Abstract: Molds for injection molding tire components have controlled temperature passages leading to a manifold surrounding each mold cavity. The manifold is positioned to minimize weld lines in the injected tire component. In addition, a narrow gate opening between the manifold and mold cavity provides an elevated temperature of the injected material for decreasing the curing time of the tire component in the mold. Blade members may support and position tire components such as bead apex assemblies in the mold. These tire components may be unloaded by an unloader ring in communication with a source of vacuum for pulling the tire component out of the mold.

Abstract: Making a tire mold by spraying molten atomized metal on a model to form a metal shell and then reinforcing the shell with a resin backing to form a mold segment for the tire mold. Modular shoe container assemblies have replaceable backing members for making different size molds and flat plate spacers for providing different thicknesses of the mold segment. In one embodiment a slide block is used for one side of the cavity whereby a sole plate is eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for buffing a tread is described. The method comprises mounting a tread on an apparatus capable of bufffing the casing engaging surface of said tread, the apparatus buffing the tread such that the grooves are formed on the buffed tread surface. The grooves angularly intercept a tread edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically removing an annular grooved tread from an initially closed segmented mold is described. The segmented mold has an annular cavity and a central core, and has both an axial direction and a radial direction. The method includes the steps of withdrawing a first plurality of segments, restraining radial movement of the tread at a plurality of locations from which segments have been withdrawn, withdrawing a second plurality of segments, retracting the restraint, and then removing the tread from the core by using an axially movable annular ring located above the upper half of the mold. The annular ring includes a plurality of push off devices, each device having a spring loaded radially retractable tread pusher component.

Abstract: A ring tread (12) or a continuous tread (16) may be injection molded in a generally cylindrical segmental mold (20) having a core (42) and radially movable segments (46) forming a mold cavity (54). A container ring (60) is movable into engagement with the segments (46) during closing of the segmental mold (20) to retain the segments (46) during closing of the segmental mold (20) to retain the segments (46) in position during injection and curing. The container ring (60) may have an opening for a continuous tread section to extend from the mold cavity (54) through the side of the container ring (60) and through a space between two of the segments (46). Roller supports on the core (42) support the continuous tread (16) when the segmental mold (20) is opened and sections of the continuous tread (16) are shifted circumferentially through the mold cavity (54).

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for mounting on a cold runner block has a cooled housing with a bore and a nozzle member with a shaft portion mounted in the bore for rotation about a bore axis. A cap portion of the nozzle member is connected to the shaft portion and has a surface for positioning close to the mold surface of a mold member. A mold cavity in the mold member has a mold orifice in the mold surface for alignment with a nozzle opening in the surface of the cap portion. The nozzle opening is positioned radially outward from the bore axis and is rotatable into alignment with the mold orifice upon rotation of the nozzle member. A nozzle passage extends from the nozzle opening to the bore for communicating a fluid molding material to the mold cavity. A spring device may be disposed between the housing and the nozzle member to urge the surface of the nozzle member towards the mold surface. A ball member with a flat sealing surface may be mounted in a spherical recess in the surface of the cap portion.

Abstract: A cold runner block (38) has spaced drop holes (54) arranged in a selected pattern for supplying fluid molding material to nozzles (60) connected to the mold gates (62). The drop holes (54) open on nozzle runners (52) in the cold runner block (38) which are in communication with a source of fluid molding material. Close-off rods (68) are selectively positioned in the runners (52) to block the flow of fluid molding material beyond the drop holes (54) communicating with a mold (12) for an object of a particular size and shape. Drop hole plugs (66) are provided for the drop holes (54) which open on the nozzle runners (52) in the section of the runners (52) not blocked by the close-off rods (68).

Abstract: A tire tread (74,76,194) is injection molded by increments in a mold cavity (56,58,119,224,262) having an open end (110,272) closed by a trailing end (116) of a cured section (114,228). A temperature moderating closed end (109,207,268) prevents complete curing of a trailing portion (116) of the cured section (114,228) while the rest of the section is cured. The mold (14,16,90,188,236) is opened so that the cured section (114,228) may be shifted to a position where the trailing portion (116) is clamped in the open end (110,272) of the mold cavity (56,58,119,224,262). A second section (118,228,264) is injection molded in the cavity (56,58,119,224,262) and the partially cured trailing portion (126) of the cured section (114,228,264) is cured and adhered to the leading portion (130) of the second section (114,228,264) as the second section is cured. This process may then be repeated for later sections to provide a desired length of cured tire tread stock (74,194,264).

