Abstract: Tire mold vents (34) in communication with a sealed cavity (35) are pressurized for limiting the quantity of rubber entering the vents (34) and for assisting the stripping of the vulcanized tire (28) from the mold. Passages (40) in the mold communicate fluid pressure to the vents (34) and pressure regulators (58,60) control the fluid pressure communicated to the vents (34) during vulcanization and during ejection of the tire (28) from the mold (10).

Abstract: Tire mold vents (34) in communication with a sealed cavity (35) are pressurized for limiting the quantity of rubber entering the vents (34) and for assisting the stripping of the vulcanized tire (28) from the mold. Passages (40) in the mold communicate fluid pressure to the vents (34) and pressure regulators (58,60) control the fluid pressure communicated to the vents (34) during vulcanization and during ejection of the tire (28) from the mold (10).

Abstract: A mold used for forming an elastomeric article such as a tire under heat and pressure is provided with small grooves at seleted locations along the internal cavity walls to reduce or eliminate flash which customarily forms at these locations. Specifically, grooves are provided at the structural interfaces of replaceable mold components, such as tread and bead rings with cavity wall portions of the mold sections. The grooves operate to trap or collect elastomeric material extruded into the interfaces and provide a seal-like barrier to further flash.

Abstract: There is described a tire vulcanizing press, comprising a frame provided with a lower supporting plate for allowing a mold for vulcanizing the tires to rest upon, and an upper plate that is mobile with respect to the lower plate. The mold comprises a lower cheek, an upper cheek that is mobile with respect to the lower cheek, and a series of sectors, that are mobile with respect to an annular-containing element, each of which is radially mobile with respect to the upper cheek. The mold further comprises a connecting means for fixing the lower cheek to the lower plate, and the upper cheek and the annular element to the upper mobile cheek, and which comprises a series of rotating bodies on the lower and upper plates which are actionable from the outer side of the plates with respect to the mold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire mold for curing pneumatic tires wherein the mold includes a mold back, a tread ring and an insulator plate located between the mold back and the tread ring. The insulator plate is made of material that has a lower thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the material in the mold back or tread ring. The addition of the insulator plate between the mold back and the tread ring induces reduction in heat transfer between the mold back and the tread ring allowing the maintenance of higher heat transfer for areas of the tire not shielded by the insulator plate and achieving the lower heat transfer in the area of the tire shielded by the insulator plate.

Abstract: A tire molding mold comprising a profile ring having an inner circumferenl surface corresponding to the outer profile of a tire being molded, including at least the tread surface thereof, and a net ring having a faying surface fitted and joined to the inner circumferential surface of the profile ring and consisting of a network of ribs and/or lugs for forming the grooves of the tire being molded; the net ring being disposed on the profile ring wholly, or with the part thereof removed.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention concerns presses for vulcanizing vehicle-wheel tires and in particular, those presses provided with a centripetal-type mold. For the purpose of optional heating of the sectors of the mold while avoiding heat-dispersion, heating-fluid losses, or any lowering of the temperature during the moving periods of the mold, there is provided, in the body of each sector, a network of channels that are connected, for example, through flexible tubing, to networks of the other adjacent sectors, in such a way as to realize a closed circuit with regard to the outside ambient, within which circuit the heating-fluid is permanently caused to circulate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cold retreading of the running surface of a vehicle tire. A rubber and cloth mold is produced utilizing a new tire male mold covered with perforated polyethylene film, uncured rubber and highly stretchable cloth enclosed in an envelope and cured by application of pressure and heat. The somewhat flexible female mold thus produced is then utilized in recapping tires by positioning it around a prepared tire carcass coated with cement, a layer of uncured rubber, and a sheet of perforated polyethylene film. The mold and tire assembly is then enclosed in an envelope, and like assemblies are placed in a chamber where curing of the rubber layer is accomplished by inflation of the tire carcass, evacuation of the envelope, pressurization of the chamber and application of heat.

Abstract: A vehicle tire crown portion 10 including a tread 11 is injection molded and prevulcanized in a closed annular mold cavity 17 defined by a segmented outer mold 16 clamped together by a locking ring 22 and a segmented core 19 pressed against the outer mold by upper and lower pressure plates 25, 26. The core is then removed by disassembling its segments, whereafter a carcass 14 and prevulcanized sidewalls 12, 13 are placed in the central portion of the mold on an inflatable air bag 38 flanked by lateral mold section 39, 40. The vulcanization of the tire assembly is then completed, during which the sidewalls are joined to the retained crown portion.

