Abstract: A sculpting tool is provided for use in sculpting shapeable mass, such as common beach sand, snow, soft dirt or soft clay. The tool has first and second sculpting heads, each sculpting head having a pair of oppositely-facing cutting elements for cutting into the shapeable mass. The tool also has an elongate shaft or handle extending between the sculpting heads. Each cutting element is serrated so that a user may use the tool to produce patterns in the granular material. Preferably, each cutting element has a different serration pattern, thereby providing the user with four different patterns with which to sculpt. In addition, each sculpting head defines a pair of opposite cup-like structures such that a user may scoop and/or move a portion of the shapeable mass.

Abstract: By mixing a hydrophilic polymer into an elastomer matrix, elastomers loaded with hydrophilic polymer are prepared which have unique properties. In the illustrated method, a hydrophilic polymer is mixed with an elastomer base polymer. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic polymer forms fibers in a resulting elastomeric matrix. A base elastomer matrix interspersed with hydrophilic polymer made according to the invention can be used in reinforced elastomeric products such as tires.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and a novel method for manufacturing an endless rubber track for large vehicles such as tractors or earth-moving machines. A plurality of sprocket-engaging core bar inserts are disposed in the inner portion or inner diameter of the endless rubber track to engage the power drive mechanism of the vehicle. Rubber tread is disposed on the outer portion or external diameter of the rubber track. Although the rubber track is made in segments, it is completely vulcanized, and does not have discontinuous, unvulcanized regions between vulcanized segments. Rubber track is formed using at least two different mold assemblies. In the first mold assembly, the interior and exterior portions of the rubber track are molded onto a green belt to form a first segment, and a central portion of the segment is vulcanized.

Abstract: A radially expandable and contractible rim used to secure an annular elastomeric sealing ring to a tire bead during retreading of a tire.

Abstract: A die changer truck for use with a tire vulcanizer, including a self-propelled chassis adapted to halt in front of the tire vulcanizer, a swiveling table rotatably mounted on the self-propelled chassis, two mounting sections for respectively mounting two die assemblies, and two carrier units for respectively carrying two bladder assemblies. The two mounting sections and the two carrier units are provided as two sets on the swiveling table. The two sets are selectively positioned by rotation of the swiveling table. Accordingly, the carriage and change of not only the die assemblies but also the bladder assemblies with respect to the tire vulcanizer can be automated.

Abstract: A product and process for imparting decorative appliques to the sidewalls of tires during the curing operation are presented. A spool of applique composite material is maintained for feeding into a tire mold or onto a transfer device, thereby defining a ring for vulcanization to a tire. The applique consists of a laminate received upon a carrier, the laminate having a first barrier layer and a congruent second decorative layer. The laminate is received by a tire sidewall between two grooves which serve to isolate the decorative layer from the tire itself.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a strip of white rubber which is added to the otherwise black tire sidewall. The strip is molded separately from the other tire components and is added to the unvulcanized tire at the tire curing press. The strip is pressed into a recess in the sidewall forming surface of the upper tire mold half by a carrier ring which swings into the tire press with the green tire loader. The strip of white rubber is then affixed to the tire during molding of the tire.

Abstract: A method to increase and enhance tire mold height capability of various mechanical tire presses. The method accomplishes mold hold enhancement without imparting appreciable jarring and vibration during press operation. For presses with crank pins pressed into crank gears, the method utilizes removal of the existing crank pin and replacement with an eccentric pin thereby effectively reducing the distance of crank throw by a certain predetermined amount. Side link length is enhanced by a corresponding amount with the result being the repositioning of the press beam by an amount equal to a total of the foregoing. Thereafter, a tire mold of that enhanced height may be accommodated between the beam and base members of the press.

