Abstract: A dual mold spacer for use with a dual mold assembly is provided that includes a first side portion configured to engage a first side rail of the dual mold assembly. A second side portion is configured to engage a second side rail of the dual mold assembly. A body portion extends from the first side portion to the second side portion and is configured to be located between a press of the dual mold assembly and first and second molds of the dual mold assembly. The body portion is configured for being spaced from and free from engagement with the first and second molds.

Abstract: A method and device for connecting and repairing a shear web includes the method steps of dry-fitting a shear web insert in a rotor blade assembly to establish a perimeter gap at an angled perimeter interface between the shear web insert and the rotor blade assembly, the angled perimeter interface positioned between the shear web insert and at least one adjacent surface of a first shear web, a second shear web, a first side of the rotor blade assembly, and a second side of the rotor blade assembly, and then injecting a bonding paste into the perimeter gap. The rotor blade assembly can include a connecting device having at least one pre-fabricated clip.

Abstract: A method and associated system are provided for bonding component parts of a wind turbine blade along a bond line. A barrier is placed within an internal cavity of the blade at a defined bond line width along the length of the bond line. A plurality of spaced apart external access ports are defined along the bond line into the internal cavity. A bond paste is sequentially injected into the plurality of access ports to fill the bond line.

Abstract: A method for making a pocket filter assembly is provided. Two side and two end header elements each having a pair of longitudinally extending side walls and a longitudinally extending bottom wall forming a longitudinally extending channel are joined at ends forming a rectangular header with two opposing sides and two opposing ends. The bottom wall and side walls of each of the opposing sides and the bottom walls and said side walls of each of said opposing ends become adjacent forming a rectangular header with a continuous bottom wall and continuous inner and outer side wall having a continuous channel therein. An upstream perimeter portion of a pocket filter element is inserted in the continuous channel and a liquid polymeric material is placed therein. The polymeric material is solidified forming a header frame having the upstream perimeter portion of the filter element unitary therewith.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a new tire having a reinforced rubber structure and a polyurethane tread.

Abstract: A vacuum forming process for manufacturing a transport tire from an elastomeric material that include steps of: in a mold having a cavity or annular area, positioning a transport tire core of plies, belt and beads that has been laid-up on a mandrel. Fitting a cover in sealing engagement over the mold top and fitting a cylindrical canister, that is open at a top end, through the center of the cover and into the mold center and pouring an elastomeric material mixture into the canister that includes a needle valve in its lower end that exhausts into one end of the mold annular area.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are media feeding assemblies and methods of making a roll of a media feeding assembly. The method can include providing a soluble carbon nanotube composition, providing a first elastomeric rubber composition, and mixing the soluble carbon nanotube composition with the first elastomeric rubber composition to form a composite rubber composition, such that the soluble carbon nanotubes are substantially uniformly dispersed in the composite rubber composition. The method can also include applying the composite rubber composition to a mold and curing the composite rubber composition to form a composite rubber tire, such that the substantially uniformly dispersed soluble carbon nanotubes in the composite rubber tire provide at least about 10% decrease in wear.

Abstract: A process for producing a tire according to a strip build technique by the use of an injection molding machine, in which strip rubber injection can be performed in the state of being uniform in the blending degree and plasticity level of rubber material. There is provided a process for producing a tire by the use of injection molding machine (A) equipped with material feeding aperture (8) for charging of rubber material, screw (1) for driving forward in the axial direction of the charged rubber material while blending the same, material charging compartment (4) disposed on the distal end side of the screw (1) and material passage (C) for feeding of the rubber material from the distal end side of the screw (1) to the material charging compartment (4).

Abstract: In a method for sequentially programming an injection molding cycle of an injection molding machine comprising one or several injection molds, the injection molding cycle is started manually step by step. The parts of the injection molding machine and/or the parts of the injection mold(s) are manually displaced into the positions or states required for the injection molding cycle in the order required for the injection molding cycle. The movement sequence (the actions and the obtained states) of the machine parts and/or the mold parts is stored in a controller.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a new method for manufacturing tires, an apparatus used with the new method and the article manufactured by the new method. The article is called the reinforced liquid elastomer tire (RLET). The method of manufacture includes placement of reinforcing materials inside a tire molding cavity and subsequently surrounding the reinforcement with a liquid elastomer which encapsulates the reinforcement and takes the outside shape of the tire mold. The liquid elastomer is solidified and the completed RLET is removed from the mold and ready for service.