Abstract: A vehicle tire crown portion 10 including a tread 11 is injection molded and prevulcanized in a closed annular mold cavity 17 defined by a segmented outer mold 16 clamped together by a locking ring 22 and a segmented core 19 pressed against the outer mold by upper and lower pressure plates 25, 26. The core is then removed by disassembling its segments, whereafter a carcass 14 and prevulcanized sidewalls 12, 13 are placed in the central portion of the mold on an inflatable air bag 38 flanked by lateral mold sections 39, 40. The vulcanization of the tire assembly is then completed, during which the sidewalls are joined to the retained crown portion.

Abstract: The annular tread belt body is assembled of uncured resilient material having reinforcing cords and is then mounted on a precured tire casing. The read belt body is assembled with a predetermined configuration at a radially inner surface and the precured tire casing has a matching predetermined configuration on the radially outer surface for mounting of the tread belt in a centered position on the tire casing. The tread belt body and precured tire casing are enclosed in a segmental mold where the tread belt is cured. After removal from the mold, the tread belt is separated from the tire casing. The tread belt is then mounted on the radially outer surface of a tire having reinforcing cords positioned in a generally radial direction relative to the axis of the tire.

Abstract: A process is described for improving the rate of production, other conditions being equal, of extruded polymer products, containing foaming- and/or cross-linking agents, which particularly resides in using a "melting torpedo" rotatable element in the melting section of the extrusion apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding a tire with an annular reinforcement below the tread surface includes a first set of molding segments for molding a tire, a winding mechanism for winding a flexible reinforcement band or thread about the molded tire under tension and a second group of molding segments for molding a tread surface portion about the reinforced tire body.

Abstract: In order to prevent the edges of the crown reinforcement of radial carcass tires whose tread contains oblong elements in relief or blocks (tires for earth-moving vehicles and for drive wheels of agricultural tractors) from deforming during the vulcanization of these tires in the vulcanization mold, at least some of these oblong blocks are provided with a furrow whose depth is between 1/2 and 6/5 of the radial height of the oblong block in question and whose length is not greater than 1/3 of the length of the oblong block. The element in relief which, within the mold, serves to mold the furrow within the oblong block of the tread prevents the folding and/or deformation of the crown reinforcement of the tire.

Abstract: A segmented mold for molding tire casings has a fixed lower mold part for molding one side wall of the tire, a series of molding segments for molding the tread movably mounted on the lower mold part to be slidable and swingable along radial planes, an axially movable upper mold part for molding the other side wall of the tire, and means cooperating with the segments to effect the movement thereof along the radial planes. The mold also has elastic members interposed between the fixed lower mold part and the segments for continously urging each of said segments toward an open position in which the segments are radially retracted and swung upward and to the outside of the mold to free a passage for the tire when the upper mold part is lifted off. These members include a first spring for pulling each segment radially outward and a second spring for tilting each segment vertically upward toward an open position.

Abstract: A body having rubber material thereon is positioned on a lower member, and an upper member is moved toward the lower member, such relative movement causing tread-forming shoes to move to inward positions to form a tread on the rubber material. As an alternative, the upper and lower members may be brought together, and rubber material may be injected into position to have a tread formed thereon. Upon movement of the upper and lower member relatively apart, the rubber material is made to remain in contact with the shoes, and the body is removed, whereupon an annular core having rubber material thereon is disposed on the lower member, and the upper and lower members are again brought together to deposit the rubber material in contact with the shoes onto the rubber material on the core.

Abstract: A tire molding matrix comprising a plurality of projections on the tread molding surface of the matrix, the projections being for molding a first, radially outer and a second radially inner, pattern in the tread of the tire incorporating at least one main drainage groove, the configuration of the projections changing distinctively at a predetermined level which is substantially parallel to the surface of the matrix for molding the tread ground-contacting surface of the tire and which is situated at a depth which is a predetermined amount less than the depth of the projection for molding the main drainage groove, the second pattern comprising a wholly radial extension of only a part of the first pattern.

