Segmented tire mold

Claim 2

In a tire mold having a pair of sidewall mold plates, a plurality of tread mold segments cooperable with said plates to define a tire mold cavity, and segment moving means operable to effect radial movement of said segments between a radially closed circumferentially continuous position and a radially open circumferentially spaced apart position while slidably engaged by said plates, the improvement comprising a plurality of link means additional to and movable independently of said segment moVing means, each said link means being associated respectively with one segment and movably interconnecting each said segment with one sidewall plate to provide limited relative axial movement and open space between said one sidewall plate and said segments in response to relative movement between said one plate and said closing means while said segments are spaced apart from each other and the other of said plates.

Claim 3

A tire mold as claimed in claim 1, each link means being operable to move said each respective segment axially of said moving means in response to relative axial movement between said one plate and said moving means at a rate differing from the rate of movement of said plate.

Claim 4

A tire mold as claimed in claim 1, each link means being operable to limit radially inward movement of each respective segment while said segments are spaced axially away from each of said sidewall plates.

Claim 5

A tire mold as claimed in claim 1, comprising trunnion means disposed on said one sidewall plate and bearing means disposed on each of said segments each bearing means respectively cooperatively engaging one said link means.

Claim 6

A tire mold as claimed in claim 4, means formed in said one said plate accommodating each said trunnion means including a recess having a pair of ledges disposed parallel to the direction of radial movement of the respectively associated segment, said trunnion means having a lug extending outwardly thereof and supported on one of said ledges.

Claim 7

A tire mold as claimed in claim 1, each link means being operable to limit radially outward movement of each respectively associated segment.

Claim 8

A tire mold as claimed in claim 6, said link means being further operable, when said segments are in their so radially outwardly limited position, to prevent further axially relative movement between said moving means and said segments whereby said plate, said moving means and said segments are movable axially together as a unit away from the other said plate.

Claim 9

A tire mold as claimed in claim 5, each said trunnion means comprising a trunnion block having an elongated slot open at one end thereof, said link means including two parallel crossbars one of said crossbars being disposed in said slot, said recess accommodating radial inward movement therein of said block with the longer dimension of said slot extending parallel to said ledges and with the associated cross-bar disposed in the slot such that rotation of said block therein about said one crossbar positions the longer dimension of said slot parallel to the mold axis, and fastening means for securing said block to said ledges.

Claim 10

A tire mold comprising a pair of coaxially arranged sidewall mold plates, a plurality of circularly arranged tread mold segments disposed coaxially of and between said sidewall plates and cooperable with the same to define a tire molding cavity, closing means movable coaxially of the sidewall plates and relatively to at least one sidewall plate and said tread segments to effect movement of the segments radially of a common axis of said plates and segments, and a plurality of links additional to and movable freely with respect to said closing means respectively associated with said segments, each link being movable freely in the radial plane of movement of the associated segment and angularly with respect to the mold axis independently of said closing means, means for connecting one end of each link pivotably to its associated segment, means for connecting the other end of each link pivotably to said one sidewall plate, one of said means for connecting providing also for axial translative movement of the associated end of its respective link.

Claim 11

A tire mold comprising a pair of coaxially arranged sidewall mold plates, a plurality of circularly arranged tread mold segments disposed coaxially of and between said sidewall plates and cooperable with the same to define a tire molding cavity, closing means movable coaxially of the sidewall plates and relatively to at least one sidewall plate and said tread segments to effect movement of the segments radially of a common axis of said plates and segments, and a plurality of links additional to and movable freely with respect to said closing means respectively associated with said segments, each link being movable freely in the radial plane of movement of the associated segment and angularly with respect to the mold axis independently of said closing means, means for connecting one end of each link pivotably to its associated segment, means for connecting the other end of each link pivotably to said one sidewall plate, one of said means for connecting providing also for axial translative movement of the associated end of its respective link.

Claim 12

A tire mold as claimed in claim 9 in which said closing means has a first position relative to said one sidewall plate and said segments corresponding to closure of said segments and a second position relative to said one sidewall plate and said segments corresponding to an open condition of said segments, said segmeNts being in engagement with said sidewall plates when the mold is closed, each link being inclined in one direction relative to said axis when the segments are closed and being oppositely inclined relative to said axis when the segments are open.

Claim 13

A tire mold as claimed in claim 10, wherein said closing means comprises means coaxially surrounding said segments and having a surface inclined relative to said axis which is cooperable with a similarly inclined surface on each segment.

Claim 14

A tire mold as claimed in claim 11, in which said means for connecting the other end of the link comprises an elongated slot extending parallel to said axis and slidably receiving the other end of the link and said means for connecting said one end of each link comprises bearing means mounting said one end of the link for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative to the respectively associated segment.