Abstract: Layered composite materials which comprises a substrate made from a thermoplastic polymer, and comprise an intermediate layer arranged thereupon and a decorative layer applied to the intermediate layer, where the decorative layer is composed of a chromed metal. A heat-cured layer may moreover be applied to the decorative layer. Layered composite materials of this type are suitable, inter alia, as reflecting or insulating parts of household devices or of moldings in the electrical, construction or automotive industry.

Abstract: An annular side wall rubber is injection molded, a forming mold is mold released while retaining the side wall rubber in an unvulcanized state, and a side surface of the side wall rubber is exposed annularly. Further, a lower mold of the forming mold is moved close to a carcass body in which a center portion is evaginated to an outer side in a diametrical direction, on a forming drum, and the side surface of the side wall rubber is attached to a side portion of the carcass body. Thereafter, the side wall rubber is released from the forming mold by moving the lower mold away from the carcass body.

Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus and process for its use in forming a transport tire from an elastomeric material that includes a mold having a cavity or annular area wherein a transport tire core of plies, belt and beads is laid-up on a mandrel located within the mold. The mold receives a cover fitted in sealing engagement over the mold top and a cylindrical canister is fitted through the center of which cover and the mold center that is open at a top end to receive a pour of an elastomeric material mixture and includes a needle valve in its lower end that exhausts into one end of the mold annular area.

Abstract: A coupler can include a main body including a first end and a second end, and a flow passage between the first and second ends to allow fluid flow therethrough. The coupler can also include a frame member, and a radio frequency identification tag coupled to the frame member. The frame member is configured to be molded into the main body so that the radio frequency identification tag is incorporated into the main body.

Abstract: Injection molding is used to form microfluidic devices with integrated functional components. One or more functional components are placed in a mold cavity which is then closed. Molten thermoplastic resin is injected into the mold and then cooled, thereby forming a solid substrate including the functional component(s). The solid substrate including the functional component(s) is then bonded to a second substrate which may include microchannels or other features.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a machine, especially an injection molding machine, includes a bus board providing communication connections between different units, a wiring board, and a separate process module. The process module includes one or more process boards providing a base range of input/output (I/O) connections for the machines to be controlled. The process module can be directly connected to the bus board and the wiring board by means of a plug of second or third type, and thus produces a bridge, i.e. a connection, between the bus and wiring boards, thereby reducing wiring required between these boards At least one control module, which assumes the control tasks for the machine, can be plugged into the bus board by means of a plug contacts of first type.

Abstract: A tire with a changing tread pattern is formed by first forming a tire having a tread, the tread having at least one circumferential or lateral groove. Formed separately is a wearable filler, the wearable filler having a configuration corresponding to at least a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove formed in the tire. After both the tire and the wearable filler have been cured, the wearable filler is located in the radially outer portion of the circumferential or lateral groove or a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove, and secured within the grooves so as to create a groove void radially inward of the wearable filler, the void being exposed upon wear of the tire tread.

Abstract: A plastics processing machine, in particular injection molding machine or extruder, includes at least one component represented by a clamping unit, feed and metering apparatus, plasticizing unit, injection unit, or separate injection apparatus, and characterized by specific parameters for carrying out at least one working or process step. A control device is connected to the at least one component and configured to control the at least one component, with the component-specific parameters being useable in the control device for control of the component. Provided for the component is a separate memory device in which the component-specific parameters are stored and can be transmitted to the control device prior to or upon startup of operation of the component.

