Electrical Patents (Class 425/41)
  • Patent number: 8961889
    Abstract: A devulcanization apparatus for devulcanizing a plurality of cross-linked elastomer particles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor functioning as a high voltage electrode and a second conveyor functioning as a ground electrode. A generator is operable to apply an alternating electric field between the first and second conveyors. A devulcanization region is provided between the first and second conveyors in which the cross-linked elastomer particles are placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Novation IQ LLC
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Patent number: 8941036
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating unit capable of easily and inexpensively adjusting total impedance based on tire mold size so that a power source can be used at a high power factor, and a tire heating apparatus using the same. A ferromagnetic metallic member 10a heats a tire mold M1 by heat conduction. An induction heating coil C1 is disposed on the side of the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a opposite the tire mold M1 to induction-heat the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a by generating magnetic field lines. A nonmagnetic conductor 30a is disposed on the side of the induction heating coil C1 opposite the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a to shield the magnetic field lines generated by the induction heating coil C1. A heating unit 100a including these elements heats the tire mold M1 storing a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Hideaki Kuwabara, Hisashi Mitamura, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Patent number: 8882484
    Abstract: The method of the invention provides for producing a heterologous protein in mammalian host cells having nucleic acid encoding Hepatitis B X protein and the heterologous protein, by growing mammalian host cells selected from the group consisting of HKB11, CHO, BHK21, C2C12, and HEK293 cells, by growing mammalian host cells in non-adherent suspension culture, or by growing mammalian host cells which contain nucleic acid providing exogenous X-box Binding Protein, XBP1s. The conditions should be such that HBx, exogenous XBP1s if present, and the heterologous protein are expressed by the mammalian cells. The invention includes compositions for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventors: Fang Jin, Richard N. Harkins, Maxine Bauzon, Terry Hermiston
  • Publication number: 20140290833
    Abstract: The curing press for a tire blank comprises: a mould and inductors capable of heating the press by electromagnetic induction, each inductor comprising a core (36) comprising two feet (40) having respective undersides (60) which are flat and inclined in relation to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Alain Rochette, Didier Valentin
  • Patent number: 8815964
    Abstract: A process for forming a vulcanized elastomer composition. An alternating electric field is applied to a first composition comprising vulcanized crosslinked elastomer particles while the composition is compressed to thereby devulcanize the crosslinked elastomer particles and form a second composition comprising devulcanized elastomer particles A crosslinking agent is added to the second composition comprising the devulcanized elastomer particles. The second composition having the crosslinking agent is then vulcanized to form the vulcanized elastomer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Navation IQ LLC
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Patent number: 8759408
    Abstract: Tire vulcanizing/retreading and de-vulcanization system including an autoclave and heating based on an induction system, which will lead to vulcanization or de-vulcanization of a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Julia Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8591212
    Abstract: To provide a tire vulcanizer capable of solving problems of an electrical heating platen, which relate to the deformation at the time of tire vulcanization and to the replacement of the platen. The tire vulcanizer vulcanizes and molds a green tire placed in an outer mold by heating the green tire from the outer side and the inner side of the green tire, and is featured by including an electric platen (10) which is arranged to be in contact with each of the upper and lower sides of a container with the green tire placed therein, or to be embedded in each of the upper and lower portions of the container, so as to heat the green tire from the outside of the outer mold at the time of vulcanization, and which is formed into a doughnut-like disc shape and divided into a plurality of sections in the circumferential direction of the platen (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shintani
  • Patent number: 8470897
    Abstract: A process for devulcanizing crosslinked elastomer particles comprising applying an alternating electric field to a composition comprising crosslinked elastomer particles under compression. The alternating electric field preferably has a frequency between 1 and 100 MHz and a voltage between 1000 and 10,000 V, and may be applied between an apparatus that continuously conveys the particles through the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Vertex L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Patent number: 8357726
