Abstract: In the moulding of the tread portion of a pneumatic tire the radially inner surface of the mould cavity is defined by the radially outer surface of an annular former of elastomeric material. The former is contracted, a breaker assembly is built onto it and it is allowed to expand to stress the breaker. In the mould the former is further expanded and is held in compression between mould parts and the breaker to withstand moulding pressure. The former may have inflatable pockets to throw the breaker edges into contact with tire sidewall reinforcements.

Abstract: A method for making tires. The tire is first formed in two or more parts from uncured rubber, in mould cavities provided with locking sprues to retain the moulded tire part in a desired section of the moulding. The mould is pressurized, at least when moulding the tire sidewalls, then opened and the moulded uncured tire parts carried in parts of the mould are brought together and joined under heat and pressure.

Abstract: In moulding the tread portion of a pneumatic tire to have a breaker structure incorporated therein the breaker is built in an annular mould cavity to have a radially outermost 90.degree. ply consisting of parallel cords extending axially of the cavity, and uncured rubber is introduced into the cavity through an annular gate surrounding the cavity so as to spread axially of the cavity. As the introduced uncured rubber does not move circumferentially of the cavity it has no tendency to displace the breaker cords.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is moulded using a mould core of cured rubber the radial sectional shape of which is the same as the internal radial sectional configuration of the finished tire. The opposite sides of the core are supported by fitting plates while a tread portion of tire is moulded onto the exposed outer periphery of the core. Thereafter the side plates are removed in turn and replaced by sidewall mould halves enabling sidewalls to be moulded against the core in contact with the tread portion.

Abstract: A reinforcing element, intended in particular for pneumatic tires, and a method for obtaining it, said element consisting of a rubber compound matrix wherein are dispersed individual glass fibers oriented along a preferred direction and having a diameter to length ratio comprised between 1/10 and 1/100.The reinforcing element shows a resistance to compression, in the direction of orientation of the fibers, which is substantially higher both than the resistance measured along any other significantly divergent direction and than the resistance of a like reinforcing element consisting solely of the said rubber compound matrix.

Abstract: A retread envelope press, seamless retread envelope, and method for manufacturing said seamless retread envelope are described as facilitating the production of superior retreaded or recapped tires. In particular, a seamless elastomeric compression-formed envelope is described which is formed and cured in a configuration having a U-shaped radial cross section. The envelope of the present invention also has a rip-resistant bead disposed along its peripheral edges. In manufacturing the envelope, an uncured chloro-butyl rubber slug of appropriate volume is placed in an annular compression chamber defined between two platens. As the platens are moved from a first feed position to a second forming position, the volume of the compression chamber is reduced and the elastomeric slug material is forced around a radially symmetrical core.

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: A method for curing vulcanizable elastomeric articles positioned between a mold surface and a pressure chamber including the steps of introducing into the chamber a hot fluid of relatively high heat capacity, e.g., steam, under pressure for a sufficient period to soften the article, introducing into the chamber a gas of relatively low heat capacity and pressurizing the gas in the chamber at a pressure substantially greater than the pressure under which the hot fluid was introduced, and thereafter vulcanizing the elastomeric article.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling sequence and duration of the operational steps in processes such as vulcanization of a pneumatic tire is capable of operating under two basic modes or parameters. In one mode the operational steps are dictated by elapsed real time, while in the other mode, the operation can be dictated by elapsed cure equivalent factors. The desired length of each step or the cure, whether in time or cure equivalents, is set into an input program means. In the time mode, time generating circuitry provides an output proportonal to elapsed time which output is displayed on a counter and electrically compared with the information in the input program means. When a match occurs, the time generating circuitry and displays are reset and the input program means directs the tire vulcanization press to perform the next sequential function. Also disclosed is circuitry which is capable of performing secondary functions such as extending the length of a step, as necessary.

Abstract: A method of fabricating molded articles composed of elastomeric material having embedded therein essentially oriented fibers, comprising the steps of fabricating a molded article with oriented fibers therein, positioning the molded article within a mold having two portions, a first mold portion defining the shape of the final molded article and a second mold portion arranged separately of said first mold portion and in communication therewith, said molded article being positioned partly in said first mold portion and partly in said second mold portion, subjecting the part of the molded article positioned in said second mold portion to a directed flow operation into said first mold portion and reorienting by said directed flow operation the fibers subjected to flow into a second fiber orientation direction differing from the fiber orientation direction of the part of said molded article positioned in said first mold portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing tire inner tubes in which the tube is moulded in two annular parts from worked uncured rubber, and the parts are joined but before curing of the rubber is completed the tube is stretched to a larger internal diameter and inflated into a mould with the larger internal diameter.