Abstract: This invention is a method for the precise placement of indicia with high resolution into the wall of a hollow-form, molded plastisol part. The method includes the steps of preparing a plastisol graphic transfer by casting a base layer of plastisol onto a carrier sheet, printing indicia with pigmented plastisols onto the base layer of plastisol to form a graphic transfer, and over printing the graphic transfer with a body layer of plastisol. After each layer of plastisol is deposit, the layer cured by heating before depositing the next layer and the transfer is heated to cure the final, body layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a core of plies, belts and beads and for positioning the core in a mold for forming an elastomeric tire. The core is built up on a mandrel of the inner mold that is formed from hard foam core segments positioned between top and bottom hub plates, around a center hub that includes flow passages formed therethrough and through the hub plates. Plies for building the core are formed as a woven sleeve for passage along an expander cone and over the mandrel whereon a separator has been positioned, and a bead is passed over each sleeve end that receives a bead centering plate fitted through the sleeve, capturing the bead and positioning it on the mandrel side and provides for folding the plies end over the bead and up each mandrel side.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling an injection molding machine having a first surface and a second surface includes a piezo-ceramic sensor configured to be disposed between the first surface and a second surface. The piezo-ceramic sensor is configured to sense a force between the first surface and the second surface, and to generate corresponding sense signals. Transmission structure is coupled to the piezo-ceramic sensor and is configured to carry the sense signals. Preferably, a piezo-ceramic actuator is also disposed between the first surface and a second surface, and is configured to provide an expansive force between the first surface and a second surface in accordance with the sense signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling temperature of a plant comprising plural temperature control zones, wherein an effective control parameter for a first zone for which a signal representing measured temperature is available is produced according to an algorithm relating measured temperature, a desired temperature and a control parameter associated with a device affecting temperature in the first temperature control zone, the effective control parameter is summed with an offset value representing a proportional offset of the effective control parameter of a second temperature control zone relative to the effective control parameter of the first temperature control zone and the result is applied to control a device affecting temperature in the second temperature control zone.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing an elastomeric tire utilizing a separate formation of a package having a tire core shape and containing tire belts, plies and beads. The package is formed by a laying up of layers of pre-cure elastomer intradigitated with sections of porous fabric, where the fabric fibers are placed at desired crossing angles to one another, and the pre-cure elastomer layers are positioned therebetween as a sandwich, with the sandwich then cold rolled into the tire core shape. Inelastic hoop shaped beads are fitted to and encapsulated in the tire core side walls ends and, as required, an inelastic belt is fitted around the tire core tread area that is secured thereto as by cold rolling a layer of pre-cure elastomer thereover, completing the tire core package. The tire core package is fitted into a mold, preferably a spin casting mold, and is supported therein equidistant from the mold cavity walls to receive an elastomer sprayed therein as the mold is spun.

Abstract: Process for the control of an injection-moulding machine and optionally at least one handling apparatus allocated to same in which, in a form guiding the operator, the operating parameters required for an injection cycle to run are entered via an input unit into a data processing unit storing these operating parameters and then one or more injection cycles are carried out according to the stored operating parameters, safety conditions for the protection of machine parts by means of which certain movement sequences of the injection-molding machine or the handling device are forbidden or allowed, being specified prior to the start of injection, there being provided on a screen an input mask on which one of several, preferably graphically displayed, basic movement modules is selected in each case and on which then, for every selected basic movement module, a safety condition in the form of logical, preferably Boolean operations is adjusted or adopted from the state of one or more different basic movement modules

Abstract: A system for manufacturing an elastomeric tire utilizing a separate formation of a package having a tire core shape and containing tire belts, plies and beads. The package is formed by a laying up of layers of pre-cure elastomer intradigitated with sections of porous fabric, where the fabric fibers are placed at desired crossing angles to one another, and the pre-cure elastomer layers are positioned therebetween as a sandwich, with the sandwich then cold rolled into the tire core shape. Inelastic hoop shaped beads are fitted to and encapsulated in the tire core side walls ends and, as required, an inelastic belt is fitted around the tire core tread area that is secured thereto as by cold rolling a layer of pre-cure elastomer thereover, completing the tire core package. The tire core package is fitted into a mold, preferably a spin casting mold, and is supported therein equidistant from the mold cavity walls to receive an elastomer sprayed therein as the mold is spun.

Abstract: A safety support including a body and a base having a substantially cylindrical radially internal face intended to be mounted around a tire rim, the base including a set of substantially inextensible circumferential reinforcing wires wrapped in an elastomer substance, the support being provided by injection under pressure into a closed cavity from feed points located on the support body, the base including supplementary reinforcing elements arranged radially, at least in part, externally relative to all the circumferential reinforcing wires and axially with respect to the feeding points.

Abstract: A tire assembly method and apparatus are disclosed which utilize at least two rotatable turrets (16, 18) that each have two drums (26, 28, 58, 60) and at least one transfer unit (156) for transferring tire components from one turret to another. The preferred embodiment of the invention features three turrets (16, 18, 20) and two transfer units (156, 170), wherein a carcass band is assembled on the drums of a first turret (16) the tread package is assembled on a third turret (20), and the complete tire carcass is assembled on a second turret (18), in between the first and third turrets. Simultaneous, continuous and sequential building and assembly of tire carcass bands and tread packages for a plurality of tires is provided by the method and apparatus of this invention.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for tires in order to salvage used tire casings of tires and recap them with a better mechanical and chemical bond involving the use of hot water to accelerate the cure rate and uncured tire compound placed on the tire casing subjected subsequently to heat and pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire formed of a plurality of independent pneuic sectors (S) intended to be mounted on a single rim (J) but removable individually from said rim (J), they being inflatable individually or together. The sectors (S) include at least one reinforcing armoring (4) anchored on at least one circumferential bead wire (10) in each circumferential bead, which is the bead mounted on the wheel rim (J), the reinforcing armoring (4) being radially adjacent to a reinforcement armoring (8) of the tread (2). The circumferential bead wires (10) are connected to meridian bead wires (11) located in the sidewalls (50) of the circumferentially adjacent sectors (S).

