Abstract: Provided are a tire vulcanization device and a tire vulcanization method. A container ring is disposed on an outer circumferential side of segments mounted on outer circumferential surfaces of sector molds. A bolster plate is disposed above an upper plate mounted on an upper surface of an upper side mold. A green tire is placed in a sideways state on a lower side mold mounted on an upper surface of a lower plate. In a state where the bolster plate is moved downward by a pressurizing mechanism and maintained in a mold closed position, a container ring held slidably in a vertical direction with respect to the bolster plate by a connecting body is moved downward by pressurizing fluid supplied, and the sector molds are assembled in an annular shape to be closed with the upper side mold pressed against upper surfaces of the sector molds.

Abstract: A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around the at least one carcass ply (4). The built tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tyre is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) comprising a gripping device (30) which retains it at the radially outer surface (2b) so as to maintain the cross-sectional convex profile in a radially outer direction.

Abstract: A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement, made up of a single layer of reinforcing elements anchored in each of the beads by being turned up around a bead wire, reinforced by a stiffener. In the sidewall of the tire, the profile of the outer surface of the tire is at a constant distance from the carcass reinforcement layer between the points F and A, and meets the outer surface of the bead at the point C, forming two successive circular arcs.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method for manufacturing a high-pressure tank by infiltrating resin into a fiber layer of a preform in which the fiber layer is formed on an outer surface a liner. The manufacturing method includes: a first supply step of supplying resin to the fiber layer of the preform; and a second supply step of, after the first supply step, supplying, to the fiber layer, resin to which spherical particles are added.

Abstract: An air spring having an airsleeve, wherein at least one layer of the airsleeve includes the vulcanization product of a composition that includes at least one vuicanizable polymer, a curative, at least one halogenated hydrocarbon wax, and expandable graphite.

Abstract: A system for maintaining low pressure within a tire press bladder when the press is open and controlling pressure by using an orifice on the supply line side of the tire press bladder. The supply line runs from a high-pressure supply media to a tire press bladder. A three-way valve alternates in directing high pressure directly through the supply line and directing high pressure to an orifice. Simultaneously the pressure in the bladder is controlled by a regulating valve on the drain side piping. When the press is closed on a tire, the three-way valve supplies high pressure from the supply line directly to the tire press bladder.

Abstract: A repair tool for applying a coating patch includes a heating element, a flexible bladder disposed adjacent the heating element, and an inflexible shell disposed about the flexible bladder. The inflexible shell defines a negative space corresponding to a plurality of sides of an aircraft component. A controller is communicatively coupled to the heating element and the bladder, and is configured to control a temperature of the heating element and a pressure of the flexible bladder.

Abstract: A system is provided for placement of noise attenuating foam along an inside surface of a tire to attenuate cavity noise. The system can be used with tires of various sizes and shapes such that different foam sizes may be utilized. The system provides for automating the process of foam placement in a manner that allows for consistent placement of the foam during e.g., tire manufacture.

Abstract: A method include: providing a cylindrical mold made of metal, a shaped structure having a cylindrical shape, a rotation mechanism configured to rotatably support the cylindrical mold, and an electromagnetic induction coil configured to heat the cylindrical mold through electromagnetic induction; setting the shaped structure inside the cylindrical mold; and molding a cylindrical belt slab by heating the cylindrical mold by the electromagnetic induction coil, while the cylindrical mold is rotated by the rotation mechanism and the shaped structure is pressurized from inside and pressed against the cylindrical mold.

Abstract: In an assembly station, a carcass sleeve and an outer sleeve manufactured along respective building lines are mutually coupled. Integrated into the assembly station are engagement devices that can be alternatively-coupled to an auxiliary drum carrying an outer sleeve and to a building drum carrying a carcass sleeve. The building drum is engaged on the assembly station before removal of the auxiliary drum. A grip unit picks up the outer sleeve from the auxiliary drum associated with the engagement devices in order to position it around the carcass sleeve carried by the building drum.

Abstract: A tire holding device of a tire mounting machine grasps the bead section of a green tire by chucking paddles and places the green tire around an upright cylindrical vulcanization bladder. A bladder device of the tire mounting machine expands the vulcanization bladder to press same against the inner surface of the green tire, and sets the green tire in a vulcanization-mold. On a lower portion of each chucking paddle, guide extensions are formed to extend in the two circumferential directions. Between adjacent chucking paddles, the guide extensions extend toward each other and constantly overlap each other to prevent the expanding vulcanization bladder from contacting the radially inner surface of the bead section and from stripping the non-vulcanized rubber of the green tire.