    Abstract: A process for devulcanizing crosslinked elastomer particles comprising applying an alternating radio frequency dielectric field to a composition comprising crosslinked elastomer particles. The alternating radio frequency dielectric field preferably has a frequency between 1 and 100 MHz and a voltage between 1000 and 10,000 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Vertex L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michel Marc
  • Publication number: 20130017287
    Abstract: To provide a tire vulcanizer capable of solving problems of an electrical heating platen, which relate to the deformation at the time of tire vulcanization and to the replacement of the platen. The tire vulcanizer vulcanizes and molds a green tire placed in an outer mold by heating the green tire from the outer side and the inner side of the green tire, and is featured by including an electric platen (10) which is arranged to be in contact with each of the upper and lower sides of a container with the green tire placed therein, or to be embedded in each of the upper and lower portions of the container, so as to heat the green tire from the outside of the outer mold at the time of vulcanization, and which is formed into a doughnut-like disc shape and divided into a plurality of sections in the circumferential direction of the platen (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Shintani
  • Patent number: 8172973
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cantu′, Andrea Casali, Pierangelo Misani, Pier Giuseppe Piantanida, Riccardo Azzaretto
  • Patent number: 7910043
    Abstract: A tire building and cure station coupling apparatus and method for molding a green tire into a finished tire having a tread pattern. The green tire is constructed on a toroidally shaped core formed by a plurality of core segments each having an outer surface portion which together define a toroidal outer surface surrounding a central axis. The core is adapted to hold a green tire on said toroidal outer surface. A first spindle section is configured to be placed on a first side of the core along the central axis and a second spindle section is configured to be placed on a second side of the core along the central axis and opposite to the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne
  • Patent number: 7691217
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a tire includes providing an elastomeric layer on an outer surface of a toroidal support, manufacturing the tire on the toroidal support provided with the elastomeric layer, introducing the tire supported on the toroidal support into a moulding cavity, introducing a fluid under pressure into a space defined between the toroidal support and an inner surface of the tire in order to press an outer surface of the tire against walls of the moulding cavity, and curing the tire. The elastomeric layer forms an inner circumferential surface of the tire. The process further includes causing an electrical current to flow in at least one heating element provided to the outer surface of the toroidal support so as to obtain at least partial precuring of the elastomeric layer. A toroidal support for carrying out the process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pierangelo Misani, Guido Riva, Cèline Almonacil
  • Patent number: 7416694
    Abstract: The disclosed information describes a preheating method and apparatus for preheating raw tire including metal members embedded therein prior to vulcanization molding process, to heat whole part of the raw tire up to desirable temperature rapidly and certainly to complete vulcanization molding in a short time. The disclosed apparatus comprises a retaining means for retaining raw tire in a predetermined attitude in a releasable manner; a induction heating means for heating the metal members inductively by means of a high frequency magnetic field, the high frequency magnetic field being applied to raw tire retained by the retaining means; and a radiation heater for heating a rate-limiting portion radiatively, the temperature of the rate-limiting portion rising slowly under only induction heating for the metal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Hisashi Mitamura
  • Patent number: 6350402
    Abstract: A tire T is vulcanized by heating the tire T from both an outer forming surface So of an outer mold 2 for forming an outer surface of the tire T and an inner forming surface Si of an inner mold 3 for forming an inner surface of the tire T. The inner forming surface Si is divided into a plurality of inner forming surface portions Si1, Si1 and Si2 in accordance with portions of the tire T, and the inner mold 3 is provided with heaters 5U, 5L and 5M capable of heating the inner forming surface portions Si1, Si1 and Si2 at different temperatures. Since the tire is vulcanized while varying the heating temperatures from inside of the tire in accordance with the portions of the tire, it is possible to vulcanize each of the portions of the tire under optimal temperature condition without generating uneven temperature between upper and lower portions, and it is possible to enhance the performance of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michihito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5683643
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating and stirring a charge of a heat-exchange fluid under pressure for the curing of tires in which both a turbine and an electric motor for driving the turbine are enclosed within a fluid-tight enclosure and in which the turbine and the rotor and stator of the electric motor are entirely immersed within the heat-exchange fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sedepro
    Inventor: Daniel Laurent
