric cylindrical walls, one an inside wall and the other an outside wall both of which extend from the first to the second flat wall. The first flat wall abuts a mold half and the second flat wall abuts a supporting structure such as a base or a head, and these flat walls may be termed a mold sidewall and a bolster sidewall respectively. The interior space between the first and second flat walls has a plurality of partitions which extend from one flat wall to the other and which form one or more continuous serpentine steam passages which constitute a steam cavity. This steam cavity covers the entire area of the mold and is devoid of dead spots, so that the mold sidewall is heated by the steam to an essentially uniform surface temperature. For ease of fabrication, the platen may be formed as two separate pieces, i.e.

Abstract: A pair of parallel supports or uprights have upper and lower mold platens slidably mounted thereon and an annular piston is provided for moving the lower platen upwardly for mold closing action with stop means being provided for the upper mold platen to obtain a movable mold platen and accurate register for simplified, accurate mold closing and opening actions. A multi-cylinder center post assembly is provided to engage the tire curing bladder at its upper and lower ends and provide improved control action therefore during tire curing cycles.

Abstract: Apparatus for exposing the interior of tires including a rotary disc for receiving and positioning a tire on its side thereon and members engage the bead of a tire for positioning the tire and holding one bead and sidewall portion against the rotary disc to cause the tire to rotate with the disc and permit inspection of at least a portion of the interior wall of a tire being inspected, and a second rotary disc is positioned spaced from the first named means to receive the tire thereon and other members engage a bead and sidewall portion of the tire to expose a different inner sidewall area of the tire for inspection purposes. Other members are present to transfer a test tire from one rotary disc to the other and to turn the tire through a 180.degree. arc while being transported from the first disc to the second disc.