Abstract: A vulcanizing mold setting apparatus for setting a vulcanizing mold assembly (21) on the platen (6) of a tire vulcanizing apparatus (1) comprises: a mold transfer mechanism (54) comprising a mold carriage (49) for horizontally moving the vulcanizing mold assembly (21) to and away from the tire vulcanizing machine (1), a pair of guide units (41) disposed respectively on the opposite sides of the platen (6), and a pair of mold supporting units (24) disposed respectively on the opposite sides of the platen (6) behind the guide units (41) to support the vulcanizing mold assembly (21) above the platen (6); a pair of lifting mechanisms (27) for vertically moving the mold supporting units (24) to place the vulcanizing mold on the platen (6); a centering mechanism (29) for centering the vulcanizing mold assembly (21) on the platen (6); and clamping members (26) for fastening the fixed mold (7) of the vulcanizing mold assembly (21 ) to the platen (6) after the vulcanizing mold assembly (21) has been centered on the pl

Abstract: A method of blending a hydrophilic polymer into an elastomer matrix, and products made thereby, are provided. In the illustrated method, a hydrophilic polymer is mixed with an elastomeric base polymer. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic polymer forms fibers in a resulting elastomeric matrix. An elastomeric matrix interspersed with hydrophilic polymer made according to the invention can be used in reinforced elastomeric products such as tires.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming curing envelopes which apparatus enables the use of a conventional inner tube mold for making a curing envelope preform in the form of an envelope tube which may have a portion thereof easily removed to provide a curing envelope suitable for use in a tire retreading process. A curing envelope is made by placing an annular tube of uncured envelope material in a curing mold having a center core and a mold insert installed therein. The insert includes a pair of coaxial annular rings projecting radially outwardly from the center core and connecting straps for maintaining the axial spacing between the rings. The mold is closed and heat and internal pressure are applied to the envelope tube for curing the envelope tube and urging the tube against the interior cavity surface with the annular rings penetrating into the inner wall of the tube for forming therein corresponding annular grooves.

Abstract: A curing station wherein a fixed frame and a slide traveling on the fixed frame, support respective portions of a curing device for an annular forming mold of a green tire. The mold is gripped axially between the two portions of the curing device and is in contact with axial heating plates on the aforementioned portions. The curing station presents a heating jacket defined by two semicylindrical heating plates which are movable to and from a closed position contacting the lateral surface of the mold.

Abstract: Vulcanizing apparatus including a sealable vulcanizing vessel having an access cover on the top thereof, and a mold to be inserted in the vulcanizing vessel. The length of a rubber sleeve provided to cover the unvulcanized rubber belt molding A formed over the external circumference of the mold is sized a little longer than the height of the mold so that both ends of the rubber sleeve when placed in covering position protrude slightly from both the top and bottom ends of the mold. A holding seat is provided in the lower part of the vulcanizing vessel, and a pressing seat corresponding to the holding seat is provided on the access cover via a cylinder unit so that the pressing seat can be extended and retracted as required. The inner structures of both the pressing seat and holding seat include cooling jackets.

Abstract: A green tire forming apparatus has a driving section (2) and a forming section (1) supported by a shaft extended from the driving section (2). A center former section (10) of the forming section (1) has a pair of first former elements (11A), (11B) and a pair of second former elements (12A), (12B) arranged at the outside of the first former elements so as to be movable in an axial direction. The total width of the center former section can be shortened to about one fourth of the maximum. According to the apparatus, during green carcass formation, the width of the center former section (10) can be set as the required one, and during toroidal shaping, the width can be shortened to about one fourth of the maximum, whereby a distance (BW.sub.3) between beads can be made close to that of a metal mold. As a result, generation of wrinkles during tire formation is largely decreased and tire quality can be improved.

Abstract: A hand held utensil has a blade with an arcuate working edge and radially spaced concave and convex surfaces. The utensil has a grip which is axially spaced from the arcuate edge and has a convex surface which is grasped by the hand of a user for manipulating the blade. The convex surface of the blade and the convex surface of the grip have congruent spherical curvature with spaced apart centers of curvature. The grip comprises a volume of wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable material which conforms to the space bounded by a pair of intersected eccentric spheres which each have a radius equal to the radii of curvature of the blade and the grip.