Abstract: A body having rubber material thereon is positioned on a lower member, and an upper member is moved toward the lower member, such relative movement causing tread-forming shoes to move to inward positions to form a tread on the rubber material. As an alternative, the upper and lower members may be brought together, and rubber material may be injected into position to have a tread formed thereon. Upon movement of the upper and lower member relatively apart, the rubber material is made to remain in contact with the shoes, and the body is removed, whereupon an annular core having rubber material thereon is disposed on the lower member, and the upper and lower members are again brought together to deposit the rubber material in contact with the shoes onto the rubber material on the core.

Abstract: The production of a very large tire by expanding the uncured unrestrained carcass of the tire to engage its crown region with the radially inward surface of a rigid circumferentially continuous centering ring. The ring and the uncured carcass together are transported from the carcass expanding location to the tire curing mold which is adapted to receive and locate the ring and carcass together so as to prevent the mid-circumferential region of the carcass from shifting out of symmetry with the mold. The ring forms a part of the mold for molding and curing the tire carcass. The inward surface of the ring is provided with a pattern of grooves and ridges; the method and apparatus disclosed are particularly useful in the manufacture of a cured tire carcass adapted to combine with an endless tread assembly cured apart from and independently of the tire carcass to make the complete tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a viscous fluid to a moving substrate is disclosed. The invention includes providing a die assembly formed from a pair of plates which are separated by shim means to define a fluid passage. The fluid passage communicates with a fluid reservoir having an opening bounded by smooth surfaces for contacting the substrate. The supply of ink is metered to the passage. The substrate is moved in contact with the smooth surfaces and the fluid is applied thereto by the reservoir. The trailing or downstream edge of the smooth surface is formed with an acute angle. Other features are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mold base has an annular support plate secured thereto and formed with a plurality of equiangularly spaced radial slots and with an external peripheral guide groove. A support structure on the support plate carries an annular base plate mounting the lower half of a cylindrical radially inner chill whose upper half is carried by an annular closure plate. An arm on the base pivotally supports a radial arm pivotally connected to the closure plate, and a toggle linkage is connected between the base and the radial arm. An operating ring is guided in the guide groove for angular displacement by a hydraulic actuator. Radially outer chill sectors are positioned on the base plate and carried by respective die sectors guided in the radial slots of the support plate, and bent crank links connect the die sectors to the operating ring. The die sectors have beveled clamping surfaces engageable with beveled peripheries of the base and closure plates upon displacement of the operating ring in a mold closing direction.

Abstract: Apparatus casting for injection-molding car tires whose internal contour is determined by a core and whose external contour is established by mold shells which are, at least partially, provided with lateral shells movable in an axial direction, thereby the various regions of the tires being cast or injected in separate operations. The mold shells, in addition to lateral shells, are provided with external segments and at least two external segments of different shape are pivotedly attached to segment holders positioned around the tire being produced so that the segment holders are radially adjustable with respect to the tire under production.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for automatically disassembling a tread ring from a centrifugally cast vehicle tire and then reassembling the tread ring after the tire has been removed.

Abstract: A mold cavity for producing a pneumatic vehicular tire is radially expandable to form successive coaxial annular layers, e.g. carcass, reinforcing belt and tread, of the tire body. The mold cavity is defined by a stationary core, several outer annular mold walls alternately juxtaposable with the core, and a pair of opposite cheeks axially bracketing the core and the juxtaposed segments. The segments of each mold wall are movably mounted on a respective carrier ring and are radially outwardly retractable thereon to clear the cheeks whereby they can be axially moved into and out of alignment with the core. With successive operative positioning of segment sets of progressively increasing inner radii around the core, the mold cavity is expanded after each molding step preparatorily to formation of the next layer after partial hardening of the elastomeric material of the layer previously formed therein.

