Abstract: A tire vulcanizer is disclosed that has superior durability and in which mold parting surfaces defined by a sector and side plates are less likely to be worn even after repeated use. The tire vulcanizer includes: the sector that shapes a tread of a tire; paired upper and lower side plates that shape sidewalls of the tire; a segment that is fixed to the sector and causes the sector to move in a tire radial direction; paired upper and lower attachment plates that are respectively fixed to the paired upper and lower side plates; and the mold parting surfaces defined by the sector and the side plates. Mold inner ends of the mold parting surfaces are arranged on the tread, and the mold parting surfaces extend outward in the tire radial direction from the mold inner ends.

Abstract: A pressure vessel is disclosed. The pressure vessel may include a boss, a liner, an O-ring, and a composite overwrap of shell. A boss may comprise a through aperture, a first groove encircling the through aperture, and a first engagement mechanism. A liner may comprise an interior surface, exterior surface, and a second engagement mechanism. The interior surface may define an interior cavity of the pressure vessel. The second engagement mechanism may mechanically engage the first engagement mechanism to secure the liner to the boss. An O-ring may be positioned within the first groove of the boss and abut the exterior surface of the liner. A composite overwrap may surround the liner and at least a portion of the boss.

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: Particular embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus for molding and/or curing an article. Particular embodiments of such methods include positioning a mold core centrally within mold outer portion to form an annular mold cavity between the mold outer portion and the mold core, the core including an outer ring having an outer surface for engaging the annular article, the outer ring being formed of a material capable of expanding and contracting with changes in temperature. Such methods also include heating the mold outer ring, cooling the core outer ring subsequent to the step of heating, whereby the core outer ring contracts relative to the article and removing the article from the core outer ring.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels, a green tire, once formed, is transferred into a vulcanization mold and pressed against the holding walls of a molding cavity. Concurrently with the pressing step, a fluid present between the green tire and the holding walls is evacuated through vent valves. The tire is brought into contact with the closing head of each valve so as to push it toward a closed position at which the closing head forms a contact seat spaced apart from the inner surface of the molding cavity in order to define an embedding recess between the inner surface of the molding cavity and the closing head.

Abstract: A method for controlling a phase of molding an annular fixing structure of a green tire includes: introducing the green tire into a curing mold including an inflatable bladder; delimiting at least one portion of the annular fixing structure by using a first and a second surface opposed to each other; bringing the first surface and the second surface so as to bring a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface into contact with a corresponding radially inner and axially inner surface portion and a corresponding radially inner and axially outer surface portion, respectively, the annular fixing structure generating a first squeezing pressure; inflating the inflatable bladder of the curing mould so as to bring the first and the second surfaces closer together, thus generating a second squeezing pressure in such a way as to shape the radially inner and axially inner surface portions and the radially inner and axially outer surface portions of the annular fixing structure.

Abstract: A ballistic resilient run-flat tire device, kit and method for manufacturing the same are presented for providing a vehicle a capability of traveling for at least 30 miles at 30 miles per hour, after the device has been compromised as of result of exposure due to ballistic ordinance rifle shots such as 7.62×39 mm and 7.62×54 R or air loss from road hazard punctures. The device includes a tire carcass and a polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass that defines an inflatable hollow chamber within the ballistic resilient run-flat tire. The tire carcass has an annular tread, sidewalls, and beads. The polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass defining a hollow chamber provides additional protection along the sidewalls and tread of the tire carcass. The kit includes the un-interconnected elements of the device. The method includes the steps of curing, discharging, filling, injecting, introducing, mounting, obtaining, and preparing.

Abstract: A rim 58, 83 of a post cure inflator 60 can be changed in an easy and safety manner, while the amount of energy consumption is reduced. A inflator body 61 having the lower rim 58 can be located at a lower position, and the upper rim 83 can be moved downward to a lower position. Thus, the lower rim 58 and the upper rim 83 can be changed at the lower position in response to the change of the type of the tire to be manufactured, whereby the changing operation is made easy and safety. Further, the upper rim 83 moves upward. With this configuration, a vulcanized tire T having a heavy weight only moves in a front and rear direction while being supported by the inflator 61(lower rim 58), whereby the amount of energy consumption can be reduced easily.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are disclosed for correcting one or more uniformity characteristics in a tire and particularly to correction in a low profile tire or a tire having a projection along the sidewall. The uniformity characteristic may be a radial force variation, conicity, or both. Correction is accomplished by stretching portions of the tire architecture to create permanent deformation.

