US3847631A — Apparatus for and method of retreading tires

Claim 1

Independent Claim 136 words

Apparatus for retreading tires comprising means defining a generally annular chamber adapted to receive at least the tread portion of the tire to be retreaded, means defining a generally annular back-up member in internal telescopic relationship to said chamber means, a generally annular flexible bladder in external telescopic relationship to said back-up member, means for introducing and removing liquid into and from said bladder, a source of noncompressible, nonexpandable, noncombustible liquid, a closed liquid circuit including said source and bladder, said closed liquid circuit further including a high pressure pump for pressurizing said liquid and circulating the same through said closed liquid circuit, and means for heating said liquid to a temperature appreciably above ambient whereby a tire in said chamber means is cured under the influence of the heated and pressurized liquid in said bladder.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 136 words

Apparatus for retreading tires comprising means defining a generally annular chamber adapted to receive at least the tread portion of the tire to be retreaded, means defining a generally annular back-up member in internal telescopic relationship to said chamber means, a generally annular flexible bladder in external telescopic relationship to said back-up member, means for introducing and removing liquid into and from said bladder, a source of noncompressible, nonexpandable, noncombustible liquid, a closed liquid circuit including said source and bladder, said closed liquid circuit further including a high pressure pump for pressurizing said liquid and circulating the same through said closed liquid circuit, and means for heating said liquid to a temperature appreciably above ambient whereby a tire in said chamber means is cured under the influence of the heated and pressurized liquid in said bladder.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of said closed liquid circuit defines means for heating said chamber means separate and apart from any indirect heating thereof from the heated liquid within said bladder.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber means is a generally annular matrix, said annular matrix includes conduit means, and said coNduit means is a portion of said closed liquid circuit whereby heated liquid conducted therethrough will heat said matrix.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber means is a generally annular matrix, said annular matrix includes conduit means, said conduit means is a portion of said closed liquid circuit whereby heated liquid conducted therethrough will heat said matrix, and said conduit means is in external telescopic relationship to said matrix.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber means is a generally annular matrix, said annular matrix includes conduit means, said conduit means is a portion of said closed liquid circuit whereby heated liquid conducted therethrough will heat said matrix, and said conduit means is internally of said matrix.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said introducing and removing means are a pair of tubular stems, and said closed liquid circuit includes first conduit means coupled to one of said stems for introducing liquid into said bladder from said pump and second conduit means coupled to the other of said stems for removing liquid from said bladder and returning the same to said source.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for automatically terminating the operation of said pump upon accidental depressurization of the closed liquid circuit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means defining a seal between said bladder and said back-up member to prevent leakage of liquid should said bladder leak and/or burst.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber means is a generally annular matrix, said annular matrix includes conduit means, said conduit means is a portion of said closed liquid circuit whereby heated liquid conducted therethrough will heat the matrix, and means for automatically terminating the operation of said pump upon accidental depressurization of the closed liquid circuit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said introducing and removing means are a pair of tubular stems, and said closed liquid circuit includes first conduit means coupled to one of said stems for introducing liquid into said bladder from said pump and second conduit means coupled to the other of said stems for removing liquid from said bladder and returning the same to said source.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said introducing and removing means are a pair of tubular stems, and said closed liquid circuit includes first conduit means coupled to one of said stems for introducing liquid into said bladder from said pump and second conduit means coupled to the other of said stems for removing liquid from said bladder and returning the same to said source.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of retreading tires comprising the steps of inserting at least a portion of a tire into a generally annular chamber, positioning an annular back-up member in internal telescopic relationship to the tire, positioning an annular flexible bladder in the tire and in external telescopic relationship to the back-up member, heating a noncompressible, nonexpandable, noncombustible liquid above ambient temperature, and circulating the heated liquid through the bladder under high pressure whereby the bladder is expanded to force the tire into intimate contact with the annular chamber and effecting the curing thereof through the heated liquid.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of retreading tires comprising the steps of inserting at least a portion of a tire into a generally annular chamber, positioning an annular back-up member in internal telescopic relationship to the tire, positioning an annular flexible bladder in the tire and in external telescopic relationship to the back-up member, heating a noncompressible, nonexpandable, noncombustible liquid above ambient temperature, and circulating the heated liquid through the bladder under high pressure whereby the bladder is expanded to force the tire into intimate contact with the annular chamber and effecting the curing thereof through the heated liquid.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 12 wherein the pressure of the liquid is between substantially 200-600 psi.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 12 wherein the temperature of the liquid is approximately 300* F.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 13 wherein the temperature of the liquid is approximately 300* F.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for retreading tires comprising means defining a generally annular chamber adapted to receive at least a portion of a tire, an annular back-up member in internal telescopic relationship to saiD annular chamber and a tire adapted to be received therein, an annular flexible bladder in external telescopic relationship to the back-up member, means for heating a noncompressible, nonexpandable, noncombustible liquid above ambient temperature, and means for circulating the heated liquid through the bladder under high pressure whereby the bladder is expanded to force a tire into intimate contact with the annular chamber and effect the curing thereof through the heated liquid.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for retreading tires comprising means defining a generally annular chamber adapted to receive at least a portion of a tire, an annular back-up member in internal telescopic relationship to saiD annular chamber and a tire adapted to be received therein, an annular flexible bladder in external telescopic relationship to the back-up member, means for heating a noncompressible, nonexpandable, noncombustible liquid above ambient temperature, and means for circulating the heated liquid through the bladder under high pressure whereby the bladder is expanded to force a tire into intimate contact with the annular chamber and effect the curing thereof through the heated liquid.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 12 including the step of circulating the liquid into, through and out of the bladder, and the annular bladder defines a portion of a closed loop liquid circulation system.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 12 including the step of circulating the liquid into, through and out of the bladder, circulating the liquid in an annular passage exteriorly surrounding the tire whereby conduction currents heat the tire from the exterior inwardly, and circulating the liquid between the annular passage and the annular bladder.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 17 wherein the pressure of the liquid is between substantially 200-600 psi, and the temperature of the liquid is approximately 300* F.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 18 wherein the pressure of the liquid is between substantially 200-600 psi, and the temperature of the liquid is approximately 300* F.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of retreading tires as defined in claim 20 including the step of circulating the liquid in an annular passage exteriorly surrounding the tire whereby conduction currents heat the tire from the exterior inwardly, and circulating the liquid between the annular passage and the annular bladder.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-11-11	1978-05-13	1978-11-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-11-11	1982-05-13	1982-11-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-11-11	1986-05-13	1986-11-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for and method of retreading tires

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