Abstract: A vulcanizing apparatus including a cylindrical vulcanizing drum for winding and molding unvulcanized rubber belt materials thereover, the vulcanizing drum being removably and rotatably supported on a transfer mechanism. A pair of endless pressurizing bands are arranged to oppose each other with the vulcanizing drum between, the pressurizing bands arcuately surrounding and pressing the corresponding portions of the circumferential surface of the vulcanizing drum. While the circumferential surface of the vulcanizing drum is heated inside, and the respective pressurizing bands are opposingly pressed against the vulcanizing drum, the respective pressurizing bands are synchronously rotated so as to turn the vulcanizing drum and continuously vulcanize the unvulcanized rubber belt molding on the drum.

Abstract: A process for making from a mold segment blank (11) a metal tire mold (10) having a tread contour surface (15) corresponding to the outer circumference of a tire to be molded and having a plurality of finished projections (16, 17) on the tire tread contour surface having sides oriented substantially normal to the tire tread contour thereat, comprising the steps of generating a three-dimensional representation of the tread contour surface and the finished projections, machining an electrode (35) for electric discharge machining apparatus having slots (42, 43) of greater dimensions than the finished projections for forming initial projections of greater dimensions than the finished projections, mounting the electrode and the mold segment blank in the electric discharge machining apparatus, generating an electric discharge between the electrode and the mold segment blank, effecting relative motion between the electrode and the mold segment blank substantially radially of the mold segment blank for forming the in

Abstract: A vehicle tire loading-unloading and stabilizing device having a mobile loading-unloading unit designed to enter inside a tire curing unit for receiving a cured tire on an upper unit and, at the same time, releasing onto the curing unit a green tire loaded on a suspension unit located beneath and integral with the upper unit; the upper unit being a stabilizing unit enabling the cured tire to be inflated by means of a pressurized fluid, and to be cooled from the inside by forced circulation of the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A tire mold having relatively reciprocable first and second mold halves is provided with a heat shield which includes first and second relatively reciprocable shield members. One of these shield members is fixedly secured to one of the mold halves; the other shield member is fixedly secured to the other mold half. The shield members are spaced from the mold halves so that they enclose a space which surrounds the mold halves. A vacuum tight seal between the shield members is provided. A nipple which is adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum extends through one of the shield members so that the space enclosed by the shield members can be placed under vacuum, thereby inhibiting heat transfer to the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus. Heat transfer is further inhibited by the thin reflective chrome plate layer on the inside wall surfaces of both heat shield members. Preferably the mold halves are arranged one above the other and each is secured to a platen.

Abstract: A tire mold having an upper half, a lower half, and a hinged segmented center ring mounted on the lower half. The center ring has an upper register between the ring and the upper mold half and a lower register between the center ring and the lower mold half to support the center ring during molding. The lower register is provided by engagement of an inclined surface on the center ring with a lower register surface on a ring flange positioned between the hinge axis of each center ring segment and the inclined surface of the segment. The hinge axis is positioned below a lower split plane between the lower mold half and center ring. The height of the ring flange and the inclination of the lower register surface is selected to provide for swinging movement of the center ring segments with the least interference between the center ring and the tire tread during opening of the mold and to provide the maximum support of the center ring segments during molding of a tire.

Abstract: A tire curing device in which a mold defines a toroidal chamber for accommodating a tire to be cured, and constituting a portion of a closed circuit along which a batch charge of a heat exchange fluid is force circulated, the fluid being heated by a heating unit provided with extractable internal axial electrical resistors, and lapped externally by the fluid from the toroidal chamber with the heating unit being mounted axially through an upper portion of a first tubular body, and axially engaging a second tubular body coaxial with the first tubular body; the tubular bodies defining there between a delivery conduit for the fluid to the toroidal chamber being defined between the second tubular body and the heating unit, the reistors of which are accessible externally through the upper portion of the first tubular body.