Abstract: A handling device for tires, having at least one gripping tool and an outrigger, wherein the outrigger by way of a first outrigger pivot point is fixed to a receptacle in such a manner that pivoting of the outrigger relative to the receptacle along a motion trajectory is supported. The outrigger has a second outrigger pivot point which couples the at least one gripping tool by way of a tool arm to the outrigger in such a manner that pivoting of the tool arm relative to the outrigger and/or to the receptacle along the motion trajectory is supported. At least one coupling at least partially coordinates the pivoting movements about the outrigger pivot points in such a manner that a total motion trajectory of the gripping tool is supported by way of at least partially superposed pivoting movements.

Abstract: A tire mold featuring a reusable base mold even when a pattern mold having been fitted to the base mold is to be replaced with another pattern mold. To that end, the tire mold includes a base mold and a pattern mold detachably fitted to the base mold. A tread pattern is formed on a crown region of a tire by a pattern molding surface of the pattern mold which faces the crown region. The base mold has an inner fitting periphery to be fitted to an outer fitting periphery of the pattern mold on the opposite side of the pattern molding surface thereof, and a peripheral length of the inner fitting periphery of the base mold is set shorter than a peripheral length of the outer fitting periphery of the pattern mold.

Abstract: A composite part charge having an internal cavity is placed on a tool and covered by a vacuum bag for autoclave curing. A bladder is placed in the cavity to react autoclave pressure on the charge. The bladder is coupled with a flexible fluid reservoir located beneath the vacuum bag. The bladder is pressurized by autoclave pressure applied through the vacuum bag to the flexible fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A bladder-fixing unit fixes a bladder which expands in a tire to hold the tire, the bladder-fixing unit includes a shaft body inserted into the bladder, and a connecting body for fixing the bladder and for connecting the bladder and the shaft body to each other, the connecting body includes a switching mechanism for switching between a state where the connecting body pressurizes and comes into contact with an outer periphery of the shaft body and is fixed to the shaft body, and a movable state where the connecting body can move in an axial direction of the shaft body relative to the shaft body by releasing the state where the connecting body pressurizes and comes into contact with the outer periphery of the shaft body.

Abstract: A tire-holding device includes: a shaft body having a portion thereof inserted into a bladder which is fixed to the shaft body, the bladder expanding in a tire to hold the tire; and a support body which comes into contact with the shaft body to support the shaft body, the shaft body includes an inner hole placed inside the bladder, and an outer hole placed outside the bladder and is brought into communication with the inner hole, and the support body includes a support hole, and when the support body supports the shaft body, the outer hole and the support hole come into communication with each other irrespective of a position of the shaft body in its circumferential direction.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to efficiently vulcanize a green tire. This tire vulcanizing method and tire manufacturing method for vulcanizing a green tire 2A formed on an outer surface 11s of a rigid core by putting in a vulcanizing mold together with the rigid core 3A. The method comprising: a preheating step S1 of preheating the rigid core accompanied by green tire 3A using a preheating device 5 arranged adjacent to the vulcanizing mold 4 prior to vulcanizing; a vulcanizing step S3 of vulcanizing the green tire accompanied by preheated rigid core 3A using the vulcanizing mold 4; and a cooling step S5 of cooling the rigid core accompanied by vulcanized tire 3B which has a vulcanized tire 2B made by vulcanizing the green tire 2A by use of a cooling device 6.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing a component is provided. A mold has a mold surface representing a negative image of the component. The mold has openings in the mold surface. Flow channels extending from the openings in the mold surface and are connectable to a suction device. Further, the mold has a periphery delimiting the mold surface. A bag is fixed to the periphery of the mold. The bag is inflated to a pressure level above ambient pressure. The pressure is released from the bag while sucking the bag to the mold surface using the suction device. Fabrics are layered onto the bag while the bag is kept sucked to the mold surface. Resin is introduced into the fabrics and then the resin is cured.

