Tire molding apparatus

Abstract

Abstract TIRE MOLDING AND CURING APPARATUS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF TREAD MOLDING MEANS DISPOSED ABOUT AN AXIS AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENTS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE AXIS BETWEEN A POSITION WHEREIN THE TREAD MOLDING MEANS FORM A TIRE RECEIVING CAVITY AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN THE TREAD MOLDING MEANS ARE SPACED APART. CLAMPING DEVICES UTILIZED TO MAINTAIN THE TREAD MOLDING MEANS IN THEIR INNER CAVITY FORMING POSITION SO THAT ALL FORCES TENDING TO SEPARATE THE TREAD MOLDING MEANS ARE RESISTED WITHIN THE SAME AND THE CLAMPING MEANS. BEAD ENGAGEABLE MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO CLOSE THE ENDS OF THE CAVITY WITH SUCH BEAD ENGAGABLE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS TO MOLD EXTERNAL SURFACES OF AT LEAST THE BEAD PORTION OF A TIRE. BEAD ENGAGEABLE MEANS ARE RETAINED IN POSITION EITHER BY A CENTER MEMBER EXTENDING COAXIALLY OF THE CAVITY OR BY COOPERABLY ENGAGEABLE MEANS ON THE BEAD ENGAGEABLE MEANS AND TREAD MOLDING MEANS SO AS TO PROVIDE A RESTAINT FOR THE BEAD ENGAGEABLE MEANS WHICH IS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE PERIMETER OF THE TREAD MOLDING MEANS. TREAD MOLDING MEANS INCLUDING MEMBERS SUPPORTING SEPARATE MOLDING MEMBERS AND HAVING MEANS FOR PROVIDING HEAT TO THE MOLDS WITH THE HEATING MEANS EXTENDING AT LEAST COEXTENSIVELY WITH THE TREAD OF THE TIRE TO BE MOLDED BOTH IN THE DIRECTION CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE TIRE AND IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE TIRE.

Inventors

• 👤 Edwin S Woodhall

Bibliographic Details