Abstract: A sealing ring and rim assembly for use with an outer curing envelope to retread a tire casing. The assembly includes a rigid annular rim having a fixed diameter and a resiliently expandable elastomeric annular sealing rim captured on the rim. An inflatable bladder is located between the rim and the sealing ring so that, when the bladder is inflated, the sealing ring expands into uniform sealing engagement with an inner peripheral bead of the tire casing. The use of an inflatable bladder ensures that sealing pressure will be uniformly exerted so that an endless band of seal is created about the entire circumference of the tire bead. In addition, one particular size of the assembly is capable of use on a variety of tires having a tire bead circumference within a range of circumferences.

Abstract: An inner curing envelope for use during a tire retreading process. The inner curing envelope is placed within the inside of a tire casing and cooperates with an outer sealing envelope for encasing a tire. A plurality of grooves are molded in a tire confronting face of the inner curing envelope to provide passageways to ensure that air/gas located adjacent the interior surface of the tire casing is completely evacuated when a vacuum is drawn within the envelopes.

Abstract: A wick for use in forming a vacuum between a curing envelope and a tire during a tire retreading process, and a method for the manufacture of the wick. The wick is provided by a pad of rubber reinforced with a stretchable fabric material and engagable with a valve which extends through the curing envelope. The wick has a face with a pattern of grooves forming a network of gas passageways to the valve to ensure complete evacuation of all gases when the vacuum is drawn between the curing envelope and tire. The method of manufacture of the wick includes locating unvulcanized rubber and fabric material between a pair of mold dies, and closing the mold dies to form the pad and simultaneously embed the fabric within the rubber. In addition, one of the mold dies form a network of grooves in one of the faces of the pad.