Abstract: The invention provides a lead screw guide assembly and a three-dimensional (3D) printing apparatus, wherein the lead screw guide assembly includes a base, a first guiding member, a second guiding member and a lead screw guide. The first guiding member is disposed on the base and has a first channel extending along an axis. The second guiding member is movably coupled to the first guiding member along the axis. The lead screw guide is movably disposed on the base along the axis and located in the first channel. The lead screw guide is coupled to the second guiding member, so as to drive the second guiding member to move along the axis and hide in the first channel or protrude from the first channel.

Abstract: A method for applying a magnetic element to a surface includes the steps of providing a magnetized surface capable of holding a magnetic element, providing a substrate having a surface to be modified by the addition of the magnetic element, bringing the magnetic element into contact with the surface of the substrate, eliminating the magnetism of the magnetized surface to create an un-magnetized surface, and withdrawing the un-magnetized surface from contact with the surface of the substrate, thereby leaving behind the magnetic element on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of treating a surface of an object comprising a rubber material and in particular a bladder for use in a process for making a vehicle tire. The method comprises subjecting the surface to a gas at a low pressure at which the gas is susceptible of forming plasma, and causing the gas to form plasma. In order to obtain repellent properties of the surface of the rubber material fluorine gas such as tetrafluormethane or hexafluorethane is used. Preferably the treatment is performed until there is obtained a surface layer of the rubber material with properties modified by the treatment having an expected lifetime corresponding to the expected lifetime of the object.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizing method reduces consumption energy and increases productivity of vulcanization. This method involves supplying an inert gas to an internal space of the tire via a supply pipe, discharging the gas from the internal space via a return pipe, and supplying the gas from the return pipe to the supply pipe by a rotation type circulation device. A heating device heats the circulated gas. An internal outlet gas temperature sensor detects a temperature of the gas in the return pipe. A controller decreases a rotating speed of the circulation device when the return pipe gas temperature is a rotating speed decrease temperature or more.

Abstract: Along a building line, a green tire is built on a rigid toroidal support having an outer surface substantially conforming in shape to an inner surface of the green tire. The green tire is then transferred to a bead molding and prevulcanization station where each bead of the tire is molded by tightening it between a surface portion of the toroidal support and an annular clamping surface carried by a removable tightening flange. The tightened beads are prevulcanized through a heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the tightening flanges. The tire with the prevulcanized and tightened beads is transferred into a molding cavity having an inner wall of a shape substantially conforming to that of the outer surface of the molded tire, to carry out molding of the tire and complete vulcanization of same.

Abstract: An expandable bladder has at least one first layer of butyl material and one second layer of silicone material, radially external to the first layer. The first and second layers have an undulated interface profile defining mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials. A process for manufacturing bladder as well as a tire molding and vulcanizing apparatus incorporating the bladder.

Abstract: A process for molding and curing tires, includes introducing a green tire into a curing mold, the mold including a first sidewall plate and a second sidewall plate, a ring of circumferential sectors circumscribing a mold cavity, an expandable bladder delimited by a membrane, and at least one bead molding ring which is movable between a first contracted operating position and a second extended operating position; and molding and curing the green tire in the curing mold; and between introducing the green tire and molding and curing it, the process includes extending the at least one bead molding ring from the first contracted operating position to the second extended operating position; forming a circumferential bearing surface which bears against a first axially inner surface portion of a first annular fixing structure of the green tire; pressing a second axially inner surface portion of the first annular fixing structure by expanding the membrane at a pre-molding pressure which is lower than a molding pressur

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a pneumatic tire, that does not cause an air-in phenomenon between an inner liner and an insulation or carcass by preventing adhesion of an inner liner to a bladder. The method for producing a pneumatic tire according to the present invention includes the following steps. A green tire using, as an inner liner, a polymer composition in which a polymer component contains 100 to 60% by mass of a styrene-isobutylene-styrene triblock copolymer and 0 to 40% by mass of a polyamide-based polymer that contains polyamide in the molecular chain and has a Shore D hardness of 70 or less is prepared. The green tire is mounted in a mold and vulcanized while being pressurized by a bladder. The resultant vulcanized tire is cooled at 10 to 120° C. for 10 to 300 seconds.

Abstract: A green tire is built on a forming drum and then transferred to a bead molding and pre-vulcanization station where each bead of the tire is molded by tightening it between two axially opposite clamping surfaces respectively carried by an axially external annular locating element and an axially internal annular locating element consisting of radially expandable circumferential sectors. The tightened beads can be pre-vulcanized through heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the axially external annular locating elements. The tire with the tightened and possibly pre-vulcanized beads is transferred to a molding cavity having an inner wall substantially conforming to the shape of an outer surface of the molded tire to carry out molding and complete vulcanization of the tire.