  • Patent number: 5665298
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of pneumatic vehicle tires with a carcass extending between two bead rings and a breaker disposed between carcass and tread is described in which a tire blank is built up making exclusive use of non-metallic components and at least a part of the thermal energy required in the course of the vulcanization and shaping, which take place under the action of heat and pressure, is introduced into the tire in the form of microwave energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: SP Reinfenwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Unseld, Manfred Gerresheim
  • Patent number: 5639414
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing pneumatic vehicle tires, the tires having a carcass which extends between two bead rings and a breaker arranged between the carcass and a tread, wherein the respective tire blank is built up using exclusively non-metallic components, and wherein, in the course of vulcanization and shaping which takes place under the action of heat and pressure, at least a part of the thermal energy that is required is introduced into the tire in the form of microwave energy. In order to improve the tire quality and in particular to avoid defects as a result of incorrect thermal treatment, the temperature which prevails in the tire is controlled in different tire regions in dependence on the temperature development and differently for different tire regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: SP Reifenwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Unseld
  • Patent number: 5622669
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization apparatus in which an encaser 3 makes it possible to introduce a tire into a mold 1 and, by means of inductors 42, transfers to the mold heat energy necessary for vulcanization and in which a chamber 5 receives several molds 1 and makes it possible to maintain each mold insulated from the environment in order to limit heat losses during the time necessary for the vulcanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Sedepro
    Inventors: Olivier Dailliez, Daniel Laurent, David Myatt
  • Patent number: 5462630
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a precured retreaded tire, etc., and the purpose of the invention is to produce the tire with saving space and power. Here, a precured retreated tire means a tire made by linking a plate rubber member, which has been vulcanized and molded so as to form tire grooves in advance, to a circumferential surface of a buffed abraded tire without vulcanizing said plate rubber member. A producing method according to the present invention comprises a step to insert a bladder (30) into a tire (T), a step to closely connect a plate of once vulcanized rubber member (T1) to a circumferential face of a buffed tire with an unvulcanized linking rubber (R) placed therebetween by attaching an envelope (48) to an outer circumferential face of the tire with fluid pressure, and a step to vulcanize the linking rubber by a heating device (46) and integrally combine the plate rubber member to the circumferential face of the tire, in order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Innoshimaseiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 5198234
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Siegenthaler
  • Patent number: 5186951
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Siegenthaler
  • Patent number: 5186950
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Mauro, Karl J. Siegenthaler
  • Patent number: 4877468
    Abstract: A hot tire forming method whereby at least some of the elements constituting each tire are formed starting from respective masterbatches, which are mixed with given chemical compounds inside respective continuous mixers to obtain respective final mixes, which are hot-fed to respective continuous production means, such as extruders, for obtaining semifinished products, which are hot-fed onto a green tire building drum, with the completed green tire then being transferred, hot, to a curing department; the transfer from the continuous mixers to the curing department being performed in such a manner as to preserve, inside each green tire entering the curing department, at least part of the initial mixing thermal energy and at least part of the initial continuous production thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Karl J. Siegenthaler
  • Patent number: 4728274
    Abstract: A tire curing apparatus in which a number of mobile curing units, each designed to house a respective green tire, are selectively and independently fed along a loop circuit having at least two parallel branches, the ends of which branches are connected to a common section extending through a station for loading and unloading tires on and off respective curing units; each curing unit incorporating a mold for a respective green tire, a closed pneumatic circuit designed to receive, at the loading/unloading station, a given supply of curing medium under pressure, a fan device for force circulating the curing medium supply inside the pneumatic circuit, and individual elements for heating both the mold and the curing medium supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Karl J. Siegenthaler
  • Patent number: 4708608
