Abstract: An example mandrel for processing a part is described including a plurality of elastomeric components aligned end to end and spaced apart linearly to form a segmented mandrel body, and compressible interconnections positioned within spacing between adjacent elastomeric components and abutting the adjacent elastomeric components. The compressible interconnections allow the plurality of elastomeric components to expand axially due to thermal expansion resulting in a distribution of pressure. An example method for fabricating a composite part is also described including placing a base composite layer into a cavity of a tooling surface, inserting a mandrel into the cavity of the tooling surface such that the base composite layer is between the mandrel and the tooling surface, applying a skin to the mandrel and the base composite layer forming a package, enclosing the package in a vacuum bag and curing, and removing the mandrel from the cavity of the tooling surface.

Abstract: A core main body comprises first core segments having a small circumferential width and having both circumferential end surfaces as first butting surfaces, and second core segments having a large circumferential width and having both circumferential end surfaces as second butting surfaces, the core main body is formed into an annular shape by butting the circumferentially adjacent first and second butting surfaces against each other. The first butting surface comprises a parallel surface portion being parallel with a center plane in the circumferential width of the first core segment connected to radially outside of an outwardly inclined surface portion inclined so that the circumferential width increases toward the inside in a radial direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for disassembling, assembling and using a toroidally shaped segmented core configured to carry a tire during a curing process includes: a transport mechanism operatively moving the segmented core between a plurality of stations in a tire curing line; one or more segment removal devices for removing a plurality of core segments individually from a cured tire and from around a core central axis and placing the core segments individually in respective spaced apart storage locations; and one or more core segment assembly devices for removing the core segments individually from the storage locations and placing the core segments individually in respective core locations to form an assembled segmented core. The apparatus and method operatively sequences to place and remove differently structured core segments individually into and from the assembled core configuration.

Abstract: A core (N) defining at least partially a manufacturing form whose receiving surface (S), which is of essentially toroidal appearance, is designed to receive directly, by winding, profiles (B) in the form of contiguous bands forming the inside surface of a tire, comprising a plurality of segments (10, 10d, 10i), each having transverse faces (110d, 111d, 110i, 111i), said segments being circumferentially adjacent and located side by side, bearing against each other via their transverse faces, in which core the connecting radius (r) between the transverse face and the receiving surface (S) of a segment (10d, 10i) is between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm, along all or part of the length of the edge formed by the intersection of these two surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for disassembling a toroidally shaped core is provided. The core is configured to carry a cured tire and includes multiple core segments extending generally radially from a central axis. The apparatus includes a base; one or more segment positioning devices connected for movement relative to the base and operative to move one or more core segments from an assembled core position next to an adjacent core segment around the central axis to a radially inward position; and one or more segment removal devices operatively connected for engaging the one core segment at the radially inward position and removing the one segment from the radially inward position to a remote position external to the core. The segment removal device operatively moves in three axes of motion to relocate the one segment from the remote position to a storage position and deposit the core segment at the storage station in a retrieval-ready orientation.

Abstract: A tire building core manipulating apparatus for a segmented tire building core is provided, the core including a plurality of core segments extending generally radially from a central axis. The manipulating apparatus includes a support frame; a core latching mechanism mounted to the support frame for operatively engaging a mating mechanism on the core whereby suspending the tire building core in a preferred axial orientation and raises and lowers the core to engage one or more stations in a tire curing line. A transport mechanism relocates the support frame with the tire building core in the preferred axial orientation between a plurality of stations in the tire curing line.

Abstract: A tire building core assembly is provided including a segmented toroidal core formed by a plurality of core segments configured in a closely adjacent array defining an outer tire-building toroidal surface. The tire building surface is configured having tire tread and sidewall build locations. Adjacent core segments provide adjacent and opposed annularly directed peripheral edge surfaces, opposed edge surfaces having interlocking elements that selectively engage to operatively deter relative radial movement between the adjacent core segments. The interlocking elements selectively disengage to operatively facilitate a disassembly of the segmented toroidal core.

Abstract: A core segment manipulating apparatus and method is provided for relocating core segments forming a toroidally shaped core body configured to carry a cured tire. The apparatus includes multiple core key segment engaging mechanisms and core second segment engagement mechanisms arranged in a spaced apart circular array adjacent to respective key segments and second segments of the core body. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms operate to individually move respective key segments and second segments from a radially outward core body position to a radially inward segment removal position. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms transfer a respective segment to a segment removal device at the segment removal position and return radially outward to a segment-receiving location.

Abstract: A station apparatus method within a tire curing line is provided for assembling and disassembling a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a cured tire. The core includes a plurality of core segments assembling to form a core body and extending generally radially from a central core axis within a core central axial passage. The core further includes first and second locking spindle sections connecting to opposite sides of the core body.

Abstract: Loading apparatus and method for positioning a green tire and core assembly into a toroidally shaped mold includes a stand assembly having a support surface operatively receiving a first mold sidewall forming segment thereon, the surface having a central opening. A spindle engagement assembly projects upwardly through the support surface central opening and includes a coupling mechanism at a forward end operatively mating with a first spindle end of a tire building core. The coupling mechanism operatively suspends a sidewall of a green tire on the tire building core a distance above a first mold sidewall forming segment positioned on the stand support surface. The spindle engagement assembly moves axially between a raised position and a lowered position and, in the lowered position operatively places the sidewall surface of the green tire on the first mold sidewall forming segment.

Abstract: A method of removing a toroidal support from a tyre includes the steps of positioning the toroidal support with the tyre at a station, disengaging a flange and counter-flange of the toroidal support from each other, moving the flange and counter-flange away from a plurality of sectors of the toroidal support, radially translating each sector toward a geometric reference axis of the toroidal support, removing each sector from the tyre, and, for at least one sector, turning the at least one sector about a second axis. When the toroidal support is assembled, the sectors are circumferentially distributed around the geometric reference axis and are operatively connected to each other by mutual engagement of the flange and counter-flange. The second axis is substantially normal to a direction radial to the geometric reference axis and lies in a first plane parallel to and offset from an equatorial plane of the tyre.

