Abstract: Pre-filled mortar packages are positioned between masonry construction elements (such as stones, blocks or bricks) when forming a wall (such as a dry-stack stone wall). Each mortar package includes an outer covering with a porous outer surface, a mortar mixture covered by the outer covering, and (optionally) an adhesive incorporated onto or in the porous outer surface. Both the adhesive and the mortar mixture are activated by a liquid, such as water. The mortar packages may be pre-wetted and placed on masonry construction elements when stacking the masonry construction elements. Alternatively, the mortar packages may be dry when placed on masonry construction elements, and activated by applying water or by wetting from rain water. Mortar packages are more convenient and efficient than adhesives or mortar alone, and create walls and other structures with increased strength and improved aesthetics.

Abstract: A process for preparing an oligosaccharide derivative from an oligosaccharide mixture, the process being characterized in that the process comprises the steps of (a) introducing a lipophilic group into oligosaccharides of the mixture to obtain a mixture of oligosaccharide derivatives, and (b) treating the oligosaccharide derivative mixture by serotonin affinity column chromatography.

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: An improved autoclave for curing retread tires includes a chamber with circulating air flow having turbulence generating devices located in a middle length-wise portion of the chamber. The turbulence generating devices include apertures to guide air from a supply duct into the chamber, and/or wedge-shaped elements or fins mounted on the interior wall of the chamber to disrupt the air flow and cause turbulence.

Abstract: An improved autoclave for curing retread tires includes a chamber with circulating air flow having turbulence generating devices located in a middle lengthwise portion of the chamber. The turbulence generating devices include apertures to guide air from a supply duct into the chamber, and/or wedge-shaped elements or fins mounted on the interior wall of the chamber to disrupt the air flow and cause turbulence.

Abstract: A recapping shop concluding a plurality of work stations for preparing tires to be recapped, an autoclave having a horizontal axis for vulcanizing the new treads, a first transport system for transferring the tires between the various stations and for storing them and a second transport system for transferring the tires into the autoclave, out of it and for storing them, characterized in that the first and second transport systems have a common transfer and storage structure.

Abstract: An autoclave for retreading and/or repairing pneumatic tires by vulcanization, including a cylindrical container with an opening located at one end provided with a closure element, and a plurality of individual units carrying tires for vulcanization, to each unit there being connected a compressed air source and a vacuum-generating air evacuation source by a series of respective pipes extending between cover portions enclosing each tire and the compressed air and vacuum-generating evacuation sources. The tire-carrying units are movable between a position external to and a position within the container along a runway suspended from the container roof. The pipes being flexible hoses and are connectable to a fixed first connector-half positioned in proximity to a closed end wall of the container, using a movable second connector-half positioned at one of their ends when all the tire-carrying units have been completely inserted into the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling tires to be placed in a vulcanizing machine--particularly for retreading the tread or the whole tire--and for the removal of the tire from the machine, comprises: a housing developed along and behind the front of a set of such machines. The housing has a conveyor and slide rails. A carriage is movable on the rails so that it can reach transfer positions near each of the machines. An arm with a plurality of sections and having several degrees of freedom include a drawing device to engage the upper rim of a tire in horizontal position, to transfer it from an open mold on to the conveyor, and to transfer it from a drawing position as far as the open mold of a machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating pressure vessels used in the tire retreading and tire repairing industry which includes a plurality of heat exchangers in the form of plate coils associated with the pressure vessel with steam being circulated through the plate coils for heating the pressure vessel to a temperature required for vulcanizing rubber. Steam is supplied from a boiler and returned to a condensate return tank through valves and traps in order to provide a closed loop system with the steam being produced by the boiler passing through steam lines into the upper end portions of the plate coils which are attached to the pressure vessel, either interiorly or exteriorly, in a manner to radiate heat into the insulated pressure vessel in order to raise the temperature interiorly of the vessel to that required for vulcanizing rubber.

Abstract: The present invention covers the method and apparatus to retread tire casings using a precured tread system where an envelope or flexible fluid tight member is used to cover a retread tire casing assembly and then placed in an autoclave where the autoclave is pressurized and a reduced differential pressure is provided between the envelope member and the precured tread. This invention includes the automatic pressurizing of the system and the monitoring of the system during operation as a total system and/or for individual curing stations.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a tire retreading machine which includes a chamber adapted to receive therein a plurality of stacked tires adapted to be retreaded therein, the chamber having an inner surface, and inwardly therefrom there being a radiant heater, a porous or perforated shield, and an imperforate or nonporous shield with the latter being axially shorter than the former and both shields being spaced from a bottom surface of the chamber such that upon heat being generated by the radiant heater, hot air convection currents are set up within the chamber flowing generally upwardly adjacent the chamber inner surface and flowing generally downwardly between the imperforate shield and tires within the chamber to create substantially uniform curing or retreading temperature throughout the chamber, lessening temperature gradients or hot spots, and also allowing radiant heat to pass through a lower portion of the porous shield adjacent the bottom surface of the chamber to augment temperature uniformity thro

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for securing a pre-cured tread to a tire during vulcanization to retread the tire, a sealing grid having annular rings disposed thereon to contact the sides of an envelope disposed about the tread and against the sides of the tire to cause a seal therebetween wherein said grids are easily joinable to effect such seal without the need of the tire being mounted on a rim or being inflated.