Abstract: A tire curing device wherein an upper half mold and a lower half mold define a toroidal chamber for accommodating a tire to be cured and constituting a portion of a closed circuit for a batch charge of a heat exchange fluid, the tire being cured by circulating the fluid along the circuit by means of an impeller device; the fluid being heated by a heating device as it flows along a return conduit having an annular section increasing towards the impeller device and coaxial and aligned with the annular inlet of the same; the fluid being fed to the toroidal chamber along a delivery conduit having an annular section and so shaped as to exert at least on compression-expansion action on the fluid.

Abstract: In a tire mold having a pair of mold parts separable about cooperating surfaces of the respective mold parts which define a parting line region, each of the mold parts includes a surface defining at least a portion of a cavity for shaping a tire. The tire mold further includes a plurality of pockets for defining a respective plurality of circumferentially arranged tread elements in the tire. The improvement comprises a vacuum source in fluid communication with the cavity of the tire mold for evacuating fluid from the cavity in the tire mold through a space located between the surfaces of the mold parts which define the parting line region. A vent fluidly connects a pair of adjacent pockets. A passage associated with one of the mold parts provides fluid communication between the vacuum source and one of the pair of adjacent pockets connected by the vent.

Abstract: An apparatus for vulcanizing elastomer product including separate passages to supply the heating and pressurizing medium through respective blow supply nozzles with the heating medium being blown to a lower portion of the vulcanizing chamber and the pressurizing medium being blown to an upper portion of the vulcanizing chamber.

Abstract: In a vulcanizing apparatus of the two-piece mold type, an upper cover surrounding the upper mold section is fixed to an upper sealing plate under an upper platen and a lower cover is fixed below the upper cover through a flexible seal tube, the upper and lower covers being connected by a plurality of air cylinders to urge the lower cover downward. In a vulcanizing apparatus of the segmental mold type, a jacket ring surrounding the upper mold section is fixed on an upper sealing plate under an upper platen, an upper cover surrounding the jacket ring is fixed to the sealing plate, and a lower cover is fixed below the upper cover through a fleixble seal tube, the upper and lower covers being connected by a plurality of air cylinders to urge the lower cover downward.

Abstract: Upon the opening of this sector mold 30, the rods 43, which penetrate into recesses 39 which are pierced through plates 37, assure purely radial mold removal by producing a pull on the sectors 30. This arrangement is compatible with a subsequent swinging of the sectors 30.

Abstract: An apparatus for vulcanizing an elastomeric product includes a mold in which the elastomeric product to be vulcanized is disposed, a piston gland having a first supply passage for supplying a heating medium, and an annular junction chamber. The first supply passage communicates with the interior of the junction chamber. The junction chamber has an outer wall which separates the junction chamber from the interior of the product, and a nozzle in the outer wall directs heating medium from the junction chamber into the interior of the product in a downward direction toward the lower portion of the product. An enclosure overlies the junction chamber. The piston gland has a second supply passage for supplying a pressurizing medium which communicates with the enclosure to supply pressurizing medium to the enclosure, the pressurizing medium passing from the enclosure to the interior of the product.

Abstract: An expandable annular envelope sealing device for manually sealing a curing envelope between an outer annular portion and the bead of a tire to be retreaded in an autoclave. This envelope sealing device includes two opposed, expandable semicircular half-rings and either a toggle-actuated sealing lever or, preferably, a turnbuckle sealing lever for fine tuning adjustment of the expansion of the half-rings.

Abstract: Sealing rings for use with an outer curing envelope to retread a tire. Each ring includes an outwardly opening annular channel member having a base portion molded to conform to the contour of the tire bead, and an annular outer flange portion having an enlarged sealing rib for underlapping the outer curing envelope at the outer side of the tire casing near it maximum width. Two rings are required, one on each side of the tire casing, to form with the outer curing envelope a complete seal enclosure around the outside tire.

