Abstract: An annular tire tread belt is assembled of uncured resilient material having reinforcing cords. An annular container of resilient material has reinforcing cords extending between annular bead rings at the edges. The container is shaped in a toroidal configuration and the tread belt stuck to the container by a layer of suitable tacky barrier material with sufficient tack to maintain the tread belt in a centered position on the container for engagement with a centered portion of the mold. The barrier material also is sufficiently incompatible with the materials of the container and tread belt to prevent appreciable chemical bonding across the interface during curing of the tread belt. After at least partial curing of the tread belt, the tread belt is detached from the container and is ready for use in a tire.

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 tire press, loader and method wherein a green tire is positioned by the loader between vertically separated mold sections and then engaged and held at the top bead thereof in registered contact with an upper bead ring of the press mold by a green tire bead elevator in the press head. While such registered contact is maintained, the upper bead ring and bead elevator raise and hold the green tire to the upper mold section as the loader axially clears the green tire and withdraws from the press. After such transfer of the green tire to the press head, the press partially closes to bring the bottom bead of the green tire against the lower bead ring of the press mold for subsequent shaping of the green tire and final closure of the press. The bead elevator includes a radially expandable chuck mounted for vertical movement in the press head which operates, when expanded, to engage and move the top bead of the green tire into registered or fully seated contact with the upper bead ring.

Abstract: When this airplane tire is mounted on its rim, its carcass reinforcement has a relative camber of convexity before inflation which is at most equal to 0.17 in the crown and at most equal to to 0.20 in the sidewalls. After inflation, the equilibrium curve of this carcass reinforcement is, at the level of the shoulders of the tire, located radially outwards of its equilibrium curve in the tire before inflation.The cables of the lateral plies of the tripartite crown reinforcement are very extensible and have a high coefficient of contraction under the heat at the temperature of vulcanization of the tire.

Abstract: A simple inexpensive modification of existing tire molds used in old steam dome vulcanizing presses provides remarkable versatility and permits curing of truck and farm tractor tires at higher temperatures with higher internal water pressures to reduce curing times 5 to 10% or more while improving tire quality. A thin, flat heat exchanger with outstanding heat transfer characteristics is readily provided on each mold half by welding a flat outer disc and spacers to the mold to form an annular steam chamber of narrow cross section in direct communication with the outer mold face and the vent passages.

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.

Abstract: A radial tire having an annular cavity is built with precision and positioned between the upper and lower mold sections of a tire press. An upper center mechanism has an inflatable clamping bladder for gripping the upper bead of the tire which is suspended from the center mechanism to insure orientation of the tire components in substantially the built condition of the tire. The upper center mechanism including the upper bead ring and clamping bladder is lowered to grip and center the upper bead on the upper bead ring. The lower bead is positioned over the lower bead ring and sealing air may be utilized to provide the necessary centering and seating. The sealing air in the tire cavity is maintained at a pressure sufficient to hold the beads in seating engagement with the bead rings while the curing bladder is being inserted in the tire cavity and while the clamping bladder is deflated and retracted with the center support assembly from the tire cavity.

Abstract: A method for restoration and re-utilization of discharged gas for use in a vulcanization employing inert gas in part of the vulcanization of elastomer products, which includes the steps of restoring a mixture of used inert gas discharged from a vulcanizing unit and vulcanizing medium for steam separation thereof, subjecting the elastomer product mounted in a metal mold to a preshaping by supplying the inert gas obtained by the steam separation to the vulcanizing unit prior to starting of the vulcanization, and subjecting the inert gas obtained by the steam separation to supplementary pressurization by inert gas obtained from an inert gas generating unit when the inert gas is to be supplied to the vulcanizing unit, and also an arrangement for carrying out the above method in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A process is provided for vulcanizing a vulcanizable endless belt which is substantially V-shaped in cross-section, substantially uniformly, by heating the belt through its minor base and converging sides and then cooling the belt from its minor base and converging sides more rapidly than cooling of the major base. An apparatus for practicing the process has a drum and a substantially concentric jacket in spaced relation about the drum. An annular inflatable diaphram is disposed in the space between the drum and jacket. A belt to be vulcanized is placed in an annular groove in the drum, the diaphram is inflated to press the belt in the groove against the surfaces thereof. The surfaces of the groove facing the minor base and the converging sides are heated while the major base is flush with the surface of the drum and is not heated.