Abstract: A rubber track T has a plurality of guide lugs 50 arranged in two rows, one row being on each lateral edge. The guide lugs 50 of the first row are circumferentially offset from the guide lugs 50 of the second row. The track T is molded on an axially separating mold core D that is designed to form the radially inner guide lugs 50 without requiring a radially collapsible core.

Abstract: A dismountable toroidal support for Tire manufacture includes a plurality of sectors, a flange, a counter-flange, and engagement devices. The sectors are aligned around a reference axis to define an outer surface reproducing an inner conformation of a Tire. The flange carries at least one attachment member for engagement with a handling device. The counter-flange can be operatively linked with the flange. The engagement devices can fixedly hold the sectors between the flange and the counter-flange. Each of the sectors has a main body with a substantially U-shaped outline which is delimited between an outer side defining an outer surface and an inner side facing the reference axis. The engagement devices include at least one attachment plate radially projecting from a respective inner side substantially in a plane normal to the reference axis and adapted to be removably engaged at a position axially interposed between the flange and the counter-flange.

Abstract: An annular metal mold portion forming a tire tread is constructed by assembling a plurality of sector metal molds 2 severed in the circumferential direction, and all or some of the sector metal molds 2 are constructed of a plurality of smaller parts 3 severed in the axial direction as well as in the circumferential direction. Joining surfaces between the sector metal molds themselves each consisting of a plurality of smaller parts are formed of contour surfaces in arbitrary shape of the smaller parts. These contour surfaces are such curved surfaces that at every location a radius of curvature is 5 mm or larger and an inclination angle of a tangential plane with respect to a tire axis is 80 degrees or less.

Abstract: A tire mold including a pair of shells (2) for molding the side walls of tire and a ring or sectors (1) for molding the tread of the tire and in which each sector (1) of the mold includes an outer support (10) and an inner mold fitting (11). The contact of the sectors with each other and of the sectors on each side wall molding shell (2) takes place via segments (3) of small cross section, compressed elastically upon the closing of the mold, so as to assure complete tightness of the mold.

Abstract: The vulcanizing mold has an upper mold member, a lower mold member, a sector surrounding the space between the upper and lower mold members and an actuator movable upward and downward relative to the sector to move the sector radially outward and inward. The actuator is divided into an upper actuator portion and a lower actuator portion. The sector is also divided into an upper sector portion and a lower sector portion. The mold further has a connection for connecting the actuator portions together to raise the lower actuator portion by a predetermined amount with the rise of the upper actuator portion and for separating the lower actuator portion from the upper actuator portion upon the portion rising more than the predetermined amount, when the mold is opened.

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 mold including a pair of bodies engageable with each other and each including an annular recess, an annular groove and an annular depression, a ring being engaged in the annular recess and the annular groove respectively, and one or more rings corresponding to the tread portion of the tire being engaged in the annular depression of each of the bodies, a mold cavity for forming the tire being formed in the bodies and the rings, the rings engaged in the annular depressions being arranged in parallel with each other so that the rings can be stably and properly retained in place.

Abstract: A mould for an injection moulding apparatus, the mould including at least two mould parts which mate to form the mould cavity and which separate to permit removal of the moulded article, each mould part including a relatively rigid body having an abutment face which abuts with an abutment face of the other mould part when said parts mate, the body of at least one mould part including a recess in its abutment face which is filled with a resilient material defining a portion of said mould cavity.

Abstract: Dental cream in contact with a polyolefin resin surface of a package such as a laminate tube, a mechanical dispenser or a flexible sachet. The dental cream contains a dentally acceptable water-insoluble alkaline earth metal salt, a liquid vehicle and an alkali metal carboxymethyl cellulose gelling agent. The liquid vehicle contains water, glycerine and sorbitol and, as an additive to prevent syneresis due to contact between the dental cream and polyolefin resin, a stabilizer in the form of parahydroxybenzoate ester.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire produced of elastomers, especially cast or injection molded polyurethanes has an inner body in which a reinforcement is embedded and anchored by means of holding ropes. The inner body may be provided as a closed tubular body and is encased by an outer body which accommodates a belt and is outwardly provided with a tread. At its side walls, the outer body is provided with respective bead cores in which area, the inner body of the tire is connected to the outer body.

Abstract: A contractible segmented rigid core of a tire-curing mold is disclosed comprising a plurality of sectors, and means which permit a reduction of the transversal dimensions of the sectors to facilitate removal thereof from the cured tire, said means comprising forming each of the sectors in three parts transversely of the mold, one a central part provided with means for producing a movement under the action of resistant elastic or resilient biasing means along the symmetrical plane of the sector, and two lateral parts being adapted to oscillate, in contrast with the elastic or resilient biasing means, with respect to an axis in the symmetrical plane of the sector and thereby having reduced transversal dimensions. Means are included for preventing any displacement of the sectors when in their expanded position relative to the parts which comprise them, no matter what stresses may be applied to them during the tire curing operation.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for casting pneumatic tires by pouring a fluidized tire-forming material into a molding cavity defined between the outer peripheral surface of a separable hard core of a mold assembly and the inner peripheral surface of an outer separable hard mold member of the mold assembly. The separable hard core is composed of at least three segments and toroidal in shape. At least one segment of the separable core guidingly is retracted in a radial direction and then moved in a direction which does not hinder retractive movement of the remaining segments and subsequently these remaining segments are retracted in the radial direction, whereby the cast tire can easily be removed from the mold assembly.