Abstract: An expandable bladder has at least one first layer of butyl material and one second layer of silicone material, radially external to the first layer. The first and second layers have an undulated interface profile defining mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials. A process for manufacturing bladder as well as a tire molding and vulcanising apparatus incorporating the bladder.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a pneumatic tire and a method of manufacturing the pneumatic tire that do not cause air accumulation or film damage even without application of a mold release agent to an inner face of the pneumatic tire in vulcanizing and molding by use of a bladder. The pneumatic tire according to the present invention has an inner liner 6 including a film layer on the inner face of the pneumatic tire and is manufactured by a method including a process to press an unvulcanized tire against molds 11, 13 with a bladder 14 without applying the mold release agent. The inner face of the pneumatic tire consists of the film layer, and a dynamic friction coefficient between the film layer and the bladder 14 is 2.0 or less at 25 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: The bladder for vulcanizing tires having a plurality of first air-release grooves provided on the outer surface of a bladder body and each formed so as to extend from one to the other of the tire circumferential direction and extend toward one side of the tire-width direction, and a plurality of second air-release grooves provided on the outer surface of a bladder body and each formed so as to extend from one to the other of the tire circumferential direction and extend toward the other side of the tire-width direction. By this, the outer surface of the bladder body is divided into a plurality of areas by each of the air-release grooves. Also, the vertexes of each of the areas are angular toward the tire-circumferential direction. Therefore, the pressure contact between each of the areas and the inner surface of the tire is easily released starting at the said vertexes of each of the areas as release starting points.

Abstract: A method of making an inverted-hook groove for a plant fiber-molded cup lid is to form an inverted-hook groove on a side surface of a plant-fiber molded cup lid, which has already been thermally compressed and shaped, processed and shaped once more to form an inverted-hook groove at side surface of the molded cup lid so that the molded cup lid with the inverted-hook groove can tightly and closely combined with the upper edge of a primary cup body. The method of making an inverted-hook groove for a plant-fiber molded cup lid of this invention is classified into three kinds; a method of compression shaping directly, a method of roller compression shaping and a method of air bag compression shaping.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus and a tire vulcanizing method, by which the pressure and temperature of a heating and pressurizing medium to be supplied to the internal space of a raw tire can be controlled without the condition of pressure being affected by the condition of temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing a bicycle rim including, positioning a first quantity of woven fiber strips having a first width and a first length and a second quantity of strips of said woven fibers having a shape different from the first shape to form a first laminated band from the first quantity and the second quantity of strips. A second narrower laminated band is produced. The first band is re-shaped to a V-shaped band before the first band is inserted along the periphery of a mold interior. A core is positioned on the first band and the second band is positioned on the first band. Rim well rings are positioned from outside on the second band, to abut the sides of the second band. A spreader ring is inserted between the rings to join the material near the upper rim flanks and the rim flanges.

Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim and a method of making a bicycle wheel rim are provided. The rim provided is made of a single part using structural fiber based material, preferably carbon fiber material, with two circumferential wings for anchoring the tire, which extend radially outwards from the two sides of the outer peripheral wall of the rim.

Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus for tire vulcanization which can smoothly separate a bladder from the inner surface of a vulcanized tire by quickly detaching the bladder therefrom to contract it, when separating the bladder from the inner surface of the vulcanized tire by contracting the bladder after the vulcanizing. In the method in which a green tire (G) set in a die is vulcanized in a state that the green tire (G) is pressed into an inner surface of the die by inflating a bladder (30) with a fluid for heat/pressure application and attaching the bladder (30) in an inner surface of the green tire (G), when separating the bladder (30) from the inner surface (g1) of the vulcanized tire by contracting the bladder after the vulcanizing, detachment of the bladder (30) is facilitated by flowing a fluid between the outer surface (30a) of the bladder therefrom.

