Abstract: A co-extrusion device has at least one first inlet port to receive a first material, at least one second inlet port to receive a second material, a first combining channel arranged to receive the first material and the second material and combine the first and second materials into a first combined flow flowing in a first direction. a splitter channel arranged to receive the first combined flow and to split the first combined flow into at least two split flows in a second direction at least partially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein each split flow consists of the first and second materials, and a second combining channel arranged to receive the split flows and combine the split flows into a second combined flow in the first direction, and at least one exit orifice arranged to allow the materials to exit the device as a single flow.

Abstract: A system for molding a non-pneumatic tire may include a lower mold portion including a lower face plate configured to provide a lower relief corresponding to a first side of the tire. The system may further include an upper mold portion configured to be coupled to the lower mold portion. The upper mold portion may include an upper face plate configured to provide an upper relief corresponding to a second side of the tire. The system may also include a plurality of mold inserts configured to be positioned between the lower and upper face plates. The mold inserts may include a shell portion at least partially enclosing a void configured to provide a cavity in the tire, and the shell portion of the mold inserts is configured to remain embedded in the tire upon removal of the tire from the lower and upper mold portions.

Abstract: An improved tire curing bladder mold core that reduces the curing time otherwise required for a curing bladder and an associated tire, while also improving the overall strength of the relatively thin gauged tire curing bladder. The improved tire curing bladder mold core is comprised of an exterior surface with CNC milled or chemically etched patterns of grooves that result in the formation of elevated support ribs in the internal surface of the tire curing bladder. A method of producing an improved tire curing bladder mold core is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold comprises a mold body having an inner surface for molding a tire outer surface and at least one vent passage for the escape of gas in the mold during vulcanization, the vent passage with an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being opened on the inner surface of the mold body, the outlet end communicating with an exterior of the mold body, wherein the vent passage communicates with the inner surface of the mold body at an angle of not less than 60 degrees, and less than 90 degrees with respect to a normal line perpendicular to the inner surface at the inlet end.

Abstract: A layup mandrel includes a shell having a tool surface on which plies may be laid up. The shape of the shell is changed by an actuator.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire uses a tire vulcanizing bladder including a plurality of vent lines, and is characterized in that the pneumatic tire includes an inner liner on an inner surface thereof, the inner liner has an SIBS layer containing a styrene-isobutylene-styrene triblock copolymer, the SIBS layer has a thickness of more than or equal to 0.05 mm and less than or equal to 0.6 mm, the SIBS layer contains more than or equal to 0.5% by mass and less than or equal to 40% by mass of a polymer obtained by polymerization of a monomer unit having 4 carbon atoms, and the vent lines each include a first vent line at a part corresponding to from a tire bead toe part to a tire buttress part, and a second vent line at a part corresponding to from the tire buttress part to a tire crown part.

Abstract: A device and method for manufacturing features into the tread of a tire are provided. The device and method provide for manufacturing tread features of various shapes and sizes. The tread features may be recessed, protruding, or flush with respect to the surrounding tread surface. The device and method may be used for both new tire constructions as well as retreading operations.

Abstract: A method of molding and curing tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of disposing a tire being processed on a toroidal support, enclosing the tire and the toroidal support inside a molding cavity defined in a vulcanization mould, pressing the outer surface of the tire against the molding cavity walls, and administering heat to the tire to cause molecular crosslinking of the tire. The pressing step includes the steps of compressing side portions of the tire between the molding cavity walls and the outer surface of the toroidal support, concurrently with the closing step, and imposing an expansion to a radially-outer portion of the tire to bring the radially-outer portion of the tire against the walls of the molding cavity.

Abstract: A bladder is made to be expandable and contractible at a vulcanization position within a lower mold assembly and to be expandable and contractible also at a tire delivery position which is spaced a predetermined distance from the vulcanization position along a center axis of the lower mold assembly. With a centering shaft passing through an upper mold, the bladder and the lower mold assembly, a green tire loaded into the tire delivery position is held by the bladder by expanding the bladder and is loaded by the bladder into the lower mold assembly. After a vulcanization processing, the bladder removes the vulcanized tire from the vulcanization position to the delivery position, and after the centering shaft is drawn out from the lower mold assembly and the bladder, the bladder is contracted at the delivery position to make it possible to release the vulcanized tire from the bladder.

Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods of making a transfer belt. The method can include providing a hollow mandrel including an interior surface and rotating about a longitudinal axis. The method can also include dispensing a coating liquid through a dispensing tip over the interior surface of the rotating mandrel and using a doctor blade to smooth the coating liquid to form a layer of coating. The method can further include curing the layer of coating to form a seamless belt over the interior surface of the mandrel and releasing the belt from the interior surface of the mandrel, wherein the belt has a thickness uniformity in the range of about 100 nm to about 1 um.

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: A method of moulding and curing tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of disposing a tire being processed on a toroidal support, enclosing the tire and the toroidal support inside a moulding cavity defined in a vulcanization mould, pressing the outer surface of the tire against the moulding cavity walls, and administering heat to the tire to cause molecular crosslinking of the tire. The pressing step includes the steps of compressing side portions of the tire between the moulding cavity walls and the outer surface of the toroidal support, concurrently with the closing step, and imposing an expansion to a radially-outer portion of the tire to bring the radially-outer portion of the tire against the walls of the moulding cavity.

Abstract: An insert for a tire mold is provided. In one embodiment, the insert has an elongated cylindrical body. The insert includes at least one channel portion with a plurality of channels disposed in a non-axial direction along the surface of the insert. The at least one channel portion extends from a first end of the insert. The insert may further include a reduced diameter portion with at least one axial groove disposed thereon.

Abstract: A groove bottom of a circumferential groove formed in a tread surface is provided with a protruding stripe extending along a next ending direction of the circumferential groove. The protruding stripe is provided with a top head portion protruding toward a tire outer circumferential side, and a base portion which is narrower than the top head portion and connects the top head portion and the groove bottom. If a small stone is pinched, the top head portion is inclined around the base portion, and the protruding stripe is deflected as a whole, thereby generating a reaction force on the basis of a deformation restoring force.

Abstract: A mold for molding a foamed tube for a tire is formed from a first mold and a second mold. Each mold has an annular concave portion for tube molding, and joining faces which are continuous with the annular concave portion and are formed at an inner side and an outer side, in a radial direction, of the annular concave portion. Each of the joining faces of the first mold and the joining faces of the second mold has horizontal joining faces provided adjacent to the annular concave portion in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction at a radially inner side and a radially outer side of the annular concave portion, and an inclined joining face provided continuously with the horizontal joining face so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal joining face at one of an inner side and an outer side in the radial direction.

Abstract: A method for expanding and curing formable elastomeric material 2, which is placed in the cavity 14 of a previously molded tire 10, is disclosed. The tire 10 when filled with foamable rubber material 2 is mounted on a curing rim 20 and contacted with heat to simultaneously foam and cure the elastomeric material 2 within the tire cavity 14. The curing rim 20 has a finished or a coated surface 30 that permits the cured foam filled tire 10 to be removed after curing by slipping the cured tire 10 off the coated surface 30 of the curing rim 20.

Abstract: A green tire manufactured on a toroidal support is closed in a vulcanization mould. Steam or another fluid under pressure is infed to a diffusion gap which is formed, following an expansion of the tire, between the inner surface of the latter and the outer surface of the toroidal support. Tire expansion is compensated for, by axially moving the beads away from the toroidal support, thereby eliminating too strong tensions on the cords forming the tire carcass structure. A pre-cured liner is previously applied to the inner surface of the tire, to prevent diffusion of water particles in the raw elastomer material.