Abstract: A tire mold having two "half" molds each including a side wall and a tread molding portion and a center ring having a tread molding portion for molding one third or less of the total width of the tire tread. The center ring is divided into eight sections each hinged to one of the half molds to swing open and outward of interfering portions of the tread pattern, being opened solely by the movement of the tire as it is lifted from the mold. No auxiliary mechanism for driving the sections is used or needed, and the mold is opened and closed in the same manner as the usual two piece tire mold. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: Vulcanizer lock means for a vulcanizer of the type wherein a tire carcass is shaped and cured in a mold cavity defined between top and bottom mold sections which are respectively mounted on a vertically movable support member and a fixed support member characterized in the provision of a mold-embracing lock ring which at its lower end has a rotatable, but axially fixed, connection with said fixed support member and which at its upper end has radially inwardly extending lugs with bottom helical surfaces engaged with top helical surfaces of radially outwardly extending lugs of said movable support member when said lock ring is rotated to locking position, said lugs being circumferentially offset when said lock ring is rotated to unlocking position to permit vertical movement of said movable support member and top mold section for unloading of the cured tire and for loading of the next uncured carcass.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to retread molds adapted for manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic operation in either bag or bagless retreading operations, and includes a pair of bead aligner wheels which are retracted to permit tire beads to become self-adjusting or floating thereby seeking their own natural position permitting a wider range of tire sizes to be properly cured in the same matrix, the molds further including a seal in the form of at least a single O-ring seal contacting the exterior of each tire side wall to preclude pressurized fluid within the mold cavity from escaping to atmosphere, and in the automatic version means are provided for automatically inserting a bag in the tire, locking the mold, inflating the bag, and reversing these functions prior to the removal of the cured tire.

Abstract: A vulcanizing mold for pneumatic vehicle tires with upper and lower mold segments distributed over the circumference of the mold, for molding the tread surface of the respective tire to be molded, while the mold segments cooperate with rings for selectively moving the segments toward the tire tread surface to be molded. The mold furthermore comprises rings which mold the tire side walls and are provided with seating surfaces for receiving and guiding the tire beads. The rings for moving the segments toward the circumferential tire surface consist of two rigid pressure rings which are movably guided in axial direction of the tire to be molded and by means of pressure exerted from the outside of the mold upon the pressure rings are movable toward each other for moving the segment sections together and toward the circumferential area of the tire.

Abstract: An adjustable tire curing mold or matrix suitable for retreading tires of varying diameter. A plurality of rigid mold segments with adjacent segments joined to form a continuous annular mold of variable diameter, and means for compressing the mold segments inwardly about a tire positioned within the mold.

Abstract: Sectional molds for tires wherein radially movable sectors are mounted in a permanent way on a fixed lower casing of the mold in such a way that the sections do not have to be lifted and pulled up with a movable upper platform, when the press of the mold is opening. The sectors are connected to the lower casing which supports them by connecting means such as linked struts that are operatively associated with the sectors, at the beginning of the opening of the mold, having at the same time a slight lifting movement parallel to the lower casing and a slight radial backward movement assuring the detachment of the sectors with respect to the tread of the molded tire.

Abstract: To permit moulding of a rigid breaker tire in a single-phase diaphragm press without damage caused by axial movement of the tread-forming segments relative to the tire carcass in the mould the tread segments are mounted to pivot about fixed longitudinal axes as the press is opened and closed so that they move simultaneously both radially and axially with respect to the mould cavity.

Abstract: A method and means of curing a solid rubber vehicle tire in which a mass of uncured rubber is attached to the outside of a rim, the rim placed in a mold, and heat applied to the rim causing heat to permeate outward through the rubber, producing a gradient of hardness wherein maximum hardness occurs in the rubber adjacent to the rim and thus where the rubber adheres to the rim. This is accomplished by means of two plates which form, with the rim, a sealed cavity interior of the rim to which cavity steam is applied.

Abstract: A device for making a pneumatic tire including an outer mold and a core for making tread rubber having a high lug or deep tread pattern and an inflatable bladder for use in joining the tread rubber to the tread portion of a green case when the green case is shaped and vulcanized.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a curing apparatus for tube-tires. The apparatus includes a restrainer ring fittable about the outer circumference of a tube-tire and a mold comprising a pair of vertically disposed opposing mold members defining a cavity therebetween adapted to mateably hold the tire with the ring thereabout along with means extendible from the mold members for supportingly engaging the ring. Also part of the apparatus are means for moving at least one of the mold members towards and away from the other. Means are also provied communicating with each of the mold members for sealingly abutting against a respective adjacent edge of the restrainer ring along with means for retracting and expanding said abutting means responsive to expansion and contraction of the restrainer ring. Means are further provided within the mold for directing a heated fluid such as hot steam into and out of the tube-tire.