    Abstract: A heat pad for pressing against a curved surface of an annular tire to vulcanize a tire patch having a channel-shaped sheet member of resilient conductive rubber material with reinforcing electrodes adhered to the sheet member at the elongated side edges, a cover of insulating rubber material encasing the sheet member and an intermediate portion between the electrodes stretchable to conform to the curved surface of the tire under pressure from a pressing member urging the pad against the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventor: Jobbie DiRocco
  • Patent number: 4699578
    Abstract: A mould particularly as used in the manufacture of a product from elastomeric material which is required to be heated.Preferably the heating is carried out by means of an electric current which may be induced electromagnetically.The product may be a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Apsley Metals Limited
    Inventors: Anthony J. M. Sumner, Anthony R. Wright
  • Patent number: 4599061
    Abstract: In a heating device for use in a vulcanizing apparatus in which a green tire is vulcanized by using a metal mold, three magnetic cores around each of which an electromagnetic coil is wound are arranged equidistantly on at least one surface of the metal mold, and a magnetic yoke is arranged on these magnetic cores. Then, three phase alternating currents are respectively supplied to the electromagnetic coils to generate uniform magnetic fluxes passing through portions of the metal mold between adjacent magnetic cores. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the heating device for use in the vulcanizing apparatus which can realize the uniform eddy current distribution i.e. the uniform temperature distribution in the metal mold by a simple construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Manabe, Eiichi Nagafuchi, Yoshio Nohara
  • Patent number: 4557775
    Abstract: A tie-gum layer for retreading vehicle tires. In carrying forth retreading of a vehicle tire, a prevulcanized carcass is provided with a prevulcanized tread and an unvulcanized tie-gum layer between the carcass and tread. A microwave applicator is located above the tread for emitting microwaves to the tires for creating heat energy in the tire. A reflector for microwaves comprising an electrically conductive material is provided in association with the tie-gum layer for providing high quality rapid vulcanization without heating the carcass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Q & Q Retreading System AB
    Inventors: Benny Berggren, Ninneh Gripenholt
  • Patent number: 4548771
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vulcanizing rubber and like material (10). Ultrasonic energy at about 10 to 100 kilohertz is applied to the material (10) at an energy intensity sufficient to generate heat to a temperature in the range of about 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, while a static pressure is applied on the material (10) sufficient to prevent substantial cavitation and material degradation. The application of the ultrasonic energy and the pressure is maintained for at least about 10 minutes for each 1/8 inch in thickness of the material (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Nagabhusan Senapati, Duryodhan Mangaraj
  • Patent number: 4544339
    Abstract: A method for vulcanizing rubber within a mold by dielectric heating. The mold is made of dielectric materials such as ceramics or plastics, and the rubber material is vulcanized within the mold in a dielectric heating furnace. The surface portions of the mold in contact with the rubber material are preferably made of a material having a high dielectric loss factor in order to heat the rubber material or to prevent cooling of the dielectrically heated rubber material by conduction of the heat toward the mold. The other portions of the mold are made of another material having a low dielectric loss factor. The mold is a separate mold. The separate mold is fixed in a frame made of a dielectric material having a low dielectric loss factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Itoh
  • Patent number: 4246226
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Inventor: Kenneth T. MacMillan
  • Patent number: 4190405
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a heating device particularly adapted for tire treading and/or retreading matrices and includes a body having a continuously unending channel formed in an exterior peripheral surface of the matrix body in which is disposed an electric or steam heating element having opposite end portions in lapping relationship with the heating element being generally encased in a body of cast metallic material, and means in the form of a generally Z-shaped spacer traversing the channel and separating the solid material encasing the end portions on each other to permit the heating element to expand and/or contract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Assignee: Donald MacMillan & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth T. MacMillan
  • Patent number: 4104094
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming and fixing cleats to belting, for forming industrial conveyor belts and the like as a usable product. Various durometers can be chosen by selection of cure-cycle for the cleats, which may be different from that of the belting itself. No metal fasteners are employed; rather, in a preferred form of the invention, the cleat is both formed, cured, and pressed against the belting under raise-temperature conditions during the cure cycle. The cleat will be securely bonded or vulcanized to the belting. Rubber cement can be employed at cleat-securement surfaces. The invention also comprehends multiple cleats being simultaneously secured to the belting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Inventor: Soren E. Peterson