Abstract: A pneumatic aircraft tire having a ground engaging tread portion provided with a plurality of axially extending grooves disposed in each of the lateral portions thereof. The axial grooves in each lateral portion are spaced apart so as to provide a circumferentially continuous rib therebetween having an axial width of at least 40% of the tread width of said tread portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cure system for a sulfur vulcanizable rubber. The cure system comprises:(a) from about 0.50 to about 2.0 phr of a sulfenamide accelerator selected from the group consisting of N-oxydiethylene benzothiazole-2 sulfenamide, N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide, N-t-butyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide and N-oxydiethylene-thiocarbamyl-N'-oxydiethylene sulfenamide;(b) from about 0.10 to about 1.0 phr of a guanidine accelerator selected from the group consisting of diphenyl guanidine and di-ortho-tolylguanidine;(c) from about 0.10 to about 1.0 phr of a thiuram accelerator selected from the group consisting of tetraethyl thiuramdisulfide, tetramethyl thiuram monosulfide, tetramethyl thiuramdisulfide;(d) from about 0.05 to about 1.0 phr of mercapto benzothiazyl disulfide;(e) from about 0.75 to about 3.0 phr of a sulfur vulcanizing agent;(f) from about 0.05 to about 0.50 phr of N-cyclohexylthio-phthalimide;(g) from about 1.0 to about 5.

Abstract: A viscoelastic fluid molding material is injected into a tire tread cavity between the mold and an inflatable tread supporting body. The clearance distance between the mold and the inflatable tread supporting body is varied to increase the flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material into remote portions of the tire tread cavity and provide for the flow of the final amount of fluid molding material into gate portions while the tread supporting body is being deflected.Circumferentially spaced gates may be spaced from the centerplane of the mold and have runners extending toward the shoulders of the tread supporting body for increased flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material into remote shoulder portions of the tread cavity. Sealing rings at the side edges of the tread cavity prevent flow of fluid molding material into sidewall areas of side members of the mold.

Abstract: A ring tread (12) or a continuous tread (16) may be injection molded in a generally cylindrical segmental mold (20) having a core (42) and radially movable segments (46) forming a mold cavity (54). A container ring (60) is movable into engagement with the segments (46) during closing of the segmental mold (20) to retain the segments (46) during closing of the segmental mold (20) to retain the segments (46) in position during injection and curing. The container ring (60) may have an opening for a continuous tread section to extend from the mold cavity (54) through the side of the container ring (60) and through a space between two of the segments (46). Roller supports on the core (42) support the continuous tread (16) when the segmental mold (20) is opened and sections of the continuous tread (16) are shifted circumferentially through the mold cavity (54).

Abstract: A tire tread (74,76,194) is injection molded by increments in a mold cavity (56,58,119,224,262) having an open end (110,272) closed by a trailing end (116) of a cured section (114,228). A temperature moderating closed end (109,207,268) prevents complete curing of a trailing portion (116) of the cured section (114,228) while the rest of the section is cured. The mold (14,16,90,188,236) is opened so that the cured section (114,228) may be shifted to a position where the trailing portion (116) is clamped in the open end (110,272) of the mold cavity (56,58,119,224,262). A second section (118,228,264) is injection molded in the cavity (56,58,119,224,262) and the partially cured trailing portion (126) of the cured section (114,228,264) is cured and adhered to the leading portion (130) of the second section (114,228,264) as the second section is cured. This process may then be repeated for later sections to provide a desired length of cured tire tread stock (74,194,264).

Abstract: A viscoelastic fluid molding material (50) is injected into a tire tread cavity (32) between the mold (10) and an inflatable tread supporting body (30). The clearance distance (A) between the mold (10) and the inflatable tread supporting body (30) is varied to increase the flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material (50) into remote portions of the tire tread cavity (32) and provide for the flow of the final amount of fluid molding material (50) into gate portions (52) while the tread supporting body (30) is being deflected.Circumferentially spaced gates (76) may be spaced from the centerplane (20"--20") of the mold (10") and have runners (80) extending toward the shoulders of the tread supporting body (30") for increased flow of the initial amount of fluid molding material (50") into remote shoulder portions (52") of the tread cavity (32").

Abstract: Injection molding a tread on an annular tire casing (44) positioned in a mold (10') by introducing a fluid molding compound (76',78') at high pressures and high temperatures into a tread molding space (105) through runner passages (114) extending from an edge (116) to a centerplane (20'--20') of the mold (10') and having gates (118) opening into the tread molding space (105). Alternatively the runner passages (56,58) may be defined by annular runner surfaces (60,62,64,66) in communication with the tread molding space (48) through annular gates (52,54). The fluid molding compound (76,78) may be ejected from annular transfer recesses (68,70) in the mold (10) by squeeze rings (84,86) movable into the transfer recesses (68,70) to introduce the fluid molding compound (76,78) into the runner passages (56,58).

Abstract: Injection molding a tread on an annular tire casing (44) positioned in a mold (10') by introducing a fluid molding compound (76',78') at high pressures and high temperatures into a tread molding space (105) through runner passages (114) extending from an edge (116) to a centerplane (20'--20') of the mold (10') and having gates (118) opening into the tread molding space (105). Alternatively the runner passages (56,58) may be defined by annular runner surfaces (60,62,64,66) in communication with the tread molding space (48) through annular gates (52,54). The fluid molding compound (76,78) may be ejected from annular transfer recesses (68,70) in the mold (10) by squeeze rings (84,86) movable into the transfer recesses (68,70) to introduce the fluid molding compound (76,78) into the runner passages (56,58).