Abstract: A method for consolidating an annular ring of uncured elastomeric material in a tread ring mould comprising a set of rigid segments in sliding end-to-end relationship to form a consolidation ring having a first small diameter for insertion of the segments into the elastomeric material in the tread mould and a second larger diameter at which the segments form a smooth, continuous consolidating surface, mechanical means for moving the segments from the first diameter substantially to the second diameter and a fluid pressure inflatable bag means which may be inflated behind the segments to apply consolidation force at the second diameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use at the stage of a radial tire building process at which a tread and breaker, and sidewall rubbers, are added to the expanded carcass. A tread assembly is built, comprising tread rubber breaker and sidewall rubbers and is then located around the carcass which is then expanded into the tread assembly. A tread assembly former has a central portion expansible to bring side portions to a frusto-conical shape.

Abstract: A tube assembly for use in a process of vulcanizing a pre-cured tread onto a tire casing is disclosed. The tube assembly includes an elastomeric tubular wall having an inner periphery with a protective non-woven fabric layer covering a major portion thereof. The fabric layer includes a plurality of polyester cords extending in parallel relation in a single ply elastomeric matrix. Longitudinal edges of the fabric are covered by thin strips of elastomer bonded to the fabric layer and the tube wall. Superimposed fabric reinforcing swatches are bonded to the fabric layer around the valve stem. The tube assembly is resistant to being damaged prematurely by the rim which supports the tire casing in the tread vulcanization process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use at the stage of a radial tire building process at which a tread and breaker, and sidewall rubbers, are added to the expanded carcass. A tread assembly is built, comprising tread rubber breaker and sidewall rubbers and is then located around the carcass which is then expanded into the tread assembly. A tread assembly former has a central portion expansible to bring side portions to a frusto-conical shape.

Abstract: An adjustable extrusion die assembly forming part of an extruder for an elastic material, comprises: a stationary die member having an end surface; a plurality of movable die members positioned in side-by-side relationship to one another and slidably contacted with one another, the movable die members respectively having end surfaces opposing to and spaced apart from the end surface of the stationary member, the end surfaces of the stationary and movable die members defining in combination an extrusion opening through which the elastic material is to be extruded, the movable die members being individually movable toward and away from the end surface of the stationary die member with respect to one another so as to vary the distances between the end surface of the stationary die member and the end surfaces of the movable die members; a guide member having formed therein a guide slit having the movable die members guided therein; and a plurality of link members each interconnecting two adjacent movable die memb

Abstract: The annular tread belt body is assembled of uncured resilient material having reinforcing cords and is then mounted on a precured tire casing. The read belt body is assembled with a predetermined configuration at a radially inner surface and the precured tire casing has a matching predetermined configuration on the radially outer surface for mounting of the tread belt in a centered position on the tire casing. The tread belt body and precured tire casing are enclosed in a segmental mold where the tread belt is cured. After removal from the mold, the tread belt is separated from the tire casing. The tread belt is then mounted on the radially outer surface of a tire having reinforcing cords positioned in a generally radial direction relative to the axis of the tire.

Abstract: The invention discloses a vehicle tire with reduced rolling noise emission. The tire tread is provided with one or more air-permeable channels or pores (6), which serve to neutralize air pressure differences between different parts of the tread surface in road contact, for example on each side of a tread block in a tread pattern. The invention also discloses how these channels or pores can be created by piecewise vulcanization of rubber or plastic balls or otherwise shaped rubber or plastic bodies of which the tread is built up so that communicating channels or pores remain between such bodies.

Abstract: The green tread strip is preshaped prior to its application to the green carcass body structure such that the minimum cross-sectional areas of the green tread strip align with the void areas of the green tread design.

Abstract: A hoop tread, radial carcass flotation tire is constructed in accordance with a method and through the use of apparatus which impart controlled carcass flexing characteristics while accommodating axle drive of the tire. The method includes constructing a tire carcass with radially directed cords in sidewall portions and with circumferentially directed cords in a tread face portion. The apparatus comprises a mandrel assembled by mounting a plurality of segments about an axle and used to support plies of material during carcass construction. The tire is capable of "floating" over loose or easily damaged supporting surfaces including growing crops in agricultural fields without injury or damage to the supporting surface.