Abstract: A cylindrical-shaped body is formed by mounting a carcass to the outer peripheral side of a film formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic resin elastomer composition, a primary molded body is formed by fitting bead rings on opposite width direction ends of the cylindrical-shaped body, and the primary molded body is sucked on the inner peripheral surface of a transfer and holding mold. After a rigid inner mold is inserted into the body, suction is stopped and the body is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the inner mold. Then, another tire member is stacked on the outer peripheral surface to mold a green tire. The tire, from which the inner mold was removed, is mounted inside a curing mold which is heated. The film is inflated and heated to vulcanize the tire, and bonded to the inner peripheral tire surface to form an inner layer.

Abstract: The flexible tubular moulded body (10) comprises an unprofiled or profiled straight or bent shaped and a circumferential wall (11) provided with a corrugated profile (12), which is formed from a strength support insert embedded in a thermoplastic material comprising cord surfaces running in the longitudinal direction of the moulded body as pressure support elements and fixing threads running transversely to the threads and holding these in position.

Abstract: A vulcanisation apparatus and method for tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of: placing a green tire, arranged on a toroidal support, inside a vulcanisation mold; connecting a supply device of at least one pressurised primary working fluid and a supply device of at least one pressurised secondary working fluid to the vulcanisation mold in a prevulcanisation and molding station; at least partially vulcanising a radially internal portion of the green tire on the toroidal support; transferring the mold to a vulcanisation station and completing the vulcanisation of the prevulcanised tire by supplying the at least one pressurised primary working fluid inside the toroidal support.

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 method for recovering uncured rubber from unused electron beam pre-cured rubber stock used in the manufacture of pneumatic tires. A first layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having cured rubber is skived with a band knife cutter blade from a second layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having uncured rubber. The band knife cutter blade is lubricated so as to avoid adhesion of the uncured rubber to a leading cutting edge of the cutter blade. After the first layer of cured rubber is removed from the pre-cured rubber stock, the uncured rubber in the second layer is reworked into at least one tire component.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a composite block of closed geometry, in the form of a continuous ring, based on fibers and on a crosslinkable resin, by continuous winding and superposition of several layers of a tape of reinforcement fibers embedded in a matrix based on a composition comprising a crosslinkable resin. The process comprises from upstream to downstream, the following steps: producing a rectilinear arrangement (12) of reinforcement fibers (11) and conveying this arrangement in a feed direction (F); degassing the arrangement (12) of fibers by the action of a vacuum (13); after degassing, impregnating said arrangement (12) of fibers under vacuum with said resin composition in the liquid state (17); passing the pre-preg thus obtained through a die (20) to make said pre-preg into the form of a tape (21) composed of reinforcement fibers (11) in their liquid resin (17) matrix, the thickness of said tape being less than 0.

Abstract: A method of making a device by integrally molding. The device includes an inflatable mask comprising a relatively stiff component and a relatively soft compliant flexible component. The mask is insertable, at least when deflated, through a mouth of the patient to an inserted location within a patient. The inserted location is near a laryngeal inlet of the patient. The device also includes an airway tube and an evacuation tube coupled to the mask. The relatively soft compliant flexible component of the mask is integrally formed in a single moulding operation.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition for a curing bladder comprises isobutylene based elastomer, curative and a hydrocarbon polymer modifier comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of piperylenes, cyclic pentadienes, aromatics, limonenes, pinenes, amylenes, and combinations thereof, wherein the cyclic pentadienes comprise at least 10 weight percent of the monomers by total weight of the monomers. Also disclosed are a tire curing bladder made from the elastomeric composition, a tire curing press containing the bladder, a method of making the tire curing bladder, an improvement to the process of making the tire curing bladder to improve processability of the mixture and fatigue life and DeMattia cut growth, a method of making a tire using the tire curing bladder, and an improvement to the process of making a tire to extend a pull point of the curing bladder and/or to reduce the curing time for the tire construct.

Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A recessed region may be positioned between the first region and the second region with the radial distance to the recessed region being less than the radial distances to the first and second regions.