Abstract: A cold recapping method using a rubber bonding composition on each of a group of tires and a precured tread strip wrapped around each tire has each tire mounted on a rim and enclosed in a flexible curing envelope which extends radially inwardly over the sidewalls of the tire. The group of tires is assembled in side by side relationship with the envelopes held between the sidewalls of adjacent tires.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is shown for simultaneously retreading all of the tires in a stack of rubber tires that have been placed in an autoclave or the like. Each of the tires is covered respectively with a precured tread and enclosing envelope having a U-shaped cross section that surrounds the periphery of the tire to be retreaded, the inner edges of the respective envelopes being pressed to seal against the rims or shoulders of the tires. Proper sealing of the edges of the U-shaped envelopes against the sides of the tires is effected by compressing the stack against a back-up means adjustably supported on and locked in position on a post that extends centrally through the stack. The improved means for producing compression in the tire stack includes an inflatable tire means that surrounds the post to press the stack against the back-up means.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a novel method of and apparatus for utilizing dry pulverulent heated material for curing a tire by positioning a tire encased in a pervious cover within a chamber, filling the chamber with dry pulverulent heated material, utilizing adjustable heating panels in exterior surrounding relationship to the pulverulent material within the chamber to heat the pulverulent material and thus cure the tire, and providing a circulation system for the pulverulent material for feeding the same into and removing the same from the chamber.

Abstract: Tire casings are retreaded with precured tread strips in a heated pressure vessel provided with pressure connections which effect simultaneous inflation of the tires and pressurization of the vessel while maintaining tire pressure above vessel pressure. Subsequently a pressure relief system permits the tires to exhaust faster than the vessel. Each tire is prepared for retreading by applying a bonding medium between the tire periphery and the retread strip and wrapping the resulting assembly with a fluid impervious flexible cover. Tread stabilization rings, wick material and non-stick polymer film may be inserted between the tread strip and the cover.

Abstract: Material-handling apparatus is illustrated in a tire-recapping plant where tires of various sizes are automatically fed to a cluster of recapping machines by a feed conveyor in proper sequence for loading each machine with a tire of the proper type and size. The tire is automatically centered for engagement by the gripping arms of a transfer apparatus which transfers the tire from the feed conveyor to the proper recapping machine. At the completion of the recapping operation in each machine, the recapped tire is picked up by the transfer mechanism and is deposited on the dicharge conveyor, and the transfer mechanism then automatically reloads the machine with a tire of the proper size and type which is centered on the feed conveyor. The machine is controlled automatically to eliminate manual handling of the tires in the immediate vicinity of the recapping machine.

Abstract: A plurality of solid tires are retreaded simultaneously in a stacked configuration in an autoclave or the like. Each tire periphery is provided with a U-shaped cover which engages and seals with the rims or shoulders of the tire. The sealing is effected by placing rigid plates between tires and compressing the stack vertically with an internal tension device, the edges of the envelopes being compressed between the plates and the respective tire rims or shoulders.

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

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a mold particularly adapted for applying pre-cured tread rubber to a tire, the mold including a pair of generally annular mold bodies which collectively define a chamber adapted to receive a tire, the mold bodies being capable of relative axial adjustment whereby axial dimensions of the chamber may be varied to accomodate tires of different widths, an annular band for locking the mold bodies to each other at a particular position of axial relative adjustment, and axially shiftable means for maintaining the mold bodies at a desired position of relative axial adjustments.Preferably an annular resilient rubber or like envelope surrounds the tire as well as its sidewalls to prevent steam or an equivalent heating medium from permeating between the tire and the pre-cured rubber glue thereto.

Abstract: A kettle having a chamber sealed from the ambient atmosphere and designed to receive a plurality of tires retreaded with precured treads. Steam and air are supplied to the chamber in such a way that they are thoroughly mixed within the chamber to eliminate any hot or cold spots previously encountered in devices wherein the steam and air are each supplied to the chamber through a single inlet.

Abstract: For quick release of a press type insert positioned at variable heights within a cylindrical open ended container, a set of peripheral quick release clamps is positioned around the outer rim of the container. Each clamp has a frame member affixed to the container and a single pivoted arm that pivotably moves from a release position outside the cylinder walls to an engaged position in forcible contact with the insert within the open end of the container. A quick release action is provided by a manually removable single retainer pin inserted in the engaged position. Balance of the forces about the insert and the force is adjustable by means of an adjustable screw threaded through the pivotable member to bear upon the insert.

Abstract: A mould for curing covered pneumatic tires, includes a tubular drum, provided with an intermediate partition wall subdividing the interior of the drum into two chambers having annular configurations which are internally bounded by a tubular member having axial length substantially equal to that of the drum, each of the chambers being closed by a door hinged to said drum and having an annular interior recess configuration.

Abstract: Material-handling apparatus is illustrated in a tire-recapping plant where tires of various sizes are automatically fed to a cluster of recapping machines by a feed conveyor in proper sequence for loading each machine with a tire of the proper type and size. The tire is automatically centered for engagement by the gripping arms of a transfer apparatus which transfers the tire from the feed conveyor to the proper recapping machine. At the completion of the recapping operation in each machine, the recapped tire is picked up by the transfer mechanism and is deposited on the discharge conveyor, and the transfer mechanism then automatically reloads the machine with a tire of the proper size and type which is centered on the feed conveyor. The machine is controlled automatically to eliminate manual handling of the tires in the immediate vicinity of the recapping machine.