Abstract: A method of moulding and curing tires for vehicle wheels includes disposing a tire being worked on a rigid toroidal support having an outer surface the shape of which substantially matches an inner surface of the tire, closing the tire and rigid toroidal support in a moulding cavity defined by a vulcanization mould, pressing the outer surface of the tire against the moulding cavity walls, and administering heat to the tire in order to cause a molecular cross-linking of the tire. The pressing step takes place by admission of a fluid under pressure to at least one fluid-diffusion interspace between an outer surface of the rigid toroidal support and the inner surfaces of the tire. An apparatus for moulding and curing tires for vehicle wheels is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semi-pneumatic tire assembly including a tire casing 22 and a lining 26 is provided. The lining 26 includes a contoured inward surface 30 defining an inflation chamber 18 about an associated wheel rim. The lining 26 minimizes the risk of puncture damage from an object penetrating the tire casing 22 while allowing pneumatic cushioning of the ride and cooler running temperatures as compared to solid-fill tires. Additionally, the semi-pneumatic tire will carry the same load or more than the same tire filled with permafoam and/or solid urethane foam wingfil. The tire assembly is formed by injecting a curable, lining-forming material 96 into a cavity 57 defined between the tire casing 22 and a molding member 50. The molding member 50 includes a contoured outer surface 54 which molds the inward surface of the lining 26. The molding member 50 may be an inflatable airbag 100 retained in the tire assembly during service.

Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing curing bladders (2), whereby a curing mold (3) defines, via a first (4) and second (5) half mold and an inner core (6), an inner molding chamber (7) and an outer injection chamber (34) communicating with the inner chamber (7) and consisting of a variable-volume chamber of an injection cylinder (59); the outer chamber (34) being fed with a mass (35) of heated uncured rubber which is injected into the inner chamber (7) with the mold (3) closed and, when cured, is extracted from the mold (3) by opening the inner chamber (7) and extracting the inner core (6).

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: According to a central mechanism of a tire vulcanizer of the present invention, in a central mechanism of a tire vulcanizer in which a lower clamp ring holding a lower end portion of a bladder is fixed detachably to a lower ring having a passage of a vulcanizing medium, key-shaped holes are bored on the lower clamp ring, springs which press clamp rods which penetrate through the lower ring downward and a fluid pressure cylinder which pushes up the clamp rods against the spring force are provided, and the clamp rods are pushed up so as to release fixing of the lower clamp ring, and the lower clamp ring is removed by rotating the lower clamp ring by a predetermined angle from a state in which the lower clamp ring and the lower ring are fixed to each other by having nuts fixed at the upper ends of the clamp rods engaged with the key holes. Accordingly, the replacement operation of the bladder is automated, thus making it possible to improve the operation rate.

Abstract: A bladderless tire mold press for tires including lower and upper platens and a mechanism for moving the platens relatively toward one another from an open position to a closed molding position. Each of the platens includes side wall molds for molding the tire sidewalls and thread molds for molding the tire thread. Each of the platens further includes a mechanism for molding tire beads. The tire bead molding mechanism including central mechanisms which are movable relative to their respective platens for insertion into the center of the tire.

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 mold for molding and vulcanizing a rubber tire comprises a rigid core defining an interior surface of the tire, two side parts and a peripheral ring divided into a plurality of segments. In order to be able to close the mold, all the members are designed to slide on each other during final phase of their closing movement.