Abstract: Methods to expand polymer tubing with desirable or optimum morphology and mechanical properties for stent manufacture and fabrication of a stent therefrom are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tyre includes: assembling an unvulcanized tyre, the tyre including a crown, a first sidewall and a first bead, a second sidewall and a second bead, and a carcass reinforcement, each bead including a seat; and vulcanizing the unvulcanized tyre in a mould having an asymmetric configuration in order to obtain a vulcanized tyre, wherein the mould is such that, when the tyre is placed in the mould, in any meridian section, the seat of the first bead has an angle ?1 with a rotation axis A and the seat of the second bead has an angle ?2 with the rotation axis A, such that ?1??23, with the angles ?1 and ?2 being expressed in degrees, with the angles ?1 and ?2 being defined, for each bead, relative to an axis Ox and Ox? parallel to the rotation axis A oriented positively towards outside of the tyre, and with the angles ?1 and ?2 being positive when extending radially outwards.

Abstract: A mold includes at least one axial member carrying at least one sidewall molding surface for molding a sidewall of a tire, radial segments each carrying at least one surface for molding a tread of the tire and locking surfaces for connecting the axial member with the radial segments. First radial and axial locking surfaces which are displaceable and carried by the axial member cooperate with second radial and axial locking surfaces. The sidewall molding surface is integral with a fixed portion of the axial member. The first radial and axial locking surfaces are integral with at least one locking member mounted in the axial member and are movable relative to the fixed portion.

Abstract: Method and device for vulcanizing vehicle tires using a heating press and a heating bladder. The method includes positioning a tire blank in the heating press, feeding steam into the heating bladder, stopping the supply of steam into the heating bladder, raising an internal pressure in the heating bladder to a predetermined setpoint value by feeding nitrogen into the heating bladder, and consistently maintaining the internal pressure of the heating bladder at the predetermined setpoint value through a pulsating input of nitrogen into the heating bladder occurring at least temporarily over a specific time.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for passenger cars has a tread and left and right beads, the beads each having a bead core embedded therein with a bead filler disposed on the outer circumferential side of the bead core, at least one carcass ply being arranged to extend between the beads, the carcass ply having reinforcing cords which extend in a width direction of the tire and are aligned at a predetermined interval along a circumferential direction of the tire, and two belt plies being disposed on the outer circumferential side of the carcass ply in the tread. An average of residual strain of the reinforcing cords of an innermost carcass ply is set to ?10% to 5% in each side region located between an outer circumferential end of the bead filler and an end of an overlapping portion of the two belt plies.

Abstract: Pressure sensors may be used to directly measure the pressure between a green tire and a curing apparatus during shaping and/or during curing.

Abstract: A method of molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes building an unvulcanized tire on a toroidal support; heating the support; pressing an inner surface of the tire against an outer surface of the support; and pressing an outer surface of the tire against walls of a molding cavity defined in a vulcanization mold. The inner surface of the tire is pressed against the outer surface by at least one secondary working fluid. The outer surface of the tire is pressed against the walls by at least one primary working fluid. The at least one primary working fluid is heated, causing vulcanization of the tire. An apparatus for molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes the vulcanization mold, at least one passage device, a feeding device, and first and second heating devices. It may also include an airtight device arranged to receive the support.

Abstract: A green tire (G) is formed by stacking a tire component such as a carcass layer (13) on a film (12) which is made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition and which is disposed on the entire outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical rigid inner die (1) formed of split parts (2). The green tire (G) is placed in a vulcanizing mold together with the rigid inner die (1) and then heated to a given temperature. The film (12) is pressurized from the inner circumferential side and inflated, and the green tire (G) is vulcanized. Thus, unvulcanized rubber of the tire components is pressed toward the inner circumferential surface of the vulcanizing mold and flows in circumferential directions. As a result, volume unevenness of the tire components is corrected. The film (12) which functions as a bladder is tightly bonded to the inner circumferential surface of the tire to become an inner layer of the tire.

Abstract: A cylindrical-shaped body is formed by mounting a carcass to the outer peripheral side of a film formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic resin elastomer composition, a primary molded body is formed by fitting bead rings on opposite width direction ends of the cylindrical-shaped body, and the primary molded body is sucked on the inner peripheral surface of a transfer and holding mold. After a rigid inner mold is inserted into the body, suction is stopped and the body is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the inner mold. Then, another tire member is stacked on the outer peripheral surface to mold a green tire. The tire, from which the inner mold was removed, is mounted inside a curing mold which is heated. The film is inflated and heated to vulcanize the tire, and bonded to the inner peripheral tire surface to form an inner layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for partial depth-wise cure of a tire inner liner are disclosed. The method comprising forming a layer of uncured rubber, that layer having a first surface and an opposite surface, applying pressure to the layer of rubber, heating the layer of rubber from the first surface to more fully cure the layer on that surface than on the opposite surface, cooling the layer of rubber and releasing the pressure applied to the layer of rubber after the layer has cooled.