Abstract: A method for molding a tire tread element by injecting a rubber mixture through injection holes of an injection mold formed by moving two cooperating mold elements toward a cylindrical drum disposed therebetween. The mold elements sealingly match to an outer surface of the inflatable drum to define a mold cavity of a cross-section and length selected to form a tread element of precisely defined shape and size. A breaker layer may be integrated with an injected rubber mixture and the tread element may be made to be completely circular or linear with matchingly formed end surfaces enabling secure adherence thereat.

Abstract: A split tire mold having a tread ring in which provision is made for venting air circumferentially across the inner surface of the tread ring so that the air escapes from the parting line of the mold halves, dispenses with widely used, conventional, radially protruding vent stubs. The air is vented through "butterfly-shaped" or "double-wedge-shaped" arch-vents which provide passage for trapped air above each tread block of the tread as it is moved against the inner surface of the tread ring. The shape of the arch-vent passages and the angulation of the wedges is critical to the effectiveness of the arch-vent which forms an arch-vent bridge of cured rubber in a cured tire. The configuration of the bridge allows as cured tire to be easily removed from the mold cavity without leaving a broken-off piece of the rubber bridge to plug the arch-vents. This arch-vent design leaves unobtrusive flat-sided, narrow wedge-shaped pieces of rubber as the arch-vent stubs, tapered in two directions.

Abstract: A tire is made by first fitting a pair of bead rings interconnected by reinforcement over a gas-pervious annular liner to form an annular core assembly and then inflating the core assembly by directly contacting same with a fluid to impart to the core assembly an inwardly open U-shaped section. This U-section core assembly is then spacedly enclosed in a mold which is filled around the U-section core assembly with a hardenable elastomer which is hardened so it bonds to the reinforcement, rings, and liner to form a tire. Finally the liner is deflated and the tire is demolded. The liner has a pair of opposite end edges and is inflated by sequentially clamping each of the edges against a support so as to define between the liner and the support a pressurizable chamber, displacing one of the clamped edges toward the other so as to outwardly bow the liner, and introducing a fluid, typically air, into the chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for making a pneumatic tire comprising providing a pair of circular half body members including the pair of circular half body members with each other by welding their tread base portions to form a tire main body, applying a tread main body including an uncured breaker and an uncured tread to the outer periphery of the tire main body to form a row cover tire; and to vulcanize the row cover tire in a mold to weld the tread main body and the tire main body by the heat at the vulcanization and to form tread grooves.

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 reinforcement ply intended for use in a tire is characterized by the fact that the reinforcement ply is formed, at least in part, of a fabric having the following properties: (a) the fabric comprises a three-dimensional body and reinforcement threads arranged in the body and held by the body; and (b) practically all the voids in the fabric are capable of being impregnated with at least one material which forms part of the structure of the tire. The invention also relates to these plies which are impregnated with at least one material which forms part of the structure of the tires. The invention further relates to tires having at least one reinforcement ply, as well as to the methods for obtaining such tires.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making vehicle tires comprising filling a pair of discrete annular tire sidewall molds with uncured sidewall compound bringing the sidewall molds into contact, one on either side of a preshaped green tire carcass, positioning the assembly of sidewall molds and tire carcass in a tire curing mold, curing the tire and removing it from the curing mold and the sidewall mold.

Abstract: A method of building a tire in a mold having a mold core and a cavity between the mold core and the inner walls of the mold, the cavity defining tread, sidewa1l, and bead areas of the tire. A flexible mesh fabric is tied to the mold core by tying together corresponding ends of strings running through respective edges of the fabric extending around respective sides of the core. The fabric serves as a spacer between a radial reinforcement and an inner surface of the tire. The fabric is placed on the core such that it remains in spaced relation to the bead ring area of the tire. The tire body is formed of a castable or sprayable elastomer.

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: A pneumatic tire produced of elastomers, especially cast or injection molded polyurethanes has an inner body in which a reinforcement is embedded and anchored by means of holding ropes. The inner body may be provided as a closed tubular body and is encased by an outer body which accommodates a belt and is outwardly provided with a tread. At its side walls, the outer body is provided with respective bead cores in which area, the inner body of the tire is connected to the outer body.

Abstract: A method of preparing a composite of polyurethane bonded to the surface of a cured rubber substrate and the resulting composite. The method is comprised of first applying to a cleaned, cured rubber surface a coating of methylmethacrylate-natural rubber graft polymer and then applying a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture which is cured to form the resultant composite. The invention is particularly directed to the preparation of a tire comprised of a polyurethane carcass applied to a cured rubber tread and to a tire comprised of a polyurethane tread applied to a cured rubber carcass.