Abstract: The known tire vulcanizing machine of the type in which upper and lower bolsters are disposed within a frame, upper and lower metal molds are respectively fixedly secured to the upper and lower bolsters, and a press mechanism for bringing the upper and lower metal molds into tight contact with each other under a pressure is disposed between the frame and either one of the bolsters, is improved so that a green tire loaded in the machine can be visually inspected up until just before the upper and lower metal molds come into tight contact with each other. In one preferred embodiment, a vertically movable pressure-receiving plate having a polygonal shape is rotatable between short-sized position in which it can vertically pass through a space between upper beams and a long-sized position in which it cannot vertically pass through the same. A rotary drive is provided for rotating the pressure-receiving plate about its center.

Abstract: A bladderless tire-curing press has upper and lower pressing disks cooperating with upper and lower bead rings. The pressing disks have circumferentially continuous outer surfaces engaging the beads and bounded inwardly by axial projections with conical centering surfaces which engage in recesses in the bead rings. The bead rings have projections engaging in grooves between the projections of the disks.

Abstract: A split tire mold having a tread ring in which provision is made for venting air circumferentially across the inner surface of the tread ring so that the air escapes from the parting line of the mold halves, dispenses with widely used, conventional, radially protruding vent stubs. The air is vented through "butterfly-shaped" or "double-wedge-shaped" arch-vents which provide passage for trapped air above each tread block of the tread as it is moved against the inner surface of the tread ring. The shape of the arch-vent passages and the angulation of the wedges is critical to the effectiveness of the arch-vent which forms an arch-vent bridge of cured rubber in a cured tire. The configuration of the bridge allows as cured tire to be easily removed from the mold cavity without leaving a broken-off piece of the rubber bridge to plug the arch-vents. This arch-vent design leaves unobtrusive flat-sided, narrow wedge-shaped pieces of rubber as the arch-vent stubs, tapered in two directions.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a jacket used in the formation/curing of transmission belts. Such a jacket typically has a substantially cylindrical surface which is engaged with assembled belt components during a curing process therefor. The improvement resides in the provision of vent structure for allowing air to escape from between the cylindrical surface on the belt forming jacket and assembled belt components during a curing process.

Abstract: A vented tire mold is provided that includes a segment member that has a surface that forms the tread surface of a tire and has integrally formed thereon projecting ribs. These ribs have side surfaces that extend perpendicular or at an angle to the surface of the segment member and serve to form a corresponding profiling in the tread surface of the tire. At least one venting gap having specific dimensions is formed in the segment member and extends along a line of intersection between the surface of the segment member and the side surface of the rib.

Abstract: A mold for curing a green tire which is made of an elastomeric material capable of flowing prior to curing. The mold includes a surface defining a cavity in the mold for receiving the green tire. A passage communicates the cavity with the exterior of the mold. A vent plug is located in the passage. The vent plug has an opening extending therethrough communicating the cavity with the passage. Elastomeric material may flow into the opening to form a projection extending from the tire as the green tire is pressed against the surface defining the cavity during a molding operation. The vent plug has a portion extending into the cavity a predetermined distance from the surface to form a recess in the tire adjacent the projection. The recess provides a space that the projection may deflect into to prevent shearing off of the projection during removal of the tire from the mold.

Abstract: Apparatus for vulcanizing an elastomeric product includes separate passageways for supplying a heating medium to a lower portion of the vulcanizing chamber and an inert gas pressurizing medium to the upper portion of the chamber. The mixing of the fluids minimizes the temperature difference in the inner space of the product and ensures a uniform vulcanization.

Abstract: A system for curing a green tire made from elastomeric material includes a tire mold with a surface defining a cavity for shaping the tire. A plurality of vent passages communicate the cavity with the exterior of the tire mold. An inflatable bladder presses the tire against the surface defining the cavity for a predetermined time in response to fluid pressurization. A fluid pressure source pressurizes the bladder. A conduit communicates the fluid pressure source with the bladder. A restrictor member is located in the conduit for restricting the rate of increase of fluid pressure in the bladder to a predetermined rate of increase during the first one-third of the predetermined time. During the first one-third of the predetermined cure time, portions of the tire adjacent the plurality of vent passages cure and restrict the flow of other uncured portions of elastomeric material into the vent passages.