Abstract: A mold (22) includes a bead ring (32). The bead ring (32) includes a side forming surface (34), a bottom forming surface (36), a support surface (38) for a bladder, and a guide surface (40) for a bladder. The support surface (38) is positioned on an inside in a radial direction of the bottom forming surface (36). The support surface (38) is extended in the radial direction. A distance (L2) of the support surface (38) is equal to or smaller than 5.0 mm in the radial direction. The guide surface (40) is positioned on an inside in the radial direction and an outside in an axial direction from the support surface (38). The guide surface (40) is inclined inward in the axial direction from the inside in the radial direction toward an outside in the radial direction. An angle ? of the guide surface (40) to the radial direction is equal to or greater than 15 degrees and is equal to or smaller than 75 degrees. In an expansion, a bladder (B) is erected by the guide surface (40).

Abstract: A tire press has an upper mold fixedly attached to a top plate. A bottom mold is fixedly attached to a bottom plate. The tire press has a plurality of guide posts adapted to maintain proper alignment of the upper mold and the lower mold as the tire press opens and closes. A plurality of lock rods, which are independent of the guide posts, are positioned about the tire press. Each of the lock rods has a first end and a second end. The lock rods may have an adjustment mechanism positioned on the first end of the lock rods to adjust the various mold heights. Locking means are a part of the tire press, which are adapted to selectively engage the second end of the lock rods. Further, each of the lock rods has cylinder mechanism operatively connected to the locking means. The cylinder mechanism is adapted to force the locking means to the surface of the lock rods. The cylinder mechanism is a hydraulic cylinder having the piston disposed within the chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to an expandable curing bladder for use in curing rubber products; the bladder comprising an inner layer and an outer layer bonded to the first layer; the inner layer comprising a rubber composition comprised of, based on parts weight per 100 parts by weight rubber (phr): an isobutylene copolymer rubber selected from butyl rubber and/or halobutyl rubber, wherein said butyl rubber comprises a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene which contains from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent units derived from isoprene; wherein said halobutyl rubber is a halogenated butyl rubber comprises a chlorinated or brominated copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene which contains from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent units derived from isoprene; and the outer layer comprising a rubber composition comprising a silicon rubber.

Abstract: For manufacturing the laminated mold comprising the laminate (11) being formed of a plurality of thin sheets (11a) laminated on each other, laminate the thin sheets with the excess portions of respective thin sheets exceeding the profile of the tire crown portion on the side of contacting with the tire stepping face left, then remove the excess portions, form the sector mold by placing the laminate (11) with the excess portions removed in the holder, form the laminated mold having the annular read pattern by arranging a plurality of the sector mold in a peripheral direction of the tire so as to suppress formation of the stepped shape appearing on the tire profile comparing with the one as originally intended.

Abstract: A method of highly efficiently producing pneumatic tires, wherein both bead portions (B) of a green tire (G) are supported by a pair of holders (24, 50) and opposite axial ends of a bladder (25) are tightly attached to the holders (24, 50), respectively. The holders (24, 50) are joined to each other and a fluid is supplied into the bladder (25), to preliminarily inflate the bladder (25) within the green tire (G). The green tire (G) is transferred into a vulcanizer, together with the holders (24, 50) and the preliminarily inflated bladder (25). A heat medium is supplied into the bladder (25), to vulcanize the green tire (G) and form a vulcanized tire (K). The preliminary inflation of the bladder (25) at a location outside of the vulcanizer eliminates or shortens the waiting time within the vulcanizer, thereby improving the overall work efficiency and productivity at a tire factory.

Abstract: This invention relates to an expandable curing bladder of a butyl rubber composition containing a micro-encapsulated polysiloxane lubricant for delivering lubricity to the surface of the bladder. The invention further relates to a process of curing tires with such bladder.

Abstract: The invention relates to expandable butyl rubber bladders for use in curing presses for hydrocarbon rubbers such as pneumatic tires. The bladders are a crosslinked butyl rubber composition comprising isobutylene repeat units and the bladder composition contains ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, alone or in combination with graphite and/or fluorinated ethylene polymers, dispersed within the bladder composition. The bladder composition may also contain castor oil, corn oil and/or soya-bean oil. The invention also relates to a method of curing tires by utilizing such butyl rubber bladder.