Abstract: A method of preparing a composite of polyurethane bonded to the surface of a cured rubber substrate and the resulting composite. The method requires the rubber substrate to contain an hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene polyol. The method is practiced by first applying to a cleaned, cured rubber surface containing the polybutadiene polyol a coating of cyanuric acid followed by an additional coating of a phenol formaldehyde resin and then applying a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture which is cured to form the resultant composite. The invention is particularly directed to the preparation of a tire comprised of a polyurethane carcass applied to a cured rubber tread and to a tire comprised of a polyurethane tread applied to a cured rubber carcass.

Abstract: A reinforcement ply intended for use in a tire is characterized by the fact that the reinforcement ply is formed, at least in part, of a fabric having the following properties:(a) the fabric comprises a three-dimensional body and reinforcement threads arranged in the body and held by the body;(b) practically all the voids in the fabric are capable of being impregnated with at least one material which forms part of the structure of the tire.The invention also relates to these plies which are impregnated with at least one material which forms part of the structure of the tires. The invention further relates to tires having at least one reinforcement ply, as well as to the methods for obtaining such tires.

Abstract: The method of molding a pneumatic tire having a radially outer tread portion, a tire casing underlying the tread portion and a reinforcing cord belt interposed between the tread portion and casing in which the tread portion is spin cast and then partially cured in the mold, the reinforcing cord belt is then fastened to the tread portion, a core inserted in the mold and the tire casing spin cast and cured. The reinforcing cord belt may be adhered to the tread portion by staples or a skim coat adhesive to hold the belt in place during the spin casting of the tire casing.

Abstract: This invention relates to reinforced tire utilizing polyurea or polyurethane formulations having low hysteresis. The polymer having low hysteresis is formed by reacting a prepolymer of an aromatic isocyanate and a high molecular weight difunctional polyol with a chain extender mix comprising an aromatic diamine and difunctional polyol. In these compositions the aromatic diisocyanate and aromatic diamine are selected so that there is substantial symmetry between the molecules. The reinforcement used is preferably an aromatic polyamide.

Abstract: A motor vehicle pneumatic tire is made of polyurethane or another similar moldable material which hardens into an elastic plastic material and which has a substantially cylindrical or cylindrical belt insert mounted beneath the tread substantially composed of threads, wires or similar stability support elements which are mounted in the circumferential direction of the tire in a spaced-apart manner at a distance of 0.5-3.0 mm and which elements have a cross section of 0.5-2.5 mm. The stability support and the plastic mass of the belt insert encompassing the same having a tensile strength in the circumferential direction of at least 3 Mill.N and the elements of the stability support have a breaking strength of at least 1,500 N.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a method for producing reinforcement for cast tires and a method for the production of reinforced cast tires having bead rings, from castable elastomers, the tire inside the mold being restricted by a core during the formation, characterized in that before the toroidal tire core is installed into the mold, the reinforcement and the bead rings are applied thereto. First, the two bead wires are enclosed by a piece of cut fabric which is adapted to the size of the tire, the warp threads in the fabric running substantially perpendicular to the bead rings, then two sides of the fabric are joined, such that the jointure seam runs substantially parallel to the weft direction, as a result of which, both bead wires are connected via the piece of fabric.

Abstract: A vehicle tire crown portion 10 including a tread 11 is injection molded and prevulcanized in a closed annular mold cavity 17 defined by a segmented outer mold 16 clamped together by a locking ring 22 and a segmented core 19 pressed against the outer mold by upper and lower pressure plates 25, 26. The core is then removed by disassembling its segments, whereafter a carcass 14 and prevulcanized sidewalls 12, 13 are placed in the central portion of the mold on an inflatable air bag 38 flanked by lateral mold section 39, 40. The vulcanization of the tire assembly is then completed, during which the sidewalls are joined to the retained crown portion.

Abstract: A vehicle tire crown portion 10 including a tread 11 is injection molded and prevulcanized in a closed annular mold cavity 17 defined by a segmented outer mold 16 clamped together by a locking ring 22 and a segmented core 19 pressed against the outer mold by upper and lower pressure plates 25, 26. The core is then removed by disassembling its segments, whereafter a carcass 14 and prevulcanized sidewalls 12, 13 are placed in the central portion of the mold on an inflatable air bag 38 flanked by lateral mold sections 39, 40. The vulcanization of the tire assembly is then completed, during which the sidewalls are joined to the retained crown portion.