Abstract: A tire press for vulcanizing a tire includes two rotationally symmetrical vulcanizing tools which are situated inside the tire in the working position thereof and which have a tool diameter greater than the diameter of the tire. The tire press further includes an apparatus for introducing the tire into the tire press. The apparatus has a carrier; a moving and guiding mechanism for displacing the carrier parallel to the press axis and also in a plane perpendicular to the press axis between a tire-receiving position and a position at the vulcanizing tools; an auxiliary frame mounted on the carrier to be pivotal with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to the press axis; and a tool mounted on the auxiliary frame for grasping one of the two tire beads.

Abstract: In a tire vulcanizer, a single long-stroke cylinder is mounted at the central position of a top frame, and is supported to a mounting frame fixedly mounted on the top frame rather than being fixed directly to the top frame. Furthermore, a centering mechanism for a pressure plate is provided between the pressure plate and each of opposed side frames so as to adjust the levelness of the pressure plate with respect to both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the pressure plate.

Abstract: A method of making annular polymeric articles in which a workpiece is placed on a cylindrical shaping surface and is divided about the perimeter into alternating first and second portions. Moulding is done in two stages, the first stage including moulding the first portions, and the second stage including moulding the second portions interposed between the first portions at the same time maintaining the pressure exerted on the first portion, after which the workpiece is vulcanized. The mould includes a cylindrical core (1) having a shaped surface, mounted on a base and serving to accommodate the workpiece thereon, and elements (5, 6) for squeezing the workpiece arranged around the cylindrical core (1) alternately, the first elements (5) having each side surfaces (7) parallel with the axis of symmetry of this element (5), whereas the second elements (6) having each side surfaces (7) of the neighboring first elements (5) arranged at an angle (.alpha.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizing press includes a vertically movable upper die closable over a lower die, a guide roller mounted on support structure of the upper die, a nearly horizontal roller guide way provided on a rear top portion of a press body, a vertical roller guide groove provided with a notch extending upward of the roller guide way and communicating therewith on the front top portion of the press body at the rear of a vertically intermediate portion thereof, a counter-rotatable crank gear, and a crank arm coupling a crank pin mounted at an eccentric position of the crank gear with the upper die support structure. When the press is operated during normal tire production, the crank gear is rotated in one direction, the crank pin is shifted from a bottom dead point to a top dead point, and movement of the crank pin is transferred to the upper die support structure through the crank arm, thus shifting the guide roller from a lower end portion to an upper end portion of the vertical roller guide groove.

Abstract: The invention relates to form carrier and actuating construction for the vulcanizing machine of rubber tires for motor vehicles, wherein the vertically moveable upper part contains a catch-ring connected to the dome of the vulcanizing machine, an upper plate fitting thereto, a locking ring, furtheron form-segments defining the daylight and upper form-half, while the fixed bottom part includes the base plate and the lower form-half fixed thereto. The construction according to the invention can be characterized in that the form-segments (16) are fixed exchangeably to the gliding segments (4) which can be guided ascew in the guide rails having been formed on the inner conical or pyramidal surface of the locking ring (3) and the gliding segments (4) are connected to the upper plate (1) with the insertion of horizontal guide elements and on the locking ring (3) there is a correction (11) provided with set-screws (10) and fixing screws gap between the catch ring (5) and the upper plate (1).

Abstract: A steam done type vertical tire press includes an upper dome for holding an upper mold through an upper mold mounting member and a lower dome for holding a lower mold through a lower mold mounting member. The upper dome and the lower dome are abutted at respective connection edges. A dome ring is engagable with the connection edges of the upper and lower domes. A central mechanism is vertically movably located at a central position of the lower mold mounting member. A mold clamping cylinder has a pressure rod connected to the lower mold mounting member. A cylinder support extends downwardly from the lower dome through a press base for supporting the mold clamping cylinder. A mold height adjusting device is provided outside a dome space defined by the upper and lower domes for adjusting a height between the upper and lower molds.