Abstract: A precured tire tread for use in retreading tires contoured to have a flat road-contacting tread surface when applied to the casing.

Abstract: A method of applying a tread band to a tire carcass includes the steps of placing a pre-vulcanized tread band on the inner surface of a resiliently flexible tread band holder and deforming the band holder inwardly to contact the tread band with a tire carcass. The deformation is carried out using inflatable air bags on the outer surface of the tread band holder. The deformation shortens the periphery of the tread band and produces a compressive stress in the band, which is retained in the band after bonding to the tire carcass.

Abstract: An endless tread assembly is fabricated on a ring having grooves and ridges which mold the radially inward surface of the tread assembly. The ring is a thin walled cylinder having a single slit or gap. The tread assembly on the ring is suspended by rotatable wheels rollable on the inward surface of the ring, so as to position an arcuate portion of the ring and tread assembly between a fixed press arm and a single movable heated press mold shoe operable to mold about a 40 degree arc of the tread assembly between the shoe and the ring backed by the press arm. Lugs on the inward surface of the ring cooperate with a latch fixed on the press arm to index selected increments of the tread assembly and ring between the press arm and mold segment. After all arcuate increments of the tread assembly have been molded and cured, the ring is opened at the gap and then simply flexed to reduce its diameter sufficiently to remove the cured tread assembly.

Abstract: A body having rubber material thereon is positioned on a lower member, and an upper member is moved toward the lower member, such relative movement causing tread-forming shoes to move to inward positions to form a tread on the rubber material. As an alternative, the upper and lower members may be brought together, and rubber material may be injected into position to have a tread formed thereon. Upon movement of the upper and lower member relatively apart, the rubber material is made to remain in contact with the shoes, and the body is removed, whereupon an annular core having rubber material thereon is disposed on the lower member, and the upper and lower members are again brought together to deposit the rubber material in contact with the shoes onto the rubber material on the core.

Abstract: Renewal of the running surface of a worn pneumatic or solid rubber tire, in which a layer of bonding rubber is applied to the prepared body of the tire and to the interior of a prefabricated precured rubber tread ring has gaseous inclusions between the applied layers led away and the assembly prepared in this way is heated in an autoclave for vulcanizing the layer of bonding rubber. The tread ring directly before applying it to the body is stretched very hard in a simple stretching mechanism so that when the tread ring is removed from the stretching mechanism a free stretch of about three to four percent remains temporarily. This allows the freed but stretched tread ring to be slipped over the body without further auxiliary means retaining the ring stretched and the ring to be arranged in exact correlation with the circumference of the body. The free stretch rapidly and continuously reduces to about one percent permanent stretch.

Abstract: A pre-cured tread stock for re-capping a vehicle tire and a method for retaining the tread tightly in place on the peripheral surface of the tire casing during the curing of the tread onto the casing under heat and pressure. The tread cross-section includes a central portion and a longitudinally extending groove at each side near the respective edge or "wing," the grooves extending circumferentially around the tire casing when the tread is wrapped around and "stitched" to the casing. The grooves are of such shape that when the tread is laterally curved to fit a buffed tire casing, the outer and lower sides of the grooves extend generally upwardly in a hook-shaped profile.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing or retreading pneumatic tires is disclosed wherein a precured tread component is bonded to a tire carcass or casing primarily by utilization of the residual heat in the precured tread component. The method includes the steps of molding or vulcanizing the tread in an apparatus such as a mold or other conventional type device designed to form and vulcanize a tire tread with or without the tread design. The method also includes providing the new tire carcass in finished form or a buffed casing, except for the tread, and conveying the precured tread at an elevated temperature to the tire carcass and applying the same thereon. In applying the tread to the carcass, the carcass is mounted on a mechanism capable of rotating the tire and precisely guiding the heated tread onto the carcass, and also includes stitching the tread to the carcass and using an intermediate bonding medium which is known in the trade as cushion rubber.