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: Disclosed is a hub replacement device for use in vehicle tire retreading processes. An envelope is sealed against the tire carcass sidewalls to provide an environmental seal of the new tread on the carcass crown during the vulcanization process. Three arcuate rigid plates, each with a pair of ribs, are installed between the carcass beads, for supporting the beads, a predetermined distance apart along a majority of the bead circumference. Integral with each support plate are pairs of opposing toggle clamps with hooked ends. A pair of annular discs are located on each side of the tire for applying a compressive force on the envelope against the carcass sidewalls. The annular discs are each equipped with pairs of anchor loops to which the hooked ends of the toggle clamps are releasably engaged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a tire comprising fitting a patterned cavity of a tread mould with unvulcanized tread composition, shaping the radially inner surface of the tread to a first profile to accommodate a tread reinforcement breaker, consolidating the assembly and shaping its radially inner surface to a second profile, fitting a tire carcass into the second profile, completing the tire assembly, vulcanizing the assembly in the tread mould and removing it from the mould. The method includes various means for fitting the components for consolidating them and for forming the required profiles for subsequent components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hub replacement device for use in vehicle tire retreading processes. An envelope (30) is sealed against the tire carcass sidewalls (22, 24) to provide an environmental seal of the new tread (54) on the carcass crown (50) during the vulcanization process. Three arcuate rigid plates (16, 18, 20), each with a pair of ribs (56, 58), are installed between the carcass beads (12, 14), for supporting the beads (12, 14), a predetermined distance apart along a majority of the bead circumference. Integral with each support plate (16, 18, 20) are pairs of opposing toggle clamps (32, 40) with hooked ends (36). A pair of annular discs (26, 28) are located on each side of the tire for applying a compressive force on the envelope (30) against the carcass sidewalls (22, 24). The annular discs (26, 28) are each equipped with pairs of anchor loops (42, 44) to which the hooked ends (36) of the toggle clamps (32,40) are releasably engaged.

Abstract: A segmented matrix cure press retreads pneumatic tires by vulcanizing a tread strip onto a tire casing. The press centers the tire and provides a tailored support to the entire casing periphery of the tire. A bottom mold cavity forming member having a ring with a contoured surface matched to the bead and sidewall areas of one side of the tire is mounted on a vertically movable base plate of the press. A top mold cavity forming member has a similarly shaped contoured ring and is movable into and out of engagement with the bottom member. A standard inflatable inner tube and flap are inserted within a tire which is placed on the contoured surface of the bottom cavity forming member which centers the tire within the press. The top member is lowered onto and locked with the bottom member forming a mold cavity therebetween with the contoured surfaces coinciding with and trapping the bead and sidewall areas of the tire therebetween.

Abstract: A time curing press includes an upper mold part which is movably arranged by means of long-stroke cylinders relative to a lower mold part. Extending at a central area of the upper mold part and connected thereto is a vertical guide bar which is supported in a headpiece of the frame of the press. The guide bar is provided with a vertically adjustable not which is engaged by clamp jaws to lock the mold, i.e. the upper mold part with the lower mold part in the closed position of the press.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to apparatus for vulcanizing a tire, and includes a pair of generally annular split dies which are axially movable relative to each other, and a pair of generally circular supports surrounded by the dies. The supports include bead seats which are engagable with the axially outer sides of the tire beads so as to form a closed space between the supports and within the tire. The space is supplied with a pressure medium which is heated during vulcanization. The supports are axially movable relative to each other and to the dies. Each of the supports has mounted thereon a plurality of pivotal members which are movable into engagement with the axially inner sides of the tire beads. The pivotal members press the beads tightly against the bead seats in order to form a seal between the beads and the bead seats.

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: A cylindrical expandable sleeve for use in a curing process wherein a pair of annular end portions and a cylindrical expandable body have a longitudinally extending splice with interlocking ribs and surfaces to firmly interconnect such body into a unitary whole for use in successive expansions and contractions.

Abstract: A method of building a closed tube-tire includes constructing a green tire carcass (13) on a disintegratable core (17) and curing the tire carcass (13) in a curing mold (10) having two halves (11,12) which are movable between opened and closed positions. The green tire carcass (13) is intentionally constructed undersized so that a space (18) exists between the green tire carcass (13) and the curing mold (10) to prevent the core (17) from being cracked or crushed when the halves are closed around the tire carcass (13).

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for molding vehicle tires. Component parts of the tire are molded separately in molds having different shells but using the same core. The parts of the tire are at least partially vulcanized at the same time as they are molded.

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 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: Apparatus includes a rigid mold body and an expandable bladder associated therewith. The bladder is inflatable and expandable to form and press sand core material between itself and the mold body while exerting uniform compressive force over the total surface area of the core material thereby forming a portion of a hollow core of precise external dimension and uniform overall strength. Roll-restraining hoop members can be molded into the sand core at the surface facing the axis of the annulus. A pair of such cores forms a hollow core with two sets of hoops on which a tube-tire is formed.