Abstract: A pair of parallel supports or uprights have upper and lower mold platens slidably mounted thereon and an annular piston is provided for moving the lower platen upwardly for mold closing action with stop means being provided for the upper mold platen to obtain a movable mold platen and accurate register for simplified, accurate mold closing and opening actions. A multi-cylinder center post assembly is provided to engage the tire curing bladder at its upper and lower ends and provide improved control action therefore during tire curing cycles.

Abstract: A split tire mold having a tread ring having arch-vents for venting air circumferentially across the inner surface of the tread ring so that air escapes from the parting line of the mold halves. The "dougle-wedge-shaped" arch-vents provide passage for trapped air above each tread block of the tread as it is moved against the inner surface of the tread ring. The shape of the arch-vent passages and the angulation of the wedges is critical to the effectiveness of the arch-vent which forms an arch-vent bridge of cured rubber in a cured tire. The configuration of the bridge allows a cured tire to be easily removed from the mold cavity without leaving a broken-off piece of the rubber bridge to plug the arch-vents. This arch-vent design leaves flat-sided, narrow wedge-shaped pieces of rubber as the arch-vent stubs, tapered in two directions. The arch-vent stubs, viewed in the radial direction are so unobtrusive as to be cosmetically acceptable in a finished tire.

Abstract: A curing jacket for use in conjunction with a tire to be recapped having a pair of sidewalls and a tread. The curing jacket includes a unitary tubular envelope having first and second edges. The curing jacket is sized to encase the tire by extending around a circumference of and adjacent to interior and exterior surfaces of the sidewalls and tread of the tire. An O-ring on the first edge of the tubular envelope fits within a seat on the second edge to provide an airtight seal. Air is evacuated from the envelope through a valve. The jacketed tire is cured in a curing oven.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire vulcanising press wherein a plurality of sectors provided for gripping the upper bead of a green tire loaded in position between a pair of upper and lower die elements to carry the green tire in a suspended condition will not form an obstruction to an elastic forming member for shaping. The tire vulcanizing press includes an inner cylinder mounted for up and down movement on the upper die element and having at a lower end portion thereof a bead ring which is capable of forming part of the upper die element, and a sector housing mounted for up and down movement in the inner cylinder and carrying thereon the sectors for movement between an open position and a closed position. The upper bead of the green tire can be gripped between the bead ring and sectoral portions of the sectors, and the sectoral portions of the sectors are accommodated in the lower end portion of the inner cylinder when the sectors are in the closed position.

Abstract: A spreadable ring for sealing an envelope at the bead of the tire to be retreaded during the pressure and heat treatment in an autoclave. The ring is spread with the aid of cut-outs (a lap joint) or by forming the ends on both sides of the opened section into a tongue-in-groove joint. In both cases a joint is generated which runs in the circumferential direction. Depending on the bead shape the sealing surface is cylindrical or tapered whereby lateral end stops or rims facilitate the positioning. The spreading is accomplished manually by the inherent tensioning force of the ring or with the aid of tensioning cylinders.

Abstract: Repair plates particularly adapted for mending various surfaces of a vehicle tire in which a plate body is formed from an epoxy casting resin material which is stable at curing temperatures of at least 220 deg. F., and has a face surface having the same configuration as the area of the surface of the tire to be mended, and a perforated aluminum plate imbedded in the rear surface of the plate body.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in scooping a scoop of ice cream from a container of ice cream includes a handle, a bowl supported on the handle, and a motor for rotating the bowl relative to the handle in order to facilitate the scooping of ice cream with the bowl. One embodiment includes a rotatable wiper blade mounted within the bowl, a first unidirectional clutch device that couples the bowl to the motor drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotating in a clockwise rotation, and a second unidirectional clutch device that inhibits bowl rotation when the drive shaft is rotating in a counterclockwise direction. The cutting edge or lip of the bowl may have sawtooth like projections, and an battery changer apparatus may be included for charging a battery power source housed in the handle.