Abstract: Noise produced by a rotating apparatus having radially extending, spaced, load carrying elements, e.g. the tread design portions of a tire, is modulated by selectively pitching and sequencing load carrying elements. The array of load carrying elements are selected from at least two different pitch lengths, the ratio of pitch lengths being within a given range of ##EQU1## N = 3, 4, 5 OR 6. Noise is further modulated by utilizing strings of 3 or more consecutive load carrying elements having substantially the same pitch length. The length and sequential position of the strings modulates the natural load carrying element frequency.The invention is useful in the design of such apparatus as tread elements for tires, gear teeth, V-belt notching, fan blade spacing, and in other rotating apparatus.

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 method for retreading tires using a resilient mold or matrix ring which is normally smaller than a tire body. On its inner side, this ring has an embossing pattern which applies a tread design to a vulcanizable rubber band previously attached to a tire body. The matrix ring is first expanded and then fitted over the tire body with its vulcanizable band in place. Thereafter, the matrix ring is allowed to contract responsive to its inherent tension. The matrix ring thus attached over the tread band is centered on the body while the tire rotates. 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 matrix ring onto the tread band, which is vulcanized and bonded to the tire body.

Abstract: A system for controlling sequence and duration of the operational steps in processes such as vulcanization of a pneumatic tire is capable of operating under two basic modes or parameters. In one mode the operational steps are dictated by elapsed real time, while in the other mode, the operation can be dictated by elapsed cure equivalent factors. The desired length of each step or the cure, whether in time or cure equivalents, is set into an input program means. In the time mode, time generating circuitry provides an output proportional to elapsed time which output is displayed on a counter and electrically compared with the information in the input program means. When a match occurs, the time generating circuitry and displays are reset and the input program means directs the tire vulcanization press to perform the next sequential function. Also disclosed is circuitry which is capable of performing secondary functions such as extending the length of a step, as necessary.

Abstract: A process for molding a tire having a wide bearing surface comprising the steps of molding reinforcing shoulders in a static mold and partially curing the molded materials; removing the partially cured shoulders from the static mold and placing them in a rotating mold; introducing additional plastic material into the rotating mold and rotating the mold; and then heating the mold to complete the curing of the shoulders and to fully cure the additional plastic material to form the tire casing.

Abstract: Method of making a reinforced pneumatic tire in which the tire body is formed in at least two sections each including a side wall and a plurality of annular bands each including an annular reinforcing belt embedded in an elastomer. The tire sections are assembled in a mold with the annular bands of each section interleaved with the annular bands of another section and the elastomer is cured to form an integral tire body. The tire may be formed of two reinforced sections with the interleaved bands forming the annular tread section of the tires, or as three reinforced sections, including two sections each including a side wall and annular bands and a connecting section including annular bands with reinforcing belts which are interleaved with the annular bands of the other two sections to form a tread section. An annular, elastomeric tread section may be formed separately and bonded around and to the annular bands of the reinforced sections.

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 of treading or re-treading tires involves compression of the wearing surface of the tread. A tread strip, which may be an annular band, is compressed in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis and is bonded to a tire carcass, while being maintained under compression. This may be done by compressing a tread band into an undersized mould; apparatus for assisting this is also described. Alternatively, the tread strip may be of finite length, for example to form a lug, in which case the strip is formed with a radius of curvature less that of the surface to which it is to be applied, so that the convex (wearing) surface of the strip is compressed upon application to the carcass.

Abstract: A method of reducing rubber projections such as vents and flash formed during molding and vulcanizing of a pneumatic tire by prior treatment of selected outer surfaces of the tire with from one to ten megarads of electron radiation from a 500,000 to 3,000,000 KV source to inhibit the flow of the treated rubbery material into the vent holes of the mold and crevices between abutting sections of the mold.

Abstract: Track belts designed to fit circumferentially around a pneumatic bladder or tire carcass can be sealed against the ingress of soil and rock between the track shoes attached about the outer periphery of the belt by forming individual and permanent flat sites on the outer circular periphery of the belt so the flat undersurface of each track shoe is nested on a flat shoe site and therefore does not have triangular shaped gaps under its leading and trailing edges. A transverse rib of elastomer, raised from the surface belt between each of the adjacent flat sites further seals the belt in the narrow gaps formed between adjacent track shoes thereby preventing the ingress of soil and rock in these gaps when the shoes pass through a footprint formed as the pneumatic supported system is rolled.

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 tread for the recapping of tires is provided with a roughened internal surface simultaneously with the shaping of profile on its external surface in a vulcanizing form. The internal surface can be roughened by placing against the body of raw rubber in the form of a latticework, a plate with regularly or irregularly distributed projections or a composite deforming structure. The internal surface of the prefabricated tread can be sealed from the atmosphere by a foil which is applied to the internal surface directly in the form or subsequent to removal of tread from the form.

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.