Abstract: A compound plant for processing elastomeric compounds for tyres with both a high quality and a high throughput includes at least one batch mixing device in combination with at least one multi-shaft continuous mixing device having a high number of shafts. For example, the multi-shaft continuous mixing device could be a ring extruder having a plurality of co-rotating screws disposed to form a ring.

Abstract: A system for curing tires that does not require a traditional bladder is described. The system disclosed has top and bottom assembly rings that are coupled to modified mold rings. The bottom assembly ring has a curing medium delivery system, which has ports and a diverter that disperses the curing medium thereby reducing the momentum of the curing medium striking a liner of the tire being cured. The system is adapted for easy installation to existing center post presses.

Abstract: A computer based detecting system that detects a defective tire assembly during the curing process is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of temperature sensors connected to a processor of the computer system and further connected to each hose that is connected between a tire assembly inside an autoclave, and an external manifold of the autoclave. The processor receives data input from each of the temperature sensors and decodes the data to determine the current temperature of each sensor and simultaneously calculates the average temperature of all the temperature sensors connected. The processor compares the temperature reading of each station with the average temperature and notifies should the difference between the temperature average and temperature sensor reading equal or is greater than a selected temperature deviation.

Abstract: A green tire disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mold. The mold is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tire. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tire tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tire against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full molding and vulcanisation of the tire carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tire itself.

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: Method of applying a layer of material (25, 26) to the inner wall of a cycle tyre (20) in the form of a torus, with an inner wall (28) and an outer wall (29) and having a crown (22) extended by two sidewalls (21), two beads (23a, 23b) and two bead wires (30a, 30b) placed in said beads, said tyre having a given nominal inflation pressure, which comprises the following steps: the tyre (20) is turned inside-out so as to bring the inner wall (28) to the outside of the torus and the outer wall (29) to the inside of the torus; the outer torus wall (29) of the tyre is extended by applying an internal inflation pressure to said outer wall (29) above the nominal inflation pressure of said tyre; the layer of material (25, 26) is applied to the inner wall (28) of the tyre (20); and the tyre (20) is turned inside-out so as to bring the inner wall (28) and the outer wall (29) back into their initial positions.

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: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A bladder is made to be expandable and contractible at a vulcanization position within a lower mold assembly and to be expandable and contractible also at a tire delivery position which is spaced a predetermined distance from the vulcanization position along a center axis of the lower mold assembly. With a centering shaft passing through an upper mold, the bladder and the lower mold assembly, a green tire loaded into the tire delivery position is held by the bladder by expanding the bladder and is loaded by the bladder into the lower mold assembly. After a vulcanization processing, the bladder removes the vulcanized tire from the vulcanization position to the delivery position, and after the centering shaft is drawn out from the lower mold assembly and the bladder, the bladder is contracted at the delivery position to make it possible to release the vulcanized tire from the bladder.

Abstract: A method, a bladder and an apparatus for shaping and curing a tire, wherein the bladder has two weakened regions corresponding to the shoulder regions of the tire when the bladder is expanded in the cavity of the tire. Upon inflation of the bladder and its expansion in the tire, the bladder contacts first the inner surface of the cavity at the bead regions and progressively the sidewalls, the shoulders and then the center of the tire. The weakened regions are designed to stretch more under a given tension than the remaining regions in order to allow a progressive contact movement of the lateral regions of the bladder with the sidewalls with very little tension and relative movement between the lateral regions of the bladder and the sidewalls of the tire.

Abstract: A mold includes at least one axial member carrying at least one sidewall molding surface for molding a sidewall of a tire, radial segments each carrying at least one surface for molding a tread of the tire and locking surfaces for connecting the axial member with the radial segments. First radial and axial locking surfaces which are displaceable and carried by the axial member cooperate with second radial and axial locking surfaces. The sidewall molding surface is integral with a fixed portion of the axial member. The first radial and axial locking surfaces are integral with at least one locking member mounted in the axial member and are movable relative to the fixed portion.