Abstract: A tire, particularly for aircraft, has a crown reinforcement formed of plies of circumferential cables having a relative extensibility upon rupture of at least 8%, preferably between 10% and 26%, when the vulcanized tire is mounted on its service rim but not yet inflated, and a relative contraction under the effect of the heat at the temperature of vulcanization of at least 1.25%, preferably between 2% and 8%.

Abstract: An improved process for vulcanization of elastomer products which includes the steps of heating under pressure, the elastomer product mounted in a metal mold by supplying vulcanizing medium, suspending the supply of the vulcanizing medium when the elastomer product has reached a predetermined temperature or passed through a predetermined time period, and subsequently supplying insert gas preliminarily extracted from atmospheric air and maintained at least under approximately the same pressure as that of the vulcanizing medium, up to the termination of the heating step so as to maintain the elastomer product at the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for delivering the precise optimum number of cure equivalents to the exact point of least cure for each tire, though the location of the point varies from one tire to another tire of different geometry, and may vary in tires of the same geometry if there is a change in normal operating conditions. A cure is effected with the aid of a small computer means utilizing only two boundary temperature conditions and the ambient temperature, irrespective of where the boundary conditions are sensed.

Abstract: An improved process for vulcanization of elastomer products which includes the steps of heating under pressure, the elastomer product mounted in a metal mold by supplying vulcanizing medium, suspending the supply of the vulcanizing medium when the elastomer product has reached a predetermined temperature or passed through a predetermined time period, subsequently supplying inert gas preliminarily extracted from atmospheric air and maintained at least under approximately the same pressure as that of the vulcanizing medium, up to the termination of the heating step so as to maintain the elastomer product at the predetermined temperature, and, upon termination of said heating step, restoring a mixture of the inert gas and the vulcanizing medium so as to derive the inert gas through steam separation for re-utilization of the inert gas for a preshaping of the elastomer product prior to the vulcanization of the elastomer product and the like.

Abstract: An expandable member is disclosed that includes a molded body of elastomeric material with a core embedded therein. At least a portion of the core is not bonded to the body. A fluid conduit is provided through which fluid can be injected between the core and the unattached portion of the body to move the core and the unattached portion apart and expand the member.

Abstract: Separable mold sections of a tire forming machine are brought together to form a tire cavity within which a preformed tire band is expandable against the inner surface of the cavity side wall. During the tire shaping operation, air is forced by the expanding tire band from the cavity and into the atmosphere, through valve controlled air passages having terminal ends open to the cavity side wall. As the expanding tire band moves into conforming engagement with the inner surface of the cavity side wall, the final residual air in the cavity is forced therefrom concurrently with valves at the passage terminal ends being engaged and moved by the expanding tire band to passage closing positions wherein the valves form a smooth surface continuous with the inner surface of the tire cavity.

Abstract: A tire curing press has a loader assembly comprising a bead grip for engaging and lifting the axial interior of the upper bead of a green tire and a tread positioning ring movable axially to an adjusted position to engage the tire tread shoulder and to force a predetermined distance between the upper bead and tread to identify precisely the transaxial middle or crown plane of the tread. The loader includes means to swing the bead grip and tread register from a tire pick-up position to a load position centered in the press and to position the lower bead of the green tire on or close to a movable toe ring, and then to lower the bead grip, tread register and toe ring uniformly with the green tire held open and firmly therebetween to match the transaxial middle plane of the tread to that of a bladder mounted in a center mechanism in the press by independently movable top and bottom bladder bead clamps.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cycle or auto-cycle wheel rim includes employing a tubular braided fibre glass sleeve which is inflated internally so as to conform its shape to the inside of a mould. An inflatable sleeve is placed inside the braided glass fibre sleeve. An appropriate length of the assembly formed by the two concentric sleeves is placed in a mould which has the shape of the wheel rim to be formed and which has plastics material injection channels and at least one air inlet channel emerging inside the inflatable sleeve. The inflatable sleeve is inflated through the air inlet channel. Plastics material in injected into the mould between the inflated sleeve and the braided fibre glass sleeve. The mold is baked for setting the structure obtained, and the wheel rim thus is then stripped from the mould.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire is made by applying a restricting member circumferentially around a cylindrical radial tire carcass. Shaping pressure inflates the carcass to a toroidal shape having a section height less than a predetermined section height so that the carcass can be enclosed by a mold for vulcanization. After vulcanization, normal inflation pressure is sufficient to further expand the restricting member and carcass to a shape having a section height greater than the predetermined section height so that the carcass may be pressed into gripping engagement with a replaceable tread belt.