Abstract: A method of utilizing an adjustable height bladder securement mechanism to effect advantageous bladder movement during a loading and shaping process is disclosed. A tire press comprises a lower mold, an upper mold, and a center mechanism. The center mechanism has an upper clamping mechanism for securing the upper periphery of a bladder and a lower clamping mechanism for securing the lower periphery of the bladder. A center mechanism tube has a center rod positioned therein. A piston is disposed within the center mechanism tube. The piston provides reciprocating motion to the center rod. A position sensor mechanism is operatively associated with the center mechanism.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a bladder which is unlikely to have a shapal variation along the inner wall surface of the tire and can satisfactorily extend along the inner wall surface of the tire. An inventive bladder is used to press the inner wall surface of the tire by a pressurized heating medium during the vulcanization of a green tire and is comprised of a fabric layer (purl stitched fabric layer 12) and rubber layers (silicone rubber layers 11, 13) placed one over another. Elongation rates of the fabric layer in warp direction and in weft direction both exceed 15% and satisfy: 0.4≦elongation rate in weft direction/elongation rate in warp direction ≦6.0. Since the fabric layer has good extensibility, it can elongate with the rubber layers.

Abstract: A method of molding an elastomeric article comprises: putting an elastomeric article in a mold; softening the elastomeric article in the mold by heating the elastomeric article; pressing the elastomeric article against the mold by pressurizing an inside of the elastomeric article by letting a fluid therein; and changing the pressure of said fluid in a short cycle so as to beat the elastomeric article against the mold repeatedly.

Abstract: A method for relieving pressure in a vulcanized tire while still in a tire press is disclosed, wherein the bladder securement mechanism utilizes a position sensor mechanism and eliminates the need for spacers and a floating piston. A tire press comprises a lower mold, an upper mold, and a bladder securement mechanism. The bladder securement mechanism has an upper clamping mechanism for securing the upper periphery of a bladder and a lower clamping mechanism for securing the lower periphery of the bladder. A center mechanism tube has a center mechanism rod positioned therein. A piston is disposed within the center mechanism tube. The piston provides reciprocating motion to the center mechanism rod. A position sensor mechanism operatively associated with the bladder securement mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to expandable butyl rubber bladders for use in curing presses for hydrocarbon rubbers such as pneumatic tires. The bladders are a crosslinked butyl rubber composition comprising isobutylene repeat units and the bladder composition contains ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, alone or in combination with graphite and/or fluorinated ethylene polymers, dispersed within the bladder composition. The bladder composition may also contain castor oil, corn oil and/or soya-bean oil. The invention also relates to a method of curing tires by utilizing such butyl rubber bladder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire (400) with improved tire uniformity. The tire has a pair of beads (432a,432b) in bead portions and at least one carcass ply (418) extending between the beads and consisting of reinforcement cords (419) embedded in a rubber matrix (836). The method is characterized by the steps of: a) forming the rubber matrix of the carcass ply or a portion of the bead portions from a matrix material (such as a thermoplastic) that can be rendered plastic and rendered non-plastic, which respectively permits and restricts reorientation of the reinforcement cords, b) rendering the matrix material plastic (such as by heating the thermoplastic) before the tire begins to cure to permit the one or more of the reinforcement cords to be free to reorient themselves, and c) curing the tire in a tire mold (354) while the matrix material remains plastic so that the reinforcement cords remain free to reorient themselves while curing.

Abstract: A center post assembly for a tire curing press comprising a center post having a upper component disposed above a lower component. The upper component is movable between a first position wherein the upper component is adjacent to the lower component and a second position wherein the upper component is axially displaced away from the lower component and substantially adjacent to an upper bead of a green tire assembly. The center post assembly further includes a bladder sealingly clamped to the upper and lower components. The bladder is in fluid communication with a fluid supply. The upper component moves between said first and second positions due to expansion of the bladder caused by introduction of fluid into the bladder from the fluid supply allowing the bladder to evenly disperse on the inner surface of the green tire assembly substantially reducing the risk of the bladder being damaged by the mold as it closes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for molding a tire (110) with an expandable bead molding ring assembly (250) having a two-stage movement from a retracted and disengaged state, to a radially expanded state, to an expanded and engaged state for molding a tire bead (112b). The two-stage movement is accomplished using a simple assembly of easily manufactured parts, and is driven by a simple continuous downward (axially outward) movement (320) of a hub (209) of a mold press (220). A combination of annular elements with springs converts the hub movement to the desired two-stage movement of segments (254, 256) of a segmented bead molding ring (252). Frustraconical cam surfaces (258, 266) are used to divide axially directed forces (420a, 420b) from the mold press movement (320) into radial force components (410a, 410b) and axial force components (415a, 415b) for causing corresponding radial movements (310) and axial movements (315) during the two stage movement.