Abstract: The apparatus is used for tire-retreading of the type wherein a flexible impervious covering encloses a replacement tread strip encircling the tire and is subjected to a pressure-differential so as to maintain firm engagement between the strip and the tire during bonding of the former to the latter within a heated pressure chamber. The apparatus includes at least one such cover or shroud member whose marginal edge portions overlie opposite sidewalls of the tire and are maintained in fluid-tight, sealed relationship therewith by first and second disc-like members which overlie respective ones of the envelope edge portions and the tire sidewalls and which are urged toward each other by releasable clamping means innerconnecting their radially-innermost portions and extending generally axially through the rim-mounted tire. The replacement tread strip may be formed either of precured rubber or of rubber which is cured during the retreading operation, and the tire may be either of a pneumatic type or a solid type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying pre-formed, uncured tread material at an elevated temperature to tire casings is disclosed wherein a number of tires may be processed simultaneously so as to utilize the advanced state of heat of the tread material to assist in curing of the tread, and bonding the same to the casing. The apparatus includes a plurality of stations and interconnecting conveyor means, whereby the uncured tread material can be applied to the tire casing and the assembled tire indexed into a curing mold for final curing, while simultaneously a separate station accomplishes application of tread material to a second casing which is then moved to a second station for curing purposes. The number of stations will be dictated only by the length of time involved in final curing, in that the time required for applying the treads to the casings is only a fraction of the time required for final curing.

Abstract: The invention is a replacement tread for installation on a tire casing and the method of installing the tread. The replacement tread includes an endless, pre-molded central tread portion having a relaxed diameter less than the inflated diameter of the tire casing. Integral shoulder wings extend downwardly from the central tread portion and define a circular bottom edge. The shoulder wings bias the bottom edges against the tire casing effecting a seal.To install the replacement tread, the tread area of the tire casing is prepared and the tire casing inflated. The replacement tread is expanded and released onto the tire casing. Tension forces hold the replacement tread closely against the tire casing. The tread is stitched under pressure forces to remove entrapped air and to effect a fluid seal between the shoulder wings and the tire casing. Finally, the replacement tread and the tire casing assembly is cured or bonded.

Abstract: A resilient mold and a method for retreading tires using such mold which has an inner face of a normal, unstretched diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of a tire tread. The mold is in the shape of a ring and has, on its inner side or face, an embossing pattern which applies a tread design to a vulcanizable rubber band previously applied to a tire body. The ring mold is first expanded and then fitted over the tire body and the so-applied vulcanizable band and, thereafter, the ring mold is allowed to contract responsive to its inherent tension. The ring mold, thus fitted over the tread band, is centered on the body while the tire is rotated. This whole unit is then heated to a temperature which converts the tread band into a plastic form and embosses the tread design from the ring mold onto the tread band, which is vulcanized and bonded to the tire body.

Abstract: The tire comprises a preformed carcass having a plurality of precured lugs secured to its circumferential surface by a thick layer-like mass of readily cured cushion gum material. The carcass may be of new construction but would usually be obtained by buffing the circumferential surface of a used and worn lugged tire to render the same substantially smooth and even. The lugs are separately formed by simultaneously molding and precuring retread rubber under high pressure and uniformly-applied heat, so as to possess high strength, density and cut and abrasion-resistance. The carcass, cushion gum and lugs are cemented and stitched together at ambient temperature and in a manner minimizing oxidation at their confronting surfaces. When the circumferential surface of the tire carcass to which the lugs are secured possesses a significant curvature in the width direction thereof, the exterior surfaces of the lugs may be and preferably are provided with stress-relieving grooves in their outer surfaces.

Abstract: A "full cap" method of retreading a tire with a previously molded and vulcanized tread in combination with unvulcanized rubber material which is placed adjacent the precured tread in the shoulder regions, or upper sidewall areas of the tire. Metal rings are placed over the unvulcanized rubber material and heated to mold in the unvulcanized material a pattern of grooves and recesses which esthetically blends with the design of the precured tread. Conventional techniques for heating and cementing the precured tread to the tire casing are used in recapping the tire.