Abstract: Production of hollow shaped bodies made of pourable and hardenable material, particularly polyurethane tires, in a mold cavity having a deformable membrane. The membrane is expanded to fill the mold cavity and expel air therein. Thereafter an amount of material required to produce the shaped body is introduced into the mold cavity and concomitantly the membrane is contracted to the form of the core. This minimizes air bubbles in the shaped body. A piston-cylinder unit movable with the inflow and outflow of liquid to the deformable membrane may be used to accurately control feed of polyurethane material to the mold cavity.

Abstract: In a tire mold press having a steam dome defining a chamber in which steam applies heat to the exterior of a tire mold, condensate which accumulates in the top center plate is simply and effectively removed after the end of the curing cycle and before the mold is opened by a passage through the top center plate controlled by a valve opened in response to a reduction of pressure acting on the lower surface of the plate as the tire cavity is emptied. The costs and hazards of removal of condensate or of operating and maintaining siphons are avoided. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanyiing drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: A lug tire for agricultural machines and constructional vehicles provided with at least one discontinuous portion formed by decreasing a thickness of a base rubber at both end regions of a tread and arranged along the circumferential direction of the tire.

Abstract: Apparatus for curing tires or similar vulcanized products in a press or autoclave equipped with separable molds with inserted bladders, tubes, bags or bladderless center mechanisms, wherein means are provided to purge the high temperature hot water curing medium from the bladders and the like with inert gas prior to the introduction therein of cooling water, thereby conserving energy by avoiding mixing the hot water with the cold.

Abstract: A method of making a notched variable speed belt or a notched V-belt by placing the layers of the belt around a smooth cylindrical mold, placing an endless elastomeric sleeve having ribs on its inner surface, around the mold and layers thereon and applying heat and pressure to urge the sleeve against the belt layers to form a cured belt slab with molded grooves therein. The cured belt slab may then be cut into individual notched V-belts or variable speed belts of high quality.

Abstract: A tire prepared by molding in one or more first molds of at least two separate annular tire body parts of an elastomer composition and stabilizing same, a set of said tire body parts forming a complete tire body exclusive of tread, transferring said parts to a second annular mold which positions them in the same relationship to one another that they will have in the completed tire and introducing into said second mold a predetermined quantity of an elastomer composition to join said parts and form an annular tread about the crown thereof.

Abstract: A flexible, integrally formed elastomeric matrix is formed using an internal mold such as an inflated tire or carved or molded rigid facsimile thereof covered with a fabric venting network and an overlying layer of elastomeric material. The assembly is cured in the same manner as when tire retreading is effected utilizing precured tread material. After curing, the thus formed flexible matrix with the incorporated venting material is removed and is used in retreading tires prepared in the same manner as in the case where rigid external molds are used but with the curing of the assembly effected in the same way the flexible matrix was prepared.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of retreading a tire by inserting a tire and an annular bladder between a pair of open matrices with marginal portions of the bladder projecting beyond beads of the tire and resting upon peripheral edge portions of axially opposed bead aligner wheels; the annular bladder being disposed within the tire; inflating the bladder to form an annular vacuum gap between an annular terminal edge of each bladder marginal portion, an annular outboard portion of each bladder and opposing annular portions of the bead aligner wheel peripheral edge portions; radially foreshortening the tire by moving the bead aligner wheels away from each other while the tire is held thereon by the bladder, and thereafter closing the matrices, and further inflating the bladder to urge the tire into intimate conformity with the matrices.