Abstract: A green tire (G) is formed by stacking a tire component such as a carcass layer (13) on a film (12) which is made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition and which is disposed on the entire outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical rigid inner die (1) formed of split parts (2). The green tire (G) is placed in a vulcanizing mold together with the rigid inner die (1) and then heated to a given temperature. The film (12) is pressurized from the inner circumferential side and inflated, and the green tire (G) is vulcanized. Thus, unvulcanized rubber of the tire components is pressed toward the inner circumferential surface of the vulcanizing mold and flows in circumferential directions. As a result, volume unevenness of the tire components is corrected. The film (12) which functions as a bladder is tightly bonded to the inner circumferential surface of the tire to become an inner layer of the tire.

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: Process for molding and vulcanizing a tire, in which a tire blank is placed in a curing press including a mold intended to form the outer shape of the tire, and a pressing member for transmitting the molding pressure and the heat needed to vulcanize the internal portion of the tire blank. A removable elastic membrane, which includes perforations passing completely therethrough, is interposed, during the molding and the vulcanizing step, between the inner surface of the tire and the pressing member, so as to form, by the constituent material of the internal wall of the tire flowing into the perforations, noise-attenuating protuberances distributed over the internal surface of the tire.

Abstract: The mold for molding a tire has the contact part 42 that contacts with the end surface in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces and the non-contact part 44 that does not contact with the end surface in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces at the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the piece 30 in the segments right after the mold of the cycle of the tire molding process in which the opening and closure of the mold are repeated is closed, and the non-contact part 44 is present in the inner side of the tire radial direction, the contact part 42 is present outside of the tire radial direction than the non-contact part, and right before the mold in the cycle of the tire molding process is opened, the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the piece 30 in the segments contacts with the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces in the non-contact part 44.

Abstract: The shapes of the upper tire bead Bu and the lower tire bead Bl of a green tire G and the axial distance between the tire beads Bu and Bl are corrected in a short work time. The green tire G is placed in horizontal attitude on a green tire support table 3 provided with a lower tire bead correcting unit 10. Radially movable pressing members 13 included in the lower tire bead correcting unit 10 are engaged with the inner side of the lower tire bead Bl of the green tire G and stoppers 29 of the upper tire bead correcting unit 20 are engaged with the inner side of the upper tire bead Bu of the green tire G placed on the green tire support table 3. The pressing members 13 of the lower tire bead correcting unit 10 are moved radially outward to shape the lower tire bead Bl into a completely round shape of a predetermined diameter.

Abstract: A green pneumatic tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to the inner shape of a tyre. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle. During vulcanisation, axial moving apart of side portions of the toroidal support is caused so as to press the beads and sidewalls of the tyre against the vulcanisation mould.

Abstract: Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and a part line of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first region and the part line. A first radial distance from the axis to the first region may exceed a second radial distance from the axis to the second region by at least a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of moulding and curing tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of disposing a tire being processed on a toroidal support, enclosing the tire and the toroidal support inside a moulding cavity defined in a vulcanization mould, pressing the outer surface of the tire against the moulding cavity walls, and administering heat to the tire to cause molecular crosslinking of the tire. The pressing step includes the steps of compressing side portions of the tire between the moulding cavity walls and the outer surface of the toroidal support, concurrently with the closing step, and imposing an expansion to a radially-outer portion of the tire to bring the radially-outer portion of the tire against the walls of the moulding cavity.

Abstract: A green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to an inner conformation of the tyre. The built tyre is removed from the rigid toroidal support and engaged on an expandable toroidal support which includes a bladder. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle.

Abstract: An expandable bladder for manufacturing pneumatic tyres is used in combination with a vulcanisation apparatus including, for example, a mould having a plurality of sidewall plates and tread sectors that, when the mould is closed, delimit a moulding cavity suitable for housing the green pneumatic tyre to be cured. The expandable bladder includes an elastomeric material obtained by curing an elastomeric composition which includes at least one butyl rubber and at least one compound having at least one double bond and an at least partially fluorinated alkyl or polyoxyalkylene chain.

Abstract: A green tyre is built on a forming drum and then transferred to a bead moulding and pre-vulcanisation station where each bead of the tyre is moulded 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-vulcanised through heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the axially external annular locating elements. The tyre with the tightened and possibly pre-vulcanised beads is transferred to a moulding cavity having an inner wall substantially conforming to the shape of an outer surface of the moulded tyre to carry out moulding and complete vulcanisation of the tyre.