Abstract: The production of a very large tire by expanding the uncured unrestrained carcass of the tire to engage its crown region with the radially inward surface of a rigid circumferentially continuous centering ring. The ring and the uncured carcass together are transported from the carcass expanding location to the tire curing mold which is adapted to receive and locate the ring and carcass together so as to prevent the mid-circumferential region of the carcass from shifting out of symmetry with the mold. The ring forms a part of the mold for molding and curing the tire carcass. The inward surface of the ring is provided with a pattern of grooves and ridges; the method and apparatus disclosed are particularly useful in the manufacture of a cured tire carcass adapted to combine with an endless tread assembly cured apart from and independently of the tire carcass to make the complete tire.

Abstract: A method of moulding a tire in a mould in which the retaining rings for the bead formation of a green tire are variable in diameter to allow for increase in the bead diameter of the finished tire relative to its green state and to prevent damage caused by forcing the beads of a green tire over bead rings of too large diameter. Preferably the bead retaining rings expand to their maximum diameter in response to the application of curing pressure inside the tire and automatically retract when curing pressure is relieved.

Abstract: A method of increasing the tread and sidewall life of a radial belted pneumatic tire with an open end belt in which the tire is cured in a mold with the central portion of the tread in a curved configuration having the same tread radius and the margins of the tread having an increased tread radius. The sidewalls are cured with the maximum sectional width of the tire spaced from the bead baseline a predetermined distance greater than 55 percent of the maximum section height of the tire so that upon inflation of the completely manufactured tire to design inflation pressure, the tread surface of the tire will have a substantially constant tread radius across the tread profile for even wear of the tread and the tension in the sidewalls will be reduced for increased life of the tire.

Abstract: A very large off-the-road type tire having a plurality of bead cores and a plurality of bias laid carcass plies, which when in the configuration in which it was cured has a section height which is substantially less than the section height of the tire when inflated and an axial bead spacing which is substantially greater than the axial bead spacing when the tire is mounted on a rim and inflated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for curing tires or similar vulcanized products in a press or autoclave equipped with separable molds with inserted bladders, tubes, bags, or bladderless center mechanisms. During the principal shaping and vulcanizing period of the tire curing cycle, the bladder is first filled with steam to conform the bladder and tire to the mold and begin the cure. The steam is then flushed and replaced with water at a high pressure and at a high temperature, or in some cases with high pressure steam and then such hot water, to continue pressure molding and curing of the tire. In the next phase of the curing cycle, inert gas at a high pressure is introduced to force the water from the bladder, without vaporization or significant loss of heat, back to storage facilities for subsequent reuse.

Abstract: A method of building an unequal bead diameter tire with conventional components and contour lengths which are substantially equal, the contour lengths being measured along the neutral axis of the carcass plies between the beads and a plane containing the mid-circumferential centerline of the tread. The tire is molded in a special configuration not usually employed in shaping a tire, i.e. the tread is unsymmetrical in relation to a plane which normally bisects the tread, and the lateral edges of the tread are radially offset and not equally spaced from the center axis of the mold which is normally the case when the conventional methods are used for molding and vulcanizing a tire.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of retreading a tire by inserting a tire and an annular bladder between a pair of open matrices with marginal portions of the bladder projecting beyond beads of the tire and resting upon peripheral edge portions of axially opposed bead aligner wheels; the annular bladder being disposed within the tire; inflating the bladder to form an annular gap sealed between an annular terminal edge of each bladder marginal portion, an annular outboard portion of each bladder and opposing annular portions of the bead aligner wheel peripheral edge portions; closing the matrices, and further inflating the bladder to urge the tire into intimate conformity with the matrices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for curing a tire having an internal cavity using as heat and fluid pressure media first steam and then cooler inert gas. The time rate of pressure loss in the cavity is determined in each tire curing cycle by closing the cavity so as to form a completely closed chamber for a test time less than the normal cure time for the tire. Pressure loss during the test time is monitored and if determined to be at a greater than tolerable rate a warning device is actuated and means for loading a next tire into the mold is rendered inactive.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an improvement in the "wide stance" method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire. In this method the space between the two annular wire bead bundles of the tire is substantially greater than the space between the beads in their operable condition, mounted on the recommended rim. The improvement comprises the steps of locating the bead areas of the uncured tire which contain the annular wire bead bundles in annular cavities in the tire mold which are adapted to receive the bead areas. This maintains the wire bead bundles in their proper location during the entire curing operation.

Abstract: A cordless vehicle tire of an elastomeric polyurethane sidewall adhered to a tread of an elastomeric ethylene/propylene/non-conjugated diene polymer wherein the polyurethane is the product of reacting an organic diisocyanate with a poly(alkylene oxide) glycol to prepare an isocyanato-terminated prepolymer cured by reaction with methylene dianiline introduced into the prepolymer in the form of a complex with salts of the group sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium nitrite, lithium chloride, lithium bromide, lithium iodide, lithium nitrite or sodium cyanide, said methylene dianiline being liberated from said complex by heating the mixture of prepolymer containing complex, and a process for producing such tires.

Abstract: Discloses method of forming a belted radial tire from a cylindrical radial green tire band having biased corded belts which are adapted to pantograph and expand circumferentially as the tire band is shaped to be molded into a finished tire without "S-ing" of the radial cords of the carcass plies under the belts of the finished tire as may be caused by the pantograph action of the belts while the tire band is being expanded into finished shape. Involves lowering a belted radial green tire band of generally cylindrical shape to seat into a conventional tire molding press over the inflatable curing bladder, then applying inflation pressure into the curing bladder to a first pressure level while partially closing the press. The inflation pressure is continued to a second pressure level while continuing to close the press. The belts pantograph and circumferentially expand substantially completely through application of the second pressure until the tire band has reached a generally circular U-shape.

Abstract: To permit moulding of a rigid breaker tire in a single-phase diaphragm press without damage caused by axial movement of the tread-forming segments relative to the tire carcass in the mould the tread segments are mounted to pivot about fixed longitudinal axes as the press is opened and closed so that they move simultaneously both radially and axially with respect to the mould cavity.

Abstract: A device for making a pneumatic tire including an outer mold and a core for making tread rubber having a high lug or deep tread pattern and an inflatable bladder for use in joining the tread rubber to the tread portion of a green case when the green case is shaped and vulcanized.

Abstract: A method for discharging a cured tire from a mold in which method the lower sidewall of the tire is disengaged from the lower section of the mold by raising the tire with respect to the position in which it had been cured while maintaining the sections of the mold at its tread and upper sidewall in contact with the tire, then disengaging the section at its tread by moving said section radially outwardly while simultaneously pushing the tire and section at its upper sidewall downward to a level lower than that corresponding to the lower surface of the section of the mold for the tire's tread, displacing the section for the tire tread inwardly until its diameter is less than the outer diameter of the tire and finally raising the tire and the upper section for the upper sidewall until the tire is disengaged from the upper sidewall section.

Abstract: A method for curing tires especially adapted for curing very large-sized or so-called giant tires which have not been generally in such demand as to warrant mass production characterized by holding the curing mold in a stably closed locked condition during the curing process under purely mechanical force in contrast to hydraulic force such as heretofore employed, comprising the steps of placing a mold unit composed of upper and lower mold halves and containing a semi-shaped "green" tire upon a stand of a mechanical press having a plunger mechanism supporting an upper housing member moved by means of a crank gear, driving the crank gear to a first position located ahead of its lower dead center a predetermined amount whereby the plunger mechanism and housing section are smoothly and continuously moved through an arcuate path from a raised position to a lowered position at which the plunger mechanism and housing member are adjacent the upper mold half, adjusting the position of the plunger mechanism relative to

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.